Hi I'm Bud Selig, you might remember me from such great summer classic movies like Barry Bonds Bikini Blowout, or Roger Clemens Endless Steroid but today I'm talking to you eye to eye, man to man, about a grave injustice, the kind of injustice that makes a fake Indian shed a tear in a public service announcement about littering...As if the Indians never littered. 

But I digress, today I have to tell you the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, or at least as much of the truth that the law of averages allows to spill out of my lemon sucking visage.

Lately a lot of stories in the media have focused on a list from 2003 that purportedly names 104 players who tested positive for steroids.  Well that list is a lie!

Only 96 players tested positive and from what I understand about the law from watching Perry Mason, LA Law, The Practice, etc. that means they're all innocent of any charges, no matter how accurately leveled by the press, fans, or people who actually witnessed them injecting the drugs or may have supplied them.

This isn't about steroids anymore, it's about holding a grudge.  Fine, I can hold one too, right Pete?  But the point I'm trying to make is, out of that chemical sludge crawled a crop of ballplayers the likes of which the game hasn't seen in 150-years and won't see again until drugs get ahead of the testing curve.  Let the cold dead chemical past rest in peace in the Hall of Fame where it belongs.

Do you think the average fan cares why a guy who can't hit .232 fairly, suddenly starts crushing the potato and swats about a jillion homers between the ages of 38 and 50?  I don't think so.  The simple fact is more is better, and triple more is at least twice as good.

So rest assured, as commissioner I will continue vigorously enforcing the integrity of the game, as long as it doesn't impede the dollars flowing into my pocket, because it's all about the benjamin's, dead presidents, and pesos my friend.

Phillies Lose to Rockies 6-3 on Late HR

9-12 Phillies need to sweep Pirates to break even in April

"Quick-pitch fastball," Franklin said to a nodding Fasano.--MLB.com

It sure was seconds later Ryan Franklin (1-2, 4.38 ERA) gave up a home run in the 8th frame as the Rockies evened the series in Philly at 2-2.

Jon Lieber (0-4, 7.04 ERA) saw his 2nd quality start end dismally when the Phillies offense sputtered after scoring 2 runs in the 1st  frame but only managed one more the rest of the way. 

Pat Burrell hit a two run single in the 1st but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.  Poor  base coaching when you consider Burrell missed most of Spring Training because of his injured left foot.

The loss leaves the Phillies and Braves tied for 2nd place in the NL East.

In other news, Phillies prospect Cole Hamels in his AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons debut struck out 14 allowed no runs on  3 hits and no walks. 

Previously in single A Clearwater Thresher games this year Hamels fanned 29 in 20 innings.  This could spell bullpen duty for Gavin Floyd given the short hook the Phillies traditionally use on rookie starters. 

Up next:

Myers, Lidle & Madson are the probable starters facing the Bucs.