If you have not been watching Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen recently, then you are missing out. By the time his Sunday was complete, he had reached career milestones in doubles (35) and runs scored (1,000).
The 34-year-old has seen the ball really well since the end of May. He is currently on a six-game hitting streak, which has increased his batting average to .225 on the year.
His 10 home runs are second on the team and he is also second on the team in RBI with 28. Even though his batting average may not be up to par, he’s still been swinging a hot stick.
And his hits have been timely. The former 2013 National League MVP still has some power in his bat. During his six-game hitting streak, he’s 9-for-20 with three home runs with seven RBI.
McCutchen came through big time in the Phillies’ 5-2 victory over the Nationals on June 5. He only had one hit that game, but that hit was a three-run homer that helped the Phillies seal the victory.
The next day, on June 6, he went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, an RBI and two runs scored.
After that game, McCutchen talked about his performance and how he came and delivered for his team. Beyond the stick, McCutchen’s leadership is also invaluable.
“That’s what it’s all about,” McCutchen told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We don’t get many opportunities like that so when we do, you have to be able to capitalize. We were able to do that.”
The Phillies took two of three from the Nationals in their recent series. McCutchen was one of the Phillies’ top hitters during the series, going 5-for-10 with four RBI.
When the 2021 season started, McCutchen got off to a slow start. The 13-year veteran hit an abysmal .169 for April.
In baseball, there will be times where players face slumps and aren’t hitting the way they want to. One thing you have to continue to do is continue to stay positive and always and be ready for the next opportunity.
When May rolled around, McCutchen started to see more success at the plate. He went on a six-game hitting streak during the month.
One area McCutchen has had success this season is hitting off of left-handed pitchers. In a separate article from the Philadelphia Inquirer that was published on June 3, it stated that McCutchen was hitting .301 against lefties.
“Sometimes I can fall into these patterns to where I’m one way on a lefty, and then when a righty comes in, the approach kind of changes,” McCutchen said. “I feel like lefties, maybe I’m diving over the plate.
“Righties come in, and I’m diving, and I’m missing pitches that I should be hitting. It’s just about centering that and fine-tuning it so you can be even-keeled against a lefty or a righty. I don’t look at it as a problem. I just look at it as a challenge.”
I dont mean this in a cocky way. But I’ve learned that you have to believe in yourself before anyone else can. Ppl will give up on you if you dont meet their expectations. I will never give up on me. Self talk is the best talk. Let’s get em Tuesday https://t.co/u2UxlX45xD
So even though his overall numbers aren’t the best this season, McCutchen still has a lot of value to this Phillies team. He’s the type of player that can change the game with one swing of the bat and he’s displayed that his whole career.
Now in his third year with the Phillies, McCutchen will look to continue to establish himself as a threat at the plate and in the field.
Andrew McCutchen took starting pitcher Eric Lauer deep twice Tuesday evening in the Philadelphia Phillies 6-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park.
McCutchen’s first homer tied the game at 1-1 on a fastball left down the middle of the plate on a 2-2 count that landed in the Phillies bullpen, causing teammates to duck for cover.
Andrew McCutchen’s 34th career home run against the Brewers ties the game at one. pic.twitter.com/frNM6nSOXM
In the bottom of the third, McCutchen sparked a five-run inning which put the Phillies up 6-1 after launching another fastball over the left-field fence.
The feat was McCutchens’ 17th multi-home run game of his career, 35th vs. the Brewers organization, and the first since his stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2017.
Coming into the game, McCutchen was batting a dismal .176 with an on-base plus slugging percentage of .586. In 102 attempts at the plate, he only has four extra-base hits this season.
The Philadelphia faithful were calling for the future Hall of Famer’s job after the first month of the season.
So, it must have felt gratifying to watch those dingers fly while also being a significant factor in your teams’ victory, especially for the aging former National League Most Valuable Player.
This isn’t the first time McCutchen has had to prove himself after achieving success in the league. The Pirates openly shopped McCutchen, who singlehandedly helped lift them back into the playoffs and relevancy. Before he came to Pittsburgh the franchise was entrapped in record-breaking futility. They haven’t been playoff-caliber since he left. So, he’s confident he can get his bat in good enough shape to help the Phillies make a run at the NL East.
