It’s What Everybody is Talking About

“You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer, they’ve got
all the beautiful people out there. Nobody’s watching the game.” – Barack Obama, on Cubs fans’ lack of interest, passion, and intelligence.

Smart man, that Obama fella.

the other, other AI was recently ousted

Three lines on their world:

1. Ana Ivanovic was ousted from the US Open by 188th ranked Julie Coin in what
   is being called the biggest upset ever. On the plus side this means we get to
   run a pic of the other other AI
2. The College Football Season is upon us
4. and Pacman was cleared to play (fun fact: he was at Hooters when he heard the news. Foreal.)

Three lines on ours:

1. For the second straight night the Phillies’ bullpen couldn’t
   hold a lead
2. The Birds’ backups dropped their final preseason game
3. and now await their 6 p.m. fate

Everything that was written about the Phillies, Birds, Sixers, and Flyers, plus more on final cuts and a rundown of what we’re up to today, after the
jump

PHILLIES

Former CP coverboy Cole Hamels outpitched Cubs’ righty Ryan Dempster, but after Hollywood
got the first 21 outs (allowing just one run) the bullpen came in and was
unable to retire a single Cub before five
more had crossed the plate.

The Cubs were by Aramis Ramirez, who is making an MVP case
for himself in the MVP-less National League, and a bullpen that allowed just
one hit in three innings.

The goat should have been Chad Durbin, but because I find it
immoral to pick on a guy who is injured I’ll give it Ryan Madson, who couldn’t get a guy out either
(granted, he didn’t surrender a game-losing grand fucking slam).

The loss puts the Phillies a full game behind the idle Mets.

Other Notes …

• In the last two nights, both losses, the Phillies’ bullpen
  has given nine eighth inning runs
• Cubs manager Lou Piniella turned 65 last night
• The Phillies played their last night game until next
  Tuesday.  They’re just 16-21 under
  natural light
• Chase Utley almost tied the game in the top of the 9^th.  With Jimmy on first after a leadoff single he
  took one to the warning track before it was hauled in
• Scott Eyre returned to Wrigley Field for the first time
  since being designated for assignment by the Cubs on August 5
• The Phillies are 9-3 in their last 12 games. In all three
  losses the bullpen has taken the L
• In today’s game former As teammates Joe Blanton and Rich
  Harden square off
• The Phillies bullpen has pitched the third fewest innings of
  any bullpen in the National League
• But Chad Durbin’s 74 is the second most in the NL and
  Madson’s 68 and a third is sixth
• The game was the Major’s first to ever to have the option to
  use instant replay. It was not needed.

Now, who said what …

David Murphy’s notes look at the Phils’ bullpen issues,
Andrew Carpenter’s short stay, and more. READ

Todd Zolecki’s say that J.C. Romero was ready to go against
Delgado, Scott Eyre isn’t much of a spy, and more. SKIP

Peter Mucha looks at the Phils’ attendance, in an article that should have been – and often is – a sidenote of real articles. SKIP

Ken Mandel has a great bit on how little help everybody’s favorite Phillie Scott Eyre
provided to the Phils as they scouted the Cubs. READ

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Phillies have added Matt
Stairs.  Ken Mandel was the only beat guy who said anything about this, and he just said that the Phillies’ brass wouldn’t confirm it, but Rosenthal says it’s a done deal. READ

Paul Hagen looks at instant replay’s critics, and rounds up
the week. Plus he gets a quote from Sal Fasano, which is both brilliant and hilarious, I really hope he didn’t cherry pick it.  READ

EAGLES

I’d really do doing you a disservice if I tried to recap
this game.  I saw the first hour and
half, but then switched to the game that counted towards the standings (Phils)
for the night.  That said, here is Les
Bowen’s recap, Tim Panaccio’s recap, the AP
recap, and Rob
Maadi’s recap.  None of them are particually noteworthy.

Onto the critics …

Rich Hofmann follows an absolutely miserable, misleading,
uninformative lede graf with a decent look at what Quentin Demps‘ gamebreakability
(I couldn’t figure out if that should be “game-break-ability” “game
breakability” or “game-break ability” so I’ve created my new favorite word)
means to the Eagles. READ

Les Bowen looks at who will stay and will go now. READ

(and gives his choices on his blog)

Ray Parrillo takes a fairly in-depth look at the linemen. If you’ve never been in the Birds’ lockerroom this one is worth checking out just to get a sense of how it’s alligned. READ

The Inqy’s notes focus on DeSean Jackson’s benching (it was
a attaboy benching, not a demerit benching), MGJ’s injury, roster predictions and more. SKIP

Bob Brookover on the bubble guys’ wait to be cut. READ

Reuben Frank was happy with what he saw. SKIP

SIXERS

Andre Miller shows up for the first time all summer … at the
Democratic Convention. READ

FLYERS

Chuck Bausman says the Flyers have invited Eric Lindros to
come back to the building. True story: I have a baseball card of Eric as a Blue Jay. READ

TODAY and MORE

The Phils and Cubs throw out pitches a little after two and
the Birds cut their rosters at six. 
We’ll take a Friday-look away from the city today and try and stay on
top of local action.

Unfortunately, none of that is going to happen until the get my death-trap car to the shop.

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

This entry was posted on Friday, August 29th, 2008 at 8:53 am and is filed under Morning Rounds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.