Phillies Sweep the Padres

As seen on Phillies Nation.

One series can make a big difference. It was just a few days ago when the lowly Houston Astros swept the Phillies in four games. Three games later, the Phillies completed a sweep of their own against the first-place San Diego Padres. This series came down to the pitching, but the Phillies managed to score five runs for Cole Hamels in today’s 5-0 victory.

The Padres entered today’s game as one of the best fielding teams in baseball. After today’s game, that is hard to believe. The Friars committed four fielding errors. The Phillies took advantage of the mistakes, and tacked on five runs.

The first run came on an RBI single from Jimmy Rollins, but the big blow came off the bat of Mike Sweeney. Sweeney played in replace of Ryan Howard, who had a scheduled off day. In the seventh inning, Sweeney ripped a liner over the right field wall for a two-run shot. It was Sweeney’s first home run as a Phillie, and his first in three months. Later on, Jayson Werth added an insurance run, smashing a home run of his own.

One run was all Cole Hamels needed. Receiving run support was a new thing for him, as he picked up the victory. Hamels shut down the Padres over eight innings, surrendering only four hits. It was surprising that Hamels finished the day without walking a batter, because he had a high pitch count and often fell deep into counts. Hamels struck out six.

If the Phillies ever needed a sweep, it was this one. With the Braves rallying for a win, this game became more and more important. This sweep could add new life to the Phillies, especially after that horrific series with Houston.

Winning Streak Stops at Eight

As seen on Phillies Nation.

All good things come to an end. The Phillies' eight game winning streak came to a halt as the Phillies fell 8-1 to the Washington Nationals. The loss came on a night where Roy Oswalt made his anticipated Phillies debut, but could not live up to the expectations.

The loss was Oswalt's 13th of the season, which leads the majors. Nyjer Morgan greeted him with a lead-off triple, and eventually scored. The Nationals did not look back. Oswalt did not get much help from his defense. Craig Stammen laid down a poor bunt. The Phillies should have been able to get the lead runner at third base, however nobody covered third as Carlos Ruiz's throw sailed into left field.

Oswalt lasted six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits, and two walks. He struck out four and hit two batters. Regardless, it was a very disappointing debut for Oswalt. However, don't call this trade a bust. Oswalt still remains as one of the top pitchers in the game; he just had a rough night. It happens to every pitcher.

The Phillies made Oswalt feel right at home with their lack of run support. Oswalt's offense averages 2.51 runs per game when he pitches. The Phillies lone run came on a home run from Jayson Werth. Stammen, who entered the game with an ERA over five, made hitters look silly. The Phillies couldn't do anything.

It's always tough to lose to a last place team, but the streak wasn't going to last forever. The Phillies could build a new streak tomorrow, but they have to focus on one game at a time.

Pitching Can't Stop Cubs

This one got ugly real fast. Ryan Howard quickly put the Phillies ahead 2-0, but boy did this game escalate quickly.

With Howard's two-run home run, it seemed like the Phillies were starting the second half on the right foot. Howard later homered in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, those two home runs runs weren't nearly enough.

Aramis Ramirez smacked a two-run double off Jamie Moyer to tie the game at two. Later, Starlin Castro stole home to give the Cubs a lead, and that was pretty much the game. Moyer blew up for six earned runs in three innings. He gave up two home runs; one to Derek Lee, another to Alfonso Soriano.

The game really came out of reach when Jose Contreras pitched in relief. Contreras surrendered five earned runs in just 2/3 of an inning, including a Geovanny Soto three-run shot.

Poor pitching led to the 12-6 defeat. It was certainly not a way the Phillies would have liked to start the second half, but tomorrow is a new day.

Improbable Comeback Stuns Reds

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Baseball is such an unpredictable sport. One team can have all the momentum, but in the blink of an eye, it can switch over to the other side. That's what makes the game great. Just when it can't get any worse for the Phillies, Greg Dobbs shines a light of hope. The Phillies pulled off an improbable 9-7 comeback on an evening with a huge turn of events. These are the comeback kids that the fans love. It's amazing how quickly boos turn to cheers.

