Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2010, technically not the next decade, but everyone seems to think it is, so I will conform. I have bigger battles to take on.

Just a Little Bit More Than 60 Days

2009 was a great season. Obviously, not as great as 2008, but still good, nonetheless. That Guy said in his last post that a World Series win would just be gravy on the cake, and I meant it. But it doesn't make last night's loss any easier. (Of course, the Phils just HAD to lose to the Yankees. They didn't name a Broadway musical after them for nothing, folks.)

But either way, as a Phillies fan I have very little to be sorry about. I get to root for possibly the best Phillies teams ever assembled and as the saying goes, "Wait 'til next year."

Speaking of that, I heard the pefect quote from the great Rogers Hornsby today.

“People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring.”

February will be here before you know it.

59 Years Ago... Robert Redford Played for the Phillies?

It's been a few months since this page has seen some action, so what better way to get in the swing than on the eve of the Phillies 2nd World Series in a row. Hard to believe from the world's (that's right, the WORLD's) losingest sports franchise ever. But that's all in the past right? Phillies fans aren't still bitter about that, are they?

So, it's the Phillies and the Yankees in the Fall Classic in 2009. The losingest vs. the winningest (in the American league, at least). Yes, I am aware that I just made up two words, but for the sake of this blog, let's just go with it, ok?.

Obviously it's not the first time these teams have met in October. 59 years ago the two storied franchises clashed for the Series. It didn't turn out so well for the Whiz Kids. But that fall classic did have some quirks that you might find interesting.

The biggest one... the Phils had Roy Hobbs starting at first base. I know what you are thinking... Robert Redford was only 14 in 1950. He couldn't have started for the Fightins. But wait sportsfans, depsite Bobby's stellar performance in what might be the best baseball movie ever, he wasn't a major league baseball player. No, Roy Hobbs wasn't an actual baseball player either. Hobbs was a character in the novel "The Natural" by Bernard Malamud (another interesting note.. Malamud was not a baseball fan).

But Hobbs was inspired by an actual player, Eddie Waitkus. See, Eddie was pretty good in his day. Apparently his coaches had always said he was a natural at the game. That was until an obsessed woman shot him in a hotel room in Chicago in 1949. Yeah, that actually happened. By October of 1950, Eddie was still feeling the effects of the gunshot to the chest (who wouldn't), but he still started the series. No, he did not hit a homerun to win the game and as far as I know he did not have a bat made out of a lightning-struck tree nor did any stadium lights explode. And trust me, the real story and the movie end much better than the book.

Other points of interest from that series. The Phils struggled a little bit down the stretch but were able to beat out the Dodgers (I sense a theme, here) to win the National League Pennant. There was not a week layoff before the start of the series. There weren't any off days either. It started on October 4th, by the way. Just in case you are keeping score, that was the day that the regular season ended this year.

Robin Roberts won 20 games in 1950 but he did not start game 1 of the World Series. Why? Oh, only because he had pitched 4 out of the last 8 games the Phillies played in the regular season and his arm was feeling a little bit like jello at that point. But don't worry, he pitched Game 2.. all 10 innings of it and got the loss despite only giving up 2 runs.

How about the Phillies starting catcher, Andy Seminick who played in the World Series despite having a broken ankle or the Phils number 2 starter Curt Simmons who wasn't on the roster because he was called to National Guard Service.

Now, I am not making excuses for the Phillies back in 1950. The Yankees were the dominant team of that era. Names like DiMaggio, Berra, Ford and Mize wore Yankee pinstripes that year and they went on to win five straight World Series.

Big thanks to Philly.com for their article that outlined all of this information. There is much more in there than I can get into, but read it, for some great info. http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20091027_A_look_back_at_Yanks_vs__Phils_in_1950.html

Now, for the present. Things are much different 59 years later, but they are still Bombing it in the Bronx. But the way the Phils are playing right now anything can happen. All I know is that I was estatic for the win last year. So beating the Yankees is just gravy on the cake.

Hilarious (maybe NSFW)

Maybe I should start watching the news. This is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time. This may not be safe for your children.


I think the fact that he goes on to sexually harrass his co-anchor really makes this even funnier.

8 years...

The rainy weather seems right, the longer than normal commute seems appropriate. Nothing about this day should really be easy.

Who's a bigger villian?

That answer is obvious-- it's the Oriole Bird (but that only applies to my former niece/goddaughter. We have to get to a Phillies game to show her the best mascot in all of sports). Jayson Stark has a pretty good article about his opinion of Pete Rose's chances of entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Earlier tonight, I caught an episode of 60 minutes on ESPN Classic regarding Pete Rose. All of this talking about Pete Rose, got me thinking-- who is the bigger villian?

Is it the guy who has the most career hits all-time? Or is it maybe the guy who has most career homeruns? Was it a former Red and Phillie who owns a highly coveted and nearly impossible to break record? Or was it a current Yankee? A former Yankee? Maybe it was even a really bad backup catcher. Heck, it's very possible it was a favorite player of mine.

