Ten Reasons to Come to the Park in August: Number 10

     In years past, August has brought me baseball apathy.  By August I’ve had enough of the park, enough of the food, enough of the losing, and I’m ready for some football.  Not this year though.  I’m about as pumped for August baseball as I am for April baseball.  Why?  Dunno.  But over the coming days I’ll present ten possible reasons–ten reasons YOU should be pumped about August baseball as well.

Reason Number 10.  Battlefield Challenge

So the 2012 Battlefield Challenge starts tomorrow.  This is the third year for this “promo” I think.  I know the IronPigs have won awards for this idea.  

I have to say, though, I’m still not completely solid on the rules.  I think we might need an identifiable spotter who we can trust to make the call as to where the ball lands.  It also feels like it’s too difficult to capture all the sections.  I’ve certainly given up the “don’t-eat-dinner-because-everything-might-be-half-price-with-the-Battlefield-Challenge” strategy.  Back in the day when we used to lose all the baseball games, this was a neat idea for, “Hey, we might have lost the game 9-2 but at least we won the Battlefield Challenge and got $2 off on the hamburgers.”  But now, I think I’ll just come for the baseball and smile at the “challenge.” 

OK, so I’m not pumped for the Battlefield, but some are!  For those who like it, though, now’s the time!

News and Notes:

Tomorrow’s scheduled starter is Tyler Cloyd.  Tyler Cloyd is 13-1 overall this year. Austin Hyatt is back from Reading and hasn’t pitched in a week.  It’s Blanton’s turn to pitch for the Phillies, but he’s with the Dodgers now.  It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to figure out what’s going on, right?  Well, as of now, Kyle Kendrick is listed as the Phil’s starter.  We need to (continue to) appreciate Tyler while we still have him.  Perhaps they’ll let him (read: make him) anchor this staff through the playoff push.  Perhaps not.  Make no mistake though, he’ll get his chance in Philadelphia this year sooner or later.  And, we welcome back Austin.  He’s been doing better of late and I look forward to seeing him pitch again.

Juan Marillo is the other pitcher called up (Mike Cisco was sent down–worry not, we’ll see him again.)   He’s a 6’3″ right-handed reliever.  On first glance, his stats look questionable for the promotion (not as good as Cisco or Friend), but a closer look at his last ten appearances shows that he’s been near lights-out in one-inning outings.  It’s when he’s asked to pitch two or three innings that things go awry.  Walks seem to be the main culprit.  So, we’ll plan to use him for one-inning spots at first, and not on the same night as Aumont.  Sounds like a plan.

One more thing:  How is it everyone (Philly media, Philly coaches) is so surprised by Kratz (and Frandsen)?  We know these guys.  We know they can play.  Calm down already.  Plug them in and let them go and you’ll be fine.  And while I’m on a rant, I’ve about had it with the snarkiness and condescending attitude of the Phillies’ beat writers.  I follow them on Twitter for the express purpose of finding out what’s going to happen to the ‘Pigs’ roster.  But I can’t take it any more.  I’ll keep one, and the rest get an ‘unfollow.’  Let me know below whom you think I should keep.

@Kram209