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Review of Ballpark E-Guide; Citizens Bank Park
I recently received a copy of Kurt Smith’s Citizens Bank Park Ballpark E-Guide and thought I would share what I learned in reading it. The 32-page booklet in the form of a PDF file download covers everything you ever wanted to know about the ballpark including tickets, seating, transportation, parking, food and drinks.
The information provided is great for first-time visitors to the ballpark, but it also includes a lot for the more experienced fans as well. For example, I am an extremely picky eater; if I do not know what it is, I won’t eat it. And I cannot be bothered to look things up ahead of time either when my old standby’s (cheese steak & water ice!) are readily available. But after reading the guide, I discovered many food options that sounded interesting and may prompt me to expand my horizons a bit. I had no clue what a “Schmitter” was before now. For the record, it is a sandwich with steak, salami, cheese, tomatoes, fried onions and a special sauce.
Another tidbit I was unaware of was the existence of a website called FanSnap.com. This ticket site searches about a dozen other ticket sites (like StubHub and E-Bay) so you can find the best prices and seat locations. I will definitely try this out once the season begins.
There are also “Tightwad Tips” throughout the E-Guide to help you find creative ways to save money. These are certainly worth a look.
I also found the Seating section helpful as it describes in detail what you are getting yourself into when you choose where to sit or stand for the game. For example, the Rooftop Bleachers are described as being cheap, but far away from the action with a “raucous atmosphere.” Having sat there myself, this is an accurate description. These are the sort of small details that the Phillies web site will not provide.
At the end of the E-Guide is a section of “Extras” which includes a nice commentary on Phillies fans, describing most as “perfectly well behaved.” But my favorite part says, “If you encounter an unpleasant situation while rooting for the opposing team, you’ve probably asked for it.” Amen to that!
For more information or to order a copy of a Ballpark E-Guide, visit www.BallparkEGuides.com.
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Phillies Sign Mel Gibson…I Mean Delmon Young
Phillies Sign Mel Gibson Delmon Young
In what may amount to one of the most interesting/weird signings for the Phillies this offseason, a 1-year, $750,000 deal for outfielder Delmon Young is now on the books. He is cheap, but this kid has issues. This past April, Young was arrested for a Mel Gibson-esque, alcohol-infused episode in which he hurled anti-Semetic slurs at a group of people in New York City before a game against the Yankees.
Back in 2006, Young was suspended for 50 games from the International League after throwing his bat which hit an umpire in the chest. In 2005, Young received a three-game suspension for bumping a minor-league umpire.
Young has also been ridiculed for his horrific defense and as a result, he was used mostly as a DH in 2012. He posted a .947 fielding percentage with the Tigers over 31 games. That ranks him 267th among all outfielders in the majors.
To recap, Young hates Jews, umpires, and fielding balls. The only family-friendly thing I can think of to say is, “Oh my…”
In Young’s defense (not the baseball fielding kind), he was the 2012 ALCS MVP for the Tigers, batting .353 with two home runs and six RBI in a 4-game sweep of the Yankees. He does have some power and nailed 18 homers in the 2012 regular season, although he only batted .267 with a .296 (yikes!) on-base percentage.
Young is young at 27 years old. If he overcomes prior injuries, including off-season surgery for bone spurs in his ankle, he could bounce back to his top form of 2010 when he hit .298 with 21 homers.
And hey, who wouldn’t love having TWO Young’s on their team to keep us all on our toes? I am sure Michael Young is happy to have the company. On the flip side, Domonic Brown is probably contemplating having many, many stiff drinks as he wonders if this team will ever consider him an everyday, major-league outfielder. Poor kid.
So if you are not a Jewish person, an umpire or a baseball, please join me in welcoming Delmon Young. Hip, hip, hooray??
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Photo by Keith Allison, Wikipedia Commons
Phillies Add More Pitching & Hamels Gets an Unpleasant Surprise
The Phillies have added three right handed pitchers; Juan Cruz, Aaron Cook and Rodrigo Lopez. They have each been asked to attend Spring Training as non-roster invitees on minor league contracts.
You may remember Lopez (photo to the right); he started 5 games for the Phillies in 2009. He spent the last 2 years with the Cubs and in the minors. Lopez, 37, has a career 4.82 ERA in the majors and compiled a 5.28 ERA in the minors last year over 18 games.
Cook and Cruz are both 34 years old. Cook posted a 5.65 ERA in 18 starts with the Red Sox last year and will get $1.625 million if he makes the roster. Cruz was with the Pirates in 2012 and went 1-1 with a 2.78 ERA in 43 games.
