The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

Roy Halladay: Philadelphia 'Seems to Fit the Bill of What I'm Looking For'

Roy Halladay will be starting for the American League in tomorrow's All Star game in St. Louis but today he took the time to join Harry and Jody on ESPN 950 this afternoon and talked baseball. Harry got the question in we all wanted to hear Roy answer.

Harry Mayes on 950 ESPN: "Is Philadelphia one of the teams you would consider a trade to? Waiving your no-trade clause to come to?"

Pete Makes Your Sunday Just a Lil' Happier

Pedro Feliz, originally uploaded by jrab

That's what I call a great way to head into the break. Pedro's first inning grand slam was all they really needed as J.A. Happ was rolling.

Phils Heading into Break with Brooms On the Mind

Despite a less than stellar outing from their ace, the Phils found a way to make magic in the ninth last night. Cole Hamels is certainly this team's ace, he simply hasn't been playing like it as of late. The man taking the hill this afternoon at Citizens Bank Park may be the most steady arm in the Phillies rotation as the Phils head into the All Star Break. Happ has gone at least seven innings in all three of his most recent starts but only earned a win in his complete game shut out against the Blue Jays on June 27th.

Happ will face Virgil Vasquez for the Bucs.

After fumbling through much of June, the Phillies will try to make it five straight wins this afternoon before Charlie, Chase, Raul, Ryan, Shane, and Jayson head to St. Louis where they'll play for a chance to have home field advantage in the 2009 World Series.

The Pirates have to think the Phillies stole one from them last night in an epic HEIST which was as exciting as baseball gets for those in attendance. Let's just hope they don't make us sweat so much this afternoon.

1:35 start. Lovely day for a ball game. Go Phils.

The Heist Is Upon Us: Bloggers at the Bank

Ya know, I've been a blogger for a few years now, with most of my time in the genre (if you will) being right here at The700Level. I still think anything with the word "blog" or "blogger" involved sounds entirely nerdy, and a meet-up of bloggers... I picture indiscernible costumes and people calling each other strictly by their commenter and posting handles until they cross the line into the Real-Life Friend zone. The costumes may be a longshot, but otherwise, that's pretty much what I'm anticipating for today's Walkoff Walk Citizens Bank Park Heist. That and copious amounts of drinking (one of the lesser known yet dominant traits of the crowd). It's going to be pretty great... 

Citizens Bank Park, originally uploaded by gajdam1.

A mix of about 40 baseball bloggers, commenters, and readers will descend upon the Jetro lot starting at 4:30PM to commence tailgating, and then we'll take over an otherwise unsuspecting section 202 for the Phillies' plundering of the Pirates this evening. Enrico and I will be there, along with Meech, Dash Treyhorn, and Tug Haines of The Legendary Fightins crew, Liakos, Iracane, and dmac from WoW, Clare from Plunk Chutley, Miss Bee from Phillyist, and bee love from Philly Skyline. If any of you will be in the Jetro or near section 202 today, feel free to stop by and chat it up. 

With an afterparty planned for a Center City drinking establishment (which I'll be departing from early to catch 722 at Fergies), things could be pretty slow at the Level for the next two days. Maybe we'll iPhone-post a picture that can serve as a gamethread, but let's not get ahead of ourselves and make promises we can't keep. See you at the HEIST. 

The Bucs [Fail to Restart] Here: Phils Look to Keep Up Momentum Against Flailing Pirates

Over the last two years, the Pittsburgh Pirates have basically been baseball's equivalent to Logan's Run--as soon as a player starts to show signs of genuine quality, they are shipped elsewhere for prospects, spare parts and financial relief, never to be heard from again. In the midst of the rebuilding process to end all rebuilding processes, the Pirates' sole representative in the all-star game this season is second baseman Freddy Sanchez, having something of a bounce-back year. So of course, you know what that means--Sanchez has recently been the subject of trade speculation, likely being moved to Colorado or Minnesota, soon to join the ranks of Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Nate McLouth, Nyjer Morgan and Eric Hinske in the dearly departed. Better keep that ERA up a little, Zach Duke, or you could be next.

