What About Russell Branyan?!?

How much money is one win worth to a major league baseball franchise?  Hard to say.  Judging from the payrolls of most teams, one win is worth anywhere from over $2 million (New York Yankees) or $500,000 (Royals, etc.).

Russell Branyan was acquired by the Phillies from the Cleveland Indians a few days ago for "cash considerations".  They bought him.  The amount of money, if it's been decided upon, hasn't be disclosed, but whatever it was, it was enough to notch another win for the Phils.

Branyan's at-bats are all or nothing, a strikeout or a home run is the likely outcome.  Tonight, in his first appearance as a Phillie, it was the latter, a pinch-hit two-run shot in the seventh inning that put the Phillies ahead by one run.

To be fair, Kyle Lohse had a lot to do with the win as well, keeping the Nationals in check until Branyan could deliver the knock out punch.  But, this was exactly the type of situation the Phillies brought Branyan aboard for -- late-inning, swing-for-the-fences, it's-now-or-never, lets-go-down-swinging-type heroics.

For once this season, things went the way the Phillies planned it would.