The combined age of all three pitchers is 105. Clearly, these signings were not meant to help the team get any younger. These are just more spare parts in case Cole Hamels breaks a finger nail or Roy Halladay’s arm falls off.
Hamels is already having a rough off-season. In October, the star pitcher apparently had a sore shoulder, which the Phillies have since downplayed as being nothing serious.
And more recently, Hamels found out that the Philadelphia school system flat out lied to him in regards to donations he and his wife made to 3 Philly schools that are now slated for closure. They were assured these schools would remain open. The Hamels Foundation is now trying to save those schools so that the playgrounds and library they helped build do not get torn down and turned into apartment complexes or the like.
At least Spring Training is almost here…26 days to go!
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Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
Phillies 2013 New Year Resolutions
In what has become an annual tradition, I usually post New Year Resolutions for Phillies fans at about this time. But it seems that as a fan base, most of us do seem to have our act together. As for the 2012 Phillies team, the same cannot be said. They need some serious help.
So this year, I would like to propose a set of New Year Resolutions for the team instead:
Jimmy Rollins – I resolve to stop swinging for the fences and hitting pop-ups. I will stick to line-drives and grounders.
Roy Halladay, Chase Utley & Ryan Howard – We all resolve to be healthy, productive members of this team! No more bum shoulders, ankles or knees!
Kyle Kendrick – I will not mope when I feel disrespected and just keep pitching. I will put on my big-boy pants and wear them all year long.
Carlos Ruiz – My goal is to repeat my 2012 performance, without the performance-enhancing ADHD pills, thereby regaining the respect I lost after getting suspended.
Ben Revere – I resolve to hit my first major league home run in Citizens Bank Park. If Juan Pierre can hit a homer here, then so shall I!
Ruben Amaro Jr. – No matter how tempted I am to save money, I will not sign former Phillies relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina. Yes, he paid his debt to society. However, he did attempt to murder 5 ranch hands by setting them on fire and chopping at them with a machete. Perhaps we should pass on this one.
Domonic Brown – I resolve to reach my full potential this year and prove I belong in the big leagues, preferably by May.
Mike Adams – I resolve to be fully recovered from surgery and return to my All-Star relief-pitcher form in order to be deemed worthy of my giant $12 million contract.
Charlie Manuel – I will go out on top this year! World Series or bust…
I wish you all a safe and happy New Year!
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The Phillies Night Before Christmas 2012
The Phillies Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, when all over the field,
Not a player was stirring, as the 2012 season had been sealed.
The bats were stacked in the clubhouse with care,
In hopes that a Championship soon would be there.
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The Phillies were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of trophies danced in their heads.
And Charlie with his new line-up tucked under his cap,
Had just settled down for a long off-season nap.
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When outside of his house, there arose such a clatter,
Charlie sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window he stumbled, half asleep,
Having woke from a nightmare of his bullpen being taken deep.
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The moonlight lit up the old ‘08 trophy, causing it to glow,
Giving the illusion of a night game on the grass down below.
When what to his wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh filled with ballplayers in good cheer.
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With his General Manager and ace pitchers in tow,
He knew in a moment it must be Ruben Amaro.
More rapid than the trade deadline, forward they all came,
And he grumbled, and shouted, and called them by name!
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“Now, Hamels! Now, Howard! Now, Rollins and Utley!
On, Brown! On, Halladay! On, Papelbon and Lee!
To the top of the National League! To the top of them all!
Now run away! Run away! And play some baseball!”
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And then, in a twinkling, Charlie heard, “You The Man!”
From the shouting and cheering of each happy fan.
As he drew in his head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney, Ryan Howard came with a bound.
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He was dressed all in pinstripes, from his head to his foot,
Having tossed his old ankle brace, which was tarnished, with ashes and soot.
But he arrived with a smile and Charlie gave him a pat on his back,
Surely the fully healed Achilles would put him right back on track.
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Howard spoke many words, and after tightening his shoe lace,
He welcomed Michael Young, who will now man third base.
And with thunderous joy, the fans clapped their hands,
With a few shiny new toys, 2013 is sure to be grand!
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Howard then sprang to the sleigh, and to his team gave a call,
“You guys are the best ballplayers of all!”
But Charlie heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
“Happy Holiday’s to all and to all a good night!”
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Photoshopping and re-wording by Jenn Zambri Photography
Phillies Sign Pitchers Lannan and Adams
I am guessing that John Lannan and Chase Utley will never be BFF’s, but Lannan signing with the Phillies may at least prompt a truce. In 2007, Lannan threw the pitch that broke Utley’s hand, essentially ending his run for the MVP award that year.
