The Phillies front office has been busy on this stormy day.  While the rest of us have been hoping and praying that Sandy will let the power stay on just a little longer, Ruben Amaro Jr has been sending players away from Philadelphia.

Earlier today, Carlos Ruiz’ option was picked up.  And that made Philadelphia cheer.

Then the cheers became even louder when Ty Wigginton and Jose Contreras (to be honest, I forgot that Contreras as a member of the Phillies this year) options were DECLINED!  Yes, they will not be back in Red Pinstripes next year and that automatically made the entire team better.

Later in the day, the Phillies then announced that Placido Polanco’s option will not be exercised.  This is another decision I agree with, but it’s kind of sad to me.  I really like Polanco, but he needs to go.  Unfortunately, it brings back into the light that we have no third baseman for next season.

Good-bye guys!  I really wish that I could get a severance check of $500,000 (Wiggy and Contreras) or $1,000,000 (Polanco.)

Danny gets the award for best tweet of the night:

i think the average age of the phillies went down 5 years today

— dmc (@dmc0603) October 29, 2012

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.

This has been one of the craziest series that I can remember, and I’m want more like it.

All three games finished with a score of 7-6.  All three were won by the Phillies.  And all won in dramatic fashion.

Today, well, I wasn’t hoping for a dramatic win.  The Phillies were up 5-1 and then it was 5-3.  And I started shaking my head.

The Brewers tied up the game in the top of the 8th, on a Ryan Braun home run.

Why anyone pitches to Braun is beyond me.  The man is crazy strong and very good at baseball.  (With or without steroids.)

» Continue reading “It’s A Sweep!!”

Close your eyes and listen to the scenario I am about to give you.

The starting pitching was not good.  He gave up six runs in six innings, including a home run to the opposing pitcher.

But the game is not over yet.  It’s only the 6th inning, there is plenty of time to make this up.

Chase Utley is showing patience at the plate, and making the plays in the field.  Ryan Howard is crushing the ball.  The right fielder is coming through in the clutch.

The game moves into the 8th.  The Phillies are still down by 5, but the game is still not over.

The third baseman singles, and the left fielder grounds out.

1 Out.

The back-up catcher comes in to pitch-hit.  And sends one deep into the night.

6-3

And the excitement builds.

Jimmy Rollins hits a sharp line-drive, straight to the Ryan Braun.

2 Outs.

Shane Victorino walks.  Chase Utley walks.  They successfully do a double steal.  Ryan Howard walks to load the bases.

A pinch-runner replaces Howard.

Carlos Ruiz launches a base-clearing double.

6-6

The right fielder comes through with a soft fly that Ruiz scores on.

7-6.

The third baseman draws a walk.  And the left fielder grounds out.

3 Outs.

The closer comes in to shouts and cheers and nervous fans.

He shuts the opponent down 1-2-3, completing the second big come-from-behind win in as many days.

Ok, open you eyes.

No, this is not 2008.  This is 2012, but suddenly, the Phillies are playing like it’s 2008.  They are playing 27 outs and with an intensity that I have not seen in a year.

They are playing to win and they believe that they can.

It was a great game and it reminded me one of the reasons why 2007 and 2008 were so much fun.  Not just because there was a parade at the end of 2008, but because I never really believed that the game was over.  Because I never believed that the Phillies were out of it.

These are some of my favorite wins.  However, I do enjoy a lopsided game on the Phillies side too.

Oh, and here is an awesome GIF of Cliff Lee communicating with Ty Wigginton before the pick-off play.

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.

Like almost everyone, I wear many hats: teacher, sister, daughter, aunt, leader, counselor, disciplinarian, friend, writer and probably more that I can’t think of right now.  One of my newest titles is coach.

This past spring, I finished my second season as a high school softball coach.  And I have learned a lot.

Softball field that I coached at this past spring.

For one thing, the starting pitcher almost always finishes the game.  Very, very rarely do relief pitchers enter the game.  The game is pretty much in the hands of the starting pitcher.  About the only time that a relief pitcher is used is if the game goes into extra innings.

With that in mind, my dad said to me a while back that he is curious about what would the Phillies record be if the game ended after the 5th inning and before the Phillies bullpen became involved.  I took that idea and expanded it with my knowledge of softball.

The parameters that I am working with are:

1) The game ends in the 7th inning.

2) If the score is different, I will explain how that happens.

3) If the score is tied after 7, I will be using the Softball International Tiebreaker Ruler.  (Mainly because I think it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.)

The International Tiebreaker Rule

Starting with the eighth inning, the offensive team begins the inning with the ninth hitter in the batting order placed on second base.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/428245-rules-on-international-tiebreakers-in-womens-fastpitch-softball/#ixzz1unsbzURj

4) I will assume that the 8th inning plays out exactly as it did in real life.  The only difference is that there will be a runner on second.  I also assume that runner on second will be able to score on a single, unless it’s an infield single.  In that case, he moves to third.

That’s it.  Those are the entire requirements.

» Continue reading “If The Phillies Played By Softball Rules…”

In one of the strangest games this year, the Phillies walk-it-off against the Colorado Rockies.

In a night when Joe Blanton was, well, Joe Blanton and gave up 3 home runs (ok, that’s normal) the strangest plays came through.

Let’s start with a Michael Martinez 3-run homer, which is, well, odd.  I believe that he is a waste of roster space, but he came through tonight.

Jonathan Papelbon came in the top of the 9th and the Rockies scored the go ahead run off of him.

Then the bottom of the 9th happened and things got strange.

The Rockies’ Rafeal Betancourt quickly got Jim Thome and Jimmy Rollins out.

Ty Wigginton comes up and hit a single into left field.  Hunter Pence then hits a ball to deep left field that bounced off the wall.  Wigginton chugged around the bases to score on the hit.

Game is now tied.

The Rockies choose to walk Carlos Ruiz to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Shane Victorino hits an infield single.

Well, kinda.  Marco Scutaro made a bad throw and Todd Helton did not make a good pick.  Oh, and Victorino is quite fast.

Bases are now loaded for Placido Polanco.  And Twitter started to call for a shrimp. Well, they didn’t walk Polanco, he put the bat on the ball.

Scutaro again fielded the ball, but he had to double-clutch before he could throw.  Helton seemed to forget how to play first.  He couldn’t find first base and Polanco was called safe, Pence scores.

Phillies win!  Just an odd night and I will take it!

Helton looks for the base after Polanco crosses it.

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.