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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Just hot dogs.

The Philadelphia police bomb squad detonated three suspicious packages outside Citizens Bank Park this evening that actually were hot dogs accidentally left behind after a Hatfield commercial shoot that involved the Phillie Phanatic and his hot dog launcher.

Police received a call at 4:13 p.m. about the three packages found on a light post near the first base gate on Pattison Avenue near Darien Street. Once the bomb squad arrived, Pattison Avenue was blocked from traffic and pedestrians and game-day employees evacuated the building. Phillies employees whose offices were near the activity moved to the other side of the ballpark, but were not evacuated.

The bomb squad detonated the packages. The Phillies said the hot dogs were heavily wrapped in white packaging and duct tape so they could be fired from the Phanatic’s hot dog launcher.

“We just did what we thought was appropriate,” said Mike Stiles, senior vice president of administration and operations. “We looked at it. And in this day and age if you have a question you call the police. The police came and they said, ‘Yeah, this merits the bomb squad to take a look and take action.’ They detonated it. It’s important to let people know that although it was suspicious, it did not contain any explosive device and we didn’t get any bomb scare notes or threats.”

Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 7:27 PM  Permalink | 39 comments
39
Comments   
Posted 08:02 PM, 09/24/2008
shoeshineboy
Hatfield should remunerate the city for any additional costs incurred, including the arrival of the bomb squad, and OT required by PPD.
Posted 08:36 PM, 09/24/2008
Scooter
looks like this is the year the Phillies collapse and give it to the Mets and Brewers, no playoffs for the Phillies this year
Posted 09:24 PM, 09/24/2008
KarenA
Well it was nice while it lasted. Can't believe Myers got smacked around again!! Thought his start against the Marlins was "just one of those baseball moments", but I don't think so. Maybe, maybe, maybe, they'll make a nice comeback (as I write this it's the 6th inning) HEAVY SIGH :-(
Posted 09:44 PM, 09/24/2008
MrPhillie
Yes, it is definitely disheartening to watch this game tonight. For a few games the Phils look like they are finalkly playing like a legitimate playoff team, and just as quickly as it started, the team begins to play like a team content to go home and play golf. Myers was awful for the second straight game...not a good time of the year to revert to old form. The offense is basically non-existant for the second straight night (yes, I know they have two home runs, but the league is batting .300 against Jo Jo Reyes AND his team had lost his last 11 starts) and for a team trying to win their division in the last week of the season, an offense just cannot look this inept. Yes KarenA, MAYBE they will come back, but while my heart still holds out hope for a comeback, my brain tells me it's over. ARGHHH!
Posted 09:51 PM, 09/24/2008
psuflyers
I'm just worried that it's 1964 again. This isn't looking good.
Posted 10:27 PM, 09/24/2008
Realistic One
How ironic that some hot dogs are literally blown up before the game outside and another hot dog, Myers, gets blown up inside during the game by the Braves.
Posted 10:36 PM, 09/24/2008
atp2007
Who is going to drop out of first place quicker, the Phils or the White Sox?
Posted 10:42 PM, 09/24/2008
psuflyers
C-H-O-K-E. By this time tomorrow, we'll be in a first-place tie with the Mets. I'm guessing that the Marlins will roll over for the scumbags from NY while the Nats scratch and claw with everything they've got to keep us from reaching the postseason. Nice work by the Philly media with the major league jinx job this week.
Posted 10:47 PM, 09/24/2008
sha987
Depressing last couple of nights ... the Phils' rivals are getting tying and go-ahead runs walked in and the Phils are losing to a team 20 games out of first with their best arms on the mound ... ugh!
Posted 10:49 PM, 09/24/2008
bski
As usual we back ourselves into a corner. Maybe the Phils need a few hot dogs to be detonated under their keysters because they sure look flat. How do you detonate a hot dog anyway?
Posted 11:00 PM, 09/24/2008
bski
You know, even worse than the fact that we just lost two in a row is HOW we are losing. Yes, Myers was awful tonight, BUT we were still in it when he was taken out. Durbin came in and did his job. He got a ground ball that, with a good throw, would have been the second out. Instead we got Howard's 18th error. Next, Durbin struck out Francoeur. That should have ended the inning. The Braves would have only scored 1 run and would have been leading 4-3. That error was a killer. Then Eyre comes in to face Chipper, who was hitting from the right side. The next two hitters, Anderson and Johnson, are far less dangerous than Chipper, plus they are both LEFT HANDED hitters. Instead of being very cautious or even staying away from Chipper, Eyre makes a mistake which ends up being a 3-run homerun. The upshot of all of that is that the Braves scored 6 runs on only 3 hits and the ballgame was effectively over. We have just given away back to back games.
Posted 11:03 PM, 09/24/2008
Repubrebirth
Media is to blame for this. Philly should know better to fall for this. Folks, this city is jinxed!! Until the Phils are in the playoffs officially it's a disgrace to write the "let's get ahead of ourselves" articles. For you young people, this is what it's like to be a Phils fan! Chose another team before you fall in love with these losers!
Posted 11:07 PM, 09/24/2008
