tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36310178293081122742024-03-14T01:22:07.258-04:00The "Fightin' Phillies" BlogBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-51272022091206411802008-06-15T12:17:00.005-04:002008-06-21T13:13:11.877-04:00The Search for a Number TwoLike Romeo and Juliet, so many of us spend so much of our lives searching for that one person who can make us whole. Often our searches aren't as fast as furious as the infamous star-crossed lovers, and can drag out a long time. Luckily it's pretty clear what the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Phillies</span> are looking for in their other half- a solid starting pitcher. A reversal of fates has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">occured</span> in the pitching staff, with the bullpen going from worst to first, and the rotation going from good to below-average.<br /><br />The greatest ailment for the rotation has been a case of serious mediocrity. Beyond Cole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Hamels</span>, who has been great as usual, things have been rocky. Jamie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Moyer</span> is pitching as well as you can really expect a 45-year-old to pitch. Kyle Kendrick is having some trouble nailing down his stuff after a successful rookie campaign. As for Adam Eaton, you'd find his picture in the dictionary under "mediocre"; I don't think there's a better example of the word anywhere on earth.<br /><br />Brett Myers has been a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">disappointment</span>, showing a lot of inconsistency. He'll go out one night and pitch an eight-inning, two-hit gem, and then give up three first-inning homers in his next start. It's believed that Myers has been struggling making the transition back to being a starter, after closing last year. It seems that after seeing how well he could close, and how fun it was, he's having trouble meeting expectations this season.<br /><br />The logical solution to this problem would be to give some other arms a chance in the rotation, and see how they work out, but the challenge is that there aren't any good options available. Adam Eaton, at the back end of the rotation, is clearly the best choice. Chad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Durbin</span> is too valuable as a jack-of-all-trades reliever, and oft-injured Kris Benson is running into setback after setback along his comeback trail.<br /><br />So, with four average guys already in the rotation, and no prospects or oft-injured arms waiting in the wings, clearly this new starter is going to have to come from outside the organization. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Phillies</span> will probably be seeking out somebody to pitch in the second spot behind Cole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hamels</span> during the playoffs, or maybe behind Brett Myers should he make a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">resurgence</span>.<br /><br />In my mind the best possibility is Erik <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Bedard</span>. Now that the Mariners are in the AL cellar, and have fired their GM, they might shop him. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Flyers</span> could deal some infield prospects in a possible trade, as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Utley</span> and Rollins won't be going anywhere soon. C.C. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sabathia</span> might be a good option, but the Indians don't seem too likely to trade him, and even if they did, it'd be hard to compete with the Yankees, who have a better chance of re-signing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Sabathia</span> after this year. Freddy Garcia, if he wasn't so despised in Philadelphia, might fit. Expect trade talks to pick up as we approach the trade deadline- the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Phillies</span> might make a big move.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-3475108430718121482008-05-18T21:42:00.003-04:002008-05-19T11:25:47.457-04:00Why Myers & Durbin Should Pull the Old SwitcherooChad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Durbin</span> has done a great job in long-relief this year. As a starter, Brett Myers has been, well, less than stellar. Myers is giving up a lot of home runs, after a good season in the bullpen.<br /><br />The solution to all of this? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Switch'em</span>. Myers is 238 pounds. He has to put his whole weight into his arm when he pitches. This tires it out quickly. For this reason, many big men, such as Bob <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wickman</span>, made their name out in the bullpen. Myers was showing signs of greatness as a blossoming closer last year, but necessity made a move back to the rotation a common-sense one. The acquisition of Brad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Lidge</span> made it even more necessary. However, now we're discovering that Myers is having trouble developing consistency as an ace.<br /><br />That being said, I think the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Phillies</span> should take some time to try out some other guys in his rotation spot. It's going to mess up Myers' <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">rhythm</span>, but then again, what <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">rhythm</span> is there to mess up? The way he's pitching, I would not want to see him on the hill in October. He'll be a solid reliever, like last year, and he'll be very happy with it. He may even be good trade bait come mid-season. I hate saying this but Myers is built as a closer, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Phillies</span> aren't the kind of team that can afford to experiment with his versatility. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Durbin has</span> been solid, so they should try him out in that spot.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-66828941662427882492008-05-15T10:27:00.009-04:002008-05-19T11:29:24.686-04:00Player RankingsThis season has been full of ups and downs galore in terms of the way the Phillies players have performed. So, with many players slumping, it's time to give out our first Phillies' player rankings.<br /><br />1) Chase Utley- As the Phillies' superstars go, Utley has been the only one thus far to live up to the expectations. He's been great at the plate, and his 14 homers is tied for best in the majors. If Utley can stay healthy and continue to play consistently, he'll no doubt be one of the top contenders for the league MVP award.<br />2) Brad Lidge- Lidge's 2008 success isn't a big shock to anybody, but the way he's regained his dominance is not what most people expected. Coming off his injury, he realized he'd have to focus more on control and movement than pitch speed, and now he's developed a devastating slider to go with his still-sharp heater. I have to admit, even though he's my favorite player on the team, I chuckled when I first saw "Lights-Out Lidge" on the scoreboard at Citizen's Bank Park. However, he's more than lived up to the nickname.<br />3) Pat Burrell- Unlike previous years Burrell's actually living up to his high salary ($14 million), providing the power the middle of the lineup desperately needs with Ryan Howard slumping. The question is whether or not Burrell can overcome his struggles with mid-season slumps.<br />4) Cole Hamels- Cole hasn't pitched as well as many would have expected, but it's too early to worry about him slightly cooling off. If his ERA is still over 3 by August, then it's worth discussing, but for now, he's doing his job well.<br />5) Jimmy Rollins- Rollins probably won't match his 2007 MVP performance this season, but he's still the best leadoff man in baseball, hands down. He's looking like his injury won't have much of a lingering effect on his speed.<br />6) Chad Durbin- Durbin's 24.0 innings pitched and 1.50 ERA have offered the Phillies the long-relief they've been searching for. With the starting pitchers struggling, expect Durbin to continue to play a large role, whether it's long-relief or possibly starting. A rare kudos to Pat Gillick for snatching Durbin up for less than a million dollars.<br />7) J.C. Romero- If you're going to be the only reliable lefty in the bullpen, you'd better pitch well. Romero's continued his good work from 2007, probably leaving Theo Epstein with some slight regret over cutting him last year.<br />8) Rudy Seanez- The righty has as ERA of 1.59, but only has 14 appearances. It's incredible when you consider four out of our top eight players are relievers. Wait a minute...<strong> WE HAVE THE LOWEST BULLPEN ERA IN BASEBALL?!?! THE PHILLIES?!?!?</strong> Wow, who would've thought...<br />9) Greg Dobbs- Dobbs .327 average is incredible when you consider he's not even a regular starter, or even part of a platoon. The Phillies would never replace Howard or Feliz with him though, although Dobbs could play in the outfield. The interesting thing here is that as mostly baseless Ryan Howard trade rumors circulate, you have to wonder if they might gain validity as Dobbs keeps getting better and better.<br />10) Chris Coste- I don't care if he's the backup catcher on a team filled with superstars. I personally watched Coste start rally after rally in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to the Braves, in which he went 4-4. He's batting .339, and that's no fluke.