Chase Utley Stands Out Among Philadelphia Phillies Stars

The off-season is a funny time for baseball fans, especially when your pro football team is not setting the world on fire.

Following last year’s World Series win by the Philadelphia Phillies, one player stood out in my mind in the off-season: Chase Utley.

In their six-game loss to the New York Yankees this season, Utley again stood tall.

Crowd cheering, chest-pounding, fire-eating, kill your best starter, hide your momma, where’s Obama, we ain’t lying performance.

(Sorry, I recently interviewed Darryl Dawkins, the former 76ers nickname machine, for a B/R story).

The rest of the Phillies team simply did not respond as well in the clutch.

Utley hit five home runs against New York to tie Yankee great Reggie Jackson for the most in a single World Series

He hit two home runs off Yankee ace CC Sabathia in Game One of the Phillies 6-1 win.

Utley stands so close to the plate that he not only gets hit a lot, but he opens up on inside pitches and hits the ball a long way.

His 3/4 swing is text book.

Looking at stories, I saw David Murphy’s Daily News blog titled: “Leftovers: Props for Utley’s base-running; Looking at starters.”

Let me say that great stories often are not written from scratch, but rewritten. The key is to give proper credit.

Murphy pointed out that Utley was ranked the second-best baserunner in baseball over the past five years.

It is a belief that I’ve had for a while, but one finally made in print.

According to John Dewan’s report, Utley finished behind only Grady Sizemore among best baserunners.

Sizemore finished with a +104 Baserunning gain, while Utley was tops among infielders with a +96. To see the whole report, check out the link on Murphy’s story or google John Dewan’s baseball stat of the week.

Murphy, who covers the Phillies, pointed to this example of Utley basepath prowess in his “High Cheese” column:

“The moment that sticks in my mind occurred in early September, in a pivotal game against eventual Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. With two out in the sixth inning of a tie game, Utley stood on first base, having reached on a hit by pitch. The batter, Ryan Howard, sent a line drive screaming toward the gap in right-center field. There were two out, but Utley didn’t just start running on contact, he hit full speed on contact. He didn’t just score from first base. He scored easily.”

The baserunning play I remember was in 2008, I believe when Utley, standing on second, scored on a groundout to second base.

I saw a replay of the moment and the hit ball was a high chopper just in front of the plate, but again, Utley, realizing the situation, never stopped running and scored.

Utley was not that hot in the NLCS or NLDS this season. But, perhaps with a few days rest, was a monster in the 2009 World Series.

He hit .286 in the series with a monster 1.048 slugging average.

Utley is a .295 lifetime hitter.

He won his fourth consecutive Silver Slugger Award recently.

Players, coaches, and managers selected Utley as the best hitting second baseman in the National League.

Utley finished the year with a .282 batting average, .397 on-base percentage, and .508 slugging percentage.  Utley hit 31 home runs and drove in 93 runs.

If there is one kryptonite in Utley’s awesome, all-around game, it is his health. He had hip surgery following the 2008 season.

The lingering pain from the injury, I believe, causes him prolonged slumps during the season.

If healthy for a full season, he could easily hit .300.

As Phillies’ fans, we know we are in the last two years of a five-year baseball glory years for this town.

We have owned the Dodgers for the past two seasons. (That’s another story for another day).

The core of Utley, Rollins, Howard, and Victorino, along with Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez will help the Phillies compete until at least 2011, when some of the big contracts come due.

Until then: Thank you, Chase Utley.

**Photo courtesy of New York Post

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies’ Castro Signing Could Eliminate One Third Base Candidate

The Philadelphia Phillies are set to open its free agent signing as soon as next week with the signing of free agent utility man Juan Castro, late of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The signing appears imminent, according to his agent, who added in a Philadelphia Inquirer report that Castro is out of the country and has to pass a physical to make the signing official.

Castro, 37, is a .230 hitter, with a .270 on-base percentage, in 15 major-league seasons. In 57 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, he batted .277 while playing shortstop, second base, third base, and left field.

