Tonite's Associated Press " The last-place Phillies suddenly seem like the team that has won five straight NL East titles. They have won three straight, including consecutive walkoff wins." Fact, since Howard's return they have been 7-4, and he has 4HRs and 9 RBIs in the 9 games he started the game.
Also, the 2 blown saves by Papelbon were just plain the freaky nature of baseball, when the inches go against you, and makes you look like you are getting pounded, and you are not: In those two blown saves there were 5 (count 'em:) there were 5 infield hits and one bloop single-- this the inherent nature of baseball, truly a game of inches.(so they could have been 9-2, if inches went our way)
i think Howard return will drive the Phils Hard to get Hamels signed by 7/31.
Utley , a different matter, yes his power stroke is their--4HRS--but his knees are a black cloud--i think his future is elsewhere as a DH or a firstbasemen.
i say the team has it First! two stunning comeback wins of the year just because The Big Guy is there---superstition--i don't know, all i know Phils won 5 straight divisional championships after Howard arrived to the Phils( two years late, because of Thome being on first--if Thome had not broken his hand--Howard might have been used as trade bait).
But both Blanton and Victorino MIGHT be traded before 7/31, if they can get high quality minor league prospects) Max
i predict Phils will end up in 3rd place ahead of Mets and Marlins. Max |
