Phillies Against Dodgers, Umps, Themselves

Spread this meme around: The Phillies are getting screwed by Bud Selig, Major League Baseball and everyone else who’s scared of a World Series without Manny Ramirez and Boston. (See: Rays 9, Sox 1, earlier today.) Okay, maybe not, but how else do you explain the announcers openly rooting for the Dodgers? And how do you explain the called third strike to Chase Utley (at right), which was “just a bit outside.”

The Phillies remained up a run ’til the Dodgers got 2 in the bottom of the 5th; the Phillies got the first two men on in the top of the 6th but then Charlie Manuel bunted with Shane Victorino. The Phillies ended up only getting a run. Chad Durbin gave up a homer to Casey Blake and a double to Juan Pierre. Now Scott Eyre is in, and Tim McCarver is saying that if you grow up in a small town you are not likely to enjoy curtain calls.

Now Ryan Howard threw the ball away, and the Phillies are down 2 runs. It’s like my idea of Hell. Ugh.

L.A. Celebs Win Battle, Phillies Will Win War

The Phillies move from cable to broadcast TV in the NLCS tonight, meaning there will be an immeasurable number of shots of actors in new Fox shows sitting in the stands. There will also be some real celebrities there to just enjoy the game and get on TV — but probably only in Los Angeles.

The News Journal got the Dodgers to list the stars who have been at Dodger Stadium recently, and boy, what a list!: “Tom Hanks, Shia LaBeouf, Alyssa Milano, James Van Der Beek, Pamela Anderson and Christian Slater.” Ooh, Dawson himself! Do you think anyone ever sees James Van Der Beek without getting that awful Paula Cole song stuck in the brain? Ugh. If I ever see him I’m going to run up and shout, “I don’t want your life!” in a bad Texas accent.

Don’t let any of that mockery fool you, though; James Van Der Beek is a way bigger star than anybody the Phillies can trot out. The paper chronicled that, too:

They count among their fans Mike Tollin, executive producer of “Smallville,” political pundit Chris Matthews, actor and director Christopher Guest and Paul Barrere, the lead singer and guitarist for the band Little Feat.

Wow. 126 seasons and the best the Phillies can do is Christopher Guest, apparently. Does Zombie James Michener count? The News Journal does point out the only celebrities usually at Phillies games are pro athletes from the other teams. (After that, it’s local news anchors, as usual.) Anyway, I’m fully expecting an Elton Brand sighting sometime during Game 1.

Celebrity showdown favors Dodgers [The News Journal via Scott Lauber]

Everything Working For Dodgers Pitcher

Jason Johnson pitched for the Dodgers last night; the reliever is diabetic and uses an insulin pump on the field.

Let’s listen how announcer Tom McCarthy worked it into the conversation last night.

I hope Curt Schilling comes back, so McCarthy can say how Schill runs a charity for ALS. “And swinging at that breaking ball there will also destroy your brain and spinal cord cells!”