DL443: Phillies Clinch, Yanks Can’t Pitch & Extemporaneous Thought On Vick, Ben, Dexter, Mad Men, More

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Another show where the headline explains the show. We wanted to start on baseball but we spent some time talking about the MNF game before randomly happening into more about the Michael Vick (and Ben Roethlisberger) situations. We discuss the same conversation we’ve had before (with a different perspective now that Vick is really really good and, with regard to Ben, Pittsburgh is really really good without him).

Does perception change that much because of wins? It’s not that Vick has paid his debt and blah blah blah. It’s whether fans would be making an issue out of it if he were terrible, but excuse it because he’s good.

We neglected to laud the people at Dexter on yesterday’s show (during our brief recap) for the scene in which Dexter talks to the funeral director who, in wonderful fashion, is EXACTLY like Michael C. Hall’s character on Six Feet Under. A wonderfully crafted scene.

BASEBALL TALK:

The Phillies are National League East champs again. Deal with our glee. We talk about the run forREAD MORE

DL440: Craig Calcaterra of NBC’s HardballTalk on MLB, Braves & Phils, Playoff Pressure & More

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Craig Calcaterra from NBC’s baseball blog HardballTalk joins the show to talk about the race to the playoffs. We taped the show on Wednesday afternoon, before the Phillies swept the Braves, so there would have been a bit more rubbing in than I did had I known the outcome of last night’s game (he’s a Braves fan.)

We start with a little social media talk, discussing the Twitter awkwardness of not following people you should be following. It’s like a whole online societal power structure unto itself.

We also talk about the start of NBC’s blog network and how ProFootballTalk changed the model. Calcaterra has nice things to say about NBC’s model, while admitting that they were late to the blog party. He does suggest that being one of the last houses to create a blog format has allowed them to do it right. It sounds more genuine and far less company line when he says it as opposed to me writing it. Maybe.

We spend a lot of time talking about the PhilliesREAD MORE

Call of the Day: “I Said About 14 Prayers Running Down To First”

We use this space to celebrate the “call” of the day, which admittedly can turn into the play of the day, framed inside the radio or TV call. We’ll get to the TV call of Raul Ibanez’s eighth-inning, two out double down the left field line that plated Jayson Werth for the only run in the last of a three-game sweep over the rival Braves. First, Here’s what Ibanez told reporters (via David Murphy of the Daily News):

“I said about 14 prayers running down to first,” Ibanez admitted later. “You’d be surprised at the things that run through your head when you are hoping that ball stays fair.”

WATCH THE VIDEO

The call itself is pretty good from Tom McCarthy (full disclosure, a friend and much-maligned by the Phillies Twitterati) where he builds from anticipation to holy-cow-we-are-going-to-win-this-game exuberance:

“Opposite way for Ibanez, slicing toward the corner that is…a FAIR BALL! And it kicks around McClouth. Rounding third and heading for home is Werth. They’re not gonna get him as the Phillies take the lead! Raul Ibanez comes through,READ MORE

DL439: Twins Win! Plus, Phillies vs. Eagles and Andy Reid vs. Controversy

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Nick and I talk about the Twins completely running away with the AL Central and take a look at the standings now when compared to July 23rd when the Twins were three back in their division, the Phillies were seven back in theirs and the Reds were half a game back in theirs.

A lot can change in a baseball season. It’s good that the Twins still have something to play for (home field) or this could be a long time without meaningful baseball? Did they win the division too early?

SPECULATION STATION:

Phil Sheridan has a fantastic column in today’s Philly Inq. You have to read that. It talks about the power struggle in Philadelphia between the Eagles and Phillies, a topic Nick and I take and run with. The latest, of course, is the quarterback controversy in town — I said earlier in the week it wasn’t a controversy until someone from inside the organization says something, so how about the head coach creating this one? That counts.

What was Andy Reid thinkingREAD MORE

CotD: “I Say Bring Back The Tasers. Put Em On Full Stun And Go To Work”

It was 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning between the Phillies and Braves when some idiot decided it was a good time to put on his red spandex suit and try to become famous. I’ve said this on more than one occasion, but anyone who runs onto the field should be dealt with as a serious threat to safety. Do it in a close game, late, in a pennant race? I have no problem if you die.

It’s good to see that Chip Caray agrees with me. Well, maybe not about the dying part, but at least he’s on board with a good game of Taser Ball.

If that video won’t play, CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

As soon as the fan ran onto the field, the Braves announcers mentioned the taser incident (it’d be impossible not to). The Phillies feed never showed the incident, but the Braves telecast did, if for nothing other than showing Matt Diaz taking the moron down. That led to this gem from Caray:

“That’s the only reason we are showing this idiot,READ MORE

Quote of the Day: “Champions Can Hit Anywhere.”

