Series wrap: Phillies game for great things

Aaron Rowand’s catch could become a defining moment in a season that has taken a drastic turn for the better. (AP Photo)

The Inquirer called it "one of the greatest catches in Phillies history," and from a fan’s perspective, it's a moment we'll talk about for years. I like what one fan said this morning on the Phillies blog Balls Sticks & Stuff:

"If Rowand ever has to buy himself a drink in the Philadelphia area again, I'll be shocked."

As reported this morning, the ironic part is the wall was scheduled for padding directly following this homestand. Rowand told the Phillies it was only a matter of time before he’d run face-first into bare metal. Sure enough, that’s exactly what happened.

The game was called in the fifth, ensuring blood was not spilled in vain. It actually made the catch more important because of the lost innings. One can confidently surmise that if Rowand didn’t haul it in, the Phils would have lost the game. Mother nature must love hard-nosed baseball.

Rowand’s heroics came at a price. He was admitted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital late last night with a broken nose and will undergo surgery today. A decision was not immediately made whether to put him on the DL, but the Phillies Web site says that decision could come as early as today.

For more on the catch, Tom Goodman revisits Rowand’s feat in detail at Swing and a Miss.

No guts, no glory
When I first started blogging about the Phillies nearly two years ago, I was surprised how many online baseball writers tried to disassociate themselves with words like ‘heart’ and ‘guts.’

Though I believe in the principles associated with sabermetrics, using stats as a guiding influence to make smart baseball choices, I’ve never been 100 percent comfortable abstaining from citing the intangibles.

It was this time last season that Jayson Stark of ESPN.com wrote a piece on how officials from around baseball were baffled why the Phillies, for all their talent, always come up short. Nobody could understand it. The numbers were there, the pieces were there, but they could never get it done. "What is wrong with the Phillies?" the article asked.

Since then, I’ve been waiting for the right time to revisit that piece when the answer came to fruition, The answer came the moment Rowand’s nose turned to mush on the outfield wall.

In my Hardball Times preview before the season, I said the Phillies would make the playoffs in large because they finally have some gamers who would set the kind of clubhouse policy it takes to win, citing Rowand, Chase Utley and Tom Gordon as my examples.

Believe it or not, this was the hardest point for me to write, knowing most of the Hardball Times audience didn't abide by such principles. Two months later, heart represents the difference between this season and last.

Other notes
---- If there's any indication Rowand's catch lit a fire under his teammates, look no further than Gavin Floyd, who was superb after Rowand's catch. I have not seen Floyd bust left-handers inside the way he did from the second-inning on. Some of those pitches were topping out at 96 mph and had filthy action.

---- The Phillies are 19-15, three-games back of the division-leading Mets. They have won all three series they've played against Atlanta and New York. Considering where they stand today on May 12, would you consider this a good start to the season?

---- Good things seem to happen when Shane Victorino gets into the game. His blazing speed has been a big asset off the bench, getting a double and triple last night with a run scored. With Rowand on the shelf, at least for a little while, Victorino will get a chance to show his true form as the team's 4th outfielder. I like that he brings another switch-hitting speed presence to the lineup, and he covers a lot of ground in the outfield. David Dellucci could also figure to get some work.

---- To make room for Cole Hamels, the Phillies took the safest route by using Geoff Geary's option. Geary had pitched well for the Phillies and hadn't allowed a run in seven-consecutive innings. A report this morning said Geary took the news hard.

Comments

[zach]

Two months later, I'm confident that 'heart' represents the difference between this season and last. If the Phillies were make the playoffs, I will stick to that claim, whether or not the numbers prove otherwise.

Not sure how the numbers could prove the team doesn't have heart, but I agree that this team has a determination that seemed to be missing before. Also keep in mind that all this happened after they were blown out to end their win streak.

[ae]

one reason I was (somewhat) disappointed to see the game end after 5 was Floyd's seeming improvement against the last few batters. I would've liked to see him get a chance to build on that, maybe even pitch seven solid innings.

