No, that wasn't Keith Groller running on the field at Phils-Cards game

Lots of people close to me know that I was at the Phillies-Cardinals game on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Not as a reporter, but in section 123 behind home plate.

And their first impulse was to question whether that was me who jumped down to the field from the left-field stands and jogged across the warning track to center field and then was cuffed and taken off the field.

Not only did the guy have my body type, but some people thought it was me because it seemed to distract Cole Hamels as he was about to start the ninth inning and the Cardinals were able to get to him for their only run of the game immediately after the delay.

No, it wasn't me as we are now reporting elsewhere online and my fear is that we're going to see a lot of other morons do this in the future after all the publicity the taser-incident has attracted.



"Tase him!" might be the most popular chant at the old ballpark.

Anyway, it was enjoyable game even though the ending wasn't necessarily to my liking on Tuesday night.

Hamels was, admittedly, superb, and certainly had Albert Pujols frustrated. When you hold the Phillies to one run in regulation, you should win the game, but the Cardinals couldn't do it.

So, that was probably my only time of the year in the stands at Citizens Bank Park this year and other than the continuing traffic troubles, it was enjoyable. Expensive, but enjoyable.

Talking about seeing red. With these back-to-back World Series appearances, Phillies merchandise is still flying off the shelves and I would say 9 out of every 10 people was wearing Phillies attire of some kind.

You didn't see that four, five years ago, before the team went on this roll. Back in say, 2004-2005, you went to a Phillies-Cardinals and you saw almost as many St. Louis fans there as Phillies fans. Not the case anymore. Phillies Phever continues to flourish.

If I have a complaint down there, it would be how tight it is in the seats. If you don't fold your arms, you're definitely going to be shoulder-to-shoulder with the guy sitting aside of you. Not much eating room, and believe me, I do like to eat even if I have to take out a second mortgage to cover the cost of two hot dogs and a beer down there.

Also, I had a good night at the IronPigs game on Monday. The rain washed out the local schedule on Monday and at the last minute, I was able to go and see the 'Pigs game from section 111. And I must say, they are much comfortable seats than at Citizens Bank Park.

One thing that impresses me about the Pigs fans is how much they are into the games.

Some come only for the entertainment, sure, but a lot of people near me hang on every pitch and really want this team to win. They know what's going on. And they get ticked off when the team doesn't play well.

For me, though, the star every night at the ballpark is Lindsey Knupp, the girl who runs all of the between-inning schtick.

Maybe it's because I know her and covered her when she was an athlete herself at Northampton, but she is such a nice person and a hard worker. She really puts her heart and soul into all of those between-inning games. The IronPigs ought to give her a contract extension and make sure she's around as long as possible.

And just one more thing: Please let Hambone win one of these nights. It's heartbreaking to root so hard for a ham, only to see him (or her) come up short night after night and lose to an obnoxious hot dog or strip of bacon.

I don't know why that race cracks me up every night, but it does.

FROM KEITH GROLLER