So is his World Series manager Joe Girardi.
“He’s been working really hard on everything,” said Girardi. “He’s starting to find his stroke a little bit. He’s been working really hard with hitting coach Joe Dillon, and he’s starting to find his stroke, and it’s important for us.”
McCutchen, per The Philadelphia Inquirer, said, “I’ve played long enough to where I know sometimes you want to start good; you want to start on the right foot, and sometimes when you don’t, you know that you’ve got work to do.”
He added, “For me, I was just like, look, I’m not where I want to be, but I know where I’m going to be. So, I’ve just got to put the work in, continue working, and the results will come. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
McCutchen also had a hit on Wednesday in Game 1 of a three-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers that elevated his average near the Mendoza line. Once a baller always a baller. Age ain’t nothing but a number.
Marcus Stroman continued his exceptional pitching on Friday night, but his golden arm was offset by an anemic Mets offense that had gone 20 straight innings without scoring a run before pushing one across the plate in the 6th inning to add some drama to what was an otherwise lifeless game against a decimated Phillies team
A bad night for the Mets as they fall 2-1 in Philly.
Marcus Stroman leaves after 6 with a tight hamstring while offense was 1 for 14 with RISP.
Stroman was pulled after throwing just 64 pitches and trailing 2-1. In addition to his lit pitching, Stroman tried his best to boost a sagging Mets offense by delivering one of the Mets’ three hits for the game, a double down the line.
The Mets eventually scored in the sixth inning and Stroman was pulled from the game with a line of 5 innings, 3 hits, 0 earned runs and eight K’s. It was another ace-type outing from Stroman who lowered his ERA to 1.86
Look at that filth Stroman was dealing on Friday night. He had dudes looking confused, like when your Grandad tries to decipher Kodak Black lyrics.
Stroman came into the year basically guaranteeing one of the best seasons of his career and he hasn’t disappointed. The diminutive diamond-miner has been in Ebenezer Scrooge on the mound. Friday was no different, as the Long Island product was bringing the Phillies the ruckus, which is why SNY analyst Ron Darling was baffled when Mets manager Luis Rojas took Stro out of the game.
Ron Darling immediately assumed something was wrong because Stroman was rolling and “unless he was hurt it wouldn’t make sense to take him out, especially as well as he pitched,” Darling said. He had electric stuff.”
Stroman left due to a tight hamstring according to sources close to the team
The Phillies opened its regular season with a 10-inning 3-2 win against the powerful Atlanta Braves on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park. While this season could be an exciting one with standouts Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Andrew McCutchen, it will certainly have special significance.
The Phillies will recognize former star Dick Allen, who passed away on Dec. 7, 2020, by wearing a patch with his number on their jerseys.
“In September 2020, prior to Dick Allen’s death, the Phillies paid tribute to his storied career by retiring No. 15, making it only the seventh number to be retired by the Phillies. In addition, the club will honor the late beloved slugger by wearing a No. 15 on its jerseys for the 2021 regular season. As one of the most influential players in our team’s history, Dick is truly deserving of these honors,” in a statement from the Phillies.
Our first look at the Phillies' memorial patch for Dick Allen, which was announced nearly a month ago but not shown until today. pic.twitter.com/B7x24XRT2o
Allen played nine of his 15 seasons (1963-77) in the majors with the Phillies. In 1964, he won National League Rookie of the Year. During his years with the Phillies, he hit .290 with 204 doubles, 204 home runs, 204 home runs, 655 RBI, a .371 on-base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage 9.902 OPS) in 1,070 games.
Allen’s slugging percentage is second-best in Phillies history, behind only Hall of Famer Chuck Klein (.553), and he ranks 10th in home runs. Allen led the league in OPS four times in his career, including twice with the Phillies in 1966 (1.027) and 1967 (.970).
Allen was a trailblazer. He was one of the early African Americans to play for the Phillies during the Civil Rights Movement.
Allen was one of the greatest sluggers of his era. He had the fifth-most home runs (319) among all major league players over an 11-year span (1964-74) behind Hall of Famers: Hank Aaron (391), Harmon Killebrew (336), Willie Stargell (335) and Willie McCovey (327).
