Spring Break
To Phillies Brass: Bring 'Chris Clutch' Coste to the show
By: Shawn Gauby
Issue date: 6/29/07 Section: Sports
Originally published: 6/29/07 at 2:41 AM EST
Last update: 6/29/07 at 2:40 AM EST
Originally published: 6/29/07 at 2:41 AM EST
Last update: 6/29/07 at 2:40 AM EST
Are there any Phillies fans out there who do not love Chris Coste?
Last season, Coste led all Phillies players with at least 200 plate appearances by hitting .328. As a rookie, Coste showed grit and determination to finally reach the big leagues at the ripe old age of 33, and he appreciated every minute of his time in Philadelphia. He quickly became a fan favorite after Sal Fasano was traded to the Yankees with the "Coste Guard" cheering him on every home game. Unfortunately, the only person that I can think of who does not love Coste is Phillies General Manager Pat Gillick.
During the 2006 spring training, Coste tore through pitchers, hitting at a .463 clip in 41 at-bats. Despite his exploits in the Grapefruit League, he earned a one-way ticket up to Scranton for the start of the season. It took the retirement of Alex Gonzalez, May 21 before the Phillies finally purchased Coste's contract.
He became the oldest player to make his Major League debut in a Phillies uniform in 61 years. Coste scuffled in the early going, not getting his first hit until his 14th at-bat.
Once he got his feet on the ground, Coste owned National League pitching. He became a media darling in Philadelphia because of his everyman appeal and his humble demeanor. He drew comparisons to Philly's greatest underdog, Rocky.
Coste was a big reason why the Phillies made their second half surge. Due to an injury to Mike Lieberthal and the ineffectiveness of Carlos Ruiz, Coste got a fair share of starts at catcher in 2006. His key performances down the stretch earned him the nickname "Chris Clutch" by teammate Ryan Howard.
Despite his performances, the Phillies felt a need to "improve" the catcher position through free-agency. They signed Rod Barajas to a one-year 2.5 million dollar deal, and they picked up outfielder Jayson Werth, who can be used as an emergency catcher. With Ruiz returning, the writing was on the wall for Coste as he was looked on by the organization as the odd-man out.
Last season, Coste led all Phillies players with at least 200 plate appearances by hitting .328. As a rookie, Coste showed grit and determination to finally reach the big leagues at the ripe old age of 33, and he appreciated every minute of his time in Philadelphia. He quickly became a fan favorite after Sal Fasano was traded to the Yankees with the "Coste Guard" cheering him on every home game. Unfortunately, the only person that I can think of who does not love Coste is Phillies General Manager Pat Gillick.
During the 2006 spring training, Coste tore through pitchers, hitting at a .463 clip in 41 at-bats. Despite his exploits in the Grapefruit League, he earned a one-way ticket up to Scranton for the start of the season. It took the retirement of Alex Gonzalez, May 21 before the Phillies finally purchased Coste's contract.
He became the oldest player to make his Major League debut in a Phillies uniform in 61 years. Coste scuffled in the early going, not getting his first hit until his 14th at-bat.
Once he got his feet on the ground, Coste owned National League pitching. He became a media darling in Philadelphia because of his everyman appeal and his humble demeanor. He drew comparisons to Philly's greatest underdog, Rocky.
Coste was a big reason why the Phillies made their second half surge. Due to an injury to Mike Lieberthal and the ineffectiveness of Carlos Ruiz, Coste got a fair share of starts at catcher in 2006. His key performances down the stretch earned him the nickname "Chris Clutch" by teammate Ryan Howard.
Despite his performances, the Phillies felt a need to "improve" the catcher position through free-agency. They signed Rod Barajas to a one-year 2.5 million dollar deal, and they picked up outfielder Jayson Werth, who can be used as an emergency catcher. With Ruiz returning, the writing was on the wall for Coste as he was looked on by the organization as the odd-man out.
