2010 Phillies Team Issue #17 Mick Billmeyer

Rockies 4, Phillies 3 (Game 1 - 10 Innings)

Game 33 - Wednesday Afternoon, May 12th in Denver

If bullpen coach Mick Billmeyer is truly stealing signs using binoculars from the bullpen, I wish he could have at least signalled to Chad Durbin to tell him not to hang a curveball to Miguel Olivo in the bottom of the 10th inning this afternoon. The Phils let one get away to the Rockies, dropping the first game of a double header, 4-3. Olivo hit a walk-off home run to end the game, capping his 5 for 5 afternoon.

The game should have never been tied up. Sloppy play by the Phils in the 7th allowed the Rockies to tie the game, and chase starter Roy Halladay. Errors by Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth prolonged the inning for the Rockies and Doc was pulled after 121 pitches. (Werth's error was later changed to a triple for Brad Hawpe.)

Howard and Chase Utley each had three hits in the losing effort.

There's No Crying in Baseball: Maybe I'm just a hopeless homer, but the sign-stealing allegations levied against the Phillies seem ridiculous to me. I share manager Charlie Manuel's opinion as to why teams accuse the Phils of stealing signs: "Because we beat them. That’s why. What the hell? Keep crying."

Hoover Returns: Catcher Carlos Ruiz left the game in the 4th inning with what was later diagnosed as a sprained ligament in his right knee. Paul Hoover entered the game, making his 2010 debut. Had Hoover been injured, the Phils' emergency catcher is Jayson Werth, who last caught a game as a member of the Blue Jays' organization back in 2002. Hoover will be card #36 in the 2010 Chachi set.