Four games over .500, huge adoring crowds, a different hero every night, rookie pitchers stepping into the breach, a guy who began the game on the bench with a rare day off driving in five runs including a grand slam homer, two games out of first place and one of the best teams in baseball about to arrive for a big series. It doesn't get much better than that.
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Buried within Jim Salisbury's usual fine commentary on the Phillies was an interesting remark by reliever Yoel Hernandez: "It's nice [the Phillies are] showing confidence in the young guys," Hernandez said. "A couple of years ago, the Phillies didn't do that. I've been with the Phillies eight years. They don't usually take players from double A."
Indeed, the Phils have been looking to Reading not Ottawa for pitching help these days despite the presence of most of their experienced pitchers on the latter roster. Eude Brito has struggled all season but Matt Smith's record looks good. Is it a question of remaining options in the case of Smith or do the Phillies believe they've seen enough of him for a while and it's time to give some other kids a look? Kyle Kendrick would certainly fit the latter scenario. Some more seasoned players on the Ottawa roster have been fighting injuries, too, so the big league club's decisions are in part being dictated by that state of affairs. Given the circumstances, it isn't at all clear the Phillies have much choice in calling up players from AA rather than AAA but if it helps boost their confidence as Hernandez suggests, it cannot hurt.
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