There were several misplays on both sides during Thursday's game. The errors carried over immediately on Friday as Jimmy Rollins botched the very first play of the game. Several batters later, Johnny Gomes sent Joe Blanton's offering into the left field seats. Blanton never settled in.

Blanton got knocked around in 5.1 innings. He surrendered six runs, five earned, on a whopping twelve hits and two walks. The Reds were hitting shots off him; he never found a groove. Lately, Charlie Manuel has been critizied for leaving his starters in too long. If there was ever a good time to lift Blanton, it was in the bottom of the fifth. Instead, Manuel let Blanton hit for himself. Blanton allowed a few base runners in the top of the sixth before Manuel pulled him. Blanton tipped his cap to an upset crowd, and headed for the showers. Luckily, David Herdon avoided further damage.

In the meantime, Mike Leake cruised. The rookie who skipped the minor leagues looked like a long time veteran retiring batter after batter. At one point, Herdon's pitch count in a little over an inning matched Leake's through five. Leake dominated. He even went 3-for-4, having a much better night at the plate than most Phillies.

It looked like the game was over, and the Reds had an easy victory. Not so fast. All the trouble came in the ninth. Leake went out for the complete game, but ran into trouble: the return of the Phillies offense. Shane Victorino led off with a double, and Leake could not finish the game off. Ryan Howard drove in Victorino with a single, but the big momentum shift came off the bat of Dobbs. Since being designated for assignment, Dobbs has had a fire under his belt. He's starting to hit again, and boy did he get ahold of one. Dobbs smoked a three-run shot off the foul pole, putting the Phillies down 7-5. The damage was far from over.

Leake failed to close out the game, so Dusty Baker brought in closer Francisco Cordero. He didn't exactly get the job done either. Ben Francisco drew a huge two-out walk, bringing the tying run to the plate. Then, Cody Ransom earned his pinstripes. Cordero threw him an outside fastball, and he hit the ball where it was pitched; he sent it in the first row of the opposite field. The crowd turned electric as the score became even.

The Phillies were unable to score another in the ninth, but the six-run inning was plenty, sending the game into extra innings for the second straight night. Ryan Madson tossed a 1-2-3 tenth, striking out two, with his changeup looking better than ever.

In the bottom of the tenth, a lead-off double once again started a rally. Raul Ibanez greeted Arthur Rhodes with a double, but Howard topped that with an opposite field blast. Another day, another walk-off home run. Arthur Rhodes sure must hate facing the Phillies. He has given up six runs all year; five to the Phillies (revenge for 2006?).

As Howard rounded the bases, all sorts of excitement and emotion were released. This is the team that the fans want to see more of. This is the team that the city fell in love with. Perhaps these are the types of games that can turn a season around for the better.

Utley & Howard Help Offense Explode for Nine Runs

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The middle of the order’s struggles were a large reason why the Phillies were in a month long slump. With today’s 9-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins, the Phillies have now won three in a row. They aren’t exactly out of the skid, however they are steps closer to getting out of it. Production from the middle of the order is a big reason as to why the offense is improving. Tonight, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard led the charge.

The Phillies immediately got on the board thanks to Utley’s RBI single. Howard followed with a triple, on a ball that was misplayed by right fielder Jason Kubel. Jayson Werth added a sacrifice fly, giving the home team a 3-0 advantage.

The runs kept pouring in. Utley launched a fly ball over the right field wall, only to be followed by a Howard shot in almost the same exact spot. The back-to-back jacks put the Phillies ahead 8-0, providing plenty of breathing room for Joe Blanton.

Blanton cruised along, surrendering three runs in six innings of work. He allowed two of those runs to start the seventh inning, before being lifted. Blanton didn’t exactly dazzle, but he got the job done. He also received plenty of help from his defense, especially Utley, who made three web gems.

