Austin Hays was held at the second goal, in the center of the storm, and thought about what could have been.
Hays was under the control of the team this season when he was exchanged at the Phillies last July. But an injury (a strain of the hamstrings) and a disease (a kidney infection) conspired against him. It started only 21 of the 58 games after trade, then we did not offer a contract during the offseason.
Thus, when Hays struck a double of RBI on the wall of the right field Friday during the third round of the 9-6 victory of the Reds on the phillies, the possibilities resumed.
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“Fourth July, the closed window crowds, the stadium energy was exactly what I remember,” said Hays on Saturday before the continuation of the holiday weekend series. “This is a bit of what I thought. Like the man, the games here were so fun at home. Always sold. Having a full year, being in good health, would have been really exciting. But things did not work.”
Not for phillies, at least.
Hays, who was 30 years old on Saturday, landed on his feet with the Reds. He signed a $ 5 million contract – half of what the phillies paid Max Kepler – and struck .281 with seven circuits and an Ops of .853 as a daily leftist Reds.
(Kepler, 32, who begins in the left field against right -handers, struck .210 with 10 circuits and a .685 ops.)
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said on Friday that the team’s interest to bring Hays to have been offset by questions to find out if he could bounce back. Hays was hospitalized by kidney infection last September, and although he returned, he was not at full power.
“It was the most difficult thing I had experienced during my career,” said Hays. “Just a moment really, really difficult for me. I hoped [the Phillies] I would have self -confidence to take off and prepare my body.
“But they saw how sick I was and how difficult it was for me and how much I went. There is a risk in there for the next season, and I think they just didn’t want to take this risk that I might have persistent effects of what happened with the kidney.
“I hoped that I would come back because I like the clubhouse there. There are a lot of very good players there, guys with 10 years in the big leagues and several guys who will probably be the temple of fame, so it would have been pleasant to play another year with them. ”
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Ironically, the phillies could shop for a right -wing outfall at this trade deadline, although the enclosure of the lifts remains their absolute priority.
If you are wondering, no, Hays should not be available. Not with the reds rich in pitch firmly in the mixture for a joker under the future manager of the Terry Francona renowned temple.
“I always feel like I have a lot of very good years in me as a everyday player,” said Hays. “With everything that happened last year, to be in the situation in which I am, I am satisfied with the place where I am. I feel like I was forced to the free agency a year earlier than I thought. But I feel like I made the right choice. We have something special here. ”
Hey now, you’re an all-star
Although the Phillies were excluded in fans voted to start the stars match, several players should be appointed on Sunday on the alignment of the National League.
Zack Wheeler, second in the league with an MPM of 2.27, is a shoo-in and could end up being the launcher leaving the NL. (The star match will be played in Atlanta, the birthplace of Wheeler.) He could be joined on the NL launcher staff by Ranger Suárez or his colleague Lefty Cristopher Sánchez.
Among the positions of position, Kyle Schwarber is third in the NL with 27 circuits. Trea Turner also pleaded in question, but the stop stop is loaded, with Elly de la Cruz (Reds) and CJ Abrams (Nationals) also deserving of consideration behind the starter Francisco Lindor (Mets).
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Additional bases
After Friday’s final, NBC Sports Philadelphia Cameras caught Nick Castellanos by shouting and giving a fan behind the Phillies canoe. Thomson said the fan had comment to Bryson Stott, who dirty to end the match, and “his teammates protected him”. … Mick Abel is expected to start Thursday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Abel was sent on Friday after granting nine points in 4⅔ rounds in his last two departures. He had a 5.04 MPM in six starts overall. … Wheeler (8-3, 2.27 ERA) should start the final of the series at 1:35 p.m. Sunday against the recruit of Reds Chase Burns (0-1, 13.50).
