It is an absolute blessing that Chase Utley is back on the field again for the Phillies, but don’t get carried away. It would have been absurd for Phillies fans to expect Utley to do any better than 0 for 5 Monday night; this article is not going to berate Utley for going 0 for 5. This article is berating the Philadelphia media.
In time Utley will obviously be an upgrade over Pete Orr and Wilson Valdez, but on Monday night Utley had very little impact on the Phillies scoring 10 runs. Jimmy Rollins 3-run-home-run was the offensive output the team has lacked from the top of the line up during its May offensive slump. Monday night Rollins produced and for at least one night Rollins looked like the Rollins of old.
Carlos Ruiz who has been a shell of his former self as he battled injuries this year, went 3 for 3 with a double. The Phillies scored double digit runs tonight, not because of Chase Utley, but because the other veterans on the team played up to their potential.
The problem with Philadelphia Sports is if the media has a story line it wants to unfold its going to unfold no matter what. Comcast and the Daily News obviously was hoping for Utley to go 5 for 5 tonight hitting for the cycle, because that story sells, but that didn’t happen so what is the response after the game?
“Boy the offense did great Utley really had an impact on the line-up!”
“This team is back”
“Chase hit a few balls hard to center field”
No, this team isn’t back, not yet at least. No, Chase Utley did not impact the line up on Monday night, he was 0 for 5, which is ok. 
He is coming off an injury. Raul Ibanez hit plenty of balls hard to outfielders during his slump but they were still outs, no one was excited about them, why should we get excited over a fly ball out from Chase Utley?
To declare the offense is back is ridiculously irresponsible to report to Phillies fans. For example, if Roy Halladay has a bad start, do we declare he is done and we need a new ace? NO! We chalk it up as a fluke.
The Phillies offense has been abysmal this season, after one decent game we cannot just assume everything is ok, because it is not. Chances are tonight’s outburst was a fluke. Hopefully the offense is back on track, but it would be stupid to assume they are after one decent game.
You know what, I am tired of sports hacks telling me what to think and how to feel. When to boo and when not to. If I want to get excited about them scoring 10 runs last night I am going to. Do I think that they are going to score 1200 runs the rest of the season?
Utley was 0-5 last night, but if you can’t see the difference that he makes in the lineup, then you don’t know baseball. Look how much better it is with another contributor on the team at 2B. Not just a contributor but a legit slugger in that spot. Also, look at how hard Dom Brown was hitting the ball last night. He is a dangerous addition against right handed pitching.
The point is that you can’t judge the Phils lineup up until now, because of all of the injuries that they have had. Victorino is still out of the lineup. You put him back in, with Utley and Dom Brown and you have a much stronger lineup then they have had all season. Is the lineup underperforming? Yes, but the more positive additions to it, the less burden on Howard and Polanco to produce.
Stop being that guy that has to try to sound smarter than everyone else by being contrarian.
I agree Bugsy
Im not a big fan of getting blue balls and this is what this article just did. its not fair to judge this offense just yet. The players you had starting this year for the phillies, how many of those players played together a full game this season? the answer is zero. As far as im concerned we had all our guys out there minus Shane Victorino and still scored 10 runs. You think one guy cant male a difference in a team? what was the eagles D like with out Asante last year? what was the flyers like with out Chris Pronger? what was the sixers without Lou Williams?
you also left out that they faced a pitcher that is 1-6 with a 7 era against the phillies… but either way, a game like this can jump start an offense, they wont score 10 everynight, but a game against a soft tosser, with a new lineup, with your best hitter back in the lineup, can get the ball rolling.
With as bad as the Phils have been hitting for the last month, This was a game to get excited about.. Lots of good at-bats by many players is what I liked.. Polanco,Rollins,Ibanez and Ruiz had some very good at bats all evening and appeared to be seeing the ball well which is a good sign ..
(by the way, Ibanez has brought his average up about .40-.50 pts in the last 3 weeks and is now at .240 after toiling in the .190 range..)
Typical Phillies fans, getting all excted over one win, vrichhi u wanna use examples? The eagles fans got all excited over the comeback win vs the giants they exclaimed super bowl…then what happen? out in first round hahaha
I was one game, sure 10 runs is nice, sure to see Rollins, Raul and Ruiz hit was nice, but one game does not mean that they are over this hitting slump. They are going to have to put together a nice run of 5-7 runs a game, hitting homers, coming through in the clutch for me to think that the slump is over just yet.