In 5 plus years in the majors with the Nationals, Lannan has hit Phillies’ batter’s 11 times; 3 of those were directed at Utley. I would venture an educated guess that these two guys do not like each other.
Regardless, Lannan is on-board for 1 year and $2.5 million to take the place of Vance Worley, who was traded to the Twins earlier this month. It sounds like a low-risk, high reward situation, as long as Lannan can stop himself from whacking his new teammates with the ball. The temptation may linger until he gets used to his new location.
As for Mike Adams, this sounded like a good signing until I heard the terms. We will get to that in a moment. Adams is a very solid relief pitcher who has a lifetime 2.28 ERA over 8 seasons. However, he is 34 years old and coming off a surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition in which a rib bone presses against a nerve, causing pain and numbness in the arm.
Does this sound like a guy you would sign to TWO years and $12 million? Not so much. And yet, that is what the Phillies are giving him. While this is not fully in the range of a Freddy Garcia-type disaster (whom the Phillies gave $10 million to in 2007 to do basically nothing), the potential is similar. If Adams does not recover from surgery or comes back as a lesser pitcher, this deal is a huge bust.
But the Phillies are once again rolling the dice and praying for the best case scenario. Let us hope they come out on the winning end this time.
By the way, if you missed my 2012 Phillies Photo Tribute slideshow, here it is again for your entertainment. Enjoy!
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Lannan photo by Nick Wass (AP)
Slideshow photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
Phillies Get Young
Adding veteran infielder Michael Young to the Phillies roster does not actually make the team younger, but it does fill the hole at third base. Young is owed $16 million in 2013 and the Rangers are reportedly picking up at least $10 million of that. The Phillies sent right-handed reliever Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher, Lisalverto Bonilla to the Rangers.
Lindblom had little to no impact when he came to the Phillies in July of last season in the Shane Victorino trade. He had a 4.63 ERA in 26 games with the Phillies, so this seems to be a good move. And Bonilla is a prospect who probably has a future as a middle reliever. This was also not a bad price to pay for the return.
As for Young, he is no so young (36), but may still have some ammunition left. A 7-time All-Star, Young is the Rangers’ all-time leader in games, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles and triples. He has hit over .300 7 times in his career, with the latest being in 2011.
2012 was not a great year for Young as the Rangers severely reduced his playing time. Young had graciously moved all over the infield in prior years, playing 2nd, short and 3rd, to accommodate his team. But he felt slighted when he was bumped down to basically a DH and utility role, despite hitting .338 in 2011. As a result, the relationship with Young and the Rangers was strained and he wanted out.
Young’s performance suffered as a result; he hit only .277 with 67 RBI in 2012 which is a steep drop-off from his usual numbers. The Phillies are banking on this change in scenery to have a positive impact on Young.
The likelihood of Young bouncing back to 2011 form is high. He is a starter once again, which should make him happy. This is also a contract year for him and his final chance to show he can still be an impact player. Young will be 37 in 2014; getting a descent contract at that age is not easy. He will need to impress in 2013 in order to make that happen.
So Young will fill the void at 3rd, with Kevin Frandsen filling in as needed, which should be a good thing for the Phillies. Young is also touted as a great clubhouse guy, which is also a perk. He joins another new edition, Ben Revere, who will take over in center. And I have it on good authority that Revere will be loved in Philly. Take it from the Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota, R.T. Rybak, who told me, “You’ll love him.”
Welcome, Revere and Young!
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Young photo by Keith Allison
Ben Revere In; The Vanimal Out
Right-handed pitcher Vance Worley was actually standing in Citizens Bank Park when he got the news that he was being shipped to Minnesota. He was as shocked as the rest of us that his time in Philadelphia was at an end. Sadly, the Vanimal is gone. Phillies’ top pitching prospect Trevor May will join him there as well.
In return, the Phillies got a young centerfielder. Ben Revere, 24, hit .294 last year for the Twins with a .333 on-base percentage. He also had 40 stolen bases and is being touted as a young Juan Pierre with excellent range in the outfield. The downsides include his lack of power, minimal walks and below-average arm. But he is under team control and therefore, very cheap.
It seems Revere’s skill set could make him the new lead-off hitter; he has speed and gets on base. While it is very sad to say bye-bye to the Vanimal and to May, this trade may pay dividends for the Phillies if they can use the money they are saving towards a bullpen piece or another outfielder.
Revere should fit in well in Philly. In fact, his name alone is a combination of two historical figures with Philadelphia ties: Ben Franklin and Paul Revere. I suppose then, it was fate that brought him here.