<br />11) Jayson Werth- Werth has managed to overshadow his platoon partner Geoff Jenkins, even against right-handed hitters. He continues to defy expectations.<br />12) Tom Gordon- Gordon hasn't given up a run in over a month, amounting to 11.2 scoreless innings in which he has only allowed 6 hits and 4 walks. This is impressive given Gordon's dim outlook after his early struggles, but kudos to him for picking up his game.<br />13) Geoff Jenkins- His mediocre start doesn't seem to be worth $6.5 million a year, but it's still early. He'll get less and less playing time as Werth gets better and better.<br />14) Kyle Kendrick- Kendrick is definitely showing signs supporting the universal sophomore curse, but he's been getting better as the season has progressed, suggesting that he's doing a good job of overcoming his early-season struggles.<br />15) Ryan Howard- Many people are confident that Howard will eventually pull out of his current slump. I think that he's going to have to work on some glaring weaknesses he has in the box, because his home runs don't make up for his very high strikeout count (58) and terrible .185 average. However, he shouldn't be traded.<br />16) Pedro Feliz- Feliz's defense has been fine, but his offense leaves much to be desired. His .241 average and dreadful .288 OBP are disappointing, and raise questions as to whether or not he should be the everyday starter. Expect Greg Dobbs to start getting increasing numbers of starts unless Feliz picks up his game.<br />17) Jamie Moyer- The oldest man in the sport is showing signs of running out of gas. It's yet to be seen whether he's still going to have to spark that could, come September, make his pitch like he did down the stretch last year.<br />18) Eric Bruntlett- Kudos to Bruntlett for doing a better job replacing Rollins that many would expect. Having a better average than Feliz, Howard, and Victorino has to count for something.<br />19) Carlos Ruiz- Ruiz's game hasn't changed much from last year, but with Chris Coste improving, Ruiz might lose his starting job.<br />20) Adam Eaton- He's looking better than last year, but it's yet to be seen whether his seemingly eternal "nagging injuries" are more than just an overused excuse.<br />21) Ryan Madson- Expected to be the shut-down guy in the seventh, he now has a 4.66 ERA. Last year this would have been great, but with the turnaround the bullpen has had, it just doesn't cut it. I have a gut feeling that Madson might not be here come playoff time, due to the amount of talent in the Phillies' bullpen, and the fact that Madson's services as a long-reliever (and maybe starter) might be in increased demand later in the season.<br />22) Brett Myers- Myers is stuck in an unfortunate position, built like a closer but experienced as a starter. Now that Myers has seen that the grass is really greener in the bullpen, he's having time adjusting back to being a starter. If he doesn't turn his game (and massive home run count) around, then expect him to be a reliever by next season- whether it's in our bullpen, or in another team's bullpen. 240 pound brutes aren't meant to be starters.<br />23) Shane Victorino- Victorino seems to just be in a slump, but it's important to remember that Victorino spent much of last season recovering from an injury, and only had about one-and-a-half really good seasons. He'll probably pull out, but it's not an inevitability by any stretch of the imagination.<br />24) So Taguchi- Taguchi's numbers have been downright awful, and unlike Howard or Victorino, he's unlikely to get much better. His defense hasn't exactly secured him even the lowliest title of "late inning defensive replacement" either.<br />25) Clay Condrey- Condrey's been doing okay, but he'll be the first to go if any pitching prospects are called up. He deserves praise, however, for fighting hard to win out that final roster spot over a plethora of other relievers, who now play for the downright awful IronPigs.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-63117258534711828572008-04-21T14:44:00.004-04:002008-04-22T09:06:19.020-04:00Outlook Thus FarThe first few weeks of the 2008 season haven't been kind to many top contenders. Many teams that were labeled as early front-runners in their divisions, or even early world series favorites, have struggled to get above, or sometimes even reach, the .500 mark. What's even more unusual is the good starts for some American League teams who were thought to be the worst in baseball (such as the Athletics and Orioles). We're over three weeks in, and if the playoffs were to start today, we'd have the Athletics, White <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Sox</span>, and Marlins in!<br /><br /><br />The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Phillies</span> have had a mediocre start at best. They already weren't playing that well when Shane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Victorino</span> and Jimmy Rollins went down. The short-term loss of these two key players has left the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Phillies</span> without a natural <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">leadoff</span> man, somebody who has a history of running well and maintaining a healthy batting average. They've tried a bunch of new, odd lead-off men; late-inning defensive replacements<strong> Eric <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bruntlett</span></strong> and<strong> So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Taguchi</span></strong>, as well has middle-lineup outfielders <strong>Geoff Jenkins</strong> and<strong> Jayson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Werth</span></strong>. What the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Phillies</span> are left with is a power-hitting lineup that has trouble (even <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">more so</span> than before) putting runners on base, resulting in a lot of home runs, but not a whole lot of runs.<br /><br /><br /><br />The pitching has also been <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">topsy</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">turvy</span> thus far. Cole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Hamels</span> has pitched well in all four of his starts. Brett Myers needed some time to find a groove, as he's still adjusting after closing for a season. Adam Eaton has pitched <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">surprisingly</span> well thus far, while Jamie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Moyer</span> looks like he might be aging (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">surprise</span>!) a bit too fast. Whether Kyle Kendrick will be able to return to his stellar form of 2007 is yet to be seen. The bullpen has met a problem similar to last year: inconsistency. <strong>J.C. Romero</strong> and<strong> Brad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Lidge</span></strong> haven't allowed an earned run yet, but beyond that, the relief pitching has been par at best.<br /><br /><br /><br />In my mind the keys for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Phillies</span> in 2008 will be staying healthy (last year almost every member of the entire starting lineup was injured at one point or another), and maintaining consistency. This team is loaded with talented players, but they continue to be plagued by the fact that half of them seem to be struggling or sidelined on any given day. For instance,<strong> Pat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Burrell</span> </strong>and <strong>Chase <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Utley</span></strong> have been on a tear, while <strong>Ryan Howard</strong> and <strong>Shane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Victorino</span></strong> (prior to his injury) haven't been doing so hot. As the pennant race heats up, it's going to be imperative that the men in the starting rotation have settled into their roles, and can give consistent performances night in and night out. The bullpen, as it did in September of last year, will have to be made up of at least a few arms who can shut down opposing batters in the final three innings, and hold on to leads in critical games. Finally, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Phils</span> have to get comfortable at the plate. You can't win a title if you constantly have two or three of your best players in a slump.<br /><br />One thing that worries me is how proactive Pat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Gillick</span> will be when it comes to making necessary mid-season moves. It often seems as if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Gillick</span> is just riding out his final year with the team, waiting for retirement. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Gillick</span> passed up an opportunity to get a bargain deal on <strong>Kyle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Lohse</span></strong>, a solid arm who could have helped to anchor down the shaky starting rotation. The $4 million or so that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Lohse</span> wanted was quite low given the typical baseball salaries these days, especially considering that he wanted 4 years and $30 million earlier, and was now willing to take a petty one year pack. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Gillick</span> did a good job when he picked up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Lohse</span> last year at the trade deadline, and that move probably made the difference in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">NL</span> East race. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Gillick</span> needs to continue to make smart moves such as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Lohse</span> deal, capitalizing on opportunities when they come.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-50871354057742784172008-04-21T12:21:00.004-04:002008-04-22T08:52:28.703-04:00Power Rankings- Week of 4/21/08<strong><u>National League:<br /></u></strong><br />1 (6) <strong><u>Diamondbacks</u></strong>- The D'Backs league-leading 116 runs (thats 6.4 a game) has no doubt been the difference maker for the Diamondbacks thus far. They've clearly been the heavyweight in the NL in April.<br />2 (3) <strong><u>Mets</u></strong>- The Mets may be missing Pedro Martinez and Moises Alou, but they've shown strong depth to back up those losses. The Mets have posted some convincing wins against the Phillies, gaining a head start in a critical season series that could have major implications in the pennant race.<br />3 (4) <strong><u>Phillies</u></strong>- The injuries of Jimmy Rollins (now on the 15-day DL) and Shane Victorino have left the Phillies without the top of their lineup, leaving them without a proper leadoff man. They will probably continue to struggle as these injuries linger, but the Phils have already proven that they can pick up the scraps when it counts.<br />4 (2) <strong><u>Padres</u></strong>- The Padres are 9-9, hovering around the .500 mark similar to a lot of National League contenders. April's too early to really worry about this, so the Phillies, Rockies, Padres, and Braves shouldn't be too worried.<br />5 (9) <strong><u>Cubs</u></strong>- Similarly to the D-Backs in the west, the Cubs are leading the NL Central because of their 111 runs scored, second in the majors to only the Diamondbacks.<br />6 (8) <strong><u>Brewers</u></strong>- The Brew Crew started 6-2, but they've cooled off a bit since then. Expect it to be a race between them, the Cardinals, and the Cubs for the NL Central crown,<br />7 (5)<strong> <u>Rockies</u></strong>- The Rockies have started flat, seeming to have lost the magic of their wonderous September. The question remains whether the Rockies were a fluke gone to far, or are a legitimate contender that can return to the World Series.<br />8 (11)<strong> <u>Cardinals</u></strong>- If Todd Wellemeyer, Kyle Lohse, and Adam Wainright can continue to exceed expectations, and provide solid starts day in and day out (as they have been doing thus far), the Cardinals could easily become the front-runner in the NL Central.<br />9 (7) <strong><u>Braves</u><br /></strong>10 (1) <strong><u>Dodgers</u></strong>- The lackluster play by Andruw Jones, and the whole team in general, drops the Dodgers from being my #1 into the large mass of mediocre NL teams. Unlike other teams wandering around .500, the Dodgers have the most to worry about. Joe Torre better start earning his paycheck soon if he wants to return to the playoffs for the umpteenth straight time.<br />11(12)<strong> <u>Astros</u><br /></strong>12 (16)<strong> <u>Marlins</u></strong>- The Marlins lead the NL East?!?!?! How is this even possible? ....I'll answer that one for you: Their strength of schedule is by leaps and bounds the worst in the divison. The only team they've played above .500 was the Mets, who won that series 2-1.<br />13 (13) <u><strong>Giants</strong> </u><br />14 (14) <strong><u>Reds<br /></u></strong>15 (10) <strong><u>Nationals</u>-</strong> After a strong 3-0 start, the Nationals have dropped 14 out of 16, earning the worst record in baseball<br /></u>16 (15)<strong> </strong><strong><u>Pirates<br /></u><br /><br /></strong><strong><u>American League<br /></u><br /></strong>1 (1)<strong> <u>Red Sox</u>-<br /></strong>2 (3) <strong><u>Angels</u>-<br /></strong>3 (2)<strong> <u>Yankees</u>-<br /></u></strong>4 (5) <strong><u>Mariners</u>-<br /></strong>5 (4) <u><strong>Indians<br /></strong></u>6 (6) <strong><u>White Sox</u>-<br /></strong>7 (8)<strong> <u>Tigers</u>-</strong> It's been 19 games, and they're still playing flat. I think the Tigers can turn it around, but they need to do it soon if they want to compete in the tough AL pennant race.<br />8 (10) <strong><u>Athletics</u>-<br /></strong>9 (11) <strong><u>Rangers</u><br /></strong>10 (7) <strong><u>Blue Jays</u>-<br /></strong>11 (14) <strong><u>Orioles</u></strong>- With a record of 11-8 it's almost like the Orioles are a contender, or something crazy like that...<br />12 (9) <strong><u>Twins-<br /></u></strong>13 (12) <strong><u>Royals-</u></strong> 9-10! KEEP BREAKING OUT THE CHAMPAGNE!!! Finally, something for Royals fans to celebrate...<br />14 (13) <u><strong>Rays-<br /></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /></u>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-75612178995543904252008-04-03T14:39:00.002-04:002008-04-03T15:08:52.754-04:00Power Rankings- 4/3/07<strong><u>National League:<br /></u></strong><br /><br />1 (2) <strong><u>Dodgers</u></strong><strong><u> </u></strong>- It's always fun to see Larry Bowa go beserk on an umpire, but for godsakes, you're a third base coach. Stay in the box (as the rule dictates), both literally, and symbolically. You don't get to yell at umpires anymore- you're not important enough.<br />2 (3) <strong><u>Padres</u></strong><br />3 (1) <strong><u>Mets</u></strong>- Pedro Martinez is going to be out for at least 6 weeks, if not much longer. With Moises Alou injured as well, one must begin to wonder if the Mets' key veterans can stay healthy this season.<br />4 (2) <strong><u>Phillies</u></strong>- The Phillies are now at the point where they're trying to avoid being swept by the Nationals of all teams. One day their pitching falls apart, the next their bats. I wouldn't worry too much, as it's only the first week, and the Phillies have proven they can fight back. It is disconcerting, though, that the Phillies have begun the season with play reminiscent of their play in 2007. Kicking off the season with the pitching falling apart has many fans worried.<br />5 (5) <strong><u>Rockies</u></strong><br />6 (6) <strong><u>Diamondbacks</u></strong><br />7 (7) <strong><u>Braves</u></strong><strong> </strong><br />8 (9) <strong><u>Brewers</u></strong>- The Brewers have struck first and second in the battle of the NL Central heavyweights, up 2-0 in their series against the reigning-champion Cubs.<br />9 (8) <strong><u>Cubs</u><br />10 (13) </u><u>Nationals</u>-</strong> The Nationals are 3-0? Say it ain't so! The Nationals have played well in their first three games. They got lucky yesterday due to the Phillies bats running cold. Could the Nationals be a contender this year?<br /><strong>11) <u>Cardinals</u><br />12) <u>Astros</u><br />13) <u>Giants</u><br />14) </strong><strong><u>Reds<br /></u>15) </strong><strong><u>Pirates<br /></u>16) <u>Marlins</u>-</strong> The Marlins win on a walk-off against the Mets, with shades of the Marlins ownage of the Mets last September... Who the hell is Robert Andino anyway?<br /><br /><br /><strong><u>American League<br /></u><br /></strong>1) <u>Red Sox</u>- Win the opening series 3-1, although it's only the Athletics that they beat.<br />2) <u>Yankees</u>-<br />3) <u>Angels</u>-<br />4) <u>Indians<br /></u>5) <u>Mariners</u>-<br /></u>6) <u>Tigers</u>- Injuries to <strong>Miguel Cabrera</strong> and <strong>Curtis Granderson</strong> hurt, but that doesn't drop Detroit past the Blue Jays.<br />7) <u>Blue Jays</u>-<br />8) <u>White Sox</u>-<br />9) <u>Twins</u>-<br />10) <u>Athletics</u>-<br />11) <u>Rangers</u><br />12 (13) <u>Royals</u>- 2-0! BREAK OUT THE CHAMPAGNE!!!<br />13 (13) <u>Rays</u>-<br />14 (12) <u>Orioles</u>- 10,000 fans on the second game of the season?!?! What is this, Montreal?<br /><u><br /></u>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-19469842171843775432008-03-31T21:25:00.004-04:002008-03-31T21:35:41.255-04:00My Thoughts On Opening DayUgly. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Disappointing</span>. Worrying. These are a few ways to describe the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Phillies</span>' first game of the season, coming off their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">NL</span> East title. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Phillies</span> offense was at full power, but the pitching met the same challenges as last season. <strong>Brett Myers</strong> went 5 innings- four were strong, but he allowed four runs in the fifth. The Nationals tagged on two more, but the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Phillies</span>, aided by homers by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Utley</span> and Rollins, climbed back to tie it at 6-6. It remained 6-6 until the top of the ninth, when <strong>Tom Gordon</strong> allowed 5 runs, handing the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Phillies</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">disappointing</span> loss and yet another 0-1 start.