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
Phillies Holiday Shopping List
‘Tis the season to buy lots of crap! Black Friday, Cyber Monday….here we come! The Phillies began shopping early when they signed Kevin Frandsen earlier this month to a 1-year, $850,000 deal. If Frandsen plays the way he did last year, that small chunk of change could wind up being the bargain of the year.
But the Phillies have a much longer shopping list than that. Unfortunately, even on Black Friday, not everything is on sale. Even if Ruben Amaro Jr. camped out in front of All-Star Josh Hamilton’s house all night, I am pretty sure someone with more money would be camped out in front of him in line. Fold up the tent, Ruben, and let’s work on a more realistic shopping list.
- The first item on the list should be a centerfielder. I hear our old pal Shane Victorino may come at a descent discount. But the Phillies seem to be more focused on B.J. Upton, who could rival Ryan Howard for strikeouts. They both strike out around 30% of the time and neither hit for average. Regardless, this team needs to shop for an outfielder!
- Bullpen help is needed….badly. Maybe the Phillies need to look back at a few guys they previously tossed in the trash? Here are some oldies, but goodies: Our old pal Chad Durbin had a 3.10 ERA for the Braves last season. And how about Jason Grilli, who was with the Phillies minor league system until they dumped him…he went on to record a 2.91 ERA for the Pirates last season. But my #1 oldie would be Ryan Madson. He is coming off Tommy John surgery so the bidding for him should not get too high.
- Third base: Personally, I feel a combination of Frandsen and a drug-free Freddy Galvis can handle the hot corner. But if you are the type who MUST buy during holiday sales whether you need to or not, here is who might deserve a look: Kevin Youkilis will be 34 in March, but the guy can still hit for power. At 36 years, Michael Young is not exactly young anymore….but he would be a solid veteran to keep the spot warm for a much younger Cody Asche in 2014.
- While the team is stocked with starting pitchers, maybe a few small upgrades could help? You know…get Roy Halladay a bionic shoulder to replace the bum one. Buy Kyle Kendrick an “All I Want For X-Mas is You” tee-shirt to keep his confidence high. And for Cliff Lee, donate to his favorite charity and make a pledge to get him more than 6 wins this year.
- Buy baby-faced Darin Ruf a pair of big-boy pants and put him on the big-boy team. That gamble may really pay off. What have they got to lose? And J.C. Penney has a great Black Friday sale on pants right now…
- And the final big purchase for the Phillies should be a stand-up comedian. When things start to go downhill for the Phils, the comedian can jump in and tell jokes between innings to keep spirits high. Because as a fan base in 2012, we have all lost a bit of our sense of humor. You cannot blame us though…losing is just not funny. Help us all remember how to laugh and smile again! And if the wins start coming, you can trade the comedian to a more needy team.
Happy shopping, everyone!
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Amaro photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
The Only Constant is Change
As with everything else in life, the only true constant in baseball is change. And this year especially, the Phillies are going to see their share of changes.
Infielder Pete Orr and catcher Steve Lerud have been outrighted from the 40-man roster. Placido Polanco and Ty Wigginton had their club options declines; the Phillies will instead pay them buy-outs and say bye-bye. Juan Pierre is a free agent and, despite being the most dependable guy on the 2012 team, the Phillies are probably not going to resign him. In my opinion, that is just sheer stupidity. But I have no say in the matter.
The coaching roster is also a revolving door. The Phillies decided their hitting was so bad, they needed to fire Greg Gross (again) and hire two hitting coaches to replace him. Bench coach Pete Mackanin and first-base coach Sam Perlozzo were canned as well. Here is the updated coaches list:
| Manager & Coaches | ||
| # | Name | Position |
| 41 | Charlie Manuel | Manager |
| 5 | Steve Henderson | Batting Coach |
| Wally Joyner | Assistant Hitting Coach | |
| 30 | Rich Dubee | Pitching Coach |
| 12 | Juan Samuel | First Base Coach |
| 23 | Ryne Sandberg | Third Base Coach |
| 54 | Rod Nichols | Bullpen Coach |
| 81 | Jesus Tiamo | Bullpen Catcher |
| 17 | Mick Billmeyer | Catching Coach |
So all the Phillies need now are a couple of outfielders, a third baseman, many bullpen pieces and an anti-aging remedy. Piece of cake, no? *Sigh*
However, there is still one thing that will never change: The Phillies still want your money! Since October 16, I have received no fewer than 3 email reminders to pay my season ticket bill. And they were all to proud to announce the following: “The Phillies will feature a variable pricing model for season ticket holders in 2013 with no overall price increase compared to 2012.” I am pretty sure that with the way the team has played, not raising prices was the least they could do.