The first hit Blanton allowed was a triple to Kubel, however he did not put on the brakes. The third base coach waved Kubel around, trying for the inside-the-park home run. If not for a perfect relay from Shane Victorino to Utley to Carlos Ruiz, Kubel would have been safe. Instead, Utley made a perfect throw and Ruiz (who later left due to an injury) applied the tag.

Utley didn’t stop flashing the leather there. He made a barehanded grab to turn a quick double play. In addition, he made a tremendous diving stop to take a hit away. Not only did he do it with the glove, but he did it with the bat, finishing the night with four runs batted in.

Howard, who has lacked power all season, finally had a power surge. He finished 4-for-4 – all extra base hits. He homered twice, tripled, and doubled. He was a single shy of the cycle.

There was never a doubt that the Phillies would hold their lead, although it did get interesting in the ninth inning when Scott Matheison came on in relief. Matheison surrendered a few runs, but Brad Lidge sealed the deal by getting Joe Mauer to line out to end the game.

The Phillies desperately needed this win. Perhaps they can carry the momentum, put together a nice winning streak, and put their previous struggles behind.

BoSox Crush Moyer

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Welcome to third place, Philadelphia. That was ugly. The Boston Red Sox destroyed the Phillies, 12-2 at Fenway. There really is not much to say about Moyer’s awful performance and the same old slacking offense.

Moyer, who came off a complete game, couldn’t get an out in the second inning. Lasting just over an inning, Moyer surrendered nine runs, all earned. At least the Red Sox hit their way on. Moyer gave up six doubles and one home run, but only walked one.

The Red Sox added three more runs off David Herndon. Antonio Bastardo and Kyle Kendrick both got work in out of the bullpen.

It was the usual offense (meaning, the offense that we’ve seen for the past month) for the Phillies. No, they did not get shut out, but they only scored two runs off John Lackey. Both runs came on ground outs, so the Phillies weren’t exactly driving runners in.

Lately, the pitching has clicked, but today neither the pitching or offense found a rhythm. The game was terrible, and there is no other way to put it. This slump is getting old.

Draft Recap

Yesterday, the Phillies drafted Jesse Biddle in the first round. Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, and other notable players have been drafted in the first round, however, some star players like Ryan Howard have been drafted in later rounds. Here is a roundup of a busy day in the Phillies draft room:

Jesse Biddle, Germantown, (1st round, 27th overall) - LHP

Biddle has huge upside, great fastball, good curveball, and improving changeup.

Perci Garner, Ball State, (2nd round, 77th overall) - RHP

Cameron Rupp, Texas, (3rd round, 108th overall) - C

Rupp has been praised for his power and strong arm. He is not likely to hit for average, but has strong power potential. He is also solid defensively.

Bryan Morgado, Tennessee (4th round, 141st overall) - LHP

Morgado has been inconsistent. He has an above average fastball, and his slider is developing.

Scott Frazier, Upland HS (5th round- 171st overall)- RHP

Frazier's fastball touches 95 at times. He has a great changeup, and his curveball is improving.

Guantlett Eldemire, Ohio University, (6th round - 201st overall)- CF

Michael Nesseth, Nebraska, (17th round, 531st overall)- RHP

Nesseth was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 15th round in 2009, but he did not sign. He struggled to open the year, and was shut down due to an elbow injury.

In other news, Jamie Moyer's son, Dillon, was drafted in the 22nd round by the Minnesota Twins.

The Pittsburgh Pirates went pitch-crazy. Nine of their first 10 picks were pitchers -- and all of the right handed variety. They did, however, draft a left-handed pitcher in the 13th round, Chris Kirsch, who graduates in my class. Kirsch's fastball touches 90 at times, and has an above average curveball.

And it's not surprising that Bryce Harper was drafted first overall by the Washington Nationals. The kid is a phenom, hitting 500+ foot blasts. Stephen Strasburg is making his major league debut, and Harper isn't too far behind. The 17-year old and Strasburg can make the Nationals a scary team in years to come. Heck, the whole NL East will be scary with Jason Heyward, Strasburg, Harper, Mike Stanton (who also debuts tonight), and Dom Brown.

