The Philadelphia Phillies have declined Pedro Feliz’s $5.5 million dollar option for 2010 and will let the gold glove caliber 3rd baseman test the free agent market. Although technically the Phillies could still wind up resigning the man responsible for the game-winning hit in Game 5b of the 2008 World Series (pictured), Pete Happy has most likely played his last game as a member of the Phillies.

You want quotes from an actual news story about it? Well then that’s what you’ll get.

Scoopmaster Jim Salisbury’s words:

The team announced last night that it had declined the third baseman’s $5.5 million contract option for 2010. Feliz, who becomes a free agent, will be paid a $500,000 buyout.

With the move, the Phillies will look for an alternative at third base. It the team does not find one, it can re-sign Feliz to a new contract, probably for less than the $5.5 million he would have been guaranteed had the Phils exercised his option.

“This doesn’t preclude us from bringing Pedro back,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “While this allows us to explore other opportunities, we will keep the lines of communication open with Pedro and his representative.”

That’s pretty much what I just said up top, but doesn’t it look so much more “official” if I format that shit with quotes from Ruben himself?

Thanks for your service, Pedro. I think people will miss your glove more than they think.

Phillies decline option on Feliz | Inquirer

After the four-game sweep in LA, the Phils would have just over a week before they had to face them again, this time on their home turf at Citizen’s Bank Park.

And while the Phillies had their way with the Dodgers in the first two games of the series (thanks to strong starts from Kyle Kendrick and Cole Hamels) they faced their biggest challenge during game three, when Joe Blanton faced Hiroki Kuroda .

Both starters would pitch six solid innings, leaving the fate of the game in the hands of both evenly-matched bullpens. The Dodgers would strike first in the seventh inning, when a big two-out single by the perennially prickly Jeff Kent gave the Doders a 2-1 lead. They took that lead into the ninth when Pete Happy, fresh from the disabled list, had a two-out RBI single of his own plating Shane Victorino to tie the game.

Little did we know, that would end up ranking as his second biggest hit of the game.

And his biggest moment of the night? Well, that happened a couple innings later, and is our 4^th biggest moment of the regular season.

In the top of the 10^th, the Dodgers would threaten to take the lead after loading the bases with no outs, but the Phillies would steer out of the rocky waters after Pedro Feliz turned a sharp grounder into two outs, with the Dodgers eventually getting turned away.

It would be in the 11^th, however, when Pedro had finally seen enough: With two on and two out, Feliz sent the first pitch he saw from Jason Johnson into seats in deep left-center, giving the Phillies the win, and setting the stage for the four-game sweep the next night.

After the jump, take a look at Pedro’s walk-off…

After yesterday’s incredible win, Miss Apody was attempting to get some player interviews, but wound up getting soaking wet from a combination of Myers’ Bud Light and Feliz’s champagne. Her immediate cry of “Not cool!” was completely ignored and after she asked Pedro why he’s wearing googles, he proceeded to pour champagne on her head. While she was struggling to see, he told her, “If you would have them on, you wouldn’t be like that.”

Enjoy the visuals, which aren’t quite as hot as last year’s Champagne Bukkake recipient, Jade McCarthy:

On Kevin Gregggg’s first pitch of the ninth, Marlins catcher Matt Treanor was set up for a nice inside fastball. Kevin, obviously unaware of the catcher’s complex signs, threw a curveball in the dirt. This crossed-up the Florida backstop, and when he tried to adjust — it nipped the tip of his glove, bounced off the dirt, and hit him directly in the balls.

The cringe-worthy evidence:

haha, he said, “1 ball and no strikes.”

Not only was the injury-proof Dominican unharmed, but he actually stayed in the game to record his NL-leading 15th save. It was honestly one of the most impressive feats I have witnessed in my life. Sorta like that time I passed out from a nitrous balloon, smacked my head on the corner of a table, and still stayed up to drink the whole night.

Must watch video, after the hyperlinked text…

Red Lasso of the Phillies feed