Welcome, Ben!
The Phillies are not done yet as trade talks still linger. The latest rumor has Michael Young, who is actually not so young at 36 years of age, possibly coming to Philly with half of his salary paid by the Rangers. Stayed tuned…
UPDATE: Just a few quick notes on the Ben Franklin and Paul Revere comments above. It seems we have some badly educated, wanna-be historians in the Twittersphere who question my references to the historical links of these figures in Philadelphia. First, Revere was born in Boston and made several rides to visit the Continental Congress in Philly to report on the impending revolution. Then, during the war in 1775, Revere was sent to Philadelphia to study the only powder mill in the colonies so that northern colonies could learn how to produce more gun powder. So yes, Revere does have ties to Philly. Look it up.
Even more shocking was someone questioning Ben Franklin’s relation to Philadelphia. No, he was not born there, but he lived there most of his life (around 67 years), died and was buried in Philly. Oh, and he signed that little document called the United States Constitution in Philadelphia. Anyone questioning that should be ashamed.
By the way, Ben Revere retweeted the photo I posted of him as Ben Franklin and Paul Revere. So clearly, he enjoyed it :O)
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Photoshopping by Jenn Zambri Photography
2012 Phillies Photo Tribute
Drum roll please….
Here is my annual Phillies Photo Slideshow! The slideshow includes all original photos that I took during the 2012 season; it includes players, coaches, fans, the Phanatic, and more. Enjoy!
Sign of the Apocalypse? Ruiz Suspended for Stimulant Use
Well, at least it was not steroids. Still, the news that the Phillies’ beloved catcher Carlos Ruiz has been suspended 25 games for violating the league’s drug policy does sort of feel like the end of the world may be upon us. Is the Phillies 2013 season already going down in flames? Oh Chooch, say it ain’t so! I am so depressed…
The stimulant Ruiz took was Adderall, which is an amphetamine used to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). College students use it to improve focus and stamina. For ADHD, it helps alleviate symptoms and allows patients to behave “normally” (if there is such a thing as normal).
Many major league baseball players are prescribed this type to drug for ADHD and they are granted an exception from MLB. A good example would be our old pal Shane Victorino, who has struggled with ADHD since childhood. He even wrote about it in his book that was released last year, “Shane Victorino: The Flyin’ Hawaiian.”
Another Phillie, Kevin Frandsen, was suspended in 2011 for a different amphetamine, Ritalin, while in the minors. These pills have become more common over the years among athletes looking for a “mental” boost instead of a physical one, like steroids. There is much debate over whether or not amphetamines really offer any serious edge, but Ruiz’s numbers this past year do seem suspicious. He had career highs in many categories including batting average, home runs and slugging percentage.
Know what else is a stimulant? Caffeine. So can players just drink jugs of coffee before games to get a similar effect? And how about energy drinks, like 5-Hour Energy or Monster? While these are not nearly as strong as Adderall, it does raise some interesting questions. Does feeling more “awake” enhance baseball performance? And if so, how much?
There have been a number of studies which can be found in scientific journals, but the results are varied and, therefore, inconclusive. An article at LiveScience.com reviews a journal entry by six scientists from top universities who advocate the use of amphetamines by healthy people. But the review serves to show an opposing view, noting the dangers of drug dependency and side effects. So even scientists cannot seem to agree on the subject.
Whatever the individual opinion on the subject, the end result is the same. There will be no Chooch for the first month of the season. Worse, players are only given a suspension for use of amphetamines after their second failed test. This means Ruiz knew he was to be retested, and still did not stop taking the drug. Chooch, you are killing me, man! What the *%*^@!!??
This is a crippling blow to the Phillies, who are already in a tenuous situation as this team continues to age. The window of opportunity for wins with this core group of players is closing fast. Of course, Erik Kratz will be there to fill in, but with so many questions going into the 2013 season, this is a huge setback. Will Chase Utley be healthy? How about Roy Halladay? Can the team sign a solid outfielder? And the list goes on…
I need a stiff drink right about now. Spring training has not even begun, and I already feel the weight of impending doom upon us. Hey, isn’t the end of the world nearly upon us? December 21, 2012 is less than a month away and, according to the Mayan calendar, we are all as good as gone. Is Chooch the first sign of the apocalypse or do the Phillies just have a black cloud over them in 2012? And could the Angels signing of Ryan Madson, who the Phillies should have gone after this offseason, be apocalypse sign #2? I officially hate the Mayans for prompting this silly discussion.
Let us all hope that 2013 has better luck in store for all of us.
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Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
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