Have the events of yesterday settled in with you yet? No, neither have I.  But it did change the Phillies roster… a lot, so let’s see who is in and who is out.

Out:

Hunter Pence was shipped off to San Francisco 367 days after he was brought to Philadelphia.

In:

Nate Schierholtz was brought in that trade.  He’s another 4th outfielder and should be serviceable.  He is not an everyday player, but he will be right now.  He likes playing at CBP though, so that should help some…

Out:

Shane Victorino was sent to Los Angeles.  Which, incidentally, is the same team that left him unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft…Twice.  The second time the Phillies liked him, but didn’t think he was ready for the Majors yet, so they offered him back.  The Dodgers didn’t want him.  The Phillies kept him and sent him to the minors.  He was a great Rule 5 pick.

In:

Domonic Brown is alive!  I know.  It’s kind of shocking.  I’m not sure which position he is going to be playing, but I am excited to see him back.  I truly believe in this kid, and no I don’t think I’m just fooling myself.  He might not always be the best outfielder, but he should make it up at the plate. (And let’s be honest, he can’t be any worse than we had this year in left field.)

» Continue reading “As The Phillies Roster Turns: Part 12″

This has been one of the craziest series that I can remember, and I’m want more like it.

All three games finished with a score of 7-6.  All three were won by the Phillies.  And all won in dramatic fashion.

Today, well, I wasn’t hoping for a dramatic win.  The Phillies were up 5-1 and then it was 5-3.  And I started shaking my head.

The Brewers tied up the game in the top of the 8th, on a Ryan Braun home run.

Why anyone pitches to Braun is beyond me.  The man is crazy strong and very good at baseball.  (With or without steroids.)

» Continue reading “It’s A Sweep!!”

Let’s get two things straight:

1) Chase Utley is not going to be the savior of the team and

2) I couldn’t be any more excited about his return.

We cannot, nor should not, expect Chase Utley of 2009 or 2010.  We should expect something like last year.  Last year was a down year for Utley with a .259 BA.  Though in the playoffs, he did hit around .400.

» Continue reading “What Chase’s Return Really Means”

My seats from Friday Night 6/8

Throughout the Phillies’ “Golden Era” of baseball, the one aspect of the game that remained constant was the defense.

For the last 5 years, the Phillies have been at the top, or near the top in all of baseball with their defense.  They did not make errors.  It was so odd that when they did the fans were often taken back.

That is not the case this year.  We are 2 months in the season and they have already committed 35 errors.

Let me put that in a little bit of perspective for you, last year, they committed 74 errors, ALL SEASON LONG!  In 2010, there were 83.  2009, just 78.

That is the reason the Phillies are losing!

Stop blaming the offense.  They haven’t been as bad as people want to believe.  The pitching has been more than serviceable.  It’s the defense that has taken a nose dive.

I was at yesterday’s (and Friday’s and Sunday’s) game.  Mike Fontenot alone had 3 errors (though he was only charged for 2.)  Jimmy Rollins had an error yesterday too.  If those 3 (4) errors did not occur, the Orioles do not score, the game does not go into extras and the Phillies win in a standard game.

Today, they saved the error until the bottom of the 10th, when Ty Wigginton fumbled a grounder.  That allowed Adam Jones to reach first.  The very next batter hit a double over Hunter Pence’s head and Jones scored.  Game over.

I’m not sure if the Phillies would have won or lost today’s game.  That’s not the point.  They lost then because of an error!

I understand that they are without Placido Polanco, Chase Utley and Freddy Galvis right now, but these error should NOT be happening.

Please wake up and stop playing sloppy ball!  It’s one thing to loose because the other team out-plays you, it’s another to give the game away!

If this continues, the whole season is going to be long, heartbreaking and frustrating.  Please don’t do that to us!  Please play fundamentally sound ball!

Karilee Jeantet is Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116 and e-mail her AViewFromSection116@gmail.com.