Manuel: "[Utley] is the best player I've been around, ever."

Check out today's Phillies Notes in the Inquirer

Mitch Williams hosts his own radio show?

Living in NYC, I had no idea Mitchy-poo was all over Philly sports radio and TV these days. I'm glad though; I've always been a fan -- even after he crushed all my teenage hopes and dreams in '93.

Here's a great article about Wild Thing in today's New York Times:

Williams, Former Goat for Phillies, Is Now Fan Favorite

Famous Phillies Batting Stances

This is pretty good ...



These guys do other teams too, if you want to check it out. (Thanks to Roydell for emailing the link.)

Jason Werth hits 3 homers, knocks in 8 runs

From AP: "The eight RBIs tied a franchise record held by four players, most recently accomplished by Mike Schmidt in a 10-inning game at Chicago on April 17, 1976. The others are Kitty Bransfeld (1910), Gavvy Cravath (1915) and Willie Jones (1958)."

Full article

President Bush wants Chase Utley!

George W. was asked who he would pick as his first position player, if he owned an MLB team. His answer?

"I like Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies ... he's a middle infielder, which is always, you know, they say strength up the middle. There's nothing better than having a good person up the middle that can hit."

Check out the full story on Yahoo Sports.

Mike Schmidt: Chase Ultley is a 'Diamond Rat'

Hall-of-famer calls Utley the best player in MLB right now. Read his full editorial here.

Here's a little snippet:

Utley is the heart and soul, their leader, their "diamond rat." He's the perfect player for the city...

To be a "rat," an endearing term to an athlete, means you are consumed by the game. Basketball has the "gym rat," a kid who lives in the gym with his basketball. Every free moment he's working his game—hundreds of jump shots, free throws, drills, in most cases in quiet solitude, as he enjoys being by himself.

Chase is baseball's version, generally early to the park, where the routine starts. He's quiet, but aware of his teammates and interacts as needed. He steadily works into his daily pregame schedule, studying video and moving to the batting tee and soft toss in the cages.

This routine seldom varies. He's not unique in this, as most players today have a similar physical pregame regimen, but my sense is that Chase is not only grooving a swing, but a plan of attack for that particular night, not just going through the motions of batting cage repetition, but seeing the game before it's played.

Therein is the difference.

Phils may negotiate with Pat Burrell mid-season

Negotiation would break current club policy.

Yahoo: Phils could negotiate with Burrell, Lidge

He's back!



Jimmy Rollins contributes three hits, three RBIs in first game back from DL

Pat's bat still hot in final year of $50 million contract. Coincidence?

I'm not one to believe that Burrell hasn't been trying over the years. Nah, he's just tended to suck for periods of time (at least when you compare him to what we know he's capable of). But, this MLB article isn't the first time it's been suggested that his performance is being driven by the need for another lucrative contract (then again, why wouldn't it be?), and it won't be the last either.