I love Charlie Manuel. There was another exchange in a long line of back and forth exchanges on Twitter Sunday night that had some Phillies “bloggers” (i.e. stirrers of shit) saying that Uncle Cholly wasn’t a good manager. Some of us — myself, Meech from the Fightins a vociferous two among the many — love the man, the manager and the fact that he’s never won less than 85 games since taking over the team and has gotten to two World Series in two years, winning one. Those who don’t like Manuel eventually hedged to only question his in-game management, begging for someone who understands numbers better than him.

Dang rube ain’t know nutin bout coachin no baseball.

Loosely translated.

The man isn’t a statistician. But if Charlie Manuel knows one thing, it’s his players. (Something, I’ll note, none of the people who routinely rip him for the way he manages his lineup know themselves.) He may not be the greatest in-game tactician of all time, but the man trusts that his players will come through for him.READ MORE

DL437: Is Bitching About Bitching Better Or Worse Than Just Bitching?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We recap the NFL’s week two and take a look at some of the surprises in the league. Did anyone think the Cowboys would be 0-2 and the Dolphins would be 2-0? There are a lot of surprises, and a lot of hindsight is 20-20 “how did we not see this coming” things. For example: Joe Flacco stinks. Oh, and so does Brett Favre.

We do address the quarterback situation in Philadelphia, from a fan/media perspective and that does include the Phillies which devolves into me bitching about people bitching about coaching all the time. People just can’t be happy with a winning team that THEY THINK should be winning more. We all do it, but it’s a ridiculous mindset to employ, and one that, frankly, I think other people around the country don’t have as much as the “I’m right, here’s why” crowd around this town.

I’ll be honest, it’s been a long day, so maybe bitching about bitching about coaching wasn’t the way to go. It’s either a great rantREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Ryan Howard is Ejected, Larry Anderson is Livid

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Philadelphia area is waking up today a little groggy after 16 innings that saw Roy Oswalt playing left field. Why? Because Ryan Howard was ejected in the 14th inning after an entirely questionable check swing strikeout. You be the judge…frame-by-frame, this is as far as his bat went. Does it break the plate?

It’s close, but watching the video (WATCH THE VIDEO HERE) it sure looks like it’s too close to call a guy out in that situation. The problem is, umpire Scott Barry had just called another check swing strike on Howard the pitch before. Howard seemed upset at the call (or himself) and Barry seemed to snap into “this is all about me, I’m an umpire dammit” mode, leading to a questionable strikeout call and an even more questionable ejection for Howard. Howard went nuts (as you can see in that video). So did Phillies broadcaster Larry Anderson. Scott Franzke is the play-by-play man (via The Fightins):

Call of the Day: Phillies Amazing Comeback Win “How ‘Bout That?”

It’s impossible to fill the shoes of Harry Kalas, and that’s what Tom McCarthy has been asked to do the last year and a half. People always seem harder on the guy who follows a legend, and I say this with the full disclosure that McCarthy is not only a friend, but one of the nicest people in the industry. But I’ll admit that sometimes even I find myself listening to McCarthy and Chris Wheeler and the call leaves me wishing for something Phillies fans don’t have anymore.

That said — and that was only said so I don’t get lambasted by the Phillies faithful who dedicate three hours every night to complaining about the announcers (note: I usually do that, but only to complain about Wheeler) — this highlight package is vintage McCarthy: loud, exuberant and loud. And loud.

“In the air to left center field, toward the alleyway. This one’s going to be tied. It’s off the top of the wall and the Phillies may win it…

“Carlos Ruiz a two-run walk-off double! How ’bout that?”

TheREAD MORE

Note To Phillies Fans and Media: We Got Roy Oswalt, So Enough About Cliff Lee

Phillies fans are never happy unless they are miserable. Trust me, I am one, so I have first-hand knowledge. We love…live…to complain about our sports teams, and that goes double for a franchise that until the last few years, was an absolute laughing stock in its sport. We wear 10,000 losses (and counting) like a badge of honor. Winning? It’s almost like we still haven’t properly figured out what that’s supposed to feel like.

So with that, Phillies fans — and media, please we’ll get to the media in a second — must find something to complain about in order to feel properly balanced while rooting for our favorite team. But what’s to complain about when your team has won three-straight division titles and has gone to two-consecutive World Series, winning one?

Honestly, Phillies fans…what is there to complain about? Oh, right, Cliff Lee. When all else fails, complain about the one that got away.

The Phillies traded some of their top prospects – yet held on to the very top guys in the system – to acquire CliffREAD MORE