The Phillies lost their final home contest of the 2012 season last night. It was the first time in 12 years that the Phillies had below a .500 home record.
Today, the gameday staff was there cleaning up and the players will be back next week to clean out their lockers. The lights on the field will be turned off until next April, when the young season will be filled with hope and freshness.
Until next April! I can’t wait for you to be lit up again in all of your beautiful glory!
My Burrell #5 Jersey - Photo credit: HCarnassale
Last night in South Philadelphia, the Phillies lost to the Boston Red Sox. But though I wanted them to win, the night in my eyes belonged to Pat Burrell.
Last season when rumblings came out that Burrell was more than likely going to retire, my mission was to make sure that this happened in Philadelphia.
Now I don’t take sole credit for Ruben Amaro, Jr. and company giving Pat the opportunity, but I surely made my opinion known. So about a month and a half ago, when it was announced that the Phillies were going to sign Pat to a one day contract, I for one was giddy beyond belief. And things only got better.
I found out that the game that Pat and the Phillies chose was the May 19th game during the Boston Red Sox series. I immediately called my father, who buys the partial season tickets and asked if he had tickets for that specific game. He did but…he had already given those tickets away (before the Burrell announcement came out). My heart sunk, but I surely didn’t expect my Dad to ask for the tickets back, so I basically resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn’t see Pat retire in person.
Well, my parents, being the most kind and generous Mom and Dad a girl could have, decided to purchase tickets for the game and gave them to me. I was so grateful, appreciative, and VERY happy. So I want to make sure to give a huge THANK YOU shout out to them for getting the tickets for me.
Now the tickets weren’t for Section 116, as my Dad had given those away, so technically my view last night was from Section 243 by Harry the K’s restaurant. Having never sat out there in left field, I saw the game from a whole new perspective. And sadly the Phillies game itself was a major bust after Joe Blanton, who had been looking very good, pitched awful. He had 102 pitches by the fifth inning…YIKES! But the Phillies battled back to some extent, however as many of you probably know, I consider myself a huge jinx when it comes to the Philly teams, so being my second Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park this season, I am 0-2. Not exactly helping my case.
Anyway, back to Pat Burrell. As I stated here, I never considered myself a “Burrell Girl” I was more a “true” fan who supported him through slumps, through the bashing from fans, and pretty much everything he did or didn’t do on the field. So last night I proudly wore my Phillies #5 Pat Burrell shirt and while walking through the turnstile, the ticket attendant gave me a thumbs up. I saw quite a few others adorned in their #5 shirts as well. Some even donned Burrell’s original Phillies number which was #33. The support and admiration for Pat could definitely be felt throughout the park.
So when the time came for Burrell to be announced, the stadium was packed with fans, ready to cheer for the man many either loved and/or at times hated. But everyone last night agreed on one thing, that Burrell coming back, putting on the red pinstripes, and retiring in Philadelphia was the way it was meant to be.
» Continue reading “Pat Burrell Retires As A Phillie”
Brad Lidge - MyPHL17.com
Yesterday at Citizens Bank Park, the dismantling of the Winter Classic ice rink began. And after an Alumni game, the Classic game, an AHL Phantoms game, and a pubic skate, the ballpark says goodbye to ice hockey.
Now its time to get back to baseball.
So what’s happening with Brad Lidge? Well…not too much.
He’s yet to find another team but unlike Ryan Madson who might have possibly burned that Phillies bridge, Lidge could be back.
Last year before heading into Spring Training, Lidge was the Phillies closer but injuries to his shoulder and knee kept him away from the team for half of the 2011 season. He also lost a decent amount of speed off his once dominating fastball. Which according to Phillies.com, might be the real reason teams are reluctant to sign Lidge, even for only one year.
By the time Lidge was activated from the DL last season, Ryan Madson had established himself as manager Charlie Manuel’s go-to guy in save situations. Lidge understood the situation and accepted it without complaint. He would still like to close, however, but realizes he may not have the opportunity to open the 2012 season in that role, as there are still free-agent closers available, including Madson. – Phillies.com
Lidge works out everyday and remains positive. But if no other team wants him, there’s always that chance the Phillies could re-sign him as a possible set-up man. Though they are looking at Kerry Wood, emphasis on looking. Nothing has been done and Wood could still re-sign with the Cubs. And with Jose Contreras on the mend, until they see what he’s capable and not capable of doing this season, having a guy like Lidge could be a good thing.
Its a bunch of what-ifs!
And speaking of what-ifs, yesterday after I tweeted out the Kerry Wood story, @View From Section 116 got a tweet back:
1/9/12 tweet
Which that tweet sparked a good point. My response was: Ain’t that the truth, to which Aerys Sports Philadelphia Eagles writer Sports Muse stated she was going to say the same as me (great minds think alike). And then View’s writer Karilee Jeantet tweeted that in regards to hitting, she has been saying that the entire off-season.
1/9/12 tweet
So the issue really isn’t the bullpen its the hitting or lack thereof.
But as of right now, the Phillies higher-ups seem perfectly content on the projected 2012 batting line-up. I guess the only thing we Phillies fans can do is keep the fingers crossed and hope for the best!
Any suggestions on what the Phillies could or should do?
Now that the 2012 Winter Classic is over and the Flyers lost *sigh* the ice rink is still intact and will be opened to the public this 
Saturday, January 7th. But the cost to do so is a little on the pricy side and there will be no skates to rent, so you must bring your own.
The following is the price list (courtesy of CBSPhilly.com):
Tickets:
$60 for adults
$50 for children (children under 2 get free admission)
$10 for a non-skating spectator pass
The sessions only last an hour long but skating at Citizens Bank Park would be a once in a lifetime type event, so its probably worth the price.
Here are the session times (courtesy of CBSPhilly.com):
Saturday, January 7
Public Skate:
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
11 p.m. – 12 midnight
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
7:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
9:15 – 10:15 p.m.
When not skating, people are permitted in designated areas around the rink and have permission to to take photos. But if you think you will be getting an inside look of CBP, think again, the public will only be allowed in certain areas.
Saturday’s forecast for Philly is sunny and 50 degree temps. Have fun if you go!
I’d go myself but having not ice skated since 2004, my clumsy, oft uncoordinated behind and a torn (yet healed) MCL later, think its best I avoid the ice.
Citizens Bank Park
Today is the 2012 Winter Classic Alumni Game and as if Mother Nature knew she had to make her presence known, she decided to bless the Philadelphia area with 50 degree temps and sunshine. Now most would agree for a New Year’s Eve, that’s a nice weather treat. But for an outdoor hockey game…not so much.
The game which was slated to begin at 1:00 pm EDT had to be delayed until 3:00 pm EDT so hopefully once the sun starts setting, the cooler much more December-like temps will surface. (no pun intended)
In fact, right now its so damn nice out that the Phillies themselves could be playing at Citizens Bank Park, in an early to mid-April game. Its crazy. And yes I know I shouldn’t be bitching about Mother Nature being generous, especially to those who will be hitting the party circuit tonight, but geez could she have at least cooperated just a little bit more.
Regardless, I am just going to enjoy seeing the likes of Eric Lindros donning the Orange and Black one more time, something many of us thought would NEVER happen. And see Hall of Famer goaltender Bernie Parent take the ice for the first time in close to 30 years.
For me seeing a lot of the older players from when I was a child, is something special to watch! And I plan to savor every minute of it!
I wish everyone a safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
See ya in 2012!
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