While not threatening the starting position of any player, Castro fills the role of Eric Bruntlett, who hit .171 last year for the Phillies.

Seeing that the Phillies let incumbent third baseman Pedro Feliz walk instead of picking up a $5.5 million option next year, the Phillies have left third base open for a new player.

Among the candidates are Chone Figgins of the Angels, Adrian Beltre of the Mariners, Mark DeRosa of the Cardinals, Placido Polanco of the Tigers, and wild card Garrett Atkins of the Colorado Rockies, who avoided arbitration by signing a one-year $7.05 million contract for 2010.

Atkins has been rumored to traded, according to a Rockies’ website.

Out of all the candidates, DeRosa should now be least likely to sign with the Phillies.

Could you imagine two multiple position utility men on the team? The Phillies would have to sell DeRosa as an every day player. I, for one, can’t buy it.

Recently, I and the Phillies wanted DeRosa. That was this past summer, when Feliz was still on the team.

Both DeRosa and Castro bat right.

And, Castro comes cheaper.

Sam Donnellon of the Philadelphia Daily News today lobbied for Figgins, who would replace Jimmy Rollins at the top of the lineup in the story: “Figgins would fit nicely atop Phillies batting order.”

Figgins stole 42 bases last year and had a near .400 on-base percentage.

Some reports, however, said that the Phillies would not be able to pay the money and years that Figgins’ agent wants.

Beltre, in limited time due to an injury, hit .265 with eight home runs. He hit 25 dingers with the Mariners in 2008 and 48 in 2004 with the Dodgers.

Figgins, Atkins, or Beltre would be the only guys I would consider an upgrade on the position.

The best we can hope, as Donnellon suggested, is that Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. is playing it coy and signs Figgins.

If money were an issue, however, a reasonable option would be to sign Beltre.

 

 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

What the Doug Glanville Are the Phillies Up To?

The latest out of the Philadelphia Phillies camp is that they want to feel out the market before they move in free agency.

That is better than the story the day before, where a source said that Mark DeRosa could land on the Phillies to fill the shoes of Pedro Feliz.

According to MLB.com, DeRosa hit .250 with 23 home runs and 78 RBIs last season with the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals. He hit .285 with 21 homers and 87 RBIs in 2008 with the Chicago Cubs. He had wrist surgery on Oct. 26, but his representatives said Tuesday that DeRosa should resume baseball activities before Spring Training.

According to the story by Todd Zolecki, there are reasons why DeRosa would make sense.

He is from the Northeast. He grew up in New Jersey and attended Penn. He has a reputation as a hard worker and good teammate, which the Phillies consider important attributes.

Ryan Howard is from St. Louis, Mo. Chase Utley and Cole Hamels are from California.

Former Phillie Doug Glanville, shown above, went to the University of Pennsylvania, too. He had a nice career for some pretty bad Phillies teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Hard work is an attribute that Phillies fans love. That much is true.

And guess what else? DeRosa made $5.5 million last year. That is the same money the Phillies would have paid Pedro Feliz if they picked up his option.

DeRosa is a nice player, but is he that much better than Feliz?

Their fielding abilities are about even. DeRosa has a better average than Feliz in the last two years.

But DeRosa is not an impact player. There are doubts whether he is an every day player.

So while the Phillies backed off from signing anyone Friday, they left the door open for future signings in the next few weeks or months.

They are probably waiting to see what the Angels offer Chone Figgins.

Figgins could well be off the board by Friday. The Phillies are willing to take that chance.

Or are they just posturing?

If they don’t sign Figgins on Friday, then look for them to go after Adrian Beltre or DeRosa.

But don’t cry poor.

While the Phillies paid $106.75 million for 12 players, which included arbitration-eligible players like Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, and Carlos Ruiz, they need help at third base, in the bullpen, and on the bench.

