Inquirer From the Source

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Sunday, November 1, 2009

Not. Good.

Inquirer staff writer Kristen Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Two words for Game 3 of the World Series, Mike Foley said:

Not. Good.

“They’ve got to win tomorrow,” said Foley, who lives in Chicago but grew up in the area and traveled to Philadelphia to see Game 3.

His friend John Bowden, of Washington D.C. said he believes the Phillies still have it in them to win the Series. But there are some big ifs.

“They can win if the first four hitters in the lineup start hitting,” said Bowden.

So come on, Rollins, Victorino, Utley and Howard, they said.

“I can’t stomach losing to these a-holes,” Foley said.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 1:04 AM Permalink | 4 comments

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Monster mash

Inquirer staff writer Jeff Gammage reports from Citizens Bank Park:

At one point, it looked like curtains for the Phillie Phanatic, as he was surrounded by a frightening gang of ghouls and maniacs.

Luckily, they only wanted to dance – The Monster Mash, of course.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer online desk @ 12:16 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Holding out hope

Inquirer staff writer Kristen Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

In the hope springs eternal department:

Even as the Yankees ran up the score against the Phillies, some fans said they were still counting on a win.

“I think they can do it,” said Andrew LeCompte, 24, a fan from Northeast Philadelphia. “That’s why I’m not leaving.”

OK, said LeCompte - who dressed as the wrestler The Ultimate Warrior in facepaint and a cape – so maybe the Phillies wouldn’t pull it out tonight.

“That only means it sucks because we have to hoist the trophy in New York,” said LeCompte.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 12:12 AM Permalink | Post a comment

Saturday, October 31, 2009

It's no Yankee Stadium

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Despite the Phillies trailing the game 6-4 in the seventh inning, you’ve got to hand it to the fans at Citizens Bank Park – they are still loud.

Contrast that with the scene at Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of the World Series, when the Yanks’ fans were remarkably quiet in the face of a sizable deficit. In the seventh inning, the Bronx crowd even started streaming out of the ballpark.

Not so in South Philadelphia.

The crowd here is on its feet – waving rally towels, turning caps inside out, shouting encouragement to the Phils.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 11:44 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Best bargain at the ballpark

Inquirer staff writer Kristen Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Put it in the book, Tim Flynn and Mike Porter said – Phillies scored first, Phillies are going to win.

After Jayson Werth smacked a solo home run in the second inning and the Phils added two more to make it 3-0, the friends were confident.

“This is huge,” said Porter, 19, of Somers Point, N.J. “It sets the tone for how we play in Philly.”

Even after the Yankees got on the board with an Alex Rodriguez home run to make it 3-2, they were sure.

“I don’t think we’ll lose a game in Philly,” said Flynn, 19, of Northfield, N.J.

The two perhaps got the best bargain of the night.

“We snuck in the ballpark,” Flynn said proudly.

And it wasn’t their first feat – they snuck in last World Series, too. Tonight, they traveled from the Shore hoping to get in, but figuring they’d tailgate if they couldn’t make it in.

And no, they’re not revealing how they did it.

“We’re going to try to do it again,” said Flynn

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 10:49 PM Permalink | 3 comments

Saturday, October 31, 2009

You gotta have heart

View gallery

Inquirer staff writer Michael Vitez reports from Citizens Bank Park:

"I forgot my oil can!" said Tin Man, who was not happy about the rain delay. "I wish it would stop and I wish the game would go on."

Tin Man is Tom Camano, 41, of Philadelphia's Burholme section, who trick or treated earlier in the evening with his wife, The Wicked Witch, and his daughter, Dorothy.

He left them at home and came to Oz - Citizens Bank Park, of course - for the game.

Camano spent the rain delay circling the stadium's main concourse holding a sign, "Phillies Got Heart." His heart, of course, was a clock.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 9:04 PM Permalink | 1 comment

Saturday, October 31, 2009

You paid how much?

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

She was in the 700 level of Veterans Stadium for the ’93 World Series, but missed the ’08 Series. Kelly Rein was determined to be in the stands of Citizens Bank Park for her favorite team's championship run in ’09.

Rein, 49, of Burlington Township, got lucky.

“I have a really, really nice friend,” she said. “That’s how I got my ticket.”

Other members of her family? Not so lucky.

“My brother-in-law, God bless him, he went on StubHub to buy two tickets for Game 5,” Rein said. “$1,700. Each.”

And yes, she said, it’s worth it.

It was too rainy for Rein to sit in her seat, but she was determined to enjoy the game anyway. Rein, who had Phillies temporary tattoos pasted to either side of her face, danced in place and clapped her hand.

"This is great!" she said.

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 8:35 PM Permalink | 5 comments

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Rain? Who cares?

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

As the Phillies grounds crew pulled the tarp onto a wet field, brothers Wayne and Dwight Jones of South Philadelphia were philosophical

"Rain's gonna stop," Wayne said. "And it's a nice warm night."

And then what?

"I'm looking for the Phillies to sweep at home," said Wayne, 50.

"I think we'll get the good Cole Hamels tonight. I think we'll win the World Series in 5," said Dwight, 52.

The brothers have been baseball fans all their lives, they said - they remember their father taking them to Connie Mack Stadium.

Dwight's favorite Phillie of all time is Dick Allen.

And Wayne?

"Ryan Howard," said Wayne. "He's going to be the best there ever was."

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 7:55 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Halloween at the ballpark

Photo by Mike Vitez

Inquirer staff writer Michael Vitez reports from Citizens Bank Park:

Daniel Staerk, 23, of Glenside and Chris Najpauer, 23 of Allentown -- former roommates at Indiana University of Pennsylvania -- came as bride and groom. Staerk came up with the idea: "I saw the wedding dress in a thrift shop when I was looking for a good mug to drink with," he said. "I called Chris and said, ‘I'm wearing a wedding dress.’"

Najpauer responded: "I better get a tux."

The best he could find, on short notice, was a 60-year-old Macy's suit in his basement that his 83-year-old grandfather wore on his first job interview.

The perfect accent to the wedding dress was a Phillies decal - a gift from his little sister - rubbed on appropriately in Staerk's cleavage.

"I figured I needed something Phillies, and I wasn't going to ruin my veil," Staerk said.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 6:26 PM Permalink | Post a comment

Saturday, October 31, 2009

You're in Phillies country now!

Inquirer staff writer Kristen A. Graham reports from Citizens Bank Park:

You have to hand it to them: they were brave.

Scott LaClair and his son, Hunter, Yankees fans, drove six hours from Watertown, NY to see their favorite team take on the Phillies.

Yes, they're Yankees fans. Dressed in Yankees jerseys and caps.

And no, they were not worried they might get booed. Or hollered at. Or worse.

"We can take it, " said LaClair, 40. "We've been to Boston. No problem here."

Perhaps he hasn't heard of the reputation of the Philadelphia fan?

"I'm expecting people to be nice, like Yankees fans were in New York," said LaClair. "People should just be happy that the two best teams are in the World Series."

Read more breaking news in our From The Source blog.

Posted by Inquirer Online Desk @ 5:36 PM Permalink | 1 comment