[zach]

He did get a win.

[Tom Goodman]

Yes, Jason, as you have alwasys maintained and as guys like Rowand and Utley are forever reminding us, heart still plays a major role in all of this. Without it, teams just don't seem to get over the hump. There's no longer any doubt this team has it. If they can stay healthy they should be in the race to the end.

[THAT DUDE]

Becareful on the Floys was great after the catch. The very next inning David Bell had to bail hsi ass out with a diving catch.

[jay]

I am a Mets fan and I would like to say that was one hell of a catch. After he made that catch I knew the game was over.

[Scheetz]

After seeing that catch Aaron Rowand is now my alltime favorite centerfielder. Lets hope those in the dugout feel the same way about that catch as those in the stands.

[Lil'GasPasser]

Hey, any room on the bandwagon for me? I've been following the team a bit more closely this year (compared to last) since spring training, and there definitely is a different vibe to the club. I'm victim to the hard-hearted Philly attitude where I've been burned once too many times, but I'm definitely falling for this team. They're giving me reasons to truly think this year may be different. I'm not predicting World Series, but a very entertaining summer is almost assured. I can't wait for the press photos of Rowand with a swollen nose, two black eyes, multiple cuts, and a big smile... what a play!

[Nat]

If "heart and guts" awards are being handed out, Victorino must be in line. His bowling over of LoDuca in the first Mets game, while not on the scale with running smack into the centerfield wall, took some guts and his "stealing" a base off of Nady last night was a thing of beauty. Can't remember the last time a saw a Phillie skedaddle around the bases like he does.

Indeed, I am beginning to believe that what we have here are the "new" Phillies. It's about damn time.

[J. Weitzel]

How about some love for David Bell? Another RBI, some more outstanding fielding? I think I'll leave third base alone for a while.

[Tim]

that was the most velocity floyd has had in years right? a couple starts ago he was barely hitting 90. maybe there is something mechanical going on behind the scenes. on another note - i think the yankees scenario right now creates a great situation for an abreau trade. i don't know what big league talent they have that we'd want, but i'm sure gillick will be working the phone. too bad he doesn't like 3 team trades.

[Stick]

Would you guys trade Abreu? I know another team in N.Y. (coughYankeescough) that may want him.

[J. Weitzel]

Abreu needs a change of scenery, and that's not taking anything away from the guy.

Gillick shopped him all winter, he gets kicked around too much by his home fans and media. Since the all-star break of '05, he's been a little out of sorts. Rowand is such a captain out there, it wouldn't surprise me if Abreu is a little overwhelmed by it.

I don't think Gillick would hesitate in going the rest of the way with Victorino/Dellucci in left field, just to clear Abreu's large salary from the table and give himself more flexibility to make moves.

Abreu is slumping now, and I wouldn't count on it to stay that way, but it's pretty clear the win streak and homestand happened largely without him.

The problem with the Yankees is they don't have great prospects. Even Eric Duncan, third baseman, is struggling, and I read he's mostly playing first at AAA.

[Stick]

Being a Mets fan, I was impressed with Victorino in the series. And I've heard good things about him, too. But true, the Yanks don't have much in the way of prospects, or depth, for that matter. I just love hearing Yanks fans over-react following an injury. How many years do you think Abreu has left?

[J. Weitzel]

Quite a few. He's as steady as it gets. It wouldn't surprise me if a deal were to happen, Abreu goes on a tear.

[IrishBornKiller]

It is a little delayed, but I really enjoyed your season preview on The Hardball Times. It's what brought me to your blog and I love it.

[Danko]

Yep -- the problem with trading Abreu to the Yankees is what to get in return without making it look like a blithe salary dump. Normally, the Phils would look for starting pitching, but the Yanks don't have any that they'd be willing to part with that isn't comically overpriced. The best fit would seem to be Chacon (who is fairly cheap and fairly effective), but their rotation is so thin that they'd never dangle him -- and he's the kind of 3rd or 4th starter the Phils have in abundance anyway. As for prospects -- the Yankees cupboard is pretty much bare, primarily from making these "plug holes by trading prospects" moves season after season.