Phillies Drop to Second Place

As seen on Phillies Nation.

With the Phillies 9-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Phillies dropped to second place in the National League East. While the Phillies offensive struggles have been frustrating, it's not time to press the panic button -- yet.

Part of this loss can be blamed on defensive mistakes by Ross Gload and Ryan Howard. Gload, who played in place of Jayson Werth, dropped a fly ball. However, the most costly error was by Howard, who completely missed a ground ball that potentially could have been two outs. The miscues led to two unearned runs, and if not made, the outcome could have been much different.

The Phillies were held scoreless until the seventh inning. Tommy Hanson cruised along, allowing just three hits. He was lifted in the seventh inning after allowing a two-out double to Raul Ibanez. Pete Moylan came in relief and gave up three straight doubles as the Phillies were able to cut the lead in half. Unfortunately, Troy Glaus broke the game wide open at the bottom half of the inning. Glaus' three-run home run off Chad Durbin put the game in the books.

There were some positives though. Brad Lidge returned from the disabled list (Nelson Figueroa was designated for assignment) and tossed a 1-2-3 inning. His slider was impressive, as he struck out one batter. The other positive? They weren't shut out.

Today, the offensive struggles carried over defensively. There is no question that the Phillies need to snap out of this slump, but it is still very early in the season. In previous seasons, the Phillies have gone through similar woes. This series with Atlanta is key, however, and they must win if they want to get back into first place.

Blog of Note: We Should Be GM's has a few song parodies about the Phillies' offensive struggles.

Halladay Throws A Perfect Game!

27 up. 27 down. Nothing much else you can say about Roy Halladay's perfect gamet. What an incredible performance by Doc!

Dice-K Nearly No-Hits Phils

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Daisuke Matsuzaka was four outs away from tossing a no-hitter against the Phillies. Juan Castro broke up the no-hit bid with a bloop single over the head of Marco Scutaro. For the Phillies, it was appropriate that the only hit came on a blooper since the Phillies hit the the ball hard most of the night.

Dice-K didn't exactly dominate. He had a high pitch count, walked four, and struck out five. Yes -- the Phillies weren't able to collect hits off him, but they did scorch the ball. The Red Sox made several incredible defensive plays. Dustin Pedroia made a leaping catch to rob Chase Utley. Jayson Werth lined a shot right back at Matsuzaka, who made an insane catch. Adrian Beltre dove to take a hit away from Carlos Ruiz, and turned it into a double play. Overall, the Phillies were hitting the ball hard, just right at fielders.

While Dice-K was literally unhittable, Kyle Kendrick was the complete opposite. He surrendered five runs, all earned. Kendrick cruised through the first couple of innings, but hit a rock in the fifth. The Red Sox already led 1-0 at the time, thanks to a sacrifice fly in which Raul Ibanez failed to nail David Ortiz at the plate. Kendrick was one out away from keeping it a one-run game, however J.D Drew, Ortiz, and Beltre each knocked in runs.

The Red Sox took a 5-0 lead, and did not look back. Matsuzaka got a lot of luck on Saturday, and perhaps things will come easier tomorrow for the Phillies with Roy Halladay on the mound.

Phillies Finish Home Stand on High Note

As seen on Phillies Nation.

There was some magic in those pink bats that Jayson Werth, Placido Polanco, and Shane Victorino used. They each smashed solo home runs to help the Phillies wrap up a 7-3 home stand. But it was the bullpen that was the story in the Phillies 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Cole Hamels lasted just five innings, but was backed by solid defense. In the first inning, Omar Infante rounded third as Werth threw a laser to Carlos Ruiz, who applied the tag. Infante was gunned down, and the inning came to an end. Hamels allowed three earned runs on eight hits. He struck out five, but was a tad wild as he walked four. Luckily for Hamels, he received run support unlike his last start.

