Philadelphia Phillies Have Been Solved on Both Sides, It Comes Down to Pitches

It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?  It comes down to pitches.  What the heck is he talking about?

Have the Philadelphia Phillies been figured out?  It certainly would seem so. 

How they have been figured out is another question altogether.  I am arrogant enough to believe that I have the answer.

So, often this year, and in past years—even the successful ones—this team has either had trouble scoring runs or has been completely inconsistent with their offense.

This is not even remotely close to being a secret.

However, I get a little bit tired of what the stat nerds are saying—that it comes down to OBP and walks.  It does, and it doesn’t.

What it comes down to is how many pitches these batters are seeing and how they are working opposing pitchers. 

OBP and walks are a badge of this practice, but they do not tell the entire story. 

The entire story is exactly this: be a thorn in the opposing pitcher’s backside!

Remember the 1993 Phillies?  That team went an entire season without being shut out.  An entire season!

This year’s team has trouble getting through a week or two without being shut out. 

When you have no plate discipline, that is what happens. 

That ’93 team went out of its way to annoy the heck out of the other teams pitchers, their number one goal being to get the starter out of the game as soon as possible.  Relievers are relievers because they generally are not as good as starters, perhaps excluding ideal set-up men and closers.

In 2008, the Phillies did not hit opposing starters particularly well.  They won many ballgames after their relief pitchers got into the game, on both sides of the diamond.  Our bullpen held, theirs got shelled. 

In the past couple of years, that trend has reversed itself.  Well, sort of. 

Our bullpen has been shelled, theirs has predominantly been invisible.

Why?  Well, you aren’t going to see much of another team’s pen if their starter has 68 pitches through seven innings.

Personally, I thought that this team was realizing this when, at last year’s deadline, they unloaded Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino, two notorious poorly disciplined hitters.

It was my hope that they were trying to change the club’s approach at the plate.  Not so.

This year, it is as bad as it ever has been. 

I’m not saying that first pitch swinging is always bad, but there is absolutely a time and place for it. 

Ask Cole Hamels.

Ask Cole Hamels?  Yes, ask Cole Hamels.

One of the main reasons for Hamels’ troubles this year (yes, I know he has no run support, but he hasn’t been stellar on the mound either) is that teams are working his pitch count in the early innings. 

This past start is an absolute reflection of that.  Hamels went scoreless through three innings, but he had a pitch count of right around 60 when three innings were complete.  In the fourth, he was trying to be more economical, catching too much of the plate, and he got hit…hard!

That is why I say that teams are getting it.  That is the reason that Cliff Lee tends to be the diamond in the rough this year.  Cliff Lee will always pound the strike zone from the beginning.  It is difficult to work the pitch count on a guy like that. 

Basically, when I say that the Phillies have been figured out, I mean that teams have figured out that if they can get the starter’s pitch counts up and get into our bullpen early, they have a better chance to win the game.

Conversely, they also know that the Phillies are a totally undisciplined ballclub with the sticks.  How many times do we have to watch a batter walk on four pitches followed by a batter that swings at the first? 

These Phillies are frustrating to watch for many reasons, but personally, I believe that this is the biggest one. 

It might just be me, but I’m tired of turning on the tube and seeing the Phillies losing 2-0 in the 6th inning with some mediocre starting pitcher’s pitch count at 62. 

Watching a team that cannot score is maddening.  Knowing why is worse.  Knowing that the other team is doing to you what you should be doing to them?  You got it…even worse!

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Philadelphia Phillies Fans, Do Not Be so Quick to Write off Ryan Howard

As a devout Phillies fan, I will admit that I’ve not always been Ryan Howard‘s biggest fan. He cannot run particularly well, even when completely healthy, he strikes out too much and his fielding is mediocre, at best.

It is possible that we all had “Babe Ruth-type” expectations for the man after his Herculean 2006 NL MVP season, in which it seemed that nobody could pitch anywhere to him without serious reprisal. However, as is the case with many hitters—particularly power hitters—pitchers figured out ways to get the “Big Piece” out. 

That does not mean that the big man does not have value—extreme value—to the Phils, though. 

