- Collapse #2 has begun. The Phillies have lost 3 in a row. They are now tied with the Mets for 3rd place in NL East. They are only 3 games over .500. They are in free fall.
The club lost in San Francisco last night, 6-0, only producing one hit, a single by Cesar Hernandez in the 6th inning.
Aaron Nola pitched and dropped to 10-3 on the season.
The offense has hit rock bottom, yet clueless Gabe Kapler says the hitting coach has "connected with the team."
The coaches are the first that should go. Screw analytics like "launch angle" and "exit velocity." They aren't working. Admit it's a failed experiment and move on.
The pitching coach needs to go too. The young pitchers- Velasquez, Pivetta and Eflin have gotten worse, no better.
Three more games with the Giants. The Phillies could easily get swept by the vengeful Giants and limp home with a six-game losing streak.
Owner John Middleton needs to clean house and fire Andy MacPhial, who hired clueless Matt Klentek, who hired inept Kapler, who is a puppet for the front office.
Maybe the only way to get Middletons' attention is to stop going to the games. Stop buying the merchandise. Don't order season tickets for next season. hot him where it hurts the most- in the wallet.
- I can't believe the front office "beloves' Kapler, as suggested in a recent USA Today article. I also can't believe Klentek sent Adam Heasley back to the minors.
Heasley was one of the few bright spots on this team. I would rather watch him than old players like Bruce and Dickerson who have no future with the Phillies. Another blunder by Klentek.
- Another boring Eagles pre-season game at the Linc last night, as Tennessee beat the Birds, 27-10/ The news was back-up quarterback breaking his left wrist. He is having surgery this morning and will be out awhil. It's his non-throwing hand but Sudfeld will be out a while.
Before he got hurt, Sudfeld looked good. Now the Eagles need to find another back-up QB. Will GM Howie Rossman bring back old signal-caller Sam Bradford?
As long as Carson Wentz doesn't get hurt the Birds will be ok. But I would rather get an experienced guy, just in case, rather than Cody Kessler.
Most of the starters had the night off. Next Thursday Philly travels to Jacksonville to face Nick Foles and the Jaguars.
Friday, August 9, 2019
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES
The Phillies started a 7-game Western swing last night in Arizona, where the beat the Diamondbacks 7-3. Coming off a long flight from Philadelphia the day before, no after effects seemed to linger, as the Phils played one of their most complete games of the season, using sparkling defense, timely hitting and a stellar performance by Vince Valasquez on the mound to spur the victory.
Valasquez went seven strong innings, only allowing two runs. The key will be in his next turn, scheduled for Saturday night in San Francisco. Consistency has always been a big issue for Vinny, so it will be interesting to see his performance this weekend.
Scott Kingery, a native of Arizona, with his family in attendance, clubbed a homer to left on the first pitch he saw on the night. It was his 14th homer of the year.
It looks like Kingery will hold down third base for the rest of this season. Having a stable position may help Kingery to settle in. he is now batting sixth in the lineup. Let's see if he picks up his game again.
Manager Gabe Kapler actually played a little small ball last night, especially running with abandon on the base paths. I liked the aggressiveness and not always waiting for three-run homers. Use your speed, especially Roman Quinn and Kingery, and put pressure on the other team.
Although Cesar Hernandez is not an ideal lead-off hitter he is probably the best option right now, unless you try Quinn in the No. 1 spot. Hoskins hit second, Harper third and Realmuto fourth, while Jean Segura hit fifth. Adam Heasley had two hits and also played great defense in left field. This may be a lineup that Kapler will want to stick with for a while.
Jake Arrieta goes tonight against the D-Backs. If Arrieta can give the team five solid innings consider it a good night.
Don't look now but after their doubleheader sweep of the Marlins on Monday, the New York Mets are only 2 1/2 games behind the Phillies and the final wild card spot. The Phils are now tied with Washington for that spot, 6 games behind Atlanta for the NL East lead.
Valasquez went seven strong innings, only allowing two runs. The key will be in his next turn, scheduled for Saturday night in San Francisco. Consistency has always been a big issue for Vinny, so it will be interesting to see his performance this weekend.
Scott Kingery, a native of Arizona, with his family in attendance, clubbed a homer to left on the first pitch he saw on the night. It was his 14th homer of the year.
It looks like Kingery will hold down third base for the rest of this season. Having a stable position may help Kingery to settle in. he is now batting sixth in the lineup. Let's see if he picks up his game again.
