Skip to main content

More Home Games? Blue Jays Conflict May Benefit Phils

Recently, PhoulBallz.com received word from a source close to the Blue Jays organization that, due to the conflicting schedule with the G20 Summit, there were discussions in progress to cancel one of the dates (likely Sunday) for the Phillies/Blue Jays series, scheduled June 25th-27th, and play two games on one of the other already scheduled dates (Saturday, if the Sunday date was nixed), to reduce congestion and security issues during the G20 event. The wheels were in motion on that plan, but it had not been finalized.

The main issue is that Toronto's Rogers Centre is inside the security perimeter for the G20 Summit, which is a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from around the world.

This scheduling conflict has been known for months. There is great anticipation among Toronto fans for this series, as it will mark the return of long-time fan favorite Roy Halladay, who Toronto traded to the Phillies last December. Toronto has NO desire to lose the ticket and concession earnings for this series, so expect the Blue Jays to fight any move of the series as best they can. I don't believe that the Blue Jays baseball team can stand up to a New World Order, so the move may very well be a sure thing.

Internet buzz picked up today as reports leaked that the Phillies were preparing to host games that weekend, by cancelling private events scheduled for Citizens Bank Park over the weekend of 6/25-6/27. The switch would give the Phillies 3 more regular season home games than the evenly distributed 81 games that all other Major League clubs are allocated.

Todd Zolecki, beat reporter for Phillies.com, tried to research the possibility of the series' move, today, after TheFightins.com reported the switch was official (then subsequently pulled the report), but did not obtain any confirmation. What is official is that the Blue Jays have a conflict, and the Phillies seem to be preparing, in case a venue switch is required.

Updates on this story will be posted when they are available.

----------------------------------

Follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

5th spot, Wall, Old timers, Links

The race for the Phillies' fifth starter spot is still on. While it's not fully fair to compare Grapefruit League stats, when some of the pitchers have had "B game" and scrimmage outings mixed in, Kyle Kendrick and Carlos Carrasco look to be falling behind Chan Ho Park and "Jay" Happ. Happ added to his solid Grapefruit League stats (2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP in 4 games) today against the Rays. Pitching coach Rich Dubee had been displeased with Kendrick even before he surrendered 8 earned runs in 3 innings of work yesterday against the Braves. Park has been working on improving his change up, with (Coach) Jamie Moyer. Park noticed Moyer's location control on his change, so he sought out Moyer to teach him the grip and positioning of the ball. Moyer, of course, feels good about helping anyone on the Phils' staff. Park has been coached by greats like Nolan Ryan with the Rangers and Sandy Koufax with the Dodgers, so Moyer is in great company. Park is working h...

Justin De Fratus Interview Excerpts- May, 2011

Armed with a 2-0 record, 3 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 15 games this season for the Double A Reading Phillies, Justin De Fratus continues to make strides toward his goal of reaching the Major Leagues. Ranked as a top 10 prospect within the Phillies system last off-season, the 23-year-old De Fratus was in camp with the Phillies during big league spring training. In 3 games with the Phils during the Grapefruit League season, De Fratus allowed 4 earned runs in 4 innings and took a loss. He did strike out an impressive 5 batters in those 4 frames, however. Drafted in the 11th round of the 2007 amateur draft, De Fratus stood out as a force in relief last year for both the High A Clearwater Threshers and the R-Phils. In 49 combined games at the two levels, De Fratus posted a 3-0 record with 21 saves and a 1.94 ERA. De Fratus continued his excellent 2011 by pitching for Team USA in the Pan-American qualifiers held in Puerto Rico, helping the Americans finish with a 9-1 record. He also posted out...