In this new age world of Sabermetrics, what the “new stat guys” fail to recognize, or at least admit, is that stats do not tell the whole story; they almost never do. You can give me all the WAR stats you want (an unreliable “stat” at best, and many believe it’s one that has not been accurate even within itself), but WAR does not measure the impact that a player’s presence has upon his lineup.

Ryan Howard is the “Big Piece” for a reason. 

Though the Phillies do have other dynamic and better overall players, nobody has the impact on the lineup that Howard does. 

Howard’s presence affects how everyone around him is pitched to. It is no coincidence that Jayson Werth’s best years by far came while hitting fifth behind the big man. His presence has also allowed Chase Utley to see better pitches over the brunt of his career.

Simply put, he scares opposing pitchers—even the left-handers that get him out more often than not.

However, that is not the only value that Howard has.

It comes down to this: For all of Ryan Howard’s inefficiencies, he is a run producer. This is a man who played approximately half of a season in 2012, hit below .220 and still was on pace for over 100 RBI. 

The man knocks in runs, plain and simple.

Does it frustrate me when he strikes out? Of course it does. Am I forced to admit that I’ll take the K’s with another 35/110 season? Absolutely!

Yes, Ryan Howard makes a lot of money to do what he does. Is he still the 40-45 homer 130-140 RBI guy that he was from 2006-09? Probably not. But is he a 30-35 homer 110-120 RBI guy? More than likely.

Is it okay with me that he makes all that money to give us that and provide that lineup presence? Absolutely, because we’ve seen what the Phils‘ lineup is like without Howard. 

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2011 Philadelphia Phillies: We Seriously Can’t Do Better Than Michael Martinez?

Just as a bit of a forewarning, this article will not be long, and it will not be remotely nice.

The Phillies have, without question, a bloated pimple of a utility player that, thank goodness, normally sits on the bench. 

However, with the injury to Placido Polanco in recent weeks, that pimple has come to the attention of most, and now it seems to be coming to a head.

Really, now, Kenny, is it necessary to compare a human being to a zit?  I concede that this is maybe not the most gentle metaphor, but I have to do something to relieve the pain of having to watch one of baseball’s very worst players.

The Michael Martinez apologists out there will usually defend him thusly, “Well, he’s versatile.  He plays multiple positions.  Remember that four-hit game that he had?”

I do remember Martinez’s four-hit game.  I also remember that it pushed his batting average to an embarrassing .219.  So, let’s get this right.  He actually needed to get that four hit game to push above the Mendoza Line?

Michael Martinez has some speed.  However, in 65 and 151 at-bats, he has exactly three steals.  Nine total walks push his pathetic .212 batting average to a .256 OBP, and even his slugging percentage is under .300. 

Is there anyone out there that would like to bring up Martinez’s defense?  Yes, Michael Martinez can play multiple positions.  Yes, he plays both infield and outfield positions.  No, he is not anywhere near a strong fielder at any of those positions.  His fielding percentage hovers at around .950 in both the outfield and at third base.  Personally, I have seen at least three or four instances at third base in which he was “generously” scored and did not receive errors.

To boot, I’ve actually heard people in Philadelphia say how “lucky” we were to get him in the Rule 5.  How is it lucky to acquire a 28-year-old, 145-pound player who had never played a Major League baseball game prior to 2011?

Last year, Wilson Valdez was our “super sub.”  He did a better than admirable job filling in for just about everybody not named Charlie Manuel. 

All of a sudden, Polanco is injured and Valdez is still riding the bench?  It is irrefutable that Valdez is a better hitter, fielder, runner and thrower than Michael Martinez.  Is Martinez performing odd jobs around Charlie’s house? 

Can someone please help me to understand why this “player” is still on a Major League roster?  Not just any Major League roster, the one with the best record in baseball.

Position flexibility is nice, when a player is actually adept at the positions, or at least can hit.

With Valdez able to patrol second base, shortstop and third base, and Mayberry able to patrol all three outfield positions and first base, there is absolutely no need for this individual to take up space in the clubhouse, let alone the actual field.

