Burell, Howard Come Up Big
Pat Burrell and Ryan Howard played big roles in last night's 7-5 victory over the Astros.
Burell, Howard Come Up Big
Todd Zolecki
Pat Burrell has been in a slump.
So has Ryan Howard.
But both came up big in last night's 7-5 victory over the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.
Burrell had hit just .143 with a home run and two RBIs in his previous 15 games. He had started chasing breaking balls outside the strike zone again, and had watched his average plummet from .330 on May 4 to .271. But then he hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning.
Howard went 3 for 5 with a double, home run and two RBIs last night to move over .200 for the first time since April 21 in Colorado. He is 6 for 10 with two doubles, three home runs, and six RBIs in his last two games. He is hitting .207. And since Howard reached a season-low .163 on May 7, he is hitting .304 (17 for 56) with 3 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 15 RBIs in 14 games. He also has had his first back-to-back multihit games since Aug. 25-28, when he had more than one hit in four consecutive games.
It looks like Howard's slump is coming to an end, or has ended. Time will tell with that.
Burrell? Charlie Manuel said he wasn't sure if Burrell would start tonight. He had thought about giving him two days off before he homered. After he homered, he said he would have to sleep on it.
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It's ... alive!
Chase Utley has his bat back. The batting practice bat he had used for more than a year before it broke May 9 in San Francisco has been repaired, and Utley happily hit with it before last night's game. Now I'm not saying Utley is superstitious, but he has held onto the bat so Phillies equipment manager Dan O'Rourke could fix the thing in Houston.
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Jayson Werth left last night's game with a strained right oblique. He said he felt a pull swinging at a pitch in the eighth inning.
He'll know more today.
Did anyone notice that Charley played Russian Roulette in the ninth last night by pinch hitting for the pitcher with the last man on the bench, Chris Coste? This left him no options at catcher if Ruiz were to go down, since the the emergency catcher, Jason Werth, left the game with an injury in the eigth inning. What are the chances of something like that happening??? I'm old enough to remember (just barely :) that in 1971, Phillies catchers Tim McCarver and Mike Ryan both broke their hands in the SAME INNING on foul tips.— RAS
Burrell is doing the same thing he has done for the last few years. He's gotten off to a hot start in April, then had a terrible May. Nothing new there. So, Charlie Manuel must continue to do what he has done with Burrell in the past. Sit him(like he did for a good stretch in 2006), replace him in the 6th inning or later with a pinch hitter, pinch runner, or defensive replacement, and generally keep him on a short leash. It has worked pretty well in the past. Burrell has been consistently productive in the second half of each of the past few seasons.— bski- I'm so happy Chase has his BP bat back! Guess that leaves you and Salisbury off the hook, huh Zo?! LOL!— Norma
- I noticed that Uncle Charlie played a little roulette last night. I don't know why he did that. I was saying I think I would have just batted Cole or Adam Eaton. At least they have a half decent bat and can lay a bunt down and move the runners to 2nd and 3rd. Don't understand why he risked not having any field players should the game have gone to extras. I guess he's that confident in our boy Bradley. I'm also wondering if anyone noticed that Shane Victorino has yet to ever make a productive out? OK I'm being a little sarcastic but honestly, doesnt it seem like he pops out to the infield or strikes out everytime he needs to move the runners over?— davemarsh
- Victorino has all the tools but he doesn't use them to his advantage at times. Another gaffe last night, he makes a great diving catch with no one on base and mishandles the ball, taking it out of his glove while in an awkward position on the ground. Houston manager comes out and argues the call. All Shane had to do was wait until he was upright before handling the ball. He's not the brightest light in the midnight harbor, but I'm still glad he's on the team.— RAS
- Not that I don't love them both, but I think both Shane and J.Roll show-boat a little when they make great plays on the field. Even Harry and Wheels were saying he should have just stood up and taken the ball out of his glove. Not flipped it.— Norma
- Todd said of whether Howard's slump is coming to an end, "time will tell". I think time HAS told; 2+ weeks of good batsmanship means the slump is over. If he started to sag again, that wouldn't be the same slump; that would be an entirely new one.— marty
- I've noticed that Rhyno has a different trigger mechanism with his lead foot. He's stepping more towards the plate, which seems to be keeping his right shoulder in.— southpaw57
- The good news is that Charlie has the depth in the outfield now to sit Pat if needed and not sacrifice too much in the lineup. Of course Werth being hurt does not help but with Jayson, Iguchi, and Dobbs Charlie has options. http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/phightin_phils_phorum http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/turnpike_series http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/billypenn/— BillZe
Comment removed.- Tonight's game.......Well, we never gave up. That's what I love about this team! Eaton had a much better game. The thing I found interesting was the IBB to Chase to load the bases and bring up Ryan. Even though Chase hasn't been hitting well, and Ryan has. That shows a lot of respect for Chase.— Norma
- Last nights loss sucked! Another night of many men left on base...oh well. We have our true ace going 2nite LOL— Clinton, NJ
- Yeah, that has happened a few times this year, Norma. Madson, BTW, is awful.— John in LA
- Bummer about Werth going on the DL! They better hit this clown 2nite— Clinton, NJ
- I agree Norma about the how the Phils so very often never give up. So many times they've managed to come from behind for a "W". Last night alas was not one of those nights. Eaton didn't have that bad of game?!? Definite bummer about Werth :-(— KarenA
