The List of No Tomorrows
July 5, 2007| By Ron Costello | 
Discuss
Pat Gillick didn't take Amtrak to New York this time to see Madame Rue. Instead, weary of failing again, like the last time (see "Curse of the Stingy Paper Promise,"). Gillick decided to change his pattern of behavior--and his luck--and drive to the Big Apple. Gillick decided to change his pattern of behavior--and his luck--and drive to the Big Apple.
He parked in the Hilton garage at $25 bucks an hour, and took the C train south toward Greenwich Village. Coming above ground, he walked south again, just like the last time, and turned right onto King Street, then climbed the five or six concrete steps and knocked on the door. The small metal plate opened and shut quickly, and the door opened.
"Ah Patty," Madame Rue said, "how good to see you. Did they not fire you this time?"
"Oh no," Gillick told her. "No, not at all. Everything is still good...
A Letter to Mr. and Mrs. Smith
July 5, 2007| By Matt List| Discuss
Mr. And Mrs. Smith,
I’m sorry to inform you that we at PhillyPurge must make a Citizens Bank arrest. The Phillies third base coach has been noticed one too many times this season and last making stupid, bonehead, beyond little league manager poor decisions. Lets go back to game two against Houston. You have the best hitter in the NL who’s name isn’t Holliday coming to the plate in Mr. Utley, so what does this guy do? He sends Ruiz from first and waves him around third with his blazing catcher speed while Hunter Pence (who has a Marine issued m-16 as an arm) has already hit his cutoff man on a base hit. Ruiz gets tug out by about 30 feet, Chase doesn’t get to bat with first and third two outs and Phils lose by a walk off home run in extra innings. Does this story sound familiar? How many times do we have to see this...
Uncle Charlie Gits Some Switch Pitchin' Advice
June 25, 2007| By Ron Costello| Discuss
Uncle Charlie had his arms up above his head and his fingers through the wire mesh screen of the dugout, watching the Phillies swap runs with the world champs. The Redbirds jumped all over starter Jamie Moyer, scoring four runs in the first inning and six more in the second.
But the Phillies bats were hot, too. Ryan Howard hit a three run dinger in the first and Chase follow with a solo moon shot, clearing the Cardinals scoreboard.
By the time Uncle Charlie got through three pitchers from the Phillies beleaguered bullpen in the sixth, the score was 10-9, St. Louis.
"We got to do better from da mound," Manuel thought to himself. "I'm so tired of getting' our butts kicked because we ain't got any roosters in the damn hen house who can throw worth a tin can."...
10,000 Losses, A Reflection
June 22, 2007| By Mike Santa Barbara| Discuss
It’s May 1st 1883 and a lawyer and former ballplayer are unveiling a brand new team in Philadelphia called the Phillies. At the time John Rogers and Alfred Reach had no way of knowing what the Phillies would become. And surely they did not realize how much losing their new team would do in the next 124 seasons. Every Phillies fan by now knows that the Phils are closing in on 10,000 losses. Every Phillies fan also knows that the Phillies have the most losses in sports history as well. Every Phillies fan knows just how bad the Phillies' history of losing is, right?
Finishing their first season with a record of 17-81 was not an auspicious start to say the least for the Phillies. Between the inaugural season and 1917 the Phils would flirt around .500 placing 3rd or 4th in the division most seasons. The Phils were in the middle of the pack thanks to guys like Ed...
Switch Pitcher
June 22, 2007| By Ron Costello| Discuss
She opened the door slightly.
“Sir,” she said, “the fellows are ready for you in the bullpen.”
“Oh damn,” David Wharton yelled out, as the crackers tumbled down into a heap on his desk.
“I’m sorry sir,” she said, “did I startle you?”
“No, no,” Wharton said, “just not good timing, is all.”
“Sir,” she said, “may I make an observation?”
“Of course, Miss. Ains,” Wharton said, “you know we encourage employee input into our management style. What is it?”
“Well, Sir,” she said, “if you would use square crackers? Instead of Ritz, you might be able to build your fort better.”
