Phillies Take On Mets in July 4th Matinee

Ryan Howard has not hit a ball out of the park in his last ten games but we've got a feeling he's going to bring some fireworks to Citizens Bank Park this afternoon when the Phils face Mets right hander Fernando Nieve.

Nieve has been solid in his short time as a Mets starter but was roughed up in his last outing in Milwaukee, failing to get out of the fourth inning. He could also be throwing his final start of the season for the Mets due to the looming return of Oliver Perez.

Jamie Moyer takes the mound for the Phillies on this beautiful day in Philadelphia. Moyer has struggled a bit this season at CBP with an ERA there over 7. Hopefully, being the fine American that he is, Moyer will show up and work his magic against the hated rivals from New York.

Keep an eye out for Jimmy Rollins flying around the Jetro lot this afternoon in a "hooked up Red Bull MXT truck." Be sure to report back on any sightings.

If you're down at the park, enjoy the lovely weather and try not to let the Mets fans (voted the most obnoxious in all of baseball by a landslide margin) ruin your day.

We'd like to once again extend a Happy 4th of July to all of you out there in BBQ land. Just don't forget those imortal words:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal (except for those wearing Mets hats), that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of repeat championships.

Go Phils.

4:10 start time on the most American of stations: FOX.

Above photo of Ben and Betsy by Mark K. (our resident football foodie)

Comments

[Matt P.]

Game 3 of the World Series on MLB Network right now...

[Syan]

Yo, what the fuck is this ramirez shit?

[Zack]

You have to be kidding me. I fucking hate Fox.

The guy used steroids and they make him out to be a hero. You would think he cured AIDS, fixed the economy, and landed on the moon.

What is wrong with America?

[mplant]

Seriously, they put the audio on Manny for almost two-thirds of the top of the first, then cut out entirely so we can see his home run trot? What a joke!

[mplant]

Damn, Vic, that was a hit all the way. Hopefully it doesn't come back to bite us

[mplant]

Sac fly for Werth, Utley gets to third. No harm, no foul I suppose

[phillyfan412]

God bless America, and go Phils!

[phillyfan412]

@Zack- I completely agree with you, and Tim McCarver apparently does, as well. I was surprised that he said what he did, especially since he appeared to be criticizing the fact that Fox is airing his at-bats (and rightly so). I bet the good people at Fox had a few words with him after that. I was glad to hear him say that, though.

[Liam]

Anyone know why Bako is getting so much playing time lately?

[mplant]

Reports out of Nashville saying that Steve McNair has been found shot to death

[Zack]

@mplant

wow...that is really terrible

[Mike H.]

Link on the McNair death. Double homicide.

[mplant]

@ Liam

I'm surprised to see Bako in there two days in a row. I know Ruiz has been slumping at the plate, but I wouldn't have expected to see Bako getting two straight starts

[phillyfan412]

Can we get a hit with the bases loaded this time?

[Liam]

Man they need to stop letting Nieve off the hook. Still its good to see he may not last long with 53 pitches through 3 innings, though that would've been higher if Howard and Dobbs took a pitch or two in their at bats.

[phillyfan412]

You've got to score more than one run with the bases loaded in two consecutive innings, especially with Moyer pitching. That will probably come back to bite them.

I also don't understand why he refuses to start Mayberry anymore. Yes, his bat cooled off a bit, but it's not going to get any better with him sitting on the bench, and his defense and baserunning are still good.

[Max]

any one know if the game is on any boston tv networks ... im on vacation

[Zack]

Again? Fuck Fox

is there a place we can email to complain?

[phillyfan412]

This is ridiculous. Fox should be ashamed of themselves for showing his at-bats like this. Unbelievable. And Dodgers fans are phonies. Like McCarver said, what are they cheering him for? They guy cheated and got suspended for 50 games, and now you're going to treat him like a God? It makes no sense. And what are they all doing there anyway? Don't they show up to games in the 5th and leave in the 7th?

[Liam]

@ Max:

Nope, in boston we have the dodgers and padres on FOX

[mplant]

Base hit for Pedro Feliz. Oh, sorry, Manny was hitting, so we're not supposed to be paying attention to the bottom of the screen

[mplant]

Two on, no outs again. Lay one down, Jamie

[Mike H.]

All right... get the bunt down and bust this guy...

[Zack]

this just keeps making me more angry

when was the last time they did this for anyone? Ever?

Bonds going for the most HR ever? That might be it. They are doing this for a guy after coming back from a suspension for STEROIDS. makes me sick.

[mplant]

J-ROLL!

[Zack]

thank you Jimmy Rollins

[phillyfan412]

Alright, J-Roll! Dare I say it, he's out of the slump.

[Liam]

There we go Jimmy!