I just don't think the Yankees can give us anything of value in return for Abreu, which means that all the utility of the trade is bound up in clearing his salary off the books. That is a lot of cash (about $14 MM), and a Dellucci/Victorino arrangement in right would probably be an adequate replacement, but I'm just not sure if it's the best idea to salary dump one of your stars partway through a season where you intend to be a serious pennant contender.

Even in his current slump, Abreu still has an OBP of .438, which is dynamite when you have all the other big bats swinging as well as they are. It is no coincidence that Abreu is tied with Rollins for the team lead in runs -- with his speed and patience, Abreu still has a great stick, even if he's not putting the ball over the fence. I know Bobby has resisted the idea of batting leadoff, but I really think he should be hitting second right now. This way, he can compensate for Rollins's somewhat frequent slumps with his own consistent ability to get on base.

[pawnking]

I agree Abreu's worth a lot more than Phans realize. While he's not hitting during the streak, he has drawn about 13 walks, which is great.

As far as the catch, this might be the excuse Phillies Phans need to come back to the ballpark this year. Good thing, too, as this is a pretty good team which should contend all year.

For all the talk of a "soft schedule" early this year, the Phils have been playing division leaders like Colorado, St. Louis and the Mets (and tonight Cinci) and are doing quite well. This is a team we can get behind, because they will go on to the playoffs this year.

[THAT DUDE]

DO NOT TRADE ABREU. Jesus H, that would be dumb. He is in a little mixup right now, but still gets on base every friggin game. Cmon guys, let's be smart. What do the Yankees even have to give us? CMON Guys.

[ae]

I'm a huge fan of Bobby's, but still be (reluctantly) willing to trade him if the deal was good. but I can't imagine any possible deal with the Yankees that would help us out in any way other than saving on salary (and Abreu's well worth what we're paying him).

[RickSchuBlues]

This newfound 'heart' was what we all saw down the stretch last year, only to have it register as an illusion when the Phillies returned to their tight, miserable, losing ways in April. What a profound relief it is to find their moxie has returned with a vengeance. The Phillies have gotten it going a full month ahead of last year's team, and indeed a 20-15 start and only two games out of first is plenty good enough, as it miraculously turns out. They're on the kind of roll that can keep going for a long, long time with the talent they have.

[MG]

Geary got jobbed. Santana should have gotten sent down but Geary had options. Too bad.

[John Salmon]

I'm not persuaded that a time has "heart" when it's winning and doesn't when it's losing. There are a thousand different ways the '05 Phillies could've won the couple extra games that it would've taken to make the playoffs...start with Rollins playing well all year, not just the last couple months.

On Rowand-breaking your nose (among other things) so you can go on the DL for 15 days to catch one fly ball ain't smart. Sorry. Luckily Victorino is playing well, but in the middle of a period where they've nearly caught the Mets, partially due to Rowand's strong first quarter of the year, this was foolish. This is baseball, not football. You have to be ready to play every day. One of the reasons Johnny Bench had such a great career is that he learned how to avoid career-threatening collisions at the plate-while still usually getting the out.

Rowand needs to learn some restraint.

[RickSchuBlues]

I emphatically disagree with you on this, John. I posted a similar rebuttal over at Swing and a Miss, but again I will say that moment is something that leaves an imprint on more than Rowand's face. That's the ultimate example for the rest of the team, and it's something Philadelphia will embrace if it turns out to be something that defines this year's team. I think we've all seen far too much "restraint", and been disgusted with the results. Rowand will be back in two to three weeks. It's not the end of the world.

A good amount of those thousand different ways they could have won an extra game or two to make the playoffs last year would have been provided by being a tougher unit, having confidence to come through in tight situations instead of shrinking. Rowand's effort could well be the symbolic snapshot of a corner being permanently turned where that kind of approach to the game is concerned for the Phillies.