Now having decisively slid back to their comfortable slot in the NL Central cellar, the Pirates come to Citizens' Bank Park in the midst of a 2-6 July. With the Phillies hitting being as hot as it is, and the pitching looking livelier as well, this should be a stellar opportunity for our boys to keep their foot on the velocimatrix, and maybe get a little more separation between us and the Marlins going into the All-Star Break. Hopefully asssting them to that end will be the imminent return of the badly mised (although slightly less so recently) Rauuuuul Ibanez to the line-up--either tonight or tomorrow, depending. But even if he's not joining us tonight, with Dobbs hitting like a champ and the rest of our lineup clicking as it is, I like our chances about just about anyone.

Also, a note towards the future--come All-Star tuesday, a couple of us here at the Level are hoping to do a liveblog of the event, now starring five of your favorite Phillies. So keep one eye on your TV and one eye on your computer as we break down the guys' performance, and make other whimsical observations about interleague relations as the NL tries to end a decade-long winless streak.

Chris Coste's Next Book To Be Set In Houston

If he's writing one and it's about his career as professional baseball player.  Coste has been released by the Phillies to clear a roster spot for the return of Raul Ibanez, and the Astros have claimed the catcher.  Oh sweet, more Paul Bako! /eye roll

By now we're all familiar with Coste's improbable story, finally reaching the show in 2005 at the age of 33, becoming a fan favorite and World Series Champion in the process.  His numbers have steadily declined since first joining the league, and his playing time had taken a hit this season, but he's been a serviceable backup during his time in red pinstripes.  We wish him nothing but the best in his future with Houston.

We'll wait for the quotes from local beat writers on why Coste did not survive the cuts as he has several times in the past, but with the addition of Bako and Marson beating down the doors for his chance, it was probably only a matter of time.

Jayson Werth Added to All Star Roster

The Phillies just announced that OF Jayson Werth will be added to the NL All Star roster. Werth, who is replacing the injured Carlos Beltran, will join Utley, Howard, Ibanez, and Victorino to represent the reigning WFC quite well in St. Louis. It also makes all four of the Phillies 20+ homer guys All Stars. You know your team's outfield is pretty good when every single one of them makes the mid-summer classic. Congrats, J-Werth.

Just Another Potent Philadelphia Offense...

Speaking of great home run feats, the Phillies joined an exclusive club last night, becoming just the second team to ever have four players hit 20 or more homers before the All-Star Break. Toronto was the other in 2000, but 2009>2000 in terms of power stats, so eat it, Blue Birds. Last night, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth each hit their 20th, with Utley's being of the stand-up, inside-the-park variety. They joined Raul Ibanez (22) and Ryan Howard (21) in the 20+ club. 

Just a few years removed from being a scrap heap player in a few organizations, Werth is becoming a bona fide MLB star, dare I say a potential All-Star? Shane Victorino's ascendence yesterday coupled with Charlie Manuel using a manager's selection on Ryan Howard could keep Werth at home next week, but that's not to say he isn't deserving—particularly lately. Werth's homer last night was his seventh in the past 12 games, and he has now gone yard in four straight. With the Phillies' HR leader on the DL for much of the past month, Werth has really stepped to make up for lost offense. And now we get Raul back too?

SHANE WINS! And The Phillies Look To Take The Series

* Congratulations to Shane Victorino, who was declared the winner of the 33rd and Final All Star Vote.  I won't say he deserved it any more or less than the other guys (nor can I say who the other guys even were), but he is an exciting addition to the game and it's cool he made it, even if it required some stuffing of the ballot box.  Nice work, everybody. *

Update: and as several commenters quickly pointed out, there are reports of the Phillies signing Pedro Martinez to a one year contract worth $4 million.
11:15 p.m.: as of now, this has not proven to be true.

