And no, this wasn’t during warm-ups. After our eventual hero, Chris Coste, came into the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning for Greg Dobbs (and proceeded to go 4-for-4 including the GW single), the Phillies were temporarily left third baseman-less. So the genius baseball mind inside Charlie Manuel’s skull informed ex-infielder Carlos Ruiz to go out and play the position:

And just like everything Charlie does, it wound up being the correct move. No balls were hit to Ruiz that inning (Beltran grounded out to Rollins followed by Delgado & Tatis K’s) so Eric Bruntlett was available to pinch-hit for Brad Lidge in the bottom half and stay in the game at 3rd. Eric B. (for President) then thwacked a double to right-center, allowing Jayson Werth to score from first and tie the game up at 7.

Once again, Charlie Manuel > Jerry Manuel.

Without question, the best part about coming from behind to beat the Metros is watching their loser fans react to the inevitable, and last night was no exception.

In the fifth inning, when the Fightins’ were in the midst of coming back from their early 7-0 deficit, Ryan Howard jumped on an outside fastball delivered by the no-longer-intimidating Pedro Martinez. The astute CW57 cameraman must have been scoping out the angriest of the Metro fan prior to the blast, and immediately cut to a volatile gentleman who most likely dropped some major cash for a first row seat. Around the :22 second mark, you can clearly see Mr. Temper mouth some expletives before becoming so enraged, he just gets up out of his seat and walks out.

hahahaah:

“Hey. It’s brad. Now that the mets are spanking them no need to guest post.”

At 9:42 PM (when the Phillies cut the lead to 7-6):

“Okay. I take it back.

“Too late,” I replied. Didn’t these Mets fans learn anything from last year?

More on this later…

Last Friday Night at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark, the Phillies ran their ‘Retro 70’s Night’ promotion, which basically means they photoshop funny little 70’s-inspired outfits and hair styles onto the players and display them on the big scoreboard. I’m pretty sure it’s a league-wide gimmick by now, but still figured I should pass along the photos for your enjoyment.

The following slideshow contains the 1970’s version of 6 of the 9 starters (I couldn’t find Werth, Dobbs, or Coste) on the 2,759 square foot plasma Philips TV — just like the one they had at The Vet over 30 years ago.

Enjoy Jimmy Rollins getting his Rick James on, Chase Utley looking like Reuben Kinkade, Ryan Howard in Huggy Bear attire, Shane Victorino as a goatee’d lesbian, Geoff Jenkins is Bob Ross, and Kyle Kendrick as a strange Lloyd Christmas/Sgt. Pepper hybrid. With bonus shots of an afro’d Chris Coste during his post-game interview and Kendrick’s Hendrix, which should be pluralized.

I say next 70’s Retro night they stay truer to the theme and break out the ‘Saturday Night Specials‘, hand out free tabs of LSD, and promote unprotected sex. Groovy!

Some photos taken (with love) from the Baseball Fever messageboard.

Are you holding onto your Borsalino’s, Sarge fans?

Good. Because this Thursday night, when the Cubs and Phillies kick off their all-important 4-game series at Wrigley, everyone’s favorite colorman will be singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the 7th inning stretch. Incredible, right?

Sure, the whole idea of performing this song at The Friendly Confines is to root for the Cubbies, but being that he resides in Chicago and used to play for the North Siders means he gets a temporary one-day pass. Just make sure you’re in front of your TV after the Phillies bat in the 7th inning — I guarantee it’ll be fantastic. And if you somehow miss it, rest assured: I’ll have the video up by Friday morning.

Below, you will find a clip of Sarge and Scott Franzke from WPHT 1210 last night where Sarge announces his new gig and exclaims, “The worst you are, the better they like it.” Below that is a tremendous photo from the 7th Annual Gary Maddux BBQ Challenge, apropos of nothing.

Audio: Sarge talks about singing at Wrigley

(A tip of the fedora to jstudent over at Philly Edge for the heads-up)

Gah! Citizens Bank isn’t safe anymore!

