New York Mets confront the challenge of Philadelphia Phillies before All-Star break - MLB Update
Ending first half of the season on a high is something that will be an ideal scenario for the New York Mets. Before All-Star game starts on July 10 in Kansas City, the Philadelphia Phillies will be taking on the Mets. A reformed club-house of the former
with Chase Utley back in the line-up can be threatening despite the fact the club has been poor right throughout the season.
Mets’ manager Terry Collins is aware of how formidable Phillies can turn out to be. He says that he is keeping track of gradual improvements they are making.
With Utley gracing their offence and Ryan Howard making his way to rehab games, it will be no surprise if they become an altogether different side by the time the Mets open the series.
Midseason Classic is featuring New York manager Collins as coach for the National League and their starter R.A. Dickey as part of the rotation. While David Wright will be as reserve infielder representing Mets, he will not be part of the starting crew.
Getting three members of the organisation in the All-Star Game is a great achievement for the club. However to keep their quest for the real task that is of making it through the play-offs steady, they will need to win most of the games until mid season
break begins.
Catcher for the Mets, Josh Thole reminds his team-mates the kind of threat the Phillies can be in their way. To keep them at bay, he stresses the need to pay attention to Cliff Lee and Vance Worley.
“We’re going to see three freaking arms — [Cliff] Lee somewhere in there and [Vance] Worley and you can’t let down,” Thole said. “It doesn’t matter last place or first place, they’re the Phillies.”
Similarly, Collins calls upon the need to be conscious about changes taking place in the Phillies.
“I know Ryan Howard is starting his rehab and they’ve got Chase back, so that lineup is going to get better,” Collins said. “When Doc [Halladay] gets back in there, they’re going to be a force coming up.”
It is a great sign for a club which sees its players and the rest of the staff planning before the series has actually begun. It will be interesting to see how they actually perform against the Phillies.
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