Odds and Ends: Utley, Draft Recap, Burrell
Posted by Pat Gallen, Tue, August 17, 2010 09:39 AM | Comments: 56
Odds And Ends, Posts
-We await word on Chase Utley’s availability for tonight’s game against the Giants. Utley reportedly flew back to Philadelphia following last night’s rehab doubleheader with the Clearwater Threshers. The information from the Phillies is usually made available around 2:30 p.m. if there is a statement from the team.
-Last night, the Phillies locked up some future hopefuls during draft deadline day. The three players signed yesterday were pitchers Kevin Walter (20th rd), Jonathan Musser (21st), and outfielder Brian Pointer (28th). Between the three, the Phillies spent about $1 million total on bonuses. They attempted to lock in right-hander Scott Frazier, a fifth-round selection, but he has decided to attend Pepperdine University. Fraizer wanted a bonus in the $1 million range.
According to Phuture Phillies, the difference between Frazier and the three players combined is negligible. It’s about quality of the quantity over the one higher blue-chip prospect.
Walter throws 88-92 right now, but has a decent array of secondary pitches, which for a high schooler is quite advanced. He’s also 6-6, 220 pounds. Musser comes from high school in Iowa. He tosses his FB about 91-93 according to reports and suffered a shoulder injury which was not related to baseball, but is back to throwing hard. Pointer is a high school centerfielder from Nevada who has great speed and OK power.
-Welcome home, Pat Burrell! Who’s excited to see the former Philly playboy/left fielder roam the outfield once again? He’s now playing for one of the enemies in San Francisco, but has recently enjoyed a rejuvenation following his release from Tampa Bay. Burrell is hitting .285 with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 56 game with the Giants. His .905 OPS would stand as the second best of his whole career if the season ended today. That’s saying something for a guy who was nearly on the street a few months ago after hitting .202 with the Rays to begin the year.
So, welcome him with open arms, but just wait ’til the game is over, will ya?
Posts: 0 Brooks
Can’t wait to see that large swing of his. My buddy Keith sent me a text – “Wishlist – big night for Patty, Phillies win”
Posted: 10:10 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 SJ Phillies Fan
Who knew Pat would still have some Bat left? He is looking good the last couple of games with the Giants!
If Chase comes back, Polanco moves back to third and hopefully we will keep Dobbs at first. I think that is our best infield option right
Posted: 10:11 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Joann
Just to look at that face and body..Yummy.. Ok sorry girlie moment.. I wish he would come back & play here..He may have not be the best outfielder But he was a team player & very supportive of his team.. Miss ya Pat & Elvis. Would love to see you back in Phillies red !!!
Posted: 10:13 AM on August 17, 2010
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Posted: 10:22 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Barb
Pat is one the main reasons while we choose to go to tonight’s game. It will be nice to see him at CBP again. With Oswalt pitching and possibly Utley getting in some playing time, it should be great night at the ball park. Can’t wait!
Posted: 10:22 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
No, no, no… as much as I’m a fan of Pat the Bat, I’m hoping he strikes out (or grounds into a DP) every single time.
He’s still awesome, though. P the B!
Posted: 10:28 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Kate
Can’t wait to see Pat the Bat back in action at Citizens Bank Park. I hope he gets a great welcome… and then his new team gets its ass thoroughly kicked.
Posted: 10:44 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Are you going tonight Kate or watching on Comcast?
Manny, give him 2 solo shots ;)
Phils win 6-2. Oswalt goes 7, gives up 1 run. Madson comes in for the second of Patty’s solo shots…
Posted: 10:58 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 The OCP
Oswalt/Zito, Cheeseburger/Cain, Hamels/Sanchez…
2 out of 3 sounds good to me… I like the match ups tonight and Thursday. Cheeseburger is due but Cain is pretty good. We’ve gotta work some pitch counts and get to their bullpen early starting tonight… we can get to Zito. He was really good early on but has settled in a little bit and the law of averages is catching up to him. He’s been giving up more hits and more home runs lately. If he’s wild, they have to let him be wild (don’t swing at balls out of the zone). Since July, he hasn’t pitched many games against good teams… COL, MIL, NYM, LAD (x2), FLA, ATL, CHI… he did strike out 10 against the Braves but he also gave up 2 HR. In our park, HR pitchers don’t do so well…
I’m thinking that Jayson Werth goes 4-4 tonight with a handful of RBI.