Manager Gabe Kapler actually played a little small ball last night, especially running with abandon on the base paths. I liked the aggressiveness and not always waiting for three-run homers. Use your speed, especially Roman Quinn and Kingery, and put pressure on the other team.
Although Cesar Hernandez is not an ideal lead-off hitter he is probably the best option right now, unless you try Quinn in the No. 1 spot. Hoskins hit second, Harper third and Realmuto fourth, while Jean Segura hit fifth. Adam Heasley had two hits and also played great defense in left field. This may be a lineup that Kapler will want to stick with for a while.
Jake Arrieta goes tonight against the D-Backs. If Arrieta can give the team five solid innings consider it a good night.
Don't look now but after their doubleheader sweep of the Marlins on Monday, the New York Mets are only 2 1/2 games behind the Phillies and the final wild card spot. The Phils are now tied with Washington for that spot, 6 games behind Atlanta for the NL East lead.
Monday, August 5, 2019
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES
How can the Phillies lose 2 of 3 to the lowly Chicago White Sox, at home, in the middle of a playoff race? They did just that, and in embarrassing fashion, going down 10-5 on Sunday afternoon. The three pitchers lame GM Matt Klentek purchased around the trade deadline- Smyly, Morin and Parker- all contributed to the loss.
The Pale Hose came into this series losers of 16 out of their last 20 games. They righted the ship a bit against the Phils, who are clearly underachieving.
It's too late now to make a manager change. The Phillies' history is to wait until after the season to make a switch. Looks like it will be up to owner John Middleton to pull the plug on Kapler. It sure won't be Klentek or team president MacPhail. They don't want to acknowledge their mistake in hiring the rookie skipper in the first place.
It may also be too late to fire the pitching and hitting coach. This needs to be done immediately after the season is over. Too many home run balls allowed. Confusion in the bullpen. Too many strikeouts by the batters. No .300 hitter on the club.
The team goes west to play Arizona and San Francisco. Unbelievably, they are still in the wild card hunt.
I have been a Phillies fan for over 60 years. I'll always be a Phillies fan. But if losing the rest of the season means changing this manager and hopefully general manager too, I'd rather lose.
Along with frustration over the Phillies demise, they demoted third baseman Maikel Franco to AAA Lehigh Valley yesterday. Franco is done in Philadelphia. Instead of using Franco off the bench as a power pinch-hitter, Kapler and the front office determined that Franco isn't a bench player. Look for him to be traded after the season.
Although I agree that Kapler needs to be fired, so does Klentek. This team isn't any closer to a World Series then it was last summer.
If Middleton wants his trophy back so bad, he needs to clean house and put some real Baseball men in charge.
The Pale Hose came into this series losers of 16 out of their last 20 games. They righted the ship a bit against the Phils, who are clearly underachieving.
It's too late now to make a manager change. The Phillies' history is to wait until after the season to make a switch. Looks like it will be up to owner John Middleton to pull the plug on Kapler. It sure won't be Klentek or team president MacPhail. They don't want to acknowledge their mistake in hiring the rookie skipper in the first place.
It may also be too late to fire the pitching and hitting coach. This needs to be done immediately after the season is over. Too many home run balls allowed. Confusion in the bullpen. Too many strikeouts by the batters. No .300 hitter on the club.
The team goes west to play Arizona and San Francisco. Unbelievably, they are still in the wild card hunt.
I have been a Phillies fan for over 60 years. I'll always be a Phillies fan. But if losing the rest of the season means changing this manager and hopefully general manager too, I'd rather lose.
Along with frustration over the Phillies demise, they demoted third baseman Maikel Franco to AAA Lehigh Valley yesterday. Franco is done in Philadelphia. Instead of using Franco off the bench as a power pinch-hitter, Kapler and the front office determined that Franco isn't a bench player. Look for him to be traded after the season.
Although I agree that Kapler needs to be fired, so does Klentek. This team isn't any closer to a World Series then it was last summer.
If Middleton wants his trophy back so bad, he needs to clean house and put some real Baseball men in charge.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
MOVIE REVIEW- ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
*** 1/2 out of Four
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a lot of fun. It's a long movie- 2 hours and 40 minutes in length- but the time goes fast. A good way to assess if you liked a movie or not is, even after sitting in the theater all afternoon, would you see the same movie again? The answer is a big "Yes" to this film.