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2011 Philadelphia Phillies: Getting Healthy, and What That Means for the Bench.

With a large influx from the disabled list, it is not terribly difficult for Phillies fans to feel an upswing in general morale. 

After all, the best second baseman in the game and our number three hitter in our once-vaunted lineup has returned to right the ship.

Our top prospect has come to claim his rightful spot in the outfield on a full time basis.

Our borderline-All Star catcher has returned to put a steadying hand on our pitching staff and to add another .300 bat to the lineup.

Our timelessly young set up man has re-established himself, righting our bullpen.

This is the general consensus, or at least hope, of all Phillies fans. Not so fast, folks.

Even if Chase Utley is back, and even if he is able to stay healthy for the remainder of the year, it will more than likely take a significant amount of time before he is comfortable both in the box and on the field. 

Dominic Brown is our top prospect, and the idea of his “five tool” talents are verily enticing.  However, he has yet to show anything but flashes of said talents in the Majors. To have any kind of expectations for him as an everyday player might be asking too much. Again, the hope is still there.

Carlos Ruiz is a tremendous catcher and handler of pitchers and has, in the past, been a very clutch performer at the dish but this year has yet to show that breakout, .300 stick from last season.

As far as Jose Contreras is concerned, the guy does seem timeless but perhaps the injury from weeks ago is simply a sign that his age is finally catching up with him. After all, Contreras could be 39 years old, as well as possibly 4-5 years older than that!

Of course, in Philadelphia, hope usually does tend to defeat skepticism, even if that hope is somewhat unrealistic.

Is it unrealistic in this case?  Not necessarily.  We are talking about a top prospect and three established players, each with years of quality baseball to support the optimism.

Whether or not Ruiz can hit. 300, Utley can come back to his .300/30/100 ways, Contreras can still be one of the best set up men around and Brown can fulfill his enormous potential this year all remains to be seen.

It does seem more likely that the four of these players will provide a nice spark to the team.  Moreover, one of the most important things that the return of these players provides is some much needed depth to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Wilson Valdez is a terrific utility player who has been forced into a starting role, resulting in the role of utility player being filled by a few players (Martinez, Orr, and the like) who probably do not even belong in the majors. Now, with Utley back, Valdez can resume his role as “everyman” and can spell any of the starting infielders (save Howard) when they need a blow.

Ben Francisco is a nice player and a strong fourth outfielder. He is not well-served as a starter in the lineup and really is not an everyday player.  We pretty much realize that after one third of the season having passed. 

John Mayberry Jr. is also a nice player, and one with quite a bit of versatility, as he has shown the ability to not only play all three outfield positions (invaluable with Victorino still out), but also first base.

With Brown here and the return of Victorino likely coming in the next week or two, platoons are now possible and we now have two capable reserve outfielders, whether they be Mayberry and Brown, Francisco and Brown and Francisco and Mayberry. 

What does this do? Well, for one, it gives the Phillies the opportunity to cast Michael Martinez anywhere besides the Major League club. Yes, it’s nice that Martinez plays multiple positions.  However, he doesn’t particularly play any of them well, and cannot hit his weight no matter where he plays in the field.

When Ruiz came back, it was supposed to have meant that the Phillies could let go of Dane Sardinha, who probably shouldn’t even be playing for the Iron Pigs.  Unfortunately, Brian Schneider immediately went on the DL, thwarting that plan. Thank goodness, with Schneider on the mend and back with the club in a few weeks, we can say an unceremonious goodbye to Mr. Sardinha.

As for Contreras, his return gives the Phillies a very solid and strong eighth and ninth inning combination and can push other relievers to more comfortable roles. It also ensures that the weakest link in the ‘pen will go back down, where he can do no more damage in the late innings.  David Herndon, anyone?

While the addition of Brown, Utley, Contreras and Ruiz is a wonderful prospect and the returns of Victorino and Schneider are also enticing to Phillies fans to right the proverbial ship, possibly the best byproduct is the removal of the Martinez’s, Sardinha’s and Herndon’s of the world. 

