We are now officially one week into the 2012 Grapefruit League Season, or Spring Training to most everyone. So what have we learned in the first week? We have learned that the Phillies starting pitching is still solid. At least the top three of Halladay, Lee, and Hamels. Vance Worley who is going to fight it out with Kyle Kendrick had a poor outing the other day against the Astros. Going Two Innings while yielding 5 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk, without striking out any. During that same game newly signed reliever Dontrelle Willis looked awful as well 2/3 innings pitched 3 hits, 4 runs and 2 walks. Not very good numbers even for spring. I try not to put to much stock into spring training numbers but in Worley's case this kid came on strong last season and is still working to establish himself as a rotation pitcher for the Phillies. I hope his next outing is much better so he can build confidence going into the season.
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| Chase Utley May 2011 |
Also on alot of people's minds this past week and into this weekend is Where in the world is Chase Utley? We know he is a bit banged up, but he has not seen any spring action through the first week. Only batting practice and playing catch. The following is direct from the Phillies website regarding Utley.
Utley has been taking things slowly this spring, which the Phillies said they had planned before the start of camp. But it has been surprising he has not played once during the first week of games, while also being limited to mostly batting practice and playing catch. It could be a week before Utley sees action in his first Grapefruit League game.
"We're just being really cautious with it," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said of Howard's left Achilles. "The wound itself has to heal. He's doing fine. We just want to make sure it heals. It'll heal."
It was also reported this week that Domonic Brown has inflammation in his sprained right thumb. That does not sound too bad, Im sure he will be fine in a few days. Speaking of Brown, I have mixed views on him, a few years ago I was super excited about him whenever he was called up to the big leagues. The Phillies front office has done everything to keep this guy in the organization. Weather it was the Cliff Lee Trade with Cleveland, The Roy Halladay trade with Toronto, Oswalt and Pence Trades with Houston. Through all of that Brown has remained with the Phillies. My problem with him is this, He has been given so may chances on the big league level. He and Ben Francisco were given a chance to win the right field job at the beginning of 2011 and Brown could not beat him out and was sent back to the Iron Pigs in Triple A. In my opinion at this point I would let him go, trade him to a team that can help the Phillies restock their farm system. Granted I would love to see him succeed at the major league level and doing that as a member of the Phillies but its been 3 years now and just dont know how much longer the fans can wait. Add that to the fact that John Mayberry Jr. has made the most of every single one of his chances, and looks like he will be a regular fixture with the Phillies in 2012 and beyond.
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| Domonic Brown |
This past Thursday Washington Nationals tickets went on sale to the general public. That includes residents of the great Philadelphia area. After all the "Take Back The Park" crap the Nationals did, there are still alot of good seats available for all three Phillies games at Nationals Park the weekend of May 4-6. So come on down to DC Phillies fans. I will be there cheering loud and proud for the Phils.
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