Rowand is the man.
The Good: Close games are so much more fun when your team is on the winning side. Especially when your bullpen goes 3.1 innings without giving up a hit.
The Bad: 7 hits. It’s games like this that you realize that an offense alone can’t win you ball games. You need good, consistent starts from players like Kendrick who only made one mistake.
Boy, am I gonna miss Aaron Rowand at the end of this year. And I’m not just talking about the things I see on a daily basis: .325 average, .350 w/RISP, his amazing range and arm (10 outfield assists now), and his hustle on every play. There’s the stuff we as fans don’t see, but hear about. His leadership in the clubhouse. It’s one thing to have an older play tell you what to do. It’s another thing to have an older player with a World Series ring tell you what to do. If (and by “if” I mean “when”) he leaves at the end of the season, the Phillies won’t have a “great leader.” There’s Rollins, Utley, Howard, and Hamels, the core of the team, but none of them have any playoff experience. Helms, but one doesn’t tend to listen to a bench player to often.
The worse thing about Rowand possibly leaving at the end of the year is that there is no clear replacement for him in the outfield. Dobbs is a great player, but I think he fits in better at 3rd. Werth isn’t an everyday player. Bourn would be nice on defense and on the basepaths, but he’s still a bit young and undeveloped with the bat. Hopefully if the gift shop sells enough Rowand t-shirts, he’ll realize how much we love him here and he’ll stay. I’ve already bought my shirt.
Anything less then 2 wins against the Nationals will be terrible. But it’s OK because Cole Hamels is pitching on Cole Hamels bobbing-head figurine day. The story practically writes itself. Hopefully he’ll be coming out a little pissed off after getting a lose in his last game. Matt Chico, who came over from Arizona in the Livan Hernandez deal, will have to face the best hitting team in the NL. Just about your average starter, nothing special. He can get hurt with his fastball being in the low-90s area. But lets face it, every pitcher (who’s last name doesn’t rhyme with “sprung”) is going to give up runs against the Phillies. Lets just hope Hamels can get away with giving up 1 this time.
Last start: ND / 6.0 / 4 ER / 7 H / 3 BB / 3 SO / Colorado
Last words . . . Merry Christmas Eve.
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Posted on July 24, 2007 by Soss | Filed Under Baseball, Philadelphia, Phillies, Philly Sports, Professional Sports
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