The Phils are opening a series with the Nationals in DC, so you know what that means, road trips and tailgate parties!  If anyone is coming down, let us know and you can join in the festivities.  Commenters have already hatched some plans last week, and below are the details for the official Phillies Nation tailgate party for Wednesday's game.  For those that will be stuck in Philly this week, don't worry, we have something in store for you too.

Wednesday Night - Tailgate Party at Phils-Nats game in DC

The Phillies meet up with the Nationals in the second game of the three game series on August 15 at 7:05 pm.  Rookie sensation Kyle Kendrick (5-2, 3.75) takes on Tim Redding (1-3, 2.86) and the rest of the Washington ballclub that is looking to move out of the NL East cellar.  We will be tailgate starting at 5:30 pm outside the stadium - looking at this map of the RFK parking lots, we are planning the party for Lot 3.  If you can't find the swath of people having fun in Howard-Utley '08 shirts, call me for directions at 215-510-0704.  Booze and food will be provided as well a Phillies Nation gear for a lucky few.

Thursday Night - Phillies Nation on Radio 1360 AM

For the Philly and Jersey folks, Thursday night at 9:30 pm, mute the game and tune into 1360 AM for an interview with yours truly.  I'll be talking with Mike from WNJC whose show runs Thursday nights from 9-10 pm.  Fans are encouraged to call into the program with questions and comments at (856) 227-1360.  For people outside the listening area, you can catch the interview at 1360 AM online.

Monday off days are great opportunities for taking stock of the season, looking ahead on the schedule and managing expectations.   That said, the Phils have 51 games remaining in the 2007 baseball season - 51 games to get back to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.  So what are the chances the Phillies will make this playoffs this year?  Some say 25%; but as Phillies fans, we all know we can't rely on the percentages.

There are 29 games remaining at home and 22 on the road.  Fortunately, this season the Phillies have finally begun to improve their record in Philadelphia (29-23 thus far).  To make it to 90 wins, they'd have to go 32-19.  In other words, the Phillies would have to win at least two games in each of their remaining 16 series.  A much more likely feat would be to reach Charlie Manuel's magic number of 85 wins and go 27-24 the rest of the season.  However, much of deciding how many games the Phillies can win revloves around the matchups they face.  We know how the Phils stack up any given day so let's look at their opponents.

Nine games remain against the NL West teams, save the one with Barry Bonds.  Then there is a three game series with the defending World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.  There are also 3 games against the Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh which will involve a tailgate party with our friends from Philly Tailgate.  As always, the bulk of the schedule remains against the NL East with 35 games yet to play in the division.  Also as usual, the Phillies will wrap up September with some games against the Nationals.  Besides a DC tailgate party on September 22, we will have a group together for the games next week at RFK.  If any one from Washington, DC or the surrounding area is interested in going to the games August 14-17, let us know.  Although I'm not too worried about the 10 games left against the Nationals, the Phillies 18-19 record against the division does not bode well for reaching 90 wins.

Is it too early to say the Ryan Howard of last season has returned?  He is five games removed from the disabled list and already he is putting up better numbers that the start of the season.  Since returning to the lineup on Friday, Howard has gone 6-18, with 7 RBIs, 3 HRs, and 5 strikeouts.  Although it's definitely a good sign to see Ryno accumulate more hits than strikeouts over a given period, it probably is too soon to say he has fully recovered.  Last night after he landed awkwardly on his injured leg, he was forced to leave the game with what he claims was only a cramp.  The Phillies slugger explained, "My hamstring cramped up when I tried to get up and make the play. That's why I couldn't make an accurate throw. A good play gone bad. My leg is fine."  Let's hope so, Ryan, because if the Phillies are going to make a push for the playoffs, now is the time.

After sweeping the Braves over the weekend and crawling above .500, the Phils looked to have some momentum as the D'backs slithered into town.  Freddy Garcia - bucking earlier trends - pitched a solid eight innings in the opening game of the series but the Phillies were unable to hold on and lost 5-4 on Memorial Day.  Last night's blowout saw two 5-run innings allowed on the heels of 3 errors as the Phils dropped back down to .500 - their favorite number as of late.  June is not going to get any easier for our hometown nine, with the Giants, Mets, Royals (whew!), White Sox, and Tigers all on the schedule in the first half of the month.

Hopefully the Phillies will be able to make a statement against the Giants this weekend and try to reclaim some of that momentum from earlier in the week.  As mentioned before, Phillies Nation will be there on Saturday supporting the Phils - first with an awesome tailgate party, then with some good old-fashioned rowdiness during the game.  Please join us for the big event, which is co-sponsored by PhillyTailgate.com and will feature booze, bbq, beverages, and a band!  There will also be plenty of Phillies giveaways, including some of those hot Howard-Utley shirts.  Tickets to the tailgate can be purchased here if you already have a ticket to the game ($20) or here if you still need both tickets ($42).  It's gonna be a big day inside the park too: Bonds is in town, Howard is back, Hamels is pitching, and Greg Dobbs continues to impress.  See you Saturday.  Go Phils!

What a great game last night.  The Phils were operating on all cylinders and the most notable sign was a game-winning pinch-hit grand slam by Ryan Howard.  Also on offer was another solid outing by Jamie Moyer, a two-inning close job by Brett Myers, and nine unanswered runs after being shut down most of the game by Randy Johnson.  The win saved the Phillies from their first sweep at the hands of the Diamondbacks in almost a decade.  But it did more than just than.  The Ryan Howard grand slam especially provided a healthy blip on the otherwise flat-lined Phillies pulse.  "It doesn't just lift his spirits. It lifts the club's spirits, too," observed starter Jamie Moyer.  Pat Burrell reiterated saying, "You can't count on the pinch-hit grand slam.  We needed something like that to happen for us." 

The trouble is I feel too often that the Phillies - when just teetering on the brink of disaster suddenly - find a way to pull things together.  Maybe they will take the series this weekend against the Cubs, but then they face the Brewers - the best team in baseball currently.  That's going to be a real test for the club.  Only if last night's grand slam was an indication that the healthy Ryan Howard of last season has returned do the Phillies have a chance to turn the season around.  Otherwise it will be just another roller-coaster ride with the Phillies doing just enough to get by.  Along those lines, I could definitely see a return of everyone's favorite Canadian reliever, Rheal Cormier who was released by Reds yesterday.

For those of us who nonetheless can't stand turning away from the car wreck that is the Phillies, we here at Phillies Nation have two awesome events.  They both involve the Phillies-Giants game on Saturday, June 2nd, which starts at 7:05.  First off, we are planning another world famous tailgate party.   There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, beer, cheesesteaks, soda, water, other random food, beer, musical entertainment and dozens of friendly Phillies fans.  We also have group tickets reserved for people who need seats.  The party with 400 level tickets to the game will run you $42, or just $20 if you have your own tickets.  It also might be worth mentioning that it is my birthday weekend, so I am considering it a party in my honor (although no one else is obliged to).

If you don't already have tickets and prefer fancier accommodations, then you should be aware of a raffle being run by Holy Family University.  They are offering luxury box tickets to the June 2nd game for you and 11 of your friends.  The prize includes admission to the game, the swanky seats, free food, free drinks, and free parking.  There will be only 20 entries accepted for this raffle and an entry will set you back $500, but participants will have a 20-to-1 chance of winning the grand prize.  There is also a second prize of a Chase Utley signed bat and ball, 2 Hall of Fame Club Seats and a $10 food voucher.  Even better, the remaining 18 participants will receive 2 Hall of Fame Club Seats and a $10 food voucher to a game.  Everybody wins, whoo-hooo!  Call Luci Sweeny at 267-341-3353 if you are interested and remember entries are available to the first 20 people only.

In case you haven't done the math, we are less than one week until pitchers and catchers report.  Spring Training is upon us and things are looking bright in Clearwater.  Away from the frigid weather gripping the east coast,  temperatures are in the low-70s and sun is expected all week down on the Gulf.  The Phillies' first Grapefruit League game will be against Detroit, the reigning AL champs, on March 1st at 1:05pm.

