It's good that I'm in Baltimore this summer, 'cause things in South Philly aren't very pretty right now. Even in the poor NL Least the Phillies have fallen to 9 1/2 games behind the Braves. And I just read this in today's Phila. Daily News about an incident from Tuesday night's game:

[quote]BOO. WEAR a bag if you want. Express yourself verbally in practically any manner, profane or otherwise.

Just don't hang a sheet from behind your seat. Not if you are going to jeer the home team.

That was the message again delivered by the Phillies this week, when a banner requesting the imminent departure of first baseman Travis Lee was removed shortly after the start of Tuesday night's game against Florida at Veterans Stadium.

Was it profane? No. Was it demeaning? Hardly.

It read, simply, "TRAVIS LEEVE."

To which I respond...Oh, puh-leese.

In a cavernous, fan-depleted stadium in which "Hey, hot dog" is so clearly heard that a friend of mine recently tried to order one from a vendor selling two levels below his seat, the most incredible thing about this story is that two fans cared enough about this team - or Lee - to ruin a perfectly fine bedsheet.

Michael Stiles, the vice president of operations and administration, said the Phillies remove such displays of disaffection on behalf of "good sportsmanship." Fine. Then remove every fan overheard using obscene language during games. For that matter, remove Larry Bowa the next time he throws a hissy fit. And don't promote it in your advertising.

Or take your medicine like the upwardly mobile, confident organization you claim you are.

Have Lee remove the sign with an improvement in his batting.

Or follow the sign's instructions.

Here's what I find unsportsmanlike: The Phillies holding onto Scott Rolen.

At this point, it is painfully clear that:

1. He will not re-sign with the Phillies.
2. He is not liked by the six Phillies fans in the stands each night.
3. He is reducing his trade value with each game he plays for the Phillies.
4. He is one pressing, unhappy Phillie.

But if all this doesn't move the Phillies to make him an ex-Phillie today, tomorrow, soon, just the thought of a players strike in August should. And despite some recent happy-faced rhetoric from owners' and players' representatives, they appear no closer to solving their canyonesque differences than when the season began.

Come to think of it, neither are Rolen and the Phils.

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Um, the new stadium opens when? Next year? Or *GASP* 2004? My family was exiled to New Jersey in the early 70's when my dad got transferred from his Air Force job in Hawaii--we all still weep at the thought--but the only good thing to come out of it was going to see Steve Carlton pitch at the Vet (and seeing Bernie Parent play at the Spectrum). What a horrible stadium it was even then! Those multi-purpose stadiums always gyped the baseball fans because the box sets curve away from the foul lines, amongst other things.

Prediction: Bowa will be gone before the players go on strike. Rolen sure has a bizarre way of showing he's in a contract year.

Poor Joe in Philly--the Phils blow, the O's aren't any good--man, you should come to Anaheim and see some quality baseball!

The new baseball stadium opens in 2004. The Eagles' new stadium opens next year. So one more football season and then one more baseball season at the Vet, then they'll knock it down for extra parking spaces.

Bowa isn't going anywhere. They'll hopefully dump Travis Lee on any sucker who'll take him. And trade or not, Rolen is gone. That will get rid of two of the more morbid personalities in the clubhouse. They'll bring up some of the minor leaguers and rebuild around guys like Burrell (who's having a breakout year, just like I thought he might) and Rollins, guys who are younger and still more passionate about winning.

[quote]Originally posted by Jim Allen:
Poor Joe in Philly--the Phils blow, the O's aren't any good ...

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At least he had (past tense) good lacrosse.