Cole Hamels - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

Sorry but I have to admit, Cole Hamels giving 19 year-old Nationals phenom Bryce Harper a sweet yet painful welcome to the majors, was classic.  And I know Harper went on to steal home on Cole, but I bet Harper’s lower back was still feeling the sting.

What’s even better…Cole ADMITTED he intentionally hit Harper with the pitch.

“I was trying to hit him,” admitted Hamels, who allowed one run over eight innings to improve to 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA. “I’m not going to deny it. I’m not trying to injure the guy. They’re probably not going to like me for it, but I’m not going to say I wasn’t trying to do it. I think they understood the message, and they threw it right back. That’s the way, and I respect it. They can say whatever they want.” – Phillies.com

I know Harper is a great ball player and definitely has the goods to back it up, but he’s young and full of attitude, maybe he needed to be knocked down a few pegs.  And since the game was on ESPN, meaning we have to endure the ESPN announcers, hearing them gush over and over and over about Harper, I wholeheartedly agree with Cole’s decision.

Another positive note about last night was that the Phillies avoided being swept by the Washington Nationals, thanks to Cole’s pitching and the Phillies offense stepping up.  Hunter Pence alone had two homeruns and four RBI’s, while the offense had a total 13 hits.  The final score was 9-3 and Hamels collected his fourth win of the season.

On a sad note, in the sixth inning former Phillie Jayson Werth broke his left wrist after sliding to catch a ball.  His wrist (gloved-hand) hit the ground and bent back very awkwardly.  As much as I disliked Werth’s jump to the Nats for the bigger bucks, I certainly don’t wish the guy to be injured.

Werth left the game after breaking his left wrist in the sixth inning. He is expected to be out for at least six weeks. It’s the same wrist he broke as a member of the Dodgers in 2005. He ended up missing all of 2006 because of the injury. – Phillies.com

Complete Box Score Phillies/Nationals – 4/6/12 Game

Tonight the Phillies are back home and hosting the New York Mets. Game time is 7:05 m EDT and can be seen on ESPN (for the second night) and on Philadelphia’s Comcast Sportsnet.  Roy Halladay is back from his brief leave and will be on the mound tonight.

To read Keara’s take on last night’s game, check out Aerys Sports Win For Teddy.

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

Heather Carnassale is Contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.

Pat Burrell - photo credit: Steve Trapani

I was out shopping when I accidentally hit the Facebook app on my iPhone and Pat Burrell retiring as a Philadelphia Phillie was the top story in my news feed.  So I thank the700Level.com for completely making my day.

Ever since it was announced last year that Pat would more than likely be retiring, I was on Pat Burrell Retirement Watch.  And it wasn’t just the fact of him actually retiring, it was the fact that he absolutely HAD to retire a Phillie.  I don’t care that he won his second World Series ring with the San Francisco Giants, to me and to many Phillies fans, Burrell will forever be a Phillie.  So for him to retire as a Giant would have been blasphemy.

Now Burrell will complete the circle during the Red Sox series at Citizens Bank Park May 18-20, when he’ll sign a one-day contract and officially retire with the Phils. He’ll throw out the first pitch on May 19 and will also sign autographs in the Hall of Fame Club and appear on the telecast. – Phillies.com

I’m completely stoked and couldn’t be happier!

Welcome back, Pat!  You have been surely missed by this gal!

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

Heather Carnassale is Contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.

These are my top 10 reasons, for the most part, there is no rhyme or reason to the order.  

10.  Starting pitchers don’t really care about giving up hits or home-runs because they are “tinkering” with a new pitch.  Even Roy Halladay can walk off the mound after giving up a home-run and say it was a good outing.

Cliff Lee about 10 ft from me warming-up in the bullpen.

9.  Starting players only play for 2 or 3 at bats and they are out of the game.  And pitchers only going 2-3 innings before being pulled.

8. Minor Leaguers without names on their jersey and numbers in the 100′s playing.

7. Lenny’s

6. Watching players run the warning track and do wind sprints in the outfield… during the last few innings of the game.

5. The accessibility to the players.  If you can find a place along the rail, they walk by, sign autographs and talk to you.  Last year, I got Justin DeFratus’ attention by asking him why he hasn’t been on Twitter recently.  We ended up talking for 5+ mins and I walked away  with his autograph.

Justin De Fratus before a game.

