Rockies 5, Phillies 4

Last night's game can be broken down into three easily definable categories: THE GOOD I had the distinct um, pleasure I suppose, of taking Shawn to see his first game at Citizen's Bank Park. To quote him: "Damn." That was his reaction upon walking through the left field gates, moseying over to the edge of the stands and getting a look at the field while the Rockies were going through batting practice. It's a reaction that I still have after 7 or 8 games when I stop looking at what is on the field and instead look at the field. Vicente Padilla returned from the disabled list last night and pitched five nearly perfect innings, giving up just three hits and no walks while striking out five. Would that the Phils could get that kind of outing from all of their starting pitchers. Unfortunately, they've had Paul Abbott -- he of the nine walks in five and two-thirds innings pitched. THE BAD Tim Worrell came in as the de facto closer again last night, sporting a one-run lead. With some help from Jim Thome and Bobby Abreu, he managed to blow the game open for Colorado and give them a two-run lead. Jason Michaels homered to left-center field last night, which should have set the Liberty Bell off. However, instead of ringing and lighting up the ballpark, the Bell just sat there half-lit and immobile. According to the Phillies' web site, "[t]owering 100 feet above street level, the Liberty Bell rings after every Phillies home run. The bell and clapper sway from side to side independently, its neon edges light and pulsate and its ring can be heard throughout the park." Not last night, I'm, afraid. The video board that's part of the left field scoreboard, billed on the Phillies' web site as "the largest LED video display board in the National League (39'5" x 69'7")," is periodically used for replays throughout the game. We were treated to a lovely replay of Placido Polanco's fly out to right field late in the game. However, we did not get to see a replay of Todd Helton's smash in the 9th inning that hit the top of the left field wall. Even Helton, who had rolled into second base with a double, was staring up looking for a replay. On the next play, Helton was thrown out at third on a superb play by Chase Utley. Seconds later, of course, this play was shown on the board. Apparently, there is no rhyme or reason to the replay operator(s). THE UGLY I wound up with last night's tickets because my brother decided to join some friends in a suite. After agreeing to catch up with Tom and Shawn at the aforementioned left field gate, I arrived at about 5:30 to find Shawn already waiting for me. We talked the minutes away waiting on Tom when we finally saw him walk up -- dressed all in black. Black pants and a black polo shirt. I'm not lying. He called it his "Johnny Cash look." My question was, "Who are you -- Ben Stiller?"