As any cynical person likely predicted, after hanging 22 runs on Cincinnati, the Phillies offense has sputtered once again.  Credit the Reds, who have themselves a nice pitching staff despite Monday's unusual outcome, but plenty of people predicted the feast-then-famine Phils would show up.  I'm told there isn't actually much (any?) statistical evidence supporting the idea, but it just feels like every huge outburst is almost invariably followed by a slump with this club.

Red Bull: It Gives You Rings; Jimmy Rollins Goes Digital

Some days as a blogger are tougher than others. The Phillies may have a night off, there's no real controversy going on, or there's just nothing of note to write about.

Then there are days like today, when you stumble onto a treasure trove of blogging wonderment: Jimmy Rollins (or more likely his publicist/PR people) has a flickr page with 729 photos from events the former MVP has attended.

From Jimmy posing with his whips as part of a Red Bull promotion, his signature pool table, his hyperbaric chamber, Jimmy throwin' rocks at his charity bowling event, to Shane Victorino digging himself out of the sand trap, the gallery is hours of fun for any Phillies addict. Some of our favorite shots below. What do you like the most from Jimmy Digital's new online presence?

Time is Running Out to Vote Victorino

Surely you can vote another couple hundred times in the next hour or so before voting ends at 4:00 pm this afternoon. Vote for Shane.

Couldn't The Phillies at Least Have Given Him a Coconut Bra?

Phanatic Says "Cover it up!", originally uploaded by Harpo42

The kids from Cabrini college were at the Phillies game last night to show support for the Flyin' Hawaiian in his quest to make the 2009 NL All Star Team. We're not sure exactly how or why this poor fan became topless but we're sad the Phanatic didn't offer his jersey up for the good of the 44+ thousand in attendance. [another shot below]

Shane Victorino EARNS Your Votes, Phils Win on Hawaiian-Style Walkoff

On the eve of the closing of the Final Vote, Victorino went 2-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases. Nothing too statistically astounding... but that lone RBI also happened to be the game winner. With runners on first (Rollins) and second (Feliz), Vic flared a single to left center, and Feliz was on his horse the whole way, scoring fairly easily. One of the steals also led to the key run he scored, after he was advanced to third on a Chase Utley sac. When it mattered most, Shane didn't disappoint. What more can this man do to energize the fanbase to keep voting for him to win the NL's Final Vote than to once again energize his team to a victory? 

That's what we want to see in the All-Star Game with homefield advantage in the World Series on the line. 

So... What are you waiting for? VOTE SHANE! THEN DO IT AGAIN.

After the jump, see which Phillie was willing to wear a Vote Victorino sandwich board...  

Reds at Phils Game 3: Rodrigo y Homer

Rodrigo Lopez will try to follow up his impressive start last week against the Mets in which he went 6.1 innings giving up only two earned en route to a Phillies victory. The Reds will roll out Homer Bailey who is coming off one of his best starts of the season as well, having gone 7.1 innings with 2 runs on Friday in St. Louis despite the bullpen blowing that effort.

It's a perfect night for baseball in South Philly. So enjoy the scenery and hopefully a Phillies win.

Don't forget...

Would Phillies Sell The Farm for Halladay? According to Them: No (Obvs)

The beat writers were aTwitter this afternoon when Ruben Amaro Jr. said there are untouchables in the Phillies organization. Charlie Manuel then pointed to Kyle Drabeck as being the likely guy.

Scott Lauber leads his story with this, "Will the Phillies stop at nothing to get Roy Halladay? Not according to Ruben Amaro Jr."

Well of course not. Hypothetically speaking, even if Rubes would bet the farm on a guy like Roy Halladay, he wouldn't show his cards before a move is actually made, would he? That would be bad poker, kids.

Just cause he says one thing doesn't make it true. S'all I'm saying.