Chase's Collision, Cole's Decision
Chase Utley crushed Nationals catcher Jesus Flores last night in a 4-0 victory. Cole Hamels dominated.
Chase's Collision, Cole's Decision
Todd Zolecki
Chase Utley just seconds after his best Brian Dawkins impression. (NICK WASS / Associated Press)
Charlie Manuel loved it.
The Nationals had no problem with it.
Chase Utley saw an opportunity to steal home in the third inning last night in a 4-0 victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park, so he made his best Usain Bolt impression and broke for home. But a second later he turned into Brian Dawkins as he tried to jar the ball loose from Nationals catcher Jesus Flores.
Flores held onto the ball for the out, but he didn't walk off the field.
He has a sprained left ankle.
"Why shouldn't I? That's the way you play," said Manuel, asked if he was OK with the play. "I wish every one of my players would play that way. That would be good. Don't say 'old school.' That's good school. That's the way you play the game. Unless you want to put some rouge and makeup and lipstick on you."
I'm pretty sure Utley has never put on rouge or lipstick.
But that is the type of play that makes Utley so respected in baseball. He has a reputation for playing hard. The Nationals admitted as much last night, which could be why they had no problem with Utley going high to trying to knock the ball from Flores' glove. Because he has a reputation for playing hard, they know there was nothing cheap intended with the play.
They just know it's Utley.
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Cole Hamels threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings and 104 pitches last night, which is great. But can he pitch Sunday night against Johan Santana and the Mets?
If the decision were up to him what would he say?
"I'm not going to give you guys an answer for that," he said.
"I want to put Hamels on the Mets," Manuel said.
This is a very interesting situation. The Phillies value Hamels' health. So does Hamels. Hamels has been on the DL each of the previous four seasons. He has thrown more than 200 innings for the first time in his career. He has about five more starts to make. If the Phillies bring back Hamels on Sunday, he would be pitching on normal rest (four days) for three consecutive start for just the second time this season. Rich Dubee said Hamels could go the remainder of the season pitching on normal rest, although there are a couple days off the rest of the way.
Some intersting numbers:
Hamels made a season-high three consecutive starts on four days rest from July 3 to 13. He went 1-1 with a 1.99 ERA. But in the three starts after that stretch, he went 0-1 with a 5.09 ERA. He has started on normal rest 16 times this season and has a 2.47 ERA in those starts. He has started on five or more days rest 12 times and has a 3.95 ERA in those starts.
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In the Phillies Notebook: Kyle Kendrick has had a "bad look" about him lately, and Kendrick doesn't disagree.
"I don't know if it's a confidence thing, but I'm not trusting myself right now," he said. "I'm really kind of hesitant, I guess. I'm trying to make the perfect pitch instead of just letting loose. I'm trying to place the ball instead of throwing it."
In his last five starts, Kendrick is 1-3 with a 9.14 ERA (22 earned runs in 211/3 innings). He has walked 14 and struck out just seven, and opponents have hit .356 against him.
Comments (39)
Chase is the man! Just like you ZO!— Barndog- Zo, I don't think the Nats were Ok with the play. First the were "worried'' and after watching the replay a couple of times, they concluded it was not a "dirty play''. I don't think nobody feels ok after watching your #1 catcher, and a pretty good prospect at 23, being taken out in a stretcher. The reason they did not think it was dirty, was because Utley is not known to be a dirty player. Now if he was one of the bad guys instead, like Bonds, Bradley, or Reyes for that matter, it's a different story.— EL Zorro
- Chase's play reminded me of Pete Rose in the famed All Star game collision. While I don't think he really had a chance of pulling off the steal, it was a great move and hopefully energized this team going into NY on Friday. Thanks for the stats on how he pitches. From what I see there is no reason not to pitch him on Sunday. Can always hold him back later on if needed— jeff gross
- I was at the game last night, sitting in left-center field, so I can't say I got a good look on the play . . . but it took forever for Flores to be taken off the field. He was obviously shaken up and injured. They like Flores here. Let's hope he recovers well. Too bad Utley didn't get the run, though . . . Great effort, as always, from Chase.— chris duckworth
- I liked Utley's "smirk" when he took the field after his collesion. It said "I'm bad! I'm fearless!" PLEASE have Hamels pitch Sunday! Happ and/or Kendrick can pick up the next one.— KarenA
- Let me also say...that the smirk was after he knew that Flores wasn't seriously hurt.— KarenA
- Zo has a bit of a smirk— mick314
- That smirk was our of concerned for Flores. And I don't think he was trying to energize the team, either. He just went by instinct.— EL Zorro
