Observations from inside the Bank's Vault

By Jared Trexler

Here are 10 of the more interesting findings from the Phillies' 8-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on Friday.

1) A $10 parking pass not only gets you a space on the plush concrete with a sight line to all three multi-million dollar sports complexes (Lincoln Financial Field and the Wachovia Center along with the Bank), but also brings together a Phillies fraternity that includes a hour of free, cheap bear and a scantily clad college girl with a fake Spring Break tan and a massively flirtatious personality (Fine by me). Also, we received Club Risque coupons for after the game. Normally the cover is $20. For just us (at least that's what we told ourselves) it was free. Sweet.

2) The seats in right-center field are among the best in the park. Walk a few rows to the right and you can spit off profanity-laced insults at Armando Benitez. Walk a few rows back and a plethora of food options await you. Walk a few rows to the left and a certain sorority at LaSalle University is well represented.

3) The seats in right-center are also a prime location to snag a home-runball. Barry Bonds crushed a pitch just to our left during batting practice. Randy Winn, Omar Vizquel and Chase Utley went deep down the right-field line. Ryan Howard and Utley crushed pitches into the bullpens. Howard went yard for the second time into the seats in left-center. Aaron Rowand's homer hugged the line in left. Okay, perhaps we were unlucky to see seven homers and not sniff one ball.

4) The Crab fries are too big. I love them, don't get me wrong. But a five-gallon tub of cut potatoes covered with Old Bay seasoning is a bit excessive. Lower the portion and lower the price. I needed a $5.75 beer to saturate the taste of the $5.50 fries.

5) The sausage sandwiches are by far the best sandwiches at the park. I know, I know, Philly is the city of cheesesteaks. However, by the time I wait in line at Tony Luke's, half the game is over and I have an empty feeling when the sandwich is consumed in four or less bites.

6) Fans just have an incredible hatred for Bobby Abreu. After a looping single by Mark Sweeney just fell over Utley's head (yes, the second baseman), a man in front of me shouted, "Why don't you hustle a little more Bobby?!" WHAT?!?!Oh, it gets better. With runners on second and third early in the game, Giants starter Matt Cain threw four pitches well out of the strike zone, basically unintentionally walking Abreu on purpose. The same "fan" then shouted, "Leave it up to Pat (Burrell). Never want the pressure on yourself." OKAY.

7) Some of the "I hope Barry Bonds dies" signs were creative. I liked "Roids-a-Roni: The San Francisco Treat." And the slightly corny "I make tons of money off of stocks. But I hate Bonds," was entertaining at first glance. A few signs made in obvious haste with marker and old poster board that plainly stated, "Cheater!" just weren't that funny. Either prepare something creative or throw on your Howard jersey. And oh, in case people don't know this already (and by the judge of the abundance of them in the stadium last night, I'm not sure everyone does), Jim Thome plays FOR THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX. STOP WEARING HIS JERSEY TO THE BLEEPIN GAME. THANK YOU.

8) Utley and Howard are going to be beloved in this city for many seasons to come. Both are incredible hitters, Utley is always busting it down the line, and Howard is a large man. Nothing hits home with Philly fans more than the love of food and the joy of getting dirty.

9) Gavin Floyd's success over the last two starts is a mirage. And everyone in the stadium knows it. The kid throws a great curveball that he can't harness and a straight four-seam fastball that approaches 92 miles per hour on the gun. No change-up. No splitter. No cutter. A starter with two pitches is doomed to eventually fail.

10) The Giants really don't impress me. With Moises Alou now on the shelf after spraining his ankle while running down a fly ball in foul territory last night, Bonds has zero protection. The starting eight are card-carrying members of AARP and the pitching staff is nothing to write home about. That being said, a win is a win. The Phillies are playing better and I'm cautiously optimistic.

-Jared Trexler will provide a Top 10 List for every Phillies game attended this season. Read his next installment after the May 27th game against the Milwaukee Brewers.