Utley Not Satisfied With NL Player of the Week Award, Homers in Fifth Straight
Hardware is great and all. I mean, it's nice to be "rewarded" with a trophy or a ceremony commemorating that you were the best at [something] over [a period of time]. But when you're Chase Utley, and you're the best second basemen, all the time, winning the NL's Player of the Week award is kind of a yawner.
To illustrate this point, Chase followed up a week in which he hit five home runs in six games by hitting another homer, his fifth in five games (tying a Phillies record), and went 3-4 with two RBI, two diving catches, and one plowed catcher. True, he was out on that last play, but he's still unstoppable. He was still the man.
The Phils won again, and now sit 1.5 games up on the Marlins in what's shaping up to be a pretty damn good NL East. JRoll is in a bit of a slump, but there's power to go around up and down this lineup. It's no Utleyan, league-leading 21 homers, but Pedro Feliz cranked one out as well, his eighth on the season. Just a batter later, Chris Coste went yard. With production like that from the bottom of the order on top of the overwhelming pop from the meat, the Phils ain't no joke.
Killer K looked alright at times, but was hit hard, getting in a little trouble in the sixth. But the best bullpen in baseball (!) came in and did like they do, throwing 3.2 scoreless innings on two hits to preserve the W for Kendrick. Brad Lidge has converted me into a believer. I wasn't sure he could handle the pressure here, but apparently I was wrong. He's been perfect so far, converting 14 of 14 save opps.
First place is feeling good.
Chase is tearing it up more than Peter North!!!
Posted by: bert | Monday, June 02, 2008 at 11:42 PM
"Chase Utley, you are the man!"
Harry, you are right. Tom McCarthy is growing on me (better than hearing Wheels), but Harry, you always say the right thing.
Posted by: Phils Phan | Monday, June 02, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Where has Wheels been? Where has the Sarge been? Where has Harry Kalas been? Tom McCarthy is doing a nice job, but he needs to stop jumping all over the Bank when he is interviewing. Oh, by the way Utley has 21 homers against Lance Berkman's 17 . . . . . Somebody please jump start J-Roll!
Posted by: Phanatic74 | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 02:24 AM
I still miss Scott Graham. He must have gotten caught up in a no-doubles defense somewhere...
Posted by: Tartan69 | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 08:05 AM
I like McCarthy, a lot actually, when harry retires I hope he can take over for him. I've never liked wheels and based purely on ability to give color to the game the Sarge is just as bad in wheels IMO. But I'd rather listen to him than wheels.
I just changed my fantasy baseball team name to "Chase Utley you are the man"
Posted by: sean | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Loved the interview with Marty Biron, who seemed up on his baseball and looked good in the alternate jersey. He's pretty funny too, which is cool. The poor dude had his two favorite sports teams taken away from him: the Nordiques and the Expos. Least he's a Phillies fan now!
Posted by: Loqiel | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Harry makes me smile.
Posted by: enrico | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Tom McCarthy still has a little too much Mets stink on him as far as I'm concerned. He grew up a Mets fan and characterized working for the Mets as his "dream job" when he left Philly the last time. He still needs to win me over.
As for his actual work, I wouldn't characterize McCarthy as Chris Wheeler annoying, but he's definitely Andy Musser annoying. (anyone remember ole Andy Musser?)
BTW: I'm done trying to come up with superlatives for Utley. He's worn them all out.
Posted by: johndewar | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Stephen Colbert asks, "Chase Utley: A god, or merely a demigod?"
Posted by: Chamomiles Davis | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 09:35 AM
a win is a win is a win, but lots of hard hit balls last night right at our defenders.
i am scared to think about tonight with eaton on the hill.
Posted by: theKrisheim | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 10:12 AM
You know, I'm just never going to understand the Wheels hate in this town. I really don't. I've always found him to be a superb color man. He's miles above Gary Matthews and Larry Andersen. Tom McCarthy is okay, but I detest his interviews in the stands, although Biron was pretty cool last night.
Posted by: Matt | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 10:28 AM
I think most of the Wheeler hate comes from the rumblings about Harry being uncomfortable in the booth with him, and how he may or may not have tried to get Harry gone all together. I don't think Whitey cared for him either. Harry is a legend, and in my opinion Wheeler is a wanna be. He never seems to stop talking, and when Tom gets him off on a tangent, it's unbearable. I'm content hearing the sounds of the park when there isn't any action in the game.
Posted by: Bryan | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 10:57 AM
Think how many more games we would of won last year if we didn't have bums like Mesa and Alfonsucka stinking up our bullpen... Now I honestly think we have three guys I would feel comfortable with the game on the line.
How about Flash? Didn't think I'd get this out of him this year.
Posted by: PhilaMegaMan | Tuesday, June 03, 2008 at 11:59 AM