No Laughing Matter: Philadelphia Phanatic Gets Sued

Philadelphia— It seems that the world of a major league mascot gets harder and harder.

We have recently seen the issues within the Pittsburgh Pirates regarding disgruntled pierogies and their opinions on executive decisions.

Now, the other team that occupies the state of PA is getting into issues of his own.

Today the Philadelphia Phanatic got some bad news of his own as he was subpoenaed. The Phanatic is facing civil charges from a Bucks County woman claiming the Galapagoa Island native mascot injured her at a minor league baseball game.

Grace Crass is claiming the Phillies mascot climbed over her at a Reading Phillies game, causing her increased arthritis that led to knee surgery earlier this year.

In the suit, the Phillies, their minor league affiliate, the Reading Phillies, and Tom Burgoyne (the Phanatics “friend”) are all being sued for a combined $50,000 in damages.

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Steroid Pioneer: Lenny Dykstra Admits Use in New Book

(New York, NY) — In a new book on the world of Wall Street corruption, author Randall Lane manages to shed some light on the long time speculations of one of Philadelphia former darlings, Lenny Dykstra.

Dyrstra, a member for the 1993 NL Champion Phillies, became a wall street and market speculation guru after his playing days and has been involved in current controversy over money he was given to influence his stock tips.

Lane writes that one day in 2000 he was meeting with Dykstra in his NYC apartment to pick up a settlement check. The two started discussing the ongoing congressional inquiry on steroids in baseball and Dykstra began to admit his past discretion.

“I was like the very first to do that,” stated Dykstra, “Me and Jose [Conseco] were the first ones.”

His steroid legacy was so well known and he was even consulted by MLB execs in 2000 about his career and his ability to educated the league on steroids.

The book entitled “The Zeroes: My Misadventures in the Decade Wall Street Went Insane,” even contained Dykstra’s admittance that part of his steroid use was to get more money from the Phillies organization.

After the 1993 season, Dykstra was given a four-year $24.9 million dollar deal yet injuries kept him from playing a complete season for the Phillies and he retired in 1996.

Lane even describes how the once great Phillies rationalized his steroid use.

“‘You gotta understand, there were only 28 people who had my job in the whole world…So I needed to do anything I could to protect my job, take care of my family.”

Dykstra was a career .258 batter and has a career high 19 home runs in 1993.

Most of this steroid speculation is not revolutionary as Dykstra was one of 89 players mentioned in the 2000 Mitchell Report and Dykstra has been very public about the steroid era in baseball.

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Trouble In Philly: Chase Utley and Placido Polanco Sent to Disabled List

Philadelphia, PA—The injury woes for the Phillies grew today as it was announced that second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Placido Polanco were both added to the 15-day disabled list.

Utley had an MRI on a strained right thumb ligament and may miss up to three weeks with the injury. Utley bruised the thumb in last nights 7-3 loss to the Reds.

Ploanco, who was innactive for two games in the recent Toronto series, was placed on the retroactive disabled list with inflammation in his left elbow. He received a cortisone shot in the elbow this afternoon with the hope that he would return to the lineup for tonight’s game. The bruised elbow did not respond well to the shot and the decision to move to the disabled list was made.

The Phillies have called up infielders Brian Bocock and recently assigned Greg Dobbs from Triple-A Lehigh Vallley.

Dobbs was hitting .152 in 42 games with the Phillies this season and was sent to Lehigh Valley just two weeks ago.

Neither is expected to start as the team will most likely go with bench players Wilson Valdez and Juan Castro to start in the meantime.

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Johnny Cueto Goes Eight Strong As Reds Top Phillies 7-3

(6/28/2010)

Cincinnati, OH –  Former Phillie Scott Rolen played game killer and Reds ace Johnny Cueto went eight strong innings as Cincinnati topped Philadelphia 7-3 in the opening contest of the three-game set at Great American Ballpark.