The Yankees? The 2009 World Champions? Their payroll is $192.35 million.

I don’t mind if the Phillies wait, even if it mean they miss out on Figgins.

Just step up to the plate financially when the time comes, Phillies.

I don’t care what region of the country the player comes from.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

For Philadelphia Phillies, Friday Looms As Fast Break from Past

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies: Why Toss Feliz If You Don’t Go Big at Third?

When Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro declined the $5.5 million contract renewal of incumbent third baseman Pedro Feliz, he suggested the Phillies could upgrade the position.

I heard Randy Miller of the Bucks Country Currier Times on WIP today and he said Chone Figgins, with more than 40 stolen bases and near .400 on-base percentage, would probably be too much money for the Phillies to pay.

A story on SI.com suggested teams were perhaps going to have lean winters, free-agent wise.

Perhaps the truth, but perhaps posturing to see what top player would break the market. To date, only Ken Griffey Jr. signed with his original team, the Seattle Mariners, for $2 million and incentives.

Miller also suggested that Phillies might go after Colorado’s Garrett Atkins, shown above. In just over a half season in 2009, he hit .225 with nine home runs and 48 RBI.

In 2008, however, he hit 21 home runs and 99 RBI. In 2006, he finished 14 in the MVP voting with a .329 batting average, 29 home runs and 120 RBI. And he was Phillies second baseman Chase Utley’s roommate at UCLA.

According to a report in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies were looking at Placido Polanco, Mark DeRosa, or Adrian Beltre for third base.

In my mind, only Beltre would be an upgrade from Feliz.

We could agree on this: The Phillies probably will not sign Blue Jays’ pitcher Roy Halladay. Nor will Johnny Damon come to the team.

But again, I ask: Why get rid of Pedro Feliz and bring in a Mark DeRosa?

An upgrade? With all respect to DeRosa, he is a better utility player at this point in his career. Polanco is more comfortable at second, where he played for the Tigers.

Although they were not ruling out a return of Feliz, it is not likely.

I don’t blame Amaro for letting Feliz become a free agent and holding off on finding a replacement until the free agency period begins Nov. 20. If you’re gonna let a great defensive third baseman go, why not go big? Huh? Come on, now!

You brought in more than three million people into the gates last year. You were the best team in the National League.

Show some faith. Bring in a third baseman that will improve the team offensively and bring the same defense provided by Feliz.

Atkins, Polanco, Beltre, or DeRosa might fit.

Anything else would be egg on Amaro’s face. Think of it: The day the Phillies sign DeRosa, Feliz signs with the Braves for $7 million along with former Angels’ pitcher John Lackey.

Figgins would be a big upgrade.

Make it happen.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Hot Rumors Follow Hot Stove as Phillies and Others Try To Improve

Less than a week after the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games to win their 27th World Championship, the Hot Stove League has begun in earnest.

Even before the general managers meeting in Chicago on Nov. 10-11, trades have been made in the fresh offseason.

The Pirates and the Rays made a deal on Nov. 3, with Tampa Bay sending second baseman Akinori Iwamura to Pittsburgh for reliever Jesse Chavez. Two days later, the Marlins traded outfielder Jeremy Hermida to Boston for left-hander Hunter Jones.

The next day, the Royals sent infielder-outfielder Mark Teahen to the White Sox for second baseman Chris Getz and third baseman Josh Fields.

The Phillies, among other teams, did some internal housekeeping in the past week. They exercised the option of pitcher Cliff Lee for $9 million, declined the option on third baseman Pedro Feliz, and told pitcher Brett Myers that they would not re-sign him.

Again, as it was during the trade deadline over the summer, rumors have started about Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay. A rumor heard on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia teased of a possible deal involving Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels and Halladay.

Rumors are usually just that, but let’s take a look at this deal:

Hamels was 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA. Halladay was 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA.

Hamels will be 26 two days after Christmas, and Halladay will be 33 in May.