The Phillies loaded the bases in the first inning. Werth was hit by a pitch by Kenshin Kawakami to force in a run. Ibanez followed with a shallow fly ball to right field. It was nowhere deep enough to score a run, however when Chase Utley is on third base, nothing is shallow enough. Melky Cabrera took his time, and Utley took advantage and tagged from third to score. By the third inning, the Phillies led 4-0 thanks to home runs by Polanco and Werth.

The Braves inched back off Hamels, but the bullpen stepped in and dominated. Chad Durbin pitched two perfect innings and struck out four. Jose Contreras has made us all forget about his poor spring training. He threw a scoreless inning to set it up for Brad Lidge.

Eric Hinske and Infante hit two loud fly balls. On any day, those balls probably would have left the yard, but thankfully the wind knocked them down. After all the fans took a deep breath, Lidge retired Martin Prado to record his first save of the season.

The Phillies' bullpen combined for four scoreless innings. Nor Durbin, Contreras or Lidge allowed a single base runner. The bullpen needs to continue this sort of dominance, and the Phillies will continue to succeed.

Halladay Throws Another Shutout

When Roy Halladay has a rough start, there is a good chance he will rebound in his next outing. Halladay bounced back from a tough game against the San Francisco Giants by tossing a complete game shutout over the New York Mets.

While Halladay dazzled and struck out six, the offense finally came back to life. The Phillies threw up a six spot on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Jayson Werth opened the scoring with a RBI single on a pop-up over the second baseman. Juan Castro's two-run double extended the Phillies lead to three. Shane Victorino broke the game wide open with a three-run home run. The runs would not stop there as Raul Ibanez chipped in with a two-run triple.

The Phillies were able to halt the Mets' eight game winning streak with their 10-0 victory. The offense finally clicked, but it was Halladay who stole the show with his second complete game shutout as a Phillie. Johan Santana and Jamie Moyer face off tonight in the series rubber-match.

5th Inning Rally Lifts Phils

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The red carpet rolled out and each player walked down from centerfield. Charlie Manuel proudly raised the blue 2009 National League pennant banner in Ashburn Alley. The players were introduced, and the 2010 Home Opener was underway.

The news did not start off good. Jimmy Rollins was scratched from the lineup due to a calf strain. Jayson Werth later left with an injury. Werth's injury is not expected to be serious, however Rollins may be headed for the disabled list.

Cole Hamels' second consecutive start against the Nationals did not go as planned. The lefty struggled once again, surrendering four earned runs in 5.2 innings. Hamels struck out six, but his earned run average raised to 5.06. Hamels has yet to put 2009 behind, and return to the form he was in 2008 and prior.

The Phillies found themselves in a 4-0 deficit, but the offense always has a comeback in them. Ryan Howard continued his hot hitting with a RBI single.

Juan Castro caught on to his new team quickly, driving in a run during his first game as a Phillie. Placido Polanco (2-for-4) raised his average to .484 with a RBI single of his own. Chase Utley smashed a two-run home run down the right field line to cap off a five-run fifth inning. The Phillies offense remains hot and has no desire of cooling off.

The bullpen did a stellar job to secure the win for Hamels. Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras, Danys Baez, and Ryan Madson combined for 3.1 hitless innings.

With the 7-4 victory, the Phillies improve to a Major League best 6-1 record. Tomorrow, Kyle Kendrick will look to redeem himself after a disappointing outing last week.

Howard's Smash Backs Moyer

As seen on Phillies Nation.

Sporting a uniform that was worn by the Phillies in the year he was born, Jamie Moyer cruised along retiring the first eight batters he faced. Moyer had a comfortable four run lead with the opposing pitcher due up, and was bound for another easy inning.

Instead, Felipe Paulino doubled and the wheels fell off. Moyer struggled to get a single out as the next eight batters reached base. Jason Michaels' and Hunter Pence's home runs tied the game. Michaels' homer was the Astros' first home run of the season. The Astros' 2010 firsts did not end there. They took their first lead of the season on a sharp ground ball that was mishandled by Placido Polanco.