“Miss Aines,” Wharton bellowed, “observations are one thing, but trying to change strategy? That’s uncalled for and not allowed.”
“I’m very sorry sir,” Miss Ains said, “it won’t happen again.”
David Wharton gathered up his papers and headed for the door.
“Anybody who calls? Tell them I’m in the bullpen. Oh, and start the process to get World Series ring sizes on all the players. It’s now a done deal...
Are we in store for another letdown with the Phillies?
June 16, 2007| By Gavin Young| Discuss
It's Sunday in the summer, and it's hot. Never mind the sun beating down through the window or the steam rising off the first summer's barbeque burger. It’s hot for a different reason. It's mid June and your prize possession of the afternoon, a Phillies victory, has slipped into some kind of morose nightmare that would rival anything Eli Roth has put out in the recent weeks. You know what I'm talking about. It wasn’t the Fahrenheit that made you sweat. It was the double-digit runs that the lowly Kansas City royals had amassed against our beloved baseball squad. A game that was easily in hand. A game that was winnable. A game that shouldn’t have been much more than an afterthought. A minor speed bump between the recent Mets sweep and the ensuing White Sox sweep. Here you sit watching, and you are terrified.
With every crack of the Royals’ bats, with every run that is tacked onto the score box, with every demoralized sigh; you see it happen all over again...
I Won't Be Fooled Again!!!
June 16, 2007| By Mark Rasy| Discuss
It's Sunday in the summer, and it's hot. Never mind the sun beating down through the window or the steam rising off the first summer's barbeque burger. It’s hot for a different reason. It's mid June and your prize possession of the afternoon, a Phillies victory, has slipped into some kind of morose nightmare that would rival anything Eli Roth has put out in the recent weeks. You know what I'm talking about. It wasn’t the Fahrenheit that made you sweat. It was the double-digit runs that the lowly Kansas City royals had amassed against our beloved baseball squad. A game that was easily in hand. A game that was winnable. A game that shouldn’t have been much more than an afterthought. A minor speed bump between the recent Mets sweep and the ensuing White Sox sweep. Here you sit watching, and you are terrified.
With every crack of the Royals’ bats, with every run that is tacked onto the score box, with every demoralized sigh; you see it happen all over again...
No Help in Sight at Gillickan's Island
June 12, 2007| By Ron Costello| Discuss
"A tract of land completely surrounded by water, not large enough to be called a continent." The Phillies may very well be called an island. A good team, a decent nucleus: "a central part about which other parts are grouped or gathered around."
Unfortunately, the "other parts" that gather around it are sometimes suspect. The club may have the best nucleus it has had since Lee Thomas and chief boy scout leader Eddy Wade put together in the '91 and '92 seasons. Then '93 was a joy ride through the rapids. Unfortunately, that club fell apart faster than a barrel over the Niagara Falls. Let's take a look at the present day nucleus, or the so-called untouchables…
Garcia Must Go
June 11, 2007| By Mike Santa Barbara| Discuss
Freddy Garcia is walking back to the dugout with two outs and six runs on the board in the 2nd inning in Kansas City with his typical blank stare. In 11 games started this season Garcia is 1-5 with an ERA above five. Garcia has been inconsistent, to be nice, all season long. The Phils were on a role having just swept the Mets in New York. They managed to give Garcia a early 3-0 lead only to have it all wasted on Garcia’s either tired arm or apathetic attitude. And now it’s time for Garcia to go. So how to solve this situation? Well, Here are two possible scenarios…
PAT-thetic: Ten Steps to the Trading Deadline (Part One)
June 9, 2007| By Ron Costello| Discuss
Okay, let's say you are Pat Gillick. You have fifty-one days left before the trading deadline of July 31. First, understand you are "bright," as Santa Claus (Bill Conlin) has proclaimed, the man who never met a diet he didn't like.
