Yay!

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On a day when there's been lots of crappy baseball news--players behaving badly, club presidents dying--it's nice to see a little ray of good baseball news.  Cliff Lee's suspension has been rescinded (his fine has been, too).  He looked good in the simulated game he pitched last week, and it looks like the Ms are aiming to have him back on the Major League mound in very early May.  Can't happen soon enough, in my opinion...and I swear I'm not saying that just because he looks so fetching in his Mariners jersey.  ;)  I happen to be K-poor on one of my fantasy teams, and I need him back on the mound getting me strikeouts!


WANT WANT WANT.

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No, I don't want the Cubs' shirts, despite the fact that Theriot and Hoffpaiur are total BILFs.  I'm gonna want the Phillies and Twins gear, which I'm hearing is coming out soonsoonsoon (but not soon enough, dammit!).

I've been reading up on the new Victoria's Secret/MLB clothing, and I swear I'm the only girl I know (with the possible exception of my friend Lisa, and she might only be excited about it when she can find Orioles gear in her local Vicky's) who's seriously stoked about this.  A lot of people I know or whose blogs I read aren't down with this clothing, for various reasons--they're not into the overly girly/sparkly/hearts thing, they're not sure the clothes will fit them nicely, they're not sure the clothes appropriately reflect the spirit of baseball, etc.  And those are all totally valid reasons to not be down with these clothes.

But for a girl like me?  A girl who lives for glitter?  Who goes to the ballpark in 5" red stilettos?  A girl who is sick of having to buy youth Medium shirts (not women's, which are often too big, but YOUTH) so that they are form-fitting and don't hang off her?  A girl who would totally not be embarrassed to wear a shirt that says "love love love Phillies" because, well, she DOES love, love, love her Phillies?  For a girl like me, this is gonna freakin' rock.  Finally!  GIRLY CLOTHING!  Stuff that will make me look cute(r)!  Stuff that might actually make my boobs look good instead of flattening them out (yeah, the youth M shirts fit me, but they're really not built for people with boobs--they're built for, like, 13-year-old boys).

I'm not gonna be embarrassed to wear this stuff.  Sure, some of it has a little bit of an airheady vibe, but you know what?  Just as much as I know who's hot on which teams, I know the stats of the players who matter.  I know I'm gonna kick ass and take names in fantasy baseball this year (um, hopefully...hehe!).  And I know that whether or not I'm wearing a shirt that says "I only kiss Phillies fans" (a great rule to live by, actually) that admittedly looks slightly airheady, I can talk baseball with the best of 'em.  And soon I'm gonna look even cuter while doing so.

In other BILF-related news:

* My parents are in Clearwater right now watching Hamels pitch.  Totally jealous?  You bet your ass I am!

* Looks like the hottest Texas Rangers need a nurse.  Hamilton and Kinsler are injured...poor babies!  I'd gladly take care of them...

* My favorite non-Phillies, non-Twins BILF, Cliff Lee, seems to have gotten a little aggressive against the Diamondbacks yesterdayBehave, gorgeous!



This had SO better not happen.

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I'd love for the Phillies to get Roy Halladay, but not at the expense of Cliff Lee.  Uh-uh.  No fucking way.  Especially since I get a diva vibe from Halladay (he seems a little difficult when it comes to being traded), and Lee seems pretty down-to-earth--a good fit for the Phillies' clubhouse. 

I realize that it's just one scenario that one writer has proposed, and I don't think it's all that likely to happen, but it's seriously giving me nightmares already.  I think I'd be heartbroken if Lee were no longer a Phillie (especially if he were to leave the team prior to ALS Night 2010, where I will hopefully be able to meet him this coming season).


Pre-game excitement: World Series Game 1

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Not only do the Phillies start Game 1 of the World Series with their best pitcher, they also start it with their hottest pitcher.  *swoon*  Tonight's matchup (provided the rain doesn't prevent this game from actually happening): Lee vs Sabathia.  Hmmm, I remember seeing Sabathia during last year's playoffs...Sabathia was a Brewer pitching against the Phils in the NLDS.  He lasted a little over 2 innings pitching (granted, he was exhausted, but still), gave up a grand slam to the Flyin' Hawaiian, and allowed pitcher Brett Myers to terrorize him at bat.  (Hey, is Myers on the roster for this series?  Could he DH tonight--y'know, to bring back some fond memoris of last season?)

I think this is gonna be a crazy, epic series this year.  These are the two best teams in baseball.  This series could go either way.  Want predictions from the experts?  Asked and answered...  And it's not just experts who are weighing in, of course.  Jimmy Rollins also has an opinion--he seems pretty confident in the Phillies!  Also, if I believed in omens, I would totally love this one...

