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Good morning! Doesn’t it feel good to love a baseball team that doesn’t completely suck the life out of you?
This team is super ultra fun, even when they lose. And believe me, they will lose this year. I’m not stupid enough to think this is going to last all season. I lived through April-May 2016, so they’re not going to fool me again. But this year, there’s a feeling of hope and improvement that goes along with everything that happens. They’ll lose, but not because they’re not good enough to win, but just because they didn’t that particular that night. Does that make sense?
It doesn’t matter. This team is fun and great and I love them.
MAIKEL FRANCO’S GRAND SLAM WAS GLORIOUS
You want evidence, you say? Well I’ve got evidence. BEHOLD!
4 runs.
— Phillies (@Phillies) April 27, 2017
1 swing.
You're grand, @MaikelFranco7.#BeLikeMaik pic.twitter.com/7c41gMVj1I
::angels singing::
Here’s a view from the stands.
Here's a POV video of that @Phillies Grand Slam (with my dad bc it's his birthday!) #RINGTHEBELL #Phillies pic.twitter.com/GJsN7t3Eql
— TheFlyerBitch (@TheFlyerBitch) April 27, 2017
Jorge Alfaro is doing it all, kids
Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly wrote about Alfaro’s insanely hot start, and it’s all good news. Less good news, though, is this logical take from Matt Gelb.
You are going to read a lot about Jorge Alfaro. It is his last option year, so he is unlikely to be promoted before Sept., barring injury.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 26, 2017
BOOOOO. He’s right, but BOOOOO. The Phillies want him to have as much time to develop as possible, since he’s the guy they want there for the future. No reason to shoot Cameron Rupp into the sun prematurely, you know.
Hector Neris wins at life
Hector Neris is having a bit of a rocky time right now, but Pete Mackanin is continuing to trust him to get out of sticky situations, which is so wonderful to see. Neris has also chosen his walk-out music.
Hector Neris' entrance song as closer is "Eye of the Tiger." He's one of us.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 27, 2017
EYE OF THE TIGER, HELL YES. Why did he choose that? Todd Zolecki of MLB.com found out.
"I needed to pick a song so I asked my agent for some help. He said, 'Remember, Rocky Balboa is from Philly. They might like it here.'" -- Phillies right-hander Hector Neris, on why he chose Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" as his entrance music in the ninth inning. Neris is the Phillies' unofficial closer
Hector Neris has a smart agent.
Clay Buchholz apologized, but he didn’t have to
Clay Buchholz apologized to Matt Klentak and his teammates yesterday for getting injured.
Clay Buchholz is here today. Said he apologized to Matt Klentak and others for getting hurt. Said he still hopes to pitch in September.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) April 26, 2017
That’s sweet, but insane. It’s not like Buchholz meant to get injured. It’s part of the game. Poor guy. Jim Salisbury wrote up more of what Buchholz said, and you should read it, if only because he seems like a good guy who got dealt an unfortunate hand.
It’s been seven seconds since we’ve talked about Maikel Franco
So let’s talk about him some more!
Maikel Franco's 20 RBIs are most by a Phillie in first month of the season since Ryan Howard recorded 27 RBIs in April 2011.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) April 27, 2017
Franco laughed about helmet popping off before hitting grand slam. "I think last year I lost my helmet like 20-25 times. I’m working on it." pic.twitter.com/VOurHe5KUu
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) April 27, 2017
When you're walking by the bell and Franco hits a slam ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/4mxzRTYcD9
— Michael Harris (@mhgophils) April 27, 2017
In other news...
- A new episode of The Dirty Inning podcast is out! Go listen, because it’s great.
- So apparently Reading Fightins pitcher Thomas Eshelman can rake.
@ThomasEshelman1 calls his shot and goes deep for his first career hit. 3-run bomb puts Reading in front 3-1. #PitchersCanHitToo
— Reading Fightins (@ReadingFightins) April 26, 2017
- The Phillies are definitely looking better than they did last year.
Just like last year, Phillies are 9-9 through first 18 games with notable difference: In 2017, a +7 run differential; In 2016: -23 run diff.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) April 26, 2017
This is also the first time the Phillies have recorded a positive run differential through 18 games since 2011.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) April 26, 2017
Tweet of the day
Today I’ve got two for you, and you’re gonna love both of them.
METS FAILHORN
Mets are so bad they literally forgot how to do everything pic.twitter.com/ixtD7GVIdm
— MetsKevin11 (@MetsKevin11) April 27, 2017
And for tweet the second, Zach Eflin is absolutely adorable.
I love Zach Eflin pic.twitter.com/h1xs5r7Zby
— chris jones¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@LONG_DRIVE) April 27, 2017