- that collision last night made my stomach turn. i couldnt believe utley got right up and didnt limp away or wince a bit. and whats up with the catcher? 10 minutes laying on the field and then carted off on a stretcher for a sprained ankle?????? come on pal, my sister could have walked that off. by the way el zorro, utley isnt a dirty player. he plays hard day in and day out and occasionally that means he has to run a catcher over or take out a shortstop. with all these little primadonnas running around not wanting to get a little bruise or let alone a small cut on their face that could damage their color commentating career, i'd much rather have 25 utleys than 25 "clean" players.— davemarsh
- Chase Utley - rouge and lipstick. Thanks for the imagery, Zo.— RollinsWasRight
- Cole should want the ball. Did not seem like he wanted the ball on Sunday vs. the Muttts. He is waiting for his pay day.— Beef69
I think the thing with Hamels is that he doesn't express himself in a way that instills faith from us fans that he's a guy who's ready to do what's best for the team. If he at least said, "Hey, this is a big series for us and I want to go. I want the ball. We'll just have to see." Then we could at least get behind him. Look, we all know that a young future superstar who has many millions riding on his health has to have a 'me first' attitude, but that's private. Publicly, he should be talking about what's best for the team. Personally, unless he's nursing an injury, I think there's no question he must pitch.— bobby- Umm, El Zorro. You're reasoning that Utley is not known to be dirty is false. Read the following: http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=432587 I don't think it was a dirty play either, but Utley's reputation has nothing to do with this. If it did, then Washington would have filled Chase's earhole last night.— Billy The Kid
- Billy the kid: Nice, flawed perspective you proposed. All that page says it that there is no common, league-wide perception of ANY player being a consistently dirty player. Utley heads the list, sure, but let's conveniently overlook that he took the crown with a whopping 8 votes out of 261. That hardly merits a "reputation"... in fact, a more accurate interpretation of those results would be: out of 261 NL players, 253 DID NOT consider Utley a dirty player. Therefore, he does not have a "reputation" of being a dirty player. What he has is a few guys who have probably been hit hard by him and are still harboring resentment.— RollinsWasRight
Hamel read between the lines.... I don't want to risk hurting my arm until I get a long term contract. It ain't worth it for $500K this year only, with no guaranteed money after that.— RAS- Billy and ROllins: did either of you find it strange that Chase was voted the best player in teh league and the most under-rated as well as the "dirtiest"? I agree with Rollins that this poll doesn't really mean anything. Can anyone even remember Chase ever getting thrown out of a game for anything? this is the guy who leads teh league in times hit by pitcher year after year..yet he's so dirty that he never even looks at the pitcher afterwards.— jeff gross
- jeff: I can't even recall a single instance where anyone had words for Chase Utley, whether it be a pitcher who is irked that he doesn't get out of the way, a catcher who is steamed that Utely just rolled him, or a middle-infielder who thinks Utley went overboard with a hard take-out slide. No one barks at Utley, ever. So why would even has reason to think he might be considered a dirty player? It does defy logic that he could be considered the "best" player in the league (which he isn't... sorry, love Utley, but St. Louis has a guy named Pujols who buries Chase), and simultaneously thought of as the "most underrated" player...— RollinsWasRight
- I suspect RAS's post is closer to the truth about Hamels. Can't imagine Moyers or Myers responding in same way. We got a good look at his heart in the playoffs last year, looks like nothing has changed.— jimmymack
- RAS: "Hamel read between the lines.... I don't want to risk hurting my arm until I get a long term contract. It ain't worth it for $500K this year only, with no guaranteed money after that." ... ... Wow, he hasn't even said he won't pitch yet, and already the nay sayers are out in full force attacking his motives. I just love that this town can assassinate a player for not doing something he hasn't even been asked to do yet, much less refused. The guy isn't Ricky Waters, people.— RollinsWasRight
- I agree Rollins, that was the first thing I noticed. goes to show what 261 players can do when allowed to vote. Best player in league is a pitcher on Brewers who hates periods. CC is simply amazing. Pujols is in top 5 as is Chase. (feel free to nominate missing 2 players for top 5)— jeff gross
- Cole Hamels should tell the Phillies organization to "F" off or pay me." I woudn't do one extra thing foro the classless Philly organization. Will they remember come arbitration time? Or will they say he only won 15 gms even though thats a misleading stat?— Truth
- Dave, I did not said Utley was dirty and Billy the Kid, I read in the Washington Post today quotes from Manny Acta that the he did not think it was a dirty play after watching the video. Zimmerman said Utley is not a dirty player and that's his style.— EL Zorro
- This would all be a moot point had the Phils brain trust decided to start Cole, with his regular rest, in the first game back from the All-Star break in Florida (July 18)against the Marlins. Instead, they held him back until Sunday (July 20). Hamels ended up missing the Mets the following week (another loss) as well. Hamels said at the time he did not want or need the extra 2 days. In fact, after his start on July 20,when he did not top 90mph, he said he had a hard time getting loose with the extra rest. Maybe the brass should have looked ahead at the schedule, after all, the Mets are the team you want Hamels to face more than any other.— JRH13