<br /><br />The thing that worries me about this game is how quickly the pitching fell apart. Brett Myers crumbled in the fifth, leaving us to wonder if he's ready to start pitching more than 5 or 6 innings after closing last year. Gordon, who is key to the bullpen, earned himself an ERA of 135.00 in a terrible outing that earned him more boos than <strong>Adam Eaton</strong> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">received</span> during the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">pre</span>-game introduction (and you know how much Philly hates Adam Eaton).<br /><br />One must wonder if this bullpen really will be stronger this year, or if the bullpen woes will continue into 2008.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-13898776924376135262008-03-29T09:53:00.004-04:002008-03-29T10:01:25.551-04:00Myers Makes a Bold StatementLast Year, before the season began, Jimmy Rollins stated that he thought the Phillies were the "team to beat" in the NL East. Yesterday, <strong>Brett Myers</strong> made a bold statement of his own, one that I'd suggest keeping an eye on: Myers believes the Phillies have the best starting rotation in baseball.<br /><br />I wouldn't rule this one out; all five of the Phillies starters (<strong>Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick,</strong> and<strong> Adam Eaton</strong>) have the potential to be solid starters, but the real question is whether they can avoid the problems they've faced. Hamels is quite prone to injury. Myers was a closer for most of last year, and was 0-3 as a starter anyway. Moyer is the oldest player in baseball. Kendrick is subject to the dreaded "Sophomore Curse". Eaton has been struggling with injuries, and hasn't been near 100% for quite a while now. I could see all of these guys with records of well above .500, but they have some problems, and potential problems, they need to deal with.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-38334400708014958242008-03-19T22:17:00.003-04:002008-03-19T22:19:59.270-04:00Garciaparra Down, Helms in for Dodgers?As discussed earlier this month, there have been rumors of the Dodgers having interest in <strong>Wes Helms</strong>, who would play backup to <strong>Nomar Garciaparra</strong> at Third Base. Now, Garciaparra has broken his finger, making the chances of dealing Helms a bit more likely.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-30753961132566885082008-03-14T11:56:00.002-04:002008-03-14T11:58:56.817-04:00Lohse Finally Signed<strong>Kyle Lohse</strong>'s Scott Boras-induced nightmare is over. Lohse has reportedly signed a 1-year pact with the Cardinals, with $4 Million or $5 Million. Boras tried to sell Lohse at almost twice that much per year, over four years, but nobody bit. Lohse is lucky to even get a major-league deal at this point.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-63307242887389201942008-03-12T21:51:00.005-04:002008-03-13T14:57:21.211-04:00Hamels Punches Wall, Creates New ContinentOkay, obviously this isn't true, but the Serious Sports Network runs some pretty, well, unreal stories. And they are HILARIOUS. They do some great work over there, it's a wonder they haven't gotten more press coverage. A true pleasure for any fan of sports and satire. <a href="http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2008/03/hamels-punches-wall-creates-new-continent.html">*Click here*</a> to see the story from this post's title.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2007/09/hamels-performs-own-tommy-john-surgery-recovers-immediately.html">*Click here*</a> to see another classic Cole Hamels one: "Hamels Performs own Tommy John Surgery, Recovers Immediately"Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-55173216288111499562008-03-10T14:36:00.007-04:002008-03-10T15:05:38.387-04:00Helms to Dodgers?With Third Baseman<strong> Andy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LaRoche</span></strong> expected to be out for at least a couple months, the Dodgers have decided that <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nomar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Garciaparra</span></strong> will be manning the hot corner opening day. However, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Garciaparra</span> isn't expected to play in every game, so the Dodgers are looking for a backup to fill in once or twice a week. Joe Torre has said he prefers to look within the organization for that backup, but it's possible that they could make an offer for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Phillies</span>' <strong>Wes Helms</strong>. Helms is now all but out of a job, due to the signing of <strong>Pedro <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Feliz</span></strong>.<br /><br />If a deal happened, it would probably involve Helms going to the Dodgers for a draft pick (or draft picks), and maybe a pitcher if the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Phillies</span> are lucky. Acquiring Helms probably wouldn't be worth giving any sort of notable prospect for the Dodgers, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Phillies</span> don't need any more no-better-than-mediocre pitchers- they have plenty of those.<br /><br />The Marlins and Braves have also shown interest in Helms. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Phillies</span> seem to be aware of this, as they've been giving Helms a lot of playing time in Spring Training, despite the fact that he's a contender for the bench at best.<br /><br />What might draw the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Phillies</span> into making a deal is getting Helms off the payroll. Helms is scheduled to make $2.15 Million this year. If the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Phillies</span> could get him off their payroll, they may have money to sign another free-agent- *cough cough*<cough> <strong>Kyle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lohse</span></strong> *cough cough* <strong>Armando <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Benitez</span></strong>. Then again, considering the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Phillies</span>' spending patterns, they could just pocket the money rather than use it towards winning a championship.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-20330270006612717052008-03-06T11:03:00.002-05:002008-03-06T11:04:50.484-05:00Projected 2008 Opening Day Roster (6th Edition)<strong>SP Cole <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Hamels</span> (Left-Handed) </strong><br /><strong>SP Brett Myers </strong><br /><strong>SP Kyle Kendrick</strong><br /><strong>SP Jamie <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Moyer</span> (L)</strong><br /><strong>SP Adam Eaton</strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">LRP</span> Chad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Durbin</span> </strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">LRP</span> Francisco Rosario</strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">SU</span> Ryan <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Madson</span></strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">MRP</span> Clay <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Condrey</span></strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">MRP</span> J.C. Romero (L)</strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">CP</span> Tom Gordon </strong><br /><strong>-- Brad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lidge</span>*</strong><br /><strong>1B Ryan Howard </strong><br /><strong>2B Chase <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Utley</span></strong><br /><strong>SS Jimmy Rollins </strong><br /><strong>SS Eric <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Bruntlett</span> </strong><br /><strong>3B Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Dobbs</span></strong><br /><strong>3B Pedro <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Feliz</span></strong><br /><strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">LF</span> Pat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Burrell</span> </strong><br /><strong>OF Geoff Jenkins</strong><br /><strong>OF Shane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Victorino</span> </strong><br /><strong>OF Jayson <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Werth</span></strong><br /><strong>OF So <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Taguchi</span></strong><br /><strong>C Carlos Ruiz </strong><br /><strong>C Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Coste</span></strong><br /><br />*Injured, but not on Disabled List<br /><br /><strong>Notes:</strong><br /><ul><li>It remains to be seem whether <strong>Greg <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Dobbs</span></strong> or <strong>Wes Helms</strong> will be on the Opening Day roster. Having both is a very unlikely proposition, and would likely only happen if either of them are traded, or if <strong>Eric <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Bruntlett</span></strong> was sent down to AAA. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Phillies</span> are unlikely to opt to have more than five bench players (five are shown here). At the moment, it looks like a toss-up between the two.</li><li><strong>Brad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Lidge</span></strong> will probably not be fully ready for opening day (although it's looking like he might rush himself out of excitement), meaning that <strong>Tom Gordon</strong> will move from set-up man to interim closer.