Thanks, Big Guy!

Well, here's something that's never happened to me before.


I was in the middle of writing a blog about how much I love a guy and how much joy he brings me on a nightly basis... when he got traded. (And yes, that’s how long I’ve been trying to get this one out the door.)


Oh Jim Thome. I miss you already!


Now, I know this trade is good for everyone involved. This little experiment just didn't work out. The Phillies need bodies on the bench who can play the field, and Thome has a bad back that no amount of yoga can fix. So, the Phillies traded him to a place where all he has to do is hit dingers and sit back down on the bench.


It just wasn't supposed to go this way.


My heart – still broken from the whole losing to the Cardinals thing – grew three sizes that day Jim came back to us in December. It may not have made a whole bunch of "on the field" sense, but I hoped adding a guy like Thome could help a team that seemed to forget that playing baseball was supposed to be fun. I had visions of him lifting a very large trophy and retiring to Cooperstown in red pinstripes, not being part of a season gone terribly, terribly awry. He couldn’t keep the Phils from scuffling, but, even when things were at their worst during the first half, there was one of the best homerun hitters of all time belly laughing in the dugout, smiling that Jim Thome smile. 


I'll never forget the way I felt when Thome signed here before the 2003 season. It was just a few months removed from when my future husband, Scott Rolen, was traded – and made his less than fuzzy feelings for the organization and the city very public. At the time, I just couldn't believe that one of the best homerun hitters in the game would choose to come to Philly. (I was also in complete shock that Ed Wade could pull of such a signing.) I don't think anyone realized it then, but things changed big time that day. Thome was the catalyst for Philly becoming a destination, not a baseball death sentence. Thome ended the string of awful signings, like the Andy Ashbys, David Bells and Adam Eatons of the world and brought on the Placido Polancos, Roy Halladays and Cliff Lees. It was a major swing in the history of the organization, and Thome deserves a lot of credit for seeing beyond the losing seasons to the potential of the team. Combined with the new ballpark, he helped put butts in the seats and more money in the front office's pocket. That money enabled them to keep the up-and-coming stars in the organization and eventually win the 2008 World Series. Thome certainly isn’t the only reason the organization is where it is today, but you can’t deny the parallels and his role in its rise to success.


I think that following Thome's career – all 609 homeruns of it – is and always will be one my favorite parts of following this amazing game. He is a man who knows how lucky he is to play baseball for a living, and does it with the joy of a really big toddler in a candy store. He brings fun and passion to the field every day, and has showed an entire generation how to be a good teammate and leader – just ask Chase Utley (here, 1:50 mark). 


No, things aren't great with the Fightins at the moment, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate what we've gotten the opportunity to witness during Thome’s time here. A player like this just doesn't come along very often...

The Law of Ex-Phillydom and the LA Kings

I have this theory about former Philadelphia athletes: Most of them get better once they are out of the City of Brotherly Love.

The Law of Ex-Phillydom applies to three types of players:

1. Players that show signs of promise but infuriatingly never blossom to their full potential, until they leave. Think Michael Bourn and Joffrey Lupul.
2. Players who have solid stints in Philly but put up career numbers once they leave. Think Placido Polanco.*
3. Players who the front office deem too old to be productive and contribute regularly but go on to their new teams to do just that. Think Rod Brind'Amour, Brian Dawkins and Mike Knuble.

Qualifying players aren't usually superstar busts, but players you hope can consistently perform for a long time, and help lead to team success. (If Matt Carle leaves the Flyers via free agency, he is a prime candidate to reap the benefits of the Law of Ex-Phillydom.) You get the idea.

Players are bound to have varying career paths, but what’s happening now is unprecedented: The Law of Ex-Phillydom is affecting an entire organization!

The LA Kings were referred to as Flyers West before Mike Richards and Jeff Carter got there, and now it's just silly. Former Flyers have completely infiltrated all aspects of the Kings organization. It’s the Law of Ex-Phillydom escalating from individual players to an entire team. Shall we run down the list?