Phillies Nation will be represented at Spring Training down at Bright House Networks Field on March 15th and 17th by myself and Jim.  The 15th features a Thursday night game against the Blue Jays.  On Saturday the 17th, the Phils will battle the Yankees in an afternoon match up that will hopefully feature green uniforms and hats.  Tentative plans are to have a small (or large) tailgate party before both games.  For the Yankees game we will be sitting on the lawn in centerfield, so that party will continue around our general vicinity for the entire game. 

Judging by the poll, it seems a number of our readers will be migrating south for March.  So if you're planning on going to either of the aforementioned games, let us know, we'll buy more beer.  If you're just considering going, now you've got another good reason.  Get all the Phillies Spring Training info here and start packing! 

After last night's loss the Phils fall 2 games behind the Dodgers after they won their game againsn't Colorado by a touchdown and a 2-point converstion. With only 3 games to play the Phillies need to sweep the Marlins in Miami and pray for a miraculous Padres or Dodgers collapse. Yes, you may be sad about the Phillies coming up small in a series they needed to take. But, I have the solution for you!

Drown your sorrows with us at McFadden's At The Ballpark tonight from 7 to 10 PM.

Tonight, September 29th at McFadden's at The Ballpark we are asking all fans, young and old, to come out and help cheer on your team while they are battling it out in Miami against the Marlins.

There are two things you can count on at this event:

1. There will be more patrons in McFadden's during the game than in actual attendance live at Dolphin Stadium.
   
2. 2 Dollars, yes $2.00, You Call Its  from 7PM to 10PM with ½ price appetizer to boot.

So what, it's actually three things. It's even more of a reason to get yourself in a barstool or chair in South Philly Friday night on the 29th.

If you have any questions, inquiries, comments or concerns about this event you can either contact:

Phillies Nation via our Contact Us Page or at MySpace

After brutal heat waves and dozens of days without rain it's September again in Philadelphia. The temperature is a little cooler and the smell of autumn is filled within a stiff cool breeze.  Once again our Fightin' Phils are in the thick of the Wild Card chase.  The Phils have only 13 home games in September and they need all the help they can get from their passionate and wild fan base.

On Tuesday September 5th, Philliesnation.com heeds the call to propel the Phils into the playoffs by declaring that we will be hosting a tailgate party for all Phillies fans prior to game time. The festivities begin at promptly 3 PM at the Lincoln Financial Field Parking Lot on the concrete median which separates section K and L. The party ends 30 minutes prior to game time.

For any more information don't hesitate to contact us through our Contact Page or through our MySpace Profile.

Last weekend I attended one of the rarest of treats here in London - a live baseball game.  Now for those who didn't think baseball existed over here, have I got news for you.  Not only does Great Britain have a national team that competes in European tournaments, there are even amateur baseball league with full schedules.  Most of my baseball experience here stems from Channel Five, which broadcasts most ESPN games that are nationally televised in American (i.e. Sunday night and Wednesday night games).  Of course here the programming begins at 1 am, but it's only a minor inconvenience in exchange for live baseball on TV and the enlightenment of Joe Morgan.  In fact, I'm watching the Scott Mathieson get knocked around on the tele right now.  What's odd about baseball on a federally subsidized television channel is the fact that there are no commercials.  So when American stations would normally cut to a word from their sponsors, the UK broadcast kicks it to two dudes in a studio who provide analysis of the last half-inning.  The two dudes, Jonathon Gould and Josh Chetwynd, are actually minor celebrities in the close-knit baseball world over here.  The team also responds to viewer emails, of which I've had a few read live on air - mostly coming in defense of Philadelphia fans and their distorted reputation (go figure).  Anyway, the point of telling you about baseball on TV is because the broadcast clued me into a big international friendly that was to be played here in London which saw Great Britain lock horns with it's cross-channel rival, Ireland.