</li><li>I wouldn't say <strong><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Fransico</span> Rosario</strong> is anywhere close to a definite; there will be a lot of competition for a bullpen spot or two, and there are a lot of contenders</li><li><strong>Adam Eaton</strong> will probably be on a short leash. Expect <strong>Kris Benson</strong> (once he's healthy) and <strong>Chad <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Durbin</span></strong> to be next in line for that rotation spot. <strong>Shane <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Youman</span></strong> and <strong>Travis <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Blackley</span> </strong>are also options.</li><li>I like what I've seen from <strong>Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Savery</span></strong> during Spring Training. A bit further down the road this season, I wouldn't be surprised to see the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Phillies</span> give him a shot in the rotation, a la Kyle Kendrick.</li><li><strong>Kyle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Lohse</span> </strong>would be a huge boost, and his value has decreased from about 4 years $40 Million to 1 year $4 Million (another player screwed by agent Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Boras</span>). Still, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">Phillies</span> don't want to spend any more money. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">Lohse</span> would be a huge boost to the rotation, and I fail to see why they won't take such an incredible bargain.</li></ul>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-20253846738075167322008-02-28T09:41:00.000-05:002008-02-28T09:43:02.623-05:00Power Rankings- Week of 2/25It's been a while since the last rankings, coming later than usual in the week, as I've been very busy. Here are my official, pre-spring training power-rankings...<br /><br /><strong><u>National League:<br /></u></strong><br />1 (1) <strong><u>Mets</u></strong>- Lost their first Spring Training game yesterday, while the Phillies won. Frivolous, maybe, but it's not a great start for the Mets, coming off their collapse.<br />2 (3) <strong><u>Dodgers</u></strong><strong><u> </u></strong><br />3 (4) <strong><u>Padres</u></strong><br />4 (2) <strong><u>Phillies</u></strong>- It's no surprise that an overexcited, oft-injured closer <strong>Brad Lidge</strong> hurt his knee pitching during Spring Training a few days back. In his absence, which could extend past opening day, the Phillies will likely have to move <strong>Tom Gordon</strong> to closer. Lidge's injury also raises the question of whether he can remain healthy this season which is key as Lidge is the keystone of the Phillies pitching staff. He has blamed his lackluster 2006 and 2007 campaigns on lingering injuries (rather than the <strong>Albert Pujols</strong> home run in the 2005 NLCS), making one wonder if 2008 will be any different.<br />5 ) <strong><u>Rockies</u></strong><br />6) <strong><u>Diamondbacks</u></strong><br />7) <strong><u>Braves</u></strong><strong><br /></strong>8) <strong><u>Cubs</u></strong><strong><br /></strong>9) <strong><u>Brewers</u></strong><br />10) <strong><u>Cardinals</u></strong><br />11) <strong><u>Astros</u></strong><br />12) <strong><u>Giants</u></strong><br />13) </u><strong><u>Nationals</u></strong><br />14) <strong><u>Reds<br /></u></strong>15) <strong><u>Pirates<br /></u></strong>16) <strong><u>Marlins</u></strong>- Signing OF <strong>Luis Gonzalez</strong> gives them veteran leadership, but I doubt Gonzo will have much of a short-term effect.<br /><br /><br /><strong><u>American League<br /></u></strong><br />1) <strong><u>Red Sox</u></strong>- Signed SP <strong>Bartolo Colon</strong>, the 2005 AL Cy Young winner, to a minor-league deal. Sounds like the ideal sleeper pick to me...<br />2) <strong><u>Yankees</u></strong>- Added 3B/IF Morgan Ensberg earlier in the month. He could make a run at their First Base position currently looking to be filled by <strong>Shelley Duncan </strong>or<strong> Jason Giambi</strong><br />3) <strong><u>Angels</u></strong>- CP <strong>Francisco Rodriguez</strong>, aka K-Rod, wants out of Anaheim- ehem, Los Angeles- after this year, due to some sour contract talks and an arbitration hearing. He's making $10 Million this year.<br />4) <strong><u>Indians<br /></u></strong>5 (6) <strong><u>Mariners</u></strong>- Their addition of <strong>SP</strong> <strong>Erik Bedard</strong> pushes them past the Tigers. Look for the Mariners, along with the Tigers and Indians, to be pretty much the only teams that will give a real challenge to the Red Sox or Yankees (whoever is in second in the AL East) in the Wild Card race<br /></u>6 (5) <strong><u>Tigers</u></strong>- Ticket sales have been extremely successful for the club, probably due to the excitement over their acquisition of 3B Miguel Cabrera and SP Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins.<br />7) <strong><u>Blue Jays</u></strong>- Apparently new Blue Jay 3B Scott Rolen would have been open to being traded to the Phillies. The reality here is that the fans hate him; and it seems to be an awful coincidence that his interest in returning rises during the off-season after we won the division crown.<br />8) <strong><u>White Sox</u></strong>- The White Sox are stuck in the AL cellar that has proven almost as inescapable as a black hole, but they're poking their head out. Things look to be on the rise for the Sox, who two years after winning a world series, finished 72-90 last year.<br />9) <strong><u>Twins</u></strong>- Johan Santana is gone, but the Twins still have are in what I like to call AL Purgatory. They still have some falling to do before they drop into the fiery abyss below them.<br />10) <strong><u>Athletics</u></strong>- Signed semi-retired closer Keith Foulke to a one-year deal. Foulke signed with the Indians last year, but retired before opening day. You may remember him as the pitcher who pitched the last out in the 2004 World Series for the Red Sox.<br />11) <strong><u>Rangers</u></strong><br />12 (13) <strong><u>Rays</u></strong>- Barry Bonds could be on his way to Tampa Bay. Bonds would likely be a distraction during the season, but then again, what is there to distract them from?<br />13 (12) <strong><u>Orioles</u></strong>- Trading away SP Erik Bedard moves the Orioles even deeper into the AL cellar. With so many washed up has-beens on the team, however, I think the O's could make some splashes if they play their cards right<br />13 (14) <strong><u>Royals<br /></u></strong>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-5728940849090272702008-02-24T18:33:00.003-05:002008-02-24T18:42:38.032-05:00Lidge Out, Myers Moves to the Pen<strong>Brad Lidge</strong> sustained an injury when he caught a spike in the pitcher's mound over the weekend. It has now been discovered that he damaged his meniscus, and will miss 3-6 weeks. Mitch Williams said on Comcast Sports Net that 6 weeks seems very unlikely, so that's good news.<br /><br />This leaves the Phillies with a <strong>Brett Myers</strong> dilemna. It is unclear whether Myers will return to his closer role, or if <strong>Tom Gordon</strong> or another reliever will take over. Williams recommends the latter, and I agree with that. Let Myers stay in the rotation, so he can have some stability this year. I think Gordon will close, with <strong>Ryan Madson</strong> and <strong>J.C. Romero</strong> doing set-up.<br /><br />Maybe the Phillies will be smart and try to get <strong>Kyle Lohse</strong>. Due to Scott Boras trying to oversell him, the demand for Lohse has dropped so greatly, that some think he may only get a minor-league deal. Quite a far cry from four years, $30 Million.<br /><br />Lidge's injury is the sports gods just kicking Philly while it's down. The Flyers losing streak and loss of Simon Gagne for the season and Mike Richards for three weeks was already unbearable.<br /><br />When it rains at the sports complex, it pours...Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-42398748335598970492008-02-13T18:11:00.001-05:002008-02-13T18:12:39.816-05:00Phillies Sign Kris BensonAfter watching him throw outside his Atlanta home, the Phillies inked oft-injured pitcher <strong>Kris Benson</strong> to a minor-league deal. Benson still has some rehabbing to do, and as a result will probably not be ready by opening day.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-36161594568908089502008-02-13T09:07:00.000-05:002008-02-13T09:06:33.065-05:00The Same Old StoryWe all know the Phillies are the most consistently dissapointing team in sports history. Sure, you may have forgotten the fact that lost more than 10,000 games. Even worse, in ironic fashion, we've managed to be among a very select teams to put together a winning record each of the past five years. That's actually would be a good thing... except for the fact that we've only made the playoffs once, despite our lowest winning percentage over that span being .524 in 2006.<br /><br />We were constantly tortured with playoff aspirations, to the point that virtually nobody truly believed in the Phillies in 2007 until Brett Myers struck out Willy Mo Pena to clinch the division title. Oh, and getting swept in the NLDS? Never happened. It was just a bad dream. The Phillies won the NL East, but in many fans' minds, the playoffs were irrelevant, because now, we have hope.<br /><br /><br />Despite our new faith in the Phillies, they are still mostly the same team as last year. If they weren't, you would surely see them at #1 in my power rankings. Instead, despite the fact that their lineup has three of the very best players in the National League, and the fact that managed to win a title last year with the same lineup doesn't seem to carry the weight it would for any other team.