It would be nice if all of our starters returned to form, or, at least, if all of them did not have down years, but it is even nicer to think that all of the players on the team’s 25 man roster actually belong in the majors!

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Philadelphia Phillies: Does Anyone Else Miss Mike Sweeney Yet?

There are, I’m certain, many readers out there that will not even read word one of this article—largely because they believe that Mike Sweeney made no impact with the Phillies last year and that, moreover, he is done as a player.

While it is absolutely, irrefutably true that Sweeney is far past his prime, I do not believe him to be past his value to a ballclub. 

Sweeney retired on March 25 of this year, but I do not believe there is any doubt that, had he been signed even to a league minimum contract by the Phils, he would have been back in red pinstripes this season. 

What is the big deal about Mike Sweeney, you ask?

Well, first off, the guy can still hit the baseball and can still occasionally hit it out of the park. He would have made for a decent right-handed pinch hitter with some pop. 

Having said that, there are plenty of guys out there who, at this point, can hit just as well, if not better, than Mr. Sweeney.

So, why am I writing this article?

Have you ever seen a player so excited to be a member of the Philadelphia Phillies?

I’ve been watching this club for 33 years and I’ve never, ever seen somebody so happy to be playing professional baseball in Philadelphia.

That kind of enthusiasm is contagious. Many of our core group of players are, though competitive and intense on the field, more of the laid-back, nonchalant, “brush it off” type of attitude.

Don’t get me wrong, they are professionals in almost every sense of the word, but as many of the greats used to say, “You have to have a lot of little boy in you.” 

And that, I contend, is Mike Sweeney. 

This guy is a former star slugger, a five-time American League All-Star and a player that put up some seriously immense numbers while playing for a perennial loser in Kansas City for over 10 years. 

The first time Sweeney had ever been with a winner was last season with the Phillies, and we could certainly tell. When he hit his first home run as a Phillie, he came into the dugout and started hugging his teammates. 

This is what baseball is supposed to be about. 

Oh yes, the guy also happens to be a grizzled vet, who, aside from actually winning with his team, has experienced just about everything in his long career. Combine that with a youthful exuberance and you’ve got yourself one hell of a bench player. 

Now, I know that there will be those who simply cast this article aside, or even rip it to pieces, because, let’s face it, Mike Sweeney is no longer a star. Hell, he’s not even an everyday player anymore. 

There will be those who criticize my use of this valuable space to even discuss a guy who is not even on the team anymore. This type of fan is usually a numbers-only, fantasy geek who doesn’t truly know how this game is played and won. 

It is a team game, made up of individuals. As we all know, one bad apple can bring down an entire team, even a strong one. 

At the same time, one good apple can bring back a team’s will to win. 

I’ve been a diehard Phillies fan for over 30 years and aside from Chase Utley, my favorite player over this team’s last four years of success was, you guessed it, Mike Sweeney. 

When I saw Mike Sweeney play, or in the dugout during games, I would say to myself, “Now there is a guy that gets it. 

That’s what the game of baseball is all about.”

People actually made fun of me during the offseason when I’d ask daily if anyone had heard if the Phils had signed Sweeney. Even after Cliff Lee, I asked, “Yes, but did they resign Sweeney?” 

Sometimes a player is about more than numbers. Sometimes a player is even about more than what he does when he is playing.

You are all more than welcome to criticize this take. However, with the Phils spending such incredible amounts of money on their players, would it have been such a stretch to go the league minimum on a guy that would bring the invaluable energy and desire to the clubhouse?

Thanks for reading!

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2011 Philadelphia Phillies: Perhaps We’ve Been Underestimating the Little Guys?

Like many of you, I’m sure, I am still high as a kite from the Phils’ Opening Day victory over the Astros. 

Also like many of you, I’ve been a huge proponent of this team learning to hit in succession (what many refer to as “small ball”) rather than to wait for the Big Three to hit home runs. 

Last year, the team received enormous boosts from a few players who were not stars, or for that matter, even regulars.

Wilson Valdez comes to mind, but there were others, including Schneider, Sweeney, Gload and Castro. 