Judging by the below-average performance of the European teams (Holland, Italy) in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, one wouldn't expect much from two teams that didn't even make it that far.  But that doesn't matter, baseball is baseball and I'll take what I can get.  The Irish team has an interesting Cinderella subplot going for it:  although it's only been competing internationally for 10 years, it has seen tremendous success.  I was first informed of their story through our MySpace page, when we became friends with "Irish Baseball Movie."  The movie, entitled The Emerald Diamond, tells the story of how the rag-tag Irish National Team team was formed with hardly any experience or equipment but with more than enough excitement for the game.  The movie was released to wide acclaim and for those in Philly there is a screening scheduled in the city on November 21.  On to the game.

The game was played as a friendly, but more so as a warm-up match for Ireland who was slated to play this past week in the Pool B Qualifier for the European Championships in Antwerp.  Great Britain had already qualified for the 2007 European Championships which was to be held in Spain.  Not surprisingly given Ireland's progression of success in international competition, the team from the Emerald Isle won the silver medal in Belgium.  But prior to that, they had a triple-header against Her Majesty's team on her home turf.

The game was played at the Finsbury Park Cricket Ground in Finsbury Park, north London.  The cricket grounds have two baseball diamonds carved out, one for the amateur leagues I mentioned earlier and the other is home to the Little League London Mets.  I arrived that Saturday afternoon just as the second game was ending.  Ireland took the first one and Great Britain came back to tie up the series; both games finished 6 to 5.  I found my seat on the grass just next to the Ireland bench as the players were returning from their between-games hot dogs and hamburgers.  The third and final game, besides being the day's rubber match, also held special significance for the aforementioned Josh Chetwynd.  Josh, who is American, also happens to play for the British National team and this was his final game.  He is a solid ballplayer, I'd have to say, and graciously ended his career with a hit in his final at bat.

The rest of the game was a bit uneventful.  Ireland took an early lead, but as their pitching wore down in the seventh and final inning, Great Britain made a daring comeback.  Ultimately, though the home team fell short and Ireland won the game (6-5 again) and the series.  Although the quality of play was well below MLB standards and aluminum bats were used, it was a well-contested match with very few fundamental errors.  Like with minor league games in the States, one of the best reasons to go to a game such as this is the inexpensiveness of the outing:  a hot dog cost a pound (approx. $1.80), a hamburger 2 pounds, a 440 ml can of Fosters 1 pound and a pint of refreshing Pimm's just 2 pounds. The fans in attendance were mostly ex-pats like myself and were treated to a little slice of Americana.  Among the Yanks (as we're referred to here), the New York team of the same name was the most well-represented among those wearing baseball merchandise followed by the Red Sox, Nationals, and Dodgers.  I was the only one sporting Phillies gear.  No matter, though, the weather was beautiful, a cold beer was in-hand and a live baseball game was unfolding in front of me - no matter what country you live in, what more can you ask for?  I mean, just look at these pictures.

Revenge is a dish best served cold - I think four months should do it.  The Phillies returned the favor of being swept at home to start the season to the Cardinals last night with another impressive win over the NL Central leaders.  Cole Hamels pitched brilliantly, striking out 6 of the first 9 batters, and finishing with 12 total.  In each game of the series, the Phillies starting pitching did not allow a first inning run and each earned themselves a win - a recipe for success I'd say.  Well, it also helps that Chase Utley brought his hit streak to 35 games, and I believe now 23 of those games have been multi-hit ones.  That's impressive.  Utley isn't just squeaking by with a hit a game - he is literally hitting everything, everywhere.  Could it be that Pat Gillick's comments about not contending until 2008 has served as some motivation the supposedly lame duck team?  I doubt Gillick intended his words to have an audience with the 2006 squad - although I wouldn't put it past him - but he was right in saying that young pitching is inconsistent and may need time to develop to full potential.  Either way, things are working well now and the Phils are down just 2.5 games and 4 teams in the Wild Card.  With New York next on the itinerary, you can be sure there's nothing more those fans would like to see this weekend than Utley's hit streak snapped and the Phillies brought down to life.

