Even though both franchises joined the National League in 1883, the Phillies and San Francisco Giants are never referred to as one of the historic rivalries in Major League Baseball.
Personally, I still feel a pain in my stomach whenever the Phillies play the Giants.
I didn’t come to Philadelphia until 1994, but it didn’t take long for me to become indoctrinated with “The Curse” and the city’s lousy history of sports championships. It wasn’t until 2008 when the Phillies won the World Series that I finally got to see live what a Philadelphia championship celebration complete with a parade down Broad Street looked like. It was spectacular.
Even with the Phillies falling to the New York Yankees in the 2009 World Series, the team still looked as if it had another title or two left in it. Then on Oct. 23, 2010 at Citizens Bank Park, a golden era of Phillies baseball effectively ended thanks to the Giants.
Ryan Howard struck out looking to end Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, giving the pennant to the Giants, who went on to win the first of three World Series in five years.
The Phillies continued a downward spiral that leads to their taking an MLB-worst 43-76 record into tonight’s game in San Francisco at 10:15 (TV: CSN; radio: 94 WIP).
FRANK FRANKLIN II / AP
Sale now sold on Red Sox vs Yankees rivalry
Boston starter and American League Cy Young Award contender Chris Sale said he didn’t truly understand the depth of the rivalry with the Yankees until he pitched for the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
Sale spent his first seven MLB seasons with the Chicago White Sox before being traded to Boston in December. His first two starts against the Yankees for the Red Sox were at Fenway Park.
“People in New York have never been really nice to me, but they hate me now,” Sale said.
Who couldn’t have told him that?
Sale and his teammates will be back in the friendly confines of Fenway when they play the Yankees at 7:10 tonight on the MLB Network.
What I’m reading
Columnist Marcus Hayes says that he didn’t get into sports to write about politics and social issues, but that when those things sometimes enter the world of sports, he’s not going to ignore them even though he might want to.
Mychal Kendricks played well in the Eagles’ preseason win against Buffalo, but staff writer Paul Domowitch says the oft-criticized linebacker takes it for nothing more than what it was.
Ronald Darby has been with the Eagles less than a week, but staff writer Les Bowen writes the cornerback made a strong first impression with his performance against Buffalo.
Staff writer Jeff McLane breaks down the Eagles’ preseason game against Buffalo and tells us what we learned.
Alshon Jeffery was signed as free agent to become the Eagles’ No. 1 receiver and the primary target for quarterback Carson Wentz. That was fortified after the front office traded Wentz’s previous favorite target, Jordan Matthews. Columnist Bob Ford writes that Jeffery and Wentz needed that first completion to turn the page.
The dynamics of college football has changed dramatically since Penn legend Chuck Bednarik was drafted No. 1 overall by the Eagles in 1949. Ivy League players are now a small percentage of those drafted. There is no guarantee Penn receiver Justin Watson will be drafted in 2018, but staff writer Mike Kern says NFL teams definitely know who Watson is.
It has come way too late and after it might have made a difference, but Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says Penn State, which beat the Buckeyes and won the Big Ten, should have been in the College Football Playoff last season.
I don’t care who wins the overhyped clown-show fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and MMA star Conor McGregor. If, however, you are looking for a choice amid the self-promoting gutter trash, Luke Kerr-Dineen of USA Today gives you a reason to lean toward McGregor.
Kalim A. Bhatti / For Philly.com
The riff
It’s amazing how the first Big Ten Championship in a generation can change things.
At the end of September last season, Penn State was 2-2 and coming off a 39-point thrashing at Michigan. Calls for the sacking of coach James Franklin had gone from whispers to near riotous chants. The administration could have fired Franklin on the spot, and few in Nittany Lion Nation would have questioned why.
Then Penn State, however, won nine straight games, including a shocking upset of then-second-ranked Ohio State and a win over No. 6 Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game for its first outright title since 1994.
Today, Penn State gave Franklin a new contract worth $34.3 million over six years.
Franklin, who already was the highest-paid public employee in Pennsylvania, will make $5.73 million a year — about 100 times the median household income.
Oh yeah, he also became the fifth-highest-paid coach in college football.
That’s called job security.
Friday night’s schedule
TV/Radio
Baseball
Yankees at Red Sox, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
Phillies at Giants, 10 p.m. (CSN; WIP-FM 94.1)
NFL Preseason
Vikings at Seahawks, 10 p.m. (NFL Network)
Golf
U.S. Amateur Championship, 6 p.m. (FS1)
Champions Tour: Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, 7:30 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Australasia-European PGA: Fiji International, 3 a.m. Saturday (Golf Channel)
European PGA: Lawrie Match Play, 5 a.m. Saturday (Golf Channel)
Tennis
WTA: Western and Southern Open, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Boxing
Alberto Machado vs. Carlos Morales, junior-lightweights, 11 p.m. (ESPN)
Soccer
MLS: New York Red Bulls at Portland Timbers, 10 p.m. (FS1)
Auto Racing
NASCAR Monster Energy Cup: NRA Night Race qualifying, 5:30 p.m. (NBC-SN)
NASCAR Xfinity: Food City 300, 7:30 p.m. (NBC-SN)
Little League Baseball
World Series: Walla Walla, Wash. vs. Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., 4 p.m.; South Korea vs. Dominican Republic, 6 p.m.; Greenville, N.C. vs. Sioux Falls, S.D., 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Gymnastics
P&G Championships, 11 p.m. (NBC-SN)
WNBA
Phoenix Mercury at Washington Mystics, 7 p.m. (NBA TV)
San Antonio Stars at Seattle Storm, 10 p.m. (NBA TV)
Local Events
Minor League Baseball
Lakewood BlueClaws vs. Delmarva Shorebirds, 7:05 p.m., FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood, N.J.