Here's the obligatory article containing various references to and comparisons between Philly and New York culture. This one, unlike ones I've seen in certain newspapers lately, is actually objective.

I've already painted my fingernails red (with glitter), am wearing red underwear, and will be wearing my new red feather boa tonight while I watch the game.  Phillies pride, baby!  I hope Game 1 is an unbeleevable game...


*droooooool*

This is a seriously awesome photo gallery.  I think if I'd been at Penn Station when the Phillies showed up, I would have died of happiness. 

Cole Hamels (picture 5) looks like a freakin' GQ model.  I swear I got weak in the knees when I saw that picture, and I was sitting down.  The picture of the Madsons (picture 9) is so cute.  Cliff Lee (picture 10) is total studliness when he's dressed up.  But I've gotta say, as much as I love Jayson Werth's home runs lately, he looks like a total tool in picture 2.

Also, it's nice to see that Newsday isn't trash-talking the Phillies like the Post is.  Now that's good journalism there.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PHUCKING CHAMPIONS!

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OK, so after being up 3-1 in the NLCS, I can't say I didn't expect the Phillies to win, but I kinda did.  Still, though, I'm in a bit of a state of shock about how my boys are headed to the Fall Classic for the second consecutive year.  Look, I've been a Phillies fan for 28 years now; this shit's unheard of.  I remember how often this team disappointed me when I was younger.  They're more than making up for it in recent years, and I'm still adjusting to it.

These Phillies have stepped up their game in the postseason.  They've wanted to win.  The offense has shown up (holy 10-4 win tonight!).  The bullpen's gotten less shaky.  Several of our starters have absolutely dominated.  They're playing as a team.  Manuel's taking risks with the pitching staff, and it's paying off.  They had a scary little slump toward the end of the season, but right now this team's en fuego, and I couldn't be more thrilled--or be more proud of them.

I'm glad to see some of the most important folks from the 2008 World Phucking Champions going back to the Series this year--Howard, Werth, Victorino, Lidge, Hamels, etc.  But I'm really happy for some of the Phillies who weren't on that team.  Like Raul Ibanez, who has been with this team for the entire 2009 season, playing his ass off, not having a World Series ring like the rest of the guys on the team have.  Now he has his chance to earn one.  Like Cliff Lee, who wouldn't have been anywhere near the postseason while he played with the Indians, but he's become the Phillies' ace pitcher.  Like Pedro Martinez, who was the Mets' trash and our treasure--he wanted a major league club to play with this year, and now he just happens to have one that's on its way to the World Series.  I'm happy for those new Philly team members who have been kickin' ass and takin' names ever since Philly acquired them.  They've earned this chance.

During tonight's game, the commentators kept mentioning how the Phillies have an American League offense.  I certainly hope so, because the Yankees and the Angels are both very talented teams, and whichever team the Phillies will have to face will certainly be a challenge.  We'll need every ounce of strength from our so-called American League offense...and every bit of strength from our pitchers, too.

Things you might dig:
MLB.com's take on tonight's game
Crazy Philadelphians being...well, kinda crazy, and very excited!


A few thoughts on the last two NLCS games...

So Friday night, I was incredibly angry, as I'm sure most other Philly fans were.  I called my mother right after the game--I didn't even bother saying hello, and just started in with "Fuck our bullpen!  Fuck Chase Utley!"  (And no, I did not mean in the good/fun way, either.)  But what I was really thinking--and forgot to say--was "Fuck our entire offense, too."  (Also not in the good way.)

Yeah, the bullpen was screwy in the eighth inning of Friday's NLCS game against the Dodgers.  And yeah, Utley should have not made that screwy throw (anyone else wondering if this is a sign that Chuttles is hurt?).  But neither one of those things would have mattered so much if we'd had more than a 1-run lead against LA.  Hello, offense?  Were you guys napping?  (Not you, Ryan Howard.  You're awesome.)

I was in quite a crappy mood on Friday evening.  But luckily the Phillies' offense redeemed themselves in Game 3 of the NLCS with an 11-0 blowout, along with the fabulous (phabulous!) Cliff Lee.  10 strikeouts, no walks, 3 hits...and he got a hit himself?  And managed to look really good while doing all of this?  I'm in love.  Or lust.  Or something.  (I noticed he looked cold; I wish MLB would offer a job where you could apply to be the official hand-blower for pretty pitchers during the playoffs.  Cliff Lee had to keep blowing on his hands because it was so damn cold; why waste the pitcher's energy doing that when there are girls like me willing to help him out with that?  Haha.)

