Just when I thought the Phillies were starting to struggle offensively, Chase Utley decides to show up. Utley had missed 47 games this season with patellar tendonitis, and I was not sympathetic. I mean, I had patellar tendonitis in high school, and I didn't miss 47 days of track practice! But now Utley is back, and because his name all of a sudden appeared in yesterday's lineup, everyone else on the Phillies decided to step it up a notch and play well. Rollins, Polanco, and Ibañez all hit home runs and Cole Hammels pitched a solid game in their 10-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Utley was actually the only Philly who did not have a hit, but all his teammates were gushing about how great it is to have him back and what a surge of energy he brings to the team. Blah blah blah!
Speaking of home runs, my last-place Nationals were victim to three of them from Corey Hart (not the one who wears his sunglasses at night) in last night's 11-3 loss to the Brewers. The Nats have lost 3 games in a row, and the last couple have been painful to watch. Losing gets real old real quick! But I will watch tonight's game, because I don't want to be known as a "fair-weather" fan who abandons her team when they're losing. Surely there are brignt days ahead for them (I hope!).
On a happier note, I couldn't be happier that 40-year-old Jim Thome of the Minnesota Twins is off the disabled list and back to hitting home runs. He hit 2 last night in their 8-7 loss to the Mariners, and Thome is only 7 four-baggers away from the illustrious mark of 600. He will never catch up to Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, or Willie Mays, but he will more than likely pass Sammy Sosa, and Sosa is worth passing. You da man, Jim!
And Derek Jeter? He's at 2,975 hits, so at this pace, he will reach 3000 before the All-Star game. He just recently broke Rickey Henderson's franchise record for most bases stolen by a Yankee. If only the Nationals could have an all-around great player like Jeter...
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