About Last Night - MLB Wildcard Edition

I'm going to try and be as non-bias as possible. However, as a Sox fan, last night was far from "pleasant."

What is there to really say about what happened last night? It was unbelievable. Four games, three of which came down to the last at bat. Four teams competing for two spots, with their fates being controlled by some of their rivals.

The night captures the beauty of baseball (dare I say romance?). You can play for six months, 161 games. And it comes down to one game for your team. And another game that you have zero control over.

From the Red Sox perspective, it seemed clinched. And that was the problem. They thought they had the Wild Card clinched September 1st. The Rays were down 7-0 against the mighty Yankees. The Rays aren't known for their hitting prowess. It was a slam dunk.

Around the time of the rain delay, I did some other chores, turned away from the TV, only to check in 20 some minutes later, to see the Rays making a comeback. The Sox were flirting with blowing the game in the 7th.

Meanwhile, the Phillies/Braves game goes under the radar because of the drama from the Sox and Rays, but that doesn't mean the game wasn't just as good - again coming down to the wire and the Phillies were able to pull it out.

Last night was the equivalent of MLB's version of March Madness. Four games, all going on at once, all determining the playoff picture. You needed four TVs to keep up. I could only flip between two games, because doing four was just impossible. My head would explode.

What I find to be the most interesting is that the Phillies and Yankees had the option to "help" guide a team to the playoffs. They could of rolled over and played the scrubs. Or could have gone out with every intention to win it. If I was the Yankees? I would of rolled over. I wouldn't want to let the Sox in the playoffs and worry about them in the ALCS. Those bats can turn on in a minute. Although after last night, the Rays might have a different confidence when it comes to playing the Yanks. If I was the Phils? I would of rolled over again, allowing for a 1 game playoff today, and praying the Braves won. The Cardinals are a much better team than the Braves are, when matching up with the Phils. I wouldn't want to face them at all. Now they've got them in the first round.

Of course, teams will frown upon teams "letting" another team win, but it's their right - they've already won their divisions. The future could be determined by them. I think that's great that they both went and played most of their starters. I understand resting a few guys. But go out there and get it. Same for the O's - they could of rolled over, but they were in it to win it. The Astros probably couldn't of won the game if they tried.

The sour point of yesterday? Jose Reyes. Reyes bunted in his first AB to get on base, and told his manager to pull him from the game to preserve his .337 batting average, which would make him the batting champion for 2011. Honestly, I lost a lot of respect for Reyes after that. On the last game of the year, in front of your home fans, in possibly your last game as a Met, when you're the only attraction to coming to the ballpark, you're going to pull yourself out after 1 inning? Wow. Selfish much? Let me give you a history lesson.

Exactly 70 years ago yesterday, Teddy Williams was leading the league in batting average going into the last day, about to play a doubleheader. He was sitting at .399. His manager offered to sit him so he wouldn't lose any points. What did Williams do? Go out and play both games. Went 6 for 8. What was his final average? .406. Nobody has hit over .400 since. I'm not saying Reyes was going to get to .400, but you shouldn't give a damn about your own statistics if it hurts your team's statistics - which really comes down to wins and losses. Teddy Ballgame is a legend, for this story and many many more (including the frozen in carbonite stuff). Jose Reyes will never be at that level because of this selfish foolishness.

Jose Reyes is a punk. This kid has been praised as the "next big thing" in the MLB for over 10 years. He's never met that level. Okay so he's been hurt. But he acts like he's the best shortstop in the MLB. Far from it. I could think of 2-3 others I'd rather have. Team players. Players who aren't out for number one. They are out for the team. It's disrespectful to your teammates, the fans, the organization, and the sport. Talk about the romance of the game - Jose Reyes is breaking every rule of that romance. Go enjoy your fake batting title. Ryan Braun had 24 more at bats than you. He deserves it. His team is going to the playoffs. Yours is not. Enjoy yourself. I pray that the Sox or Phillies don't sign you.

Finally, last night captured why sports is truly magical. You can't script this stuff. You can't write it yourself. You probably couldn't even dream of it. Because it seemed so improbable. Yet it all happened so quickly that it was as if you were watching a Hollywood movie. It's absolutely beautiful. Better than anything else you could of watched on your Wednesday night.

There's only one October.

RIP Philadelphia Spectrum

Today marks the day that the Spectrum will fall. After over 40 years of service to the Philadelphia area, the building that housed Dr. J, The Broad Street Bullies, and many other historical events, will be torn down in favor of "Philly Live" (which I will forever call "Philly Fail").

I can't say that I have such significant memories of the Spectrum as hardcore Philadelphians - mainly because the building was only functional for my first 8 years of life - so I'm allowed a reprieve. HOWEVER, The Spectrum is where I saw my first professional hockey game, saw several Phantoms games, saw Green Day and I really appreciated the old-school feel of the building. All the new arenas are so much more corporate don't feel like a sporting event so much as a hang out. The old arenas were so much smaller and the fans were really on top of the players - the sound in a building like that was truly deafening.

It was one of the first areans to be multipurpose for basketball and hockey, and to have a functional video screen and scoreboard overhead.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Pat Wentling post without mentioning the Bruce Springsteen connection; this was the first big stage for Bruce and the E Streeters. Being from nearby Jersey, Philly was like a second home, and Bruce never forgot that. Before the Spectrum's closing, Bruce played 6 more concerts there - rather than the larger capacity Philly Center - to honor the roots that helped him grow. And the shows were legendary - playing songs that he hasn't played in decades.

In the Wells Fargo Center (I hate that name by the way, it's only changed like 25 times in 14 years) they have a banner honoring the amount of sell-outs that Bruce has had in Philadelphia. After his most recent tour, he's up to 51 consecutive sell-outs between the two arenas - most of them at the Spectrum. It might be my favorite banner in the arena - until the Flyers win the Cup in my lifetime.