Tonight it's Game 4 of the NLCS.  My parents are there (soooooo jealous, Mom and Dad!).  Hopefully the offense will show up again, too.  No need for an 11-0 trouncing tonight (although hey, if they've got it in 'em, then why the hell not?)--just a win will suffice.  :)

Also: Saw Chad Billingsley (whom I call Chad BILFingsley) pitch last night...he pitched better than most of the other Dodger pitchers (for a while, anyway), but what is up with that playoff goatee he's got goin' on there?  Ugh!

And finally, if you've not already done so, the BILFalicious Joe Mauer (swoon!) is up for the Clutch Performer of the Year Award.  Click here to vote for him!

Phillies playoffs, etc.

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So I was lucky enough to get to go to the Phillies/Rockies NLDS Game 1 last week (thanks, Mom, for giving me your ticket!).  I took a bajillion pictures...you can check 'em out by clicking here.

Game 1 was a seriously awesome game.  I'd never seen Cliff Lee pitch in person before, and this was a hell of a first time to see him pitch!  He pitched quite well--a gem of a complete game, in which he got one hit (maybe more--I'm not sure!) and stole a base.  And even though his face was covered in scruff *sigh*, he still looked smokin' hot.

My seats were right behind Jayson Werth, who was most certainly nice to look at.  I brought my red cowbell out for its maiden ballpark voyage, haha.  And I rang it like freakin' crazy.  Hey, I only get to go to one playoff game this year, so I've gotta live it up, right?  I also brought a red-and-white pom-pom from college (no, i wasn't a cheerleader--they had handed out the pom-poms at one of the college football games, and my school's colors were red and white, so I've turned it into a Phillies pom-pom now!), rally towels to wave around, and my very healthy vocal abilities...I may be just a little thing, but I can make a LOT of nosie when I'm yelling and shireking at or about BILFalicious ballplayers!  (Thanks, Dad, for not kicking my ass for being completely loud and retarded, haha.)

The Phillies won 5-1 in their first NLDS game.  After losing their next game to the Rockies and then winning last night's late and exhausting game, the series is now 2-1 Phillies.  I'm hoping they can win a third game tonight so that they have a little time to rest before meeting the Dodgers in the NLCS...

Let's go, Phillies!  (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap)



Dear Phillies:

Perplexed_cliff

Your number one fan (that'd be me) is going to move to Minnesota if you don't get your asses in gear.

And I mean "asses in gear" only in the sense of how you're performing; many of you have very nice asses that are otherwise in gear, and by that I mean I enjoy watching them...

BUT ONLY WHEN THEY'RE ATTACHED TO PLAYERS WHO WIN GAMES.

In case you haven't noticed, you're not winning many games lately.  To a large degree, I blame the pitching.  Pedro did a great job in his last start, and Hamels seems to have gotten his act together, but Mr. BILFalicious Lee has apparently decided that maybe the team needs a new Adam Eaton and that he should do the honors.  (OK, it's not that drastic...yet.  But it could be.  If he wasn't so hot, I might actually be hating him after Friday night's disaster.)  Don't even get me started talking about Brad Lidge.  Also don't get me started talking about a few of the injuries that this team has been afflicted with lately (any Mets fans who are reading this are probably laughing hysterically at that last line.  SHUT UP, METS FANS).  I wish Happ could have pitched today's game--but really, the problem wasn't with the starting pitching.  Moyer did a decent job, and then Park went and screwed it all up.

And as for the Phillies who don't pitch, do we need Ryan Howard to re-teach you all how to hit home runs?  (Except for you, Rauuuuul; we can't complain about your efforts on the field today.)

I'm hoping Happ gets better soon, that Utley's foot gets better, that the bats wake up again, and that our pitching quits sucking (Brett Myers for closer, pretty pretty please?).  I know that's a tall order, but that's what needs to happen.  It's September now; you guys are usually good in September.  Let's not be choke artists like our division rivals have been the past couple years, OK?  That would be really, really embarrassing.

Regardless, if you guys don't quit sucking, I swear I'm gonna move to Minnesota and root for the most attractive team in the American League.  Yeah, the Twins might be 7 games out of first place in the AL Central, but they're just as hot as you guys (especially Mauer and Morneau!), and they've actually won a few games lately.  And if you guys continue to play the way you've played all weekend long, the Twins may end up having a better record than you guys do, and that's kind of a scary thought...

But it's a potentially accurate one.

So shape up, fly right (not fly out), and pleeeeeeease...

Quit sucking. 

And don't let the "Lights Out" one anywhere near the mound.  At least not 'til November.


Lots of love,
That BILF Girl