Updates

Just a few clerical things: Over the next few weeks I'm going to be messing around and cleaning up the layout of this site. Don't expect a huge overhaul, instead, the changes will be minor in order to keep things neat and organized. The overall appearane will remain the same.

Also, I have added a Twitter feed. Yeah, I'm all geeked out now. Nevertheless, check out my Twitter page, which is linked in the hypertext as well as on the right-hand side of this page for various updates concerning this site, the Phillies and whatever else I feel like passing on.

For instance, an earlier Twitter update informed readers that I really like blueberries. I'm sure things might get slightly deeper than that.

Anyway, there it is. Stick around for the latest installment to this page about the diva that is Mr. Jimmy Rollins.

Stayed tuned...

We will return in full force tomorrow chock full of fun facts (or whatever) on Ryan Howard, Chris Coste, Barry Zito and Floyd Landis. Until then...

Everybody just cool out...

we'll have something ready to go here soon. Just sit tight. In the meantime, if you thought the Phillies bullpen was bad, check this out.

Here's an interesting factoid for all the stat heads out there from the always trenchant Baseball Reference blog. Meanwhile, here's a tracker for Ryan Howard's home runs this season.

Fun facts

The ninth spot in the Phillies batting order is hitting .066 (4-for-61) with a .123 on-base percentage. All four of the hits have been singles and three of them came in one game by Ryan Madson -- the other was from pinch-hitter David Dellucci. Meanwhile, the opposing No. 9 hitter are collectively hitting .328 with a .377 on-base percentage. They have six doubles, a triple and a homer with five walks.

*** Left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier has appeared in just one game since April 15. That game was on April 20 where Cormier pitched the eighth inning of a six-run loss to the Nationals at the Bank.

So far this year, Cormier has appeared in six games for 4 2/3 innings without allowing a run. Opponents are hitting .211 off him this season.

***

Big games in April

As far as important games in April go, the next 10 for the Phillies are about as big as they come. At 5-7 and already five games behind the Mets in the NL East, the Phillies can make a dent in the standings with the Nationals, Marlins and Rockies in town for the next week-and-a-half.

Oh, but if only the next 10 were it for the Phils. For the next three weeks, the Phillies will play 15 of their next 20 games at home with no days off. Of those 20 games, 18 are in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (last we checked, Pittsburgh is still on the other end of the state).

So obviously, this is a big stretch for the Phillies.

Etc. Here’s a fun fact: Jon Lieber is the Phillies’ first Opening Day starter to begin the season 0-3 since Robert Person went 0-3 in 2002.

That season, Person lost his first three of his first six starts, went on the disabled list and picked up his first win on June 2 against the Expos. As some will recall, that was the game where Person blasted a pair of homers and drove in seven runs.

After pitching as well as any hurler in the National League in the final months of the 2001 season, the 2002 campaign was not one to remember for Person. Later that summer, the right-hander and manager Larry Bowa had a few “disagreements” before Person went on the disabled list following a two-inning blowup in a loss at Wrigley Field in late July.

Following that game, Person was done as a Phillie.

Since then, the affable pitcher from St. Louis battled injuries and bounced from the Red Sox and White Sox for a few years before winding up in the Atlantic League with the Bridgeport Bluefish last season.

Against the likes of Pete Rose Jr. and Ryan Minor, Person went 0-4 with a 6.37 ERA in 14 games.

As a side note, Cory Lidle’s brother Kevin was a catcher for the Bluefish.

Here’s another fun fact: Heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Nationals, David Bell had gone 37 consecutive plate appearances without striking out. Of all the Phillies to come to bat this season, only Bell and pitcher Ryan Madson (six plate appearances) are the only players not to strike out.