Me? I would not do it but would accept it if the deal happened. Hamels is a head case but too good a pitcher to give up on.

As with most rumors, it probably will die in the rumor mill.

When the Phillies did not exercise the $5.5 million option on Feliz, I thought they would have a replacement on hand Monday. There was none, likely because free agent signings cannot happen until Nov. 19.

The Phillies kept their options open with Feliz, who after Sunday’s decision by the club filed for free agency.

The Phillies are looking at the Angels’ Chone Figgins, Seattle’s Adrian Beltre, and the Cardinals’ Mark DeRosa to replace Feliz.

Figgins remains one of the key free agents this year.

Some interesting names could help the Phillies infield as a starter or in backup roles in some cases: Placido Polanco and Miguel Tejada, who both could play third base; Mark Loretta, Craig Counsell, and Fernando Tatis.

White Sox pitcher Octavio Dotel, a right-hander, could shore up the Phillies bullpen but is a Type A free agent and would cost a draft choice.

Pitching, both starters and relievers, is a concern to the Phillies, along with the bench and third base.

With the exception of third base, however, slight adjustments are needed for the National League champions.

What would I do? I’d sign Figgins of the Angels as a free agent third baseman, pick up some free agents for the bench and as infield backups, such as Loretta or Tatis, to replace Eric Bruntlett, and a left-handed bat to replace Matt Stairs, if possible.

I’d also add an arm to shore up the bullpen.

The closer spot remains an issue, but knowing Phillies manager Charlie Manuel’s loyalty, Brad Lidge will remain the closer in 2010.

But could you imagine if Lidge blows up and midseason the Phillies need to find a closer?

Teams would and should hold the Phillies for ransom.

You have to let this situation ride. If it is not right by May, consider Ryan Madson for the job and go out and get another bullpen guy.

One publication or web site called Lidge’s three-year deal signed in 2008 “silly.”

Funny, it seemed like a pretty good deal to me considering Lidge was in the midst of a 41-for-41 save season in 2008.

As much as the club says it is keeping the lines of communications open with Feliz and his agent, general manager Ruben Amaro’s comments have made it clear that the club will make a change at the hot corner.

I’d be happy with the Phillies signing Figgins or Beltre.

Figgins would probably become the leadoff hitter, and Jimmy Rollins would move down in the order. Figgins would thrive in Philadelphia as a base stealer, as he had 42 stolen bases last year for the Angels.

Beltre, if healthy, is a productive hitter with more pop than speed and has an excellent glove.

One thing is clear: With the departures of Myers and Feliz, the Phillies will have a different look next year.

** Information gathered from MLB.com

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

For Philadelphia Phillies, It Is Time To Chase Away Winter Blues

If in a loss everything would have a Phillies hue, perhaps if Chase Utley would have hit a two-run home run in the late innings of Game Six, and his Reggie Jackson breaking performance could have earned him the World Series MVP in a losing cause.

If the dinger was off Mariano Rivera and pulled the Phillies within a run or two of what was in reality was a 7-3 World Series clinching-victory for the Yankees…

But sadly it is merely a dream not based in any reality and certainly not to take away from the monster-like performance of Hideki Matsui, hitting a home run and driving in six out of the seven Yankees runs in the Yankee clincher.

I just had to justify my headline and get back into reality.

The first order of offseason business is whether to renew the option on third baseman Pedro Feliz. While an excellent defensive third baseman, Feliz does not provide the optimal offensive production out of the position, especially since the team’s catcher does not also.

The club option is Feliz is $5 million in 2010 with a $500,000 buyout if the Phillies don’t exercise the option.

Here what I would do and I will accept, as a fan, whether they keep Feliz or not.

If you sign Feliz, make an effort to sign Cardinals utility man Mark DeRosa, shown above, who will be 35 when the baseball season starts. He can play six positions and has a .272 lifetime average.

If you don’t sign Feliz, you could go after Chone Figgins of the Angels, a 2009 All Star who hit .298 with 42 stolen bases.

