Blogs > Phollowing the Phillies

Insight, observations (and whatever else comes to mind) on the trails of the team that ended the quarter century-long parade drought in the City of Brotherly Love - the Philadelphia Phillies.



Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Yankees are coming

Actually, they're already here. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu and the rest of America's favorite team (to hate).

Should be an interesting day here at Bright House Field. A sell-out crowd has already filed in a couple hours before game time, with fans claiming their spots in the outfield berm with beach towels.

You've got a ton of media (I think there are 84 Yankees beat writers, compared to the five Phillies beat guys in attendance today).

And you've got a pair of potent lineups... and Adam Eaton pitching for the Phillies.


This could be a chance for Eaton to make good on his words. When he arrive to spring training last, the right-hander, who had a forgettable 2007 season and was left off the postseason roster, had this to say:

"Last year was my worst year as a baseball player, as an athlete. I’d like to forget it and move on... but obviously we need to learn from our failures and we need to correct some things and move forward."

Forgetting. Moving in. Moving forward.

Adam Eaton can begin to take that step, and make fans forget '07, with a decent outing today. I'll let you know how he fares...

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Speaking of players who really need to show what they have this spring and summer.... today's main story in the Daily Times focuses on former first-round pick Greg Golson. Selected two picks before the Yankees selected pitcher Philip Hughes in the 2004 amateur draft, Golson has struggled for the most part in the minor leagues.

Because of the laid-back atmosphere at spring training, it's hard to rip and kid and call him a bust. But Golson, promoted to Double-A last summer, batted .242 in 37 games at Reading.

And perhaps the most glaring stat - he struck out 49 times in 153 at bats.

That's one punchout in every 3.12 at bats - not quite where Ryan Howard was last year (the Phils slugger's rate was once every 2.65 at bats) but Howard also hit 47 home runs in Philly while Golson his 3 long balls in Reading.

Phillies officials still have faith in the 22-year-old Golson, though. While he obviously needs to cut his Ks down, he's a plus runner and, is already a major-league ready outfielder, according to Phils management.

Read more about Greg Golson's ups and downs in today's edition to our Archive Files.

Also, a recap of yesterday's action on the field in Bradenton.

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