NEW YORK -- First and foremost, my job requires that I talk to Phillies players about what's happening with the team. But I'm always curious to get the opinions of opposing players. Sometimes, in fact, you find out more about the Phillies by talking to guys who play for other teams. At the very least, you get a different perspective. Two weeks ago, for instance, John Smoltz talked about how highly regarded Brett Myers is as a starting pitcher. I always knew Brett was good, but Smoltz said the Braves consider him to be an upper-echelon starter. Coming from Smoltz, that tells you something.Anyway, I got to know David Wright fairly well in 2004 when I covered the Mets' double-A team in Binghamton, N.Y. Thought I'd pass along his thoughts on the Phillies, who moved within seven games of the first-place Mets with last night's 4-2, 11-inning victory.
"They're kind of like the Yankees," Wright said, "where they're too good of a team not to make a run. They're too good of a team to hold them down for a long period of time. It was just a matter of time before they break out. They've done that."
High praise, isn't it?
* Generally speaking, Chase Utley is a pretty serious guy, but he has a dry sense of humor. During his 35-game hitting streak last season, he superstitiously avoided discussing the streak, instead answering questions that weren't asked. In other words, if someone asked about his hits after a game, he'd say something like, "I thought Jamie Moyer pitched really well tonight." Anyway, Utley flashed more of his sense of humor last night. Asked about the strange sixth-inning play when he and Pat Burrell both wound up on third base after coach Steve Smith didn't wave him home (Burrell ultimately was tagged out in a rundown), Utley said, "I've never seen anyone slide twice into third base on the same play. Pat wanted to get to third base. And he did."* If you like diners (I grew up in New Jersey, so liking diners is in my DNA, just like liking Bruce Springsteen), check out the Jackson Hole Diner in Queens, a short drive from Shea. Had an excellent BLT there yesterday.
15 comments:
I can't recall a season in past years where there were more mental errors comitted than this one. I know Charlie is a players manager, allowing for a loose clubhouse atmosphere and relates to all the players in a down-to-earth type of managerial style, but this type of ball was never played in Manual's past seasons, or at all under Bowa.
i can't stand steve smith.
and thanks for the tip on the diner. going up to shea tonight and i'll need a place to eat afterwards.
Hate's a strong word, but youve read the meaning of my post. It seems Smith makes a blunder either holding or sending runners every other game.
Jamie,
When you and Pat go to Scores after the game, please be sure to congratulate him on his 4 hits in his last 37 at bats accomplishment.
remember when i said that i agree that he's slumping? how about you get over it that i rather try and support a player than tear him down. especially using tired and old cliches from last year that weren't even valid last year.
or the fact that pat hasn't been a party animal in a long time and that he's one of the harder working phillies on the team. or maybe you would rather ignore those comments of his teammates and make judgements from a perspective that has zero inside knowledge of what goes on in the clubhouse.
Jamie,
I don't know what you're talking about. You need to take off your blinders and see reality(There's no point in quoting you anymore stats because you have your mind made up that Pat can do no wrong). If Pat's working so hard, why is he hitting .224? If you work harder aren't you supposed to improve instead of get worse? Oh yeah, I forgot. He's unlucky.
what stats have you quoted to really prove a point? you gave me his basic line.
he's having a bad may. but he had a great april. in april his BBAIP was around .380. and he hit .292. while i don't believe he's a .292, more like a .270 hitter, it shows to have luck on your side. in may he's hitting .179 with a .161 BBAIP. it helps a LOT to have balls miss gloves.
tired cliches: he likes to party instead of play ball! prove it, all i hear is that his teammates say he's one of the hardest working guys in the club.
tire cliches: called third looking. he's struck out A LOT more swinging this year than last year. if i had a subscription to baseball-reference i would give you the correct numbers. maybe scott has one?
tired cliches: he's not clutch. he's hitting around .300 this year, and 2 years ago he hit over .300 in the clutch. its a stat that fluctuates with every single player in the league. or the fact that 20+ of his homeruns came when they were down or tied last year. oh how un-clutch!
the butt jutt was annoying last year, but he's barely doing it this year.
i've told you that he's slumping but he'll come out of it and end up with a respectable year and probably be in the top 5 of LF's in the league and he'll still get no respect(ala last year).
since abreu isn't here the team needs a new whipping boy. i can't wait for burrell to be gone and all the attention goes to howard or utley. oh man, that utley shows no emotion out there!
