Changing Doppler With The Seasons

This is a sad year for the Phillies. In baseball terms, they suck. They’re getting older (not that there’s anything wrong with that), slower and less able to hit for power. The pitching staff has been so weak at times I expected walk-ons from the stands to toss a few innings.

We’ve seen them at Dodger Stadium and Angels Stadium. They’ll be in San Diego soon. It’s driveable. Maybe. But why?

Our attention now turns to the Eagles. There are high expectations for this team. I’ve heard it before, but never as positively as now.

Kiss of death? Probably.

To mark the changing of the season Doppler has lost her worn out Phillies tag and gone green!

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A Night At Angel Stadium

Angel Stadium is a massive oval, the kind they don’t build anymore. It is without charm, but nicely maintained from a fan perspective… well, except for the urinal with a plastic trash bag over it in the men’s room!

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The Phillies are west this week. We’ve had our tickets for a while. Tonight, Phils versus Angels in Anaheim.

Let me cut to the chase. The Phils struck first then fell apart. The Angels batted around in the sixth, scoring seven runs off three pitchers. Disappointing. The final was 7-2.

Angel Stadium is nearby. Without traffic (whenever that is) it’s 20 minutes from the house. Google directed me there at rush hour, avoiding the 5 and using roads I was unaware of until tonight. Well done, good buddy.

We arrived in time for batting practice. H and I like to watch the players. Who’s nice to the fans? Who’s chatting it up with teammates? Who’s bigger or smaller than you expected?

Angel Stadium is a massive oval, the kind they don’t build anymore. It is without charm, but nicely maintained from a fan perspective… well, except for the urinal with a plastic trash bag over it in the men’s room!

Hey, Angels fans — where’s your spirit? It was the dullest, most quiet ballpark I’ve been in.

In 2014 your ticket should buy a full night of entertainment. Most venues keep you busy between every inning. Not here. Videos lackluster. Live elements lackluster.

The video screens had panels that obviously aren’t operating correctly. This is Major League Baseball–The Show. Fix it.

The Phillie Phanatic was on hand tonight. He does more in Philly where he has more props. Still funny. The best.

We’ll be back. But Angels, you need to try harder to entertain beyond the game. You’ve spent just enough to be mediocre. For today’s prices it’s your obligation to be first class in every way. Just do it.

Southern California’s Palace Of Baseball

We brought a picnic of leftovers! OMG! All sorts of goodies from Sunday that made it into a soft sided bag and past security. The Foxes dined at the park!

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As Phillies fans, Helaine and I were excited by the chance of seeing West Coast games in person. Last night was a first chance. We dropped Doppler at the sitter and headed up ‘the 5’ toward Chavez Ravine. Phillies versus Dodgers.

LA has traffic. Get used to it. It took 1:20 door-to-door. I can live with that.

IMG_20140421_181714-w1400-h1400Helaine got us great seats down low just up the line from first base. We had an unobstructed view of everything. It was a little tough to judge inside/outside pitches, but other than that, perfect.

We came early. The park is different when the teams are on the field taking batting and fielding practice. We watched A.J. Burnett walk up to the fence, sign autographs and take pics with fans.

Did he have to? No. Class act.

IMG_20140421_193333-w1400-h1400Speaking of which, thank you Dodger Stadium for being a class act too. Every employee we came across was helpful and friendly even though we were wearing Phillies gear. Maybe baseball realizes at the current cost for tickets we deserve to be treated well.

The stadium itself seems to be in pristine condition. It’s cool to see the zig-zag roof over the bleachers and hexagonal scoreboards, now in sparkling high def color. There are more advertising signs than in ’62, but this isn’t a 21st century glitter palace.

IMG_20140421_180820-w1400-h1400We brought a picnic of leftovers! OMG! All sorts of goodies from Sunday that made it into a soft sided bag and past security. The Foxes dined at the park!

The Phils opened with two runs in the first and never looked back. The Dodgers looked lackluster–like patsies on this night. It got chilly toward the end. We were prepared.

380828_20140421_184132-97324829.jpg_1024x1024Nice place to see a game. We should do it more often. Angels Stadium is even closer.