<br /><br />In 2007 we managed to overcome the powerful Mets and get the 2nd seed in the National League despite almost every one of our players being injured at some point. Need a very brief refresher?<br /><ul><li>Chase Utley: Out 7/26-8/27 </li><li>Ryan Howard: Out 5/9-5/25 & 7/8-7/13 </li><li>Shane Victorino: Out 7/30-8/22 & 9/1-9/7 </li><li>Jayson Werth: 6/28-8/1 </li><li>Cole Hamels: 8/16-9/18 </li><li>Freddy Garcia: 6/8-End of Season</li><li>John Lieber: 6/20-End of Season</li><li>Brett Myers: 5/23-7-28</li><li>Tom Gordon: 5/1-7/17 </li><li>Ryan Madson: 7/29-End Of Season<br /></li></ul>Unfortunately, the skepticism surrounding Philadelphia's teams has always caused everyone from the casual fan to the senior reporter to come to expect <em>something</em> to go wrong. As injuries go, the Phillies, as they stand, would have massive problems if one of their key pitchers goes down. We were so comfortable with our pitching last year that we had a 6-man rotation at one point. Look at what we ended up with. If it weren't for <strong>Kyle Kendrick</strong>, who knows what would have happened to us.<br /><br />Speaking of Kendrick, we also have to worry about the formidable "sophmore curse", which involves a skilled second-year player transitioning from "beginners luck" into taking on a regular role on a team. This curse isn't superstitious at all- it's a real problem that comes about more often that you may think.<br /><br />Now, as if Kendrick isn't worrisome enough, look at the rest of our rotation. <strong>Cole Hamels</strong> has been on and off the DL for years, for reasons ranging from breaking his arm to getting in bar fights. <strong>Jamie Moyer</strong> is so old he could drop dead any second (although so does Brett Favre). <strong>Brett Myers</strong> was 0-3 as a starter last year. <strong>Adam Eaton</strong> still has to recover from an injury that hurt him a lot last year. Also, if <strong>Kyle Lohse</strong> comes back (an unlikely prospect), don't forget he had a losing record last year. And now, with the Mets' addition of Johan Santana, things could get even uglier for the Phillies.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-78573542049273904322008-02-08T15:10:00.000-05:002008-02-07T10:44:13.857-05:00A "Blast" From the Past<p>When the Phillies won the NL East last year, the echoes of doubters calling the Phillies a "Choke Team", one that will never win the big game, finally subsided. That day put a bit of hope in all of us, because even though the 24-year-old "Curse of Billy Penn" had not oficially subsided, we all began to believe in Philly's sports teams. The integral part of the curse, our doubt, is gone, and although unofficially so, I believe that curse is, in essence, as good as history. But to remind everyone of how terrible the curse once was, I've posted this article- one of many over the years that provided false hope that the Phillies were the team to beat. </p><p><br />Just remember as you read it the three events that ended the curse:</p><ol><li>Jimmy Rollins says the Phillies are the team-to-beat</li><li>Four-Game Sweep of the Mets on August 30th</li><li>Capturing the NL East title</li></ol><br /><p>One final note: to those of you say the Rockies series proves we're still cursed, or who will say we're still cursed if Rollin's prediction of winning 100 games being a game too high, you can all take your pessimism and walk over to Lincoln Financial Field. You don't win them all, even if you aren't cursed. Nobody's perfect, but that doesn't mean that everyone is cursed.</p><p>*My reaction is placed after the article*</p><p><strong>Five reasons to pick the Phillies<br /></strong><a href="http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://search.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=jayson_stark&name=SEARCH_m_archive&srvc=sz"></a><br /><strong>By Jayson Stark of ESPN.com<br />Updated: September 16, 2003<br /></strong><br /><em>Of course, the Phillies are going to win the wild card and go on to the National League playoffs. They have no choice. It's their destiny.<br /><br />One last stand at the Vet? It could be a house of horrors for Florida.<br />It's the Law of the 3. </em></p><p><em>As far back as anybody can remember -- as long as the anybodys in question can't remember back to the 1970s -- the Phillies always go to the playoffs in years ending in a "3." They're required to, by law. The Law of the 3. </em></p><p><em>In 1993, they went from last place the year before to the World Series. In 1983, they were only two games over .500 on Labor Day, then rallied improbably to go to the World Series. And now it's 2003. So what choice do they have? They have to win. It's the law. But just for the heck of it, here are five other reasons: </em></p><p><em>1. <strong><u>Experience</u></strong>- True, the Phillies have made a lot more visits to Pat's Steaks over the last 20 years than they've made to the playoffs. Nevertheless, 12 current Phillies have appeared in a postseason series, vs. eight Marlins. And of those 12 Phillies, 10 play a prominent role of some kind or other. </em></p><p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4762"><em>Jim Thome</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6049"><em>Placido Polanco</em></a><em> are regulars. So is </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5343"><em>David Bell</em></a><em>, who could be back for the final week. </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5848"><em>Kevin Millwood</em></a><em> fronts the rotation. And five Phillies relievers have postseason experience. Only the backup catchers -- </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4904"><em>Todd Pratt</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5193"><em>Kelly Stinnett</em></a><em> -- are irregulars. And Pratt, who is available to pinch-hit, once hit an extra-inning home run that won a playoff series, for the 1999 Mets. </em></p><p><em>The Marlins, on the other hand, have just two everyday players who have batted in a postseason game -- </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4680"><em>Ivan Rodriguez</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4600"><em>Jeff Conine</em></a><em>. Of the other six, only Todd Hollandworth has more than 101 at-bats or a dozen innings pitched as a Marlin. And isn't it supposed to be that big-game experience that shows up at times like this? </em></p><p><em>2. <strong><u>Jim Thome</u></strong>- What </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=3918"><em>Barry Bonds</em></a><em> is to the Giants, Thome is to the Phillies ... except Thome's teammates actually like him. </em></p><p><em>Thome is already the first Phillie in two decades to hit 40 homers in a season. He's about to become the third Phillie in the last 48 years to drive in 120 runs (joining only Mike Schmidt and Greg Luzinski). He owns 17 postseason home runs -- which are 17 more than all the Marlins combined (and tied with </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4695"><em>Bernie Williams</em></a><em> for the most among active players). Thome's career postseason home run ratio (one every 12.5 plate appearances) is second only to Babe Ruth (10.8). </em></p><p><em>But most important, says one scout, "he's a big-game player. He'll be the best player on the field every night. Players like him rise to the occasion in these games." If he does, that'll be OK with the Phillies. They're 27-8 when he homers. And the Marlins' rotation and bullpen are both heavily right-handed. </em></p><p><em>3. <strong><u>Left-right offensive balance</u></strong>- Speaking of Thome, he has hit 35 more home runs this year than all of the Marlins' left-handed hitters combined. Yep, the Fish have hit exactly five left-handed homers all season -- and one of them was by </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=7133"><em>Dontrelle Willis</em></a><em>. (Three were by Hollandsworth and one by </em><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6550"><em>Juan Pierre</em></a><em>.) </em></p><p><em>So it's no surprise that the Phillies are 16 games over .500 (70-54) in games started by a right-hander, while the Marlins are only four games over (59-55). The Phillies bat .262 against right-handers and .264 against left-handers, while the Marlins' splits are .260-.288. </em></p><p><em>And guess which hand all three Phillies starting pitchers will throw the baseball with in their three games in Philadelphia this week? That would be the right hand. And best we can tell, the Marlins will face only three left-handed starters (against whom they're 24-11) the rest of the season. </em></p><p><em>4. <strong><u>The Vet</u>- </strong>The not-exactly-beloved Veterans Stadium doesn't have long to live now: Two more weeks, unless the playoffs stop by. Well, Camden Yards, it isn't. Pac Bell, it isn't. Heck, Stade Olympique, it isn't. There's a good chance nobody in baseball, football or any other activity known to man will miss it. But the Phillies will. </em></p><p><em>They just finished their most torturous schedule stretch of the year: 27 games in 27 days in seven different cities. Only a week of that marathon was spent at home. But now, of their remaining 13 games, the Phillies play 10 of them at the Vet. And at the Vet, the Phillies are 16-4 since July 29, and 11-1 since Aug. 13. </em></p><p><em>Since