Standing in an on-deck circle ahead of his first at-bat against the Pirates on Friday, Andrew McCutchen took a quick look at the crowd at the Bayre Ballpark, intentionally sparse and socially distracted as it was noon.
A big smile floated on his face.
“My wife, my two boys, they were standing there,” McEuchen told SN during a phone interview. “This was the first time my youngest, Armani, who was 1, was the first time I was able to see her in the stands and she actually saw me. It was the best thing, to stand on the deck and go and see my family there. “
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Armani, who was born on Christmas Eve 2019, was there with her brother, Steele and her mother, Maria. Maria and Steele had seen McKichen playing in person. There were no fans of attendance at the MLB Ballpark in 2020, of course, and McKennan’s 2019 season came to an end on June 3, when he thumped the ACL in his left knee after being caught in a rundown. For a family man like McCutchen, it was a long, long time.
“I really appreciated that moment,” he said. “I told my wife too, I was a little nervous because I didn’t see them.”
So how will he do it? McKichen made a seven-pitch plate appearance in his first at-bat, including a liner that was just wide of the third-base bag. And he also attacked his second at-bat. Maybe Dad’s veins are a real thing?
“My third at-bat, though, I ended up hitting a homer, which was really good,” McCutchen said with a laugh. “All around, it was a great time.”
The next day McKichen also had a wonderful time. He has long been an advocate for youth baseball, helping children access equipment that can quickly become costly. On Saturday, he was part of the Sports Matter Giving Truck, partnered with Dick’s Sporting Goods.
McKitchen, now 34 years old and going back to the top in his 13th season as a major league outfielder, is eager to return to the postseason. He signed a three-year deal (with a club option for 2022) with the Phillies in December 2018, and a few months later, the club gave another outfielder (Bryce Harper) a 13-year, $ 330 million.
But the last two seasons have been disappointing. The Phillies finished at just 500 in 2019 and missed the playoffs, then ended the October chase again in 2020, despite the extended postseason format. The expectations for both seasons were not just to compete for a playoff spot, but to compete for a World Series title.
McCutchen is undefeated. The biggest move in this move made by Films was to bring back the catch JT Realmuto and shortstop Didi Gregorius; Both excelled in 2020. But they were not merely tricks.
“We are going to be good. We will be really good, ”he said. “This is an exciting team. I know it’s spring training, but we’ve played a few hundred innings in the last few games and it’s really fun to be a part of it.
Why is he playing some century innings in the spring game? If you are a Phillies fan, you already know the answer to that question.
In 2020, Phillies relievers compiled 7.06 ERA. No, he is not a typo. And, of course, it was only a 60-game season, so keep that in mind, but the worst balance ERA for any team going back to 1961 before the 2020 season? Tampa Bay, when he was the Devil in 2007, at 6.16. Also, no team had a Bull ERA above 6.00 in 1961 through 2019.
“If you look at the numbers, our offense was one of the better offenses in the National League. So, we say we live there, the crime is as good as last year, and maybe even better because we’re bringing the same people back, “McCutchen said.” And we have the worst bullpens last year. Was one, the number says that. And we did some acquisitions, naming Jose Alvarado and Archie Bradley a duet. And bringing in other arms as well, we have become better. We are better We are not asking for a bullpen leading into the ERA, we just need an average bullpen. And I think we have a better-than-average bullpen. I think we will do well in the subsequent innings.
So, yes, the shutout innings in an early spring training game is encouraging.
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Bradley was a surprise free agent this offseason. He was non-tendered by the Reds despite posting a 1.17 ERA out of six after being traded to him last summer. He has been one of the more reliable and durable relievers over the last four years, posting a 2.95 ERA in 221 games (including one start, one in 2019).
Alvarado was outstanding for the Rays in 2018 – 2.39 ERA / 2.27 FIP, 80 in 64 IP – but less effective in limited work in 2019-20, although he still missed the bats (12.0 K / 9). The Phillies traded for him in December, and he looked good for McKinnon this spring.
“When I saw him (on Friday), it wasn’t even fair to the people he faced.” “It’s going to be a lot of fun watching him get out of the bullpen.”
Bradley and Alvarado both played scoreless innings on Friday, and were similarly cheered by another man, McCutchen.
“Looking forward to what Spencer Howard is going to be able to do, seeing the opportunity,” McCutchen said. “He has really good things. To see further what she can bring to the table. “
Howard is ranked as the No. 27 overall prospect in the MLB by Baseball America. A second-round pick, right-hander in 2017, flashed through the minors in 2019, fashioned a 2.03 ERA in 15 starts all the way from Rocky Ball to Double-A. He made six starts for the Phillies last year, posting a 5.92 ERA in his first action above Double-A.
He can still wind up in the Philadelphia rotation this year, but it makes sense to start him as a paired bullpen arm – a clear area of need – and veteran Mater Moore and Chase Anderson take the rotation spots, At least to start the year.
Again, super small sample size – and a small Spring Sample size on top of that – but Philly’s Relief recorded the game with a 3.26 ERA in 49 2/3 innings on Wednesday.
“I’m getting really excited about the weather,” McCutchen said.
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