Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW!

Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void.

Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston.

Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also still hanging around with the IronPigs and is batting .300 through 55 games played there. Perhaps either player could outperform Bruntlett, at this stage.

Another option in the system is the Reading Phillies' all star third baseman Neil Sellers. Might the ML Phils be doubtful in Cairo, because he had a shot already, and be hesitant to promote Ozuna after his drug suspension, and possibly get beaten to the punch on Lugo? Well, Reading manager Steve Roadcap thinks Neil Sellers could perform at higher levels. The righty hitting 27-year-old Sellers is batting .316 over 93 games played this season at double A.

More ideas to replace Eric B. are welcome. Please forward them to the Phillies' front office.

The fact that this guy, who is batting .128 through 50 games played, got to score key runs in the post season last year bothers me to no end. Imagine if Endy Chavez was immortalized in Phillies history by scoring game winning runs in the World Series. Yeah, that's Eric Bruntlett.

-------------
Other notes...

Today marks the one year anniversary of Joe Blanton's Phillies debut against the Metropolitans.

Zach Collier made his season debut with Class A short season Williamsport on Tuesday, after being sent down this week, and went 0-for-4 in his journey to finally slug his first professional homerun.

Lakewood catcher Travis D'Arnaud is hitting .400 (18-for-45) in his last 10 games with 7 doubles, a homer, 7 RBI and 12 runs scored.

Wednesdays are always PhoulBallz Phillies days on Fox Sports 1310's The Shore Sports Report. The show is on daily from 3-6pm and you should be checking it out. I'll be on at 3:30pm today.

Phillies look-alikes, Part 1

The Phillies are World Series Champions and, thus, are world wide celebrities. This recognition isn't enough, I tell you. Some of the champs could very well be confused with other major celebrities around the globe...or at least around my house. Let's dig in... Two look-alikes in particular have been widely discussed. Geoff Jenkins even made a sign on the table covering at his autograph station at last year's Phillies Phestival that he is not Brett Favre or phormer Phillie Randy Wolf. ------------------------------------------------------- Jayson Werth may be on his way to Wrestlemania. Jay-Dub is aware that he resembles Heavyweight wrestling champion Adam "Edge" Copeland. Are you? -------------------------------------------- Carlos Ruiz's fame was boosted by TBS during the playoffs, but he might be ready for his own Comedy Central sketch show, as he looks very much like Carlos Mencia. Dee dee dee! -------------------------------------------------- And whi...

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Prospect Brody Colvin

Recently, right-handed pitcher Brody Colvin was promoted from Class A Advanced Clearwater to Double-A Reading. Prior to the 2012 season, Colvin, who turns 22-years-old on Tuesday, was ranked as PhilliesNation's 6th best prospect . This season, following some ups and downs, it's unclear where Colvin will rank next preseason. Earlier this year, Colvin, a Louisiana native, was removed from Clearwater's starting rotation and moved to the bullpen to relax and improve his mental approach. He did so and returned to starting after a brief time. Through his first two outings with the R-Phils, the 7th round draft choice from 2009 posted a 1-0 record while allowing five earned runs in 11 innings (4.09 ERA). In his last start on Saturday, however, Colvin allowed eight earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched in a loss to New Britain. In a recent interview with Brody, he spoke about the transition moving to the Eastern League, his brief bullpen stint, physical concerns from last season...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog