No Country for a Crappy Team Like Washington

Wow, how about that Brett Myers? With the exception of his first game back from his banishment to the minors, he has been outstanding. He now has a better ERA than Kyle Kendrick, which means everyone should be turning on Kyle very shortly. In other pitching pariah news, Adam Eaton gave up 6 runs in 6 IP last night in Reading because he sucks.

Speaking of turning on people, this whole Jimmy Rollins thing is ridiculous. A year ago, he was the most popular athlete in the city after his boasting about the Phils being the team to beat and his MVP-like performance. This year, he may as well be a DHS employee running a dog fighting ring out of a crack house. Part of that is his performance, which has been subpar. And his comment about Philly fans being front runners is still pissing people off even though it is TRUE. Just the fact that there was and still is such an uproar over his comments only serves to help prove what a bunch of over-emotional whiners and doomsayers Philly fans can be. And yes, I include myself in that.

More Stuff about More Things

Jimmy Rollins Hates You

Or at least thinks that you are a frontrunner, whatever the sam heck that means. By saying this on The Best Damn Sports Show on TV That You'll Ever See and You're Lucky You Get To See It So Shut Up and Listen, he apparently enraged a majority of Phillies fans. Honestly, when you start taking yourself seriously as a "fan", it is time for you to step back and re-prioritize what is important in your life. Who gives a shit what Jimmy Rollins thinks about the fans? He has a right to his opinion just like I have a right to my opinion that Rollins had a career year in '07 and will most likely never put up those numbers again. If this comment really has you hot and bothered, put the phone down, turn your radio off, and pick up a book. Not a magazine, but a book. Open it up and read it. You will thank me later.

Andre Igoudala Is 8% Closer to Being a Billionaire

The Sixers have opened the bank this offseason, giving out almost $200 Million in contracts. Hopefully this professional basketball league thing takes off so they can afford to pay these guys. Is it a lot of scratch for Iguodala? Yes and the Sixers most likely overpaid, especially since they were bidding against themselves. But in the end, it most likely won't matter if they are paying him $60 million or $80 million for the next six years because they are going to be over the salary cap anyways with Brand, Dalembert, Williams, and TYoung. That is your Sixers core for the next five years and hopefully Speights as well. Hoo rah Ed Stefanski. Hoo rah indeed.

The Sixers Will Play One Final Game At the Spectrum

And if you get a ticket before I do, I will punch you in the foot. I must go to this game.

It's Not Always Sunny in Philadelphia

I turned on FOX last night at like 7:45 Lucky People Time, expecting to see exciting Eagles/Panthers action, but to my chagring fourth graders were answering trivia questiong. I guess Lightning is a Jeff Foxworth fan (and who can blame him). Once they started playing, I didn't really pay much attention because most of the good players were just doing their best not to get hurt. I do still hate Joe Buck, though.

Nerd Alert

Here are some random Phillies Phun Phacts Phrom the Phuture of Now:

• Jimmy Rollins' batting average has increased from .294 to .314 since April 28. In that same span of time, his OBP has increased from .368 to ........ .368. Which seems very difficult to do if not for the fact that,
• Rollins has walked once in the last 24 games. If you pro-rate that over the course of the season, you are looking at a total of 7 walks.
  
• Wes Helms continues to do his best David Bell impression. Though he is hitting a respectable .284, his OBP is now at .318 and his SLG is at .343, almost 100 points less than his career average.
  
• The Phillies lead the major leagues in OBP, yet are only 11th in baseball in runs per game. A lot of this has to due with Howard's season long slump and the power twins, Burrell and Helms, having a difficult time this year mustering up more than singles.
  
• Cole Hamels could strike out Jesus Christ with his changeup.
• Shane Victorino probably had the greatest 4 day span of any major league baseball player from Hawaii. He went 10 for 17 (.588 BA), had a SLG of .824, got his picture taken at the Golden Gate Bridge with his imaginary friends, and stole six bases. Benny Agbayani, eat your heart out.
  
• Despite popular believe to the contrary, Freddy Garcia does not have the ability to move large objects with his mind.
  
• Rod Barajas is on pace for 92 walks. Coming into this season, Barajas had a total of 85 walks for his career.
• Rod Barajas still stinks, though.

The J-Ro Walk Watch

Apparently Jimmy Rollins' newfound power has convinced him that his best approach at the plate is to make contact, walks be damned.

In Rollins first eight games, he walked eight times. So while he was only hitting .269, his OBP was a stellar .457.

In Rollins last 18 games, including tonight's, he has walked once. Yes, just one time in his last 86 plate appearance over that time, Jimmy Rollins, the Phillies leadoff hitter has walked a grand total of one time. So while his batting average has risen to .297, his OBP has dropped to .381. This would still qualify as a career high, but the current trend does not bode well. Eventually teams are going to pick up on this trend and Rollins will have to start walking again or swinging at bad pitches.

Andruw Jones just hit a walk off against Six Fingers. I believe the fountain of youth that Alfonseca was drinking from during the first two weeks of the season has run completely dry. We are now seeing the Antonio Alfonseca that was available to any team for the major league minimum. But hey, at least Brett Myers is getting his one inning of work in a night. Ugh, this team drives me crazy. And watching 24 re-use plots from previous seasons doesn't make it any better.