- Nobody is asking Hamels to do anything "extra" here. He's simply going to pitch on his regular day. As for paying him, or any player, more, why would any club do that until it's time? There's a clear set of guidelines on how the pay structure works based on length of service, and it was instituted with the blessing of the players association.— bobby
- Hamels is so soft.— davekrieg
- Rollins, I’ll bet you if you take a poll of all the managers and give the two choices, stealing home or let Howard hit, who by the way is leading the Universe in RBIs since he came into the league, most of them will rather take their chances with Howard hitting. The ones disagreeing are either bad managers or liars. It was also the third inning against a bad offensive team that Hamels own. That play could have been a momentum changer, if not for the injury. About the team fielding percentage: The major league leader is Houston with .989, Washington has a .980 (and is not the worst), the Phillies are at .985. So they make the plays consistenly, don't you think so? Keep digging, I have all day.— EL Zorro
- el zorro: are you saying it was a bad play to try to steal home?— jeff gross
Comment removed.- Washington leads all MLB teams in errors committed. That means they have failed to catch or throw the ball as expected more often than any other team. But you're so right; they are grand defensively. And again, Howard does not hit lefties, even bad lefties. Statistically, he is more likely to strike out than to knock in a run. Neither you nor I know what any manager would say, much less most, so that part of your argument is completely irrelevant.— RollinsWasRight
- It's a bad play most of the time. That's why they squeeze instead of stealing home, and it doesn't happen much either. Stealing home is an art. Stealing second is not easy for most players, imagine stealing home. What I'm saying is Utley's play was not a good play, if you take all the circunstances. It was too risky, specially the way it ended up. It could have been him lying outthere. It would have been even more painful watching Brunlett play second the rest of the way.— EL Zorro
- while I'm not going to argue the pint, from what Chase said it seems he decided on his own to steal. It doesn't seem as if Cholly told him to. I tend to agree with the play, though as it is a big momentum builder, work or not. Look how much time we're devoting to it today, wonder what the players are saying to themselves. How about, "look how much he's wiling to do to win, perhaps I can pitch a few more innings" (Cole)— jeff gross
- I won't argue the pint or the point (oops)— jeff gross
- Chase's reaction was more or less what Victorino did a couple of weeks ago. Victorino thought the ball was going to be a hit and he was wrong. (The guy made a good play I should add). Remember, when Victorino's play happened the Phillies were really struggling. He was the only one hitting. Maybe he wanted to ignite the team. But some criticized him for that. The same happened to Utley, too aggressive, and most people are congratulating him for being one of the 27 outs.— EL Zorro
- Zorro: I get your point, and I agree it is a very low percentage play, and very risky. But I think there is a bit of a difference between this and the Victorino play you referenced. Victorino got doubled off on a ball hit in the air, a ball he needed to make sure would not be caught before he took off. This is a little different. We all saw how differently the entire team looks, against the Dodgers and Mets, when a handful of guys who have the speed use it aggressively and take some chances, put pressure on the defense, take an extra base. Personally, I won't knock a guy for that, but maybe Utley did pick a bad spot to do it; it certainly would've been a horrible gamble if he's ended up the one getting an MRI today. But the team clearly needs some kind of spark; they play like zombies far too often, and I do believe that was Utley's intent.— RollinsWasRight
- Cole-just remember how they will treat you in Feb'..— Truth
- Murph is reporting Cole will start Sunday night vs the Mutts.— Beef69
- It's not like Cole will be asked to pitch on short rest. Sunday will be the final game againt the Mutts this year (of course, against Santan). There will be two off days in September after he starts on Sunday. After checking the remaining schedule, Cole will be 1st in line to pitch in the post-season, assuming the five-man rotation continues to the end of the regular season.— southpaw57
- I am waiting for Daily News Live on Comcast at 5, to see what the reporters say. I think that play is going to have some repercussions. I am not blaming Utley. He is a gamer and I understand that. In the other hand, he's being hit like a hundred times by Washington's pitchers. There is bad blood and Blanton looks like a pitbull. He won't be afraid to put one in someone's ear. Don't be surprised if you see some fireworks tonight.— EL Zorro
- Rollins, each of the 261 players voted for one player. I'm sure there are others that think he's dirty, just not the dirtiest. My point was that there are players out there that think Chase is a dirty player. I don't necessarily agree with it, but it's out there. Again, I'll say write it in caps I DON'T AGREE WITH WHAT IT SAYS, BUT I WAS MAKING A POINT. I'm also a Chase Utley fan and appreciate the way the guy plays the game...and I also agree that Pujols is easily the best player in the NL.— Billy The Kid
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