Before Apple even announced their new iPhone OS and it’s multitasking capabilities, MLB’s AtBat application worked around the issue of keeping things going while using your phone for other tasks. Thanks to Kevin, I discovered that the audio feeds from AtBat can be left running in the background using Safari/Quicktime in the 2010 version of the application. This allowed us to continue our text message conversation while listening to the game.

AtBat was already rocking my world in that I no longer hate day games that I can’t attend. I’ll be able to listen to the next Phillies day game on 4/28 against the Giants while I work. I don’t need to be at my desk checking updates on a computer or within ear shot of my speakers to know what’s going on. I can’t believe I’m this impressed with what is essentially the same technology as AM radio.

Another special treat: there’s currently an ad running in the app that reads “AtBat is the #1 Sports App. Thank you. Enjoy MLB.TV for FREE on 4/24 and 4/25 (BLACKOUT RESTRICTIONS APPLY).” I would never buy an MLB.TV subscription since the blackout restrictions wouldn’t allow me to watch the Phillies, but I’ll check out a free game any time.

Everything I write here would be completely meaningless if I didn’t mention the hours I’ve spent watching the Phillies this Fall.  I’m beginning this post 1.5 innings into Game 5 with the Phillies up 3 to1 in the game, down 3 to 1 in the series.  We’ll see how things change as the night progresses.

The schedule for the post-season is atrocious.  I understand Major League Baseball wants to make money, but this is ridiculous.  If you’re willing to have a game start at 2:30 in the afternoon, why not have a game start at 1PM?  This would allow all the games to start earlier and end at a time when everyone could stay awake to watch the late games end (barring extra innings).  And if a game is scheduled for the middle of a work day, it’s pretty clear that MLB is not concerned if anyone can see it (same goes for putting it on TBS, more on that later).  With this in mind, why can’t first and second round games go on simultaneously?  Also, while I can appreciate that Yankees and Red Sox fans are legion and spread all over the country, I don’t know that having your prime time games reserved for these franchises is worth marginalizing fans of other teams.

Baseball in November is just asking for trouble.  In 2001, the World Series was played in November for the first time as a result of the tragedy of 9/11.  Eight years later, it’s scheduled to go into November.  The days off are another cash grab for MLB and the networks so that they can have a prime time weeknight game as often as possible.  The ad dollars are so important, that there was nearly a week off between the end of the NLCS and the World Series so they could start on a Wednesday.  As we get deeper into the Fall, the weather in cities like Denver and Minneapolis are going to make it impossible for them to host games without delays.  This year’s post-season even featured a “snow-out” during the NLDS in Colorado.  Of course, the postponed games this year all happened to fall on Saturdays, the lowest night for ratings, and therefore, ad revenue.

The FOX and TBS broadcasts are awful for the most part.  Enough has been said about Joe Buck and Tim McCarver to fill a book, but TBS employed commentators that were unlistenable.  I don’t want cheerleaders for the big market teams, and I don’t want people that are showing that they don’t really know the game.  At the conclusion of NLCS Game 5, the play by play announcer called out “here’s the throw to the plate, not in time.” There was no throw.  I can understand getting caught up in a moment and missing something, but calling something that didn’t happen is borderline insane.

I’m not writing all this because I’m cranky that the Phillies are down in the series.  In fact, they’re up 8 to 1 and I’m still annoyed at MLB. I’m even annoyed that it’s so close to MLD.

So I should have started this ninety minutes ago. We join the game in progress, it’s the bottom of the 4th. The based are loaded. Shane Victorino is up. Pete is dancing vaguely like a robot. There are two outs. The phils lead 4-3.

It’s also worth noting that tonight is Jewish Heritage Night at Citizen’s Bank Park. We’re being treated to some traditional music every time the Phillies fly out to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Top of the 5th went by quickly with Shane Victorino giving Ben Francisco a lesson in catching fly balls and Blanton pitching out of some trouble.

After some criticism for live blogging instead of watching the game, we’ll be back later as we watch the bottom of the 5th.

It’s a good we paid attention, otherwise we’d have missed Jason Werth’s two-run, 421 foot home run. The inning was followed by a little hora action in front of the D’backs’ dugout.

Top 6th went quickly featuring a great catch by Jimmy Rollins. For those keeping track at home, the baseball was in ice cream container 1.

Panamania is runnin’ wild! Solo home run by Carlos Ruiz! Blanton and Rollins each single with no outs. Victorino flies out, pitching change D’backs.

Utley drives in Blanton. Three run home run Ryan Howard! All while we’re on an ice cream run.

Blanton tears through the 7th. Yiddish “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

Blanton picks up his second hit of the game and the Phillies tack on another run in the bottom of the 7th. The inning ends on a Howard fly out preceded by a disturbing shout of “101” by a guy in our row. Pretty sure he couldn’t be heard at the plate. 12-3 Phils.

Blanton makes quick work of the top of the 8th on two pop ups and a strikeout. Tonight’s attendance: C 45,172.

In the bobblehead race, Kevin had Red, Pete had gray… Red takes it. Kevin 1, Pete 0. The drunk people in front of us have let the right fielder for the D’backs, Romero, know that they hate him and that he sucks.

There was NO reason to replace Blanton with Durbin in the ninth. It’s 12-3. Let the guy finish the game.

Many people in the crowd are dumb and think Durbin is Lidge.

Ryan is forcing us all to high five as the D’Backs lose again. Why don’t we play them EVERYDAY?

I believe MLD can claim singlehanded responsibility for this fact. That’s right I’m patting us on our collective back because we rule and no one else had anything to do with it.

Victory_is_Near

Kevin and I got into a heated discussion about the nature of MLB All-Star voting last week after learning that Phillies left fielder Raul Ibanez was currently 6th in voting among National League  outfielders.  We agree that this is a travesty as Ibanez has incredible numbers in several statistical categories, but the nature of the voting system just seems to lend itself entirely to this kind of injustice.

Ibanez’s ranking may have to do with his transition from the American to National Leagues, but this hardly seems to hurt big name players who seem to get a free trip to the All-Star game every year, even when they aren’t actively playing (I’m looking squarely at you Manny Ramirez).

It generally seems like current season numbers are largely ignored. Part of this is due to the fact that voters at the ballpark have no practical access to stats while voting. It’s interesting to note that neither Jimmy Rollins or Ryan Howard went in their MVP years as starters.  Also, the Phillies were on the road until this past weekend, so it should be interesting to see if any of the rankings change once the team returns home and local fans can vote at the park.

Voting ends Thursday July 2nd, 2009.