On the ice: Richards, Carter, Simon Gagne**, Justin Williams

Behind the bench: Assistant Coach John Stevens (Terry Murray was the Head Coach until mid-season)

In the front office: VP and Assistant GM Ron Hextall

Sometimes the law of Ex-Phillydom doesn’t really matter. Players leave and go on to have solid careers very far away and out of the division/conference, and we’re happy for them. But a lot of times, like with Richards and Carter, it feels like a swift kick to the stomach.

Before the Flyers/Pens series, I wrote that if the Flyers could beat Pittsburgh, it would justify every radical move that the front office made last summer.

I made that statement without the thought that the Kings could or would ever advance out of the first round, let alone make it to the Cup finals.

Yet, here we are, and it makes evaluating the moves slightly more interesting.

It seems like forever ago that Philadelphia practically exploded with joy when the Flyers made their unexpected run to the Cup Finals in 2010. The series against the Bruins was one of the most amazing things I have ever witnessed. The loss to Chicago, although disappointing, hinted that the team, led by Richards, would be back to the Cup finals before long.

But then last season happened: Dry Island, absurd pictures of boozing with less than reputable (or sober) girls, and crashing frat parties. It all seemed like innocent fun by a bunch of young guys, until it exploded onto the ice. The team choked. After an amazing first half of the season, the locker room strife took a toll on the team’s performance. An embarrassing second round exit (I'm still not sure how they even made it that far), led to the drastic decisions that Paul Holmgren made.

Sometimes, for whatever reason things just don't click in the locker room, and that was clearly the case with Richards and Carter in Philly. The Flyers organization trusted Richards and Carter to lead them to a parade, and they didn’t. So, for them to end up back together (in a place that serves up even more distractions and beach time than Philadelphia and Sea Isle combined) and make it to the Cup finals the very next year, after everyone decided it couldn’t happen again with them in Philly? It’s like an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend meeting their future spouse right after they broke up with you. It stinks.

You know that old joke about the Phillies sending championship rings to Houston as a thank you? Well, if the Kings win the Cup, the Flyers organization might just deserve a ring, and the Law of Ex-Phillydom will have reared its ugly head again.

Let’s Go Devils? Ugh.

*Note: Polanco’s first stint with the Phillies was in no way shape or form unimpressive, but his numbers with the Tigers after the Phils foolishly traded him are out of this world. Oddly enough, Polanco hasn’t come close to his Detroit numbers since he’s been back in Philly – point proven.

**Simon Gagne winning a Cup would be the only plus side to this whole situation

Why I Am the Way That I Am

During the Flyers Game 6 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the following exchange took place in the Burnston household:

Me: "That’s delay of game! THAT'S DELAY OF GAME!!!"
(Long pause)
My Mom: "Hey, that should be delay of game."
Me (kidding): "Oh, sorry. Is there an echo in here?"
My Mom (yelling): "WHO TAUGHT YOU EVERYTHING YOU KNOW?!"
 
You know what? She brought up a very good point.

Many of you may have wondered how on earth a 24-year-old girl fell in love with sports, knows so much about them and spends so much of her free time writing a sports blog. The answer is my family, and most influentially my mom.

My mom’s been a sports fan her entire life. She grew up watching her dad coach her brothers’ Little League team. She fell (and remains) in love with the toothless Broad Street Bullies and learned everything there is to know about the game of hockey. She loved talking about and watching sports in a time where it wasn’t exactly commonplace for a woman to do so.

A few years later, it turns out that her daughter loves doing all of those same things. When I fell in love with baseball, I got made fun of in middle school, because people didn’t understand why a girl was so excited to go home and watch a ball game. But my family always got it. They brought me to every softball field in the tri-state area for 11 years (and even come to watch me play in my current “grown-up” slow-pitch league). They supported me when my childhood dream wasn’t to be an actress, but a beat writer for the Phillies. They were on board with my decision to go to college near Philly so I could possibly work in the Philadelphia sports market (even though I’m sure they knew it was also partly so I could be closer to the ballpark).

My interest in sports didn’t happen because my family made it happen, it happened because my family allowed it to.

