Another Example Of Why Allowing Comments On Philly.com Is Awesome

So yesterday Karen Heller, columnist to the stars, wrote about how much the cheesesteak sucks and how our city council wastses so much time arguing about them and how she’s a red commie. Well, the always terrific 150 IQ commenters went a-typin’ away. Here’s some of the sparkling gems that I believe need highlighting:

Prepare Yourself For Even More of Brett Favre In Right Field

Geoff Jenkins, Brett Favre reincarnate, hasn’t exactly lit up the world since about June 8th.  At that time he had a season-high OPS of 782 and things looked to be rolling for the man.  However, since then he’s gone just 2 for 41 (with 3 walks!) at the plate.  Apparently uppercutting at every pitch within 5 feet of the plate doesn’t seem to be a good way to get on base.  And Charlie Manuel’s seen fit to hide him on the bench of late, as he didn’t sniff a bat in the series at Texas.  Come on Charlie, you can’t get going again if you don’t play!  Seems to me we should be starting Jenkins every game so he can get back to that 780 OPS range.

His season-long line of 239 average, 289 OBP and 378 slugging turn into a 667 OPS.  Not bad! After two years of league-average hitting (and below average hitting for his position), he’s turning in a year 25% worse than league average.  But hey, he’s only here for another year and a half.  He turns 34 this month and looks to be hitting his career stride right about NOW. Prepare yourselves for even more goodness coming from right field.  Gritty performances galore ladies and gents.

Yay!

Boy Meets World Weekends!!!!

Remember the time I went on vacation and came back and then showed a Boy Meets World episode?!?!? I DO I DO

Good Newspaper Articles Penned By Rich Hofmann

Remember about a month ago when I highlighted a horrible article written by Marcus Hayes about Ryan Howard?  Well, it seems only fair to highlight a good article penned by a Philadelphia Daily News writer, and I found one!  Rich Hofmann, the fairly sensible writer at the Daily News, wrote up a few words about Pat Burrell and his production over his career as a Phillie.  Seems Burrell isn’t the worst player in the league or something like that:

Since 2000, when Burrell broke in with the Phillies, there are only 23 players who have hit at least 200 homers and driven in at least 750 runs. He is one of them. Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, Pat Burrell – all on the same chart.

Surprised, right?

That he is one of the top two-dozen power hitters of this era is unquestioned. History surely will view Burrell that way. The reply will come back that more was expected of the first pick of the 1998 draft – and, well, fine.

But if you look at the players who made their major league debut in 2000, Burrell is so clearly the premier slugger of that class that it isn’t even arguable. His 236 homers are 70 more than the guy behind him on the table, Aubrey Huff. His 788 RBI are 193 more than Huff. Again, it is not close.

Sure, he could’ve used better stats than homers and RBI to prove his point (OBP? VORP? EQA?), but he’s speaking to an audience that might not be as receptive to those.  Hoffman then follows with a couple humble quotes from Burrell where he gives praise to other players and talks about his teammates.  What a jackass, am I right people?

Hoffman also brings up that horrible 2003 season, putting it in context of his entire career and refusing to let it overshadow Burrell’s other years in the pin stripes:

For years, it seems, Burrell has been tied to twin anvils as far as the people of this town are concerned: his huge contract for one, and his disastrous 2003 season for another. That one season, especially – when Burrell hit only .209 – seems unshakeable in the public consciousness. Even as he has built from that, and really taken off in the last 12 calendar months, the past remains predominant somehow.

“That’s got something to do with it,” Burrell said, evenly. “People who play the game for a long time, they do have bad years – some worse than others. Mine was terrible. I think I hit 21 homers that year and I don’t remember any of them. I couldn’t tell you one of them because it was that difficult of a year …

“But it made me a better player. To look back and see where I have come from there, it’s a world of difference.”

Let’s hope that most people have been swayed by his play throughout the past 3 seasons and now understand that there’s much more involved with good offensive production than accomplishing feats like a 300 batting average and fanning less than 100 times a year.  This man’s services should be retained by the Phillies going into the next several years.  I wouldn’t give him more than 12 million a year due to him being on the wrong side of 30, but I see nothing wrong with a 3 year/36 million dollar contract.  Tremendous interest from others teams in the offseason could prevent a contract like that, and with the way he’s been playing he’s certainly earned a bidding war.  If the Phillies were to let him go, would you be happy with an outfield of Werth-Victorino-Golson-random free agent platooning veteran?  That’s what’s going to be put out there if Burrell walks.

BTW, I think it’s safe to say we settled the debate. Burrell is a hitting machine.

People Get To Watch Penn State Football Again

Hot off the presses:

The nation’s biggest cable company and the Big Ten Network reached a deal today that will put the new college sports channel in millions of Comcast Corp. homes in Pennsylvania and other states.

The Big Ten Network will launch on the Comcast network on Aug. 15, in time for the Penn State football season.

Big Ten highlights and replays will be available on video-on-demand and on Comcast’s Internet portal at Comcast.net, the organizations said.

The compromise ends a bitter and public dispute between the Big Ten and Comcast that focused on the soaring cost of sports entertainment for pay-TV customers, and Comcast’s power to make-or-break a new entertainment network with its potential reach into the homes of 48 million Americans.

And it only took a year!

Kevin Garnett And The Boston Celtics Are NBA Champions

Good for Kevin.  My guess is Bill Russell will be asking for that ring back now that you have your own.

Oh, and screw the Celtics.   The Sixers are gunnin’ for you chumps!!!!

*sigh*

It should be noted

I used the word claptrap today.  Go me.

Boy Meets World Sorta-Mondays!!!

Remember when they had the obligatory job episode?!?!  And Topanga was tons better than Cory at selling magazines and pretty much everything else?!?!?! OMGZ HILARITY ENSUED

Meet the Press Moderator Tim Russert Passes Away at 58

He died of a heart attack while working at MSNBC getting ready for this Sunday’s telecast.  Sad news.  Tom Brokaw broke the news in a heartfelt matter. Condolences to his family:

We Can All Inhale And Exhale Freely Now, Pennsylvania Approves Smoking Ban

Almost every public place is going smoke-free now baby:

The bill, which allows Philadelphia to keep its more extensive two-year-old smoking ban, now goes to Gov. Rendell, who said through a spokesman that he intends to sign it shortly after it reaches his desk later this week.

When the measure becomes law, Pennsylvania will join 32 states – including New Jersey – and the District of Columbia with some type of smoking ban.

The legislation will take effect 90 days after Rendell’s signature.

It effectively bans smoking in all public places including hospitals, schools and sports facilities. It bars smoking in taxis, trains and buses and in train and bus stations. It also eliminates smoking in all restaurants.

But the bill contains a lengthy list of exemptions allowing smoking in certain workplaces and entertainment venues, including casinos located outside of Philadelphia.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!  Many bars will be less grimy, and perhaps the clientele will be as well.  And who cares if second-hand smoking causes anything, I know it causes me to cough and smell HORRIBLE when I get home from almost any place where some human chimney stack was puffing away.  You have every right to smoke, outside.  Grab a puff or two outside.  Do you need it THAT bad that the cancer stick has to be lit up while eating or drinking or bowling or being in a hospital?

Oh, that’s right.  It’s still an addictive substance.  My clothes shouldn’t smell horrible because a smoker is addicted to tobacco.  That’s just my opinion.

Actual Philadelphia Inquirer Headlines

Clinton sex videos, just $1.99

No joke.

Stephen Colbert Is Being Profiled

The Associated Press recently profiled Stephen Colbert, and it was grand. Weaving the history of Stephen Colbert the man with Stephen Colbert the character, the piece focused on his amazing ability to host a half-hour nightly comedy show for 2.5 years and still find the funny.   He and his show have given the popular culture with truthiness (how dare spell check state it’s not a word!), humor and a little good (most noticeably the proceeds from the WristStrong bracelets going to injured servicemen and women).

I’ve certainly enjoyed the whole show.  From satirizing Bill O’Reilly to taking on the gravitas of Stone Phillips, Colbert’s range is terrific.  Silly bits spliced with terrific guest ‘gets’ like Mike Huckabee make the show eventful every single night.  I would hope that everyone out there has seen the program, along with Stephen’s other terrific work.  If you haven’t, you must hate America. I am America and so can you!

Chase Utley Lovefest Post

Chase Utley. CHASE UTLEY. CHASE FREAKING UTLEY. What can be said? Mr Utley has started off this 2008 campaign with a bang. He, as well as Pat Burrell, kept the Phillies from floundering early with his hitting prowess. He’s still been whacking the ball while the Phillies have started piling up numbers in the win column. Let’s look at his numbers and where he ranks:

• 316 average 403 on-base percentage, 660 slugging = 1.063 OPS
  18 doubles, 2 triples, 21 homers, 6-6 SB, 29 BB and 36 K
  .343 equivalent average (.260 is average, .300 is excellent) 41.5 VORP

14th in majors in batting average
18th in OBP
3rd in slugging
5th in OPS
tied 5th in doubles
1st in homers
4th in EQA
3rd in VORP
Exciting, I know. Those rankings are for the whole Majors; he’s even better within the National League. He’s been flashy with the homers, gets on-base at a great clip and he’s pretty fast too. He flashes some decent leather as well, though I doubt he’ll win a gold glove.

Will he keep up this pace? Doubtful. It’s simply an outrageous pace, and there’s no reason Phillies fans should expect him to keep it. He’s on a 52 homer pace! He did regress somewhat from month to month, dropping from a 1.168 OPS in April to 891 in May. However, he is back to his insane ways in June, so it’s not impossible for him to continue to streak.

One thing I noticed while checking out the home/away split is that he’s getting on base as a fairly similar clip (407 home to 400 away), but has 16 homers at CBP and only 5 away. He actually had more homers away n 2005, even in 2006 and had more at home in 2007. This could be nothing more than an aberration except that CBP IS homer-friendly. It’s not exceptionally doubles-friendly though, and the numbers show that as well ( 7 doubles in CBP, 11 away). This trend may continue in the future and should be something to take into consideration.

In any event, Chase has been exceptional since becoming a full-time player, and has blossomed into the best second baseman in baseball (with apologies to Dan Uggla of the Florida Marlins). Whether he continues this pace through 2008 or not, all fans should simply appreciate what he gives to the ball club. Go Chase!

Boy Meets World Almost Mondays!!!

Remember that time that the boys were banned from the girls’ dorm?!?!!? OMGZ A WAR ENSUED!

Gone West

Back before you know it.