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Welcome to the Left Coast
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
It's 9:30 local time here, and the temperature is already in the high 70's, forecasted to creep into the 90's. I'm sitting pool side in Scottsdale. Arizona is a wonderful place. The weather is beautiful, the people are beautiful, and the gas stations sell liquor. Yes, it's one of the few places in the country where you can be standing in line in Circle K and hear, "I'll take 30 on pump three, a fifth of Jack Daniels. . . and some Skittles."
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The cities of Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe are giddy about their Baby Backs. Dan Haren pitched well yesterday, but Arizona came up short against the Mets. Tonight comes the much anticipated debut of Max Scherzer, a rookie who was just recently called up and pitched 4 1/3 wonderful innings of relief in his first big league appearance. Jamie Moyer's on the hill for the Phillies, so we'll see if he can teach the kid a thing or two about a thing or two.
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Yesterday the Phils won on one of the most dramatic plays in the world of sports. . . the walk-off fielding error. OK, so it isn't as exciting as Pat Burrell going yard with a 3-2 count and two outs in the bottom of the 10th. But it's a win, and the Phils enter tonight a half game ahead of the Mets in the National League East.
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Jimmy Rollins told Marcus Hayes he's hoping to get back on the field Thursday of this week. Hopefully at that point the conspiracy theorists will stop filling my email inbox with theories concerning what reallllllly ails Rollins. . .
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Back to the Diamondbacks - this is a huge series for the Phils. It's the first time since the Mets series that they are heading into a series against a team with a winning record. The Pirates, Rockies, Padres and Giants are all below .500, the Houston Astros are sitting at .500. and the Brewers are one game above .500
I really think these next four days will give us a good reading on where this team really is at. The only teams they've faced with a winning record this year are the Mets, the Cubs and the Brewers. . .
That is all. . .
I love Moyer's dedication and heart. His even keeled approach to the game and willingness to "teach." I do NOT love his 1st innings. I'll gladly accept a split with the DBacks this week. Rollins back by Thursday is the latest, eh? Well, seeing will be believing. and, back is fine. Back and an OBP in the mid .400's and runs scored above 1 per game will be even better. 4 game prediction: Moyer no decision but a bullpen win tonight. Eaton tomorrow - no decision - and a loss. Kendrick a 4 inning (at best) outing Wednesday and a team loss. Myers an 8 inning gem and W. Howard 2 fer 12 with 4 walks, one homer, 4RBIs...— dksurf- This series is going to test the theory that a team can fall behind in almost every game, hit terribly with runners in scoring position, and have an automatic out in the clean-up spot but still win ball games. I'm on pins and needles.— Jeffrey
- Geoff Jenkins celebrated that walk-off fielding error like he just won the World Series. He was jumping around like a little girl, (I think I saw him try and jump into Ryan Howard's arms). Geoff, you were 0-4 on the day with two strikeouts. Celebrate when you get a game-winning HIT. I think you deserves a day off for that clutch performance!! That said, a win is a win and you need a couple of those to stay in first place sometimes.— GHOSTPHAYCE
- He should have been ecstatic -- I'd be jumping around too if I went 0-4 and still got to be the hero! Seriously, these slightly lucky or fortuitous wins are what separate an 84-win team from a 94-win team -- the Phils haven't gotten the ball to bounce right very consistently in the past decade or so. I'll take it.— bark