How I Met Jerry Coleman

jerry coleman baseball cardJerry Coleman died today. Seven decades in baseball. World Series MVP as a player. Broadcaster. Manager.

I met Jerry in the late 70s. I was working in Philadelphia radio and our helicopter traffic guy, Walt McDonald, knew Jerry from San Diego. Could he arrange for me to watch a Phillies/Padres game from the broadcast booth as Jerry did play-by-play?

Done.

I headed to the Vet a few Saturdays later and was escorted into the booth directly behind home plate. I was a little overwhelmed. Jerry Coleman was a big deal former major leaguer with a very distinctive voice. There was no mistaking whose hand I was shaking. He didn’t pass unnoticed in a baseball stadium.

The Padres took an early lead, but between innings Coleman explained how the Phillies looked like they’d figured out the Padres pitcher, who was beginning to tire. I saw none of this, but nodded anyway.

Next inning the Phillies blew it open! The Padres pitcher was chased, just as Coleman predicted and when he predicted it.

Both Jerry Coleman and his broadcast partner, Dave Campbell, were gracious that afternoon. It was my own personal reality show to take in and remember.

Over 35 years later, I still remember. It still makes me smile. I am one of many who will not forget Jerry Coleman.

The Season Begins For The Phils

“This game is really long.” That was Helaine a few minutes ago.

Baseball games usually run about three hours. The Phillies’ season is only an hour and a half old. Just four innings into 2013 and there’s already trouble.

Cole Hamels, the Phillies ace, has given up four runs to the Atlanta Braves. Philly bats have been mainly silent.

I’m willing to watch for love of the game alone, but I’d much rather follow the Phillies on a pennant chase.

Last year’s injuries have healed. Only Carlos Ruiz is missing tonight, suspended 25 games after failing two drug tests for Adderall.

I know, there’s plenty more baseball tonight and all season. It’s just too easy to be a pessimist after last year. And there’s no doubt, when it comes to baseball pessimism rules!

Gotta run. The Phils just loaded the bases. Maybe I’m writing too soon?

Time For Baseball

IMG_0577 MLBTVReal baseball begins Sunday night. Warm weather is nearly here.

Once again we’ve signed on with the MLB computer package. That puts the Phillies on all our devices.

In 2010, Helaine watched Roy Halladay’s perfect game as we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway toward Santa Barbara. We’ve got devices!

It’s surprising how many spring training games were on TV this year and how few were on radio. Every day it’s tougher to make a buck in radio.

Live sports on TV still does very well. Without live sports cable would be dead.

I’m watching MLB TV now. The Padres are visiting the Texas Rangers in San Antonio. This is a replay from Saturday afternoon. It’s just random noise made more interesting by the play-by-play guy, Dick Enberg.

If you follow sports you know Dick Enberg from the NFL. For the past few years he’s been doing the Padres’ broadcasts and he’s great. Thorough. Smart. Witty.

Wikipedia says he’s 78. You’d never be able to convince anyone listening that’s true.

H and I enjoy baseball. We’re scared it’s going to be a very long season for Phillies fans. We’ll still watch.

The Baseball Season Has Ended

Show up at the next Phillies home game with a glove and they might let you play the outfield.

“I guess I’m going to stop following him.” Helaine’s words. Shane Victorino’s Twitter account. She’s not happy.

It’s been a tough year for Phillies fans. Let me use the proper sports term. The Phillies suck!

There are 70 games left in the season, but unless all the other teams in the NL East are in a tragic bus accident, the Phils are done. They’re 12 games under 500, 16 games behind.

There are so many teams ahead of them in the Wild Card chase it looks like the halftime line to the men’s room at an Eagles game!

Too hard? Did I work too hard to make that last line fit? Whatever.

This season we’ve suffered as the Phils have done everything in their power to lose. That should be enough. It’s not!

Today the Phils traded two starting outfielders, Shane Victorino (to the Dodgers) and Hunter Pence (to the Giants). Victorino and Pence are legitimate baseball stars. Gone. They’re already telling their new fans how excited they are.

Show up at the next Phillies home game with a glove and they might let you play the outfield.

The trading deadline ended at 4:00 PM. The pain will linger.