Rolen went 1-for-2 with three RBI including a towering two-run shot in the fourth to lead the Reds. Joey Votto and Orlando Cabrera both went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the win.

Reds starter Johnny Cueto (8-2) went eight innings, allowing one run on six hits and lowered his ERA to an impressive 3.74.

Rolen got the scoring started with a home run in the fourth. Two innings later after a Votto RBI single in the sixth, the third baseman put the Reds up 4-0 on a sacrifice fly that plated Brandon Phillips.

Raul Ibanez paced Philadelphia with a RBI single in the seventh. He platted two more in the top of the ninth on a two-out home run to right that scored Jayson Werth.

Kyle Kendrick (4-3) allowed six runs on eight hits and struck out four. He was pulled in the seventh after a Ramon Hernandez double that plated Drew Stubbs.

Replaced by David Herndon, Kendrick was credited with another run as Hernandez was scored on a Cabrera two-out single to left.

The Reds tacked on another run in the eighth on a Chris Heisey sacrifice fly to bring the score to 7-1.

Box Score

Game Notes: Chase Utley did not bat in the ninth inning and will have an MRI tomorrow due to an apparent right thumb injury.

Rolen’s home run in the sixth was his 300th of his career. Rolen hit his first 150 home runs with the Phillies from 1996-2002.

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Jamie Moyer Shines in Philadelphia’s 11-2 Closeout of Toronto

(6/27/2010)

Philadelphia, PA — Jamie Moyer went a solid seven innings, allowing only two runs on six hits, as the Phillies took the rubber match of their three game set with the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2.

Despite the win Moyer did clinch his spot in the “not so” record book when he passed Phillies hall-of-fame Robin Roberts for sole possession of the all-time home runs allowed list with his 506th.

The 47-year old Moyer (9-6) inched to the top of the list when Vernon Wells sent a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the third.

Ben Francisco went 3-5 with two RBI and two doubles to lead the Phillies offensive assault.

The Phillies scored four runs in the top of the second the was capped off when catcher Drew Sardinha smacked a two-out double to left field that plated Wilson Valdez and Shane Victorino.

After Wells’ home run in the third, to put the Blue Jays on the board, Philadelphia responded scoring two runs in the top of the fourth. The runs came on back-to-back RBI singles from Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley.

Chase went 1-4 with the RBI single.

Blue Jays starter Brent Cecil (7-5) allowed seven runs—five of them earned—on 10 hits in only 4 2/3 innings.

The Phillies kept it going in the fifth as Ryan Howard led off the inning with a double and was scored one batter later when Shane Victorino hit a double down the left field line that scored Howard from second.

The Phillies batted around in the seventh as they scored four runs off Blue Jays middle-reliever Jason Frazer. None of the runs were earned as the Blue Jays defense fell apart in the inning.

After Jayson Werth flied out to right to start the inning. Ryan Howard reached on a bloop grounder to short that was overthrown by SS Alex Gonzalez. After Victorino singled to center putting runners on first and second Ben Francisco capped off his day with a double to left that plated Howard.

Raul Ibanez worked a one out walk to load the bases. The next two batters were a calamity for Toronto as Shane Victorino scored from third on a Wilson Valdez fielders choice but on the play second baseman Aaron Hill over threw first that allowed Ben Francisco to score from third.

Frasor got in on the defensive mishap when he overthrew first base on a Drew Sardinha grounder to the mound that scored Raul Ibanez.

The Phillies got another strong outing from their bullpen as David Herndon and Danys Baez both pitched scoreless innings to preserve the win for Moyer.

The Phillies are back in action today as they head to Cincinnati for a three-game set with the Reds. Kyle Kendrick (4-2) will take the mound for the Phillies as he will face Reds ace Johnny Cueto (7-2).

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On Roy Halladay: Phillies Ace Shines in 9-0 Romp of Toronto

(6/25/2010)

Philadelphia, PA – This game was supposed to be Roy Halladay’s return to Toronto—a chance for the Phillies to visit Rogers Stadium to make a statement with their new ace—but due to the G-20 summit, Halladay invited his former team to Philly and played host in a stellar seven innings of work to lead the Phillies in a 9-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park.