EXACTLY bugsy! You can choke on it Jerry Brennan — wtf you mean don’t get too excited? Our savior returns and the Phils offense INSTANTLY starts producing like the Phils of previous years!
We’re in first place and not looking like we’re gonna lose it anytime soon, so I’m gonna get excited.
Jesus, I’ve never seen so many wanna-be sportswriters talk so much ish about a first place best record in the national league team.
Don’t worry Birdo, I decided to keep my day-job ….ha
Im amped we got more then 4 hits.Not overly excited. Get it done all series.
Yankeesfan2…wtf are you doing on here anyway? Are your front running Yankess girlfriends not talking to you today on your own fan site. Toolshed.I respect the heck outta the Yanks but the fans are the biggest sucker duck primadona sweatn chest pumpn,and insert whatever a$$faces. Most of your stadium is tourists.
And only grandmoms and little kids claimed SB after our Eagles took your hearts. We knew there was work too do.Go get a qb that can shoulder the load in ANY game.
Jerry…not your best work.Hit the conference room and give me 8 sets 50 push-ups and refocus. Your calling us all wagon jumpers. How about going over some of the reasons to maybe think this is our slump buster?
G should put you on written warning for this article. Nic pic of Jimmie smacking one though?
EVEN PAULMANDOMIS IS FEELING THE DUB!!!
The Philly media has allowed Ed Rendell to infultrate them so that says it all. Theres plenty of quality media guys in this region.
Party poopers suck. Just because someone’s at a party, doesn’t mean they expect to not have to go to work again… still reasonable to enjoy the party.
boooo poopers
Shillerology….word son…
Wow this article is hilarious. Where did the Phillies go? Did they disappear? Yes their offense didnt score all that well, but isnt that what we worried about all spring training? Do we not know yet that their pitching will be good enough? Geez, in the words of andy reid, “Enjoy the win man!” Utley is such a ridiculous upgrade its not even funny, and everyone will see better pitches because of it. They wont score ten runs a game, but utley is a solid run a game in production over valdez.
Those pitchers (Worley included) 4-5 runs a night and you will win 80-90% of the games. Most nights, they only need 3.
As far as the Yanks fan goes, you have your own problems to worry about. Suck as the fact that you have Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia in your rotation.
Wow. Littered with grammatical errors. Sorry about that.
ahey Paulman this is summ go to extremeskins.com their is trade talk about the birds getting haynesworth, that would be a great great move. YOUR WRONG ABOUT HIM JUST LIKE YOU WERE WITH VICK.
I say Haynewsorth is washed up until he proves different..
Nothing I have seen from him the last 2 years makes me think otherwise..
He’s cashed in his $40-$50 Million from the Redskins, what’s his motivation now.. Just to please Eagle Fans or to reunite with DL Coach Washburn..
The Guy’s a bum, always was and always will in my book.. (though he is a very talented player when in shape and motivated, but those days are long past him now)
Did someone just call Utley our Savior? Birdo, dude, I hope you are fricken joking or being sarcastic? This team ran on adrenaline, last night, and got caught up with the emotions. I agree that the media is full of hacks, but this site is full of opions that’s what we all do. Don’t read it if you don’t like it. If you let an article brainwash you or sway your opinion, your weak minded. This is a fun way to vent and give opinions. My opinion is we are older, with a lack of good young offensive talent, & very little pop. We need alot more than Utley! Get over it!
Hey, Yankee’s fan! GO F@#% YOUR SELF! Go route for your loser YankMee’s & loser Met’s. Douche New Yorkers, always act better than everyone.
The Key to beating the Reds is the first 5 Innings, You have to score runs off their Starters for their Bullpen is lights out from the 6th on… Their SP is not that great but you have to jump on them early…
Phils are now 13-14 Versus teams with Winning Records so far this Season.. Starter
I am glad i am able to read this article the day after it was written…It appears Jerry was right guys…but then again based on half your comments I dont think you actually read the article..he was saying the reason the team did so well is because the under achievers stopped under achieving on Monday night…I missed the part where he called people bandwagon jumpers? Maybe it is I who can not read.
“The Phils are who I thought they were”…
Bob Dylan as he blew out his candles for his 70th Birthday wish…