Phils made strong move to add Cabrera’s power

Long ball approach should pay off for ballclub

The American League figured it out years ago.

The National League, in many places, is catching up.

And the Phillies this week moved one step closer to becoming compliant.

The idea: Have a power hitter at every position, and at whatever cost to the payroll or the defense. For that, they traded a mid-level pitching prospect to the Mets for Asdrubal Cabrera, who had 18 home runs this season and as recently as 2016 hit 23.

All risks considered, Matt Klentak’s initiative trumped the option of trading up to five high-value players for Manny Machado. Both Cabrera and Machado will be free agents at the end of the season. And while Machado will provide more power than Cabrera over a buck-62-games, the difference over 60 games should be minimal.

Because it’s the way prosports-management is done, the Phils didn’t immediately say it, but the versatile Cabrera must be their shortstop, even though is defense there is known to be limited. Scott Kingery has been a betterthan-expected defender, but there is no room in any pro-

gressive lineup-writing system, including Gabe Kapler’s, for an all-gloveno-hit example of 1960’s nostalgia.

The Phillies are into Kingery, 24, for $27 million. Eventually, he could develop as a home-run hitter. But with the N.L. East wide open, the Phillies in the lead, and the clubhouse desperate for one more lineup jolt, the heavy-hitting, two-timeAll-Star Cabrera was a wonderful trade-deadline-ish pickup.

No, Klentak couldn’t land Machado. But he did finance Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta, and has added Cabrera. And that has been a nice run of powerful messages.

• Chase Utley had his Philadelphia regular-season farewell. Next year, he will be honored with a Chase Utley night. Later, his plaque will be affixed to the Wall of Fame. At some point, he may have his No. 26 retired. Will there be a ballpark statue? Don’t bet against it.

But what about the grand prize? Cooperstown? Hands? Well … yes. Cooperstown. Chase Utley belongs in the Hall of Fame.

He’s not going to finish his career with 2,000 hits. He’s not going to hit 300 home runs. He won’t be a career .300 hitter. And for all of those reasons, the exit polls will not look good.

But unless the Hall of Fame chooses to turn its admissions department over to a computer, then Utley will receive at least one vote. Why? Because anyone who saw (key word: saw) him compete would have realized that he was among the greatest players of his generation, and one of the better all-around second basemen in baseball history.

Don’t argue. Don’t come brandishing more stats or comparisons to other players. Don’t make it more

difficult. It’s simple. Utley was one of the best. He hit home runs in big spots. He thought three defensive players ahead of other infielders. He helped the Phillies finish in first place five times. He always made the right play at the right time. Before, during and after games, he worked on his craft. He understood his profession. And, if measurable accomplishments must be considered, he was a sixtime All-Star.

Chances are, from the extended Phillies era of early 2000’s excellence, only Roy Halladay and Jim Thome will reach the Hall of Fame. But as for the Dixville Notch returns from right here, Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard already have onevote leads.

• A year ago, the Phillies tabled the idea of Pete Rose being involved in their Alumni Weekend.

Another Alumni Weekend will start Friday. This time, the idea is not even on the table.

It’s what happens when an individual is accused of inappropriate involvement with underage women, as attorney John Dowd once charged on Bill Werndl’s WCHE radio show … and when there is insufficient defense to make the accusation vanish.

Even if Rose was so involved in 1973, that is a tattoo not easily erased. If he is being falsely accused, he must be freed. But for at least another year, the Phillies have no choice but to keep their distance.

••• If I ever use the word “Cally” to describe California, I was misquoted.

••• An early call: If Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds stay healthy, Ivan Provorov and Travis Konecny continue to improve, and James van Reimsdyk runs up another 36spot, the Sixers’ reign as the best team in the Wells Fargo Center will have been limited to one year.

••• In September of 2014, Sergey Kovalev floored Bernard Hopkins in the first round and won a unanimous decision for three light-heavyweight title belts in Atlantic City. Since then, there has not been a fight of major importance in one of boxing’s most historic cities. Saturday, at the Hard Rock (formerly the Taj Mahal, in an arena with some substantial boxing history) Kovalev … and major-time Atlantic City boxing … will be back.

“I’m very happy to be back to Atlantic City,” Kovalev said. “I don’t care where I fight, but I am most happy in famous arenas like Atlantic City and Madison Square Garden. It’s very motivating to prove that you’re the best.”

Kovalev (32-2-1) has a rare ability to both box and punish. With that, he can achieve Arturo Gatti-level East Coast popularity. In his way: 23-0-0 Eleider Alvarez (23-0-0), in a fight for the WBO championship.

“It feels right for me whenever we end up in Atlantic City, where Sergey has had so many terrific fights, where all the great Gatti fights took place,” promoter Kathy Duva said. “It’s been a while. We’ve been away for four years and we’re really happy to see the city coming back on an upswing.”

• Ever-popular Joe Tiberi Jr. will highlight a Sept. 15 card at the Hockessin (Del.) PAL. Also featured will be entertaining Kennett Square cruiserweight Anthony “The Bull” Caputo Smith (16-8-0).

••• To the guy who waits for the Phillies to fall behind in a game to insult them with an Eagles chant, just remember: You are not the first to do it, no matter how clever you think you are. And neither are you, the guy who yells “whoooo” the instant the chant ends.

••• Bop It? I don’t even get it.