BY SCOTT LAUBERSorry for the dearth of posts over the past couple days, but Blogger.com has been having some, well, issues. Hopefully, the bugs have been worked out, and we can get back to normal.
Couple of things this morning:
-In six innings last night against the Padres, Cole Hamels allowed five runs, including three homers. But, believe it or not, that constituted an improvement from his 2009 debut last Friday in Denver. Hamels threw back-to-back bullpen sessions this week (he usually throws only one) and said he was happier with his arm slot. Charlie Manuel was encouraged by Hamels' velocity, which consistently reached 90 mph (he averaged 86 mph against the Rockies). Clearly, though, he still isn't quite himself. "It's just another working point towards my next start," he said. "Obviously, I don't want to have too many of these because it's not going to benefit the team at all. I really do need to just kick it in gear and be the pitcher they expect me to be because I know I'm capable of doing it."
-Before the game, I chatted with Greg Dobbs, who admits he's frustrated at not getting a chance to hit against left-handed pitching. Twice in the past four games, Charlie Manuel has burned Dobbs for righty-swinging pinch-hitter Eric Bruntlett when the opposing manager has brought in a lefty reliever. But Dobbs also understands that the odds aren't in the Phillies' favor when he faces a lefty. He's a .250 hitter in only 52 career at-bats against lefties. Against righties, meanwhile, Dobbs is a .278 career hitter in 726 at-bats. "I tried to use spring training as a proving ground, and they let me face lefties a lot and I did well off lefties in spring," Dobbs said. "In tight situations, managers are going to play the matchups because the odds go in your favor. But in light of how I handled lefties in spring training, I'd like to think I've gained some of [Manuel's] confidence, too."
-In today's News Journal, colleague Geoff Mosher brought you all the details from a stirring tribute to Harry Kalas last night. Mike Schmidt offered this quote: "Harry Kalas may have -- if you can look past Ben Franklin and William Penn -- been the greatest person ever to grace Philadelphia in the history of this city. As many lives as he affected over the time that he lived in Philadelphia and around this area, who would have had a bigger impact on the city? Who would?"
--Sitting in the press box here at the Bank, overlooking a very orderly memorial service for Harry The K. Fans are filing on to the field from the third-base stands, pausing for a few seconds at Kalas' casket behind home plate and taking a seat in the first-base field boxes. Hard to tell how many people have come through because the gates opened at 8 a.m., but one fellow reporter told me at about 11 a.m. that the turnstile count had topped 4,000. At about 1 p.m., Kalas' friends and family will pay their respects before a reception begins at about 1:30 p.m. The News Journal has team coverage here today, so please keep it locked to the Web site's main page for updates. Also, a quick reminder that you can find me -- and Philled In -- on Twitter.
More in a bit.
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