Phillies add reliever, postseason hero gets honored, Utley among the best and NL East uniforms mostly stink
1. Phillies add reliever Vasquez
Yesterday was National Signing Day (in college football), so the Phillies signed a relief pitcher on a minor league contract to add to the possible bullpen mix. Anthony Vasquez, 28, last pitched in the majors in 2011 and it did not go so well (1-6, 8.90 ERA in 29.1 innings). The real story here is not his on-field production, or lack thereof, but his battle back to playing baseball following brain surgery. In November 2012 Vasquez underwent emergency brain surgery after doctors discovered a ruptured blood vessel in his brain.
2. Amaro on prowl for Padres starter Cashner
This is pretty interesting. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro is reportedly interested in San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo. With the Padres reportedly also interested in Phillies ace Cole Hamels, and the Padres not appearing on the no-trade list for Hamels, this is most certainly something to keep an eye on moving forward, especially if Cashner stays healthy by the trade deadline.
3. Canadian legend Stairs elected to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Phillies broadcaster and postseason hero Matt Stairs may never be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, but he will be inducted to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. In related news, there is a Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
4. Former feel-good story Coste enjoying coaching
Chris Coste was a natural feel-good story when he finally broke into the big leagues a few years back. His love for baseball was finally rewarded when the Phillies called him up at the age of 33 in 2006. His big league career may not have lasted all that long, but his passion for the game continues to drive him as a coach at Division 3 Concordia College in Minnesota. He is in his second season as manager of the team. If things go his way, perhaps he will one day return to the Phillies family as a manager or bench coach in the farm system.
5. Phillies have best uniforms in NL East
The Outside Corner is running down the best and worst uniforms in baseball. The Phillies are, apparently, carrying the NL East when it comes to uniform design. The Mets, Braves, Marlins and Nationals all fall in the bottom half of the MLB uniform ranking (Nationals are the highest at No. 17). The designs are not all that bad, but the mix of awful alternate jerseys holds the rest of the division back in a big way.
The Phillies actually come in at No. 3. As a self-proclaimed uniform critic myself, I think that might be a tad high but the Phillies are certainly in the conversation. I think what helps boost the Phillies here is having one of the top alternate uniforms, the Sunday or day-game uniform. It is fantastic and is easily the best alternate uniform in the NL East.
6. Utley ranked third among second basemen
The Outside Corner also continues with ranking the top 10 position players by position this week. The latest is second base, where Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is held in high regard. Though he is behind a couple of guys, Utley was ranked third among second basemen in baseball. It is a call that is admitted to be one worth raising an eyebrow;
He’s always been a wizard defensively at second base, and has posted positive DRS and UZR numbers in every season in the majors since 2004, with the exception of his 2013 DRS. In 2014, Utley put together the worst offensive season of his career yet he still managed to play in 155 games (his most since 2009), steal ten bases, and hit 11 homers. What more can you ask for from a guy that’s been around for as long as him?
7. If (When) baseball expands, Mexico and Canada could be likely destinations
If there are any Montreal Expos reading this, this news should be received well. New commissioner Rob Manfred was asked about potential expansion in baseball’s future and the idea of a return to Montreal was specifically referenced. Manfred says there has not been much conversation about MLB expansion lately, but if and when it does he would expect Canada and Mexico to be likely targets. Unlike the NFL’s dream of expanding to Europe, baseball moving to Canada or Mexico makes much more sense even despite some of the struggles that have resulted with having baseball in Canada.
8. Check out these IronPigs bobbleheads for 2015!
Who does not love a good bobblehead promo? The Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the triple-A affiliate of the Phillies, sure gets it. Yesterday the IronPigs teased these three bobbleheads that will be given away to fans this season; Charlie Manuel, Maikel Franco and Kenny Giles.
9. Anybody missing a goat?
Seriously, if anybody is missing a goat, it may have been found in New Jersey.
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