Rain, rain, go away...

Welcome to the rain delay version of the Philly Fanatic in Red Sox Nation blog. Here in scenic Somerville, Massachusetts the rain is coming down faster than Coco Crisp's batting average. The timing of this Monster storm is as inopportune as an Abe Nunez pinch-ground out appearance. Families are trying to journey to exotic locales for school vacation week. Lunatics will be running 26.2 miles. But, most importantly, the weather is impacting MLB. Specifically, Julian Tavarez, our most favoritest lunatic of all, who has seen his next start bumped to Thursday, as a result of Sunday's postponement.

"Yo-Yo" Tavarez was scheduled to be the starting pitcher in Monday's 10:05am start, which would have been the pilot episode of "Breakfast with Julian" on NESN. Who knows what insanity would have occurred with Batshit Crazy pitching at 10am in a rainstorm? Obviously, he would have been wearing a raincoat of some kind, probably with an "unorthodox" color scheme. There probably would have been an umbrella out there on the mound with him. He likely would have been running with the umbrella in his hand when he attempted to catch fly balls in right field or when he tried to pick off runners, unassisted. I'm sure that pitching with an umbrella in his glove hand during a rainstorm would have made it difficult for the batter to see the ball coming out of Tavarez' hand. That probably would have resulted in some unkind verbal and/or physical exchanges with the batters.
I am extremely disappointed that none of this will come to pass. (Well, unless Josh Beckett wakes up tomorrow all blister-y. Or forgets about the 10am start time.) If tomorrow's game had gone according to plan, it would have served as the springboard for Julian's show, as well as separate spinoffs involving Manny, Papi, Timlin, and PAPELBON (!). We would have been another step closer to the PAPELBON CHANNEL, which will be the greatest invention, well, ever. (Actually, I think I'm going to start praying for the Beckett blisters right now...)

The Phillies split their 2 weekend games against the Astros, despite getting poor starting pitching from both #1 Brett Myers and #2 Cole Hamels. Cole got plenty of offensive support, however, and picked up his 1st win of the young season.
If you had told me 3 weeks ago that a Phillie would be leading the NL in HRs at this point, I wouldn't have been too surprised. Until you informed me that Phillie would be SS/leadoff man Jimmy Rollins, with 6 HR already. (At which point I would have told you to lay off the Grey Goose.)
As disconcerting as the poor pitching performances this weekend (Phillies have the 2nd worst ERA in all of MLB, only better than Tampa Bay), were some poor managerial decisions. Pat Burrell has been the Phillies best and most consistent offensive threat this season. Unfortunately, Manager Charlie Manuel continues to replace Pat with Michael Bourn, who wouldn't be a consistent offensive threat in t-ball, for running and/or defensive purposes. On Saturday night, Bourn was brought in to pinch-run for Burrell in the 6TH INNING! Naturally, Bourn wound up batting in the the 8th inning with the bases loaded, and struck out. How many times does this type of maneuver have to hurt the Phillies before Manuel stops employing it? The over/under on that is probably 48, but I hope that Manuel will be fired long before he approaches the over.
On Friday night, the Phillies had Shane Victorino thrown out at the plate trying to score from 2nd base on a single WITH NO OUTS, and the Phils trailing 8-6. The bases would have been loaded with no outs if Victorino had not been sent home. (And maybe the Phillies would have scored some runs on BBs and HBPs in that situation.) I don't think I had even heard of 3rd base coach Steve Smith (NOT the former Edmonton Oilers defenseman, I checked), until that play, which is the way it should be. The Phillies are just making too many different mistakes, which is why they are 3-8, and only half a game in front of the woeful Nationals.

The Sox won both of their games, with Tim Wakefield and Curt Schilling turning in tremendous pitching performances. I think I am ready for Schilling to be extended through the 2008 season now. Sure he's only had 2 strong starts in a row, but that's enough for this blogger. Get it done Theo! Send the contract offer to Schill's blog. Send it to the Barrens. Whatever it takes, just get it to him, ASAP!

Jonathan Papelbon entered the Friday night game in the 8th inning with one out, retiring Vladimir Guerrero and Garret Anderson in order, and protecting a 4-1 lead, in what turned out to be a 10-1 win. I think I am going to start calling it a "Papel" when the closer enters the game in the 8th and squelches a threat, but doesn't finish the game and get credited with a save. Expect the "Papel" to be an official stat in the future. Or at least of official as "VORP" is. Or "slaughtered ducks, off-season" will be.

In Schadenfreude News, Blue Jays closer B. J. Ryan was placed on the DL. In even better news, Yankee SPs Mike Mussina and Carl Pavano also were placed on the DL, joining Matsui, Karstens, and Wang on the injured list. Looking at the Yankees depth chart these days makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Speaking of the warm and fuzzies, I have read some tremendous bloggings over the past few days. Specifically, here. And here. Here. Here. And also here. There are some damn good Red Sox and Phillies writing talents inhabiting the blogosphere these days. I'm glad I get to read them on a regular basis. (But I need to start reading them all faster because all of this daily quality blog consumption is making me frequently late for work...)