Dude was seriously ill. Still don't know that he was gonna be worth the arbitration award but sounds like we didn't get to see him play up to his potential at all. They think he probably had the infection as early August 5 (after just 7 games, and just before the hamstring strain), and he never truly recovered.
He began another two-day rehabilitation assignment on Sept. 21, then rejoined the Phillies for three games at the end of the regular season. On Sept. 27, in a 9-1 loss at Washington, he beat out an infield single, hit a home run, and made some good throws from the outfield. Yet even then, he wasnât where he needed to be.
During the game, he felt his legs getting tighter and tighter. After the game, as he walked through the tunnel to the visiting clubhouse, they started shaking again. When he woke up the next day, he felt like he was again dealing with a kidney infection.
During the Philliesâ five-day layoff before the Division Series, the pattern repeated. Hays drew encouragement from how his body reacted during intrasquad games. He took good swings, ran well on the bases and in the outfield. But the next day, his soreness and fatigue would return. He did not recover well enough to sustain his speed and strength on back-to-back days.