their only loss was to the Red Sox on Labor Day, they haven't lost to a National League team at home in more than a month. After the Marlins leave, the Cincinnati/Louisville Reds visit for three. After a day off, the Phillies play three in Florida, then close up the Vet with three emotional games against Atlanta. </em></p><p><em>As the Vet's life span dwindles, the crowds will grow, the memories will flow, and the passion will reverberate. And the Phillies have fed off that all year. Since their home-opener loss to the Pirates, they're 13-4 at home in front of crowds over 35,000. Of course, Florida swept them at home in July. But the Marlins haven't won in Pennsylvania since. OK, so they haven't played in Philadelphia since, either. But they did get swept in Pittsburgh last month. </em></p><p><em>5. <strong><u>The Eagles</u></strong>-In some cities, maybe it wouldn't be a good thing for the local baseball team to have the local football team start its season playing more like Louisiana-Lafayette than like the next Super Bowl champ. But in Philadelphia, life is different. </em></p><p><em>In Philadelphia, the Eagles' crummy start just means people get nastier and angrier and more frantic than usual. So they can either spend the next two weeks snarling at the Eagles, or they can turn to other stuff. </em></p><p><em>The Phillies could very well be that other stuff, especially if they keep winning, and the entire city isn't washed into the sea by a hurricane. In a city desperate to win something, anything, the Phillies have a chance to capture the hearts of a wounded public, replace that Eagle-induced pain with a road-to-October joy and send the Vet to the dynamite crew with a special triumphant glow. </em></p><p><em>Then again, they could also go 0-12, finish fourth in the NL East and force all the suicide hotlines to go to 24-hour operation. But this is supposed to be the Why-Good-Stuff-Will-Happen-to-the-Phillies section of this package. So forget you just read that last sentence. Or else. </em></p><p><em>------</em></p><p>After reading this article, you probably think I am insane to say we aren't cursed any more. High expectations seem to be the norm in Philadelphia, and so does dissapointment. However, if you remember, nobody in Philly ever really believed in the Phillies, and 2003 was no exception. However, I think that our NL East title last year changed everything. The fact that we now believe in the Phillies means that the curse is no longer valid, but rather as good as dead.</p>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-25835561827490849892008-02-07T15:20:00.000-05:002008-02-07T15:30:37.154-05:00Whew, That Was CloseThe Boston Herald is reporting that <strong>Curt Schilling</strong> has sustained a torn rotator cuff, the origin of which is unknown, as is the time when the injury occured. Schilling may miss the entire season if he needs surgery, and given his age, such an injury might result in Schilling calling it quits.<br /><br />Despire Schilling's close ties to Philadelphia and the Phillies' organization, there is no doubt that Pat Gillick is breathing a sigh of unexpected relief. Early in the off-season, it looked as if the Phillies were going to sign Schilling. The Sox are trying to void Schilling's $8 million dollar contract that they reached with him back in November, but picture what would have happened had the Phillies signed him. Brett Myers would likely still be the closer since <strong>Brad Lidge</strong> would have never been acquired, and the Phillies wouldn't have had the money to spend on <strong>Pedro Feliz</strong>, or maybe even<strong> Geoff Jenkins</strong>. Things would have taken the usual Phillies'-turn-for-the-worse, but it seems we've got lady luck on our side this time, leaving this fan saying, "What Curse?"Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-31196137814248658182008-02-06T09:01:00.000-05:002008-02-06T09:01:33.290-05:00"Projected" 2009 RosterWe're coming up on the final week before Spring Training 2008... but it's never too early to think about 2009. With that in mind, I present to you the Phillies projected 2009 25-man roster...<br /><br />SP Cole Hamels (L)<br />SP Brett Myers<br />SP Curt Schilling<br />SP Kyle Kendrick<br />SP Adam Eaton<br />LRP J.D. Durbin<br />LRP Clay Condrey<br />MRP Mike Zagurski (L)<br />MRP Ryan Madson<br />MRP J.C. Romero (L)<br />SU Brian Fuentes (L)<br />CP Joe Nathan<br />1B Ryan Howard<br />2B Chase Utley<br />SS Jimmy Rollins<br />SS Eric Bruntlett<br />3B Pedro Feliz<br />3B Greg Dobbs<br />CF Shane Victorino<br />LF Milton Bradley<br />RF Geoff Jenkins<br />OF T.J. Bohn<br />OF Jayson Werth<br />C Carlos Ruiz<br />C Jason JamarilloBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-41854177186995037892008-02-04T10:09:00.000-05:002008-02-04T10:16:58.190-05:00Interest in Odalis PerezThe Phillies have expressed interest in lefty starter <strong>Odalis Perez</strong>, watching him work out in the Dominican Republic. Perez will likely be competing with <strong>Kris Benson</strong> for a minor-league deal, but a decision would probably only occur after the Phillies watch Benson throw again sometime in the next week. Since a <strong>Kyle Lohse</strong> signing seems unlikely (although I feel otherwise) due to payroll concerns, and the Mets' interest, it is looking like the Phillies will move forward with their current roster, and maybe Perez or Benson.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-80806121237946429442008-02-02T20:21:00.000-05:002008-02-02T20:21:54.210-05:00Zolecki: Lohse Signing Unlikely<a href="http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/zozone/2008/02/vote_for_pedro.html">According to Inquirer Writer Todd Zolecki</a>, a signing of <strong>Kyle Lohse</strong> is, in fact, unlikely. According to assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., the chances were "fairly low.<br /><br />This isn't all that suprising given the fact that the Mets still seem interested in the righty after their trade for <strong>Johan Santana</strong>. In my mind, I'd give a deal about a 20% chance of working out.<br /><br />Expect the Phillies to more actively pursue <strong>Kris Benson </strong>now that talks with Lohse are stalled.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-67636326981639023572008-02-01T12:41:00.000-05:002008-02-01T12:41:30.622-05:00Hot Stove UpdateWith just about two weeks until Spring Training, it's crunch time if the Phillies want to make some moves. Here's an update:<br /><ul><li><strong>Pedro Feliz</strong> signed a two-year, $8.5 Million dollar contract with the Phillies, with a third-year option and incentives that could raise the total to $15 Million.</li><li>The signing of Feliz spells doom for the <strong>Greg Dobbs</strong> and<strong> Wes Helms</strong> platoon at third, and also means that there's probably only going to be a spot for one of them on the 25-man roster. Both play first and third, but Dobbs can play outfield as well. </li><li>For said reason, it looks like Dobbs and Helms are on the trading block. It doesn't look like it could be enough to make an offer for a big-name pitcher like <strong>Erik Bedard</strong>, but some prospects or bullpen help could come in a trade involving either of these guys. My guess is that these guys carry about the same trade value as <strong>Michael Bourn </strong>did. Dobbs put up good stats last year considering the amount of playing time he recieved, and Helms is a seasoned veteran, so there might be a team who would be interested in either of their services.</li><li>The Phillies will watch <strong>Kris Benson</strong> throw again next week. the oft-injured Benson's value has dropped, and may only recieve a minor-league deal. He could be brought to Spring Training if he's signed, where he could compete for that fifth rotation spot, or maybe even a spot in the bullpen.</li><li>The only other free-agent starter the Phillies have been looking into recently is <strong>Kyle Lohse</strong>. Lohse may be a bit too pricey for the Phillies to sign at the moment, but since the Mets have dropped their interest, nobody else seems interested. If this remains the case, the Phillies may sign him at a discount price.</li><li><strong>Adam Eaton</strong> should be the fifth starter. This would likely change should Lohse be signed. Other possible candidates for that spot are Benson (if he's signed), <strong>Chad Durbin, Travis Blackley, Shane Youman, </strong>and <strong>J.D. Durbin.</strong> Later in the season, we could very well see prospects <strong>Carlos Carrasco, Joe Savery, Scott Mathieson, </strong>and<strong> Josh Outman </strong>in that mix.</li><li>The free-agent relief market is pretty much dead right now. It's looking like the bullpen will consist of <strong>Brad Lidge</strong> closing, <strong>Tom Gordon</strong> doing set-up, and <strong>Ryan Madson</strong> working the seventh. <strong>J.C. Romero</strong> is the only lefty that has a sure-fire spot in the bullpen. <strong>Chad Durbin</strong> will be covering long-relief if he's not in the rotation. Otherwise, it looks like there will be a lot of competition in spring training for the last two (or maybe three if Eaton isn't pitching) spots on the roster. Consider <strong>Travis Blackley, Shane Youman, J.D. Durbin, Lincoln Holkzdom, Scott Mathieson, Fabio Castro, Francisco Rosario, Clay Condrey, John Ennis, Mike Zagurski, Josh Outman</strong>, and <strong>Joe Savery</strong> all candidates. The Phillies are making somewhat of a gamble, hoping that one of these guys will step up a-la-Kyle Kendrick and provide the pitching staff much-needed depth.