This year, so much has been made about Chase Utley missing…well, we don’t yet know how much of the season he’ll miss, or if he will even play at all.

Chase Utley is my favorite player since Mike Schmidt. In my opinion, he’s the best and most complete player on the team.  He embodies the ideal way that the game should be played.

Having opined thusly, I will say that Chase is still one player.  Can he be replaced by Wilson Valdez?  Let’s not get crazy.

However, Wilson Valdez is a decent player that seems to come up big in the pinch. So did quite a few of the Phillies’ “little guys” in today’s win. 

I suppose that the only way to have achieved a more perfect scenario would have been for Roy Halladay to get the win.  I’m not worried about that, though, as he will have more than his share by season’s end. 

What these guys did in the ninth inning was a true team effort. As a lineup, as individual hitters, they had confidence in one another.  Nobody tried to do too much. With only one exception, each player picked up the preceding player.

The point of this small article is that the team seemed to actually do better last year when they had these seemingly insurmountable injuries. 

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you all that a lineup full of Valdezes would be superior to a lineup with Utley, Rollins and Howard. 

What I will say is that, as these star players get older, they need more and more of a breather to stay in top form.  These bench players (some of whom are thrust into starting roles) are capable Major Leaguers. 

It may behoove Charlie Manuel to trust his “reserves” more and get them some serious at-bats.  It was a strategy that Jim Fregosi employed with the ’93 club, and with outstanding results.

I’m not saying to platoon players.  What I am saying is that guys who are not wiping dust from their uniforms due to idle status won’t be prepared when they do need to come in to help the ballclub.

I certainly want to see Chase Utley return as soon as possible. And though Brad Lidge is about as consistent as half of an umbrella, I’d like him back—if for no other reason than to help cure our seventh inning dilemma.

This baseball team can do great things. 

It is a team that wants to win, and a team that will do well to remember the utilization of the little guys!

As always, I seek your input, even if you think I’m off my rocker.  Thanks for reading!

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2011 Philadelphia Phillies: ARE There Baseball Gods, and If So, Are They Angry?

I believe in the “Baseball Gods.”  No kidding, I really do.

There is just too much baseball karmic history to deny the existence of the baseball higher power, so to speak. 

Having said that, I do not believe that the Philadelphia Phillies or their fans have done anything so terribly wrong so as to anger said Gods. 

What did we do?  Seriously.  We signed a top of the line starting pitcher in the offseason, who wanted to come to Philly.

This is a close-knit, tight team, with a generally strong baseball attitude and confidence, but not arrogance.

I’m getting just a little bit sick of hearing about the Phillies Spring Training curse.

Yes, Chase Utley is out for, well, what we’ll call indefinitely with his knee ailment.  Sure, Lidge will start the season on the DL.  Sure, Oswalt got hit by a line drive, Dominic Brown broke a slump while breaking his hand and yes, we’ve had some other minor problems with Polanco and Victorino.

Remember, folks, this is Spring Training!  It is, admittedly, important to start the season successfully, as many a mid 2000’s Phillies teams will attest.

However, it is paramount to finish the season strongly, and when I say paramount, I mean that it is much more important than the beginning of the season, let alone Spring Training tribulations.

We still have the best starting rotation in baseball.  We still have a strong lineup that, in this writer’s opinion, will benefit from huge comeback years from Howard, Rollins, Victorino and Ibanez.  We still have a strong bullpen, even without Lidge.

Phillies fans, listen up!  We do not have a hex out on us.  We are not remotely cursed.  These are things that happen in baseball. 

If we do get to a point in the postseason in which a play that makes a difference is so outlandish that we cannot possibly explain it any other way, then we’ll call it Baseball God interference. 

This Spring Training is what we’d call growing pains, nothing else.  Any of you that thought we’d even get though the preseason with no injuries do not know how baseball works.  Injuries are part of the game, and I’d like to think that many of us would have learned that last year. 

This Phillies team, even without Utley and Lidge, is still the class of the National League East, if not the National League, if not the entire Major Leagues!

