Utley, Eaton performing normally
Chase Utley and Adam Eaton are with Double-A Reading today and playing as if in midseason form. After grounding out in his first plate appearance, Utley singled to right field in his second AB. As for Eaton, his midseason form involves giving up first-inning runs - he coughed up two to Akron after starting his two-inning stint by plunking the first batter. Eaton allowed three hits and the two runs. Despite the less-than-encouraging rehab stint, he likely will come off the D.L. and pitch against the Mets either Tuesday or Wednesday. Reading has a doubleheader this evening, so Utley is playing second base in the first game and D.H. in the nightcap. He'll play again Saturday and get Sunday off before getting activated Monday.
G.M. Pat Gillick told me that he not only expects Scott Mathieson to join the Phillies' bullpen by Labor Day, but that he believes the hard-throwing right-hander can make an impact there. Mathieson had "Tommy John" elbow surgery 11 months ago. If he can bring the goods, it will be one hell of a comeback.
G.M. Pat Gillick told me that he not only expects Scott Mathieson to join the Phillies' bullpen by Labor Day, but that he believes the hard-throwing right-hander can make an impact there. Mathieson had "Tommy John" elbow surgery 11 months ago. If he can bring the goods, it will be one hell of a comeback.
2 Comments:
Mathieson proved nothing last year. Matter of fact, he didn't pitch one good game. Why would the Phillies think he would help this year? There's no logic to this at all.
First of all, make sure that if you're going to say he didn't pitch one good game last season, it's based on fact. The guy allowed three runs over eight innings in a home start last season and had a 4 2/3-inning relief stint against the Red Sox at Fenway where he got the Phils out of a second-and-third, one-out jam and allowed just one run the rest of the way.
Secondly, there's the whole "Tommy John" thing. The guy was pitching hurt. So I'd cut him some slack for his bad outings during his second stint with the team. And finally, they think that with a 97 mph fastball he can be the power arm they need in a set-up role. Considering Jose Mesa is flaming out, Geoff Geary is a train wreck and Clay Condrey and Brian Sanches are Quad-A pitchers, they figure that Mathieson's talent makes him at least a worthwhile option.
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