You could go on and on about how bad that inning was for Jamie Moyer and the Phillies. But you could also go on and on about how ridiculously hot the Phillies offense is right now. They're only averaging 8.2 runs per game.

The Phillies played a little small ball to score the first four runs. The fact that the Phillies aren't relying on the home run ball is an excellent sign. They are drawing walks, getting on base any way they can, and bringing those runners home to score.

But it's always nice to hit the long ball. Trailing 5-4, Ryan Howard provided the smash. Howard cranked a two-run homer off the concrete wall in deep left-center field. The Phillies took a 6-5 lead, and did not look back.

Jayson Werth went 3-for-4 with 3 runs batted in. Shane Victorino joined the fun with a RBI single and a ninth inning home run. Victorino hit into tough luck all week, but finally found a hole.

Moyer settled in after a rough third inning, and was able to make it through six. He earned the win in the Phillies 9-6 victory over the Houston Astros. It will be a battle of the Roy's (Halladay-Oswalt) tomorrow as the the Phillies go for the sweep against the win-less Astros.

Sunday's Recap and Injury Updates

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies lost in extra innings to the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-3, however there were some positive notes from Sunday.

First, Brad Lidge said that he will be able to throw to live hitters during batting practice on Wednesday. He could appear in a minor league game on March 15.

Shane Victorino, who is nursing a sore shoulder, will not make the trip to tomorrow’s game at Tampa. However, Charlie Manuel said that there is a chance that Victorino could play on Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves.

Now back to the game. Domonic Brown continues to make spring highlights. He went 3-for-5 with two runs batted in. He grounded into a key double play, but since he has seven hits in the last three games, we’ll let it slide — for now. The other run came off the bat of Jimmy Rollins: a solo home run.

J.A Happ pitched 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks. Phillippe Aumont managed to make it through 2.2 innings without surrendering a run, bouncing back from his poor outing against Florida State University. On the other hand, Joe Savery and Yohan Flande each struggled.

Blanton Changes Grip, but Struggles

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies did not win on Saturday. Nor did they lose. After ten innings, the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates called it a tie, with the game knotted at three.

Joe Blanton made his spring debut, and allowed three first inning runs. In his two innings of work, he surrendered five hits, three for extra bases. Blanton explained that he is working on a new grip for his sinker since he was uncomfortable with the previous grip.

Danys Baez made an impressive Phillies spring debut. He allowed one hit and struck out two in two scoreless innings.

Also, Domonic Brown continues to impress this spring. He went 2-for-3 against the Pirates. On the other hand, Ryan Howard remains hitless. Howard is trying to work on hitting breaking balls, but he has struck out four times in five at-bats.

Hamels & Moyer Have Solid Outings

As seen on Phillies Nation.

In Friday's 14-9 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cole Hamels made his 2010 spring training debut.

Tossing 32 pitches in two innings, Hamels allowed one run (a solo home run), two hits, and walked one. Hamels' fastball topped at 89 mph, but he also showed a cutter and curveball. Hamels was confident in his cutter. In addition, Charlie Manuel acknowledged that Hamels' curveball was good, especially to left-handed hitters.

In a "B" game, Jamie Moyer also made his spring debut. In three shutout innings, he allowed three hits and struck out three. 23 of his 31 pitches were for strikes.

Also on Friday, Tyson Gillies homered and Domonic Brown went 2-for-4. However, pitchers J.C Ramirez, Ryan Vogelsong, and Bill White struggled.

Today's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates is currently being aired on 1210 WPHT.

Aumont Struggles in 13-6 Win

As seen on Phillies Nation.

The Phillies cruised to a 13-6 victory in their exhibition game against Florida State University.

In the process, Phillippe Aumont, the team’s number one pitching prospect, struggled. Aumont, who was acquired in the Cliff Lee trade, surrendered five runs in 2/3 of inning. But let’s not call it a career for him just yet. Aumont admitted feeling pressure from the trade, and said he wanted to make a good first impression. He’s only 21 and it was his very first outing. Heck, Tim Lincecum allowed three runs during an inning of work today.

