If you film live during a baseball game while meandering through the crowd — like Comcast does — there is always the chance that something could go awry.  For example, every so often an unruly fan will take it upon himself to misbehave in hopes of a perceptive blogger pulling the footage and posting it for the world to see.

Such was the case last night, when an innocent camera-stroll through Ashburn Alley in the top of the eighth quickly turned obscene as a young man pulled the ol’ pretend-wave-then-quickly-flip-the-bird maneuver.

Observe, the mischievous actions of Middle Finger Guy:

For the most part, the Phillie Phanatic is the most infallible mascot around who wouldn’t dare get booed in Philadelphia under any circumstances. BUT there is also a cardinal rule the fans of Citizens Bank Park swear by — if any fan is in position to catch a foul ball and doesn’t haul it in, he or she gets mercilessly booed to the point of humiliation.

Unfortunately for the fuzzy green fella, he happened to misplay a weak foul into the crowd on the third base side this evening, and the fans were forced to decide…

Do they boo him, or give him the benefit of the doubt and let it slide? Take a look:

I, like most, was well aware that the Florida Marlins had an all-fatty-male “dance” team who “entertain” the crowd between innings, but I never actually saw them in action. Well this Friday night, while sharing drinks at a New York City drinking establishment with the newly faux-hawked David Chalk of B&C Devil Ray fame, I caught the tubba lards doing that thing they do. Prepare for an onslaught of sexiness:

Read more »

Ryan Howard had himself quite a ballgame this evening.  The newest trendy pick for MVP went 4-for-5 at the dish including the eventual game-winning 2-run BOMB (his ML leading 45th) off Braves lefty reliever, Mike Gonzalez.  On top of that, he made a phenomenal defensive play robbing Josh Anderson on a grounder down the right field line with the bases loaded in the 6th inning.

Afterward, he spoke with Tom McCarthy:

In 14 games so far this September, Howard is batting .396 with 8 homers, 22 RBI, 16 runs scored, and a ridiculous 1.448 OPS. Take THAT, Delgado.

Say it with me…

M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!

I’m pretty sure Ryan Howard isn’t quite ready to give up on this season.

Since the calender flipped to September, the man Jimmy Rollins nicknamed “Big Brown” has been - as we say in the biz - locked the fuck in. Last night was just more of the same. After he took Stifler’s (Ben Sheets looks exactly like Stifler, right? RIGHT?) 20 consecutive scoreless innings streak and deposited it somewhere deeeep in center field for his 43rd round-tripper, he came back in the fourth inning to do it again.

And he came thisclose. Observe:

“Just another piece of bacon - maybe for breakfast - and that ball’s outta here.”

-Sarge

Because I have footage of it.

Hey, Billy, do you think your son is ready for you to retire? Just curious.

While the Phillies broadcast was starting of the bottom of the fourth inning last night, Tom McCarthy wasted no time getting into one of my favorite subjects — Sarge Matthews’ hats. Tom has apparently been receiving letters from a “woman” named “Helen Litz” (You don’t think I use my real name when I send those in, do you?) and she wanted to know exactly how many hats were in the Sarge Matthews collection.

The always modest Sarge tried to get away with the answer, “several” but T-Mac wasn’t having any of that — he demanded an actual count. Sarge told him it was “somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-40″ and as the conversation went further, he admitted that he has about 25 winter hats, which he didn’t count in the original total. Add it all up and that’s a shitload of awesome hats. I’m imagining you have to access his hat room like Bruce Wayne does the Batcave; by tugging on the head of a statue or pulling a certain book off the bookcase revealing a temperature-controlled section of the mansion specifically designed to house his gorgeous fedora collection. Ahhh, who am I kidding. It’s probably way cooler than that!

Here’s the video:

It hasn’t been fun for opposing catchers to play against the Phillies this year.

First, it was Eric Bruntlett concussing Yadier Molina back in June. Then, Shane Victorino took out Braves backstop Brian McCann in July during his famous “oh, no questions asked” game. Now, yesterday, it was Chase Utley’s turn to mow over a catcher and have him carted off the field in pain.

With 2 outs in the fifth inning and Ryan Howard at bat, Nats pitcher John Lannan tossed over to first to try and pickoff Jayson Werth. Chase Utley, standing on third, saw an opening to put another run on the board and broke for home…

Lookout, Jesus!

“That’s not old school, that’s good school,” Manuel said. “That’s the way you play the game unless you want to put some rouge and makeup and lipstick on.”

So, basically what he was trying to say was, that’s what you do unless you play for the Mets. (You see, because they wear makeup and lipstick)

Utley gives Phillies a crash course in leadership | Daily News

On aside, the Washington Nationals broadcast of a baseball game (from which I ripped the above video) is probably the most boring thing I’ve seen in my life. No wonder people don’t watch them on TV or listen on radio - it’s fucking snoozers. There was a beautifully ugly play that Lastings Milledge made in the fourth inning where he threw the ball straight into the ground after a Ryan Howard double. The fucking broadcast team doesn’t even mention it, let alone replay it.

It was the bottom of the eighth inning, Brett Myers just got knocked out of the game after yet another wonderful start, and the Cubs were threatening to take it to the Phillies bullpen again. Well, at least that’s the most Philly fans were thinking. After blowing 7th inning-or-later leads in the previous two contests at Wrigley, the Phillies bullpen needed someone — anyone — to step in and stop the bleeding.

Enter: J.C. Romero. He promptly struck out Reed Johnson & Ronny Cedeno swinging, walked Kosuke Fukudome to load the bases, and ran the count to 1-2 against the next batter, Geovany Soto.

Then this happened:

“[Romero's celebration] was strong,” added closer Brad Lidge. “It got me pumped up, so that’s a bonus. I go with the more traditional fist pump. I don’t know how else to express it. Maybe someday, I’ll add the chest pound. I might hurt myself though. He’s big-chested, so he can handle it.”

In reality, the bullpen has been fantastic this year; better than anyone could imagine. Hopefully, they just hit a temporary bump and Romero put them back on track. We’ll find out this afternoon when Granpappy is set to face Carlos Zambrano Sean Marshall (thanks, Fuqua!) in the series finale.

Romero’s exuberance pumps up Phils | Phillies.com

Here it is, Sarge fans.

Finally, the most stylish broadcaster in the business — in a duet with his grandson Denver — performed “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” within the friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Of course, he didn’t let down the Phillies fans. Instead of singing the expected “root, root, root for the Cubbies”, he let the crowd say it. He didn’t go with the requisite, “Now, go score some runs!” either, he just told the Cubs fans he loved them. so, even though he spent the last three years of his illustrious career and was on the coaching staff with Chicago, he definitely stayed loyal to his current home, Philadelphia.

Phillies radio broadcaster Larry Anderson couldn’t help but get his digs in at the Sarge,

“Larry Andersen said they’re dipping low in the barrel if they’re asking me to do it. I’ll be OK. I know the words and I’ll be fine.”

Well I’d say he was more than OK.  In his best baritone voice, here’s a fedora’d Sarge bringing down the house during the 7th inning stretch. Ah one, ah two, ah three:

Read more »

• How do you spell retard? on What does the Bond girl have in common with Antonio Alfonseca?
• FreddiePickles on What does the Bond girl have in common with Antonio Alfonseca?
• Whittle on What does the Bond girl have in common with Antonio Alfonseca?
• AJ on Ghea City Wagers
• Sean on Meet Rich Campbell