I know, I've been slacking here...  But c'mon, I've got 3 fantasy baseball teams of BILFs to manage, plus I work, am writing a book, and there are so many baseball games for me to watch.  Baseball's kind of a distraction that causes me to write less than I should.  Ironic, no?  :)

Anyway, today is Justin Morneau's birthday. Or BILFday in his case, 'cause he's a BILF.  :)  In related news, I'm super-excited because I'll be going to the Twins/Yankees game at Yankee Stadium tomorrow.  I haven't been to the new Yankee Stadium before, and I have NEVER seen a Twins game in person before!  I'm SO stoked.  There may actually be more BILFs on the Twins than on the Phillies... (Mauer, Morneau, Blackburn, Nathan, Harris, and--to some degree--Crede for the Twins; Hamels, Utley, Madson, Dobbs, Werth, and--when he isn't in the minor leagues--Marson for the Phils.  OK, so the two teams are tied at 6 BILFs apiece...haha!)

In fantasy baseball news, I'm in first place, fourth place, and eighth place in my leagues.  I'm pretty proud of the first two, haha.  In the league where I've got eighth place, I attribute it to the fact that 2 of my best BILFs on that team (Mauer, A-Rod) spent all of April and part of May on the DL.  Once they've played more games, I bet I won't be in eighth place for long...

Hopefully I'll get some decent pictures at tomorrow's game so I'll have something interesting to post here.  In the meantime, LET'S GO, TWINS!  (And BILFs...and Phillies...)  :)

It was sort of like the scene in Cloverfield where the kids are out in the street, trying to figure out what the hell's going on after they hear a bunch of loud noises.  All of a sudden, the Statue of Liberty's head flies by the kids, landing on the ground amidst a pile of flames.  The kids were shocked--not just because they almost got clobbered by a giant metal head, but because something that's been a seemingly permanent fixture of their lives, their culture--that's been there as long as they've been there and, in their minds, should always be there--has just displayed its mortality for all to see. 

That's what I felt like today when I found out Harry Kalas had died. 

I'm 28 years old.  For 28 years, I've been a die-hard Phillies fan.  For several years out of those 28, I worked in radio.  I was always surrounded by broadcasters, and at one time, I was a broadcaster myself.  I've known and worked beside a lot of good broadcasters--great broadcasters, even.  But I can't think of any other broadcasters whose levels of poise and classiness surpass or even match Kalas's.  Not even close.

Much of my Phillies experience has been narrated by Kalas.  His style and catch-phrases just sounded *right*.  Over these 28 years, I got so used to his style that I found that hearing anyone else talk about the Phillies on the air just seemed so...unnatural.  When I watch Phillies games, I tend to tune out the sportscasters, no matter how good they are, and I have my own running commentary going in my head...and it's always in Kalas's voice.  Because that's the voice--the only voice--that sounds right, sounds natural, to be talking about our Fightins.  (Yeah, I know Kalas had a partner, but his voice isn't the voice I remember.  Kalas had that "it" factor going for him more than Wheeler does.)

I know it's gonna hit me hard next time I'm driving through the Philly area, tuning in to a Phillies game, and that familiar voice isn't coming over my airwaves.  I'll feel like that Statue of Liberty head is hurtling toward my car in a very Something-Just-Isn't-Right-Here sort of way.  I'll feel shocked, I think, because that's when it'll hit me--when there's someone else talking in his place, and I'm there to hear it.  Right now it hasn't really sunk in, because I can still hear Kalas's voice in my head, and I haven't had to hear anyone else's voice saying the things that Kalas used to say.  For 28 years, he was always there, and throughout that time I've known only Kalas's voice as the voice of the Phillies.

Today, despite the fact that people were inevitably talking on the air, broadcasting baseball commentary...there was radio silence from a sports broadcaster who was beloved, talented, and utterly memorable.

In my 28 years, I haven't really felt a significant impact from the death of any type of celebrity-type figure--until today.  Today is the day I'm learning the tough but inevitable lesson that even legends don't live forever.

Out of both habit and nostalgia, I'm pretty sure that every time Ryan Howard or Chase Utley, and members of generations of future Phillies after them, hits a home run, I'll always replay "...this ball is outta here!!!" in my head.  In Kalas's voice, of course--the way it sounds best.  The way it just seems right.

On a related note:
* Shane Victorino keeps it classy...
* ...and so does Deadspin's AJ Daulerio--also a Phillies fan.
* Click here to listen to Harry Kalas calling the last out of the 2008 World Series as the Phillies become the World Series Champs! 

