Here comes the cavalry!
That was a familiar face sitting on the Phillies bench yesterday. Yes, that was none other than Chase Utley. With nine game remaining on his Florida rehab, the Phillies have decided they can’t wait that long.
It is likely Utley will be activated and in the lineup tonight when the Phils open a series against the Reds.
And after watching this team yesterday, it’s hard to argue with the decision.
The Phils collected all of five hits – all singles – in the process of getting shut out by the Rangers. Hey, take heart, the Phils still won the series, they still lead the NL East with the best record in the National League and the second best in all of baseball.
But make no mistake, this team has deep offensive problems. They are where they are for one reason. Their starting pitching has been excellent. That’s not exactly surprising when you trot out Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt as your Phab Phour rotation. Yesterday it was Oswalt’s turn to be the hard-luck starter. He scattered eight hits and gave up just two runs. These days that’s one more than it usually takes to be the Phils. Yesterday it was two more.
The key to Utley will not be tonight. He no doubt will return to much fanfare. But crunch time will come tomorrow night, and whether he’s able to go on that cranky knee.
And it also won’t solve the Phils’ other offensive problems.
But it’s a start. Utley hit .281 with one homer during his stint in Clearwater. If he provides a spark and gets the Phils' bats to come alive, he will be a most welcome addition.
But if he takes an 0-fer, the Phils get shut out again, and then he can't go tomorrow night, where does that leave the Phils?
That was a familiar face sitting on the Phillies bench yesterday. Yes, that was none other than Chase Utley. With nine game remaining on his Florida rehab, the Phillies have decided they can’t wait that long.
It is likely Utley will be activated and in the lineup tonight when the Phils open a series against the Reds.
And after watching this team yesterday, it’s hard to argue with the decision.
The Phils collected all of five hits – all singles – in the process of getting shut out by the Rangers. Hey, take heart, the Phils still won the series, they still lead the NL East with the best record in the National League and the second best in all of baseball.
But make no mistake, this team has deep offensive problems. They are where they are for one reason. Their starting pitching has been excellent. That’s not exactly surprising when you trot out Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt as your Phab Phour rotation. Yesterday it was Oswalt’s turn to be the hard-luck starter. He scattered eight hits and gave up just two runs. These days that’s one more than it usually takes to be the Phils. Yesterday it was two more.
The key to Utley will not be tonight. He no doubt will return to much fanfare. But crunch time will come tomorrow night, and whether he’s able to go on that cranky knee.
And it also won’t solve the Phils’ other offensive problems.
But it’s a start. Utley hit .281 with one homer during his stint in Clearwater. If he provides a spark and gets the Phils' bats to come alive, he will be a most welcome addition.
But if he takes an 0-fer, the Phils get shut out again, and then he can't go tomorrow night, where does that leave the Phils?
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