Next you have to buy a US Airways ticket from Seattle to Philly so you can come back in town and get reacquainted with what the hell is going on. Then, you have to look at some facts…
The End of the Road
June 7, 2007| By Chris White| Discuss
This weekend marks the end of the Triple Crown. Yup,
The Shield and Entourage are done, with the Soprano’s
final episode on Sunday night. I completely agree
with Startare on that one. Those my friends, are the
best three shows on TV today.
The other Triple Crown also wraps up this weekend.
Kentucky Derby, two weeks later the Preakness, three
weeks later the Belmont. Three Grade I’s in five
weeks for who’s the best in the three year old
division…
Wade-er Gate All Over Again
June 6, 2007| By Ron Costello| Discuss
David Wharton was fiddling with the portable hand-held phone at his desk inside the Phillies complex. Not his telephone, but the one Alfonseca threw on the ground and kicked because the other pitchers were calling him ‘Six-pac.’
The phone was clogged with dirt and no one could hear anything. They first noticed it in Atlanta, when it rang but not a voice could be heard through the ear-set. So when Ramon picked it up and said, ‘yea?’…there was silence.
Therefore, Uncle Charlie couldn’t summon any of the bull pen pitchers all during that three game series. Which, frankly, ticked off Bobby Cox.”
“G-damit hell,” Cox hollered a few times during that series. “How come they ain’t got the bull pen up? We score two runs and we got the freakin’ bases jammed up...
Phillies need more than just a new manager
June 6, 2007| By Mark Rasy| Discuss
Well the Phillies are in a slump again and everyone is calling for the firing of Charlie Manuel, while others are saying, “what does it matter if you fire the manager when the players can’t seem to hit or doing anything right on the field”. So I started wondering, are these guys really this bad or are they up to something else. Remember back in mid-April when the Phillies started out with an atrocious 3-10 record? The players had a team meeting before the Reds series and they came out playing inspired ball and went on to sweep that series and actually salvage a decent April record. That started me thinking that something else might be going on. Could there be a coup going on by the players?
I haven’t heard anyone say that maybe the players are embarrassed to be playing for Charlie Manuel and they are losing on purpose to get his ass fired…
Philadelphia Phillies-World Series Champions 2007
May 30, 2007| By Christa Horin| Discuss
The Phillies will win the World Series! I said it, I feel it, and I believe it! Am I insane? Of course not, I am simply working “The Secret” in an effort to achieve something I have desired since 1981, a Phillies World Series Championship.
If you have not read “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne or seen the DVD, then I urge you to take the time to understand this phenomenon. It is simple, we attract what we think and believe. If we act like something has already occurred and feel the emotions associated with this occurring, then the universe assures things will align to make what we desire happen…
Ben's Phantasy GM: Phixin' the Phils
May 24, 2007| By Ben Whitman| Discuss
"The old saying goes..." You hear that prelude to a plethora of baseball quotes and nuggets of wisdom but there's only one an aspiring General Manager should buy into – "pitching and defense wins championships."
The Phillies are tied for 4th in the National League in fielding, but they're also currently 14th in the National League in ERA at 4.59. League average is 4.06. They've blown 6 saves, only 4 NL teams have more. Trust me, converting your #1 starter to a set up man is not the answer.
The Phillies also have a strong young core, but unfortunately, the future is now. Baseball America ranks the Phillies minor league system #21 this season…
The Triple Crown's Second Leg
May 18 , 2007| By Chris White| Discuss
Street Sense came from nearly 20 lengths off the pace to win the 2007 Kentucky Derby just under two weeks ago, and looks to keep the dream of a Triple Crown alive this Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland at Pimlico.
Before I get into my selections for the week, let me first touch on the performance of Street Sense in Louisville. To most observers, including the typical transient fan the 1 ¼ mile trip by Street Sense was both expected and amazing. While winning from off the pace isn’t anything new to Street Sense, riding the rail around the racetrack to get there in the shortest distance still has even veteran horseplayers scratching their heads.
