From the seats in the Hall of Fame Club last night at Citizens Bank Park [thanks MPN!], Jason Weitzel and I watched what can only be described as a track meet in the fifth inning.
The Phillies' basepaths
The Phillies had already scored six runs in the bottom of that frame, but they weren't finished yet. Michael Bourn singled and then stole second base before Shane Victorino walked. Next up was Jimmy Rollins, who pulled a ball down the first base line and into the right field corner. If you heard the crack of the bat and confused it for the sound a starter's gun makes, you were not alone.
Bourn flew home from second, Victorino -- despite exhibiting a limp as he wandered around first base between pitches -- was nothing but a white and red streak as he round third to score, and not far behind him was Rollins, who slid into third to complete a two-run triple.
While it won't last too much longer this season, the combination of Bourn, Victorino and Rollins as the first three batters in the Phillies lineup is incredibly potent. After all, say it with me, speed never slumps.
The question is, why will the trio be broken up? For one, Bourn is spelling Aaron Rowand while his shoulder recovers, and Rowand in fact played in the late-innings last night. But also, Bourn could be traded. It's been rumored that Bourn has been drawing interest from other teams in trade talks and the Phillies have been reluctant to deal him. But word comes from Wilmington's News-Journal by way of Scott Lauber that the Phillies were scouting the Cardinals' Anthony Reyes. Are the Cardinals's interested in Bourn? Would this be a fair trade?
The more one watches Bourn, the more one tends to think he can be an every day center fielder and even lead off hitter if the Phillies chose to do so. On the other hand, Reyes, who was one of the more highly thought of prospects in baseball coming into this season has struggled mightily. His ERA sits north of 6 and his peripheral stats have been on the decline. But given his age (25), contract status (eligible for free agency in 2013), and talent-level, it is certainly worth considering.
If it's yours truly in charge in the Phillies front office, I would pass on this deal, if it really is being considered, but only after a lot of long, hard thought.
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One thing you don't have to think long and hard about is whether or not Chris Coste is a better player to have on the roster than Jayson Werth or Rod Barajas. Werth can an least pinch-run and play some late-inning defense. Barajas on the other hand, is doing nothing but taking up space.
Last night Coste hit a home run and double with four RBI, raising his season average to .333 and OPS to .864. Sending him back to the minors would border on criminal.
