Trading Aces: Halladay for Lee

Yankees World Champions of 2009

Eric Bruntlett's Game-Ending Triple Play

Cliff Lee Joins the Phanatic

Pedro in Philly

Phillies Bury Reds

GOOD THING THE REDS BOUNCED BACK today with a win over the Phillies because they were absolutely buried after yesterday's 10-run first inning. Poor Johnny Cueto sucked up nine earned runs.

Now Available: DON'T BLAME US

J.C. ROMERO MADE THE UNFORTUNATE MISTAKE of using banned supplements that he purchased from a GNC store that led to a positive drug test and ultimately a 50-day suspension that he's currently serving. But he also made the mistake of filing a lawsuit against the makers of 6-OXO, the supplement he took, and frankly, some of his accusations are quite ridiculous including blaming GNC store personnel for wrongly approving the product for MLB use. That would be like me asking the RiteAid ice cream scooper for professional advice on medication and accepting it as truth. But with that said, it really makes me wonder why GNC and other nutrition stores stock so much stuff that is otherwise illegal in MLB. It means that we have a lot of people walking around who are artificially enhanced, and not just cosmetically. There are some awkardly-shaped people walking in and out of GNCs across the nation.

A Little Philadelphia R&R — Ryan & Raul, That Is

SOME TEAMS LIVE AND DIE by the 3-run homer, but yesterday Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez took the grand slam route as the Phillies outslugged the floundering Nationals, 13-11. Howard's slam tied the score at 6-6, while Ibanez's capped the scoring. Last winter there were a lot of naysayers about the Phils giving 36-year old Ibanez a $31.5 million 3-year contract, but he looks like he's still in great shape, shows excellent bat speed, and keeps delivering the goods.

Opening Night 2009: Braves 4, Phillies 1

I'VE BEEN WAITING WEEKS for this night, and now that it's here I'm thinking "I can't believe the season's started!" It's a great feeling, but perhaps not so great for the Fightin' Phils tonight coming off their World Championship season. The Braves came out swinging tonight and connected for three long balls in the first two innings, none more dramatic than Brian McCann turning on Brett Myers' hanging changeup. Congrats to Jordan Schafer for homering in his first at-bat—it's all downhill from here. Also a first was long-time Angel turned Brave Garret Anderson getting his first hit, a single off of Myers' glove.