Game # 14, Phillies at Cubs, May 17, 2012

Back again because who wouldn't want to watch Roy Halliday?

Just some boys chatting about baseball.

This matchup hardly seems fair.

Hi, Mike Fontenot! One thing about me, once I love you as a Cub, I will always love you on any team.

I am about to introduce you to one of the coolest cats in the Chi. Daniel Bruce, brother of Mike Bruce, and a prospective catcher. And he got to meet the awesome Steve Clevenger. But then again we all did. I never get sick of seeing this guy.

Good old Chris Volstad, giving it a try.

Getting some tips from Wellington.

Ian Stewart. If only he could've stayed at third.

Phillies scored in the first--no use wasting time. This guy---one at bat in his season and he hits a grand slam against us last night. But he fouled out to end the top of the first.

Here's Roy Halliday. He hadn't been so hot this season. But he is always a sight to behold.

Of course, DeJesus led off with a double. Will he ever get the credit he deserves?

 Tones sacrificed him over to third.

 DeJesus scored on a Starlin sacrifice.

The Phillies scored three more runs in the second, putting them up 4-1. Casey Coleman came in and relieved. Good old Casey and I had connected the season before. He looks like he is 12. He did all right, though.

I just want to take a moment to say hi to the nicest guy in baseball, Michael Bowden.

Okay, moment over.

Angela and I were hungry, so we left and got Taco Bell and came back.

Now I am going to talk to you about one of the most exciting players in the Cubs system. I am a big baseball nerd, so I am always keeping up with the minor league players, and the one I was most excited about was Blake Parker. A big right-hander, he started off a third baseman (my favorite) but made the old switcheroo and excelled at pitching. He'd had a lot of success playing for the Daytona Cubs previously, and this season he had been 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in Iowa, getting five saves in all five opportunities he'd had. I had been waiting for him to come up all season and I didn't know why they didn't bring him up faster. I was thrilled when he replaced Scott Mean on the roster.

And then, I saw him in person.

And he is a stone-cold fox.

Normally, I don't like to talk about how good-looking baseball players are. It hurts my credibility as a baseball fan. Besides, looks are just looks and they don't really mean much. I have no problem talking to any baseball player. But when I saw him in person,so tall and handsome with a big crooked smile--well, for once I was speechless.

Blake Parker came out in the top of the seventh, his major league debut. I was so, so excited. I think Angela was wanting me to just shut up. He took his warm-ups, then bowed his head and prayed (I assume) and then proceeded to strike out the first major league batter he ever faced.

His seventh inning went well. He allowed one hit but no runs.

Gary Matthews sang the stretch with his family.

 With the Cubs down 5-1, Starlin Castro tried to get things started with a homer.

Soriano singled and Ian Stewart came up. 

But he grounded into a double play to get him and Soriano out.

Dale is arguing something. I don't remember what. But I love when Dale argues. He doesn't do it much, and it's almost like he's trying to reason with the umps.

 The 8th started off with a Roy Halliday single.

Blake was still in and I really wanted the Cubs to win it and give him the win. After the single, he walked Rollins.

Blake had a wild pitch and the runners advanced. But then he got Juan Pierre to ground out and struck Shane Victorino out looking. He looked great. And then.....

 There was a little throwing error by Blake, and two runs scored, and Hunter Pence was on second.

Now remember, people! This is his first major league appearance. How would you feel? Wouldn't you be nervous?

Meanwhile, Ian Stewart's sunflower seed garden grew.

I always wondered how that felt, when you walk off the field at Wrigley, filled with disappointment in yourself, everyone mad. Actually, though, no one was that upset. At this point we were down 7-2, but it didn't really matter. We had been down the whole time. I had seen some great stuff, and I had seen some rookie mistakes. I have no doubt that Blake Parker will grow into an outstanding pitcher.

By the way, this guy--a tool. He turned around and said, "Cubs suck!"

I said, "Then why are you wearing a Cubs shirt."

He drunkenly said, "I love the Cubs, man!"

Just like a Cubs fan. Fairweather. Ignorant. I said, "Name five players on the team."

He said, "Darrin Blarney, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, uhhhh---who cares? Cubs suck?"

Yeah. That's right.

 Anyway, they did a double switch, and Reed Johnson came in.

 As did Michael Bowden. The Phillies got one more run, and by the bottom of the 8th, it was 8-2.

 P.S. I like this guy's shirt.

I try not to like Wellington, because I like Steve so much, but he got it started with a home run in the eighth.

I had some hope when DeJesus came up, because he's awesome. But he flew out and that was it, bottom of the eighth, 8-3 Phillies.

Mike Fontenot came in and hit for Halladay.

He got a single. Go Mike! I can say that now because no one scored.

Bottom of the ninth--you never know with the Cubs! Tony walked.

Tony stole second as usual.

Jeff "BoxFace" Baker hit for LaHomer. He walked.

 Ian Stewart was hit by a pitch to load the bases!

That dang Castillo doubled to drive in three runs. Then Darwin came in and singled and drove in Castillo. We were only down 8-7. 2 outs! One on! So dramatic. But that was it. We lost 8-7.

After the game---there he was. Blake Parker. I was so shy to talk to him. I was like, what do I care? He's just a human. Angela had no problem talking to him. 

 Matt Garza came out and Angela got a photo with him too. I was still looking at Blake and wondering if I could get up the nerve to say hi.

Angela shoved me at him and probably did all the talking. You can tell in this picture how lamely nervous I was. After this day, it got much, much easier to talk to Blake. :)

All the photos from the day can be seen at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150882229703786.414765.511233785&type=3