CT Philly Fan
Leave it to shoeshineboy to put a negative spin on an otherwise humorous story. You can't beat a Hatfield hotdog. Tough to watch these past two games, but I've got faith they'll pull it out.
Posted 11:40 PM, 09/24/2008
Mark1npt
Uh........I'm not yet ready to tell you all I told you so.....but.....
Posted 12:14 AM, 09/25/2008
MrPhillie
Myers was terrible and the offense was blah, but it was the poor defense in the 5th that really hurt. Howard's error was enormous (and although it was a difficult throw, most 1st basemen could make it...just throw to the outfield side of the bag) but Werth should have caught McCann's "double." First of all, Myers had Prado in the hole before throwing pitches nowhere near the strikezone, then Myers had McCann 1-2 before throwing pitches not even close to make it a full count...THEN he lobs a pitch middle-in and up and McCann hits it hard.
Posted 12:45 AM, 09/25/2008
Norma
THANK YOU CUBBIES!!!! At least we didn't lose any ground. And Chipper, *injured*? Hitting a HR off his weak side? Right! That was a scam if I ever saw one! The highlight was the bench clearing. The way we've been playing, we don't have a prayer of getting very far in the post-season. Hope I have to eat my words at the end of October!
Posted 01:14 AM, 09/25/2008
Mark1npt
Is this incredibly terrible baseball being played out by the Phils and Mets, or what? Looks like a contest to see who doesn't want it....wonder why....can this many professional athletes on both sides be inept when the pressure is on?....or are we witness to the likes of scripted finishes just like when watching the WWF? Something's wrong here......
Posted 06:11 AM, 09/25/2008
forge98
The Phillies are fine. The day off is perfect. Meanwhile Mets play another against Cubs. Phils will be 2 up going into weekend.
Posted 07:16 AM, 09/25/2008
stoky
When Lou let David Wright hit I called him an idiot... But the idiot was Wright swinging 3 and 0 ...making sweet Lou a genius. Would that Cholly could catch some of Lou's G.
Posted 07:49 AM, 09/25/2008
bobby
Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Phils got beat ugly the last 2 nights. But the Mutts will not let the Phils lose the division. In fact, the Mutts will not make the playoffs. Biggest concern: What is going on with Brett Myers?
Posted 08:06 AM, 09/25/2008
KarenA
I was stunned at how poorly Myers pitched last night. He had basically been lights out prior to his last 2 starts and to revert back to early in the season is very troubling. Also the offense being a bit asleep was also not very reassuring (how about Burrell getting TWO doubles!That was positive)
Posted 08:36 AM, 09/25/2008
bski
Bobby, it's just things evening out. Myers isn't as bad as he has been these last two starts, but he certainly isn't as good as he was over his first eleven starts after being brought back up. He is what he is. As such, I think the most we can expect from him in the future is production similar to what we got from him during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. That's not terrible, but it's not better than #3 starter's numbers either.
Posted 08:47 AM, 09/25/2008
Gary Varsho
I think whoever helped straighten Myers out in the minors (we know Dubee is incapable) needs to work with Myers in the bullpen over the next few days to straighten him out again. I think his mechanics are like a golf swing, one thing goes off and he's in big trouble.
Posted 09:03 AM, 09/25/2008
bski
Gary, I wonder why it is that Dubee is incapable. I've read quotes from him all year that suggest that he is aware of the problems with our pitchers and that he suggests fixes and works with them to make corrections. There are more quotes from him, this time about Hamels, in today's Phillies Notebook, as a matter of fact. So, the question remains, why is he not able to effect meaningful changes? He can't get his ideas across? The pitchers just tune him out? What?
Posted 09:11 AM, 09/25/2008
Truth
Neurotic is certainly the first thing that comes to mind when I read YOUR posts. This team is what it is. Myers is what he is. Howard keeps on trucking tho- Bottom line is they will back in again just like last yr, It is refreshing to see that (hopefully) they will earn 91-92 wins, but this team if they had any consistency from Burrell or Utley during the season they would be on their way to 96-97 wins and cruising like the Cubs or LAA. Its really sad that Myers early season collapse happened, its also sad sad that Happ didn't get more of a chance while Eaton/Kendrick were imploding once again all this could have been avoided. I do predict this team finds a way to win at least a playoff series. They will not feel the pressure they did last year. If Howard continues on his hot-streak asuming they have a five hitter to place behind him that isn't ice cold any thing is possible. I also think this would be a good time to put him into the three hole and place Burrell at clean-up just to shake things up. I knoiw that sounds crazy but this team needs a lift they have become predictable.
Posted 09:12 AM, 09/25/2008
jeff gross
Now I start to get conceerned. Two bad outings in a row for Myers, two losses in a row for the Phils..I still believe they'll make the post season, but my gut feeling is that they peaked too early and will go into the first round with little or no momentum. Who ever wins wild card (Brews or Mutts) will have the momentum with them, and so will the Dodgers and Cubs. We NEED to sweep this last serries to regain the momentum and enter playoffs on a high
Posted 09:13 AM, 09/25/2008
Truth
Jeff Gross-the Mets will have momentum? Remove yourself from the blog for the day! Thats ridiculousness at its peak-lol.
