The Zo Zone

Let's talk about streaking.

The Phillies had their three-game winning streak snapped yesterday in a 3-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park. But the Phillies have won six of their last eight games, which, generally speaking, means they are streaking in a positive manner. If they take two of three this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays, they will be 22-22 when they leave for a six-game road trip next week in Florida and Atlanta. If they sweep, they will be 23-21.

Now that would some serious streaking.

More serious than what we witnessed before the top of the seventh inning. A man jumped over the left-field fence and streaked across the field before police, security and grounds crew tackled him on the outfield grass near second base.

The nickname of the guy who put the first hit on the streaker? Dingle.

Not only did the guy run naked on the field, but he ran naked on the field holding his pants (or shorts). As he was handcuffed and arrested, one of the security guards actually had the job of trying to hold the pants over the man's stuff as he was hauled away. Somebody give that man a raise. But seriously, in the split second this happened, who made that call?

"Sorry, Timmy, but you've got to do it. You've got to take these pants and hold them as close to him as possible."

"Why me?"

"We don't have time, man! Just do it!"

From a distance the streaker had a beard and moustache, but otherwise resembled Will Ferrell's character in Old School based on his gait and physique. Or maybe he reminded me of Ferrell only because he was pasty. And naked.

I'm sure somebody wasn't happy about his antics. Honestly, good or bad, most of the crowd seemed to enjoy it. (The game had been a downer for Phillies fans up until that point because Brewers righthander Ben Sheets had shut down the Phillies offense.) The crowd was buzzing minutes after he had been hauled away and play had resumed. And afterward in the Phillies clubhouse, players and coaches still couldn't stop laughing and making wisecracks as they thought about it.

"That's a pretty confident move," leftfielder Pat Burrell said.

Confident? Yes. But he faces up to a year in jail or a $2,500 fine.

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Phil Sheridan tackles Freddy Garcia's displeasure with manager Charlie Manuel. Garcia wasn't happy that Manuel pulled him after 5 2/3 innings. He said he has been around this league long enough and had enough success that he deserved to work out of his sixth-inning jam.

Perhaps. But he probably deserves that chance when he hasn't thrown 114 pitches and loaded the bases in a one-run game. (Geoff Geary came in and worked out of the inning without a run scoring.) Garcia has thrown too many pitches too early in the game too often this season. He hasn't been the horse the Phillies thought they were getting. I'm sure Manuel will say that he's glad Garcia expressed his feelings that he wanted to pitch. But I'm sure he's also thinking, "Then go out there and dominate somebody."

Of course, Garcia might say, "I threw 70 pitches after six in Arizona and you still pulled me."

It looks to me like Garcia, who is a free agent after the season, hasn't enjoyed his time here. If he starts pitching better, maybe that goes away.

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The latest Philliescast is up.

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A Citizen's Blog takes a look at the Blue Jays/Phillies series this weekend at the Bank, and how the Phillies have been snake bit while the Braves have been lucky.

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Thanks to the 700 Level Sports Fanatics at Sports Radio 950. They were broadcasting live from Tony Luke's last night -- and not only did they have me join them, they got me a roast pork with sharp. For my money -- or theirs -- that's the best sandwich in town.