The scores as of March 15, 2010:

Ryan Lawrence took the most points home this week, but the scores were definitely less lopsided than the previous two weeks, with all but one scoring at least a few. Scott Lauber made a nice push in his final week as a beat writer for the Phillies, breaking 20 points before pulling up stakes and heading to the Boston Herald.

And I’ve decided to give John Finger the very first “This Week’s Awesomest Tweet” award, good for +5 and a free small fries at the Roy Rogers by Exit 17 on the Garden State Parkway:

Ryan Lawrence +11

Gillies robs Howard at BP, Werth’s 1st HR, Polanco on a tear, Fake lineup, Happ to start, Amaro on Mathieson, Thome arrival, Lidge actually not pitching Monday, KK’s line, Moyer shelled, Moyer’s line

Matt Gelb +9

Lineup vs. ATL, Moyer pitched good, Bautista kills another Hamels pitch, Ransom – 2HR 2G 1 Day, Lineup vs. MIN, First cuts, Lidge pitching Monday, Doc allows 1st run, Polanco hurt(!)

Todd Zolecki +8

Moyer still favored for 5th spot, Lidge still on radar for OD, Rainout!, Bowa to hospital, Bright House Field’s attendance record, Madson to close if Lidge unable, Lineup vs. BAL, Lineup vs. PIT

John Finger +6

Happ’s line, TWAT

Scott Lauber +5

Lineup vs. TOR, Drabek starting, Amaro watching Lidge, Lineup vs. DET, Split squad

David Murphy +3

Phillies to face Drabek, Right knee strain for Polanco, NVM – Right knee SPRain for Polanco

Jim Salisbury +2

Doc’s line, Drabek pitched good

Jamie Moyer collected his 249th win on April 26th, 2009 against the Marlins. It would take him more than a month and 6 more starts to become the 44th pitcher (and 11th lefty) in MLB history to reach 250.

On May 31st, en route to a three-game sweep of the hapless Nationals, Moyer would pitch 6 full innings, giving up 3 hits and an earned run (on a Willingham solo shot, his first of 2) while striking out 4, improving his season record to 4-5 while whittling his ERA down to a svelte 6.75.

What made this all the more exciting was the unforgettable post-game quote from the Undisputed King of Soundbites himself:

“It’s not about the personal things, I’m more excited about us winning,” Moyer said. “I really haven’t thought about [winning 250]. It takes so much effort to prepare and play. I was taught to play the game as a team, not as an individual. When you play 20-some years, some of these things can happen.”

This game was loaded with all sorts of unlikeliness: Moyer went 6 strong innings and won, Chris Coste hit a home run, Pedro Feliz collected an RBI (on a very likely fielder’s choice), Ryan Howard tripled and Brad Lidge pitched a scoreless 9th.

Even though I stopped buying tickets to Moyer’s starts after the May 25th loss to the Marlins, I’m glad he did win it at home, because of my favorite things in the world is fan-made stadium cellphone videos on YouTube, complete with disembodied attempts to sound like Harry Kalas:

Click here to view the embedded video.

May 31st Recap | ESPN.com

Tug

The Fightins is a great site. Good job. Thanks for being a Phillies fan.

Best Wishes

Chris Wheeler

3/13/2010

So thanks again Beck, and thank you, Muffins, for being such a good sport. Keep on rockin’ around the COCK.

Their scores as of March 8, 2010:

Matt Gelb continues to destroy the competition in the face of obvious attempts the others have taken at sabotaging the rookie’s efforts at reporting on the Phillies (evidenced here). In spite of these shenanigans, he refuses to complain and just continues to kick everyone else’s ass for the second straight week.

Meanwhile, John Finger continues his tailspin with stuff like this:

And Ryan Lawrence earned himself a bonus point for this photograph:

Matt Gelb +12

Romero throws 3-3, Poor turnout vs. FSU, First pitch vs. FSU, Aumont quote, Aumont Arm Slot, Polanco Error, KK in, Moyer pitching B Game, Hamels gives up HR, Dom’s brilliant assist, PTB starts RF but plays 0 innings

Ryan Lawrence +11

Vic won’t play vs. NYY, Lineup vs. NYY, First pitch vs. NYY, Halladay’s son plays hooky, Lineup vs. TOR, First pitch vs. TOR, Gillies HR sprint, Meaty-Sweetie, Journalistic Fundamentals, Vic off the travel roster vs. NYY, Pat the Bat’s DP

Scott Lauber +5

Jared Fogle, Vic sitting out vs. FSU, Aumont and Dom in the game, Lineup vs. PIT, Vic to start vs. ATL

Todd Zolecki +5

Lineup vs. FSU, Lineup vs. TB, Lineup vs. NYY, Romero won’t be ready, and this

David Murphy +1

Hamels out

Andy Martino +1

Aumont shits the bed vs. FSU

Their scores as of March 1, 2010:

This week revealed Matt Gelb and Ryan Lawrence to be twin quasars of beat-offery. Lawrence scored 7 solid points in his debut and Gelb has taken the lead in only his second week. This week also revealed that a single player’s facial hair holds more value in this competition than all the bullpen sessions and former Expos-signings in the Majors, and that a reference to this blog in your tweet is always good for at least one point.

