So that was awesome …
It’s time for a daily news report.
Altherr, Young Dudes Beat Dodgers
I’ve been trying to get someone, anyone to laugh at that headline (if you don’t get the reference, you clearly weren’t alive in the 1970s … though I wasn’t either … moving on …), and man, today was the day to use it. With one sweeping, gorgeous swing, Aaron Altherr handed in his first big career moment, a go-ahead grand slam off Clayton Kershaw to completely turn Monday’s game around for the Phillies. They held that lead and won 4-3. It was glorious. Absolutely glorious.
That grand slam doesn’t happen without, you know, guys getting on base ahead of him. And in that inning the Phils finally put a rally together off the best pitcher in baseball since Roy Halladay left us. It started with a pinch-hit walk by Mr. Shows Up In Big Moments Ty Kelly, then continued with a Freddy Galvis single. Then, finally breaking out of his recent slump, Rhys Hoskins drew a big walk. That set the stage.
Hoskins also singled off Kershaw. The amazing thing is the Phils had six baserunners the entire game; four of them scored on one play. That’s called maximizing your opportunities.
For his part Nick Pivetta pitched well, striking out eight in six innings of two-run ball. Good job, Nick.
Standing O
Before Altherr got his curtain call Monday night, Chase Utley received another standing ovation in coming back to Philly. The possible future hall of famer went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in this one, but after the game acknowledged his return. “It’s still a little awkward,” he told Jim Salisbury about being back in Philly, but in the opposing clubhouse.
Cesar? Says Who?
Ryan Lawrence of the Philly Voice recently wrote about the possibility that Cesar Hernandez is traded during the offseason. It’s certainly out there, considering the Phillies have a working logjam in the infield with him, Galvis, J.P. Crawford, Maikel Franco and the soon-to-arrive Scott Kingery.
But Hernandez has been really good for two years now. His defense is average at worst at second (though he can’t really play any other position), but offensively he’s been quite stout with an on-base percentage near .370 since the start of last year.
That said, where does he fit? It’s a good question, and now that Crawford is showing defensive prowess at basically anywhere you put him, it makes that question even more vital.
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