Halladay (9-6) allowed no runs on six hits and struck out four in the win. He was assisted from the unlikely source of first baseman Ross Gload who went 3-for-4 with four RBI.

Because of the AL rules, Gload got the start at first, and normal starter Ryan Howard was given the DH role. Gload got the Phils started in the second with a two-out single to left that scored Jayson Werth to put the visitors up 1-0.

Halladay sat the first nine Blue Jays down and didn’t allow a hit until the bottom of the fourth when the always dangerous Jose Batista smacked a ground-rule double to center.

The Phillies tacked on another run in the top of the fourth when Shane Victorino scored Werth once again on a sacrifice ground out to second.

Philadelphia tacked on six more runs in the top of the fifth. The first three runs came on Chase Utley and Ryan Howard singles. Gload then smacked a double that rolled all the way to the center field wall and cleared the bases plating Utley, Howard, and Werth.

Shane Victorino capped he Phillies scoring with a solo-shot in the eighth inning off newly inserted pitcher Brian Tallet to bring the game to 9-0.

Halladay was pulled in the seventh after throwing a solid 106 pitches and gained excellent support from the bullpen as Jose Contreras and David Herndon each pitched scoreless innings to preserve Doc’s first win against his former club.

For Toronto, the loss went to Jesse Litsch (0-2), who allowed six runs on seven hits in only four innings for work.

The teams will play Game Two of the three-game set today as Toronto will send Shaun Marcum (6-3) to face the recently productive Cole Hamels (6-5).

Box Score

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Trail Of Tears: Philadelphia Phillies Demolish Cleveland Indians, 12-3

(6/24/10)

Philadelphia, PA – The Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of a shoddy defense and a strong outing from Joe Blanton to dismantle the Cleveland Indians 12-3, sweeping their three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

Joe Blanton (3-5) went 7.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out eight. Blanton was given plenty of run support as the Philles had 15 hits.

After a slow first inning, the Phillies put up big numbers in the second, scoring five runs on four singles.

Placido Polanco went 4-for-5 with two RBI, and Chase Utley went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two runs scored to lead the Phillies’ attack.

After a rough second inning, Indians starter Fausto Carmona (6-6) rebounded, setting the Phillies down in order in the third and fourth before both teams added on runs in the fifth.

Cleveland’s first runs came on a one-out, two-run home run by ex-Phillies prospect, Jason Donald. Donald’s shot was his second of the season, and his first against the Phillies since he was dealt in the trade that brought Cliff Lee to Philadelphia at last season’s trade deadline.

The Phillies added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on a Ryan Howard fielder’s choice that scored Placido Polanco, and a Jayson Werth single that plated Chase Utley.

After the Werth single, Indians manager Manny Acta sent Carmona to the showers. Carmona allowed seven runs on nine hits, without recording a strikeout.

No matter the pitcher, the Phillies hit, as they batted around on newly inserted Indian, Hector Ambriz, and charged him with four runs in the sixth inning, including a Dane Sardinha lead-off home run.

The four-run sixth inning made the score 12-2.

A late, unsuccessful Indian rally came in the eighth innings when Jason Donald led off the inning with a double, and one out later, Trevor Crowe launched a double to the left field corner, scoring Donald.

Nelson Figueroa, called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier, pitched 1.1 innings of hitless ball to close out the game for the Phillies.

The Phillies will be back in action on Friday as they open a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. The series will be played with AL rules because it will be moved from Toronto because of the G-20 Summit. The Phillies will play as the visitors and bat first.

Box Score


Game Notes: Ryan Howard blew his seven-game hitting streak by going 0-3… This is the Phillies’ first home sweep this season and their first interleague sweep since 2007.

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Walk It Off: Rollins Homer Lifts Phillies Over Tribe 7-6

Philadelphia, PA—Coming back form the DL is a tough thing to do, especially if you’ve spent all but 14 games of the season away from your team.

