Through three consecutive trade deadlines, Domonic Brown has remained a Phillies untouchable, a good thing that nevertheless didnt keep him from touching wood that he will not again become an IronPig on Saturday.
I cant be selfish or anything like that, he said after the Phillies dealt four players, none of them Brown, to Houston for Hunter Pence. I know they have a lot of faith in me and everything like that, Im just saying my goal is to be in the big leagues.
Thats just the bottom line. They still got to Sunday. I just hope Im here, not in Triple A, but if thats what happens, Ill go out and play. Theres a good possibility it can happen, so Im not going to be bothered by it. Live and learn and grow.
Pence is going to make us that much better. Look at this guys numbers.
Add those to 66-39, and the Phillies just did a big number on the heads of the Braves, plus matched the Giants acquisition of Carlos Beltran.
Were definitely better, said Roy Halladay.
Last few years, they brought in a lot of pitchers here. To add an offensive player to the ones we already have is a bonus. Its a good feeling even knowing they are out there looking and trying, especially in the position were in, five-six games up. Thats one of the bigger reasons I was adamant on trying to come here.
MLB
Im sure they were pretty good minor league players who went, but thats why a lot of good players want to be here. When teams are willing to make sacrifices to give you a chance, I know as a player it is greatly appreciated.
Certainly Chase Utley appreciates what adding a significant right-handed bat does for late-inning matchups.
If they bring in lefties against us it can be tough if we have a bunch of lefties in the lineup, said Utley. Having him will change things a little.
The front office knows were in a special time here in Philadelphia. If there is room for improvement, they are going to make a move.
Certainly Halladay hasnt regretted his, he told Pence at the All-Star Game.
I believe he did ask me how I liked it, said Halladay. Of course for me its been everything I thought it would be, so I think hes going to be excited to come here and play.
We talked about some of the players we have, the Chase Utleys, the guys he tried to model himself after. Some of the stuff we talked about, I think he will be a great fit here.
He plays hard all the time, he runs balls out, he does things the right way. Not only are you trying to bring in good players, but you are trying to bring in players who fit with the team you have.
I told him how much I enjoyed it here. But at that point, it didnt even come up that he would have a chance to come here. We were kind of talking in passing. I'm glad it worked out.
I didnt even think about it at the time as a sales pitch. But I think I did a pretty good job if it was.
E-mail Jay Greenberg at jayg16@aol.com.
