Here's why the remote control is your friend: I was, naturally, watching the ridiculous first game of the Stanley Cup finals. During commercial breaks I had been switching over to the Phillies game and knew that the Phils had a 1-0 lead. I didn't know any further details because I only had been switching briefly. So when the first period came to an end, I decided to switch to the MLB Network, because they were showing a game between Colorado and Los Angeles. Strangely, they had the Comcast Sportsnet feed of the Phils-Marlins game. I thought maybe the other game was in a rain delay until the MLB Network studio host began talking over the sound from the game, saying that Roy Halladay had a perfect game through 7 innings. Needless to say, I watched the Phils from that point on, with the Flyers relegated to the DVR.Watching Halladay retire the final six batters he faced, to finish off the perfect game -- second in Phillies history, only the 20th in baseball history (but the second this season) -- was truly exciting. We Phillies fans are so fortunate right now. It's not just the team success, the three straight NL East titles, back-to-back NL pennants, the World Series win in 2008. It's the amazing moments happening throughout. Jayson Werth's stealing second, third and home in one inning, to name just one example. Now there's a perfect game to add to the list. Incredible.
Now for the bad news:
this team really sucks right now. That perfect game on Saturday was followed up by a 1-0 loss at Florida and today's 9-3 drubbing by the Atlanta Braves. That's seven losses in nine games, with a grand total of 10 runs in those 9 games. And six of those came in two innings: three in the 9th a week ago Sunday, and three in the 7th today, when the Phils improbably strung together four consecutive doubles. Unfortunately, that was after two were already out and the Braves were up 6-0, and Phils' relievers Antonio Bastardo and Chad Durbin promptly gave those runs right back. There were two errors that allowed Atlanta runs to score in the early going, making it even worse.
The Braves are now a half-game ahead of the Phillies in the NL East standings. Perhaps the shock of being in second place will wake up the Phils. Nothing else seems to be working.
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So, that hockey game the other night...as I said: ridiculous. 3-2 after one period, 5-5 after two, with Chicago getting the only goal in the 3rd to win it 6-5. Defense wins, people, and neither team played it very well on Saturday. The Flyers cannot afford to allow the Blackhawks so many scoring chances. It may be telling that the Blackhawks got six despite getting nothing from their top line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien, and despite not having even one power play chance -- the Flyers weren't called for a penalty the entire game (of course, the officials did miss a couple). That might mean the Flyers weren't aggressive enough defensively. They have to do better in Game 2 tonight.
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Finally, one last bit of imperfection. Thanks to the schedule mess (see prior rant) I had to go to bed pretty quickly after the hockey game ended, and woke up at 5:30 am Sunday to get myself ready, out the door and down to the field in time for softball. It didn't take long, though. Our team lost the 8 am game, had to play again immediately, and lost that one as well, ending our stay in the double-elimination tournament. I was home by noon. Ugh. Oh, and I nearly hit into yet another double play, but the throw to first base was wide, allowing me to be safe. It's back to our regular league schedule next weekend.
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