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Philly.com: Phillies MVP?

Who is the Phillies true MVP?

http://www.philly.com/philly/polls/9487277.html?results=y

I see a lot of options there (with obvious opinion trying to skew the facts):

"Starter" Cole Hamels
"Slugger" Ryan Howard
"Closer" Brett Myers
"Multiple threat" Jimmy Rollins
"Reckless" Aaron Rowand
"Gritty" Chase Utley
"Hitting Guru" Charlie Manuel

Star-divide

Not only is this a fairly biased poll (Multiple Threat versus Reckless???) but where the heck is Pat Burrell?  If Rowand, Manuel and Myers make this poll, then where is the guy that has almost single handedly carried us through the last two months of the season.  Sure, he is to blame for having an awful June, but if he played merely average over the last two months, the Phillies would likely be 8-10 games back.

Another example of Philadelphia negativity from Jim Salisbury:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20070831_Jim_Salisbury___Do_you_believe__The_Phillies_s ure_do.html

"Now, let's get some things straight here: There's still a month to play, still lots of work to be done. Also, lest we forget, the Phillies haven't won diddly in 13 years, and probably won't if they keep giving up 10 runs in a game, as they did in yesterday's wild 11-10 victory over the Mets, sealed by Chase Utley's RBI single in the ninth."

What exactly are we getting straight here?  I am all for getting on the pitching when it pitches poorly, but they let in 2 runs a game for the previous FOUR games.  And 4 runs in the loss before that.  I am not saying this is what will continue to happen, but to give us a wakeup call when they allowed 10 runs is a prime example of cherry picking.

Oh, and thanks for the "haven't won diddly in 13 years".  That was much needed and useful when looking at today's team.  Even when writing a positive article, we STILL have to deal with this crap.

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Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
Mets can't win then-they gave up 11 and we only stopped scoring cause it was the bottom of the 9th. Who knows how many more they score off Wagner if it was on the road.

by EastFallowfield on Aug 31, 2007 7:20 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
Certainly.

But what bothers me is that the pitching was excellent for 5 games, but we have to set the record straight after the 10 run game...

by jonk on Aug 31, 2007 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
I think EastFallowfield (great name, BTW) was agreeing with you.  The pitching has, of course. mostly been terrible this year, as the numbers will show, but they haven't been regularly giving up 10 runs.

by The Navigator on Aug 31, 2007 9:42 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
I wasn't saying he wasn't.  He appears to be saying, "Well, our team gave up 10 but their's gave up 11 OR more...".

My premise is that, even if we gave up 10 or even more, I find it ridiculous to use that as a means to bring us back to reality after consecutive days of 4-2-2-2 runs being scored.  It is biased journalism.

by jonk on Aug 31, 2007 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
The thing that actually bothers me the most about this poll:

What exactly makes Chase Utley gritty, other than the fact that he's a white guy?? 'Gritty' is usually used for guys who obviously lack natural gifts, yet become decent major leaguers anyway. Utley is just plain awesome, and I think it's odd that so many sportswriters reflexively ascribe said awesomeness to heart and hustle instead of amazing talent.

I'm not saying he doesn't have heart or hustle, just that I don't see how he has any more than, say, Jimmy Rollins.

by Seth @ The Good Phight on Aug 31, 2007 10:41 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
I've always had this problem with descriptions of Chase.  He gets his uniform dirty, but so does Burrell and so did Abreu.  Utley is lauded as passionate and hard-charging, but he's about as stoic on the field as any player I've seen come through this town.  Not to say he doesn't celebrate when they win, but he shows very little charisma while playing.  I don't care one bit about that, but to a fandom that usually does, I don't understand how he gets this label.  Other than, as you pointed out, his skin color.

by David S. Cohen on Aug 31, 2007 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
I'd call Utley preppy if anything.  Certainly nothing wrong with it, but it's more accurate.

by richard on Aug 31, 2007 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
Um, maybe that whole deal when Utley came back from a broken hand a month ago and picked up right where he left off both at the plate and in the field?

If, say, a Dave Hollins comes back from an injury like this and produces like he had before, he (and rightfully so) is remembered for his grit and determination, while if another player (hmm let's just call him J. Drew...) suffers the same injury and never returns, he forfeits the rights to "gritty" and becomes "fragile"

by das411 on Sep 1, 2007 2:26 AM EDT reply actions  

Re: Philly.com: Phillies MVP?
OK, but people had been calling him that before he ever broke his hand. And nobody calls Pat Burrell gritty for having played through a foot injury for half of his career.

by Seth @ The Good Phight on Sep 1, 2007 3:50 AM EDT up reply actions  

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