How come nobody else took to the rail? How come nobody else tried to cut Calvin Borel off when they heard him coming? Some even discount Street Sense’s performance, chalking it up as luck and the planets all aligning. Don’t into buy that for a minute, Street Sense just could be the next Triple Crown winner…
The Weekend's Don't Miss
May 1 , 2007| By Chris White| Discuss
This weekend marks the beginning of the Triple Crown events, the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby. We all know you are going to catch the race on TV, and there are a good number of you that will actually head out to your local Turf Club or racetrack to plop down a few wagers, knock back a couple of cold ones, and celebrate one of the truly great events in American sport.
Not sure who to play on Saturday? Not even sure who’s running? No problem. At PhillyPurge.com we’re here to help.
This year like many in recent years, you are looking at twenty horses heading into the starting gate. With that many hooves thundering past the crowd, solving this puzzle is nearly impossible.
Here’s my take on the major contenders. Keep in mind, this was prepared prior to post positions being drawn. The inside rail, or the very far outside gates could hinder the horse’s probability to win…
Be Very Careful
April 21, 2007| By Jason Sapp| Discuss
The NFL Draft is almost upon us. My self-proclaimed ‘holiday’ means that every day at work, for the next two weeks, it will be putting the final touches on mock drafts, speculating on who goes where and why each team is either a sucker or a genius when it comes to this annual festival of football. Every year, I watch the same teams make the same mistakes and never understand why they can’t get anywhere. Every year, I watch the same teams build their teams up, drafting the best talent, not name, and go on to win Super Bowls. Every year, when this day comes up and teams are gearing toward the next season, only one thing comes to mind, one thing I wish I could say to every team:
Be very, very careful…think before you act…
Mock Draft
April 21, 2007| By Mike Santa Barbara| Discuss
1.Oakland Raiders- QB LSU- JaMarcus Russell
2.Detriot Lions- DE Clemson- Gaines Adams
3.Cleveland Browns- RB Oklahoma- Adrian Peterson
4.Tampa Bay Buccaneers- WR Georgia Tech- Calvin Johnson
5.Arizona Cardinals- DT Michigan- Alan Branch
Steve O Diatribe
April 20, 2007| By Steve Olenski| Discuss
I know, I know...hard to believe. I have resurfaced after my self-imposed exile. I was making a statement via my silence. I would remain silent until Sanjaya was booted from Idol or the Phillies won 4 games...whichever came first. Who knew they would both take as long to occur?
Much has transpired since my exodus and I will now share with you my thoughts, opinions and beliefs of said topics, heretofore, ipsofacto, etc, etc…
Sizing up the AL
April 14, 2007| By Chris White| Discuss
What a great time of year! Last weekend I knocked back a bunch of pints with fender bendin’ Nascar in the background, and watched my Metropolitans sweep the first series of the season.
On Monday, a beautiful day for a ride on the cycle, and a few more pints while enjoying the Phils knock off those suck holes from Atlanta. The NCAA finals entertained us that night, and now I’m thinking baseball of the American League variety. Ain’t life grand!?
Quick point before I take a whack at the AL. I don’t think Greg Oden is going to be all he’s cracked up to be in the NBA. First of all, I’d like to see a birth certificate to prove this guy isn’t already in his mid thirties. Secondly, I think his college dominance is due to his size, not his game. I think he plays smaller then his size, and see him as somebody who can disappear in games. All the talking heads are implying how smart the kid is too. I still don’t see where that improves his stock. We’re talking about the NBA, remember?
That’s my two cents.
AL East...
Eagles will draft defense first
April 11 , 2007| By Mike Santa Barbara| Discuss
April 28th is circled on every gridiron fan’s calendar, the NFL Draft. Very few drafts in sports are broken down and analyzed quite like the NFL draft. In short the NFL draft is a big deal, a very big deal. Especially in Philadelphia where most fans are hoping the Eagles don’t take another Defensive Tackle or Offensive Lineman with their first pick. The Eagles have some obvious needs especially on the defensive side of the ball. Needs which can be addressed with the 26th pick overall which happens to be where the Eagles pick first. The Birds are thin at Defensive End as well at Tackle and linebacker. However, Looking closely they are very thin in the Secondary, which is the position they will draft in the first round...
