Highlights of the first half of the 2005 baseball season through the eyes of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff's readers and myself. Second half of the season to follow. [Feel free to play Green Day's "Time of Your Life" or 10,000 Maniacs "These Are the Days" in the background.]
- Opening day. Charlie Manuel's managing skills are questioned by Philadelphians right from the start.
- The very first Lost vs. ballgame conflict.
- Charlie Manuel searches for the right combination of relievers to close out games. This was before MadUgyWags had emerged.
- It is interesting to go back and read who the main characters were in "Phillies Theater". By the end of the season, several members of the cast were written out of the script (Thome, Floyd).
- Early heroics from Chase Utley and the discussion on whether or not Gavin Floyd should go to the bullpen or AAA once Vicente Padilla returned from the disabled list.
- "The Bizarro Phillies". As you may recall, the Phillies started out with some cold bats and great pitching.
- These old adages proved to be prophetic.
- A Night at RFK [Phillies/Nationals]
- At the depth of their early season the troubles, the Phillies were "A Team for the Journals".
- In the days before MadUgyWags, Charlie Manuel struggled with the best bullpen rotation.
- Worrell.
- The Good Grief! Girl meets Jim Thome.
- The first signs of an improving offense.
- Get your "Free Chase Utley" merchandise here!
- Even in May we were interested in Gerry Hunsicker.
- Trade: Marlon Byrd for pinch-hitter extraordinaire Endy Chavez.
- May 17th, the debut of Beerleaguer.com. A seminal moment of the season.
- 135 comments on a Cards/Phillies game thread.
- In the midst of Bobby Abreu's May hot-streak, just after Jim Thome went to the disabled-list, I implored readers to "Vote for Bobby and for Pedro".
- The Phils begin to right the ship.
- The non-sexual man-crush on Chase Utley begins.
- Grips.
- After my first game at Citizens Bank Park after moving to the Philly-area, the Liberty Bell movie file is published for the first time.
- Interview with Oakland Athletics pitching prospect Dan Meyer.
- Trade: Placido Polanco for Ugueth Urbina.
- The Phillies complete their epic June homestand. It saved the season from being a complete disaster. The Phightins were on phire.
- J-Roll gets an oversized bankroll.
- Randy Wolf goes down for the rest of the season and the Phloggers discuss what would be the best option to fill his rotation spot. Little did we know that Robinson Tejeda would step in.
- Next, we try and figure out who should replace Vicente Padilla.
- Sticking up for Citizens Bank Park.
- Jack Stivetts, Eddie Waitkus, and Richie Ashburn.
- And Mike Costanzo.
- The Phillies slide into the All-Star break.
- Home Run Derby muy impressivo!
- Live-blogging the Mid-summer Classic. A very forgettable game, but because of my Jeannie Zelasko reference, this website is guaranteed at least ten to fifteen page loads per day.
