On Biggest Stage, Utley And Howard Must Rise
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Wed, October 22, 2008 01:21 PM | Comments: 17
Posts
So far in the postseason, we’ve seen Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, Pat Burrell, Matt Stairs, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and a host of others come up huge.
But there’s been some quiet with the two big boys.
Sure, Chase Utley hit better in the National League Championship Series, but that’s not nearly enough.
The World Series is the stage on which the best players do the biggest damage. It’s where legends can be born. And so far in the postseason, Utley and Ryan Howard have yet to do considerable damage:
Utley – .250 / 1 HR / 5 RBI / 5 R
Howard – .258 / 0 HR / 3 RBI / 5 R
It’s about time for the two big bats to unleash their power. Utley and Howard have to lead the charge offensively if the Phils want to win the World Series. Lefty on the mound or not, they have to find a way. And I like their chances in this series. Despite Scott Kazmir in game one and — potentially — game five, the Rays have a bunch of pitchers these guys can hit.
I wrote when the Phillies won the NL East, that Utley and Howard proving clutch is “the stuff of October epic.” Well, here we are, at the October epic. Time to write those chapters, boys.
Posts: 0 CN
Gonna be tough against lefty pitching…
Posted: 01:28 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
if howard returns to form from his 58 HR season… he could easily make contact and wrist one out to the opposite field… lets hope he’s taken BP against a lefty or two in this long layoff, especially since they will more than likely apply the shift like everyone else…
Posted: 01:49 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Phillyguy
I think that Victorino and Burrell will have a huge night today, I just have that feeling for some reason. Howard and Utley might have something but I’m not feeling that it’s their game tonight. And I base that on absolutely nothing, except a feeling!
Posted: 01:50 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 PhillyPhaninIndy
Let’s Go Phillies!!!
I have a good feeling about Cole tonight. Phillies win 2-0.
Posted: 01:55 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 MS
Tim, Brian, this guy should win the game 4 tix. he is the biggest fan.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.philsfan22oct22,0,6659662.story
Posted: 02:07 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
MS, he already “has seats for Game5 in Philadelphia.”
Posted: 02:10 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 MS
my point was he’s a big fan, and i look forward to reading the story that wins the Game4 tix from philliesnation.
Posted: 02:15 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Yeah, Burrell steps up big tonight. And don’t forget about Werth. He’s way overdue!!
Posted: 02:16 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 stratfor
More 2008 postseason stats on these two:
Avg/Obp/Slg/Ops
Utley: .250/.400/.438/.838
Howard: .258/.410/.323/.733
Both of these guys are making up somewhat for their decreased average and (for Howard, certainly) power with lots of walks (8 each!). A good deal of their decreased hitting may be due to the fact that they’re not getting anything good to hit – perhaps further supported by Burrell’s strong postseason thus far (.333/.368/.500/.868).
Posted: 02:20 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Werth had a GREAT Brewers series in the NLDS!! He just struggles against RHP… facing Gallardo, D-Lowe, etc..
I think Jimmy Rollins is going to be the MVP.. he thrives in big spots, and I think he carries this team on the biggest stage!!!
Posted: 02:20 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Chutley
I’ll say it again…. HOWARD goes nuts in this series. 4 homers 9 RBI’s and an MVP trophy
Posted: 02:32 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
That’s true Don. Werth DID do well against the Brewers, except against righties. Hopefully, he can overcome that to a point. That’s what I’m saying, that he’s overdue in those situations. Rollins needs to set the tone tonight. Right away. Something big, a leadoff double, whatever. The team can feed off that bigtime and he will feed off the team.
Posted: 02:34 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
i had a dream last night that i was somehow in the phils dugout… in a stadium that only exists in my dreamland… burrell hit a HR, maybe two i forget but hopefully thats a sign…
Posted: 02:40 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
ESPN experts.. not that I care what they say, but here is how smart they are:
Rob Neyer (WHO?) Picks the Rays in 5:
“Pitching, hitting, fielding … the only real edge the Phillies seem to have is Brad Lidge in the ninth inning … and as good as David Price has looked, even that’s not a sure thing.”
Maybe he didn’t notice that they had 3 errors in Game 4, and an error in each of the last 3 games:
Longoria had 3 of them, SS- Bartlett had 2, Upton had 1… so I hope the media keeps blowing these guys without doing any reseatch to see how well they played under pressure.. they beat an injured Becket.. Tim Wakefield.. and Lester who didn’t look so unhittable in the ALCS..
Rays are a great young team.. but calling defense and their bullpen strengths over the Phillies might be crazy
Posted: 02:41 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
A lot of people having crazy dreams… Whether it’s in the dugout of a dreamland stadium or a field with chairs, I think that’s a good sign!
Posted: 02:51 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Chutley
Why has David Price become the next Mariano Rivera? He has five outings this year, he shut down the bottom of the Red Sox order in game seven and now the Phils have no shot of even fouling a pitch off
Posted: 03:03 PM on October 22, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Dreams are powerful. A VERY good sign.
Posted: 03:04 PM on October 22, 2008