Snelling's Salts Comes to CBP

The People's Phillies Blog will make its annual pilgrimage to Citizen's Bank Park (from our base in New York) for tonight's game against the Cincinnati Reds. For the third straight year we will be forming a new fan group at the game. In 2006, we were [Chris] Roberson's Roadies, and last year we were [Russell] Branyan's Companions. This year we'll be honoring super-sub Chris Snelling as Snelling's Salts. We will be sporting a large poster and cardboard salt shakers, so look for us on the broadcast.

Even if we don't get on TV (which would be a shame), we'll have pictures from the game to be posted on the Blog, along with our customary game recap.

So there you go, one more reason to watch besides to see Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th home run.

Also, a few notes for tonight's game:

• Aaron Harang has not fared well against the Phillies in his career, he has a 1-1 record and a 6.43 ERA in six starts. However his one win came in Citizen's Bank Park. The loss was in Veteran's Stadium.
• Harang and tonight's Phillies starter, Adam Eaton, dueled on April 5th in Cincinnati. Harang went 7 innings and allowed 2 runs, while Eaton lasted 7 2/3 innings and gave up 3 runs. Neither pitcher registered a decision as the Phillies tied the game in the eighth off Kent Mercker. Chad Durbin would get the loss as Ryan Freel scored the winning run on a Paul Bako infield single.
• Harang comes into the game with a 3.81 ERA in 2008, which is similar to the ERA's he's put up since 2005, but he also has a 2-7 record. He already has more losses than he had last year, when he went 16-6 with a 3.73 ERA. However, the losses are mostly due to poor run support. The Reds have scored more than three runs in only three of Harang's thirteen starts in 2008.
• Harang has particularly struggled in night games this year. In six night-game starts, he is 1-5 with a 6.14 ERA.
• Chase Utley has a good chance to extend his home run streak against Harang, as he is batting .455 against him in 11 at-bats. One of his five hits was a home run and two were doubles, giving Utley a .909 slugging percentage against Harang.
• Pat Burrell has also fared well against Harang, going 4 for 9 with a pair of doubles.
• As for Griffey's chances to hit 600, Adam Eaton has surrendered 149 home runs in his career and has a career 1.07 ground ball to fly ball ratio.
• Griffey is the only Red who has put up particularly good numbers against Eaton with three hits in seven at-bats, two of which were home runs.
• In Eaton's April 5th start against the Reds, Griffey was 0 for 2 with an RBI and a walk. Griffey flied out three times, including a sacrifice fly that gave him the RBI, and Eaton walked him intentionally late in the game.
• Finally, Chris Snelling has never played against the Reds nor has he faced Harang. By registering an at-bat tonight, or even coming in as a defensive replacement, he could make history. Chris Snelling history.