Surprisingly, even though it's a Quentin Tarentino flick, it's not very violent- at least not until the very end. Even then, one could ration the need for violence, which I actually enjoyed, as if it was a release of pent up tension.
I loved this movie for many reasons. The twist at the end caught me off-guard, even though there were clues leading up to the climax. I really cared about the characters too. The film is very funny and cleverly written, but there are sad and melancholy scenes as well. I also loved the atmosphere, with so many fine details about Hollywood in 1969.
Old commercials, the great music, the segments of radio and TV all add to the feel of the late 60's. I especially loved the music. Songs by Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Mamas and the Papas, and off-beat nuggets like "Snoopy and the Red Baron" make the movie come alive.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are perfect as Rick and Cliff, the two main characters in the story. Rick is a washed-up actor who used to play a cowboy in a TV series called "Bounty Law." Cliff is his longtime stunt double and friend. You will love hanging with these guys, cruising the Hollywood streets in Rick's creme-colored convertible. It's a buddy movie but so much more.
Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, the ill-fated actress who was murdered at the hands of the Charles Manson family. She brings the beautiful actress to life is sweet ways, like when she stops into a downtown movie theater to watch herself in the Dean Martin film, The Wrecking Crew.Tarentino stated in an interview that he wanted to focus on Tate's enthusiasm and joy because she is now forever known by her death.
There are roles and cameos by none other then Al Pacino, and Bruce Dern, to name a few. Pacino is great in a minor role, as is Dern. It's interesting to note that Burt Reynolds was signed to play Dern's role but died before shooting began.
Bruce Lee is depicted in a comical way, as one of the more crowd-pleasing scenes is a showdown between the great Martial arts Lee and Cliff. In Tarentino's fairy tale world, Cliff holds his own against Lee in a rumble on the set.
The ending will generate the most discussion. This entire movie will be debated. I thought about it long after we left the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. It was a refreshing way to spend an a hot and muggy summer matinee afternoon in the cool air conditioning.
It was interesting to note that after the last riveting scene, the smattering of people in the theater didn't immediately leave. They stayed and talked. , even when the lights went up. They were still talking in the lobby and outside the venue.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, nominations the film gets for Oscars next year. Will both DiCaprio and Pitt be nominated as Lead Actors? Even though Pitt "supports" DiCaprio's character, Pitt has more then his share of solo scenes, including a chilling segment where Cliff visits the Manson home ranch. Robbing should be nominated as well, although she doesn't have nearly as much screen time as the two men.
I can easily see Tarentino getting a nomination for Best Director and for the film itself get a nod for Best Picture.
There is also a set-up for a sequel, although the story is so closely tied into the Manson murders that it would be interesting to see what Tarentino would do with a follow-up story.
All in all, I really enjoyed Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The film drags a bit in the middle, and you can't wait to witness the inevitable climax. The movie also lets multiple questions hanging ( Did Cliff really kill his wife?) . In one way you yearn for answers but in another way, the unanswered items lead to discussion and leave an opening for more Rick and Cliff.
I'm ready to see the film again. I recommend you check it out too.
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a lot of fun. It's a long movie- 2 hours and 40 minutes in length- but the time goes fast. A good way to assess if you liked a movie or not is, even after sitting in the theater all afternoon, would you see the same movie again? The answer is a big "Yes" to this film.
Surprisingly, even though it's a Quentin Tarentino flick, it's not very violent- at least not until the very end. Even then, one could ration the need for violence, which I actually enjoyed, as if it was a release of pent up tension.
I loved this movie for many reasons. The twist at the end caught me off-guard, even though there were clues leading up to the climax. I really cared about the characters too. The film is very funny and cleverly written, but there are sad and melancholy scenes as well. I also loved the atmosphere, with so many fine details about Hollywood in 1969.
Old commercials, the great music, the segments of radio and TV all add to the feel of the late 60's. I especially loved the music. Songs by Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Mamas and the Papas, and off-beat nuggets like "Snoopy and the Red Baron" make the movie come alive.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are perfect as Rick and Cliff, the two main characters in the story. Rick is a washed-up actor who used to play a cowboy in a TV series called "Bounty Law." Cliff is his longtime stunt double and friend. You will love hanging with these guys, cruising the Hollywood streets in Rick's creme-colored convertible. It's a buddy movie but so much more.
Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, the ill-fated actress who was murdered at the hands of the Charles Manson family. She brings the beautiful actress to life is sweet ways, like when she stops into a downtown movie theater to watch herself in the Dean Martin film, The Wrecking Crew.Tarentino stated in an interview that he wanted to focus on Tate's enthusiasm and joy because she is now forever known by her death.
