Phillies Breakfast Links: June 3, 2009

by WholeCamels on Jun 3, 2009 8:23 AM EDT Comment 13 comments

PhillyBurbs.com: Romero returns from suspension
He's back! The Phillies optioned Sergio Escalona to Triple-A, and keep Jack Taschner around. Someone care to explain that one to me?

Sam Donnellon: Why Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is the man

Chase Utley is the man because of all those times it seems that he is more than a man, more than a compilation of gaudy statistics. Historically, baseball has loved its numbers more than any other sport, often obscuring the true value of players who provide the intangibles of say, a Brian Dawkins. And while a healthy Utley can certainly be assessed through statistics - he was a leading MVP candidate before injuring his hip last season - his value can not be. That World Series play, Monday's armpit grab, playing that 2008 season with a similar injury to the one that has sidelined Brett Myers - it defines the player more than any home run or RBI total.

Wow, this is Jeter-level froth.

I do appreciate the fact that Chase Utley seems to be the Grand Unifying Element in Phillies fandom, outside of the late Harry Kalas. Stat analysts love him, the "I watch the games!" crowd loves him, and both with ample reason. I think he has actually passed Bobby Abreu as the best Phillies player since Mike Schmidt.

Mark Teixeira's unexpected fire may be just what Yankees need to win title

Finally, just for fun, he called out Vicente Padilla after the game for twice hitting him with pitches, basically calling the righthander a punk for throwing at him because he can't get him out. "There's no reason for it," Teixeira said afterward, measuring his words calmly at his locker. "If you can't get a guy out, don't hit him." Teixeira said it's been like this since he hit two home runs off him when Padilla was with the Phillies a few years ago.

And the fact that they went on to play together in Texas for more than a season apparently only furthered his lack of respect for the guy because Padilla would plunk other hitters for the same reason, and Teixeira would get the payback from the opposition. "It happened a lot," he said. "The 3-4 guys in the lineup get hit in retaliation, so I got quite a few."

Here we go again!

MLB: Fiery Johnson goes for No. 300 today
Randy Johnson is absolutely, positively going to be the LAST 300 game winner ever... until the next one.

GoErie.com: Strikeouts don't carry same shame
Baby steps, I suppose. Love how they talk about it like it's ED, however.

Fundraisers scheduled for Hammonton, NJ police officer battling cancer
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ will be signing autographs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 97.3 ESPN Radio will be broadcasting live from the event. Worthy cause, go help out if you can.

Minor Leagues: Kyle Drabek's debut moved up
The Phillies RHP prospect goes today in Reading.

Phils' prospect Michael Taylor bides his time
This guy has been truly extraordinary so far.

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So wait – Chase Utley had a torn hip labrum?

It’s amazing how well he pitched with one of those.

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 3, 2009 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Best caption of the year on that picture. My soda soaked keyboard thanks you.

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Jun 3, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions

Just picture you are Giles

going for the ball w/ that Shane staring at you! Scarey

by DeanH on Jun 3, 2009 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

AUdio is available free via milb.com

There’s a catcher named Carlos Santana

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 3, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

I was listening to the audio of the reading game (reading radio, don’t know the names though) and the announcer said that people ‘wanted’ to compare Michael Taylor to Ryan Howard.

Is this true?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 3, 2009 8:52 PM EDT reply actions

I want to

Howard put up better numbers than Taylor in their respective first pro seasons in short season ball, but Taylor hit better than Howard did at Lakewood and at Clearwater. Now at Reading Taylor’s OPS is almost identical to Howard’s numbers there, and Michael is a year younger.

This is not to say that Taylor is a future superstar of Howard’s caliber, but between the constant improvement over the last couple of seasons and the fact that he’s a good defensive player and baserunner, he looks like he could be special.

by phatj on Jun 3, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Does he have the ‘home run power’ that Howard has? I mean the first thing I think (rightly or wrongly) when I thin Ryan Howard is prodigious and lovely home runs – I know taylor has been very good – but does he have 40 home run power?

I’m not saying he needs to but I’m wondering if comparing him to howard is even a ‘good’ thing – why not compare him to someone whose game he most resembles, a more all around kind of guy?:)

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 3, 2009 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I haven’t heard anything about whether his raw power rivals Howard’s — I’d doubt it, as Howard’s raw power is up there with the greatest ever. But Taylor is a huge guy, and certainly has potential to hit lots of bombs.

For what it’s worth, here’s how their respective home run totals break down by year:

Age 21:
Howard: 6 homers in 48 games in Batavia
Taylor: 6 homers in 66 games in Williamsport

Age 22:
Howard: 19 homers in 135 games in Lakewood
Taylor: 19 homers in 132 games split between Lakewood and Clearwater

Age 23:
Howard: 23 homers in 130 games in Clearwater
Taylor: 10 homers in 48 games in Reading (so far — on pace for 27).

Taylor has definitely had a better minor league career in terms of power hitting to this point, though it should be noted that Howard’s age 24 season was his real breakout, and there’s no way to predict that sort of thing.

by phatj on Jun 4, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

7 ip 4k 3bb 3h 0R

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 3, 2009 9:36 PM EDT reply actions

Drabek should be off limits for any trade.

by doubleh on Jun 3, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions

So if the padres wanted drabek you’d say no to peavy
or oswalt

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Jun 3, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d give him up for Halladay, but I don’t think I’d do it for Oswalt or Peavy. I don’t think Peavy’s coming here, #1, so I think it’s a moot point. But there are concerns about his arm from his violent throwing motion from some things I’ve read and some are concerned about Oswalt’s declining numbers (change of scenery could benefit him, though, like it did for Lidge). They can have just about anybody else in the system for those guys but the ceiling for Drabek is pretty high from most scouting reports I’ve read/things I’ve heard.

Of course, the division looks pretty open now with what’s going on with the Mets, etc., so if you’re in the win-now mode and don’t mind being lousy in a few years, you do it. But I think it’s a high price to pay for Peavy or Oswalt.

by doubleh on Jun 3, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions