I want to watch the Phillies game, but don’t want to spend $200+ on DirectTV’s MLB package or $120 on MLB.tv’s package. So, it’s MLB.com’s radio player instead. Not quite the same as being able to watch any game, any time at my desk.

Did you know Bill Buckner was wearing a Cubs batting glove under his mitt? Apparently, neither did anyone else. Nice find, Sean.

I finally saw a Phillies game in their new park on Saturday. Not only that, but it was a big game. The Phillies were playing the Reds who happen to be the team holding on to the NL Wild Card. The Phillies were only two games back, so winning Saturday and Sunday would’ve brought them to a tie for the Wild Card. Unfortunately, the Phils lost after Tom Gordon gave up three runs late and a 9th inning rally fizzled with Howard at the plate.

The park is beautiful and our seats were pretty good. Here’s the view from our seats in left (click the picture for a larger version):

The park has good food, though we didn’t sample any of it. My favorite was the Peace A Pizza located in center:

Another first that night, Heidi actually scored (most of) the ballgame:

I was surprised when she asked for the scorecard, but she did a good job. Although, she seemed really fixated on knowing all the players’ first names.

I probably shouldn’t comment on this because of what I do, so I won’t. I will say, go read this: Judge: Fantasy leagues may use MLB names, stats

Fantasy baseball leagues are allowed to use player names and statistics without licensing agreements because they are not the intellectual property of Major League Baseball, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Baseball and its players have no right to prevent the use of names and playing records, U.S. District Court Judge Mary Ann Medler in St. Louis ruled in a 49-page summary judgment.

St. Louis-based CBC Distribution and Marketing Inc. filed a lawsuit against MLB after CBC was denied a new licensing agreement with the baseball players’ association giving it the rights to player profiles and statistics.

Major League Baseball claimed that intellectual property laws and so-called “right of publicity” make it illegal for fantasy leagues to make money off the identities and stats of professional players.

But even if the players could claim the right of publicity against commercial ventures by others, Medler wrote, the First Amendment takes precedent because CBC, which runs CDM Fantasy Sports, is disseminating the same statistical information found in newspapers every day.

“The names and playing records of major league baseball players as used in CBC’s fantasy games are not copyrightable,” Medler wrote. “Therefore, federal copyright law does not pre-empt the players’ claimed right of publicity.”

The ruling brings some relief to more than 300 businesses that run online fantasy leagues and have awaited the outcome of the lawsuit. In fantasy sports leagues, fans draft major leaguers and teams win or lose based on the statistical success of the actual players in major league games.

It wasn’t immediately clear what impact the ruling would have on existing agreements, such as the ones MLB has with CBS Sportsline.com, Yahoo Inc., ESPN.com and others. MLB also may appeal; a spokesman for the league did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

An ESPN spokesperson said Monday that the company would have no comment on the ruling.

I knew this was possible, but I've never, ever seen it. Until now, that is:

That's a legit play. And, it was the game winning run. Amazing.

Gary Sheffield came out today against participating in the World Baseball Classic because he doesn’t want to take a chance on an injury during an offseason exhibition game.

He might have a point, but the guy is so combative that it’s hard to feel any sort of sympathy for him. It’s like reading articles defending how Barry Bonds is really a nice guy deep down inside his otherwise childlike and troubled soul. Whatever. He’s still on my all-pity team, the guys that look at themselves as martyrs or victims of some media or league or fan conspiracy. Inaugural members of this group across all sports include: Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds, Jose Canseco, Carl Everett, Terrell Owens, Allen Iverson, Karl Malone, and Alexei Yashin (had to throw in a hockey guy). Can’t forget John McEnroe or Ted Williams.

I’m putting the following players on the honorable mention list. They either weren’t “woe is me” enough or perhaps have a few more years of martyrdom to go before they qualify. Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez (if his teams never win the big one), Randy Moss, Ron Artest, Vince Carter, Mike Tyson, Warren Sapp, Dominic Hasek make that list.

Can you guys think of any others?

I think to make the All-Pity team, you have to not only have a career of constant defensiveness with the media or fans or the league but also a marquee incident. Think, “Practice? Practice?!” or perhaps Bonds’ whining that the press is trying to make him retire. Folks that can’t meet that high standard end up on the honorable mention list. Any professional sport is fair game, from football to figure skating.

Curious to see who I’ve missed.