Party Rock Was In The House Last Night; Unfortunately, So Was Cole Hamels

You can file this under the "You Can't Make This Up If You Tried" Department. Cole Hamels, often ridiculed for various reasons, decided to help his good pal Shane Victorino and the Shane Victorino Foundation Fashion Show last night. Now charity is all well and good, but when it leads to this, I, uh, you know forget it. This is just too damn funny. It's like Cole Hamels is trolling us now.



Cole Hamels has about as much fluidity as solid concrete.

Also, is it just me or do Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard's moves remind you of the infamous Big Dick Johnson? Okay, maybe not. At least Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard kept all their clothes on. If only we could say the same about Hunter Pence and Kyle Nakazawa of the Philadelphia Union.

2011 MLB All-Star Game Live Blog

Even though I have been gone for the past ten days, I figured why the heck not, right? Roy Halladay and Jered Weaver are the starting pitchers. Unlike other All-Star games, in this one, the winning league gets home field advantage in the 2011 World Series, so there is something to be played for. Live from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, it is the 2011 MLB All-Star Game! Join us for the live blog.

American League vs. National League 8:00 (Fox - Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, SR: Ken Rosenthal)

Roy Halladay Is Awesome

There are several reasons why I like Roy Halladay other than the fact that he is an amazing pitcher. For starters, he is as hard a worker as any pitcher out there. Also, he is a humble guy and a class act the likes of which you do not find every day in major American professional sports. Case and point, Roy Halladay has decided to thank all of his teammates who helped make the perfect game on May 29, 2010 possible. From the Twitter account of Delaware County Times beat writer Ryan Lawrence.

That is simply awesome. I just hope he remembers to send one to Juan Castro.....

Update: Per Ryan Lawrence, Juan Castro will get a watch, as will essentially everyone was a part of the Phillies team that day, whether they physically played in the game or not (i.e. bullpen pitchers and bench players are getting watches as well). Also, per Matt Gelb, Milt Thompson is receiving one as well. For a little more about Roy's presenting of the watches, here is an article from Gelb's blog, The Phillies Zone

The righthander purchased around 60 Baume & Mercier watches to commemorate his perfect game May 29. He gave out the watches as gifts to everyone in the clubhouse — all of the players who were on the active roster then, the entire coaching staff, all clubhouse personnel (including bat boy Rob DiClementi), training and video staff as well as public relations officials.

The watches were enclosed in brown boxes with an inscription on the front: “We did it together. Thanks, Roy Halladay.”

“Unbelievable,” Raul Ibanez said as he opened his. “Wow.”

It’s not unusual for a pitcher to reward his teammates for a milestone like a perfect game. Halladay went beyond that.

Each watch was engraved on the back with the date of the game and the linescore. Every watch was personalized, the person’s name engraved on the back of their watch.

“That’s awesome,” Ryan Howard said, as he inspected the thick instruction manual that came with every watch.

[...]

A little more than an hour before first pitch, the players sat at their lockers, finagling with the watches. Halladay, from the corner of the room, watched and smiled.

Brad Lidge shook his head in disbelief. He wasn’t even in Miami the night Halladay threw the perfect game. Instead, he was pitching in a rehab game 100 miles north in Port St. Luice, Fla.

Like I said above, simply awesome.

Party Like It's The 2008 NLDS!

At the start of the season, when asked if Roy Halladay was the best pitcher in the NL East, Johan alluded that he was the top dog in said division. Well, one day after Halladay pitched a complete game 3-hit shutout, Johan had his chance to prove his case. Unfortunately for him, the Phillies made sure that tonight would be the worst start in Johan's career.

The climax of Johan's disaster was in the midst of what would be an 8-run 4th inning against the Mets true ace. It started innocently enough with a run and a few men getting on base. But then there were bases loaded on with 2 out. And Jamie Moyer was at the plate. At which point, a sequel of the 2008 NLDS was instantly shot. I give you your cast:

Johan Santana as CC Sabathia
Jamie Moyer as Brett Myers
Shane Victorino as himself

Because MLB is the absolute worst when it comes to pulling videos from YouTube (I get that it's illegal, but really MLB, embrace the free publicity like the NHL does), I am just putting links up to the highlights at MLB.com

Jamie Moyer draws a bases loaded walk

Next at-bat: Shane Victorino launches a grand slam

Utley puts the exclamation point on the worst day in Johan Santana's career with a 2-run bomb that is still flying somewhere

Now if only the Phillies could hit all of the 5th starters and/or other schmucks they face, this team would be unbeatable, in spite of the iffy starting pitching!

And Your Golden Glove Winning Phillies Are....

SS Jimmy Rollins and CF Shane Victorino!!!

Congrats to both on the well-deserved honor! Unlike a certain Golden Glove winning AL shortstop, Jimmy Rollins can actually play defense and does it quite well, mind you. This is his 3rd straight Gold Glove and it's Victorino's 2nd consecutive Gold Glove. If it was not for the fact that he had a completely miserable defensive post-season, I would be arguing that Utley deserved it over Orlando Hudson, but alas, he crapped the bed way too much that post-season at 2nd for me to even think about making that argument.

Cubs Beer-Thrower: "I'm Sorry For What I Did"

Wow. What a night. First the announcement and confirmation that Michael Vick is indeed an Eagle (see below post) and now to cap off the other on-going story of the day in Philadelphia, the man identified as the beer-thrower at the Cubs game, Johnny Macchione, has apologized for throwing beer on the Flyin' Hawaiian. From the Chicago Breaking News Center

The Cubs fan believed to have thrown a beer on a Philadelphia Phillies outfielder during Wednesday's game was charged with two misdemeanors tonight after he turned himself in to Chicago police earlier in the day.

After bonding out, suspect Johnny Macchione of Bartlett said he was a Cubs fan and "I'm sorry for what I did. It was a mistake."

Macchione also apologized to Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, his family, the Cubs and the club's fans.

"I'd like to apologize to Shane Victorino. It really was nothing against him," he said. "The Chicago Cubs, I'm sorry I disgraced you."

Macchione's face had been splashed all over the Internet and television today after the Cubs announced they had ejected the wrong man for the incident and were searching for the real culprit.

The Cubs and Victorino filed a formal complaint with the Chicago police following the incident. The 21-year-old Macchione, a college student, contacted police shortly after the announcement and said he wanted to come in to talk about the alleged battery.

"It's in their hands," Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney said of Chicago law enforcement.

Macchione has been charged with a count of battery and a count of illegal conduct within a sports facility, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

And it all ends with a big hug! How nice! I know I've been all over the story like Basketbawful's roommate is with girls, but it's nice that we can all forget about the incident, law enforcement can do what needs to be done, and we can all move on with our lives.

Shane Victorino Has His Sights Set On Revenge

We all know about the now infamous beer throwing incident of last night, but there's another chapter yet to be written about it. Shane Victorino, not one to forgive and forget, is doing the right thing by filing a police report on the douche bag who spilled beer on him last night. From ESPN.com

A report for simple battery has been generated, and it's under investigation by Chicago police," CPD news affairs officer Michael Fitzpatrick said.

The Cubs will work with the police department to pursue the individual who threw the beer. The Cubs are utilizing all of their resources, including videotape of the incident.

"[The beer thrower is] probably at home laughing right now," Victorino said Thursday. "I just think he should be held accountable, that's it, nothing more than that. He should be held accountable, that's it ... but it is what it is. It's not like the first time I've seen it happen [at a ballpark]."

The Cubs talked to Victorino and Phillies manager Charlie Manuel after the game.

Cubs chairman Crane Kenney apologized in person to Victorino before the series finale. Cubs manager Lou Piniella and general manager Jim Hendry also offered apologies.

"That really ticked me off, to be honest with you," Hendry said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy" show on ESPN 1000. "There's no place for it. The Phillies are a good ballclub, and Shane's an outstanding player. It wouldn't matter who it is.

"You're risking a very dangerous thing here, if the beer splatters in his face and he misjudges that ball and it hits him in the head and broke his nose.

"It doesn't speak well for that man's behavior," Hendry continued. "We have great fans who come to the ballpark every day with a lot of enthusiasm, but something like that is inexcusable. We let Charlie Manuel and Shane know after the game we didn't think that was appropriate and certainly would look into pursuing whatever you could to sanction that kind of behavior for that young man in the future."

[....]

"If you think about how many years we've gone with no issues of any kind, including situations where we had our fans in some ways animated about our own players, or they weren't favorable towards them, [it's] an isolated instance," Kenney said. "We handled it the right way, we think, with the police.

"The Phillies have been great, we apologize to the Phillies. Shane's been terrific about it and he's cooperating, as we are with the CPD. We'll let them take it from here."

Kenney talked to Victorino about the incident.

"I said, 'Listen, sorry, it shouldn't have happened here. It's not a good reflection on our city or our organization and we're gonna do whatever we can to make sure that [the situation] is made right here.' He said, 'Listen, I know you are, and I appreciate your help.' "

Kenney said the fact the Cubs were losing 12-1 at the time was no excuse.

"It should never happen," he said. "I don't care if we're down 20-1. It's not right ever, and nothing excuses it."

Piniella also was unhappy with the incident.

"That shouldn't happen," Piniella said Wednesday. "It's not good sportsmanship. ... We apologize to Victorino and the Phillies for that."

It's about time we're going to see some accountability for douche bags like this at ball parks. And I would be just as happy if the jerkoff who shined a laser in the faces of Julio Lugo and Albert Pujols in Philadelphia get the same treatment, but sadly, it appears as if he got away as security never caught him and there's no video to find a guilty party as there is in this case. The point is, regardless of who it is, that kind of behavior is wrong and punishable by law, so why not do it. It's nice to see something a little more happening here than simple stadium justice which may not do a whole heck of a lot in the long run, whereas this might.

Shane Victorino, A Beer, And A Row Of Mostly Angry Cubs Fans

Victorino's been the center of quite a few controversies this week, although this one might be the funniest and the most memorable. I mentioned this story in the below open thread but it is definitley worth its own post. There is mega-idiocy, and then there is what you're about to see. A fly ball was hit deep to center and Victorino was there to make a catch when all of a sudden......



.....that beer came flying down from the front row and decked Shane Victorino! And while it was cut out of this video, the person who was initially escorted out by security was NOT the person who had in fact thrown the beer at Victorino. The person who did take the fall must have been pleading for his life as security came back down to that front row and immediately starting questioning the guy who did throw the beer, but he started instantly denying it (instant replay clearly showed this guy was guilty; something he obviously did not take into consideration when throwing the beer). And when everyone refused to point him out and when the guilty party would not admit his guilt, Chicago Cubs security made my day by escorting the WHOLE ROW out of the ballpark! And just because, it is fun to give faces to complete douche bags like this, thanks to Deadspin, you can now see for yourself, with the actual beer thrower and the guy who perpetrated this act clearly marked out by arrows courtesy of the aforementioned Deadspin.


Like I said numerous times before, all this was clear upon looking at a better quality replay. But alas, it must be said, stay classy, Cubs fans! Oh, and how about a 12-5 ass-whooping to go along with that?

More On Victorino And Rapuano

I already have a post on this, and while I don't have much more to say, MLB (shockingly, I might add) put up a whole long article and the video of which I originally wanted you to see on this. Again, because of MLB Nazism, I can't embed the video so you'll have to bare with me. Click on this link and hit the large play button in order to watch the video, and I missed this at first, but to all those who disagree with me, Chris Wheeler hits the nail right on the head in this vid.

Rapuano said that after he called a ball on Rodrigo Lopez's 0-2 offering to Marlins third baseman Wes Helms, he saw Victorino waving his arms in disapproval. The umpire then stepped toward the outfield and gestured as a warning.

Then he saw Victorino wave his arms a second time. So without hesitation, Rapuano pointed again at Victorino and this time delivered the ejection signal.

