You Must Learn: Don't be throwin' strikes to KRS ONE

It's amazing to me that KRS ONE could drop such intelligent rhymes throughout the '80s and still find time to make the trip to Petco Park to show the people some true power. Power on the mic/power at the plate.

KRS1/Ryan Howard crushes this park every time he visits.....truthfully there aren't too many Phillies that ever have problems here. Howard, Ibanez, Utley, et al, always bring a power display when in town.

I was at the game in 2007 when Tony Gwynn's statue was dedicated out at the Park in the Park...best seats ever. Three rows behind the Phillies dugout....close enough to whisper to big Ryan Howard, "Hey big fella....this is Petco....you got nuthin'!"

Of course I didn't say it. I already knew what the result would be on that night. They shellacked Greg Maddux, Howard hit a bomb and when it was all said and done the scoreboard read 10-0. We got soft tossed to death by Jamie Moyer and watched some real hitters put on a clinic in our own park.

Howard just hit another bomb about twenty minutes ago....his second of the series....wish he'd go back to his previous career.

It makes perfect sense

Doesn't it make perfect season? When it comes time for a streak of 54 consecutive saves to end just call the 2009 edition of the San Diego Padres. Close to handing a lead to Heath Bell the pen coughs up the lead forcing the Padres to face Brad Lidge down a run.....the Brad Lidge who was PERFECT last year! No Problem.....



.....they faced him on Friday Night and did all right. Enter Jody Gerut and his lead-off double....

The final score will read Padres 8 Phillies 5.......people will note that Lidge blew his first save as a Phillie when Kevin Kouzmanoff touched him up for a 3-run bomb in the Citizen's Bank Bandbox....and then Heath Bell came on for his seventh save in 12 games. But make no mistake about when the defining moment of the game occurred: with Gerut at 2B and zero out in the 9th, David Eckstein came to the plate, and did what winners do.....put the ball in play....hit it hard.....and hit it to the right side of the diamond to advance the runner. Gerut would tie the game one hitter later when Brian Giles grounded to Ryan Howard.

Do you remember Opening Day against the Dodgers? Everyone was overjoyed with the Eckstein bunt in the 1st which would help cut the Dodger lead in half. Now we have the 9th inning ground out against Brad Lidge. Jody Gerut would have died at 2B in '08.....ya gotta love the little things!

Padres pound Lidge, top Phils [philly.com]

What a blast! Padres rally again to sink Phillies 8-5 [San Diego UT]

(Just saw the ESPN highlights.....showed the Gerut Double and the Giles ground out but nothing in between. It's alright Eck! We got your back!)

Harry Kalas and a game 1 win in Philly

Make that all "Phans" everywhere, Eric

We were curious whether or not the Philadelphia papers would be chastising their team for losing to the "lowly" team from San Diego.....they weren't.....the night in Philadelphia was more about the passing of announcer Harry Kalas. Whether it was hearing Kalas' voice on NFL Films or This Week In Baseball it was always a treat....what a great voice. Sounds like he was a pretty great guy too.

-Phils honor Kalas but lose game [philly.com]
-Harry Kalas Dies [philly.com].....linked stories
-Phillies fans honor broadcaster Kalas [San Diego UT]

In searching for disparaging remarks about "our Boys" we did find a funny headline regarding a Phillies prospect:

Prospect Bastardo adds to Phillies' bounty of left handers

...and how do you call someone a bastard in Spanish? We believe this is a prime example of a Spanish cognate........well he's made it this far so continued good luck Antonio.

Editor's note:
What a great win tonight! Down 7-1 to a powerful Phillies line-up only to battle back and TAKE the victory. Awesome! We love the emotion exhibited......the fist pumping and chest bumping after the Headly assist at home in the 8th......the Heath Bell fire on the mound after his 6th save. Good stuff guys...keep at it!