There are roles and cameos by none other then Al Pacino, and Bruce Dern, to name a few. Pacino is great in a minor role, as is Dern. It's interesting to note that Burt Reynolds was signed to play Dern's role but died before shooting began.
Bruce Lee is depicted in a comical way, as one of the more crowd-pleasing scenes is a showdown between the great Martial arts Lee and Cliff. In Tarentino's fairy tale world, Cliff holds his own against Lee in a rumble on the set.
The ending will generate the most discussion. This entire movie will be debated. I thought about it long after we left the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. It was a refreshing way to spend an a hot and muggy summer matinee afternoon in the cool air conditioning.
It was interesting to note that after the last riveting scene, the smattering of people in the theater didn't immediately leave. They stayed and talked. , even when the lights went up. They were still talking in the lobby and outside the venue.
It will be interesting to see what, if any, nominations the film gets for Oscars next year. Will both DiCaprio and Pitt be nominated as Lead Actors? Even though Pitt "supports" DiCaprio's character, Pitt has more then his share of solo scenes, including a chilling segment where Cliff visits the Manson home ranch. Robbing should be nominated as well, although she doesn't have nearly as much screen time as the two men.
I can easily see Tarentino getting a nomination for Best Director and for the film itself get a nod for Best Picture.
There is also a set-up for a sequel, although the story is so closely tied into the Manson murders that it would be interesting to see what Tarentino would do with a follow-up story.
All in all, I really enjoyed Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The film drags a bit in the middle, and you can't wait to witness the inevitable climax. The movie also lets multiple questions hanging ( Did Cliff really kill his wife?) . In one way you yearn for answers but in another way, the unanswered items lead to discussion and leave an opening for more Rick and Cliff.
I'm ready to see the film again. I recommend you check it out too.
Saturday, August 3, 2019
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, EAGLES
A disgrace Friday night at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies lost to a woeful White Sox club, 4-3 in 15 innings. With a chance to gain a game on the losing Braves, the Phils choked against a really bad club.
The offense came up small again. Bryce Harper is proving to be a huge disappointment. The only thing consistent about the Phils is their inconsistency.
Manager Gabe Kapler screwed up again, removing the "sore" armed Zach Eflin in the 13th inning when he knew there were o more pitchers available. Suddenly Ranger Suarez has become a Pat Neshek-like diva. Eflin told Kapler he was "sore" but could pitch, yet Kapler pulled him from the game.
If Eflin was really hurt, why let him bat in the 13th inning?
Vince Valasquez came in and played left field. He threw out a White Sox runner at the plate and made a diving catch. Not only did Roman Quinn courageously pitch two innings, he hit a home run and stole two bases. Those players deserve praise; Kapler does not.
I'm sick of hearing Kapler say his team "clawed and fought" and all the other bull. They lost..at home..to a bad Chicago club..in a pennant race.
Bryce Harper is also getting to me. So far he is not worth his big contract. He should be carrying this team. I admire his hustle but he should be playing better. We are stuck with this guy for 12 more years. He needs to step up more consistently.
I'll always be a Phillies fan but..maybe, in the long run, another epic collapse would be a good thing. MacPhail, Klentek, Kapler and all of the coaches need to go.
John Middleton, show the fans you care by doing the right thing after the season. Let's not have the Phillies be the laughing stock of Baseball anymore.
- The Christmas games for the upcoming NBA season have been announced and the Sixers are playing again on December 25th, this time at home against Eastern Conference rival Milwaukee. After opening presents it will be time to either attend or watch a big game vs the Bucks.
- The Eagles continue to practice, getting ready for their first pre-season game on Thursday at home against Tennessee. I'll be interested to see how back-up quarterback Nate Sudfeld plays. With no Nick Foles around anymore it will be up to Sudfeld to show the fans he is a capable reserve QB, just in case Carson Wentz goes down.
The offense came up small again. Bryce Harper is proving to be a huge disappointment. The only thing consistent about the Phils is their inconsistency.
Manager Gabe Kapler screwed up again, removing the "sore" armed Zach Eflin in the 13th inning when he knew there were o more pitchers available. Suddenly Ranger Suarez has become a Pat Neshek-like diva. Eflin told Kapler he was "sore" but could pitch, yet Kapler pulled him from the game.