"I gave him the chance to not do it again," said Rapuano, who has 18 1/2 years of Major League service time. "He's right in the line of sight and he's out in front of everybody, waving his arms in disgust of a pitch that I called. It is very simple."

Victorino recalled only gesturing once.

"I've got to hold myself accountable," Victorino said following the Phillies' 12-3 loss. "It's not something that you should be doing, but I've done it 1,000 times this year. It's not the first time -- and I'm not trying to show anybody up. Just things got built up from the half-inning before that, and it's just one of those things I let my emotions get the best of me."

In the bottom of the sixth, with runners on first and third, Ryan Howard was rung up on a close full-count fastball that Marlins starter Josh Johnson called the "pitch of the game." Howard -- and, evidently, some of his teammates -- felt it was low. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel also thought it was a ball, but one too close to take.

Victorino, after some initial confusion about the ejection, sprinted at full speed from center field to the area behind home plate. The 28-year-old waved off Howard and violently shoved catcher Paul Bako to get close to Rapuano before he was eventually restrained by Howard and Bako.

"I was like, 'OK, I might as well get my money's worth, I'm gone,'" Victorino said. "I definitely had no intention of touching [Rapuano] or anything like that."

Chris Wheeler 1, all those who doubt the call 0.

The point, for those who missed it, was why the fuck would be looking in centerfield at the time in the first place? It's because he knew he fucked up the call and was going to be out to get any Phillie who disagreed in an attempt to silence the naysayers (although he did not take into account 3 innings of merciless heckling from the Philly crowd afterwards). The article also goes on to state how Victorino was more hurt than anything that he would get his first career ejection from one of his favorite umpires, Rapuano, and that Charlie Manuel did not agree with the call, although the fact that Manuel did not blantantly argue the call tipped Rapuano off to the idea that Manuel agreed with him, when in fact, according to Manuel, he did not.

The Phillies need to forget about this mess (or use it as motivation, whatever works) and channel the energy for their upcoming series against the Cubs.

Fire Ed Rapuano Now! (Updated With Video.....Sort Of)

As with all sports, baseball umpires are going to make bad calls that people won't agree with. However, there is a difference between bad calls and the utterly ridiculous and absurd. Today at Citizens Bank Park there was perhaps the most absurd call that an umpire has ever made in all of baseball. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an overstatement (see Denkinger, Don), but Ed Rapuano, the home plate umpire of the game, most definitley has it out for Philly fans and while it's hard to say that an umpire cost you a game that ended up being 12-3 Florida, one could make an argument that Rapuano did that today. The fiasco started in the bottom of the 6th inning when the score was just 3-1 Florida with 2 outs, 2 men on, and Ryan Howard at the plate staring at a full count. The pitch by Josh Johnson was low around the knees, but Rapuano called it a strike, ending the inning and the Phillies rally. Now that was a bad call.

What happened in the next inning would venture into the utterly absurd and ridiculous. Rodrigo Lopez threw a pitch the same spot that Johnson did to Howard in the top of the 7th inning. Rapuano from home plate then pointed to Shane Victorino, who was in centerfield, and ejected him from the game! Victorino's crime: he threw his arms up in the air at the obvious contradiction from the umpire. That's it. Nothing more. Nothing less (or at least nothing that anything indicated and I doubt Rapuano would have detected anything other than that; he was 200 feet away) The home plate umpire, from home plate, threw out the Phils centerfielder, who was in centerfield, for lifting his arms up at an obvious contradiction of ball-strike calls.

And that was just the start of it. Some Phillies started coming up and questioning Rapuano for his absurd and hasty decision to throw out Victorino daring to throw his arms over what he felt was bad umpiring, and then all of a sudden Victorino flies through that mob and started getting in the face of Rapuano. He had shoved Paul Bako out of the way and was in the face of Rapuano and may have literally been a half a second away from actually striking him (at which point, I think Victorino would have become the most popular Phillie of all time) until Bako and Howard were able to gain control of him before Victorino could land himself a suspension (although no one in Philly would have cared about that then). The rest of the inning was just a massacre as the Marlins hammered Rodrigo Lopez for 5-runs in that inning blowing the game open, something that the Marlins would continue to do for the rest of the game, hence the lobsided score. A score that does not indicate the decent performance put on by Jamie Moyer or the fantastic job that Tyler Walker did (Walker's actually been pretty solid for the Phillies) getting out of Moyer's mess which consisted of 2 men on and no one out in the top of the 6th and the inning ending still 3-1, the score of which it started.

And just reading the article on the game posted by MLB.com, the re-writing of history is already in progress. While it says that Shane Victorino was thrown out, no reason is given (I wonder why), but never does it say that Rapuano fucked up, things that would be apparent even to someone who has never watched baseball, and it does not say that Rapuano ejected him from behind home plate when Victorino was in centerfield, something that I don't think has ever happened before. I can't remember any other instance and Chris Wheeler, who celebrated a birthday today, could not recall any instance either of such a horrible, meaningless, immature ejection. Either Rapuano is a complete moron who does not know anything about baseball, or he knew he fucked up and decided that the best way to forget about the whole instance was to be a dickface about it and silence any and all doubters by ejecting anyone who dare challenge his "perfect" umpiring. Philly fans did get a small measure of revenge as he was booed and jeered for the rest of the game.

And not only are MLB playing the roles of history re-writers on the article, but thus far the only video that was posted of this on YouTube taken down less than 30 minutes after it was posted.

What Ed Rapuano did today was one of the worst, immature, absurd, ridiculous decisions that an umpire has ever made. Fire Ed Rapuano now! And if a video ever surfaces, trust me, I will get it to you as soon as possilbe. Check back frequently for updates.

Update: The abusrd has appeared to have just gotten absurder. Allegedly, Victorino was not even throwing his arms up at the umpire! From a fan comment on the above linked MLB article quoting someone from another forum:

"I was in sect 146 ( between Shane [Victorino] and Raul [Ibanez]) a drunken Idiot Fan started Yelling at Shane for hitting into a groundout, he was throwing his hands up and Victorino Responded, he actually kept on him, Victorino turned around but threw his arms up, Thats when he got tossed... All the Fans got on this supposed Phills fan, leading to he and his White Trash buddy both getting ejected.. I think thats why Victorno charged the Mound, thinking he wasnt even communicating w the UMP. If you were at the game or watching it on TV, you would have heard the fans getting on this idiot !!"

Update 2: MLB put up a highlights video with the Victorino incident in the highlights. And shockingly, they show most of what happened. You've heard my arguments, decide for yourself if it is a justified ejection.

VICTORY FOR VICTORINO!!!!!

Consider Operation "Bran Torino" a complete success! Both Shane Victorino and Brandon Inge have been voted to represent their respective leagues in the 2009 MLB All Star Game. Pedro Shamduval gave Victorino one heck of a run for his money, but in the end, it just was not enough for the strong backing of Phillies fans, the islands of Hawaii, and Detroit fans who agreed to vote for Victorino in the NL if Phils fans voted for Inge in the AL.

Suffice to say, Victorino did not need this vote to get into the all-star game as he would have most likely gotten in anyway as he would have been the most likely candidate to replace Carlos Beltran as Beltran has declared that it is unlikely that he will participate in the all-star game. What a shame that Papa Shametoall is not an outfielder.

Wait a minute....what's this you say? I got the Giants player named wrong? Oops. My bad. My sincerest apologies to Pueblo Sandyballs.

VOTE FOR VICTORINO!!!!!!!

Voting closes tomorrow at 4. And when you are casting the last of those 25 remaining votes, remember one thing.....

SHANE VICTORINO JUST HIT A WALK-OFF SINGLE TO WIN THE GAME FOR THE PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the video of Victorino's walkoff bloop single via MLB.com link (you can't embed from MLB.com and I can't find the video anywhere else). And remember.....VOTE SHANE VICTORINO NOW!