The other option would be Adrian Beltre, who battled injury last year with the Mariners and filed for free agency in 2010. He hit .265 in limited time and has two Gold Gloves at third base.

All three want big money; however, ultimately, DeRosa might be the most likely guy to play part time, due to his age.

The pitching staff, especially the starters, are the next biggest question mark for the Phillies.

Cliff Lee, who was lights out in the playoffs and World Series, is due for a $9 million in 2010. A steal in today’s market.

However, any long term talk might involved CC Sabathia money and his seven-year, $161 million contract. The Phillies don’t usually go more than three years, but I would go four for a pitcher like Lee. Even if he will be in his mid-30s nearing the end of the contract.

I’d say bye bye to Brett Myers, first of all, and secondly to Jamie Moyer.

However, Myers may be kept as an option to Lidge in the bullpen, while Moyer has a year left on his contract.

It also will be interesting to see what the Phillies will do with Pedro Martinez. The 38-year-old is entertaining and engaging. But in his performance in Game Six of the World Series, his fastball lacked giddy up through the first three innings, when the Yankees took control of the game in the third inning.

On the strikeout of Alex Rodriguez in the third inning, I saw on television that the fastball hit 90 MPH.

Just like it took time for Martinez to warm up, the Phillies can take time to make a decision on Martinez, unless another team steps up and offers the future Hall of Famer more money and years.

I also would improve the bench. Ben Francisco was the Phillies best right-handed bat off the bench and he did a nice job.

Matt Stairs wants to play one more year, but personally, I think he will be hard pressed to come up with a home run again like he did in Game Four of the 2008 NLCS. I would say thanks, Matt, see you, and good luck.

Do you think it is too early to think about improving?

Nope. Apparently the Yankees are beginning thoughts of obtaining Cardinal’s outfield Matt Holliday and pitcher John Lackey.

And while Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui performed very well in the World Series and are free agents, Damon is 36 and Matsui is 35.

As I have stated many times, since midseason, I wanted to play the Yankees in the World Series.

I am not disappointed.

Without a salary cap in baseball, the Yankees have the money to spend on top talent.

Should the Phillies follow suit? No.

There is only one team that has the huge television contract in the largest market in the country.

It is not wrong. There is no salary cap.

The Phillies took the Yankees to six games. After the Game Four loss, I lost my fear and was confident of the Phillies winning it all by taking Game Six and Seven.

It didn’t happen, but despite losing, it was a great Phillies’ season.

The Phillies have to answer to themselves and find a way to stay competitive, with a great nucleus of talent, and make the offseason and midseason moves to stay as a the team that is hard to beat.

 ** Information obtained from Philly.com

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

For Yankees, John, Paul, and George Enough: Who Needs Ringo?

As I sift through the rubble that was the New York Yankees 27th World Series title, being a Phillies fan, I feel not shame, but respect for our conquerors.

A 7-3 victory in Game Six gave the Yankees a 4-2 victory Wednesday night in the Bronx.

As I have stated several times in this format, and to friends, I thought the series was over after Game Four, a 7-4 Yankees victory. The Yankees at that point, had a 3-1 series lead.

But in Game Five, for fans of both teams, the pendulum swung, as the Phillies lit up A.J. Burnett for six runs in two innings and with an 8-6 win, closed the series gap to 3-2.

Burnett left the game in the third inning without recording an out.

I jumped on the opportunity to write a pro-Phillies story that stated my team would take the next two games, largely due to the Yankees’ use of a three-man rotation. Obviously, it didn’t happen.

But Monday’s Yankee loss was enough for New York fans to question Joe Girardi’s decision to use a rotation of C.C. Sabathia, Burnett, and Andy Pettitte, pictured above exiting Wednesday’s game in the sixth.

While writing the headline, I thought of other great, four-men groups.

None better than the Beatles. John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were the orginal members, along with drummer Pete Best. Best was dropped and Ringo Starr added.

