- Yesterday will always be remembered by Phillies fans everywhere, the start of a new baseball chapter in Philadelphia. Bryce Harper played his first game for the Phillies. It was an exhibition game in Clearwater against the blue Jays, but it was true: ther ehe was, in red and white pinstripes. It really did happen.
Harper walked in his two plate appearances as DH. He will play right field on Monday in Clearwater.
Of course, Harper got a standing ovation the first time he stepped into the batters; box, and more ovations later. I can only imagine what Opening Day will be like in a few weeks.
Not only is it great to have Harper's presence In the line-up for the next 14 years, but his effect trickles down the line-up. After Harper walked in the first inning, Rhy Hoskins crushed a first pitch fastball over the Tiki Bar in left field. That should happen a lot this season and beyond. Hoskins will get more fastballs to hit this summer with Harper hitting around him.
Toronto ended up winning the game in the ninth inning, 8-7. The Phillies did come back from a 6-2 early deficit. Good to see that fight. The pitching, certainly a question mark on what could be an exciting summer ahead, needs to step up. Beyond Aaron Nola ( who, not surprisingly, was named the Opening Day starter) who knows? Jake Arrieta looked OK yesterday vs the Blue Jays. Will the young kids currently in the rotation- Eflin, Pivetta and Valasquez- emerge or will the organization need to seek a trade for starting pitching in July around the trade deadline?
Dylan Cozens belted his third spring home run. He is having an excellent training camp and could be pressing for an extra outfield job. I like his raw skills. He is still young, can run, has tremendous power and a rocket arm in the outfield. I'm glad the Phillies haven't traded him so far. If he cuts down on his strikeouts will he be another Aaron Judge> Either play him or trade him, because after a while, one can hit 30 or more homers in a season so many times.
Toronto used a different shift on Harper, applying four outfielders at one time. I don't think this will phase Byce if other teams use a similar shift. He can just hit over it, or go opposite field. I think when teams use gimmicky strategy it's a sign of helplessness, maybe to confuse him, who knows why?
Both Cesar Hernandez and Odubel Herrera have been injured or ill for most of camp. They will need to get well quick and get some bats in before the season starts. If not, one or both may end up on the DL . This would temporarily solve the logjam in the outfield, with Roman Quinn still nursing an injury and without options lefts. Either the Phils use him as that extra speedy outfielder who could do so much with his legs, or they have patiently given up hope that Quinn will ever stay healthy enough to stay on the field.
Nick Williams could be trade bait if Cozens continues to shine. Nothing can be done right now, with Herrera and Quinn mending. Aaron Altherr, who also possess tremendous skills and can play all three outfield positions, should make the club as well, as a versatile pinch-hitter and extra outfielder.
- The Flyers picked up a big two points Saturday night, beating the Islanders on the island, moving to a mere five points out of a playoff spot.Meanwhile the Sixers have a huge game today at home against,the Indiana Pacers.Indiana is just ahead of the Sixers in the Eastern Conference seedings. Looks like Joel Embiid will not play tonight for the eighth straight game. It's stupid and typical Sixers- playing their fans as fools. Let's get real- Embiid played 23 minutes in the NBA All-Star game amd hasn't played since.The injury has gone too long to be called "knee soreness." Without Embiid, the 76ers have no shot going far a playoff spot, let alone winnings a round or two.
- Big week ahead for the Eagles as NFL free agency begins. Already they have maneuvered the salary cap to go below $30 million in debt to having a surplus of nearly $ 23 million. GM Howie Rossman is a genius to managing the cap. They will part ways with Timmy Jerniban and they will trade Michael Bennett to New England later this week.
It will be interesting to see who else is either let go ( Jason Peters?) or dealt ( Nelson Agholor) this week to free up cap space.
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