Jimmy Rollins proved that his almost two months away from the Phillies was an afterthought with a two-run, walk-off home run to vault the Phillies over the Cleveland Indians 7-6, in game two of their three-game set at Citizens Banks Park on Wednesday night.

Rollins made up for his 1-for-5 night with the home run, which is not only his first hit since returning to the club but also the first walk-off homer of his career.

His shot, which was his third of the season, was the climax of a back-and-forth struggle between the Phillies and Indians and the second consecutive game that was decided by one run.

Neither team benefited from good starting pitching as Kyle Kendrick only lasted four innings and allowed five runs—four of them earned—on six hits and one strikeout.

Kendrick got knocked around early as Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo had a two-run homer of his own in the top of the first to put the Indians up early in the first.

Cleveland suffered from the mound as well as starter as Jake Westbrook allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings to get the no decision.

The Phillies got on the board in the bottom of the first when Ryan Howard grounded into a double play that scored Placido Polanco. The run was scored because of heads-up baserunning by Chase Utley, who slowed his attempt to second so that Polanco could score from third.

The Phillies tied things up in the bottom of the second when Jayson Werth had a lead-off homer, his 13th of the year, to tie things up at two apiece.

After Trevor Crowe lead off the third with a double for Cleveland, Carlos Santana scored him from third one out later on a sacrifice fly to center to give the Indians a 3-2 lead.

Raul Ibanez went 1-for-4 with a two-run double in the fourth inning that scored Werth and Howard.

Choo, fresh off his first innings shot, sent Kendrick to the shower in the fifth with his second two-run homer of the game to put the Indians back up 5-4.

The Phillies bullpen held the game steady as David Herndon and Mike Zagurski both pitched one and one-third innings of scoreless ball and Danys Baez closed out the seventh innings for the Phillies.

The Phillies added another run in the bottom of the seventh when catcher Brian Schneider hit his first home run of the season off Frank Herrmann to tie the game at five. That shot gave Herrmann his first blown save of the season.

Chad Durbin pitched a scoreless eighth inning but faced only one batter in the ninth after sustaining a right leg injury following an Anderson Hernandez lead-off single.

J.C. Romero (1-0) finished the top of the ninth, only allowing one hit and a walk. The one hit scored Trevor Crowe when Jimmy Rollins over threw second base on a fielder’s choice. The error gave the Indians a one-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.

After a Brian Schneider lead-off walk, pinch-hitter Ben Francisco advanced him to second on a groundout, which brought Rollins to the plate.

Rollins’ walk-off home run to right field gave the Phillies a guaranteed series win, which they haven’t had in interleague play in over a month and put Cleveland at 4-10 in interleague play this season.

The two teams will finish off the three-game set tonight as the Phillies will pitch Joe Blanton (2-5) against Fausto Carmona (6-5).

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Ageless Wonder: Jamie Moyer Leads Philadelphia To 2-1 Win over Cleveland

(6/22/10)

(Philadelphia, PA) – Jamie Moyer went eight innings and only allowed one run on two hits to clinch his eighth win of the season as the Phillies topped the Cleveland Indians 2-1 in game one of their three-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

Moyer (8-6) did break a non-flattering record in the process as Russell Branyan sent a two-out solo home run in the top of the second to put Moyer of the top off the all time home runs allowed list in the MLB.

Branyon’s shot allowed Moyer to pass Phillies legend Robin Roberts and put his career home runs allowed total to an astonishing 505.

Both teams got their scoring early as Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth both knocked in a run in the bottom of the first. Howard’s came on a one-out single that scored Placido Polanco and Werth’s on a sacrifice fly that scored Chase Utley.

The Indians halved the lead with Branyan’s solo shot in the second.

In his first game back from the DL Jimmy Rollins went 0-4 with two fly outs and two ground outs.

Mitch Talbot (7-6) took the loss for Cleveland but pitched well allowing only two runs on four hits in seven innings of work.