Posted: 11:01 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Solo shot, pop-up, strike out (for old times sake) and finishes with another solo shot. Our Patty, back in town!
Posted: 11:01 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
Nooo way Brooks!
K, K, K, K will make me happy. I don’t want neither Oswalt or Madson to give up any runs. Then people will start bit*hing about Madson and point out how unreliable our pen is haha
But on second thought, maybe I’ll give him a solo shot if it’s a blowout (us winning) and it’s Baez pitching.
Posted: 11:10 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 1376 Pat Gallen
My favorite Pat Burrell story comes from the old Korman Suites he used to live in in Rittenhouse. I used to work summers at a moving company and we moved someone into the building. The doorman talked about all the Phillies who lived there and told us (paraphrasing):
“Burrell always up in here with white women, black women, puerto rican, it dont matter. It’s a different one every night. I take him up the back elevator so no one sees him…”
Classic.
Posted: 11:12 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 MikeB.
Hope he gives the Phillies some of those many strikeouts back and then shakes his head in unbelief after each one.
Posted: 11:13 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
…When Aaron Rowand hit that bomb in the 10th inning two years ago, as a Giant, I was HATING on the guy… But then Pat saved us in one of the most dramatic comebacks I’ve seen in person. :) Now, I don’t want to hate Pat the Bat for doing what Rowand did to us this time around… though in the end it was all worth it.
Posted: 11:14 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Oswalt/Zito, Cheeseburger/Cain, Hamels/Sanchez… 2 out of 3 sounds about right to me.
Love T/Th match ups but W is not favorable… Cheeseburger is due but he has to be pretty good. I think that we’ve gotta work some counts and get to their pen early… like, tonight. We can shell Zito- he was really good early on but the law of averages is starting to catch up with him. He’s been giving up more hits and more HR lately and hasn’t exactly played stellar competition since July. He’s striking guys out at a pretty good clip but HR pitchers in our park are treated with early exits and crooked numbers… set the tone tonight. I’m thinking Werth goes 4-4 with a handful of RBI… enough of this RISP talk.
The ladies can’t wait to see Pat the Bat’s backside in left field… he will deservedly receive a nice ovation. Great guy but hopefully, we can send him back to San Fran with a few losses.
Dodgers gave away a 9th inning lead to the Bravos and Joe Torre needs to be fired yesterday… he thinks too much and tries to be too cute. In NY, it was easy… hand the ball to Mo in the 9th or late in the 8th if there was a major problem. He is completely butchering the bullpen in LA and ruining the confidence of every reliever he’s got… and they’re all good ones, in my opinion. Kuo has been an excellent set up man this season… so what does Joe do? He moves him to closer and sends him out there for a 6 out save in only his second relief appearance as a closer. We killed Broxton… Troncoso is back in the minors, they traded away James McDonald, Belisario is a mess. Next up- Kenley Jansen. Wonder how they’ll screw that one up.
Posted: 11:14 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Just like he did when he was here Manny… late inning, insignificant solo shots. Striking out with men on base – Oh yeah, I can feel it now!
Posted: 11:16 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 MikeB.
Enjoyed your post about Burrell, Pat. I never knew about his life off the field until it started coming out towards the end of his days with the Phillies.
Posted: 11:18 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
OCP, I’ve just about given up on Cheeseburger this year. Every game he seems to do better, he then digresses. First inning is almost a lock, 2 or 3 runs spotted to the opposition – maybe that’s just at home? He is starting to piss me off.