This type of payroll offloading is common. It still stings. You hope your team will be playing for something through September. We didn’t make it through July!

What A Baseball Game!

This is crazy. This doesn’t happen in any other sport. Think flight attendant piloting the plane.

This is great. I don’t really care who wins right now. I’ve got the Phils game on. It started six hours ago. They’re in the 19th inning. The Phils have run out of players!

Wilson Valdez is pitching. He has never pitched before–not in the majors, not in the minors. He got the first man out. He just plunked one on Scott Rollen.

The fans are going nuts.

Valdez, sensing the situation, went to manager Charlie Manuel and said, “I can pitch.”

“Are you sure?” Manual replied.

Two out now.

The guy playing third was the catcher. He, Carlos Ruiz, chased a foul over the tarp. Two other players have moved to unusual positions.

Oh my! Three out. Valdez goes an inning scoreless.

The fans, those few still left, are giving Valdez a standing ovation.

This is crazy. This doesn’t happen in any other sport. Think flight attendant piloting the plane.

In the bottom of the 19th the Phils loaded the bases then sacrificed home the winning run. Wilson Valdez picks up the win.

God, this is too good. Put another one in the win column for the Phighting Phils.

Pennant Race At The Fox House

I assume ESPN has producers who do what she’s doing (not as well) and get paid for it. It doesn’t eat at them as it eats at her.

It’s been well established we’re Phillies fans. I’m home tonight and sitting with Helaine here at MLB’s Connecticut hub. The Phils video is on the computer. In another window the little dots representing the Atlanta Braves are prancing around. On the big TV we’ve got the MLB network playing.

My wife has conjured most of this configuration. Impressive. I assume ESPN has producers who do what she’s doing (not as well) and get paid for it. It doesn’t eat at them as it eats at her.

“Cole Hamels just tweeted ‘FML’.” That’s Helaine.

Then she admitted she actually didn’t really have Twitter on. She was now in full worry mode as the Phils had allowed a 10-0 lead to become a 10-6 led. All of a sudden the insurmountable is surmountable!

I’m a fan. She’s a fanatic… or more aptly for the Phillies a Phanatic.

I have becoming a bigger fan, a more knowledgeable fan under Helaine’s tutelage. Baseball’s more exciting this way and this year’s National League East and Wild Card races are crazily close and very exciting.

The Phils lead the Braves by &#189 game! They play each other six times before the season’s over. It could very well go down to the last game.

This game’s over. Phils win. Helaine can go to sleep.

She doesn’t anguish each game. She anguishes each pitch!

What A Comeback

Her TV was on. The sound was muted. A good fan does not abandon.

I’m guessing you didn’t see the Phils game Thursday night. Holy crap. What a game!

The best way to follow what happened–my calls to Helaine.

I called her when I got back to the station after dinner. I peeked at the score and tread lightly. The Phils were down early as the Dodgers scored three in the first.

“Blanton,” I said referring to Joe Blanton the Amish bearded starting pitcher. She is not a fan. Me neither&#185

I called again a little after ten. By then the Phils were being blown out. It was 9-2 and Helaine was telling me how everything had gone and was going wrong.

Her TV was on. The sound was muted. A good fan does not abandon. We commiserated. We said goodnight.

Back at the TV station our newscast had been pushed back by the Pats pre-season game. I finished my prep work with the Phillies playing silently on my iPhone.

They scored four in the eighth and shut down the Dodgers in the ninth. They still needed three to catch up.

The Phils came up in the ninth and loaded the bases without a hit.

I watched Joe Torre walk to the mound, talk to the pitcher and let him stay in. Very unusual. Pitching coaches talk. Managers pull.

Ben Francisco came up and drove in two, a very good outcome for the Phils helped by an error on what was a likely double play. Chooch, Carlos Ruiz, was up next. He slammed one off the outfield wall!

The Phils won!

When the Dodgers Jamey Carroll singled to left and Casey Blake scored for the Dodgers in the eight making it 9-2 FanGraphs.com put the Phils chances of winning at .4% or 250:1!

I called Helaine. “Put another one in the win column for the Phightin’ Phils.” It was said with a reasonably loud voice heard by everyone in the studio. I was excited.