Their song, P.S., I love you by the Beatles is running through my head (“As I write this letter (story) ..”), but the song should be Blue Oyster Cult’s Godzilla .

“Stupid DH rule,” I texted my buddy after Hideki Matsui hit a two-run home run off Pedro Martinez.

Matsui, the Yankees designated hitter who went 3-4 with a home run and six RBI, accounted for most of the Yankees offense on Wednesday.

His .615 series average and monster Game Six, earned Matsui the Series’ MVP award.

Pettitte won two games in the series, and the Phillies could not take advantage of his five walks in the deciding game. Sabathia pitched well, and although Burnett imploded in Game Five, he got the win in Game Two.

So, while Phillies fans gloated following Game Five, and Yankees fans shivered in fear, Tuesday’s off day gave me pause, and some clearer thinking.

Going into Wednesday’s game, I realized that from the Yankees’ point of view, they absolutely needed to win Game Six, and not allow a Game 7.

I heard on the FAN, WFAN, 66-AM on Wednesday, that Mariano Rivera would pitch three innings if necessary.

It wasn’t. Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte got the job done.

Too bad. Because in Game Five, one thing was true for Phillies fans:

Things go better with Coke.

Congrats, Yankees.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Looks Like Somebody Forgot To Tell Phillies To Start Spreading the News

Following the Yankees 7-4 defeat of the Phillies on Sunday night, I had all but conceded in my mind that the 2009 World Series was over.

The Yankees had erased a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning to score three runs off Phillies closer Brad Lidge. The win gave the Yankees a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.

But with Cliff Lee going in Game 5 in Philadelphia, I thought there was a more than better chance of getting the series to at least a Game 6 in New York on Wednesday.

My other thought, was as well as the Yankees played and came from behind, the Phillies were due for an offensive breakout. This lineup top to bottom, especially the bottom, is better than the Yankees.

Chase Utley hit a three-run home run in the first inning and the Phillies continued to pound the ball all game long.

Yankee starter A.J. Burnett was lifted in the third inning with the Phillies holding a 6-1 lead.

Burnett’s line? Two-plus innings pitched, four hits, six runs, four walks, and two strikeouts.

Burnett was working on three days rest and by his own admission, location was a problem all night.

When Burnett got knocked out in three innings, I was confident that the Phils could get to the Yankees’ bullpen. Burnett was 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA on three days’ rest and won Game Two of the series.

Not a problem. Especially for Chase Utley, who is now batting .333 in the World Series, with five home runs, tying a record set by Reggie Jackson in 1977. He also has eight RBI in the five games.

A nail-biting 8-6 Phillies win moved the series back to New York and put the defending World Champs in a 2-3 hole.

Yeah, but the Yankees have two games at home to close the series with Andy Pettitte and C.C. Sabathia, both on three days’ rest.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi was lauded by many baseball experts for his success with a three-man rotation of Sabathia, Burnett, and Pettitte through the playoffs. But Pettitte has a 4-6 record with a 4.15 ERA on three days’ rest heading into Game Six. He will be faced by Pedro Martinez, who has a 0-1 record in the World Series with a 4.50 ERA.

So I can see the Phillies offense continuing to stay hot and the sooner they get Pettitte out of the game, the better.

I also heard on 660 AM WFAN that Rivera could pitch three innings if needed in Game Six. That is assuming that Pettitte goes six innings.

Martinez is working on full rest.

So I can see my way out of Game Six and the Phillies forcing a Game Seven.

It would be Sabathia, likely facing Cole Hamels. But Hamels will be on a short leash and could be followed by Lee and J.A. Happ.

Will the Yankees just roll over and die? Nope. They have not done so all season.

But it is my theory that the three days’ rest experiment will fall flat on Girardi’s face. Blow up, explode, New York sports stations’ radio lines burning up with criticism.

