On Myers, Park, the World Series, Chick Flicks, Citi Field and More
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On Myers, Park, the World Series, Chick Flicks, Citi Field and More
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
To the left is one of my favorite cartoons of all-time. It is from the Far Side, written by Gary Larson. I am posting it here because, tonight, I am a glass-is-half-full type of person. Why am I a glass-is-half-full type of person? Because I just watched a highlight from the Orioles game, which was delayed not once but twice due to rain. And the Mets-Phillies game was delayed zero times due to rain, despite ominous skies throughout.
Anyway, enough about me. Let's talk about some things that will and some things that won't be in the paper tomorrow:
1) Citi Field. I don't know if you care to hear my impression of it, but I am going to give it to you anyway. I was searching for the right word to describe it, and I think I'm going to settle on "anti-climactic" (I can only hope that when I die, my life is not described as anti-climactic). The stadium is nice compared to Shea Stadium, but a plywood shack in a shantytown is nice compared to Shea. Maybe the problem wasn't Citi Field. Maybe it was me. I was expecting something big, something grand, something, you know, New York-ish. But it's just a new stadium. The black walls combined with the towering stands lends a sort of drab feel to the place, and you really feel enclosed. It's almost like somebody plucked the top off of a dome. I'll give the press box food a B+, but the concessions get an A. This might be the only place that beats Citizens Bank Park in variety. There's pizza, hoagies, traditional ballpark fare -- and that is only the places that I saw. The other drawback to the place is that there are 40,000 New Yorkers there. But I guess there is no way they could have changed that.
2) What's up with all the grand slams this year? Ryan Braun just hit one tonight.
3) We've got a neat little note in the paper tomorrow about a tribute to Harry Kalas that the Phillies plan to keep going all season.
4) What was the secret to Chan Ho Park's success tonight (six scoreless innings, one hit)? Manager Charlie Manuel said he though Park had a much better rhythm than his previous starts. Park said he had a better slider and was more aggressive with his fastball.
5) Jayson Werth said he hesitated before throwing home after fielding Pedro Feliz's errant throw in foul territory in right field because he was confused by everything that was happening. When Werth looked up, nobody was at third base and Feliz, third base coach Razor Shines, short stop Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Delgado were all down the third base line.
“I didn’t pick up on the plate right away,” Werth said. “I think Pedro and Jimmy (Rollins) and Delgado and the third base coach were all a third of the way or half way down the line. I didn’t pick up on the plate, and by the time I did, I got called for travelling.”
6) Do the Astros not teach backing up to the fielders in their organization? Carlos Beltran left Daniel Murphy hanging the other night and Carlos Lee just did it to Michael Bourn tonight.
7) Top Five Borderline Chick-Flicks That I Actually Like: 1) Legends of the Fall, 2) Love Actually, 3) For Love of the Game; 4) The Notebook; 5) Can't Hardly Wait
It all makes sense why Werth was confused. I'd be confused, too, if Sam Perlozzo were on the field while the Phillies were on defense. I'm guessing you meant Mets coach Razor Shines, though. Regardless, there is NO excuse for what Feliz or Werth did on that play. Feliz is too good a 3B to try and make that play. He knows just to eat it. And Werth's brain cramp was perhaps the worst since Steve Sax held the ball at Shea years ago to argue a call at first while a Braves runner scored from second.— wuzzardo- Does Razor Shines ever appear in Chick-flicks or is he strictly in Gillette commercials ?— mick314
- Don't think you can blame Beltran's lack of backing up on the Astros. He played half of one season for the Astros and played for several years in the Royals organization.— JimG
- David, are you sure that was a hoagie at the Mets' new park? I've yet to have an actual hoagie outside a 50-mile radius of Philadelphia. Same goes for the cheesesteak.— frankenslade
- I didn't care much for Murphy last year but he has really come along as a commentator and Phillies beat writer. I enjoy his honest assessments of games and players and,especially, his dry wit. Keep it up, Murph, and you will replace Conlin someday soon...— Russ
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- The Notebook? You just lost all credibility (not that you had much to begin with).— FlyerFan21
- Yo wuz....I think you were thinking of the bone headed play by David Cone against the Braves at Atlanta in 1990---arguing a cover play at first while 2 runs scored. Sax never played for the Mets, as far as I can recall. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/05/01/sports/it-s-almost-too-amazin-cone-argues-while-2-runs-score.html That being said, tough way to lose.— Palestra Jon
- So underneath that cool-looking demeanor and member's only jacket lies...— BudSelig_isthenext_MrBurns
- The Phillies don't beat good pitching.....they are professional hitters only against the "B" squad, never the top tier guys. Wouldn't you think with the speed we have that Rollins (I'm too good to bunt) and Victorino (I don't know where I'm bunting to) would lay a few down? Atleast give it a try? Start something? Wait out a walk like Park? Put some pressure on the Mets defense and see what they do? Maybe they freeze too? Pitiful, when your best player on the field that night is Chan Ho........— Mark1npt
- how can you say citi field may be the only place that beats citizens bank park in variety and then defend it with this statement, "There's pizza, hoagies, traditional ballpark fare -- and that is only the places that I saw." yea, because that is such a vast variety, we could never have all of that in philly.— stevehartmann6
- How can you say citi field may be the only place that beats citizens bank park in variety and then defend it with the statement, "Theres pizza, hogies, and traditional ballpark fare."— stevehartmann6
- If there are no Schmitter's, it can't be CBP.— Captain Splendor
- Mark1npt, you don't win a World Series by only being able to beat "B" squad pitchers you dope.