Posted 09:39 AM, 09/25/2008
RollinsWasRight
I am surprisingly not (completely) worried... they had a great run (10-1), they were bound to come back down a little bit eventually... they also had dominated the Braves this season (14-3 prior to last night, won every series prior to this one), that was bound to end too... Myers's struggles are a concern, though... 7 days ago he was probably a lock for Game 1 of the NLDS, now we have to hope they clinch before Sunday so Cole doesn't have to pitch that day and can be ready for Game 1 (and let's not overlook that Cole has also been less than dominant lately). And yet, I am not as concerned as I would expect... not as concerned as everyone else. Why is that? Maybe they are just doing us all a favor... had they won the last two games, they could've clinched with a Mets loss tonight, while they are off... maybe they just want to ensure the fans a big clinching party? ... I refuse to believe that this team, after what they did the last 17 games last year, and what they have done the last two weeks, is a team that could/would choke, despite the fact that they are a Philly team... It is still far more likely that the Mets continue to falter than the Phillies... I have no idea what to expect in the playoffs, but I am confident they will bounce back (just like they did the last time Myers got knocked around).
Posted 09:41 AM, 09/25/2008
RollinsWasRight
Lord... I must be deluded. Is my lack of concern more of a concern than their play the last two nights?
Posted 09:42 AM, 09/25/2008
4 for 4 Guy
Phils clinch the Division Saturday. Relax everyone, it's in the bag.
Posted 09:49 AM, 09/25/2008
KarenA
I agree. I'm more worried about Myers pitching than the Phils clinching a playoff spot. I must say I'm glad they have an off day today....it'll help steady the nerves(LOL!)
Posted 09:53 AM, 09/25/2008
jeff gross
I have no doubts that the phils will win the division, but even if they go 1-2 against the Nats, and the Mets go 2-2, I am concerned about entering the playoffs after ending teh season on a 1-4 skid. Since we can't play the Mets in the first round, it is irrelevent if they do or don't have momentum (Truth) but we definately won't. The confidence factor is huge. In any case, Myers doesn't get any more starts before the Postseason. I hope he can get his head-and arm, back to where it was 10 days ago
Posted 10:25 AM, 09/25/2008
Truth
Jeff Gross YOU were talking abouyt the Mets having momentum not me, it must have mattered to you a 1/2 hr prior. Your wrong again. I say give Myers a start to get the kinks out, if he doesn't we know where we stand. I think if Blanton has a strong start tomorrow he becomes the number 2 in the first series at least.
Posted 10:53 AM, 09/25/2008
nyphilliephan
maybe myers' mojo was in one of those shrink-wrapped-hot-dogs...
Posted 11:07 AM, 09/25/2008
jeff gross
When do you want to start him? There are 3 games left. You want to start Myers on 3 days rest?
Posted 12:06 PM, 09/25/2008
RollinsWasRight
Karen: Their nerves or ours? :)
Posted 12:12 PM, 09/25/2008
RollinsWasRight
jeff: Don't sweat it. It's not a skid. They just went 10-1, and he baseball gods demand that a hot team come back to earth sooner or later. It may, in fact, be advantageous (since the Mets decided not to capitalize on their opportunity)... last year they went into the playoffs scorching hot, having won 13 out of 17, and came back to earth with a wonderfully listless 3-game sweep... hopefully they are now getting the "comedown" out of their system. I would've hated to see them go into the playoffs on like a 12-3 run, only to fall flat again as the few days off slow them down.
Posted 01:02 PM, 09/25/2008
Billy The Kid
I' can't believe everyone (well, almost everyone) is talking about this team playing terrible baseball after they won 10 of 11...and don't you love Mark coming on here telling us he told us so. He's such a loser. Tell us so when the Phillies don't win the division, not when, in reality, they're better off now then they were 24 hours ago (still 1.5 up with one less game to play for the Mets). Truth, dude, the Phillies now are backing into the playoffs? ...and they backed in last year? ...more consistancy from Utley and Burrell (implying that your boy Howard has been consistant)? Really? First of all, going 13-4 the last 17 games isn't backing in the playoffs. I don't care whay the Mets did last year...and if they get 2 of 3 vs. Washington, they'll have gone 13-4 in their last 17 once more...again, that's not backing into the playoffs. Second of all, the entire line up has been inconsistant, not just Utley or Burrell, but everybody. That's been their problem all year. Bottom line is everybody needs to calm down. They win 2 of 3 and everything will be fine. Don't go jumping off the bridges...unless you post as "Marknp1" or "Truth".
Posted 01:04 PM, 09/25/2008
James TL
The worst thing about this is the fact that the Phils will probably have to use Hamels on Sunday and not be able to use him in the fist playoff game. He's still their most consistant starter. This may happen with the Mets and Santana as well (but who cares right?). I hope the mets lose the next three and Phils can rest Hamels. It's never easy for the Phils is it?
About Andy Martino
Andy Martino is in his first season on the Phillies beat. A former New York City public school teacher and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, he previously wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered baseball and worked with the award-winning investigative sports "I-team."
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