First time TSB reader?  Then this will clear things up —> mooph.

Still confused?

Alright, I’m a Phillies fan living in Oregon. I despise and loathe the Mets, but the F’n Bravos are a close 2nd.  If I saw Chipper Larry Jones on the streets, I’d ask him for his autograph — but only if he signs it “Larry Whiny-Ass Jones Hat Holding Fucker Soon to be Left at The HOF’s Front Door for Eternity!”

Once again, it’s everyone’s favorite random post about the Philadelphia Phillies!

It’s now late August and teams are sensing the urgency to nudge into their respective playoff positions.  Just a little over a month to go before the cool breezes of October playoff baseball sweep thru the air.

The Fightins, like any squad of gritty veterans, have emerged from the dog days of summer just in time to snag the wildcard spot (for now).  Last week’s 3-game set with wildcard competitor San Francisco Giants was a measuring stick displaying how far the Phils have come.  Philly took 2-outta-3 from the upstarts from the West.  But there is still a long ways to go before anyone gets locked in.

Seems to be a 3 car race for the wildcard in the NL.  Phils (leader), Giants (1 GB), Cards (2 GB) … Marlins, Dodgers, Rockies, Mets are all at least 7 GB.  Philly doesn’t match up against the Giants and Cards anymore this season, mostly NL East opponents until October.  But the Fightins do have to make one last West Coast trip to battle the NL’s best in the San Diego Padres, then followed by a trip up to LA for a stint with the Dodgers.

I’ll go out on a limb and assume most of the Phillies@Padres series, being on a weekend, will be broadcast nationally.  At least I hope it is.  It better be!  Step up MLB Network, FOX, TBS!

Like 99% of the baseball watchers in America, I figured the Pads would fizzle come July.  Nope.  This San Diego team is loaded with excellent pitching, from top to bottom.  They turn games into 6 inning death matches.  You gotta get to their starters before the relief comes in, if you don’t, plan on getting some rest for tomorrow’s game.

Enough about the wildcard.  I gotta tip my cap to those scrappy Bravos (as much as I hate to).  The Larry-less ATL kids are matching the Phils win-for-win and still giving Philly the Heisman when it comes to the NL East lead.  I keep hoping they are gonna burn out in September, but the one factor that has me worried is the “win one for ol’ Bobby” battle cry.  Cox is calling it quits after this season (another tip of the hat … I feel sick now) and what better pick me up for a young team to have but one last run with a legend?  Ugh.

I’m gonna assume Philly and Atlanta will continue to bounce around the 2.5 game lead the Bravos currently hold, until Sept 20-22 when they meet up in a huge three game series.  Still have a ways to go before that match-up.  With Ryan Howard off the DL, the Phils finally have a completely healthy team.  I expect these guys to hunker down, shrink the NL East gap, and possibly take the lead from Atlanta before their much anticipated series.

Go get’m Fightins!

The Astros dealt Oswalt and cash to the two-time NL champions for pitcher J.A. Happ and two speedy prospects, outfielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar.

Oswalt is 143-82 with a 3.24 ERA in 10 seasons with the Astros. He is due about $5.33 million the rest of this season from his $15 million salary and is owed $16 million in 2011. Oswalt’s contract has a $16 million club option for 2012 with a $2 million buyout.

The Astros seemed set to send about $11 million to the Phillies as part of the deal.

Meerkat Loving Life

I’m posting this right now since I assume Meerkat is blackout drunk running around the city of Portland naked in celebration of getting Oswalt, and also so you can have non biased view on how big this pickup was. I am not Phillies fan, in fact if you go back to our preseason selections I was the only one to not choose the Phils to win the division and chose the Braves. Well after today even with the Braves 3.5 games up I am finally admitting that the Phils will win the division (Of course barring Oswalt or Halladay getting hurt). I really like the Braves team, I think they have a good rotation and a well rounded lineup and they will fight the Phils till the end, but when you have a team with 2 pitchers like Oswalt and Halladay in the end you just can’t over come that. They compete every start they make, they go deep into ball games to help save arms in the pen, and they take all the pressure going out there as the ace that now pitchers like Cole Hamels and Kyle Kendrick can start with no pressure on them that they have to throw great to get the win that day. And they are pretty good pitchers on top of that. Throw all that together with a lineup (when healthy) that is as good as they come and you got the outline for a World Series team.

So have a few more beers Meerkat and enjoy the day that the Phillies became relevant again.

PS…Did anyone see that kid Domonic Brown debut for the Phils. The kid is legit and someone in the outfield might not be getting their spot back.

But the big problem with the fightins is injuries.  Chase Utley is out, and it is affecting Jayson Werth in the worst way.  Dude is not battling like everyone thought he would be.  And that has meant his name has been bantered around in trade talk for the last 2 weeks because of it.  Now Jayson Werth is most likely gonna be a Tampa Ray and super-awesome-prospect Dom-Brown will be called up in a snap to be a Phillie.  It is only a matter of time.  It sucks to lose a character like Werth … but if it means gaining Roy Oswalt … I am all for it.  We need to get back to the playoffs.

It’s our golden years god damn it!!

Youngins:

Jaime Garcia(STL)- 8-4 with a 2.17 ERA, 3rd best in all of baseball.

David Price(TB)- Tied for 3rd in wins with a 12-4 record and 7th best 2.42 ERA.

Mat Latos(SD)- 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA, good for 8th behind Price.

Honorable Mention:

Trevor Cahill(OAK)- 9-3 with a 2.94 ERA    Kris Madlen(ATL)- 6-1 with a 3.19 ERA, and hasn’t lost since April 9th.

Vets:

Jamie Moyer(PHI)- 47 years old in his 24th season, Moyer has had two complete games, one being a shout-out against division leader Atlanta. He has been the 2nd best starter behind Doc with a 9-8 record, 4.51 ERA, and a 1.08 WHIP.

Arthur Rhodes(CIN)- 40 years of age playing in his 19th season and first All-Star game, Sir Arthur Lee Rhodes is one of many good stories involving the Reds this year. As a middle reliever he has gone 3-3 with a 1.54 ERA, only giving up runs(6) in 3 of his 41 appearances. He is also sporting the shiniest rocks known to man.

-Most likely some if not all of these guys’ numbers will take a turn for the worse. Will it be the youngins lack of experience and possible fatigue down the stretch, or will the wily vets finally succumb to ancientness?

Anywho, how bout them Phillies! ….. you know it … say it with me … it’s MOOPH time!

The Fightins are battling to stay afloat in the NL East.  And back-to-back-to-back walk-off extra inning games are just what these guys need to spark a summer run.  Well, maybe the bullpen doesn’t need all the extra innings work, that’s for sure.  But I am glad Ryan Madson is back, the Bridge-to-Lidge is a sight for sore eyes.

But it was Chooch that was the hero last night.  Ruiz didn’t just break up the no-hitter, but got on base for Jimmy to drive him home for the winning run.  Oh yeah, some guy named Doc shut down the Red Machine in order to make this possible.

The Phils are tryin real hard to kick start a run, but the injuries just keep a strangle on any big jump in the standings.  The Bravos are for real (ugh!) and Chase Utley is out until possibly August (double ugh!).  WTF!  The season was not supposed to go like this.  But there is still plenty time for the Mets to implode, nothing to worry about there.

But these makeshift line-ups are just brutal to watch.  Valdez?  Castro?  Schneider?  Ransom?  I can’t wait for the wounded to heal up.  At least Chooch is back, so Schneider can TAS for awhile.

The wildcard race is tight … and maybe the Rockies are peaking early for a change, meaning, they might fizzle by end of September.

The Phils need to get pissed … angry … they got go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs (thanks LT!).  My bearded boy Jayson Werth might have got things rolling the other night when he verbally ripped a fan for stealing a foul ball away from him.  The dude knew better too.  He was grabbing a ball for junior but when he realized what he did … dude TOOK A SEAT.  Fella took his medicine like a champ as well.  Werth ripped into him … fans booed.  He knew.  Bartman types aren’t welcome at CBP … no fuckin way.

I got your back Jayson!  Wazzup!!

It has been kinda bitter-sweet watching a little Scotty Rolen at CBP.  The kid is probably the best 3B glove I will ever see.  Dude gets hurt alot, is kinda emotionally soft (from his Larry Bowa days), but the kid hustles from 1st-to-3rd like nobody, can slug when healthy, and is just a solid lead-by-example rock on the roster.  Too bad Scotty and Philly didn’t mix.

Time to put a bow on this edition of MOOPH …… but before Lidge comes in to close this out …….

I gotta TASE a fool!!!

Robinson Cano: career .311 avg, .345 obp, .984 fld %, 27 years old with career earnigs of 18.8 million, 1 time all star (2nd will be this year), and 1 time world champ

Brandon Phillips: career .268 avg, .317 obp, .986 fld %, 28 years old with career earnings of 15.7 million, 1 time gold glove winner

Dustin Pedroia: career .302 avg, .367 obp, .991 fld %, 26 years old with career earnings of 6.3 million, 1 time MVP, 2 time all star, rookie of the year, 1 gold glove, and 1 time world champ

Chase Utley: career .293 avg, .379 obp, .982 fld %, 31 years old with career earnings of 40.2 million, 4 time all star, and 1 time world champ

Ian Kinsler: career .279 avg, .352 obp, .978 fld %, 27 years old with career earnings of 8.8 million, he is a 1 time all star

Honorable mention second baseman: Dan Uggla, Kelly Johnson, Chone Figgins (before getting to the M’s), Martin Prado (could be really good), Orlando Hudson, and Ryan Theriot

I know, calm down, you have been waiting for this for some time, right?  Probably not.  I get it.  Phillies chatter is not exactly how you pass your time.  Especially here in the NW (for those readers that actually understand that this is a NW sports blog).  But what does it matter … apparently a couple of my colleagues are Red Sox and Yankees fans (uglllghxgldfgb …… just threw up in my mouth … a lot).  So it seems most of the love from the dudes here at TSB is directed to the NE when it comes to MLB action.  So who are the Mariners lovers here???  (3D & stake??)

Still reading?  Must be desperate.  Like a drunk dude talkin to the fat chick in the bar at 1:35am on a Tuesday night.  That’s okay, we’ve all been there.  Order another drink … and read on.

I knew my pickin of the Phils (in the June MLB rankings) might be called out .. no problem … cuz the Phils still are the 2-time NL champs (not ATL, not SDG, not CIN).

Jimmy Rollins (the 2007 MVP and 3X gold-glove winner) has only played 12 games in 2010.

Brad Lidge, because of injury, has only pitched 5.1 innings so far in 2010 (remember he was perfect in 2008).

Also, Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz and Placido Polanco have been injured lately.

Chase Utley and Jayson Werth have been in epic slumps.

These things are all temporary.  You know, like the girlfriend is on the rag … it will pass … things will go back to normal … you know … you’ll get some action.

The Fightins will begin mashing again … real soon.

Oh wait!!!!  Werth bombed off the Padres … just what Philly needed … San Diego.

Now who picked San Diego over Philly??  Come on!?!  Who can name 3 dudes from the Padres roster??  Seriously, Jamie Moyer went 9 strong against them fucks.  God damn!!!  Okay, if I curse, it usually means I have had a beverage (like alcoholic) or five.  Tonight it has been the drink of the gods … Rogue’s Dead Guy Ale.

Moving on.

I picked the Rockies in the power rankings above those other poser NL West teams because by August those posers will … wait for it … reveal themselves … as POSERS!!  Can the Adrian Gonzalez sweepstakes begin now please?!  I admit, San Diego is showing some ridiculous effort right now, especially their pitching without Peavy.  Silly.  But it will fade.  Squads will figure those dudes out and by late July they will fall behind.  I have seen it too many times.

I can see St. Louis making a mid-summer move (oswalt) to make the big run for the best record in the NL … meaning it’s Phillies and Rockies … and most likely Cardinals and Braves … in the playoffs.

I make my rankings based mostly on team strength thru a whole season, not just who is hot right now.

Anyone pickin an NL Central team over the Fightins is a joke.  As a Philly fan, I know Scott Rolen is gonna get back pains any day now.

In case you were wondering … Dead Guy Ale was served at my Portland wedding reception … and the father-in-law approved.  Yeah, it’s that good.

Almost 2 months into the MLB season and the Nats are playing .500 ball, who would have thought?  Scary, actually.  Mostly because Strasburg will get the call up for sure in June and instantly Nats fans will begin to care about their squad again.  If Strasburg dominates the majors like he is in AAA, well, I’m worried there just might be an inspired rally of no-respect-for-us Washington run in the NL East.  They could turn out to be that pesky team late in the summer that bites at the Phillies heals while they are trying to steamroll to another pennant.

Ahhh, the Marlins.  Thank you Hanley Ramirez for being a complete ass-clown.  You must have gone to Costco and stocked up on your favorite cereal this spring.  I’m not expecting the Marlins to be the team to worry to much about this season, chemistry issues will be their downfall now.

So Dice-K almost had a no-no against the Fightins … whatever (thank you Marc Scutaro for not being spectacular).  Doc is on the mound today, so like any Phillie fan, I’m expecting a 2-1 series win against the Sawx.  Maybe I’ll jam to some Sweet Caroline when Roy is droppin cutters all over the Red Sox today, thus making them walk back to the dugout with their bat in hand.  Maybe Roy will wanna go to the zoo after the game.

Ohhhh … and it is on TBS today 10:30-1:30.

Is Chase Utley the best baseball player in MLB right now?!?!?!