As with any potential clinching game -- or playoff game -- we will be doing inning-by-inning updates for the big game against the Washington Nationals this afternoon at the Bank. At the same time we also will keep an eye on the proceedings from Shea Stadium with (we hope) a few exclusive updates from some folks in the press box up there.
In the meantime, here are the lineups:
Phillies 11 - Rollins, ss 28 - Werth, rf 26 - Utley, 2b 6 - Howard, 1b 5 - Burrell, lf 8 - Victorino, cf 7 - Feliz, 3b 51 - Ruiz, c 50 - Moyer, p
Nationals 6 - Hernandez, 2b 15 - Guzman, ss 11 - Zimmerman, 3b 44 - Milledge, cf 34 - Dukes, rf 8 - Boone, 1b 53 - Nieves, c 2 - Bernadina, lf 31 - Lannan, p
One more word on the great Paul Newman, who passed on this morning at the age of 83 after a long battle with cancer...
Aside from being one of the most mesmerizing actor I've ever seen. The fact is that no matter the role, it was impossible to take your eyes off him. Whether it was as Fast Eddie Felton in "The Hustler," the title character in "Cool Hand Luke" or even underrated films like "The Road to Perdition" and "Nobody's Fool," Newman brought it all the time.
He was that way off screen, too. The obit in The Washington Post claimed that Newman "mocked his sex-symbol status and said that his personality was closest to the vulgar, second-rate hockey coach he played in 'Slap Shot' (1977)."
Newman was beloved by his acting colleagues, who all seemed to want to emulate him. But really, how could they not? As a devoted family man, activist and artist -- all of the highest order -- there was a lot to copy. He was truly an American icon.
Thankfully Newman leaves behind an epic legacy on the screen and a more important one in the super markets. Newman's Own products have contributed $200 million to charities since 1982 and will continue giving for decades to come.
So as tribute, I'm going to sit here during the Phillies-Nats game and dig into some Newman's Own pretzels and if I get home at a decent hour, watch any of the great films from Newman's body of work...
I think this could be a "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," night.