In an effort to bring some fun and creativity to the morose confines of Shea, Phillies Nation will be holding court Saturday in Flushing.  If you have the day free and want to see one of the hottest teams in NL take on one of the best, join us for another awesome road trip.  This one will be co-sponsored by Flash's Followers so don't forget to dress up as your favorite superhero (or at least pack it and change at Shea).  This will show Billy Wagner that, despite his constant recollections of Philly, we have since moved on to better things.  Tom Glavine, who has allowed six home runs to the Phillies in just two games this season, is scheduled to pitch for the Mets.  Jon Lieber takes the mound for the Phils.

The plan is to take the R7 SEPTA service north to New York Penn Station.  Since there are several stops you can pick up the R7 in Philly, we'll leave you to decide where to start the day.  At Trenton, transfer to the NJ Transit train on the same track as your SEPTA one and head up to Penn Station.  The plan is to meet at New York Penn Station around 10:30 to give us enough time to get to Shea and purchase tickets.  If you can't find the crowd of Phillies fans at the station, give Rob (215-313-8196) or Nick (215-208-3459) a call and they'll sort you out.  From there it's an easy ride on the Long Island Rail Road or subway once you get to the 7 line.  Upon arriving you will be free to enjoy all the sights (concrete) and sounds (LaGuardia) Shea Stadium has to offer.  This is an important series for the Phils, and like I said before, one of the few remaining against teams over .500, so come out and show your support.  Go Phils!

This weekend changed the Phillies in a way that has not been seen in quite some time.  Seeing this many minor leaguers on the roster prior to September speaks to how dramatic the Phillies have reformed.  Pat Gillick clearly stated he does not think the team can contend for a couple years, so where does that leave the Phils for the remainder of the 2006 and the whole 2007 season?  There are a lot of holes the club needs to fill during that period and there are many ways to go about it.  The next 18 months have the potential to radically alter the Phillies as an organization.

With these questions in mind, we would like to propose a writing contest to our readers.  We want to hear your predictions for what the Phillies will look like just prior to the 2008 season.  There are so many possibilities and I fear racking my brain to think of them all might cause damage.  Perhaps the answer lie in the pages of  MiLB or Baseball America or maybe these new minor leaguers will be flipped for proven starting pitching this time next year.  Anything's possible and we would like to hear it.  Please email us your ideas through our Contact Us page and our editorial board will narrow down finalists and post them on Phillies Nation.  The post receiving the most comments will win two free Phillies tickets for a game this year - a pretty sweet deal for writing a few paragraphs.  So get those thinking caps on and send us your thoughts.

I hate to say it, but the summer is more than halfway over; so before school is back in session and the Phillies season ends, join us for another fun road trip.  This time Phillies Nation will partner with Flash's Followers to decent upon the hostile and dank confines of Shea Stadium to cheer on our Fightin' Phils on Saturday, August 5th.

The plan is to take the R7 SEPTA service north to New York Penn Station and transfer to the Long Island Railroad calling at Shea Stadium. For those who haven't made the trip before, it's surprisingly easy and less than $30 round trip. Tickets will either be purchased prior to the game or at the gate - depending on the interest shown - and range from $18 to $25.

Since Flash's Followers are taking the lead on this one, and assuming Tom is still on the team, feel free to support the Phillies All-Star closer by dressing up as your favorite superhero.

So if you are interested in the road trip to NYC, please drop us an email through our Contact Us page.

In conjunction with Sal's Pals, the premier fan group of Sal Fasano, Phillies Nation is proud to present:

 A Night With Sal's Pals
July 6th, 2006
Citizens Bank Park

Festivities begin with a pregame party in the parking lot with food, drinks and activities with Sal's Pals.  Once thoroughly lucid, we will move to section 307 and set up the official Sal's Pals camp. 

Also on the night, we will be hosting a contest for "Best Sal's Pals Costume" - obviously the more hair, the better.  The winner will receive a nifty Phillies hat, a Phil and Phyillis bobblehead from the Final Innings of 2003 and an Official Phillies stickball bat and ball.  If you'd like more information contact Phillies Nation through our Contact Us form, our myspace page or email:  robcowie@philliesnation.com

NOTE: This game was chosen by Comcast SportsNet as an "Are You Fan Enough" game.  So if you think you're fan enough, come out and prove it!