Altoona's MLB affiliate in town for weekend series

The Phillies are looking to end the first half of the season on a high note and continue a strong homestand when they begin a series tonight with the Altoona Curve's Major League affiliate the Pittsburgh Pirates. The all-the-sudden-home-game-winning Phillies hope playing Altoona's affiliate doesn't dampen the Bank's high energy atmosphere during the last series before the All-star break.

Altoona's affiliate is 38-47 this year with a firm hold on the National League Central division's last place. The team is headed for it's 16th consecutive losing season, which, incidentally, would tie a Phillies record from early in the 20th century.

Altoona, only a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh, has sent several players up to the Pirates for rehabilitation assignments so far this year. If a player sees three rivers he is either hurt or can't quite make it on the Curve.

"I hurt my knee early in May and I was on the DL," said Altoona's center fielder, Vince Bordon. "It was disappointing, but I was sent up to the Pirates for three games before I could return to the Curve. It was tough."

Being sent to the Curve's major league affiliate is not something that is easy for the team's manager to tell a young player. The attendance for home games is less than a quarter of what it is in Altoona and those that do show tend to sit in the stands and listen to CD's of this year's Super Bowl.

"It's not easy to call a kid into your office and tell him he's going up to the major league club ... even if it's for only one game," said Curve manager, Jim McShane.

"Once you make it to the show you want to stay at the show," said Pirates' first baseman, Adam LaRoche. "In Pittsburgh I can walk around the mall and not have to sign any autographs. I hear it's the opposite in Altoona."

LaRoche has been trying to make it down to the Curve since arriving in Pittsburgh three years ago. The California native realizes that hitting .256 with 12 home runs will not get a player down to the Curve.

"I have to perform better if I want to make it down to the Show," said LaRoche.