Of course what they fail to mention is that every year, you get less for your money; fewer giveaways, fewer opportunities to get special event tickets, fewer guaranteed postseason tickets (for partial plans), which are in crappy locations, bad customer service…and oh yeah, fewer wins :O(
I wonder how many fans out there will not be renewing their season tickets? Let me know what your status is in the comments section. As for me, I am a glutton for punishment, so I suppose I will renew. But I plan on waiting until the last possible second, just to make them sweat a little. Ok, I know they really do not care, but it will make me feel slightly better anyway ;o)
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Polanco photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
Rollins Gets Gold; Pence Gets a Ring
It is unofficially “award season” in baseball. The end of the playing days signals the start of the individual honors. For the Phillies, Jimmy Rollins took home his 4th career Gold Glove award with a .978 fielding percentage.
But the award is little comfort after a very disappointing Phillies season that ended without a playoff bid. And in a strange twist of fate, one player who was shipped out of town once the team fell out of the race wound up with the biggest award of all…a World Series ring.
Despite the short time he spent here, Hunter Pence was a fan favorite in Philly. Many were saddened to see him go in a mid-season trade to the Giants. But it could not have worked out any better for Pence. He will celebrate with the San Francisco Giants today in a World Series victory parade on the opposite coast.
The New York Times said that Pence was “the human defibrillator that shocked the World Series-bound Giants back to life…” And although he struggled offensively in the post-season, Pence’s clubhouse motivational speeches are credited for propelling his new team to victory. I know another team that could have used that kind of mid-season jolt…the Phillies.
So where were those magic speeches when he was with the Phillies? Perhaps Pence’s personality was simply dampened under the heavy weight of other Philly players like Rollins, Roy Halladay or Ryan Howard. So now Pence has a ring, the Giants have 2 championships in the last 3 years and the Phillies have only regret.
I am happy for Pence; he is a nice guy who deserved to play on a winning team. Congrats to him and to the Giants. As for the Phils, better luck next year…we hope.
For now, here is some Halloween fun for you featuring Halladay, Howard and Kyle Kendrick:
Happy Halloween, everyone!
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Photoshopping by Jenn Zambri Photography
Tim McCarver Steals Headlines Again
It is October and the Phillies are not playing baseball. So what did I do in response to this devastating turn of events? I fled the country. Seriously. I recently returned from a 2-week excursion to a variety of places including Italy, Egypt, Greece and Israel. If anyone else out there is totally bummed out by the end of the baseball season, I highly recommend this adventure :O)
But it is back to reality now and I arrived just in time to see the start of the World Series last night. It was still depressing, but some baseball is always better than no baseball.
And with former Phillies player and announcer Tim McCarver on the job in the broadcast booth, hilarity is sure to ensue. So even if the game stinks, Mr. McCarver will inevitably, and totally accidentally, spice things up.
He did just that during Game 1. As the crowd chanted, “Barry! Barry! Barry!” for a base hit by San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito, McCarver and partner Joe Buck had a very interesting conversation that went like this (this is not a joke; he actually said all of this):
McCarver: “That’s a sound he has not heard too often in this ballpark. That sound of ‘Barry! Barry!’” (referencing Barry Zito)
Joe Buck: “They used to say it for someone else around here.”
McCarver: “When Barry Manilow was here at concerts.”
Joe Buck: “Or Barry Bonds.”
***McCarver then went silent, in probable humiliation. Eventually, Buck had to coax him back on air…
Joe Buck: ”Come back to me over there.”
McCarver: ”Sorry, it’s one of those moments.”
Well, at least McCarver recognizes that he has had more than his share of “those moments” over the years. But surely mistaking Barry Manilow for the San Fran Home Run King, Barry Bonds will go down in history as one of McCarver’s biggest gaffes ever.
And for the belly laughter that ensued, we all thank McCarver and his Hall of Fame announcing skills.