Who do we have to replace him? Nada one. Joe Blanton==>Adam Eaton?
Posted: 11:19 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 MikeB.
In fairness to the Dodger relief pitchers yesterday, they were not getting the strike calls from the home plate umpire in that loss to Atlanta.
Posted: 11:25 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Bart Shart
Welcome back Pat Burrell. Glad to see you are doing well for the Giants. However, I hope you strike out every time up against the Phightins. And, more importantly, welcome back Chase and Ryan, if indeed you are going to be back tonight. I hope you each homer twice. Important series, as usual. They are ALL important now. The best baseball time of the year is upon us.
Posted: 11:36 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Bart Shart
Prediction: Joe Blanton will go off cheesburgers to filet of fish. He will perform like he did last year down the stretch and everyone will fall in love with him again. It’s those damn cheeseburgers.
Posted: 11:38 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Can only hope Bart – I just am growing impatient with the Cheese he is throwing out there. Look, if he has a 1-2-3 first inning can we celebrate?
I’m pretty confident in Roy2 tonight. He def has something to prove.
Posted: 11:45 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
I just hope to see one “Pat”ented Burrell scoot (2-2 count, pitch is on the inside part of the plate and Burrell shimmies back to avoid a ball that is nowhere near his midsection)… for all times sake, Pat?
Cheeseburger is pissing everyone off… he has one really bad inning per game (usually it’s the first… early on it was the later innings, 6th or 7th). He gets in a groove in the middle innings but that one inning where he implodes is always in the back of your mind. It was suggested that he warm up a little more… I don’t know what to do with him. His ERA right now is the lowest that it has been since May… but we’re all waiting for a performance that we can feel really good about. If he can’t pull one out of his hat, that’s problematic.
There are no replacements… nothing on the farm at this point unless you wanna give Drew Carpenter or Brandon Duckworth a shot (not advisable under any circumstance, in my opinion). People have called for Jose Contreras but I’m not sure they could stretch him out in time (and feel good about it).
Posted: 11:45 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/philadelphia-phillies%2527-chances-look-mighty-healthy-081610
Nice article…
Posted: 11:49 AM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Bruce
OCP says…”Burrell shimmies back to avoid a ball that is nowhere near his midsection..”. Hmm..m, reminds me of another player..YES! Jayson Werth and his bailing out funky swing. LOL
Posted: 01:54 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 RichieAllen
Just throw Pat that low and outside slider,(from a righthander),and you’ll see that familiar wave three times as he pulls his shoulder out.Then he’ll shake his head as he walks back to the dugout.
Thats how I would like it to go tonight.
Posted: 02:01 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 jeremy
@ the original chuck p: you’re forgetting vance worley
Posted: 02:40 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Lefty
OCP – Great article thanks.
Old Pedro> Cheeseburger
He’s waiting for a call.
Posted: 02:54 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Bacardipr05
No Chuck nothing on farm system sticks out worthy of a try at this point. Marshmallow Joe has awful 1st innings best thing he can do is keep it under 2 runs then he goes Staypuff after 6innings of work….
Posted: 03:04 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Bacardipr05
Braves please start losing…please..Tomahawk…
Posted: 03:12 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Thing is, his last 2 starts the Phils have managed to scrap back but then in the 6th inning (he has made it to the 7th only 1 or 2 times this year) he gives up another blah-not…
Posted: 03:13 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
OCP, that was one of my favorites! He scoots out of the way for a called 3rd strike ….
That and the huge swing from the heels – Bruce is not too far off here – Jayson does the corkscrew from the heels as well …
Posted: 03:16 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
I’m on my second Lager – we are heading down to see some batting practice.
Posted: 03:18 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Really Pat is this page 6?
Posted: 03:27 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Joe torre has never been able to manage a pen and he is jsut proving it again. Over rated. Not as much as Pinella. But close.