Phils Phans, do not jump ship!  This is going to be the most exciting season that they’ve had since, well, ever!  This pitching staff will win many a game 1-0 or 2-1.  Be excited for the season.  A couple of speed bumps are not going to make the difference in this season that we’ve all been anticipating for months! 

We’ve done nothing to anger the baseball gods.  It’s a top-notch organization that does almost everything the right way, and the Phillies will show everyone in the end.  That much I can almost guarantee!

Thanks for reading! 

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Weak Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies’ Worst Players at Each Position Since 1980

As Phillies fans, we have all shared times of pain and futility.

If you are unfortunate enough to remember the ’84 to ’92 years, or more recently, the ’94 to ’00 seasons, then you’ve experienced as much heartache as any Phillies fans in history.

Thank goodness, we’ve been fortunate enough to experience quite a bit of team success in our times as well. 

I began my journey with the Phillies as a six-year-old in 1979, and I’ve been very lucky to see my team come away with five NL pennants and two World Series championships.

Is it enough to forget the lean years?  It is, but in true Philadelphia fan self-contradiction, it really isn’t.

I wanted to make a list of players who, in the last 30 years, have frustrated me, disappointed me and just flat-out made me want to break my own television set.

I will say before I begin that I am not including statistics herein at all.  I do believe that statistics can be a good measure of a player’s value at times, but I also believe that they can be quite misleading.

Many of the players on this list had some decent numbers, and I’m certain that there will be many vehement disagreements.

I will list reasons for each player, and each player has a special place in the blackest part of my Phillies heart, so without further ado, let’s get into it!

Begin Slideshow

Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and the Phillies Must Try to Redefine Small Ball!

For years now, Phillies fans have been screaming about the Phils playing what they consider to be “small ball.”

Particularly, the criticism has fallen on the shoulders of top of the lineup team members Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino.

So what exactly is “small ball”, especially in the modern age of baseball.

Too often, fans tend to associate the term with bunts, stolen bases and the hit-and-run play.

I contend that there is more to small ball than infield singles, sacrifice plays, steals and the old “hit and run.”

All of these things are involved in “small ball,” don’t get me wrong, but you can play small ball and still manage to hit the ball hard.

This is where Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino come in.

Do these “little guys” go for the home run a little too often?  Probably.

Could they steal more bases?  That is probably a matter of conjecture.

I am certainly no batting coach, which is good, because I enjoy being gainfully employed, but I have noticed that when these guys keep their hands higher, they tend to hit more line drives and fewer fly balls and pop-ups.

Remember when Jimmy Rollins had his 38 game hitting streak?  He was a line drive machine.  When Jimmy won the ’07 MVP, he did hit 30 home runs, but he also was hitting line drives.

Victorino seems at his best when hitting line drives.  Even his enormous grand slam against C.C. Sabathia in the ’08 NLDS was a line drive that barely cleared the left field wall.

My point is that these guys don’t have to chop the ball into the ground and bunt for their hits.  The contention amongst fans is that they both have “Willie Mays Hayes Syndrome,” which is somewhat valid.

They probably do go for the four-bagger more often than they should, but they guys do have some power for their respective, diminutive statures. 

They are at their most successful as hitters when they are hitting line drives for base hits, or line drives in the gaps for doubles and triples.

Now, here’s where the whole “modern definition of small ball” comes into play.

I look at the modern definition of “small ball” as being congruent with the old definition of “the rally.”

For years now, the Phillies have been playing their version of “Earl Weaver Baseball,” which is try to pitch well, and wait for the three run home run.

However, in recent years, when the Phillies pitching was less than optimal, it was more like, “Try to keep us in the game with pitching, and wait for three home runs.”

Well, that is a good strategy when you’ve got the lineup to do it.  Actually, it’s pretty much never a good strategy.

The home run is, admittedly, a big blow, and sometimes can really be a dagger in an opposing team, if it comes at the right time.

The rally, however, is continuous, and is harder to overcome for an opposing team, especially for a pitcher.

A pitcher gives up a home run, and if he has the mental wear-with-all, can proverbially “shake it off.”  It is much more difficult to shake off a rally of five consecutive hits.