Most of Burrells home Runs last year came in games where the score was either 10-2 in favor of the phils, or 10-2 in favor of the opposing team. Most of his homers last year made little to no difference in the outcome. I know this not from a website, but because I watch the games.
-- You may hear that hes the hardest working man in the clubhouse, but we've all heard from Dallas otherwise.
-- He wasnt all that clutch last night when he enterd the game in the seventh as a pinch with two in scoring position, but I will acknowledge the fact that he has produced in "clutch" situations, but truly not anymore than any other player.
-- And while I can appreciate your enthusiasm and support for Burrell, (I root for him too) it's really not hard to argue with your points.
As far as last night's contest goes, I was actually rooting for Zagurski to face Chavez in the 7th, even though it obviously worked out well with the groundout. I'm all for putting the new lefty into a tight situation and take the chance that he actually gets out of it. I think it would've done wonders for his confidence. Have you had the chance to interview him, scott? If so, does he seem like he has the skin for the bigs?
And when Utley was rounding third in his scoring the fourth run, I was actually rooting for the throw to be online because he was CHARGING. I think he made up his mind on contact that if Smith put the brakes on him, he was going home regardless.
I'm glad someone else can also see the light. Thanks Paul,
This will be my last post trying to get you to understand how feeble Pat is.
First, if you think he is no longer partying, why did someone call in to WIP a few weeks ago and say they saw Pat at the club 32 degrees? Second, google Pat Burrell and go through the middle pages of the search results and you'll see all kinds of stories about his off field activities.
The "Butt Jutt" is unquestionably as prominent in his at bats this year as it was last year. Unfortunately, this can not be verified with stats as Im sure nobody keeps stats on the world famous "butt jutt."
I'm all for supporting the players, but I personally prefer to support guys who deserve support (Nunez, Dobbs, Moyer, Bourn just to name a few) instead of guys who appear to care less and appear to give minimal effort (Freddy Garcia, Pat Burrell).
Paul: Pats Homeruns last year oh, and dallas is the biggest idiot in the front office. senile old man.
Matt: i swear he's not doing the butt jutt as much. but i can't prove it and i can just say "i watch the games," but half the time thats a bogus statement. as i just proved paul wrong in using that statement.
and i've never seen pat give minimal effort. i always see him busting ass. but then again thats the same bogus argument the ran one of the best phillies ever out of philadelphia(bobby abreu).
Its hard to imagine you're a day older than 13.
Try this one: Take a look at that link and decide which of those home runs meant the most. Really, there's no correlation that can be made.
We do watch the games, and there are some of us on here who cover them, and can see this for themselves.
If we thought you watched the games as well, we'd understand your Soriano theory.
Please stop trying to give this man more due than he's earned, becuase he hasn't. Just root for him to live up to the potential that he has, or at least showcased long enough for ownership to pay him as much as he makes.
Scott,
Any thoughts on the Phils draft? Joe Savery seems like a bit of a reach at #19 overall, with his shoulder surgery and losing some of the velocity off his fastball. Then, they go with Travis D'Arnaud, a catcher who supposedly has a monster throwing arm but there are some questions about his hitting abilities. I'm interested to hear your thoughts.
Hey Matt: Great questions. Still in the process of finding out more about Savery and D'Arnoud, and it's getting close to game time here. I'll try to break down the draft more tomorrow from Kansas City or later tonight.
for good draft coverage
http://www.phuturephillies.com
some of the best minor league coverage i've seen.
A little justice for jaime. Way to go, Pat!
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