If Eflin was really hurt, why let him bat in the 13th inning?
Vince Valasquez came in and played left field. He threw out a White Sox runner at the plate and made a diving catch. Not only did Roman Quinn courageously pitch two innings, he hit a home run and stole two bases. Those players deserve praise; Kapler does not.
I'm sick of hearing Kapler say his team "clawed and fought" and all the other bull. They lost..at home..to a bad Chicago club..in a pennant race.
Bryce Harper is also getting to me. So far he is not worth his big contract. He should be carrying this team. I admire his hustle but he should be playing better. We are stuck with this guy for 12 more years. He needs to step up more consistently.
I'll always be a Phillies fan but..maybe, in the long run, another epic collapse would be a good thing. MacPhail, Klentek, Kapler and all of the coaches need to go.
John Middleton, show the fans you care by doing the right thing after the season. Let's not have the Phillies be the laughing stock of Baseball anymore.
- The Christmas games for the upcoming NBA season have been announced and the Sixers are playing again on December 25th, this time at home against Eastern Conference rival Milwaukee. After opening presents it will be time to either attend or watch a big game vs the Bucks.
- The Eagles continue to practice, getting ready for their first pre-season game on Thursday at home against Tennessee. I'll be interested to see how back-up quarterback Nate Sudfeld plays. With no Nick Foles around anymore it will be up to Sudfeld to show the fans he is a capable reserve QB, just in case Carson Wentz goes down.
Friday, August 2, 2019
PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, SIXERS, EAGLES
- The Phillies took 2 of 3 from the hot San Francisco Giants. They meet again next week in a four-game series out west. For sure the Phils will see ace Madison Baumgarner. They missed him this week in Philadelphia.
Finally the bats woke up. The 10-2 win on Thursday afternoon marked only the second time this season the club scored 10 runs in a game. That's a disgrace. The hitting coach needs to go.
As does the pitching coach. All of the Phillies' young pitchers- Eflin, Pivetta and Valasquez- have not progressed this season. The staff continues to give up way too many home runs.
yet somehow, they are right there for a wild card spot.
I want playoff baseball back in town. Imagine the excitement! Just get into the dance and anything can happen.
I was pretty underwelmed by GM Matt Klentek's trade deadline moves. While the Braves added a pair of All-Star-quality relievers, the Mets bolstered their starting staff, and even Washington improved, the Phils picked up scrap.
Corey Dickerson is ok but if the club needed another bat in the lineup, why not deal for Tigers' Nick Castellanos instead? Castellanos led the American League in doubles and now that he is away from Detroit's huge ballpark, his power should be even greater. ( the Cubs traded for Castellanos0.
What happens to Adam Heasley and Roman Quinn? I would rather see the younger players play. See what you have before moving on, as the Phillies did this week when they released once highly-touted prospect Dylan Cozens.
Cozens was one half of the Bash Brothers in the minors, along with Rhys Hoskins. He never really got a fair shot to play everyday in the majors. He strikes out a ton, but that's what Klentek's coaches are teaching in the farm system, with all the "launch-angle" nonsense.
Time will tell if Cozens comes back to haunt the Phils.
Tonight the team opens a weekend series with the lowly Chicago White Sox. It's Alumni Weeeknd. Bobby Abreu gets on the Phillies Wall of Fame on Saturday night.
The club goes on a Western road trip next week, including a three-game series in Arizona and a four-game set in San Francisco.
Finally the bats woke up. The 10-2 win on Thursday afternoon marked only the second time this season the club scored 10 runs in a game. That's a disgrace. The hitting coach needs to go.
As does the pitching coach. All of the Phillies' young pitchers- Eflin, Pivetta and Valasquez- have not progressed this season. The staff continues to give up way too many home runs.
yet somehow, they are right there for a wild card spot.
I want playoff baseball back in town. Imagine the excitement! Just get into the dance and anything can happen.
I was pretty underwelmed by GM Matt Klentek's trade deadline moves. While the Braves added a pair of All-Star-quality relievers, the Mets bolstered their starting staff, and even Washington improved, the Phils picked up scrap.
Corey Dickerson is ok but if the club needed another bat in the lineup, why not deal for Tigers' Nick Castellanos instead? Castellanos led the American League in doubles and now that he is away from Detroit's huge ballpark, his power should be even greater. ( the Cubs traded for Castellanos0.