Wilmington Blue Rocks vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 7:05 p.m., Frawley Stadium, Wilmington
Saturday’s schedule
TV/Radio
Baseball
Blue Jays at Cubs, 2 p.m. (MLB Network)
Dodgers at Tigers, 4 p.m. (FS1)
Yankees at Red Sox, 7 p.m. (MLB Network)
Phillies at Giants, 9 p.m. (CSN; WIP-FM 94.1)
Nationals at Padres (joined in progress), 10 p.m. (MLB Network)
NFL Preseason
Panthers at Titans, 3 p.m. (NFL Network)
Colts at Cowboys, 7 p.m. (NFL Network)
Broncos at 49ers, 10 p.m. (NFL Network)
Golf
LPGA: Solheim Cup, 8 a.m. (Golf Channel); 4 p.m. (NBC10)
U.S. Amateur Championship, noon (Fox29)
PGA: Wyndham Championship, 3 p.m. (CBS3)
Champions Tour: Dick’s Sporting Goolds Open, 4 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Australasia-European PGA: Fiji Internatonal, 3 a.m. Sunday (Golf Channel)
European PGA: Lawrie Match Play, 5 a.m. Sunday (Golf Channel)
Tennis
ATP: Western and Southern Open, noon, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Boxing
Terrence Crawford vs. Julius Indongo, junior-welterweights, 10 p.m. (ESPN)
Soccer
Premier League: Swansea City vs. Manchester United, 7:30 a.m. (NBC-SN)
Bundesliga: VfL Wolfsburg vs. Borussia Dortmund, 9:30 a.m. (FS1)
Premier League: Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace, 10 a.m. (NBC-SN)
Bundesliga: Schalke vs. Leipzig, 12:30 p.m. (FS1)
Premier League: Stoke City vs. Arsental, 12:30 p.m. (NBC10)
NWSL: Washington Spirit at North Carolina Sky Blue FC, 3:30 p.m. (LIFE)
MLS: Union at San Jose Earthquakes, 10:30 p.m. (TCN)
Auto Racing
IndyCar: ABC Supply 500 qualifying, 1 p.m. (NBC-SN)
NASCAR Monster Energy Cup: NRA Night Race, 7 p.m. (NBC10; WNPV-AM 1440)
Little League Baseball
World Series: Mexico vs. Italy, 1 p.m. (ESPN); Jackson, J.J. vs. Grosse Pointe, Mich., 3 p.m. (6ABC); 6 p.m., 8 p.m. (ESPN)
Gymnastics
P&G Championships, 9 p.m. (NBC-SN)
Horse Racing
Breeder’s Cup Series: Pacific Classic, 8 p.m. (NBC-SN)
WNBA
Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings, 8 p.m. (NBA TV)
Local Events
Minor League Baseball
Lakewood BlueClaws vs. Delmarva Shorebirds, 7:05 p.m., FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood, N.J.
Wilmington Blue Rocks vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 7:05 p.m., Frawley Stadium, Wilmington
Sunday’s schedule
TV/Radio
Baseball
Yankees at Red Sox, 1:30 p.m. (TBS)
Phillies at Giants, 4 p.m. (CSN; WIP-FM 94.1)
Cardinals vs. Pirates at Williamsport, Pa., 7 p.m. (ESPN)
NFL Preseason
Falcons at Steelers, 4 p.m. (NFL Network)
Saints at Chargers, 8 p.m. (NFL Network)
Golf
LPGA: Solheim Cup, 12:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); 4 p.m. (NBC10)
PGA: Wyndham Championship, 3 p.m. (CBS3)
U.S. Amateur Championship, 4:30 p.m. (Fox29)
Champions Tour: Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, 4 p.m. (Golf Channel)
Tennis
WTA: Western and Southern Open, 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
ATP: Western and Southern Open, 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
Track & Field
Diamond League from Birmingham, England, 9 p.m. (NBC-SN)
Soccer
Premier League: Huddersfield Town vs. Newcastle, 8:30 a.m. (NBC-SN)
Bundesliga: Freiburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt, 9:30 a.m. (FS1)
Premier League: Tottenham vs. Chelsea, 11 a.m. (NBC-SN)
Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach vs. Koln, noon (FS1)
MLS: Minnesota United at Seattle Sounders FC, 9:30 p.m. (FS1)
Auto Racing
IndyCar: ABC Supply 500, 2:30 p.m. (NBS-SN; WNPV-AM 1440)
Gymnastics
P&G Championships: men’s, 1 p.m.; women’s, 7 p.m. (NBC10)
Little League Baseball
World Series: Canada vs. Venezuela, 10 a.m. (ESPN2); Fairfield, Conn. vs. Lufkin, Texas, 11 a.m. (ESPN); 1 p.m. (6ABC); 2 p.m. (ESPN)
Junior League World Series championship, noon (ESPN2)
WNBA
Minnesota Lynx at New York Liberty, 3 p.m. NBA TV)
Washington Mystics at Idiana Fever, 5 p.m. (NBA TV)
Beach Volleyball
Manhattan Beach Open, 2:30 p.m. (NBC10)
Rugby
Women’s World Cup: United States vs. England, 11 p.m. (NBC-SN)
Local Events
Minor League Baseball
Lakewood BlueClaws vs. Delmarva Shorebirds, 1:05 p.m., FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood, N.J.
Wilmington Blue Rocks vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 1:35 p.m., Frawley Stadium, Wilmington
Harness Racing
Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack, 12:40 p.m., Chester
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