Morning Roundup: “One out with Chris Clutch at the
plate?  Doesn’t get much better than
that.” – Jimmy Rollins

Chris Coste

Three lines on their world:

1. Major League Baseball goes to the camera tomorrow
2. The Red Sox took care of the Yankees in New York, which really puts the Yankees’
   backs to the walls.  Good thing they can
   turn to this guy with their season on the line.
3. and Mike Strahan is still retired

Three lines on ours:

1. The Phils come from down seven to stun the Mets and re-take
   first place in the East
2. and added some fuel to the rivalry
3. Across the parking lot, it is elimination time for the back of
   the Birds roster as they ready for the final preseason game

Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and more from first place
after the jump

PHILLIES

At twelve twenty four this morning, five hours and seventeen
minutes after the first pitch was thrown out, Chris Coste singled the Phillies
back into the first place with a deep fly to straightaway center. 

You could watch a lot of baseball and not see another game
like last night’s.  The game had, in
Uncle Cholly’s words, “everything except a fight.”  Coste, who entered the game in the 8th
inning, had four hits; the Phillies nine spot had five; Chooch Ruiz played
third base (!); Clay Condrey started a rally (!); the Phillies stole more bases
in a game than they had in over twenty years and had tonight’s starting pitcher
(Kyle Kendrick) throwing in their bullpen. 
If the game had gone 14 he would have thrown.

Two days ago Jimmy Rollins was hitting .255, he got up to
.269 last night.  He had a fantasy dream
night with five hits, a home run, and three steals. Maybe more importantly he
was joking around happily after the game, and copping to taking motivation from
the jerk Mets’ jerk antics.  

You never want to put too much emphasis on one game; if
Johan decides to Johan the Phils tonight the Mets can still leave with a split
and the NL East lead, but this was the type of game that can go a long ways
towards swinging the playoff race.  For a
team that can’t help but remember that they couldn’t hold a lead last year, it’s
big to keep reinforcing that.  In the
midst of extra innings the Mets’ announcer (not sure which one) said that this
game could go a long ways towards defining the Mets’ season.  They scored early, were unable to hang on
late, and ended up giving a way a game they probably should have won.  The New
York bullpen just cannot get it done in crucial
spots.

Lets hope that continues tonight, and first place is on the time once more.

Other Notes …

• The sell-out was the Phillies 44th of the seaon,
  which matches the club record for a season. 
  They’ll break that record tonight.
• Coste’s four hits matched a career high
• Jimmy’s five hits matched his career high
• Jimmy’s three steals matched his career high
• The win was the Phillies 34th come from behind
  win of the year
• Pat Burrell continued to struggle, ending the game 0-7
• Jayson Werth was on base five times (three hits and two
  walks)
• for the first time in fifteen games Jamie Moyer surrendered more than three runs
• I can’t find a good picture to prove it, but new Phillie Andy Tracy is a dead ringer for Jim Thome

Now, who said what …

Jim Salisbury muses that this rivalry might just keep heating up. SKIP

Rich Hofmann’s rivalry piece is worth reading for the kicker
quote alone. READ

Paul Hagen says that the Mets bullpen was, is, and may be
the difference. (Or, in other words, what Sielski said before last night) SKIP

Todd Zolecki’s notes check in with Jamie Moyer’s 2009
options, the possibility of the Phils adding Mark Kotsay, Jimmy Rollins‘
success and more. SKIP

David Murphy’s look at Kyle Kendrick’s birthday present, Adam
Eaton’s return, the Phils trade prospects and more. READ

Randy Miller’s look at Kyle Kendrick’s giant-killing
history. READ

Paul Hagen introduces us to the world of limited replay. SKIP

1Chair points out that with power numbers are down across the
league, we’re in a different era. SKIP

Mike Sielski says that the Phillies just will not die. READ

EAGLES

Bob Brookover looks at DeSean Jackson’s rise and Reggie
Brown’s fall. READ

Ed Barkowitz says while the Birds’ starters will be watching
tonight’s game, it still should have some intrigue. READ

The Eagles made a couple of small roster moves. SKIP

Bob Brookover takes a look at Wednesday’s in the NFL.  Way more interesting than Tuesdays. Actually. READ

Geoff Mosher on Monte Reagor’s short time with the Birds.
SKIP

Jeff Offord profiles Dan Klecko. SKIP

SIXERS

Nothing

FLYERS

Chuck Gormley says that Simon Gagne is ready to put last
year behind him. READ

TODAY and MORE

So there really isn’t a local hook to this story, but I’d
like to introduce you to Denard Span: hilarious man.

With both the Birds and the Phils playing tonight check back
in for previews and what to watch for.  Other
than that, we’ll be at Citizens
Bank Park
again tonight, so check back in for live read-and-react analysis of the night’s
action.

 As always, feel free
to email
with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.

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