The Climb to .500 Starts in Negadelphia

Luckily it is only one 'W' needed to get up to that "we don't suck, but we aren't great" .500 mark. With the Flyers and Sixers out of any playoff picture and no action on the football front, it seems that yesterday's game has been analyzed more than Super Bowl XXXIX. Who was to blame? The offense? Bullpen? Manuel? Gillick? Pete Rose? Bottom line: It's over. Let's look to tonight's game for some payback.

But before we check out our chances for tonight, I want to share with the world a few statements I heard on the radio today while working at 610. These are very close to exact quotes:

• "When does training camp start?"
• "What was Madson thinking giving up that homerun ball?" I want you to know that he asked this question with all seriousness. He ACTUALLY wanted an answer to it.
• "Get Rollins out of the lead-off spot. He struck out 3 times!" The way he said it, I believe he actually thinks Rollins will strike out 486 times.
• "85 million dollars and Utley still can't get that run in." I get infuriated when people say anything negative about Chase.
  
• "Big shock, Burrell struck out his first at-bat." Come on. Please give the guy more than an at-bat.
  

...I guess I should come to expect such statements like these. They still, however, always hit a nerve with me.



Tonight, Game 2

Starters: Tonight will feature two pitchers on the mound with something to prove. Cole Hamels will try to show everyone that his spring was just an adjustment period and that he can live up to the expectations we set for him. He faces off against Tim Hudson, who is trying to show Atlanta that last season was a rare occurrence and that he still has the stuff he had with Oakland.

Offense: Charlie said he he will stick with the opening day lineup that banged out 10 hits but only managed 3 runs. I'm willing to give this order some time to see how it produces. It tells Burrell that they have little faith in him to hit behind Ryan and may clog the bases in front of Utley, but if it starts putting up 6+ runs a night, I'll take it. I guess we'll see.
The Phillies will also have to not let Edgar Renteria beat them again...for the sake of my own sanity.

Notable: Manuel is in a very tough situation and I sort of feel bad for the guy. Everyone knows he isn't the best tactical manager out there, but Gillick has put him in a very difficult scenario for each game. For someone who hasn't been know for great bullpen-management, Charlie will have his hands full with the players he is given to work with. I'd put 20 dollars on a bet saying we see good old Geoff Geary tonight.

I'm skipping another class tonight to head out to the ballpark again. First college night AND first dollar dog night of the year. How can I miss that? By the way, Phillies baseball is not helping a developing case of senioritis.

As Always...

LETS GO PHILLIES!!!