Anyways, this isn't totally about Bruce's relation to the Spectrum, it's about the building itself. Comcast Spectacor is tearing it down in favor of a hotel and a few hotels, restaurants, and shops. I don't know anyone in favor of what they are doing, it's just another opportunity for Comcast to make more money - but I do know that the Spectrum cannot stand forever. Eventually the building will deteriorate and it must come down. The reasoning behind tearing it down now is what bothers me. We'll never see an arena like it again, because the current arenas are made to maximze revenue, not about the best-possible fan experience. It's a sad day for the true sports fans in Philadelphia.

To close, I'll end with a (surprise) Springsteen song. Written specifically for the two stadiums that helped boost his career yet were being torn down within the year (Spectrum and Giants Stadium. The song is aptly called Wrecking Ball. You can watch the recording here - obviously a YouTube from his Spectrum show.

Bring on your Wrecking Ball.

This photo was taken Novemeber 22nd, the last night the Spectrum stood.

Why Don't We Care About Hockey?

The Flyers are in the Stanley Cup Finals, and in Philadelphia, it SHOULD be a big deal. It doesn't feel that way.

When the Eagles are just in the playoffs, everywhere people are cheering even during the off days in preparation for the upcoming game. For the Flyers, who are in the championship game? Not so much. When the Phillies are in the World Series, forget it.

I think it represents that hockey still has some serious work to do to get back in the national spotlight, even a few years following their horrendous lockout. The last time the Flyers were in the Cup Final (1997,) the city was completely wrapped up in the team. Of course, we had much more captivating stars like Eric Lindros, John LeClair, and of course, Ron Hextall.

For me, I think the Flyers have always been my favorite Philadelphia team, because they were the best team in the city when I was young. My bedroom is covered in Flyers gear, and I remember being SO excited for the Flyers, not Eagles, Phillies, and definitely not the Sixers.

The NHL still needs to get on the national map. Make hockey the top story on ESPN daily. It needs to get out of the Versus TV contract and evolve into something with serious national spotlight. I'm not sure what channel can provide that amount of momentum besides ESPN, but Versus is clearly not the answer. Does anyone actually watch Versus for anything other than hockey and the annual Tour De France (does anyone even watch that?)

It's upsetting to me to see how little people seem to care about the championship round of a sport in their own city. I think the Phillies and Eagles have made Philly spoiled. We're not so desperate anymore, we just only root for teams we believe in, and nobody believes in the Flyers. Insert sad face here.

Anyways, Go Flyers!

Dave Spadaro's PR Disaster

Dave Spadaro is listed as the Philadelphia Eagles 'Insider.' Anyone that actually knows the organization know that he is more like the village idiot. He's a promoter of the team and most of the time seems to have his head up his rear when 'reporting' a story.

His latest stroke of genius includes posting a video to the Eagles website where he spits on the Dallas Cowboys star not once, but twice. Truly a class act.

There's two ways of looking at this from a fan's standpoint. There's the die hard fan that says "Good job Dave, way to speak for the fans!" then there's the intelligent fan who says "What a moron." The rest of the country just thinks "What a jackass."

This truly was a jackass move. While Spadaro's 'job' is to report stories for the Eagles while sipping the Kool-Aid, he still has to be professional. Sure, he can spin the story in the Eagles favor no matter what scenario, but he must do so in a respectful manner. He represents the Philadelphia Eagles to the entire country, being their spokesperson. That's a huge role in the sports realm.

The Eagles don't technically have a PR person. Spadaro is as close as it gets. And his public apology can only be described as a joke. This makes the Eagles look bad, which as an organization has prided itself on being one of the classiest football teams in the league. That's why Michael Vick chose to sign with the Eagles, he thought the Birds could help put him on a good path.

I think organizations are quick to fire people for miscues (see any ESPN Baseball Tonight firings for examples) I'm glad that Spadaro gets another chance. He's an idiot, but that's the kind of position that the team needs. Someone that keeps pumping team spirit amongst fans. It still has to be handled in a better manner than Spadaro did. Maybe he can use this as a lesson in being a better reporter and a smarter person.

I Love Chickie's and Pete's

Chickie's and Pete's has become a staple of Philadelphia food. Typically, when people ask me about Philadelphia, it's always about the cheesesteaks. Some people know about Tastykakes. Yet over the past 33 years, Chickie's has established itself as the premiere sports bar in Philadelphia, with their crab fries becoming as synonymous with Philly as cheesesteaks.

In high school, I typically went to the South Philly Chickie's with my friends a couple nights a month. My mom even got me a Chickie's gift card for the holiday. This break, I've spent two of the past three nights at Chickie's, and the place is always full of people. It's such a great atmosphere. Even when there is no sports games on, you always have a good time there. But during any game (especially an Eagles game) it is like a huge family dinner. Everyone cheers and boos together. The experience is almost as good as being at the game.

But then there is the food. Sure, there is the crab fries. The buffalo cutlets are superb. Yet it's not just typical bar food. It's also got great seafood options. This usually isn't the route me and my buddies take, but tonight we got the crabs and lobsters. Delicious. I'm a pretty boring eater, and seafood is one of the last things I choose to eat, but I couldn't tell you when I had seafood this good. It makes me inclined to get it again.

Still, the crab fries. I keep coming back to them. They are so good. The concept isn't new, but they have perfected the art of the fries. Chickie's has opened restaurants in the greater Philadelphia area, including Philly International Airport, and also has kiosks at all of the ballparks. Their lines are always the biggest at the stadiums as well. Good luck getting crab fries in less than one inning. People can't get enough of it. It's the new Philadelphia tradition.