What happens to Adam Heasley and Roman Quinn? I would rather see the younger players play. See what you have before moving on, as the Phillies did this week when they released once highly-touted prospect Dylan Cozens.
Cozens was one half of the Bash Brothers in the minors, along with Rhys Hoskins. He never really got a fair shot to play everyday in the majors. He strikes out a ton, but that's what Klentek's coaches are teaching in the farm system, with all the "launch-angle" nonsense.
Time will tell if Cozens comes back to haunt the Phils.
Tonight the team opens a weekend series with the lowly Chicago White Sox. It's Alumni Weeeknd. Bobby Abreu gets on the Phillies Wall of Fame on Saturday night.
The club goes on a Western road trip next week, including a three-game series in Arizona and a four-game set in San Francisco.
IN MY LIFE- VISITING THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
The last time I was in Cooperstown, New York to visit the Baseball hall of Fame was about 30 years ago. So I looked forward to re-visiting the Hall this week to check out the new renovations and updated features.
Even though we drove through dangerous thunderstorms near Wilkes-Barre on the way up, we still made it to the quaint little village of Cooperstown in less than 5 hours. It's not a bad drive up, especially if you take the turnpike.
The town itself is not very accessible to wheelchairs. Many of the shops along Main Street in the town are not accessible, with steps to climb. Finding a parking spot was the first real issue. It's first-come, first-served with handicapped places in front of the museum. There is parking at nearby Doubleday field and $15 all-day lots not far. Most people seem to park at a distance then take the trolley to the Hall.
As directed, we started our tour on the second floor. There are three floors at the Hall, each very specific with it's displays. There are separate sections for greats such as Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron. Ruth's baggy uniforms is glass-encased, as is Aaron's Atlanta uniform he wore on the night he broke Ruth's home run record.
There were parts I enjoyed more than others. It was cool seeing bricks , chairs and other artifacts from old time ballparks like Ebbets Field, Connie mack Stadium and Forbes Field. I like seeing the different kinds of uniforms over the years, and couldn't imagine playing ball in the summer heat wearing the heavy wool uniforms that guys used to wear in the early days.
When you see one baseball you've seen them all, so even though there are countless famous baseballs in the Hall, it didn't faze me much. I did like viewing the bats more. Some early bats had ax handles, some looked like clubs, squared-off at the end. Mitts and gloves were also fascinating, some so small like mittens a kid might wear.
On display was the world's rarest and most expensive baseball card- the Honus Wagner gem. A great display for kids who still collect cards is a new edition to the Hall.
The real heart and soul of the Baseball Hall of Fame are the plaques. That room is expanded and more accessible. You can touch each plaque, knowing each star probably touched or held their plaque at one time. Reading each testimonial of achievements reminded me how special and how great these guys were, and I loved reminiscing about the greats I was lucky to see as a kid, players like Clemente, Koufax and Mays.
I saw the plaques and special displays of this year's inductees, including Phillies' ace Roy (Doc) Halliday. An interesting item on display is a baseball given to Halliday by Yankees great closers Mariano Rivera.
Many years ago Rivera gave Halliday a baseball which Rivera used as a tool to teach Halliday his famous and lethal slider. Rivera drew with a pen the exact line which Halliday keeps his fingers to remind Roy where to grip the ball. Fingers too spread apart or to far apart for the pitch to be effective was all it took to go from a great pitch to a disaster. Halliday kept this ball during his career, mastering the pitch. Rivera was fined by the yanks for sharing information with another player outside of the Yankee organization.
The ball sits in a Phillies/Halliday locker full of Halliday-related items on display.
I loved the Phillies plaques in the Hall: Ashburn, Schmidt, Thome, Bunning and Carlton. It made me wonder,who, if anyone on the current team, is destined for greatness, ultimately to be enshrined one day in the Hall?
We checked out the Hall store and got a shirt for $50. We wanted to take a boat trip around the Cooperstown lake nearby to the Hall, but found that the boat wasn't accessible, despite their claim that it was on the phone. Neither was the so-called " ADA accessible" hotel room we found 22 miles away in Oneida. The bed was once again too high, 30 inches instead of the required 23 inches.
We did the hall in a little over 2 hours. You could take your time, soak in the atmosphere and greatness, and realistically view the entire place in 3 or 4 hours. Also check out nearby Doubleday Field, a tiny ballpark where Baseball was born. There are usually games going on all the time, depending on weather.
Other than a few annoying inconveniences, our trip to Cooperstown was fun and highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of Baseball.
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