First There Was Cole And Heidi, Now There Is Kyle And Stephenie

While a certain blogger around these parts is not a fan of Survivor (you know who you are ;-)), I do happen to follow the show rather religiously, thus it is frequently talked about by me how Cole Hamels is married to smokin' hot former Survivor: Amazon contestant Heidi Strobel. Well, what do you know. By pure coincidence, it turns you that another Phillies pitcher and another Survivor contestant are about to tie the know. In case you have not heard, it's none other than likely 5th starter Kyle Kendrick and Philadelphia's own Stephenie LaGrossa from Survivor: Palau, Survivor: Guatemala, and the upcoming all-star season Survivor: Heroes Vs Villains. From Philly.com

Circle Nov. 13 for the wedding of Philadelphia's Survivor sweetheart Stephenie LaGrossa, 30, and Phillies pitcher Kyle Kendrick, 25. "I wanted someplace warm, but not an island," said Stephenie at the show's big 10th anniversary wing-ding last night at CBS's Television City in Los Angeles.

As one of only nine Survivors who have been on the show three times, LaGrossa has had it up to here with islands. So the nuptials are set for the super suave Silverado Resort -- $350 a night for a fireplace suite -- in California's Napa Valley.

Stephenie's latest starving sand-and-bugs adventure, Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains, kicks off on CBS Feb. 11. The show broke camp in Samoa in mid-September about two weeks before a major earthquake really broke both tribes' camps and the show's production camp, too. "Everything was decimated," Stephenie said.

Stephenie was teamed with the heroes, but show host and executive producer Jeff Probst said her biggest challenge was whether to act like a hero, as she did in Pulau (was the 10th person voted out) or a villain, as she did in Guatemala (and finished runner-up to sweet Danni Boatwright.

Kendrick, who met Stephenie about a year and half ago at Gigi, the Old City bar she owns, has been a hero to Phillies fans since he showed up two years ago and helped get the team to the World Series, despite his struggles last season.

"He only had two pitches," Stephenie said, "and the batters caught up to him. Now he has five, and his change-up is sick."

Flyers fans may actually remember Stephenie as the live arena host during the 2006-07 season. And as you can see from the picture above, just like Heidi, she is smoking hot.

And I am yet to see these pitches that Stephenie is talking about, although I sure as heck hope that she is right. Unless the Phillies go out and sign Chien Ming-Wang (Aroldis Chapman is out of the question, he signed with the Reds) , I don't see how Kendrick is not the 5th starter. Now someone who has always been a very likable guy has an awesomely famous hot wife on top of it, he is officially the best damn 5th starter in the business.