Posted: 03:29 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Greg
Yay Utley’s back :D
Posted: 03:41 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Utley activated
Dobbs sent down
2 birds
one stone
Posted: 03:46 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Thanks for the article OCP – checking the power rankings, the Padres are ranked 2nd overall. Crazy – aside from Gonzales, what offense do they really have? Their 1-4 starters have all won over 10 games already but, nobody looks to be that scary.
We got this guys. Once again, the only team in the NL that gives me any concern is the team that the Phils love to beat up on, the Cardinals.
Posted: 03:51 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 JAY-AKA-PHILLYBOY
GUESS WHO’S BACK-BACK AGAIN-CHASE IS BACK-TELL A FRIEND………LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted: 03:57 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Bob in Bucks
I assume that since Dobbs was sent down that means that Gload is OK to play first against righties. Very good news until Howard returns. Then the kid goes down but he will be back in September.
Just got our post-season ticket offer. We have partial season plan and this year they are not guaranteeing anything (too many partial and full season ticket plans). I got 4th home game of NLCS (problem is that we will probably not have home advantage so there will be no 4th home game). I hear those who just got partial season tickets this year were not given WS tickets.
The price of success!
Posted: 03:58 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 JAY-AKA-PHILLYBOY
FROM ALL US PHILLY FANS-TY GREG FOR ALL YOU DID IN 08 AND ALL YOU DID NOT DO IN 2010………
Posted: 04:03 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 The Original Chuck P
Wonder if Utley plays some first base until Howard gets back… if Gload is able to play, that’s optimal but if he’s not, Utley at 1b, Valdez at 2nd and Rollins at SS sounds good to me (better than Dobbs, that’s for sure).
Posted: 04:09 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Brooks
Bob – that sucks!
I got my Post season invoice too – wow…
I went to one game in 07, every game in 08 and 1 NLCS, 1 WS game in 09 – I’m not sure what I’m going to do this year yet. I sold the tickets to my friends at face value – and missed the best game of the year last year, the JRoll walk off vs the Dodgers – I’d love to sell the tickets at a profit but I’m a woos…
Posted: 04:28 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Phan in the outfield
Bruce – You’re going to be one of those whining the loudest if Werth goes. Burrell wishes he had 1/2 of Werth’s innate talent. Hopefully we won’t lose him b/c it so obviously will take more than 1 player to replace his defense & production.
In any case, I’m probably the only person who was never a Burrell fan. All the snickering stories about the many minions of chicks did nothing to help that. I don’t wish him ill. I just never cared and never thought he was worth all the discussion.
Hey, he was always very unapologetic about who he was and there’s something to be admired and respected about that. I can’t judge, I’m no angel. I’m sure he’s a lot of fun but he always seemed to be one of those guys who got by everything in life with the very least, most minor effort and – oh yeah – a smug-assed smirk.
Posted: 04:30 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Nice thought Chuck but I doubt theyd give utley a new position to go along with his coming off the DL.
I do see down the line Utley could be a firstbaseman when he gets older and his defense declines. The guy is the perfect baseball player he will play a long time.
Posted: 04:37 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
I always loved Pat the Bat and this thread is the first ive ever heard of anything off the field. It doesnt change my opinion one way or the other.
Posted: 04:38 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Phan in the outfield
It’s the first you’ve heard of anything off the field?! Get out, SERIOUSLY?! The stories are literally legendary.
Posted: 04:58 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 JAY-AKA-PHILLYBOY
LOOKS LIKE CHASE WILL BAT 2ND TONIGHT…..
Posted: 05:06 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Phan not really interested in gossip and peoples personal lives.
I have my own life and my own scandles to worry about.
Ill quickly forget this. Just how I am. But I can tell you the lineup for the 27 yankees and if every batter batted R or L.
Posted: 05:13 PM on August 17, 2010
Posts: 0 Andrew from Waldorf
Id care if it affected the team. Bab Ruth missed half a season with VD for example.
Posted: 05:16 PM on August 17, 2010