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Hitters Impressed With Price

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By TONY FABRIZIO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 25, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Despite hitting a solo home run off him in the eighth inning of Game 2 on Thursday night, reserve IF Eric Bruntlett couldn't be more impressed with Rays rookie LHP David Price.

"There's a certain quality some guys have on their fastball where it feels harder than it is and it's just difficult to see," Bruntlett said. "It's hard to explain, but with some guys that throw 100 mph, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Where, with some guys that throw 92 mph, it seems like it's all over you.

"I think he has that quality to him a little bit. There's something about it that's just a little funky. It's hard to explain."

Bruntlett hit Price's first pitch - a 94 mph fastball - over the left-field wall, so he didn't get a lot of firsthand observation. But he said he's watched video of Price and observed the rest of his outing Thursday from the dugout.

"He's an incredible talent," Bruntlett said.

The home run was unexpected since Bruntlett hit only two homers during the regular season. It's a memory he will be able to preserve.

"I did get the ball, actually," he said. "Big thanks to the fan who threw it back on the field."

DH WOES

Pinned up in Greg Dobbs' locker stall Friday was a newspaper clipping with the headline "For Phillies, DH Could Stand for Don't Hit."

The headline told the story from the first two games of the World Series, as the Philly starting designated hitters went 1-for-7.

Chris Coste went 0-for-4 in the Philly's 3-2 victory in Game 1, and Dobbs went 1-for 3 in Game 2. But Dobbs struck out in the second and fourth innings with two men on and a runner at third base.

The Phillies won't have to worry about the DH in the next three games, since in NL home games, the pitchers have to bat.

UNSTACKING THE LEFTIES?

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel has been batting Chase Utley third and Ryan Howard fourth but has split up the two left-handed hitters in the order in the past. He said Friday he has thought of doing that against the Rays.

"Howard and Utley, when I split them up, sometimes it works," Manuel said. "I'm not saying I want to do that, but also it's up to our right-handed hitters to step up and hit those left-handed pitchers. They get paid, too."

BACK IN PHILLY

The World Series returns to Philadelphia tonight for the first time since Oct. 21, 1993, a 2-0 Phillies win against Toronto in Game 5. The Blue Jays went on to win the series in six games.

Philadelphia has hosted 34 World Series games - 14 played by the Phillies and 20 by the Athletics. The Phillies are 5-9 all-time in World Series games in the city. They've won just one of their last six World Series games in Philly, losing five straight covering Games 3 through 5 of the 1983 World Series to Baltimore, as well as Games 3-4 of the 1993 series against Toronto.

Tonight's game will be the first World Series game played in Citizens Bank Park.

Tony Fabrizio

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