When the rally begins, it’s like trying to plug a hole.  As the hits keep coming, the floodgates begin to open, and even the best pitchers out there will begin to crumble.

I like Victorino as a player, and at this point in his career, I consider Rollins to have a chance at Cooperstown.  I just do not think that you take away the pop in their bats.  With that said, perhaps they could concentrate on “leveling off”, instead of swinging from the heels.

I’m not alone in this theory.  Even the greatest third baseman of all-time, the one and only Mike Schmidt, agrees.

At one point in his career, I believe it to have been during his slump in the 1985 season, Schmidtty decided to change his batting approach and stop upper-cutting on the baseball. 

He deliberately swung down on a ball, and actually hit it off the scoreboard in left.  Now, he’s trying to pass this along to the Phils speedsters.

Again, this is not about asking these guys to bunt or chop the ball for infield singles.  We want the pop in the bat, but we know that line drives can result in batting averages that are at least 30 points higher.

Honestly, I do not think that their home runs would be significantly diminished with this approach.

With the uncertainty of Chase Utley’s knee, the first reaction is to say, “Well, we’ve still got Rollins and Victorino, and one of them can hit third.  They can hit home runs.”

One of them could hit third, especially when they cannot both hit leadoff, and Placido Polanco is such a consummate two-hole hitter.

That does not mean, however, that they have to swing for the fences.  If they level off, the home runs will still come, but the hits will come more often.

Once they do get on base, let’s hope that Sam Perlozzo is 10 percent as good with the stopwatch as Davey Lopes was, but that, my friends, is a subject for another time.

Please, as always, share your opinions on this one.  I’d love to hear them.  Thanks for reading!

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Chase Utley Is Hurt, but Philadelphia Phillies Fans Need To Stop Freaking Out

About a month ago, an enormous percentage of the Philadelphia Phillies faithful were making bold proclamations about World Series appearances and World Series wins.

With the semblance of an amazing starting pitching staff, there was not much reason to think anyone was being completely unrealistic. 

Optimistic?  Perhaps. 

Completely unrealistic?  No.

All of a sudden, the team has one spring training injury, and everyone hits the proverbial panic button.

Yes, it is Chase Utley, and yes, Chase Utley is one of—if not the—best players on the team. 

Let us try to remember, however, that this team has got some other pretty good players, like Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco, Carlos Ruiz, etc. 

The Phillies also still have those four guys at the top of their rotation.

Please do not take this the wrong way: Utley is an amazing player, and a presence in the lineup that is not easily replaced—if replacement is possible at all.

But here’s my question: Why even try?

I’ve been hearing for days that the Phillies should pick up Michael Young, who is, admittedly, a really strong player and a very good right-handed bat.  

I know how Philadelphia fans are, and thus, I let it go—until today.

Earlier today, I heard on a Philadelphia sports-radio show (the epitome of sports-fan “mental midgetry”) that, and I quote, “The Phillies should trade Roy Oswalt for Michael Young.”

Are you serious?  We do not even know the extent of Utley’s knee problems (not yet, anyway). 

It is this panic that forces hands into very bad moves.  Thank goodness Ruben Amaro Jr. is not quite so rash.

What happens if you trade one of your four aces for Young?

You’ve got a stopgap who is still a borderline All-Star, but you’re down one pitcher from what had been your biggest strength.

Now, what happens if Utley returns by mid-May or earlier?  I’m certain the Phillies would have no problem finding at-bats for Michael Young, but again, would the move be—in retrospect—a good idea?

Of course, it could go the other way. 

Oswalt’s sometimes balky back could go awry, and he could miss two-thirds of the season, and Utley could not come back at all.

The point I’m trying to make is that the team will cross that bridge immediately before it burns, and so to all the fans out there coming up with these hasty ideas—please chill out!

I understand that it’s something to talk about. 

I also understand that Utley is not your everyday player, and that his importance to the team should never be underestimated.  I also understand that he deserves every chance in the world to right the ship that is his own body. 

I personally believe that he will. 

I’d love to hear your take on this subject, Phillies fans.  If you think that I’m the one who is off his rocker, please, by all means, tell me.  I can handle it! 

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