Despite the pitching duel there was some drama as Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was tossed in between the fourth and fifth innings for arguing a runner’s interference call with umpire Sam Holbrook.

Raul Ibanez was called out when Shane Victorino grounded into what would be a double play to end the inning after he slid into Cleveland shortstop Anderson Hernandez..

The Phils and Indians will play game two of their three-game set tomorrow as the Phillies will send Kyle Kendrick (4-2) to the mound, he will face Jake Westbrook (4-4).

Game Notes: Before today’s game the Philles designated Greg Dobbs for assignment and placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the 15-day DL (concussion)… they also sent pitcher Scott Mathieson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and called up pitcher Mike Zagurski… The win was Moyer’s 266th which puts him at 35th all time.

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Just the Medicine: Roy Halladay Will Be Key to Phillies-Yankees Series

We all know the Phillies’ recent struggles—the inconsistent bats and the flat-out lack of offensive production.

Philadelphians have been in a shroud of disbelief over the team’s current struggles, what with the Flyers’ recent success clouding their thoughts, and have ignored the team and brushed off the much-needed panic.

Some call it a slump, some call it midseason woes, but if they Phillies don’t right the ship quickly, we can all call it missing out on the playoffs.

For the Phils, nothing seems scarier in the midst of a slump than interleague play. The team is currently ranked 29th in crossover play, and this year’s struggles have been tragic examples. The Phillies were shelled in the first two games of their recent romp in Boston and barely escaped game three with a win.

Now the Phils have to head to the hallowed grounds of the Bronx to take on the Yankees. Despite the fact that the wounds from last year’s World Series are still healing, the Phillies will have their biggest test in months in NYC.

The series is a three-game set, but when we look at the matchups, we can all agree that game one will be key. Roy Halladay will take the mound for the Phillies, and the Yanks will hope to trump the hype of Halladay with CC Sabathia.

Both of these men have been juggernauts in their careers and hope to set the tone for a possible (and hopeful) World Series matchup in Game One.

Despite last year’s World Series, the Phillies don’t have a huge history against Sabathia. In fact, only three players (Placido Polanco, Raul Ibanez, and Juan Castro) have had more than seven at-bats against Sabathia.

Polanco is a career .326 hitter against the Yankees ace with only one HR and three RBI. Ibanez is the only player close to double-digit RBI, but he only has 11 hits in 40 ABs.

As far as the Doc Halladay v. Yankees matchup, this one has a bit more to it. Halladay was a nightmare for the Yankees when he was in Toronto. The only player on the Yankees lineup that is even arguable against Halladay is A-Rod.

Rodriguez is hitting .299 against Halladay and has seven doubles and 14 RBI. A-Rod is expected to start but could be a game-time decision due to the fact he missed all three games of the Astros series with a bruised hip.

If you look at the Yankees’ big four (Derek Jeter, Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Nick Swisher), they have a staggering 52 K’s and are hitting only .243 against Halladay.

It seems even more exciting for the Phillies when you notice that Halladay is 18-6 with a 2.81 ERA in 35 games against the Yanks and is 8-1 in his last 10 games against the Bronx Bombers.

This is the third meeting between Halladay and Sabathia, as they split their first two meetings.

We all know the pitching is going to be key, but if the Phillies are to have any chance in the series, they will need to improve with their bats. The team is currently last in run production since the end of May, and since they began interleague play this season on May 21 they have only scored a pitiful 53 runs.

As you can see, the pitchers will take the spotlight in game one, but if the Phillies expect to make a run at seeing the Yanks in the postseason, the bats are going to have to do the talking from here on out. Let’s just hope the team is listening.

 

Side Notes

The Phillies have had luck with the long ball against the Yanks. In last year’s World Series the Phillies had 11 long balls—the Yankees only six. Chase Utley had five HRs in the series.

Utley is currently hitting .256 and was a combined 1-for-9 against the Red Sox.

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