Starters will not go past five innings in either game and the Phillies will feast on the rest of the Yankee bullpen. The Phillies bullpen will assuredly have to patch together to preserve consecutive wins.

The Phillies? Why did they pitch Joe Blanton Lee in Game Four and not Lee?

Blanton would then pitch Game Five, Martinez in Game Six, and Hamels in Game Seven.

“I’ve see it work, and I’ve seen it not work …” said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel in today’s Philadelphia Daily News.

So let the baseball experts criticize Manuel and laud Girardi.

Who was considered the smart manager in last year’s World Series? Manuel, the country bumpkin or Tampa Bay manager Joe Madden, who spoke eloquently and lost the series in five games?

It is an unmovable force in the Yankees against a Phillies team that believes it can win every night. The Yankees climb back from huge leads, but as the series rolls on I am sure the Phillies bullpen is better than the Yankees, save Rivera.

It is the first World Series to go more than five games in six years.

The Phillies are trying to become the first team since the Kansas City Royals came back from a 1-3 deficit against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985.

In my mind I can more easily envision a Yankees’ series win and the players running out onto the field while “New York, New York” plays on the loud speaker.

I cannot envision the Phillies rolling out onto Yankee Stadium in victory.

That’s OK.

The Phillies can see it.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

It’s Up to You, New York, New York…Yankees

I am not going to blast Brad Lidge, but he is not on the same planet as Yankees’ closer Mariano Rivera.

Then again, no one else is.

The key moment of this game is shown above.

With two outs in the ninth inning, Johnny Damon hit a bloop single to left field.

With Mark Teixeira batting, Damon took off for second. After beating the throw, he realized no one was on third (due to the Phillies using a heavy shift for Teixeira). He judged that he could beat Pedro Feliz, who’s momentum was carrying him toward first, to the bag.

Damon took off and easily took third, beating Feliz and Lidge, who seemed to be trotting over.

Now with a man on third and two outs, Lidge no longer could throw the slider for a strike, slider-in-the-dirt combo. If the ball got away, Damon scores the go-ahead run.

Lidge, limited to his fastball and change-up, hits Teixeira.

Now, here is my knock on Brad Lidge: Too bad Lidge didn’t hit A-Rod, because he would have been thrown out of the game.

Alex Rodriguez followed with a go-ahead double and Jorge Posada singled in two more runs. The score was 7-4 at that point.

Ball game. Series. Game recap.

The game had not been won yet, but in the Yankees’ mind, it was won when Rodriguez stepped up to the plate.

Before Rodriguez was introduced as the next batter and Damon was on third, Yankee closer Phil Coke sat down and Rivera got up.

The game was tied at that moment, but the Yankees knew, even with two outs, that Rodriguez would get a knock against a shaken Lidge, or that Lidge would throw a wild pitch to put the Yankees ahead.

The Phillies will get a reprieve with Cliff Lee on the hill Monday in Game Five.

The Phillies may, and should, believe that they can come all the way back. Only a few teams have come back from a 3-1 hole in the World Series. Only one against the Yankees in 14 tries.

They did a good job to tie Sunday’s game, as Pedro Feliz hit a clutch game-tying home run against Joba Chamberlain.

The Phils even got C.C. Sabathia out of the game with two outs in the seventh inning following C.C.-killer Chase Utley’s solo shot. Utley is 4 for 6 with 3 HRs against Sabathia this World Series.

Many good things can be taken from this, but here are a few things to consider:

* Brad Lidge is no longer the guy who can win you a World Series. Not this year.

* The Phillies place in history is not set unless they come back and win this World Series.

* If Cliff Lee pitches a complete-game shutout again Monday in Game 5, he could be only the third player in history to win a series MVP on a losing squad.

* Derek Jeter is the likely series MVP, he is hitting .412.

* While the Phillies have 43 come-from-behind win this season, the Yankees have 51. It is not just luck, these guys are good.

* The Phillies are not the Yankees or the Big Red Machine. They have to make their own history.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »