Chris Coste: Fargo to Phillies

This morning Phillyburbs.com reported that Chris Coste flew to Philadelphia with the Phillies last night. “I've been doing the math a lot the last few days,” said Coste, who is batting an out-of-this-world .459 with 3 homers and 11 RBIs in 23 spring games. “It's real exciting because I've never been in this situation. I think about it, then I try to not think about it. There could be tears in either direction.”

Centredaily.com reports that Coste has the inside track for one of the two remaining roster spots for opening day. As of 3/20 he was batting .463 (19-for-41) with 5 doubles, 3 homers and 11 RBI this spring.

Columnist Nick Fierro of the Express Times concludes Coste has earned his shot. "’It might be the best spring I've ever seen a guy have,’ Phillies manager Charlie Manuel raved. ‘He's always getting big hits. And the kinds of hits -- he's getting doubles, homers, singles, whatever it calls for. I mean, I don't know if I can ask any more of him.’"

Philadelphia Phillies web page reports Coste’s hopes are still alive and Manuel like him. "'If he can hit a 95-mph fastball in rookie ball, he can hit a 95-mph fastball in heaven,' Manuel said. 'The old saying is, 'If you can hit, you can hit.' He's a much better player than people realize. He's 33 years old and has been in the Minor Leagues for a long time. Don't ever let that be a mark against you. That doesn't mean he can't play in the big leagues.'"

General Manager Pat Gillick also likes Coste reports Philly.com. “Gillick also gave the impression the Phillies would be winning to eat the $700,000 Tomas Perez is owed if they cut him and keep Grapefruit League darling Chris Coste, a 33-year-old minor league utilityman. And recovered third baseman David Bell might start with the team, but not necessarily in the starting lineup.”

Fargo was nuts about Coste before he became the darling of the Grapefruit League. The Forum newspaper closely follows the Fargo native’s career and includes an audio link to Coste’s spring training interview with reporter Mike McFeeley.

Coste could make his dream come true “The 33-year-old Coste is having an impressive spring that's making it difficult for the Philadelphia Phillies to keep him off the final roster...” Read more in San Jose Mercury News.

Minor-leaguer's big bat is a major eye-opener “Once a long shot, Chris Coste is a man with a real shot…” Read more in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Chris Coste, a 33-year-old catcher/corner infielder who has never played in the major leagues, has made it to the final cut with the Philadelphia Phillies. The former three-time most valuable player of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is one of three players competing for the final bench spot on the Phillies' roster. ‘I think Coste is serious about making this team, and I'm serious about Coste, too,’ manager Charlie Manuel said. Coste, who attended Concordia (Moorhead), batted .292 with 20 home runs for Class AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre last year. He played for Fargo-Moorhead of the Northern League from 1996-99.” Read more in Pioneer Press.

Coste Homers Twice but Phils fall
Infielder's blast ties game in ninth before Bucs prevail in 10
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com / 03/18/2006 4:28 PM ET

Phillies prospects are optimistic
Coste and Garrett making the most of their opportunity
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com / 03/09/2006 3:38 PM ET

Coste adopted Puckett’s batting style: "‘Kirby was the first name on everyone's list,’ Coste said earlier in the day, before learning of Puckett's passing. ‘That smile and that magnetic personality. He was a huge role model for so many people in that area. He was a huge influence in the way that I hit.” Coste immediately broke into a Puckett batting stance -- pumping his left leg -- and said he stole that for his own style. ‘People ask me how I hit that way, and I say, 'I grew up watching Kirby Puckett,’’ said Coste, 33. ‘He was the kind of guy who had that Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire factor, where he would go to other stadiums and people from those cities would watch him play.’” Read more on Philly’s web page.

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