Bulleted points on Friday night’s 8-7 loss, Mike Lieberthal collecting his paycheck, eating Jim Thome’s salary and exploring the possibility the Phils are cursed.
The setup: It’s always good Beerleaguer fodder when I get together with my stepfather, Martin, and consume mass quantities of alcohol. No Phillies or fantasy baseball stone went unturned. Just ask my wife and mother, both of whom spent hours listening to us debate important issues, such as Ryan Freel vs. Rickie Weeks.
The night brought back memories. I remember my grandfather would invite his buddies to the house for Friday night cards, and the women would quietly escape into the formal living room and talk about their kids. Back in the dining room, Pappy and his Pennsylvania Dutch posse yucked it up for hours, chomping pretzels, slinging penny anties across the table, talking Phillies and drinking Genesee straight from the bottle. Eventually, my grandmother would reemerge and feed them pie and ice cream.
Pappy, if you’re spot in heaven has Internet access, I’m happy to report the tradition lives on. At some point in the evening, my wife and mom disappeared into the living room to escape the sounds of “Dancy! You p*ckerhead!”
Enough with the ruminations. On to bulleted points.
- I didn’t see the article, but Reading Eagle beat writer Phil Gianficaro apparently made a brilliant point about Mike Lieberthal in his midseason report card. Earning a “D,” Gianficaro said Lieberthal was bored. From my limited access, I see a guy that’s lost the edge as well. Every so often, you hear a scathing report of how brutal Lieberthal is at handling pitchers. John Marzano, doing the postgame Thursday night on Comcast, basically blamed the entire loss on Lieberthal for not urging Brett Myers to come over the plate. Myers was shrugging off pitches all night, resulting in one of his worst outings of the season.
- If it takes eating Jim Thome’s salary, Albert Belle style, just to make Ryan Howard the starting first baseman next season, pass the gravy, Phillies owners, and enjoy some delicious salary. Two big doubles last night, a near game-tying home run, going opposite field against a left-hander Thursday night, and a .371 BA in AAA before the call-up. Howard can become one hell of a hitter.
- L’il Endy Chavez out tripled Marlon Byrd last night in pinch hit opportunities. Chavez reached easily, while Byrd, looking a little meaty in the hindquarters, was tagged out trying to stretch a three-bagger.
The fact that former Phillie John Mabry is having a good season for St. Louis further strengthens the theory the organization may actually have a curse. Remember: It’s not just the A-list deals like Eric Milton or Kevin Millwood that were originally considered sure bets. Remember Jeremy Giambi for Mabry and what a steal that was going to be? Today, Mabry is playing a key role for St. Louis, while Giambi is playing for a slow-pitch softball league somewhere.
- I wonder if it’s possible to throw a baseball over left field from home plate. Maybe a hard thrower like Jose Guillen can try it since he’s in town.
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