Helaine took the TV off mute.

&#185 – I see when people are talking about me on the Internet. Google sends me email when my name’s mentioned. If I were a major league ballplayer that’s the last thing I’d do. I’m not sure I’d fire up a computer at all. I certainly would never listen to all sports radio. I don’t have thick enough skin.

America’s Most Beloved Ballpark: Fenway

Amazingly, while in the car on the way up we heard about this Red Sox newbie and Helaine predicted he’d ruin our day hitting for the cycle. He was 2 for 4 with a double plus the homer. Close enough.

It’s a week early, but I got my Father’s Day gift from Helaine this weekend. We drove to Boston and caught Saturday and Sunday’s games: Phils versus Sox. In spite of an ugly loss Saturday the trip was great. The Phils held on to win 5-3 on Sunday.

Saturday’s game was marked by a grand slam home run from a player making his major league debut, Daniel Nava. He did it on the very first pitch!

Amazingly, while in the car on the way up we heard about this Red Sox newbie and Helaine predicted he’d ruin our day hitting for the cycle. He was 2 for 4 with a double plus the homer all while wearing a number usually reserved for non-roster pitchers during spring training–60. Close enough.

It’s tough to describe what makes Fenway so special. Part of it is size. As you walk down Brookline Avenue toward the stadium other than the crowd there’s no sign a major sports venue is near!

Even the crowd’s not so large. The stadium only holds around 37,000.

Once we got to the stadium the vibe couldn’t have been better. We came carrying a small soft sided cooler with bottled water ($3.75 per bottle inside), my camera bag with lenses and two Subway sandwiches. No problem. Come on in. This stuff is allowed. The security guards and ticket takers were all smiling and in a good mood.

Inside the no hassle policy continued though we wore Phils shirts both days. There were plenty of Phillies fans, many of whom came early enough to watch batting practice.

The stadium itself is a lovingly restored antique. The new “throwback” stadiums are throwing back toward this!

The main scoreboard is fully human powered! Many of the painted ads are limited to green and white. They fit in rather than stand out. That’s a nice touch.

Though some recorded music is played there is also the traditional organist. He specializes in taking the soul out of even the most soulful songs.

By Sunday afternoon I was pleased enough with Fenway to join in on Sweet Caroline – “So good. So good. So good.”

Saturday’s seats had a pole directly between me and home plate! Uh oh. Luckily a seat was opened and we slid left.

Alas, behind home plate means behind the protective screen. It’s just not good to be behind screen. Oh–forget picture taking too.

Sunday we sat in the grandstand down the third base line. These seats were spectacular with perfect sightlines in all directions.

One doesn’t question gifts, but I think the better Sunday seats were the cheaper seats.

It rained a good part of Saturday’s game and stayed gloomy for Sunday. It made no diff. We were under cover and protected. I wouldn’t have complained had it been a little warmer than the 60&#176s we sat through both days.

I was extremely impressed by the Fenway grounds crew. It goes without saying a big league field will be well maintained but these guys are animals!

On Saturday’s game we watched them groom the infield three or four times valiantly fighting and winning against the rain. They were out with shovels and rakes and bags of that beautifully red infield dirt. They poured enough dirt that the basepaths should have been elevated from the rest of the field!

I asked Helaine if she noticed how many people were wearing team jerseys and t-shirts? It’s grown over the years. Major League Baseball’s merchandising is very effective.

What did bother us was one food item sold by vendors–New England Clam Chowder. I love chowder, but this doesn’t seem like the right place. On top of that it’s $7.50 for a small cardboard bowl!

Finally a liquid more expensive than ink jet printer ink!

As we were walking to pick up the car Helaine asked if I’d like to go on a Phillies road trip again? Absolutely.

Fenway: Ugly Day–Ugly Loss

The Phillies lost. They lost ugly. Evey other part of the day conspired to be ugly too!

We spent the afternoon at Fenway. The Phillies lost. They lost ugly. Evey other part of the day conspired to be ugly too!

It was chilly and rainy. The photo pretty much sums up the day.

One more chance tomorrow. It looks like it won’t be raining. That’s a start.

