Phillies news & links — Pat Neshek is leaving

So much happened last night! Let’s waste no time and jump right in.

Pat Neshek traded to Colorado

Paul Boyé wrote up this trade last night, but holy crap this happened out of nowhere! Here’s a look at the dudes the Phillies got in this trade.

So it’s two normal guys and some dude named J.D. Hammer who looks like baby Ricky Vaughn. We’ll have more about these new minor leaguers later today.

But of course, we must say farewell to Pat Neshek. He was a reliever with a fun, funky delivery and a glorious beard. He was a reliever who had a hard time getting his story straight about why he wasn’t pitching a few months ago. He was a reliever who was the Phillies’ lone All-Star representative this year. He was, he is... a reliever. So goodbye, Pat Neshek, you reliever you!

Oh, one last thing. As many players say on their way out of Philadelphia, despite the losing team, Neshek and his family loved it.

Pat, if you’re still pitching in a few years when the Phillies might be good again, we’d love to have you back. Or at least I would.

Apparently the Phillies scored 9 runs against the Astros?

I’m being told this happened! I was unable to watch the game last night, so I had to read Victor’s excellent recap to find out what happened, but holy crap, the Phillies put a hurting on the Astros. DELIGHTFUL! And Cameron Rupp hit two two-run dingers! I couldn’t be happier about that, because I love dingers and I love it when the Phillies do well. And Aaron Nola was apparently on point! I’m so, so glad the Phillies didn’t get swept by the Astros.

IMPORTANT J.P. CRAWFORD UPDATE

I would like to draw your attention to this INCREDIBLE J.P. CRAWFORD INSIDE-THE-PARK GRAND SLAM.

Say what you want about Crawford going from third to home. If he’d been out we would be having a different conversation, of course, but he got that tag in between the catcher’s legs! And the throw beat Crawford by maybe 20 feet, if the catcher can’t get the tag down in that amount of time, that’s his problem. Crawford was aggressive because the ball felt good off the bat (it looked good, too) and he’s playing with a lot of confidence. And look at him celebrate! It’s so fantastic, he’s so happy! I love it so much, I’m going to watch that video forever.

Pete Mackanin and Odubel Herrera had a meeting

We all knew this was coming, but according to all parties, it went well! I don’t know if anyone should have expected any less. Mack said what needed to be said, Odubel heard it and listened, and Juan Samuel was also there. The whole thing seemed matter-of-fact and drama-free, which is great. That’s what we want. May this issue go away, never to come back.

Tweet of the day

Adrian Beltre is a treasure. This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, and I’m not kidding.

The umpire ejected him for moving the on-deck circle! The whole thing is ridiculous! The Rangers were losing 18-6 and Beltre was warming up outside the on-deck circle, and then the grumpy umpire told him to get into the on-deck circle. And because it was an 18-6 game and the umpire was being a knob, he picked up the on-deck circle and moved it to where he was standing. That is a Hall of Famer move. God I love Adrian Beltre. He’s THE BEST.

Though it may not have been just the umpire being a knob.

The pitcher’s team was winning 18-6, maybe that Drew guy should relax a bit.

Nope, that’s not a mistake, I wanted to make that gif available to you in case you’ll need it. Because you’ll need it. Trust me.