Archie Bradley’s ‘weird’ connection to two former Phillies | Extra Innings

We suggested last Friday that the Phillies should wear a patch this season to honor Dick Allen. Two days later, the Phillies announced they would do just that.

So while we have the local nine’s ear, maybe a couple of more suggestions. How about black jerseys? They were the rage in the early 2000s, and the Phillies missed out. No? OK. How about bringing back the old Phanatic costume? Still wrapped up in court. Got it. Well, can we at least return the McNally’s Schmitter sandwich to Citizens Bank Park? We expect an announcement Monday.

“He was a guy who went about his business and he didn’t take no for an answer,” Andrew McCutchen said of Allen. “Even back then, when the odds were really against him. He was dealing with a lot of adversity, and all he wanted to do — just like Jackie Robinson — was to focus on the game. For him, that’s something that he couldn’t do.

“I did get to know a little bit about him. I’m very happy that I was able to meet him, and I’m looking forward to representing him by wearing the patch. Maybe there’s other things that we can do or I can do personally. I’m looking forward to that because he brought a lot to the game and to this franchise. He’s going down in the history books as a great player, a great person, a great personality. What I liked most about him is it didn’t matter the surroundings — he wanted to do what was right and what he felt was right. If he believed in it, he did it.”

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— Matt Breen (extrainnings@inquirer.com)

Ever tweet at a ball player and get excited when he responds? How about using birthday money to buy your favorite player’s jersey?

Archie Bradley, a baseball fan just like you, did both of those. And then he faced those players — both of whom happen to be former Phillies — in the major leagues.

After being drafted in 2011, Bradley saw a tweet from Jimmy Rollins wishing luck to all the draft picks. Bradley tweeted back to Rollins to “hit your boy up with a shout out” because he was a first-rounder with “a ton to prove.” Rollins gave his boy a shout-out, wished him luck, and told him it was the greatest job in the world.

Fast-forward four years.

“Jimmy Rollins was my first batter I faced in the big leagues,” Bradley said this week on his debut on the Chris Rose Rotation, a new baseball podcast that will feature a rotating cast of major leaguers along with Rose as the host.

And Bradley had another “weird coincidence,” as he called it.

“Only big-league jersey I ever bought, my 15th birthday I bought a Jeff Francoeur jersey,” Bradley said. “My first big-league spring training, my first strikeout was Jeff Francoeur. My first big-league homer I give up is to Jeff Francoeur in Philly.”

Bradley’s episode of the podcast is an entertaining listen. He talks about playing as a kid against Bryce Harper on the travel-ball circuit, what it’s like to have to introduce yourself to new teammates, how he makes sure to greet everyone he sees at the ballpark, and if Harper needs a World Series ring to justify his contract.

Bradley isn’t the first Phillies reliever with a big personality, but we believe he’s the first to host a podcast. The first episode is worth a listen.

The Phillies lost Thursday to the Yankees, but some good news came out of Clearwater as J.T. Realmuto was cleared for baseball activity and remains on track for opening day.

A year ago, Phillies prospect Jonathan Hennigan threw the last pitch in MLB before spring training stopped. Scott Lauber caught up with Hennigan, who still has the baseball.

Jeff Mathis is trying to continue his long career behind the plate by catching on with the Phillies, Lauber writes.

The Phillies need to move Vince Velasquez to the bullpen, Bob Brookover writes.

Today: Zack Wheeler starts in Sarasota against Baltimore, 1:05 p.m.

Tomorrow: The Tigers come to Clearwater, 1:05 p.m.

Sunday: The Phillies travel to Bradenton to play the Pirates, 1:05 p.m.

Monday: Phillies head to Tampa to take on the Yankees, 1:05 p.m.

The Phillies struck out 10 times Thursday and are averaging 8.27 strikeouts, the fourth-highest rate in the Grapefruit League. Yes, it is spring training, but the Phillies must hope it’s not a troubling trend. Since 2018, only three teams have struck out more than the Phillies. They made progress last season — their 480 strikeouts in 60 games were only the 10th-most in the NL as they struck out less than the league average (512 in 2020) for the first time since 2015. Maybe it is just spring training.

“As an organization, as a group we have a problem with them. We don’t like them,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I’m not saying we always strike out. I’m saying we don’t like them. I think it’s important that you have different approaches on different counts and it’s something that we talk about a lot. … I thought we were better last year, and I want to even get better than that.”

Send questions by email or on Twitter @matt_breen.

Question: If you had to pick based on what you’ve seen so far, who’s the 8th inning setup man and who’s the closer? — @TheScrewyLouie on Twitter

Answer: Louie’s question was posed to Scott Lauber, but I’ll answer it here. I think Bradley opens the season as the closer. After all, the Phillies did give him $6 million. And I think Hector Neris starts the season in the eighth-inning spot.

Roles are fluid, and Jose Alvarado seems to be putting himself in position to tackle the eighth inning. His velocity has been excellent so far.

Everything should all shake out once the season begins, but that’s the way I see it starting.