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What’s most difficult about the Phillies right now isn’t that they’re bad, it’s that they’re frustrating. I mean, don’t get me wrong. They’re bad. But they’re frustrating and embarrassing, too. It’s a giant cluster of horribleness, and if you’re reading this post, I commend you for wanting to read more about this team instead of running away and reading about literally anything else.
WHY DID ODUBEL HERRERA RUN THAT STOP SIGN
I was actually watching the game last night when this happened. The Phillies had a five-run lead at one point, and it had been an enjoyable game. Nick Pivetta had been dealing, and then things started to fall apart. I just had no idea how far they’d fall apart until ODUBEL HERRERA RAN THROUGH JUAN SAMUEL’S STOP SIGN. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH. (Please read Justin Klugh’s rendering of the blown stop sign heard ‘round the world, in which he talks to a cartoon bird.)
The best part about this is that he didn’t even run through it. HE RAN AROUND IT.
Here's Herrera blowing Juan Samuel's stop sign at third. Pretty blatant. pic.twitter.com/nvEqEqpnGx
— Ben Harris (@byBenHarris) June 22, 2017
The fabulous Emma Baccellieri over at Deadspin has some very instructive gifs of this play as well. I love Odubel Herrera, but that was absolutely terrible. Good Lord. I can’t gif this due to the draconian MLB rules, but in the dugout at the start of the next inning, Juan Samuel was SO. ANGRY. He could not believe what had happened. But he’d shaken off the anger by the end of the game.
Juan Samuel says Odubel "made a mistake"
— John Clark CSN/NBC (@JClarkCSN) June 22, 2017
Says its first time player has run thru one of his✋️
"Maybe I'll trip him next time!"#Phillies pic.twitter.com/exIengSbZp
Maybe you should, Juan! ::weeps::
There were some good things in last night’s game
It wasn’t all bad. Aaron Altherr had this amazing catch.
Out here with no fear. pic.twitter.com/klIIkI1Y98
— MLB (@MLB) June 22, 2017
And Nick Pivetta had an amazing start, for the most part.
Nick Pivetta: Back-to-back starts w/ 9+ strikeouts
— Corey Seidman (@CoreySeidmanCSN) June 22, 2017
Eickhoff did it last 2 starts in 2015. Prior to that, no Phillies rookie had since 1973
Filthy stuff, @Npivetta27 has.#Phillies 3, Cardinals 0 | Bottom 4 pic.twitter.com/vMzHXfsPWM
— Phillies (@Phillies) June 22, 2017
Nick Pivetta shows bunt, then whacks a single over the infielders to center field. He's having a good game.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) June 22, 2017
Cole Hamels: Still Awesome
Guys, Cole Hamels is living his best life, and he’s not doing it in Philadelphia.
Hollywood Hamels is a legend. Not only did he get the RoughRiders very fancy steaks last night, he got them very fancy donuts this morning.
— Tepid Participation (@TepidP) June 21, 2017
Hollywood Hamels is a legend. After he pitched and met the media, he quietly snuck up and hung with his kiddos in Frisco's Lazy River.
— Tepid Participation (@TepidP) June 21, 2017
According to Hamels, "it's [the lazy river and pool] all my kids have been talking about all week." Only a few folks recognized him.
— Tepid Participation (@TepidP) June 21, 2017
I hope Rangers fans know what they have in this man. I hope they treasure him.
I MISS YOU COLE HAMELS. I MISS YOU SO MUCH.
Cameron Perkins: Philadelphia Hero
Guys, Cameron Perkins clearly knows his way to the hearts of Philadelphia fans everywhere.
Oh, wow. Cameron Perkins' walk-up tune is @halloates "You Make My Dreams Come True."
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) June 21, 2017
In case you don’t know, that’s this song.
Then, the official Hall & Oates account retweeted Zolecki’s tweet, and Matt Gelb had a question.
Do you think Hall or Oates retweeted you?
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 21, 2017
AND WE GOT AN ANSWER!!
— Hall & Oates (@halloates) June 21, 2017
God I love Philadelphia.