Also, Scott Lauber has accepted a job with the Boston Herald and will soon become a beat writer for the Red Sox. Although this was announced early last week, it didn’t stop him from tweeting his fingers off for the Phillies and earning 6 points. What’s you’re excuse, John Finger?

Actually, his excuse is that his responsibilities have shifted over at CSNPhilly.com and he isn’t 100% Phillies anymore: “I get to pick my spots now. It will still be 80% Phillies though.” This will not stop me from busting his balls about his Johnny Weir tweets 2 weeks ago.

Matt Gelb +12

Reported Werth’s beard (+3), JC’s bullpen, JRoll’s vote for Doc, Wilkerson signing, one point for honesty, Charlie “going for jugular,” Dom Brown swings on Doc, Doc’s Thursday start v. Yankees, Morandini arrives, Lidge & JC throw

Ryan Lawrence +7

First Werth quote, JRoll says Werth looks like a bum, Gillies’s shagging prowess, JC’s session postponed, Happ vs. FSU, Doc pitches March 9th, Doc’s first start on CSN

Scott Lauber +6

1st JRoll quote, Dom Brown back from flu, Hamels’s cutter, Hamels’s first start announced, Pitchers vs. FSU, Danys Baez’s shitty slide

Todd Zolecki +5

Everyone accounted for, First pic of Werth’s beard (+3), and this

David Murphy +3

Chan Ho fails his fucking ass off, comprehensive prospect tweets (+2)

Andy Martino +2

Lidge throwing first session, and this

Jim Salisbury +2

Lidge felt good throwing, Lauber to Boston Herald

Their scores as of February 21, 2010:

It’s official. Now the points are going to start adding up pretty fast. Martino has returned, and I’ve added Matt Gelb to the fray, since he filled in so well for Andy. Next week, expect to see Mandy Housenick and Ryan Lawrence. And don’t forget to check the list, these folks are tweeting their asses off.

By the way, I’ve fallen deeply in love with the game known as Curling, and I don’t care who knows it. And the Doc likes it too, so you can eat me before you judge me, you dickhole.

Also, this:

Todd Zolecki +4

Romero feeling good, Lidge behind schedule, Dubee on Hamels, Lidge to throw Monday

Matt Gelb +4

Polanco arrived, Cole’s 1st bullpen, 1st Doc quote, 5th starter spot is open

Jim Salisbury +3

Lidge expects to be more ‘08 than ‘09, and 2 points for winning Media Batting Challenge

Scott Lauber +2

Howard taking cuts, Ibañez feeling good this year

Andy Martino +1

Reported first players to arrive

John Finger +1

Sympathy point for all of the figure skating tweets this week

Kyle Kendrick wants that 5th spot, and he’s willing to drastically improve his work ethic to get it. Jim Salisbury says that while Kendrick would show up around 8am every morning in previous Spring Trainings, he has begun arriving at Bright House Field at quarter to six every morning this year.

I don’t know if it’s personal initiative on Kyle’s part or some kind of Dubee-sponsored Sturdy Wings program, but Kendrick has buddied up with the great Roy Halladay to pick up a few pointers on how to kick ass.

Kendrick, 25, has benefitted from his up-close look at Halladay’s legendary work ethic. Keeping up with Halladay means getting up pretty early – and getting to bed by 9 p.m.

“My work ethic has gotten a lot better, I think,” Kendrick said. “Before, I didn’t have a plan. Now I have a plan, thanks to Roy. He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever seen.”

I’m guessing he’s heard that old chestnut about success breeding success. You can’t improve yourself by hanging around a bunch of scrubs. It’s a good move on his part, I’m guessing that by simply grabbing his own destiny by the balls, he’s locked himself in for at least a spot in the bullpen.

Who am I kidding: initiative is never rewarded by management.

Their scores as of February 14, 2010:

David Murphy +2

Why the fuck not. Good prediction and I don’t like either of the Gyllenhaals.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Their scores as of February 6, 2010:

Todd Zolecki +2

Bocock signing, Amaro turns off the stove

Scott Lauber +2

Contreras signing, Villareal signing

John Finger +1.5

Morandini special ST guest instructor, Snowpocalypse

Matt Gelb (for Andy Martino) +1

12 ST games will be televised

Jim Salisbury +1

Bonus point for tweeting 4 times in less than 30 minutes