Did I forget to mention that the Panda, Pablo Sandoval, hit 3 home runs in the game, tying a record set by Babe Ruth, Albert Pujols and others? I did? Sorry, I was totally distracted by the Manilow thing…I will do better next time ;o)
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The 2012 Phillies: A Season to Forget
The torture that was the 2012 Phillies season is finally over. And sadly, it ended just as I predicted before the season even began; without a playoff bid. I was hoping to be wrong about that.
Since the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, each year they have taken exactly one step backwards. So this year, missing the playoffs seemed like their destiny. They lost the World Series in 2009; lost the NL Championship Series in 2010; lost the NL Division Series in 2011; and now, the next logical step has arrived. The Phillies will go home early without even a sniff at a post-season run.
Remember happy days like these?:
For now, they are gone :O(
The first casualties of the 2012 disaster are already accounted for. Bench coach Pete Mackanin, hitting coach Greg Gross and first base coach Sam Perlozzo have all been given their walking papers. More fallout is probably on the horizon, but it will probably involve players, not coaches.
So who else should stay and who should go? Here are some thoughts, starting with the offense:
In 195 at-bats, Kevin Frandsen hit .338, which led the team. And for an entire month, he played with a stress fracture in his leg, yet he still kept hitting. I say put him at 3rd base and get a back-up in case of injuries.
If the Phillies do not re-sign Juan Pierre, they are insane. He hit .307 in 394 at-bats, led the team in stolen bases with 37 and he is the best bunter you can find anywhere.
Bring Shane Victorino back! After a depressing second half with the Dodgers, his price will go down, possibly to the point where the Phillies can afford to resign him. John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown can platoon and then the Phils need another outfielder or two.
Needs to Go: Nate Schierholtz, Ty Wigginton, Michael Martinez. Martinez is good defensively, but hit only .174 in 115 at-bats. They can find a better utility guy. And we are stuck with Laynce Nix for one more year unless someone is willing to trade for him…not likely.
Back-up Catcher: In – Erik Kratz; Out – Brian Schneider.
Relief Pitching: Jonathan Papelbon stays and probably Antonio Bastardo. I will also put in votes for Jeremy Horst and Phillipe Aumont. The maybes are Jake Diekman and Justin DeFratus, although DeFratus needs to be 100% healthy, which I feel is still in question. Michael Stutes may return, but no one is sure in what condition.
Please Go Away: Josh Lindblom – trade him (if anyone wants him). He has been awful. This team needs some veteran help in the pen.
Please Come Back: Ryan Madson!
As for starters, unless someone’s arm falls off, stick with the usual 5: Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay (pray he gets healthy), Vance Worley and Kyle Kendrick.
And of course, all the usual suspects, like Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz, etc… will be back. But will they be healthy? That is the looming question.
To give an idea of how badly the injuries hurt the team this year, consider this: I may be missing some, but by looking at the team stats, at least 49 different players made an appearance for the Phillies this year, rotating in and out of the 25-man roster. Also, only 2 players of those 49 reached 400 or more at-bats; Rollins (632) and Mayberry (441). That is scary.
So the season is over and the healing (quite literally) shall begin. Do you have any thoughts you would like to share about this season? Feel free to leave comments below.
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Photo by Jenn Zambri Photography
Trading Places: Phillies Out; Nationals In
Watching the Phillies win a game against the Nationals last night and seeing the Nationals celebrate instead was like being in the Twilight Zone. Not many teams get to pop the champagne after a loss. But before the game even ended, the Nats were celebrating as the Braves lost, making Washington the new National League East Champs.
It was quite a role reversal for the Phillies who, prior to this disastrous year, won that title 5 years in a row. Sadly, they have officially traded placed with the Nationals.
It was a somber win that will guarantee the Phillies a winning record to end the season. But even that small accomplishment cannot make-up for the fact that the Phils have missed the playoffs and will go quietly into the off-season with many questions.
Perhaps less of a question now is Kyle Kendrick, who appears to finally have his act together. He pitched 7 scoreless innings last night and should be a starter next season.
Kevin Frandsen continues to hit, with 2 singles last night, even with a stress fracture in his leg. Still, he does not appear to be an option for 3rd base next year, despite his efforts.
Rookie Darin Ruf keeps slugging away and his triple last night scored the Phillies only 2 runs. But his future is also uncertain, as are many futures of players on this team. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard are hurt again; Roy Halladay had a bad year.
The Phillies still have many questions left to answer. And they still have 2 games left to play. Game time is 7:05pm tonight.
