Money At The Bank
Bottom of the sixth, Phils leading 3 - 1, the big screen blossoms with the words "Make Some Noise!" and Section 413 explodes in cheers as Chase Utley digs in at the plate.
Next to me, Tom Goodman, author of the Swing and a Miss blog, says without affect, "Utley has fallen below .300."
And then, on cue, it happens. With one sure swing, Utley rockets one into the right-field seats, putting the Phillies ahead of the Cubs 5 - 1.
"Reverse curse," we both yell at once. It might be the fourth time this game that Goodman has said something about a player's weakness - only to watch that player immediately break out of the bad.
It's a different game the Phloggers watch, where ever their seats may be. Last night, Goodman's seat was way up there in the Terrace Deck next to mine, courtesy of two free tickets a newspaper colleague couldn't use.
Nothing wrong with some free Major League baseball on a chilly night that the Phillies used to climb even with the Dodgers in the Wild Card chase.
Yes, the Phils are officially a contender.
Goodman is 58, the elder of the Phillies bloggers, a tight-knit group who follow the fine print, who are charitable about each other's work, who occasionally even go to the ballpark as a group to talk and watch the game. He's got a couple blogs and a business on the side - he represents photographers and illustrators. He's written Swing and a Miss since the 2004 season.
A Baltimore native who came to Philadelphia more than quarter century ago to teach at the former Philadelphia College of Art, Goodman's a fan of both the game and those who can write about the game, like Roger Angell. (He's also capable of a good line, calling pre-2004 New Englanders "the long-suffering insufferable Red Sox fans.")
His ability to tell non-stop funny stories while taking in the subtleties of the game made for a quick evening. So did starting pitcher Brett Myers, who worked so fast during his complete game that he didn't seem to notice that after Shane Victorino vainly crashed the centerfield wall, he was babying his already-bandaged left wrist.
As the game zipped along, Goodman was peppering the play with commentary - Rollins looks like he truly loves playing the game, slumping Utley hasn't been seeing the ball, Victorino has the best range, light-hitting Abraham Nunez knows he's arrived when the pitcher brushes him back.
And he was referencing interesting talk from the Phlogosphere, praising the young bucks who are coming up, like the kid who writes PhilliesFlow and works (aptly) poet Samuel Coleridge into his post-game headlines. Or when someone gets off a good metaphor, such as Beerleaguer which described the Phillies second half of the season thusly:
This season might have all the luster of a pre-owned van with the occasional hiccup, but after an August tune-up, the Phillies may arrive at their final destination in one piece after all.
Excess cargo was jettisoned on K-61 exactly halfway through the country, and luxury items were soon pawned for a couple gallons of lower octane fuel. As it turns out, it was just fine for the thin Houston air. Now, they begin their final plunge along the last leg of the journey. All gauges clear; no signs of overheating. Will the old girl hold, or will her occupants succumb to hunger first? All that remains are bags of sunflower seeds scattered on the backseat floor.
Goodman's own eye for the game shows some seasoning. He hasn't posted anything from last night, although he will - he writes every day. His most recent piece, on Tuesday's match-up at Citizen's Bank Park, focused on the 43-year-old Jamie Moyer, the locally reared pitcher recently added to the roster, who for the first time in his career is playing professional baseball in front of his parents.
To say Jamie Moyer is rejuvenated is to seriously understate his current state of grace. More accurately, it can be said the 43-year old veteran is living his second childhood.
Could be said of Goodman, as well.
Interesting stuff. Didn't know there were real live people behind blogs! :)
yeah, we sat around complaining about the cold weather, and how far the concessions stands were. the seventh inning stretch took us 20 minutes.
enrico: I can't speak for Dan, but I recalled watching Wee Willie Keeler live.
I don't think there's anything better than hearing someone tell stories of guys they saw 20 years before you were born. My dad always tells the same storiy about how he saw Juan Marichal (sp?) play at Connie Mack stadium with Willie Mays. (I think that's how it goes) He always feels the need to demonstrate the crazy leg kick Marichal had. DR: the line about the 7th inning strectch, good stuff.
I'll be there Saturday. These are all must-win games, especially against the Marlins. Going with three of my brothers so we'll have a good time no matter what.
Dan, did he complain about the loud music between innings? Seriously though, great write up Dan. The T-Good you describe is exactly the one I'm lucky enough to call a friend.
Second Tom G's comments. Nice work on a great guy and a hell of a writer.