 

This makes me sad: the Phillies released Geoff Jenkins yesterday.

I'll miss seeing Geoff Jenkins at Citizens Bank Park this year.  He approached every game with enthusiasm, whether he was on the field or in the dugout.  Plus, from all accounts (personal stories, interviews, etc), it seems that Jenkins is a class act.  Even this article demonstrates that he took the disappointing news in a classy fashion.

In a time when so many baseball players act in un-classy ways--roids, wife-beating, cheating, and the like--it's nice to hear about a ballplayer being classy.  He seems like a good guy, and he's a decent ballplayer; I hope Jenkins finds a spot with another good team.  Regardless, he will always be a World Effin' Champion...with a fabulous smile!

Apparently I really am in it to win it this year with my fantasy baseball teams--all three of 'em.  The proof:

In draft #3, my first three picks were:
1. Jose Reyes
2. Justin Morneau
3. Johan Santana

I expected to pick Morneau; I really, really, really wanted him for my team.  I have no issues with that pick.  I believe in Morneau's abilities and in his hotness.  ;)  But the other two?  Those were painful choices to make.  I didn't expect to pick them, but I'd have been an idiot if I hadn't picked them.  But it hurt, you know, because they're The Enemy to a Phillies fan like me.  And picking Santana especially hurt since I was choosing between him and my boy Hamels.  But here's how I looked at it: In each league, I have one star pitcher.  Hamels is the star pitcher of League #1.  If he's the star pitcher for 2/3 of my leagues, what happens if he gets hurt?  Can my teams rebound from losing star pitchers?  Will I be able to find anyone to replace him?  And how annoyed will I be if I have to do this for two leagues instead of just one?  Using that logic, I picked Santana.  I certainly believe in his abilities, and even though he is a) a Met, b) not BILFy in appearance, and c) NOT Cole Hamels (sigh), I picked him  anyway.

Then I promptly called my parents and announced that I'd sold my soul.

Here's the roster for my first team of 2009 BILFs.  This was my fist of three drafts, and I don't think I did too badly.  Got a lot of excellent players, only one player that really worries me, and...9 of my players are attractive, haha.  :)  I got King BILF (Cole Hamels) again this year, plus another Phillies hottie (Jayson Werth)...also Grant Balfour (love that accent!), JJ Hardy, AJ Burnett, Johnny Damon (who's kinda hot now that he no longer looks like Sasquatch...don't laugh, he looked SO GROSS when he played for the Red Sox), Joe Nathan, Brian Wilson, and AJ Pierzynski.

Check out the full roster for my first team of BILFs...and wish me luck picking more BILFs during my next two drafts!  :)

 

No, I didn't get to go to Spring Training this year *sigh*.  But my parents did!  They saw the Phillies take on the Braves, Tigers, and Reds.  My mom was kind enough to take some pictures of my favorite BILFs at Spring Training, so I thought I'd share some of those pictures here...

 

Cole, I will totally lick that sweat off your face...

 

I love Bronson Arroyo's hair in this picture.

 

Hamels even has a hot back.

 

My favorite Brave--Jeff Francoeur... 

 

Special thanks to my mom for taking these BILFalicious pictures!  :)

I posted a slightly snarky (OK, very snarky) blog entry over at Red Pen, Inc. today regarding my favorite left fielder...the one and only Pat Burrell.  Click here to check it out!  :)

More BILF-related goodness soon, I promise.  I've been so bogged down lately with a million different creative projects...once baseball season start, little miss BILF Reporter here will be baaa-aaack!  (Especially because I'm in TWO fantasy baseball leagues this year and will need a place to talk about BILFiness, fantasy frustrations, and more...)

Phillies pitchers and catchers report today!  Yes, that's right, today--Valentine's Day.  Because baseball is love.  :)

What do you think 2009 holds for the reigning World Series Champions (it feels so good to say that)?  Which pitcher will get the fifth spot in a rotation that includes Cole Hamels (otherwise known as BILFy McBILF), Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, and Joe Blanton?  Is it gonna be another year of the Phillies and Mets duking it out for first place in the NL East, or will Atlanta, Florida, or Washington suddenly get good and really get into the game?

For all my fellow working stiffs out there--just in case you needed yet another reason to hate your job, now you can compare your salary with that of several baseball players, including BILFs Cliff Lee, A-Rod, and Mark Teixiera. 

I thought I made a pretty decent salary until I found out that I'd need to work 66.67 years in order to make his salary.  He makes my salary in just .46 games, 49.34 pitches thrown, 2.55 strikeouts, or .33 wins.  I think I might go cry now...