The Phillies did receive stellar performances from J.A Happ (2 IP, 0 R), Drew Naylor (2 IP, 4 SO), and Joe Savery (1 IP, 2 SO). Domonic Brown also drove in a run.

Player Recap: Jimmy Rollins

This article was featured on Phillies Nation under 2009 Player Reviews.

The Philadelphia Phillies are usually playing their best baseball when their spark plug is productive. "As J-Roll goes, the Phillies go." 2009 was no different.

Before the season started, Rollins batted .417 with a home run and four RBIs for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic. With the hot start, it was thought that Rollins would carrying his success into the regular season. However, it was only a sample size of at-bats. Things didn't go as planned, and Rollins batted .229 during the first half of the season.

The Phillies started to struggle in Interleague play, and after an 0-for-28 slump in late June, Charlie Manuel benched Rollins for four games. His average plummeted to .205, so Manuel thought some time off would clear his mind.

Rollins returned and batted .358 in his next 13 games, which included seven multi-hit games. In addition, it led to a re-surged Phillies ball club. In July, Rollins batted .313 with a .924 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Rollins continued to improve as the season moved along. He hit .272 with 14 home runs in the second half of the season. In 155 games, he hit .250 AVG, .296 OBP, .423 SLG, .719 OPS, with 21 HR, 77 RBI, and 31 SB. Rollins batted .234 in the playoffs, but his walk-off hit in the National League Championship Series overshadowed everything.

As always, Rollins defense was stellar. His best fielding percentage among all shortstops led to his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. His defense was always there, but his offense only showed up for half of the season.

During this off season, the Phillies already picked up Rollins' $8.5 million option for 2011. If he keeps goin', so will the Phillies. Afterall, he's only the best shortstop in Phillies history.

Player Recap: Chase Utley

This article was featured on Phillies Nation under 2009 Player Reviews.

It was August 9, 2006. The Phillies were making a second half run, but were trailing the Braves by one in the top of the seventh inning. The bases were loaded when the hard-nosed second baseman stepped up to the plate. His short, quick stroke sent a double to left center field. It emptied the bases and gave his team the lead. He stood on second base, awaiting the team's RBI machine to drive him in. A weak Baltimore chop headed towards first base, appearing to be nothing but an out. The runner had a different mind set. The runner hustled and safely slid into home plate. Enter Harry Kalas: "Chase Utley, you are the man!"

The legendary call still sticks with Utley. And why not? He's established himself as today's best second baseman in baseball. He is the man.

In the 2008 off-season, it was announced that Utley needed hip surgery, and the recovery time was 4-6 months. At the time, it was feared that Utley would not return until June. Being the competitor that he is, Utley wasn't going to let that happen. His hard work ethic got him prepared for Opening Day. By May, his injury was forgotten.

Surprisingly, Utley had a down year -- for being Chase Utley. His "down year" was still an All Star season, and good enough for another Silve Slugger Award. Hitting .282 with 31 home runs and a .905 on-base plus slugging percentage was a little out of the norm for Chase, but that just shows his caliber. Utley batted .313 in the first half of the season, but his .204 average in September was the main reason for his drop in production.

Utley made up for his September slump in the postseason. He hit .296 with six home runs in the playoffs. His five home runs in the World Series tied Reggie Jackson's record.

Utley's hitting is feared throughout the league, but his other tools make him a dangerous player. Utley's fielding continues to improve. Utley was arguably snubbed of a Gold Glove, as he had a 10.8 ultimate zone rating, which was first among all second basemen in the National League. In addition, Utley's one of the smartest baserunners in the league.

Here are his overall 2009 stats: 156 G, .282 AVG, 31 HR, 112 R, 93 RBI, 23 SB, .905 OPS

It'll be interesting to see what amazing things Utley does on the field in 2010. Harry couldn't have put it any better: "Chase Utley, you are the man!"