Dream With Me and KG
March 26, 2007| By Matthew List| Discuss
With the Sixers' season coming to a close it’s time to look toward the future.
Three first round draft picks in this summer's NBA draft should produce some good talent; if Billy King and Larry Brown pull the right strings that is.
So let’s say the Sixers do have a productive draft, and let’s also say that Andre Iguodala keeps improving. More than likely the Sixers will be an up and coming team after next season with over 20 million in cap space to spend after clearing Iverson and Webber off the payroll…
Sizing up the rest: "A look at the NL Central and West"
March 26, 2007| By Chris White| Discuss
The more I study the rest of the National League, the more one thing becomes apparent. The Philadelphia Phillies I’d say have a terrific chance right now at making the playoffs. They are in line to seriously contend for the East pennant, and they are probably better then anyone outside of the East. With that said, let’s see if any of this logic holds water come All-Star break.
Order of Finish with (wins)…
From Madness to Fever...Jimmy, Pat, Chase, and the Rhino
March 20, 2007| By Matthew List| Discuss
Now that my friends was a weekend! It only cost me a girlfriend and a few hundred bucks, a small price to pay for the opening games of March Madness. Now that I’m broke, single and my brackets are completely destroyed one can only start hearing the pop of the catcher’s mitt, the smell of Bull's BBQ wafting through the air, the smell of the bull crap coming from the front office, the crack of the bat, and the ogling of college girls with practically no clothes on when you know you're too old and fat to even have a shot…yes boys and girls its baseball season. The sport of hot dogs, beer and laziness. But wait….do we actually have a winner in town this year? Are you telling me that instead of sitting on the top deck of Harry the K’s staring down at boobs, I’ll actually be watching the game? I think you may be right! Unless Abe Nunez is up of course. The kettle that is our Philadelphia Phillies is starting to slow cook for sure. Expectations around the town are nothing short of a playoff appearance this year. Lets take a look and see how the team’s offensive stars can improve from the almost and the never was that has been Phillies baseball....
Playoffs: No second thoughts
March 10, 2007| By Jason Sapp| Discuss
I work at Rancocas Valley High School in Mount Holly, NJ, as the Television Station Manager. I also oversee all live shoots of sporting events and concerts the school puts on. This season, our Boys Basketball team finished 24-2 and earned a first round bye in its playoff bracket. Throughout the school, the overwhelming support of the team drove the students, as well as the staff, into frenzy. Not since the days of Danny Miller had the school been so excited about its basketball team. The possibility of a State championship run was more realistic now then ever.
The team is coached by Jay Flanagan, an English teacher who could easily
be mistaken for a likeable version of Larry Brown. Throughout the first
game, against North Brunswick, I felt something that I had never experienced,
dating back to when I attended the school all those years ago...
All the results are in...
March 10, 2007| By Matthew List| Discuss
Now that the regular season has ended for all of the local division one basketball teams in our area, its time to figure out what teams lived up to the pre-season hype, who will be going to the Big Dance, and who will be in the Not Invited Tournament.
The number one team in our region for another year goes to the Villanova Wildcats. Coach Jay Wright has guided the Cats through another minefield of a season to a sure NCAA tourney at large bid. Nova went undefeated in Big Five play again this year but did lose 76-81 to the Drexel Dragons back on December 9th. It was the first loss to Philadelphia team in three years. The Cats boast an RPI ranking of 18 and strength of schedule ranking of 9th overall in the country...
NL East Preview
March 2, 2007| By Chris White| Discuss
The sting of the Eagles' post-season failure is just now starting to subside. It’s amazing how long the Philadelphia faithful will keep talking about their Eagles, long after the final snap has taken place. That, coupled with both the Sixers' and Flyers' dismal seasons that never got off the ground, are great reasons to be excited about the boys of summer once again. So screw Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, and everything coming out of our nation’s capitol. Baseball is back baby!
In the first of my three part pre-season series, I’ll contemplate
the fates of the home division, the National League East...