[mplant]

@phillyfan412

I'll need to see it for another game or two. But he does have five hits over the last two games plus two ABs so far today, and at least three hard-hit balls that were outs in that span. It's an encouraging sign

[Jay]

Damn, can't believe the news about Steve McNair.

[mplant]

Don't worry. Pete Happy!

[Liam]

Regarding Manny its downright hilarious the reaction he gets in LA. What makes it even better is the fact that they always gave Bonds shit, yet when their star tests positive they act like nothing is wrong with him. As was mentioned in an espn article part of that centers around the fact that Bonds was a cocky asshole, whereas Manny is more of a bumbling idiot that people like more

[mplant]

Cripes, three bleeders get the Mets on the board

[Mike H.]

McNair just opened a new restaurant 2 weeks ago in Nashville. Somehow I guess there's a lot more to this story.

[Zack]

come on Dobbs

[Zack]

Are they going to do this for Manny all season?

[BigTom]

Why is Fox paying so much attention to Manny? This is annoying as shit. Its not even his first game back, he isn't breaking any records, and HE CHEATED!!!

[mplant]

@ Mike H

Yeah, I'm sure there's going to be a whole bunch of stuff coming out about that in the very near future

[BigTom]

Email fox sports and tell them what a joke this is. http://msn.foxsports.com/feedback

[Zack]

If a fan yelled that to him...they deserve a beer...cause that is hilarious

[MikeG]

I GOT IT!!!!!
hahaha

[mplant]

Wow, a Fox Game Break showing Manny making a fairly routine catch

[K in South Jersey]

I got it...beautiful

[Zack]

@ BigTom

I sent an email

[mplant]

J-Roll chases that ball a week ago

[BadMotherFutley]

Anyone on Twitter can also (attempt to) reach them at http://twitter.com/mlbonfox

[mplant]

Nieve's day is done. Pat Misch, the only bright spot for the Mets last night, takes over

[mplant]

Bring out the dancing bears!

[MikeG]

HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[mplant]

At least we got one there. Looked like we were gonna let 'em off the hook again

[mplant]

Good Lord, Ryan!

[mplant]

Quick hook for Moyer. I thought he would've at least stayed in til the Mets got a baserunner

[mplant]

Hanging Chad Durbin

[mplant]

Attaway, JC

[mplant]

Here comes Madson

[BadMotherFutley]

It's a good thing they burned Stairs as a decoy there. If they let him bat against a lefty, he might have done something as useless ans strike out on 3 pitches.

[mplant]

I can understand maybe doing that with Dobbs, but I'm sure Stairs at some point in his career has had a productive AB against a lefty

[mplant]

Lidge time

[mplant]

One down. Let's get these last two, Brad. No farting around today

[mplant]

Two of 'em

[mplant]

Hey, Brad Lidge, where they hell ya been all year?

[Zack]

Lidge looked real good...although that was the Mets

[mplant]

Fastball had life and the slider was sharp. Hopefully we see that a little more often

Nice to go up against Johan tomorrow with the series already won

[Phils Phan]

Please someone get a clip of the "I Got It!" guy. That was absolutely hilarious.

[mplant]

According to Jim Jackson, the Phillies have not lost on the 4th of July since 2003

[maria]

2006 and 2007 were walk-offs.

[phillyfan412]

I also sent an email to Fox. Has anyone heard back from them?

[Mark]

I'll keep taking these wins. Mets are hanging around to long this season. Nice to see Moyer go long too. One more tomorrow would be great.

Enrico, thanks for posting the photo. See more pictures from Friday's game here or over at my Flickr page. I love that stadium.

[Drew]

Phillies win on America's birthday. America was born in Philly. GO AMERICA!

[Kevin]

Good series so far by the Phils. They've handled the Mets with good pitching, and J-Roll has been breaking out against the Mets. phillies.com has a story on how Jimmy may have found his timing at the plate by using that little toe tap where he taps twice then strides to swing. I saw a replay of the rbi double and noticed it. I was surprised by the story. I thought he was doing that all along. Maybe he should just treat each team like their the Mets. Anyway I missed the first few innings of the game and didn't get home to see any of the game until Manny was already out in LA's game, and thank God. I can't believe anybody involved with baseball would allow the forgiveness level to be this high. I mean, does anybody know the extent of what he did?! If everyone here does than the idiots at FOX and Bud Selig should know what Manny deserves. McCarver called the Mets a little league team after Santos dropped the foul ball that led to the Phils fourth run. Go for the sweep tomorrow against Johan, remember he is beatable. Going to Wednesday's game against the Reds. Rodrigo Lopez is supposed to start. Looking forward to part 2 of that show. Lidge looked good today too. Maybe the old Lights Out is returning.