This may seem like a sports story, but it’s really about more than that. Now that I’m older (and clearly wiser), I realize that if it hadn’t been for my mom being such a strong woman and telling me it was okay to be both a sports nut and paint my nails, I’m not sure if I would have been able to stand by what I loved and become the person that I am today.

So, on this Mother's Day, a public thank you to my mom for always being herself, and for teaching me to do the same. Thank you for your priceless insights, like how hockey was better when players didn’t wear helmets because you could see how good-looking they were, that you should always know what you’re going to do with the ball before you get it, and that loving sports is about so much more than winning or losing – it’s about enjoying the game itself and sharing it with the people you love.

Oh, and of course, thank you for picking my father so wisely.

Mother's Day 2007 at CBP

Knock Knock, I Loved This Season

It’s funny the difference a year makes.

Last May, the 2010-11 Philadelphia Flyers lost in the second round of the playoffs to a team everyone thought they should beat, and when the season was over, I couldn’t believe what terrible shape the team was in.

After one of the best first half performances I had ever seen, the Flyers completely crumbled after the All-Star break. They somehow managed to hold on to the 2^nd seed, just barely beat Buffalo and then they got embarrassed in a goalie-roulette sweep at the hands of the soon-to-be Stanley Cup Champion Bruins. The team’s on-ice chemistry fell apart as badly as it did in the locker room. (I bet you can’t remember a time before the term “Dry Island.”) It was painful to watch, and after such a downward spiral, it almost felt relieved when it ended. I couldn’t help but be brought down by the way the team was crumbling and wonder if that group of players would ever be able to put another Cup run together.

Last night, the 2011-12 Flyers were also eliminated in the second round by a team everyone thought they could beat, and now that the season is over, I can’t believe how positive I feel about what they accomplished.

After one of the most drastic off-seasons (possibly ever), no one expected too much from the Flyers. They were too young, too inexperienced and too unfamiliar with each other to make a run at the playoffs. Yet, all season, they did nothing but work hard, have fun, and routinely surprise everyone. They stayed in the top of conference all year. They overcame adversity, and came together as a team to not only make the playoffs as the 5^th seed, but eliminate their archrival in the first round. When it all came to an end, I only felt sad about having to wait until the fall to see the Orange and Black take the ice again.

It’s hard not to get frustrated when your team gets eliminated from the playoffs. You spend a lot of time cheering for them, and you feel emotionally invested to the point where you feel like you’re the one that lost. There’s always a long list of “what-ifs” that could leave fans up at nights for weeks. I know I’ve fallen victim to this before (cough, cough, the 2009 World Series), but I don’t feel that way today.

This season ended with the Flyers running into a buzz saw. Sometimes in the playoffs, you just run into a team where everything is clicking at the right time. You could argue that the Flyers were tired, hurt, or emotionally drained from the Pittsburgh series, but the Devils were the better team and deserve the credit for advancing.

What’s more important than how the season ended are all the good things that happened during it. Even with the loss of Chris Pronger, and the absurd number of man games to injury, this team exceeded expectations all year. Peter Laviolette infused confidence into his rookies by treating them like anything but. Consistency escaped them at times, but the balanced scoring attack and even more balanced leadership corps delivered a solid season with good experiences for the younger players to learn from. They were an unbelievably entertaining team that the fans got to “know” better than any other Flyers team before them thanks to 24/7.

No, not everything is perfect. There are plenty of areas for improvement and some issues that need to be addressed for next year, but that’s for another day.

For two years in a row, the Flyers have to swallow second round exits. But, make no mistake about it: This this year was the beginning of a new era, not the end of a disappointing one. 

They may not have gotten the 16 playoff Knock Knocks we were all hoping for, but I vote we do this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bMmhKz6KXg) one last time to close out an overall successful season. After all, they beat the Penguins!

Mayhem on Ice

People all over are talking about the NHL Playoffs. Yep, that's right. The general public in America is talking about hockey.

I wish it was for a good reason.

The first round of the NHL playoffs has been dominated by Slap Shot-esque moments, dangerous situations, and serious injuries… pretty much everything but the hockey part.

Regular season games occasionally get out of hand, but in the playoffs, teams usually keep their composure a little better. Discipline is often one of the first keys out of coaches' mouths because every penalty and resulting power play has a lot more meaning this time of year. Most teams even sit their fighters in favor of more scoring depth. Playoff hockey is a showcase of good defense, good goaltending, and the occasional fight to settle a dispute.

I don't want to talk about the individual plays and suspensions. I think we can all agree some of them were really bad and that the punishments have been confusing to say the least. What I'm concerned about is what happens next to make sure this doesn’t all continue. How can the NHL stop the craziness?

First of all, the refereeing has to be more consistent. What receives a major penalty and a game misconduct in one game is let go in another game. The refs have to take a hard look at what they are calling and find a way to make it even across all series and all games. I honestly can’t blame the players for being a bit confused as to what they are and are not allowed to do. (And then being even more amped up when calls go against their team and not their opponent.) The refs also can’t favor certain players. I don’t care what anyone says, referees in the NHL protect Sidney Crosby. It might be subconscious given his “importance” to the league or his concussion problems, but it cannot happen. When any superstar player decides to be a (insert whatever bad name you want here) and start fights, let someone on the other team give him what he's asking for. Do not jump in and try to save him. People less familiar with the game may not understand the role of fighting, but hockey is a sport where the on-ice fights control the game as much as the guys in black and white stripes.  Fighting is a way for players to self-police actions, and trying to protect certain players throws this whole system off balance.

(Side note: I think one of the biggest issues with refereeing in today’s NHL is the over-calling of stick minors. I can’t tell you how many times a player gets called for hooking – without actually impeding the opponent’s progress, at all – but cross checks to the back and other actually dangerous plays get let go.)

The league’s discipline department also needs a consistency lesson. When players assault an opponent (yes, I said assault) by bashing their head into the glass, call a penalty and suspend the player, no matter who he is. The length of suspensions should be a sliding scale based on suspension history and degree of the infraction. Basing the severity of suspensions on whether the recipient of the action gets hurt or not is absurd. The same play could knock one player out, or cause no serious injury to another, but it’s the action that the NHL needs to punish, not the result.

Something that I haven't heard anyone mention during the last week is the role that the players play in these situations. The Penguins’ Matt Cooke has been suspended five times during his NHL career, and most notably, was not suspended for his atrocious hit on the Bruins’ Marc Savard. At the end of the season last year, Cooke elbowed the Rangers’ Ryan McDonagh (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emTQpD8jmuw), and was suspended for the entire first round of the playoffs, where his team lost in 7 to Tampa Bay. Since then, Cooke – who is still a scrappy, often obnoxious player – has admirably, actually learned something from his punishment. He is nominated for the Masterton Trophy this year (the NHL award given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey) mostly because of how he’s cleaned up his act. Cooke made a public point that he was going to learn how to be an effective player without getting suspended. He sat with his coach Dan Bylsma and dissected hit after hit trying to figure out how to restructure his game. You know what? It’s worked. He's dropped his penalty minutes from 129 last year to just 44 in 2012 and hasn’t been suspended this season.

Athletes often don’t deserve their role model tag (and I’m not in any way saying that Cooke is an exemplary role model for kids), but they do have a responsibility to the game and their opponents. The players need to realize their role in what’s happening and take it upon themselves to change it. I know it’s hard in the heat of the moment, but sometimes you have to skate away. Don’t hit people in the head, don’t leave your feet, and definitely don’t be a 2 year-old and push your opponent’s glove away when they are trying to pick it up. I’m not just bashing other teams, either.  I was as completely disgusted by Zac Rinaldo in Game 4 of the Flyers/Pens series (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MgWAkER0S_k#!). This game was already so far out of reach and Rinaldo flat out lost control. The Flyers were in their offensive zone, trying to get back on the board for the first time since the 1^st period when Rinaldo snapped. No, this wasn’t nearly as dangerous as some of the other plays that received suspensions, but it’s the exact play that players have to be smarter and try to avoid.

There’s no question that the NHL is in a tough spot. There are some new fans watching because they want to see what crazy hit happens next. You have the players on the ice who are literally at risk if this stuff keeps up. Then, you have actual fans grimacing at the joke these playoffs are turning in to. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say that Game 3 between the Flyers and Penguins was the best hockey game they've ever seen. I have to wonder how many hockey games these people have actually watched, or if they really prefer cage fighting. That was not a hockey game. There was no defense. There was no structure. The NHL playoffs so far have rarely been anything but pure Mayhem on Ice, and I hope the NHL can fix it. 

Things I Think Heading into Game 1 of Flyers vs. Penguins

IT'S TIME FOR HOCKEY PLAYOFFS!!!!!

Okay, sorry. I just had to get that out.

I've been thinking a lot over the last week... dangerous I know. Here are a few things that are on my mind as we head into Flyers/Penguins Game 1 tonight.

1. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are finally here. If you're not a hockey fan, you might think I'm crazy, but it literally does not get any better than this. Nothing compares to how intense, gut-wrenching, liver killing, nail biting and grueling the NHL playoffs are. No other sport puts such a challenge between its teams and the championship. Baseball may be my favorite sport, but I love hockey playoffs more than anything.

2. I don't know if the Flyers have it in them to win the Cup this year, but I really don't want them to lose to the Penguins in the playoffs, again. The Battle of Pennsylvania has resulted in playoff exits for the Orange and Black twice since the lockout. The eliminations in 2008 and 2009 (in the Conference Finals and Quarterfinals respectively) at the hands of Sidney Crosby et al. were two of the more difficult moments of the last few seasons. I really don’t want to have to stomach that again. Not to mention losing would mean an early exit for a team that has been more fun to watch than any Flyers team in quite some time.

3. If the Flyers do beat the Penguins, it justifies everything the organization did in the off-season. The Mike Richards Flyers couldn't beat the Pens, but what if this Captain-less team can? It may be unfair to judge the most recent iteration of the Flyers on their first playoff series together, but I can't help think how much it would mean if they pulled it off.  I'm not sure anyone thought the Flyers would be as good this year as they were (especially given the almost 350 games lost to injury), but if they can somehow advance out of the first round, it would more than justify every move the front office made last summer. Not that there are many doubters left, anyway.

4.  Peter Laviolette will not win Coach of the Year, but he has been amazing. I never thought the Flyers were "rebuilding" but it was hard to imagine a team with so many new, young players being able to dominate in the league. Yet that's exactly what the Flyers did this season. They have eight players with more than 15 goals and multiple players having career years. Peter's ability to plug so many new pieces into his system and still yield a balanced attack is truly impressive. He's infused confidence into his players, even when they may not have been deserving of his faith. His sarcasm, seemingly never ending supply of orange power ties, and unparalleled use of timeouts have made him one of my favorite Philadelphia sports figures, ever. Oh and then there's that time he tried to attack Dan Bylsma. He is the best.

5. What if the rookies don't collapse? Everything I've heard and read has the Flyers losing the series because of the inexperience (and quantity) of their rookies. While I understand that view point (and it may be right) I have to bring up another scenario: What if the rookies continue to exceed expectations? They've been doing it all year. Their coach trusts them in any and all situations. It's entirely possible that the rookies step up, shut down the Penguins stars, put the puck in the back of the net and help the Flyers advance to the next round. Seriously, stranger things have happened. It may also be a good thing that no one in the media expects them to win. Without the burden of being the favorites, the rookies can focus on winning hockey games.

6. How cool would it be if Jah-RO-Mur scored the series-winning goal? I'm imagining Joffrey Lupul's Game 7 OT winner against the Caps in the 2008 Quarterfinals, only with Jah-RO-Mur… in Pittsburgh. It probably won’t happen, but it would be the coolest thing ever.

There are a lot of other things on my mind like how Claude Giroux is going to be unbelievable, that Max Talbot is going to the X Factor in the series, and that I really miss Captain Prongsy. However, writing this is getting me too excited, so I must stop.

Here's to a (hopefully) long and memorable playoffs!

“What I’m asking is don’t just play the game to let it go by. Play the game to make a difference. Every guy in here, go out there and don’t let this settle in. Go take charge of it right now. Let’s be great start to finish, every guy in here. We’re being great tonight.” – Peter Laviolette

Opening Day is No Time for Battered Fan Syndrome

Opening Day – the most glorious day of all the days – is tomorrow. The pure joy that I feel heading into this event cannot be diminished, but I am a little annoyed by the general feeling of doom and gloom I am sensing from Phillies fans. Everywhere I go, I hear people worrying about the season and preparing themselves for a subpar team.  

Um... What?

This recent behavior has left me with this (possibly offensive, but true) realization: Phillies fans suffer from something I'm going to call Battered Fan Syndrome. The biggest symptoms of Battered Fan Syndrome include a severe inferiority complex, inability to appreciate success, consistent complaining about the "stress" that comes with being a fan, and threatening to jump off the bandwagon but always coming back for more. This type of damage can only be caused by such miserable years that a World Series and five straight playoff trips can't help. (Not to mention the harm that comes from the other three Philly teams.) The media often exacerbates this condition with its pretty much constant negativity and ability to press the panic button faster than the speed of light.

The syndrome explains why Phillies fans are never comfortable being on top and are completely consumed by their fear of the good times ending and being back in the gutter. But Opening Day 2012 is not the time to let the ghosts of summers past creep into your brain! No, it’s not ideal to begin the season without your starting right side of the infield and no, nothing will ever top the Clifton Phifer rapture of last Spring Training, but let’s try to be rational.

First of all, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley aren't dead. Ryan will be back 100% most likely before the All-Star break, and while it could take him some time to regain his swing, he will be fine. The outlook for Chase might be slightly cloudier, and while it's upsetting because we love him and will miss seeing his beautiful face on the field, let's remember his numbers last year. He hit .259 with 11 HR and 44 RBI and only played in 103 games. The Phillies finished with 102 wins. If they could perform in 2011 with Chase's fill-ins, 2012 should actually be no different.

Then there's good ol' Charlie. He still can't manage a bullpen, but the man knows how to win ballgames. It's clear from Spring Training’s emphasis on bunting, and the focus on adding utility depth during the off-season, that this team is ready to win games by any means necessary. Charlie and his staff seem dedicated to the "Get 'em on, Get 'em In" strategy (see: Juan Pierre) and clean, fundamental baseball. This game plan will only help the team when Ryan is back in the line-up, considering he hasn’t hit more than 35 homeruns in the last two years.

I’m going to throw Jim Thome into this list of reasons to be positive, as well. This guy is a huge reason that the organization is where it is. When he signed here in 2003, he ended the era of superstar players running out of town, and started the era in which people like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee choose to come to Philly. Now, he’s back – possibly for his last season – and just seeing him in red pinstripes again gives me a feeling that anything is possible. He is a mentor for the younger players on the team, an experienced veteran who has been through pretty much everything, and someone who can infuse some fun into the team – something I think was missing from the 2011 campaign.

Oh, and of course there are those starting pitchers. No one can touch the Phillies rotation. Roy, Cole, Cliff, Vance and Joey B. are hands down the best 1-5 in the league. Other teams' rotations have gotten better, but they aren't this good, experienced or diverse. I truly don't even see any reason to comment more on this.

After seven awful, baseball-less months and images of the Cardinals winning the World Series on repeat, it's finally time for the 2012 Phillies season to begin. Whether you're worried about Ryan and Chase or Cole's contract status or the glowing centerfield acid trip in Miami (no wait, that actually is worth being upset over), Phillies fans, I beg you to relax. Have a cheesesteak, enjoy the quality product this organization has on the field, and remember: Life is always better during baseball season. There may come a time when the Fightins' are at the bottom of the NL East again, but IT IS NOT THIS (Opening) DAY.

 

(Cue inspirational 9th inning movie clip, Lord of the Rings style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGUNvIFTQw)