Sunday afternoon found The Missus and I at Citizens Bank Park, (along with over 40,000 other people) baking in the hot June sun and taking in the last game of a thirteen game homestand. For much of the first few innings, the crowd was quiet, muted by the oppressive heat and humidity.
Pitching also factored into the lethargy of the crowd, for offensive rallies are what gets a crowd going, and there were few in this game, until the later innings. Yes, Pat Burrell's line-drive home-run to left momentarily jostled the phans from their heat-induced haze (we watched it from high above home plate, as we had left our seats in section 330 in search of cool breezes on the concourse and water ice), but for the most part, Ben Sheets and Corey Lidle stayed in control.
As more and more of the park fell into the shade and the Phillies bats livened, so did the crowd. By the time Chase Utley hit a three-run home-run to right field in the ninth to put the Phillies up 6-1, the crowd was in a frenzy. The "wave" gained a modicum of momentum and from the upper sections chants of "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" could be heard (not because of sarcastic disgust in the Phillies -- the usual reason for such chants -- but because the fans were overjoyed, and I'm coming to realize that when Philadelphians are having a good time, an Eagles chant will ensue).
Billy Wagner came in to close the game (he had been warming up through the top of the ninth as the score entering the inning was 2-1 and a definite situation for Wagner if there ever was one), and while the crowd hushed when Bill Hall hit a solo homerun to get the score to 6-2, they were back on their feet for the final out.
I'm starting to think this town might actually come to like this winning thing should it continue. However for the next few games, the Phillies' fans will have to cheer from afar, with the wave conducted in living rooms around the television and Eagles chants in neighborhood watering holes, as the team is headed on a six-game road trip against the Seattle Mariners and Oakland A's. Both the Mariners and the A's are struggling, with just 25 and 26 wins respectively, so hopefully the Phillies winning ways will continue.
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Did anyone see me on television at the game? I was the one wearing a free reversible Phillies bucket hat...
I had to laugh at a great line by The Missus. As we entered the stadium from the outside, nearly every male in sight was wearing the bucket cap. Imitating Will Ferrell in Old School
Classic.
From there, I purchased and consumed my first Schmitter. If it weren't for that glorious sandwhich, I may not have had enough stamina to survive the day. Burrell and Utley hit homeruns and Lidle pitched great, but that sandwhich was the MVP of the day.
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Is it just me, or is Billy Wagner's performance of late just a bit disconcerting? In the ninth inning he gave up a home-run to Bill Hall. Though it is only the first Wagner has allowed in June, it seems as if the velocity of his fastball decreases just a bit with every appearance. On Sunday, most fastballs were around 96 m.p.h. and occasionally reaching 98 m.p.h.
I know there is much more to pitching than velocity, but given Wagner's age and use pattern over the past few weeks, I can't help but wonder if the decreased velocity and Hall's home-run aren't symptomatic of a decline for Wagner.
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Several days ago, I posted a video file of the giant Liberty Bell at Citizens Bank Park in motion. I filmed the clip when I was in attendance for the Phillies sweep of the Giants. And so after yesterday's sweep of the Brewers, I've decided that from now on, after every series the Phillies win, Balls, Sticks, & Stuff will link to the video file in order to celebrate. Of course, I missed a few (Diamondbacks and Rangers series), so in this post, I'll link to it several times.
- In deference to the series win over the Diamondbacks.
- In deference to the series win over the Rangers (sweep).
- In deference to the series win over the Brewers (sweep).
