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Cliff Lee is not taking the bait from Nationals
Manager Davey Johnson |
So there are a couple of topics I would like to discuss this morning. First is the Washington Nationals are again trying to create a rivalry with Philadelphia. This seems to be a weekly thing these days.
Nationals Manager Davey Johnson said referring to the Phillies starting pitchers; "Their top three versus our top three, stuff-wise, we match up as good" Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee said in reply "He should [take those pitchers], because that's his only option. It's what he's got to do." So in other words "Whatever" Lee went on to say he wouldn't compare Halladay, Hamels and himself to any other pitchers on any team in baseball. "There's nothing good that's going to come out of that," -Phillies.com Now, i can honestly say I don't blame Johnson for saying those things because what is he supposed to say? He is behind his players one hundred percent. My thought behind this is simply, why? Why come out and make a random statement like that? In my honest opinion the entire organization is trying so hard to create a rivalry that they will do and say anything to try and build it. The Phillies fan base knows the Nationals are trying to get better on the field, they are taking strides in doing so. They are making good draft picks, developing young players making trades and signing free agents (some free agent signings are better than others) but in order to have a rivalry both teams have to be good, competitive and maybe some incident happens on the field that builds animosity between the clubs and players. Until any of that happens I still dont see a rivalry, and just because the Nationals organization and their fans want it does not mean its going to happen. However in a small way I guess it's kind of working because it has fans talking about things like this, the ticketing thing and more. Including myself, but I will not say its a rivalry, Yet!!!
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Jose Contreras is making strides
to get ready for Opening Day |
On another note, Jose Contreras pitched well in a minor league game on Monday afternoon. Throwing 21 pitches while recording five outs. Contreras is recovering from elbow surgery, and if he continues to progress, he should be able to make the Opening Day roster. This is good news for the Phillies bullpen in my opinion. When healthy Contreras can be a very good piece in the bullpen as a set up man for Jonathan Papelbon. Jim Thome also took an important step Monday, playing four innings at first base in a Minor League Spring Training game at Carpenter Complex. This is in anticipation that Thome will be getting a little bit of playing time at first base until Ryan Howard returns from his Achilles injury. I for one love Jim Thome. in 2003 when he signed as a free agent in Philadelphia he became an instant fan fav, simply for the reason he chose to come to play for the Phillies in a time where not many people wanted to. For that Thome will always be loved in Philadelphia and by me.
***All Photo's are my own.
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