Who did the game more wrong? Who made a history of statistics and sabermetrics worthless? It wasn't the guy who played harder than at least 17 other people when he took the field. He didn't hurt the game any. He certainly hurt himself. Then he lied; for many years he continued his lie. There's no doubt in my mind that Peter Edward Rose, Sr. is a complete fool. But that's not because he made an illegal bet on a game as he was a manager. It's because his ego got in the way. He thought he was bigger than the game (sounds a lot like most of the links above).

It's my opinion that the player with the most career hits ever should be a member of the club of the that honors the best players ever to play that game. It is also my opinion the player with the most career homeruns should NOT be in that club. Why? I'm so glad you asked.

Pete Rose is banned from the HoF because he bet on baseball games in which the team he was managing played. That broke a rule. Barry Bonds took steriods-- sure he never admitted it, but it took Rose 14 years to admit what he had done (I'll see you in 2021, Barry.) Bonds never broke a rule of baseball. So what?! He disgraced the game, just like Bart Giamatti said Pete Rose did. Pete Rose didn't cheat as a player. Every player who's taken PEDs cheated.

So if you ask me who is the bigger villian, it's not a guy who broke the rules-- it's each and every player who used a substance (even if it wan't illegal) that caused them to enhance their already amazing abilities on the baseball field. They've not only cheated the game, they've cheated the fans. They've cheated the record books. They've cheated themselves.

Maybe the question that needed to be asked is who loses out the most because of Pete Rose's actions? Again, the answer is not Pete Rose. I feel it was all the players who were not able to learn from the great baseball mind of Pete Rose. It's the players that didn't get to have Pete Rose as a hitting coach or a manager that truly lose out. Heck, you might say it's been the Reds organization that loses out the most.

Pete Rose screwed himself by breaking a rule. However, it's a tradgedy the most prolific hitter ever to play the game isn't in a museum that celebrates individual's accomplishments of those who haven't disgraced the game on the field.

Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame. Any writer who doesn't vote him in should lose their chance to vote. Mike Lupica was right, the Hall of Fame is not the Vatican. The Hall of Fame is a celebration of the best players the game has seen. At least when they are clean. It's time to acknowledge Pete Rose for what he did on the field. It's time to let him back into the game so he can teach what he knows to tomorrow's players. And it's time my niece realizes that she's too young to determine what team she is rooting for.

My Heart Broke a Little

Mrs. That Guy was doing some back to school shopping tonight so it was Daddy and Daughter night and we took a trip to Hersheypark. Despite the rain, we had a great time until the ride home. That's when my daughter said the six words that truly broke my heart. The short but biting phrase uttered by my very astute two year old was, "Daddy, I don't like the Phillies."

Now, I have to take you back to July of 2006. That's when Mrs. That Guy and I found out we were having a baby. It was decided very quickly that our baby was going to be a Phillies fan like her dad. Mrs. That Guy is an Orioles fan (mostly thanks to her college years spent in Baltimore and to be honest I even root for the Birds when they aren't playing the Fightins). So before our daughter's little brain was even fully developed a deal was struck. I gave up my rights for her to be an Eagles fan and Mrs. That Guy gave up on her chance to have a little Orioles cheerleader. Since the NFL pretty much blows and I am lucky if I watch more than a quarter the whole season, I figured I really got the good end of the deal.

The little one really seemed to enjoy being a Phillies fan (after birth, that is). Even though all the experts said babies shouldn't watch tv, I would let her watch an inning or so and she would love it. This past October, her favorite phrase was "Let's go Phillies!"

Ok now more recent history. This past Sunday we took my father-in-law to an Orioles game as a belated father's day gift. It was a great day. Mrs. That Guy, This Guy and Mrs. This Guy, This and That Guy's parents and That Guy's mother and sister-in-law all were there. Even after nearly 15 years, Camden Yards is a great place to watch a game and despite the heat we all had a great time. I "allowed" the little one to wear Orioles gear and she was really getting into the game. You have never seen anything more cute than when a two year old yells charge right on cue.

So finally back to tonight. As we drive home, I suggest that we listen to the Phillies on the radio. And the answer was, "Daddy, I don't like the Phillies. I want to hear the Orioles."

Well, my heart dropped quicker than a Brad Lidge slider. My dreams of a lifetime of suffering along with my daughter (last year as the obvious exception)as a Phils fan was "out of here". How could I let this happen? It was just too cute when she said, "Go O's!". How could I have known that one day at an O's game would change two and a half years of hard work? I mean, I was sad when a 6 year old This Guy spent one summer as a Giants fan (Yeah I know. One can only wonder why that happened) but this was totally different. My mind started racing as to how to change her mind. My first response was saying what I always say to her when she does something that dissapoints me, "Daddy is very sad that you don't like the Phillies," I said. Her response, "You're right daddy. I like the Phillies."

Phew, if only I knew it was that easy. I wonder if that will work when she is 16?

So for now our family is back to normal and all is right as the pennant race gets underway. Let's go Phillies!

Thank you, Mr. Watson

For 72 holes he did the seemingly impossible. I sure hope no one remembers holes 73 through 76. It doesn't even matter that he didn't win. Even as amazing as that would have been, what Tom Watson did do was incredible.

Sure, there have been surprises in golf tournaments-- see just last year's Open Championship and Greg Norman, but Tom Watson didn't fallback after 36 holes, or even after 54. He was tied for the lead after 72 holes of golf on a course where he won 32 years ago! You read that correctly-- 32 years. Tom Watson had won 3 British Opens before ThisGuy was even born and won a fourth just a couple months after my birthday. And after 72 holes of golf he stood atop the leaderboard looking for his record-tieing 6th Open Championship title and first victory on the PGA tour in 11 years.

Most of you know how it ended. Maybe it was his 59 year old body, or maybe it was destined to be an eight foot putt that would take him down--heck, maybe it was just supposed to be Stewart Cink's year. None of that matters, because all weekend long Tom Watson was once again the best player in the world.

I don't care that he lost. I'm not sure I've ever been nervous to watch golf on TV. My heart was pounding when he put his 8-iron over the green...as he pounded the putt 8 feet by the hole...as he hit his penultimate putt like I've done so many times. It was his consistent display of skills that brought back the magic to the game.

There was no Phil. Tiger was gone early. The early leaders faded away, but Mr. Watson stayed there. Hitting drive after drive straight down the middle of the fairway. He was consistent, he was accurate, he was simply good.

But what I liked the most was that you couldn't tell if he had just hit the shot of his life, or if he'd shanked one off the toe of his club. Compare his reactions on the playoff (where he couldn't make a shot to save his life) to those of Tiger the two days he actually played. Some are saying Tiger is the greatest golfer ever, I say he has a lot of growing up to do. The great thing is, all he has to do is study Tom Watson.

Watson might not have lifted the claret jug for the 6th time, but he reminded us all why golf is such a great game, and we should all say thank you.

Just some random political thoughts...

To everyone to the left of the spectrum of ThisGuy politically~

Your ideas are good ideas. They make sense, they're wonderful. I can't say they're bad ideas or that the ideas are stupid. I hope I never make an argument where I don't mention that your idea is a good one. Chances are they're not.*

Your problem and why you're simply wrong-- your ideas won't work, EVER. It's not ever going to work, it never has worked. Ask the USSR--oh wait, you can't. I just hope you learn that sooner rather than later.

The biggest problem I have with your president (I can say that because I didn't vote for him-- sure he's still my president, but when we disagree I can blame it on you for voting for him) is that the people who elected him didn't actually vote for him. They voted against what was previously there. Sure, there were plenty of people who wanted to vote for him, but it certainly wasn't because of his political views.

You can think of it as a baseball team who fires a manager because he's too much of a hard ass. The players start complaining, the fans start complaining and the next thing you know the next manager hired is a player's manager-- the exact opposite of the hard ass. It rarely works out. I say rarely because many of you know that's exactly what the Phillies did following the firing of Larry Bowa. I would like to remind you that it was Charlie Manuel last season who was second in the league in ejections.

Anyway, all I'm saying is that This Guy thinks your ideas (whether it be universal health care, a house for all the homeless, world peace, or communism) are good in theory. This Guy also thinks you are a fool if you think any of them can ever be accomplished without hurting the people who matter most.

*This Guy reserves the right to call your idea or you stupid should he deem it necessary.

Sorry for all the sad posts...

This one isn't any happier.

Two months ago today, a very good friend of mine was murdered. I haven't written about it because I didn't know how exactly to say the right things. I still don't and the truth is, whatever I say won't bring him back.

Daniel Coverston was 22 years old. He stood by me on my wedding day and I was proud to have him there. I met Dan through my wife, who grew up with him. They were like brother and sister. I think the toughest part about his death is expecting to see him the next time and not totally realizing there won't be a next time.

We know why Paul Harvey died-- he was old. We know why Harry Kalas died-- he had a bad heart, and had lived a full life. We may never know why Daniel was killed. There are rumors and theories and speculation. The truth is, we'll probably never find out. That just makes it harder.

Anyone who knew Daniel, knew him as someone who couldn't sit still-- EVER. Most of you know that I detest the sport of soccer. There was no more perfect fit for a sport than soccer for Daniel. He could run around as much as he needed. I spent a lot of time with Dan and he was one of the most genuine kids I've ever known. He wore his emotions on his sleeve and told you straight out how he felt.

While words seem to escape me, I just wanted to say I miss him. I can only imagine that God called him way too early so he could run around up there and play soccer because he needed more time to get all that energy out of his system.

We miss you, Dan. Until it's our time, watch over us and put one more in the Upper V just for me.