The other night, a hideous man was photographed in the stands at the Phillies game while undergoing the process of transforming into a werewolf. Normally, the wolfman is very careful during nights where there is a full-moon and doesn’t often subject itself to the horror of lycanthropy in crowded places such as baseball stadiums. I didn’t see any mention of it in the paper the following day, so for everyone’s sake, I hope they shot him with a silver bullet.

Photo by Flickr member promohthree

Brad Lidge was a guest on Comcast SportsNet’s Daily News Live yesterday and was asked the same question that Jimmy Rollins incorrectly answered last week, “What is your opinion of the Philly fans?”

Now, granted, Lidge hasn’t had to face the wrath of the angry Philadelphian yet, but considering his last few years in Houston weren’t exactly a walk in the (Minute Maid) park (I crack myself up!) - he at least has a point of reference. Well anyway, Lidge passed his test with flying colors; practically performing audio-fellatio on the Philly fans, just the way we like it:

Two trendsetting fans of the Phillies have been popping up at The Bank recently paying tribute (in their own, unique sort of way) to former Phillies legends and current broadcasters, Larry Anderson and Sarge Matthews.  Adorned in the freshest of the Mitchell & Ness’, fake ’staches, afros and American headwear; these gentleman have raised the bar for any so-called fan that dares walk through the turnstyle claiming to be a fashion connoisseur.

Consider me jealous, fellas.

After the jump, check out the video and side-by-side comparisons to their counterparts in the booth…

Read more »

James Beale, proprietor of The Sports Complex over at the City Paper’s website, recently penned what is easily the best Cole Hamels feature piece I have ever read.  I can’t even do the thing justice with a summary, so I’m just going to highly recommend you go over there and read it for yourself.  It gives you an excellent perspective on what some (morons) consider to be a fragile, uncooperative pitcher along with a couple interesting anecdotes including the time Cole had to whoop a dude’s ass for messing with his friend.

And if you happen to have the attention span of a fish and don’t like reading a whole bunch of words and shit, go there just for the pictures that James somehow finagled from Cole’s parents.  Like this one:

I apologize for the lack of posting the last couple of days. My barely year-and-a-half old piece of shit Dell computer died the other day and I finally re-upped last night. As soon as I get finished with the installation process and load this baby up with porno, I shall return to my #1 priority, tending to my pregnant wife and son blogging! Until then, immerse yourself in these wonderful links…

• Baseball has finally accepted the fact that instant replay might… gasp!… actually help the umpires make the right call. They’re such forward thinkers over there at MLB. Now, if you don’t mind, please go back to mid-April and review this bullshit Mark DeRosa homer. That would make us just ½ game behind the Mets. Whoopee! [The 700 Level]

• Jimmy Rollins is a first-ballot, no doubt about it, surefire, slam dunk, slap your cock, Hall of Famer. For the Arizona Fall League, that is. [Waiting For Next Year]

• Purveyor of the Podcast for the blogging community, Dan Levy, puts Jason Weitzel of Beerleaguer On The DL. They discuss his ‘Best of Philly’ honor for sportswriting (I withdrew my name from contention on some Katherine Heigl shit), the big-headed shitbox Buzz Bissinger, and Jimmy Rollins. Go listen. [On The DL]

• For the ladies, Bar Rafaeli:

• Blogging Mecca, Deadspin, is conducting their annual ‘Deadspin HOF’ voting this week and if you only vote for one HOF-er — IT MUST BE MARQUES SLOCUM’S FUCK LION. If you are unfamiliar with the best interview ever conducted in the history of people, check it out on EDSBS. Then go vote. [Deadspin]

• JMS on Our Wacky Ads: Where You Can Major In “Trophy Marriage”
• Fightins'08 on Citizen’s Bank Park: A Scary Place, Even If You’re Not A Mets Fan
• zack on Carlos Ruiz Mans The Hot Corner
• Chamomiles Davis on Citizen’s Bank Park: A Scary Place, Even If You’re Not A Mets Fan
• fuquamanuel on Citizen’s Bank Park: A Scary Place, Even If You’re Not A Mets Fan