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Photoshopping by Jenn Zambri Photography
Playoff Elimination: Check; Howard Injury to End Season: Check.
The end of this Phillies season seems to be a long, painful check list of unfortunate events. And there are still 4 games to go, so the list may not yet be complete. Let us see where we are so far:
- The Phillies have been eliminated from the playoffs.
- Ryan Howard dropped a warm-up bat on his toe and broke it, ending his season. That makes 2 straight seasons that will end with a Howard limping off the field. Maybe the Phillies need to invest in a lot of bubble wrap?
- Rookie pitcher Tyler Cloyd has been shut-down early with a “tired arm.”
- In what seems like an attempt to get the media to talk about anything other than the worst Phillies season in a long time, the Chase Utley 3rd base experiment has been deemed “over.” He will not play 3rd base.
- Speaking of 3rd base, the Phillies have absolutely no idea who will play there in 2013.
- Last night, Roy Halladay pitched fewer than 6 innings for the 6th time this season and gave up more than 3 runs in a game for the 9th time, unofficially announcing to the world that getting old sucks.
- For the 6th time in his career, Jimmy Rollins will end the season with at least 100 runs scored. However, he will also finish having batted well under .250 for 4 out of the 6 months of the season. He also came in 4th in all of baseball in fly ball outs and 2nd in the National League.
I think those were enough depressing thoughts for the day. On a happier note, despite Halladay allowing 4 runs in 5 innings last night, the Phillies did pull out a 9-5 win over the last place Marlins. 5 players had a multi-hit game, including Utley who picked up 3 RBI.
The win puts the Phillies dead-even at 79-79 for the season with 4 games to go. The goal in these last several games should be to finish above the .500 mark. They will go after the Fish one more time today at 1:10pm.
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Head shot by Jenn Zambri Photography
2012 Home Schedule Ends on a Sour Note for Phillies
The Phillies closed out their 2012 home schedule on Thursday night with a loss; that was 2 straight losses to the Nationals. Worse, they got smacked around by a teenager in both losses as 19-year old Bryce Harper hit a homer in each of those 2 games.
The losses caused the Phillies home record to dip below the .500 mark for the first time since 2000. They finished with a record of 40-41 at home. It is a very sad ending to a very sad season, which is not even over yet. The Phillies still have 6 more games in Miami and Washington before they can slink off to into the off-season.
The Phillies overall record is now 78-78 so they can still finish with a winning record if they have a winning road trip. But if this team continues to play as if they are already at home sitting on the couch, that may not happen.
Last night, the Phillies had Nats pitcher Gio Gonzalez on the ropes in what looked like it might be a total knock-out very early. Gonzalez was wild, walking 3 in the 1st inning and allowing a 3-run, bases-clearing double to rookie Darin Ruf. Still shaky in the 2nd inning, the Phils had a chance to pounce all over Gonzalez and failed.
Once they let him off the hook, Gonzalez found his stride and the Phillies did not score another run the rest of the game. They had only 3 hits from the 3rd inning on.
Now, all fans can do is hope the Phillies muster just a little bit of pride and finish the season strong, giving everyone hope for the 2013 season.
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Phillies photos by Jenn Zambri Photography
A Ruf Day for the Nats in Philly
The fact that Nationals came into last night’s game with the best record in baseball was simply fuel for the Phillies fire who were determined to give their Division rival a tough time. Nats pitching got Ruf’d up by the Phillies who homered 3 times in the game and won by a score of 6-3.
Carlos Ruiz smashed a 2-run shot in the 3rd and Domonic Brown added another homer in the 6th. But the biggest bang of the evening came off the bat of rookie Darin Ruf in the 2nd inning. His first major league hit wound up being a home run to left center field. That was a fitting start to his major league career as Ruf had already hit 38 homers this year in Double-A ball.
But the best part of Ruf’s homer was watching him get the silent treatment in the dugout for the entire inning. Not even the bat boy would acknowledge the rookie. Ruf tried to give him a fist bump and was totally denied. Finally, after a lot of muffled giggling and players attempting to maintain their composure, he was mobbed by his teammates. That had to be some kind of record for blowing off a rookie after his first home run.
After the game, Ruf told reporters, “That was very loving of them…The longest silent treatment of all time, I guess.” Welcome to the Bigs, kid.
Game 2 with the Nationals starts tonight at 7:05pm.
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Photo by Philly.com
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