The Five Phillies You Loved The Most

The city of Philadelphia has had a lot to be excited about over the past few years. In 2006 we had the Great Ed Wade Revival which brought the Phillies closer to the post season than anyone ever expected. In 2007 we saw the team achieve a playoff berth for the first time since 1993. The 2008 season had destiny written all over it, and in 2009 the word “dynasty” wasn’t far from anyone’s lips. But 2010 is different; it’s special. The opening day lineup has been intact only a handful of times this year, and that has forced the fans to look more at the individual parts rather than the whole. There appears to be a distinct divide between the guys we’ve always loved (Rollins, Utley, Howard), the ones we love when given a reason to love them (Ibanez, Werth, Victorino), and the ones we’ll remember for that special something they brought to the table during what has arguably be the greatest era in Phillies history to date. With that, I bring you the five 2010 Phillies you loved the most.

#5 - Mike Sweeney

Mike Sweeney came to Philadelphia as part of a post-deadline transaction that was necessary after Ryan Howard was placed on the disabled list with an injured ankle. Drafted by the Royals in 1991, Sweeney has played 1,451 games in the majors without experiencing the postseason, and can’t stop talking about how grateful he is to finally have that opportunity with Philadelphia. What the fans seem to like the most about him is that while he may not be the scariest player at the plate, he undeniably plays with the most heart. Every swing, every dive, every tag is approached with 110% effort, and when he’s not on the field, he is the first player at the top of the dugout steps to give out hugs and high-fives to his teammates. Before games he will sign autographs and hold your baby for a picture, and after games he can be found telling Sarge how “it’s a great gift to be a Philadelphia Phillie,” and that he will do whatever it takes to help get the team to their third consecutive World Series. It’s well known that the relaxed and confident clubhouse atmosphere has played a major role in the Phillies success in recent years, but I’m sure that Sweeney’s child-like optimism and gratitude helped keep the team’s spirits afloat as they scratched and clawed their way back atop not only the NL East, but all of baseball.
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Baseball Ladies Round Table: A Woman’s Place

Associated Press

Originally posted by Chicks Dig the Long Ball.

Approximately two weeks ago, sports reporter Ines Sainz alluded to a degree of sexual harassment towards her in the New York Jets team locker room after their season opener. Even though the story has been mulled over from several different angels already, I wanted to get the ladies’ perspective of the situation.

Question #1: Do you feel the comments made to/about journalist Ines Sainz in the Jets locker room by the players were inappropriate? Why or why not?

NATALIE: No, I don't think they were inappropriate at all. I feel that by dressing the way she does, she clearly invites any looks and comments thrown her way. I've been in the exact same position as her, and I know firsthand that the players are men and will do what all men do. They look, they whisper, and that is just par for the course. It is the responsibility of the female to be a professional. I personally never once felt unwelcomed by any male athlete or coach or the like, but I always took it upon myself to dress respectably and act appropriately. If you want the respect, especially if you are a woman in the presence of men with huge egos in a locker room that is much like a high school classroom, you must DEMAND respect. Frankly, that is the only way to get and keep it.

KIM: I do feel that the comments made to/about Sainz were inappropriate. Whether or not the team members were just messing around (which, who really knows except for anyone actually present at the time of the alleged harassment), it doesn't make it okay for them to be lewd or flirtatious toward her. Sure, guys will be guys and some guys like to joke around, mess around, whatever, but there's a huge difference between these guys just making lewd comments about other things while Sainz was present and these guys making lewd comments about or toward Sainz.

CYNTHIA: I have slightly mixed feelings on this subject. First off, the comments made towards Ines Sainz in the Jets locker room were definitely disrespectful. However, when a woman presents herself in an unprofessional manner, such as wearing tight, revealing clothing, it does little to prevent the situation. In fact, all it does is provoke and invite men to gawk and comment. I believe that she wants the attention that she gets from the players, just maybe not in such a harsh way. I cannot see how anyone could take her seriously with the way she dresses. Low cut, see-through shirts. Skin-tight pants. Short, tight dresses. Even I was gawking at her photos. I took it upon myself to Google Miss Ines and found nothing at all to support her case, in my opinion. I tried to sympathize with her, but I believe you get what you put out there. I don't want anyone to think that I am trash talking a woman wearing tighter fitting clothing or low cut tops, but if you want to be taken seriously as a professional woman in a field dominated by men, it really is NOT a good look.

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State of the Phillies Address: 09.21.10

45,264

rally towels in attendance

30

games over .500

20

wins by Roy Halladay in 2010; the first Phillie to do so since Steve Carlton in 1982

AP/Matt Slocum

9

wins in a row

8

games in a row in which opposing starting pitchers have gone five innings or less against the Phillies

6

magic number

5

games ahead in the NL East

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Sweet Victory!

With tonight's 8-7 victory over the Florida Marlins, the Phillies take a half game lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves. We would celebrate with a hearty boob-grab, too, if we could. Wait...

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The Colbert Report

Walter Iooss Jr./SI

If there’s one thing that has been growing more and more evident this year, it’s that judging a pitcher by his W-L record is the epitome of baseball bullshittery, and Cole Hamels knows this better than anyone.



In 2010, Hamels is 8-10 after 27 starts and 174 innings pitched. He ranks fifth in the National League with 176 strike outs and has a respectable 3.31 ERA which is 27^th of all qualified MLB starting pitchers.

While he hit some rough patches in the beginning of the season (his era hovered between 4.29 and 5.28 briefly, but the booming Phillies offense was busy bailing him out), Hamels deserved better than what happened to him between wins number 7 and 8.

After his last win on July 11^th, Cole pitched through 62 innings, giving up just 17 earned runs and posted a 2.47 ERA before locking in win number eight. In that span he walked only 11 batters and struck out 69 on 929 pitches (68% of those for strikes). The Phillies thanked him for his efforts by going 4-4 in games he started leaving Cole with 3 losses and 5 no-decisions before shutting out the Padres 5-0 on August 29^th.

What else happened during the Dark Ages of Hamels?

• Nelson Figueroa & J.A. Happ became Astros
• Juan Castro became a Dodger
• Jamie Moyer, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard, Ross Gload and Danys Baez were put on the DL
• The Domonic Brown era began
• Mike Sweeney & Roy Oswalt became Phillies

Cole goes for his second straight win tonight against the Brewers. Here’s hoping it isn’t another seven weeks between victories, because frankly, the Phillies don’t have that kind of time. Pin It Now!