4.  Frenchy’s and Lenny’s.

3. The unexpected stories that develop.  Last year, Philly fans had the honor of watching Mike Stutes come out of nowhere and hang around the big club until the very last day.  This year, Scott Elarton and Freddy Galvis are the stories that should be followed.

2. The interviews on the sideline or in the locker room, which take place during the game.

1. My favorite part of Spring Training is that it is that much closer to the summer.  That much closer to another winter being officially in the books.  The sun and the warmth that Florida has so much earlier than the north.  From someone that grew-up outside of Philadelphia andnow lives outside of DC, a beach type day in March is pure magic.

Me and my nephew rocking our Zoo With Roy shirts

I love Spring Training.  It’s about fun.  It’s about the sun. It’s about enjoying meaningless baseball.  And I wish I was there right now!

These are my top reasons, what are your’s?  Please leave them in the comment section below!

***All photos are from my personal collection from 2011′s Spring Training in Clearwater, Fl (or Clearwooder)***

Karilee Jeantet is lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Please follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116.  Please e-mail her viewfromsection116@gmail.com.

Cole Hamels - Image: MyPHL17.com

I have to be honest, this past week I was dealt a couple things that have distracted me from the Phillies.  So they have sort of taken a back seat on my priority list, but not because I’m no longer a fan or no longer love the game, it’s just I’m not a huge fan of Spring Training or preseason of any sport for that matter.

But of course I still love it when they win, Spring Training or not.

On Thursday afternoon, the Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 in 10-innings and Cole Hamels pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, where he allowed four hits and struckout two.  Click here to read the full recap.

So will Hamels get the nod to be the Opening day pitcher?  Probably not, that will more than likely go to Roy Halladay.  But this is what Hamels had to say about that:

“I think it’s always an honor to be in a position to do it, leading off the season for your team, especially if it’s at home, it’s something that’s pretty enjoyable,” Hamels said. “I’ve always wanted to. I’ll just keep waiting for the opportunity.” – Philly.com

And getting back to Spring Training, the Phillies record is 3-3 which puts them a game back in the National League behind the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants.  But seriously who cares, with starting pitchers only throwing a few innings tops and many of the star players barely playing, if at all, it is what it is!

Image Source:  MyPHL17.com

Heather Carnassale is Contributing Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.

Dear Jonathan Papelbon,

How did it feel to get your first work of the year in yesterday?  I know pitching in the 5th during Spring Training is nothing like the pitching in the 9th during a big game, but it’s a start.  You looked good, and quite funny with that one pop-up.

Jonathan Papelbon during a Spring Training game. Photo Phillies.com

But I’m not writing this letter to talk about that.  I’m here to discuss a very important issue that is near and dear to the hearts of all Philadelphia Phillies fans.

That is issue is length of games.

Last year, the Phillies had about 29 or so games under 2 1/2 hrs (baseball-reference).  That includes about 5 that lasted under 2 hrs and 10 minutes.  Did you read those numbers?  About 20% of the games are under 2 1/2 hours.  I know, those are times that you can’t understand, but it’s true.

Let’s compare that to the Red Sox, where there were 6 games under 2 1/2 hours (baseball-reference).  That’s a big difference.

I know this is going to be a culture shock for you, but it’s important to understand.  We have all seen Red Sox/Yankees games (no way to avoid them, since they are on ESPN, MLB Network or Fox whenever the two teams play) that have lasted well over 4 hours.  Philadelphia had 6 games last year that lasted over 4 hours.  That’s it, SIX.  And one of those games was a 19 inning marathon.

Now, the Phillies starting rotation likes getting the ball and pitching it. They do not like wasting time.  You need to learn from them.

Please stop taking 5 minutes (or more) per batter!  I guarantee that Phillies’ fans will start getting bored when that happens, and well, let’s just say, you don’t want that to happen.  It’s in everyone’s best interest to win them over to your side and keep them there.

We like our 2 1/2 hr games.  It’s kind of grown on us.  And while you have a tremendous responsibility of closing out games started by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels (ok, so they are going to be closing a lot of their own games, but you get my drift,) you need to be able to close them out in a reasonable amount of time.

I know you are used to rabid fan-bases, so I’m not worried about that.  But please, PLEASE work on your speed.  It is just better all around.

From,

Loyal Phillies’ Fans

Karilee Jeantet is the Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @Viewfromsec116.