Fan Report: Texas is Hot, the Phillies Are Not

Andy Goldstein brings us this Fan Report from Texas. Andy contributes to fantasy sports site RotoRob.

Despite the fact that I've lived in Dallas for over a year now, I haven't actually seen the Rangers play in person yet. This might be because the Rangers play in freaking far away Arlington. It isn't exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away. Dallas really likes putting their stadiums as far away as possible. I am pretty sure the Cowboys play across the state border in Oklahoma.

Anyway, I chose Sunday's game because the weather report said it would be overcast and somewhat bearable outside. Of course by game time, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I'm sure the broadcasters were talking about how it was a beautiful day. Not true. It was balls hot. In fact, I think the sun might have taken some of the jump out of the Phils. We looked a little lethargic early in the game before the sun dipped below the stadium lights.

Moyer obviously didn't pitch the greatest game ever but it really never felt like he was in trouble. He only really made one bad pitch (the HR to Chris Davis). Ian Kinsler's triple in the first was on a good pitch but Kinsler just went with it and hustled out the extra base.

Eric Hurley was throwing early strikes but then a lot of junk after that. It was the same with every batter. Again, the guys just looked out of it all day. About halfway through the game I realized I should take pictures of Phillies that got to second base, because it seemed momentous.

As for the crowd, there were a fair amount of Phillies faithful there. In fact, our section had more Phillie's red than Ranger's blue. And I can say with pride that every "wave" died in our section. Stupid "wave."

A couple funny points. During the bottom of the seventh inning, the sun was just on top of the stadium and being in left field, we couldn't really see much of anything. Pat Burrell had a similar problem, I think, because he kept turning around towards our section while shrugging. One pitch was a swinging strike and Pat tried to find the ball for at least two or three seconds after it hit the catcher's mitt. It's a good thing nothing got to LF that half-inning. It would have ended poorly.

Also, Milton Bradley warms up each inning in the field by tossing the ball with one of the ball girls. He was totally into her. Okay, that may not be true, but I think Pat would have been better off doing it that way too. At least, that has to be better than Roly de Armas.

Oh well. Crappy game for the Phils, but on the plus side, my fantasy team got a 3/4 from Kinsler. That's something.

[Ed. note: Nobody cares about your fantasy team! Thanks for the report Andy.]

Comments

[phil]

A Philly guy living in Texas. That can't be very fun.

[Cottman&Castor]

There is something very wrong with this team right now and they need to break this slump. Now Fla is only a game back.

The starting rotation with the exception of Cole Hamels is a joke and the bats went silent after that series with the St. Louis cardinals. Right now everyone is accountable.

[TK]

thank god interleague is over now if they dont perform there is a serious issue

[AndyG]

Phil, it is nice for a couple weeks out of the year!

And there's some good food down here. Hopefully I'll get back to the Philly area soon though. I miss my cheese steaks and dim sum.

[Vote_For_Burrell]

Cottman&Castor,

Outside of Myers, I think the rotation has been pretty decent. Kendrick, Moyer and even Eaton have been keeping the team in games. The problem lies solely with Rollins, Utley, Howard and Burrell. Our big guns are all struggling at the same time. They will turn it around, hopefully soon.