Vote for the 2009 Phillies Wall of Fame Inductee

From Phillies.com:

Once again in 2009, fans will have a voice in which former player, coach or manager is selected to the Phillies Wall of Fame this year. Voting is underway and ends at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 26.

Fans can select their top three choices from a 15-man ballot of Phillies alumni. A first place vote is worth five points, second place three points and third place one point. The top five fan consensus choices as determined by total points will serve as the official ballot for a special Wall of Fame Selection Committee that will choose this year's inductee.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for August 7, before the 7:05 PM game versus the Marlins. Last year's inductee was Juan Samuel, with John Vukovich getting the nod in 2007, and Dallas Green in 2006.

Nominees for 2009 are Jack Baldschun, Ricky Bottalico, Larry Christensen, Darren Daulton, Lenny Dykstra, Jim Fregosi, Gene Garber, Doug Glanville, Greg Gross, Von Hayes, Jim Konstanty, John Kruk, Fred Luderus, Roy Thomas, and Rick White.

Fans vote for their Top 3. I went Daulton, Kruk, Dykstra, in that order. Gotta love the boys from '93!

Hat tip to Kevin McGuire at Nittanydelphia.

Phillies win postseason game for first time in 15 years

from Sports Propaganda

The Phillies made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years in 2007, coming back from 7 games down with 17 play to grab the N.L. East. They proceeded to get swept in the postseason by the upstart Colorado Rockies. A year later, with their second straight N.L. East division title, they got their first postseason victory in 15 years, a 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Cole Hamels pitched 8 dominant innings, allowing 0 runs and striking out 9. Brad Lidge, the N.L. Comeback Player of the Year, pitched the ninth. He didn't avoid drama for the second straight appearance. Lidge allowed 2 hits, walked a batter, and allowed a run. Runners were on 2nd and 3rd before he struck out Corey Hart to end the game.

Philadelphia and Milwaukee face off again tomorrow evening (6pm) at The Bank. Facing off on the mound will be Brett Myers and Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia. The Phillies will try to take a commanding 2 games-to-none lead in the best-of-5 series.

The Phillies last playoff victory was game 5 of the 1993 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Curt Schilling pitched a complete game shutout, giving up 5 hits on October 21st, 1993. The Phillies won 2-0, forcing a game 6.

Jimmy Was Right: PHILLIES IN 1st ... sort of

Jimmy Rollins - soon to be 2007 NL MVP (hopefully) - said it back in January: the Phillies are the team to beat in the NL East. Well today, after they played their 159th game of the season, the Phillies are in 1st place. Well, a tie for one. Will what Jimmy said over 7 months ago hold true come Sunday evening? The next 3 days will tell us. The Phillies stay in the friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park to host the Washington Nationals who hope to play the spoilers role. The Mets also remain at home to face off versus another NL East foe, the Marlins. To say these last 3 games are critical is an understatement and, frankly, the last 20 games have been. The Phillies were 7 games back of the Mets in the NL East on September 12, and 2 games behind the Padres for the Wild Card.

Here are a few things that could happen this weekend, one that may be the most exciting of all of 2007:

1. The Phillies & Mets win the same amount of games - this leads to a 1 game playoff on Monday in Philadelphia to determine the NL East champion
2. Fist team to 2 wins...or loses - that is, if the Phillies win 2 and the Mets lose 2, the Phils are in (and vice versa)
3. Keep an eye on San Diego and Colorado...the Wild Card is such a mess! There is no way of explaining the possible scenarios here cause there over about 5,239,451,763 different scenarios (see this)

And what happens if the Phillies fall short? Well then Philadelphia is deprived of post season experience for the 14th consecutive year. And I will die a little inside. After all, the Phillies have made the playoffs ONCE in my lifetime. And let us never speak of that experience (the hero, the zero).

"I think we are the team to beat in the NL East -- finally"
Jimmy Rollins
January 22nd, 2007