Phillies outfielder left to throw 48 pitches in blowout loss because bullpen phone was off the hook

National Post ^ | June 17, 2015 | Sean Fitz-Gerald

[rickmichaels]

So, Ryne Sandberg, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, how was your Tuesday night?

“It was ugly,” he told reporters. “That was ugly.”

How ugly?

The Phillies, the worst team in baseball, lost 19-3 to the Baltimore Orioles. It was their eighth straight road loss, which marks the first time the franchise has gone winless on a trip of at least eight games since 1883. Dennis Deitch, from the Delaware County Daily Times, put it into context:

The last time the Phillies had a road trip that consisted of at least eight games and no wins, they we traveling by train and stagecoach to polo fields, playing barehanded in the field and spending their offseasons contracting black lung. So, yes, it was ugly.

[printhead]

Sitting by the campfire. Dinner done, everything put away for the night. Once the sun goes down a.m. stations can be heard from around the country. The commentators are so much better than the ones on t.v. I even like the local ads, gives you a flavor for the locales.

I was camping with a friend in the 1000 Islands some years ago. We were listening to the Cardinal vs Giants in San Fran. That game went 14 innings. We were up until 4 am drinking beer. Didn’t get much fishing in next morning. LOL

[Dr. Ursus]

They said that they only pitch one inning and anymore could hurt the players arm.

[BenLurkin]

SO why wasn’t this done in the All-Star Game that ended early?

[Redbob]

Here’s a news flash for the team:
CELL PHONES

[dfwgator]

I remember when the Rangers had Jose Canseco pitch, and it effectively wound up ending his career.

[IYAS9YAS]

...and they still stink!

It was...

Soap poisoning.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Unfortunately a number of teams have moved their games to FM.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

AM radio, no better way to enjoy the game or life for that matter, back porch, sunny Saturday, a cold one (or three) and baseball.

Ahh...memories.

It's Summer, 1968. Cincinnati. I'm about 10 years old. It's 9:30 at night. Grandpa and Grandma are in their cushioned rockers at either side of the front porch, rocking back and forth in a barely perceptible motion. It's a muggy night but it has cooled a lot since the 95 degree heat of the day. I'm sitting on the steps in the middle of the front porch. The Katydids are making a hell of a noise and the fireflies in the field across the street are like fireworks.

Grandpa is drinking his Hudepohl beer from a two handled enameled quart size pot. Grandma is sipping hers from a glass. She hates the taste but she says, "It helps me sleep." I've got my Vernor's ginger ale. Ice cold in a clear glass bottle with the yellow and green painted-on label.
The Reds are on the radio sitting next to Grandpa's chair and they're whipping the Cards at Crosley Field downtown.

Life could not be sweeter.

[LonePalm]

We have to listen to the Yankee's games on WFAN AM via the internet played through the Bluetooth connection to our BOSE Wave Radio. It sound's better than being at the stadium.

"Ceterum censeo 0bama esse delendam."

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[day10]

Fast forward 7 years and I had almost the exact scene, but was listening to the Big Red Machine beat another team on their way to the World Series.

[chajin]

The Rays actual used TWO position players as pitchers last night. Jack Elmore for the 8th and Nick Franklin in the 9th.

I missed that! At the bottom of the 8th it looked like Elmore was walking back to the mound, and that's when I turned off the game; watching Elmore pitch was essentially seeing batting practice for the Nats. I'm a diehard Rays fan, but some things are just too painful to watch :-)

[yellowdoghunter]

I have some of the same memories, just change a few things....

Thanks for posting yours, brought back mine!

[Buckeye McFrog]

My other AM radio sports memory as a kid was Fort Wayne Komet Hockey on WOWO. They were a AA minor league team on one of the country’s most powerful radio stations. Could get their games all over the East Coast until Air America bought WOWO and neutered its signal. Bob Chase is 89 and still calls their games.

[pa_dweller]

Here’s a news flash for the team:

CELL PHONES

Or maybe a couple of new outfielder signs added to the vocabulary.

[raybbr]

Oh, good grief! Listening to Susan Waldman on a Bose radio? I’d shoot myself.

[Larry Lucido]

1968 was a good year in Detroit too. And our pitchers could hit home runs! :-)

[BluesDuke]

I hear the Phillies were hacked this week, too. The culprits were accused to trying to replace them with a baseball team.

[glorgau]

I do remember seeing Paul Popovitch - utility right fielder - pitching in the second game of a Cubs double Header.

[SES1066]

Nine players, Nine positions, nine innings, could be fun.

I think that forcing a non-catcher into that squat would qualify as a US Constitutionally prohibited "cruel & unusual."

[bankwalker]

When I lived in South Jersey used to love to crack a cold one and tune the ball game in on my old AM radio.

and where were you on Father's Day in 1964?