Take a Good Look Around…

This is Your Hometown

by Rich Wisniewski

My former professor, sportswriter Phil Anastasia repeatedly told Matt Shanley, Cori Egan, John Russo and myself that a rule in sports journalism is that you can’t be a fan when it comes to writing a game story. You can’t have any opinion in a straight forward sports story. That’s usually reserved for columnist, or radio talk show hosts.

But he also told us that it is ok to be human, and have feelings. Basically it is ok to personalize some stories that hit a little closer to home.

Which is why, the recent story about Phillies fan Matthew Clemmens and his classless acts have really taken a toll on me. And while I’m not defending his act by no account, it isn’t that story that has gotten to me. It’s the reaction from the country to once again denounce the “Philadelphia sports fan”.

Ok let’s get it out of the way: we booed Santa Claus and threw snowballs at him (in 1968 no less). We cheered Michael Irvin’s injury and we threw car batteries at J.D. Drew. Then there’s this these tidbits: Our only real winner is Rocky and he’s not even real. We’re frontrunners, and we boo our great players like Eric Lindros, Charles Barkley, Ron Jaworski and most recently Donovan McNabb. 

But what you don’t understand or even see is that we’re real. As cliché as it sounds, Philly is blue-collar, based on hard work, toughness, and passion. To the rest of the country we could be seen as arrogant, disgusting and rude…but that’s just you. What you don’t see is a city that is based on longshoreman, construction workers and downright union men and women. Even the people who have made it to the top, did it by a never say die attitude and a blue collar mindset such as working for what you want and not sitting back and waiting for it.  The face of Philadelphia is not a business suit with a 100 dollar haircut, or a tanned pretty boy holding a surf board. The face of Philly is jeans, work boots, a tee-shirt and a baseball hat. And were fine with it.

Why did we boo McNabb, Schmidt, Lindros or Barkly? Well I can’t answer for everyone, bBut here’s a reason: Maybe they weren’t doing what they were supposed to do. They weren’t doing their job at one point. All four are good players,  and we know that, but if you don’t play well on a particular day, you will hear it. It isn’t always about winning and losing. It can be about how you play the game. Do you play it with a passion? Do you play every game like its your last? Do you hustle? Its questions like these that were answered with a yes by players such as Larry Bowa, Pete Rose, Rod Brind A’mour, Allen Iverson, Brian Dawkins, Bobby Clark. Even T.O. found Philadelphia to be welcoming because of how he played the game.  

We boo more then other cities because we watch every pitch, snap, shot, or lay-up. We don’t use games as a social gathering to discuss business plans, or trade pictures of kids. We don’t check out emails on Blackberry’s or spend time admiring the scenery.  We watch. We study. We learn.  A game to a Philly fan is not just a game, it’s a situation. It’s a time to set everything else aside, school, work, and family. It’s literally game time. 

So while the horrendous acts from Matthew Clemmens are not defendable, people should know that that isn’t the whole city. So if your going to hate us, fine. But when you want to find a city that knows its sports teams all the time, and not just when they’re winning, now you know where to look.

On the Corners

The Doc Is In

by Zach Speers

For the past 4 months people in Philadelphia have been both very excited and also very disappointed. The Phillies traded away arguably their best pitcher when they sent Cliff Lee to the Mariners and many were none too happy. On the other hand they were also very excited to hear that the Phillies had signed Roy “Doc” Halladay.

Roy who? Well for those of you baseball fans that have had your heads stuck in the sand, he’s one of the game’s most dominant right-handed pitchers. He has spent his entire career with the Toronto Blue Jays since breaking into the majors in 1998.

When the trade was confirmed between the Phillies and the Blue Jays, all the Red Sox and Yankees fans rejoiced. The hardest pitcher in their division was gone. Yes even though CC Sabathia, Josh Beckett and Mariano Rivera are pitchers are in the American League East, Halladay was still viewed as being the best. A meticulous man, who got “the look” every fifth day when it was his turn to take the mound. A man who is considered one of the fiercest competitors in the game. Every pitch is placed exactly where he wants it. There are few mistakes and his composure is sound when mistakes happen.

Doc was all but ready to be moved from the Blue Jays to the Phillies. He was finally going to get his chance to pitch for a contender. And the Phillies aren’t just any contender. They are the 2-time reigning National League Champions and 2008 World Series Champs. Not only does Doc now get to pitch against teams like the Nationals and Marlins but he has a lineup that is arguably the most complete lineup in baseball. There aren’t many teams that have All-stars in the first 7 spots of their lineup.

The much anticipated debut of Halladay was exactly what fans hoped it would be, a 7 inning effort of 1-run baseball. Doc fanned 9 on Opening Day and showed Philly fans why they should be happy. Of course, Philly fans are notorious for being some of the most passionate around. They will tell you when you’re not doing well and when you are. In Halladay’s case, he has heard nothing but praise so far. In his second start of the year Doc was better than Opening Day. He had 8 strikeouts to go along with his complete game win over the Houston Astros. He worked out of jams in the 6th and 7th and in completing the game he won his 150th career game and 50th career complete game.

Teams in the NL East are now dreading the days that Halladay will pitch against them. And who could, argue with them? Two starts, two wins and already a complete game. Halladay is like a surgeon on the mound. Picking his spots and hitting with pinpoint accuracy. Every pitch has a purpose. Doc’s dominance is sure to continue this season and fans can be happy that they have him and just enjoy watching him work.

Happy Hour!

We haven’t filmed one in just about a year, but this week’s addition of Happy Hour features our annual baseball preview. Feel free to agree – or disagree – and let us know!

The Price You Pay

At Winter Meetings

by Zach Speers

It’s been a little over a month since the Yankees won their 27^th World Series but baseball isn’t sleeping. Although most of the talk on ESPN is now about basketball and Tiger Woods’ personal life, Major League Baseball has just finished up its winter meetings. All the teams come together to discuss and rule changes as well as talk with each other over offers for players they are eager to get.

Last year’s winter meetings included big names like Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia. This year, however, this isn’t the case. Other than Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays, who are asking way too much for him, there are no big name players up for grabs. Interestingly enough the only teams to make any significant moves so far have been the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Yankees were in desperate need of a bona fide centerfielder. Nick Swisher has talent but when his bat cools off he’s just dead weight. The Yankees recently signed Curtis Granderson in a three-way deal involving the Tigers and Arizona. Granderson is a more consistent hitter than Swisher and has a better career batting average which is exactly what the Yankees were looking for. Detroit, meanwhile, made out on the deal getting Phil Coke, Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth, all budding pitchers with talent. Arizona received Tigers right-hander Edwin Jackson and Yankees right-hander Ian Kennedy in the deal.

The Phillies knew they needed solid pitching from their bullpen and that’s what they are looking for from the winter meetings. Although no deal was made they still have time and could go after Halladay if the Blue Jays lower their asking price. Meanwhile, they declined the option on Pedro Feliz and instead signed Placido Polanco. Feliz had a solid glove at 3^rd but his bat wasn’t always there. In Polanco the Phillies have a career .300 hitter that can hit at the top of the lineup and breakup the lefty trio of Utley, Howard, and Ibanez.

Other teams that have been making some noise at the meetings have included the Texas Rangers, who are in talks with the Florida Marlins for pitcher Josh Johnson, and the White Sox who are invested in trying to get Matsui away from the Yankees. Over the next few weeks things could get interesting with teams working on 3 and even 4-way trades and as always keep an eye on Halladay. If his asking price drops you could see a battle royale between teams such as the Phillies and Angels.