Much was debated about the true impact of the return of aging superstarts Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to a struggling Phillies. "You can't expect them to play like themselves." "They've been on a downward slide for years." "It doesn't matter who comes back. Superman couldn't save this team."
After three straight victories earned on their final at bat, the true value of Utley and Howard is on display. A team that had zero wins when trailing after the 8th inning before Monday, has suddenly done it in dramatic fashion the last two nights. A ballpark that often resembled a mausoleum had life last night. Utley and Howard's handwriting was all over each comeback. Monday the pair smashed back-to-back homeruns in the first inning to keep the team within striking distance, before the 9th inning rally, fueled by an Utley walk and a two run single by the Big Piece.
Last night, it was a pair of two out walks that helped fuel the 8th inning comeback from a 6-1 deficit. This gave MVP candidate Carlos Ruiz and outfielder Hunter Pence an opportunity to get the big, game tying, and lead giving hits. Sliding the pair down to the five and six spots in the line-up make the offense formidable once again. Skipper Charlie Manuel said that the mere prescence of Utley and Howard allow everyone else to slide into their natural roles and contribute, not just Ruiz and Pence, but role players like John Mayberry and Mike Fontenot.
More than stats, more than their impact on a line-up, the most important thing that Howard and Utley bring to the table is belief. Belief that no game is over until the 27th out has been recorded. Belief that this golden era of Phillies baseball still has life. With Howard's vocal cries for the team to get it done and Utley's relentless hustle, how can the rest of the team do anything but follow? Two of the greatest players in franchise history are back and the Phillies are winning. The question now is, does general manager Ruben Amaro share the clubhouse's new found belief?
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