19 to 21…Aging Knuckleballers and Knucklehead Comments‏

One of the problems with the communications explosion engendered by the Internet is that it gives seemingly every Tom, Dick and Harry, and every blogger under the sun, a public forum, whether or not they know what they’re talking about. This embodiment of the old saying, “don’t believe everything you read,” was underscored earlier in […]

19 to 21…Miggy’s Triple Crown

It’s been an interesting year for players named “Cabrera.” First, the Melkman looked to be on his way to the National League MVP award plus a batting crown. Then, a little matter of PEDs cropped up, and Melky took a seat on the sidelines for the Giants’ last 45 games or so. However, the issue […]

All Phillies… All the Time –Three’s Company, 18’s a Crowd

Trying to narrow the Phillies field of outfielders down to the top three all time is like trying to pick out Steve Carlton’s three best wins, or Mike Schmidt’s three most memorable home runs (OK; the pennant clincher against the Expos in 1980, and number 500 against the Pirates… now choose a third… the game […]

19 to 21…Life Imitates Baseball

Volume 9, #19 About 30 years ago, the Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell brought out his first book, “How Life Imitates the World Series.” Boswell had a good point, but he stopped short of the essential truth. While life DOES imitate the World Series, it would be more comprehensive, and accurate, to say that life imitates […]

All Phillies…All the Time — J-Roll

The last time I undertook the task of trying to figure out the Phillies’ All-Time Team at each position was something like 18 years ago… I think it might have been early in 1993, while riding in Jim Hardy’s BMW M3 in the wilds of Central Pennsylvania. Since Central PA is both pretty wild, and […]

All Phillies…All the Time –Third Base!?

For those who recall Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First,” you’ll also recall that every time an increasingly frustrated Lou Costello says, “I don’t know,” Bud Abbott reminds him that “I Don’t Know” plays third base. Finally, in a fit of pique, Lou himself yells “third base” at the top of his lungs, immediately after […]

All Phillies…All the Time — What’s on Second?

Having previously answered the burning question, “who’s on first?” the time has come to address, “what’s on second?” The answer, unlike that given by Bud Abbott, is simple… an all-time Hall of Famer and the current best second baseman in baseball. Oh sure, there are others worth mentioning; Tony Taylor (backwards, Ynot Rolyat), Juan Samuel, […]

All Phillies…All the Time — Who’s on First?

The Phillies have had several outstanding first basemen over the years… it’s just that very few of them, for various reasons, bothered to hang around for very long. Most notable among this group are Jim Thome (three years), Dolph Camilli (four years), Dick Allen (three years at first), Von Hayes (ditto, three years primarily at […]

19 to 21…Jose?

Volume 9, #15 Jose Bautista has become such a big name in baseball that, before every game, everyone in the park stands up and asks in unison how he was following the ball in BP. “Jose, can you see…?” Alright, so that’s a lousy joke. The more important issue is, what’s up with Jose Bautista, […]

All Phillies…All the Time — The Catchers

Herewith is the first installment of the All-Time Greatest Phillies Team. Before undertaking this endeavor, some ground rules… This is one version of the “Greatest Phillies of All Time.” The key word is “great,” and it will be used in the larger meaning of the word, that is, beyond pure statistics. This is sort of […]

19 to 21…Howard Ehmke

19 to 21… Volume 9, #13 Howard Ehmke There are a lot of interesting aspects to Howard Ehmke’s career. Sure, everyone knows he set the World Series strikeout record on October 8, 1929, when he fanned 13 Cubs at Wrigley Field. But, there’s a lot more to the Ehmke File. Having brought him up in […]

19 to 21…Hostile Takeovers

19 to 21… Volume 9, #11, April 26, 2011 Hostile Takeovers All of a sudden, it’s the 80s and 90s all over again. The heyday of corporate raiders, IPOs, red herrings, insider trading, stock swaps, billion dollar deals, and, yes, hostile takeovers. Even if Major League Baseball, and Bud.com’s, decision to take control of the […]