My Wicked Pissah Father’s Day

Father’s Day is still weeks away, but last night on our drive from the airport Helaine revealed my gift.

I am tough to buy for. When there’s something I want it’s usually specific and esoteric like a lens or motherboard. At the moment there’s really nothing I want/need. Father’s Day is still weeks away, but last night on our drive from the airport Helaine revealed my gift.

“You said you wanted to see the Phillies out-of-town.”

Helaine was right. While snow was on the ground I’d scoured the Phils schedule looking for an opportune weekend in some city served by Southwest.

And then she told me–we’re going to Fenway this weekend. The Phils play the Sox in an interleague series. We’ve got tickets for Saturday and Sunday.

I am VERY excited.

The forecast isn’t perfect, but our seats are in the grandstand under cover. It doesn’t make much difference. Fenway is a special place. It’s like a beautifully restored and loved masterpiece.

Cameras and video cameras are permitted inside Fenway Park, but cannot be used to reproduce the game and must not interfere with other fans’ enjoyment of the game.

Clicky’s coming too!

Why I Love My Wife

The isn’t preseason baseball. It’s pre-preseason baseball! No one’s playing with a jersey number lower than 85.

I got an instant message earlier this evening. It was Helaine. The message was just a link, nothing more. I clicked and saw:

3/3/2010 Baseball at Philadelphia Phillies 7:00 PM Listen

It was the Florida State Seminoles site. They played the Phils tonight. Helaine was looking to listen.
The isn’t preseason baseball. It’s pre-preseason baseball! No one’s playing with a jersey number lower than 85.

And you wonder why I love her so?

I used this as an excuse to buy the yearly Major League Baseball video package. We get it every year and it is well used!

major league baseball blackout map.jpgIt’s a great idea, but talk about a purchase limited by small print! If anyone’s game is nationally telecast the Phillies game is blacked out. If the Phils are playing in New York or Boston the game is blacked out (though we do get those games on cable).

There has been some kvetching recently from folks who are blacked out though they’re hundreds of miles from the nearest team and on-air or cable telecasts aren’t available. That’s just wrong.

I scrolled down the MLB.TV page looking for dirty tricks. Sure enough well below ‘the fold’ there was a pre-checked space expressing my desire to automatically renew next March 1. I unchecked it, as I had last year. Persistent bastards, aren’t they?

I love baseball. It means spring is right around the corner.

Phillies Win A Big One In Frigid Colorado

She’s seen too many teams that should have contended but didn’t–too many Septembers that didn’t count. She lives and dies with the Phils.

May I have my kishkes&#185 back, please? What a night with the Phillies.

In case you’re not motivated enough to stay up until 2:15 AM the Phillies just held on to beat the Colorado Rockies in a well played and hard fought game. The game was close the whole way. The final was 6-5.

The game was played in frigid conditions after being snowed out yesterday! Many of the players wore ball caps with ear flaps. Water vapor was visible anytime anyone exhaled.

In the end it all came down to Brad Lidge, who was perfect as a closer last season but now can’t get men out! He’s got a 7.21 ERA. He’s blown 11 saves. Horrendous!

There have been calls to ditch Lidge for much of the late season. Charlie Manuel, the manager, has mostly (not totally) stood by Lidge. He did again tonight.

It was an adventure with two walks after the first out. It looked like he couldn’t find the plate, the usual precursor to a gopher ball for a home run.

Helaine turned off the sound on the TV.

“It’s only a game,” she repeated… maybe chanted is a better word. “It’s only a game.” But she didn’t mean it.

It’s more than a game to Helaine. She still feels the pain from Joe Carter’s World Series killing home run even though it happened in 1993. She’s seen too many teams that should have contended but didn’t–too many Septembers that didn’t count. She lives and dies with the Phils.

Lidge ended the inning with a pop-up stranding two. Game over. We began to breath again.

There’s still a long way to go before the World Series. I’m not sure we’re strong enough!

&#185 – Like so many other Yiddish words kishke is often used contrary to its actual meaning. Kishke itself is a sausage–there are intestines involved. It’s not a real 21st Century kind of dish.

In this case kishke means my internal organs and even then it’s used as a metaphor.