Two weeks ago, when Chase Utley went down with a broken hand, it seemed like an elusive Phillies playoff berth would have to wait another year. But this team has not only tread water during the DL stints of Utley, Shane Victorino, and Michael Bourn, it has gained ground. Players who weren’t even on the roster a month ago are now contributing to victories. Kyle Lohse gave the Phils another solid start, and despite leaving the game behind, was let off the hook when newest addition Russ Branyan hit a go-ahead 2 run HR in the 8th. With the suddenly solid Phils bullpen shutting the door, the Phillies won a game with only 4 hits. To think that the Phils could win this type of game with anyone but Cole Hamels pitching shows that this is a playoff team. When the injured players return, it will give the Phillies their healthiest squad since April, and will have them in the hunt until the very end.
This blogger has not been very kind to GM Pat Gillick and Manager Charlie Manuel. But Gillick has earned his money since Utley went down. Gillick’s acquisitions of Branyan, Lohse, and 2B Tad Iguchi have helped the Phils steal a couple of crucial victories. And while tactically challenged, Manuel has gotten the most out of this club and deserves a lot of credit.
Bullpen suddenly a strength.
For the first time all season, the Phillies have bullpen arms that are suited to their roles: Brett Myers the closer, Tom Gordon the set-up man, waiver-wire acquisition JC Romero as the situational lefty, and veterans Jose Mesa and Antonio Alfonseca as middle inning firemen instead of fire starters. You can win with this bullpen. You couldn’t say that when Mike Zagurski, Geoff Geary, Clay Condrey, Yoel Hernandez, and the like were all pitching crucial innings.
Now, about Adam Eaton……………….
Not much learned in first pre-season game.
The Eagles did not look impressive against the Ravens Monday night, and there wasn’t much to be learned or gained. But we did learn a few things:
1.) Kevin Kolb can take a hit
2.) Jeremy Bloom may be the return answer
3.) AJ Feeley is not the best QB to backup McNabb, Kelly Holcomb is. (Why is Feeley so popular around here, again? I never understood it.)
4.) Will James is no competition for Sheldon Brown, as was hinted by Jim Johnson in the off-season. It was the 1st game, but James looked like a rookie on that first drive.
5.) Punter Sav Rocca is BIG for a kicker.
Other than that, there isn’t much to worry about.
NFL may catch a break in the Vick case
After Michael Vick’s two remaining co-defendants both reportedly reached plea deals with prosecutors, Vick himself may see the writing on the wall and make his own deal. If Vick were to have his case resolved before the season, it would be the best case scenario for the NFL, the Falcons, and maybe even Vick himself. Vick, while seeing jail time, can concentrate on paying his debt to society and maybe can think about resuming his career afterwards. The Falcons can cut him, terminate his contract, and save a boatload of money. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can suspend Vick without denying him due process, and the NFL can avoid having this case hover over the league all season.
Bud Selig only wishes his controversies could be solved so easily.
ETC…..
Barry Bonds wants to play next season. Maybe Kansas City needs a DH. Or maybe the Tokyo Giants.
Tiger Woods won another major on Sunday. Has an athlete ever been so intimidating in a non-contact sport? Michael Jordan could steal the ball on one end and dunk in your face on the other. Roger Clemens would throw at his kid in a father-son game. Tiger Woods cannot play defense, and he can’t hit you. But when he looks opponents in the eye on Sunday, they wilt like cheap flowers. It’s amazing.
Baseball legend Phil Rizzuto died yesterday. Some of my early baseball memories were watching Yankee games on Channel 11, which was on down the shore when I was a kid. I don’t much about the Yankess of the 80’s, nor was I a big Yankee fan. But Rizzuto was fun to listen to, was a small factor in how I came to love baseball so much. If you happen to listen to the blowhards that call Yankee games these days, they don’t hold a candle to Rizzuto. Oh, and he was also a Hall of Fame SS before I was born.
RIP, Scooter.