If we can make it there, we'll make it anywhere... onto New York

The Phils split with the Reds with a win in the getaway game earlier this afternoon. I would have preferred to see the Phillies go to New York with a winning record. The Mets haven't been doing all that well either lately. The Braves just ruffed them up, but I suspect they are lying in wait for the Fightin's to get some revenge from last year.

Pat Burrell is showing leadership on the team. He is setting the pace for others to follow at this point. The Phillies star left fielder is starting to 'pay back' the Phillies for all those millions that he earns with games like these. Pat the Bat went 2-4 with two homeruns and 3 rbi's in this game. His average sits at .435 as he sweeps into a ballpark in New York where he is known to 'own' New York at.

Cole Hamels gets his first win of the year and evens up to 1-1 - his next spot will be pitching at home in front of his own fans this coming Saturday against the Cubs at Citizen's Bank Park. The bright spot is he era which is 1.20 . Believe it or not, that stat does not lead the MLB, Jake Peavy of the Padres has an incredible .56 era with 2 wins so far this year. Who says you can't find a decent pitcher out there?


Gordon got in an inning's work, and Lidge earned the save. Lidge made some fans squirm again, walking two though before the game ended with the Reds threatening in the bottom of the 9th. Again a win is a win, and we'll take it even though we got a little nervous near the end of the game.

So wrapping up the Phillies second series of the year, it's a split 2-2 for the series in Cinncy. Myers looked very shaky, Hamels looked great. Burrell leads the offense along with Chase so far early on in the season. Onto Series # 3 for the Phillies, a trip to New York to face the NL rival, NY Mets. I hope our pitching elder, Jamie Moyer bounces back from his very rough last start and has what it takes to get back on track.

Coming up on Philly Sports Talk Now! Dan Gordon author of "Haunted Baseball"

Baseball and ghost stories are American obsessions. "Haunted Baseball" combines both with this fun and freaky collection of otherworldly yarns! Simply put, this book rocks.. We'll have Dan Gordon on our next show this coming Thursday Feb. 28th at 6:45 pm

Join us as Dan talks about all the leg work that both he and his co-author Mickey Bradley put into this fascinating book of some modern baseball players who have had some 'haunting' experiences. Jim Thome, Johnny Damon, and even some Yankees, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, share their experiences with the authors of this great book. You'll hear about them on our show live, where you can be a part of it or on our podcast of Philly Sports Talk Now! on iTunes.


So please be sure to join us for this special show, we talk more about Spring Training as well. Brad Lidge, damaged goods goes to the DL, another hurt pitcher the Phillies have to pay for now. The Phil's should really look into getting some real doctor's to check these guys out!


Join Rich and Jim for yet another editon of Philly Sports Talk Now! this Thursday night, Feb 28 at 6:45 pm - right here on www.phillywebcast.com

You can buy Dan's book at your local bookstore or www.amazon.com

Lidge in the fold, hopefully he shines

Mr Brad Lidge is in town with his brand new contract and his new team. I can see the headlines now though if he doesn't come through for the Phillies. Houston was very interested in dealing him, for good reason also. He saved 19 games in 27 opportunities that is a bit on the troubling side really. He's pitched only 65-70 innings in each of the last three seasons each year. He had 8 blown saves last season in Houston. On the bright side Lidge had 42 saves in 2005 to earn his way onto the All Star team that year.

So the 2008 season is still months away, and the Phils are still looking for more pitching. We will see what other moves come out of this, I think the Astros got the better of the deal. They got a starting center fielder who is fast, very much a raw talent still. A good reliever in Geary, and Mike Costanza who was supposed to be in the Phillies future plans but now that the Houston GM Ed Wade is calling some shots that isn't to be anymore. Wade even is interested in Lieber and I wouldn't doubt that he ends up an Astro.


Here's what Houston Astro sports writer Alyson Footer from MLB.com said in reference to the Lidge trade:

Look, we all know what Brad can do when he's on the top of his game. But clearly, his time had come and gone in Houston. It's been an unbelievably difficult two years for Lidge and for Astros fans. As I watched him pitch through 2007, I saw glimpses of that 97 mph fastball and that fabulous slider that put him on the map three years ago. And I'd often think, "He can still be a great closer." But as the season progressed, I asked myself, "Can you honestly envision him closing games for the Astros in October?" And as much as I wanted to believe he could, I just couldn't picture it actually happening that way. He needed to move on. He has one more year before he's a free agent, so even if the Astros kept him for '08, he'd surely be gone after the season.


Rich Baxter