</li><li>There's no telling who the Phillies could sign, especially after seeing the suprise offer to <strong>Mike Lowell</strong> earlier in the season. Pat Gillick is quite opaque when it comes to being able to tell who he's pursuing.</li></ul>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-86525977016682685272008-01-31T12:25:00.000-05:002008-01-31T12:25:07.903-05:00Five Smart Moves, 2nd EditionTime to explore the five smartest moves the Phillies could make in the upcoming weeks...<br /><br /><strong><u>1) Wait until Spring Training is just about to start before signing Free-Agent Kyle Lohse</u></strong><br />Being patient hasn't really turned out to be the best way for the Phillies to go about this off-season, but when it comes to <strong>Kyle Lohse</strong>, it has certainly worked. Lohse originally was looking for four years, and $30-40 Million a season. The Phillies didn't bite on that price, as one would expect, but virtually no other team did either. The Mets and Phils had four-year offers out to Lohse back in December, but the Mets eventually shifted their focus to <strong>Johan Santana</strong>. Now, it looks like it's become a seller's market for Lohse, as he's starting to get a bit desperate, and he many only get two or three years with maybe $5-7 Million a year. There have been faint rumors of the White Sox and Astros still having interest, but it looks like Lohse is going to have to just take the best offer he can get, and that will most likely be in Philadelphia. If he's still available when Spring Training starts, he'll be desperate enough that we can get him at a discount.<br /><br /><strong><u>2) Sign Free-Agent Kris Benson, preferably to a minor-league deal</u></strong><br />The oft-injured, ex-Orioles pitcher's value has dropped, as he didn't make a great impression to the many scouts who watched him throw a few weeks back. Benson could be useful if a starter goes down. Benson will throw again next week, and similarly to Lohse, he'll likely be cheap by the time Spring Training starts. A one-year deal worth a million-or-so could end up helping the Phillies, but it certainly won't hurt. If Lohse isn't signed, then I would put a bit more focus on trying to get Benson.<br /><br /><strong><u>3) Sign Free-Agent reliever Armando Benitez</u></strong><br />It seems like a no-brainer that the Phillies would add a free-agent reliever (besides <strong>J.C. Romero</strong>) to help reinforce a bullpen that hasn't been improved too much over last year's disaster. Benitez is the best option out there, but there are plenty of them. The Phillies can't do much (trading aside) to strengthen their bullpen at this point, but this move may pay off down the stretch.<br /><br /><strong><u>4) Consider Jayson Werth and Adam Eaton as being on the trade block along with Wes Helms</u></strong><br />The Phillies aren't likely to get anything useful if they trade only <strong>Wes Helms</strong>, and nobody else. The ability to have a platoon in right field (Werth/Jenkins) isn't overly important, and <strong>Adam Eaton</strong> could easily be replaced with Kyle Lohse or another starter. If the Phillies consider all three of these guys, along with other players, as being available to trade, they may get something useful in return- probably a reliever or spot-starter.<br /><br /><strong><u>5) Actually live up to their word on pitching</u></strong><br />This seems redundant given #1-3, but GM Pat Gillick and assistant Ruben Amaro Jr. have consistently labeled the focus "pitching, pitching, pitching", but since the J.C. Romero signing, they've done little to address it. Our staff looks to have little, if any, improvement over last year's. It looks like it's a bit late for the Phillies to go after the big guys, but they've balked on too many good free-agent pitchers. There's still time for Gillick and Amaro to get a bit more aggressive in finding a pitcher. They seem content with the status quo, having a lot of candidates vie for spots on the pitching staff, but when you're in such a tight division and league, you can't start April without a solid rotation, and with a shaky bullpen. The Phillies can contend, but they need an extra arm that can help reinforce the pitching staff.<br /><br /><br /><br />Expect the Phillies to sign Lohse. I'd say Benson is more likely than not to end up being signed, especially if Lohse isn't. A Helms trade seems probable, but I have my doubts that the Phillies will include anyone other major-league players in such a deal. Beyond those possible moves, I don't see anything else happening before Spring Training begins exactly two weeks from now.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3631017829308112274.post-60290326617565686732008-01-30T19:20:00.000-05:002008-01-31T10:20:39.698-05:00Power Rankings- Week of 1/28It's been four weeks since the last rankings, largely because of the hot stove cooling off a bit. Enjoy...<br /><strong><u></u></strong><br /><strong><u>National League:<br /></u></strong><br />1 (6) <strong><u><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mets</span></u></strong>- The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mets'</span> signing of SP <strong>Johan Santana</strong> helps them reclaim a slight advantage over their division rival, and chief competition, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Phillies</span>. The NL East is really too close to call, but it looks as if the Mets may have the upper hand.<br />2 (5) <strong><u><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Phillies</span></u></strong>- Signing 3B <strong>Pedro <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Feliz</span></strong> was a good move for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Phillies</span>, but one would wonder why the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Phillies</span> have done little to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">adress</span> their "main goal" of "pitching, pitching, pitching". The best they're hoping for right now is SP <strong>Kyle <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Lohse</span></strong>. Ruben <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Amaro</span> Jr. has been offering more promises than usual, and hopefully Pat <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Gillick</span> and he will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">fulfill</span> them.<br />3 (1) <strong><u>Dodgers</u></strong><strong><u> </u></strong><br />4 (2) <strong><u>Padres</u></strong><br />5 (3) <strong><u>Rockies</u></strong><br />6 (5) <strong><u>Diamondbacks</u></strong><br />7) <strong><u>Braves</u></strong>- Traded for OF <strong>Mark <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Kotsay</span><br /></strong>8) <strong><u>Cubs</u></strong>- Signed former Phillie SP <strong>Jon <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Lieber</span><br /></strong>9) <strong><u>Brewers</u></strong>- Signed OF <strong>Mike Cameron</strong><br />10) <strong><u>Cardinals</u></strong>- Sent former Phillie 3B <strong>Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Rolen</span> </strong>to the Jays for 3B<strong> Troy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Glaus</span></strong><br />11) <strong><u><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Astros</span></u></strong>- SP <strong>Roger Clemens</strong> could end up back in Houston. I'm not sure if that's a positive or not.<br />12) <strong><u>Giants</u></strong><br />13) </u><strong><u>Nationals</u></strong>- C<strong> Paul Lo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Duca</span></strong> will be out until the middle of Spring Training so the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Nats</span> signed former Phillie C <strong>Johnny Estrada</strong> just in case.<br />14) <strong><u>Reds<br /></u></strong>15) <strong><u>Pirates<br /></u></strong>16) <strong><u>Marlins</u></strong>- Aren't keen to the idea of acquiring C/DH <strong>Mike Piazza</strong>, who wants to play for them and would probably be a good influence. This would require the Marlins to actually be slightly better this year, and that's what the Marlins seem to want to avoid<br /><br /><br /><strong><u>American League<br /></u></strong><br />1) <strong><u>Red <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Sox</span></u></strong><br />2) <strong><u>Yankees</u></strong>- The Yankees seem to be out of the Santana race at this point.<br />3) <u><strong>Angels<br /></strong></u>4) <strong><u>Indians<br /></u></strong>5) <strong><u>Tigers<br /></u></strong>6) <strong><u>Mariners</u></strong>- Rumors about a possible trade for the Orioles' SP <strong>Erik <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Bedard</span></strong> have been spreading like wildfire. It's not clear whether a deal with happen or not; false reports of one were made by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">MLB</span>.com and a lot of other sources earlier this week.<br />7) <strong><u>Blue Jays</u></strong>- Traded <strong>Troy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Glaus</span></strong> to the Cardinals for <strong>Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Rolen</span></strong><br />8) <strong><u>White <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Sox</span><br /></u></strong>9) <strong><u>Twins<br /></u></strong>10) <strong><u>Athletics</u></strong>- Fans don't want OF <strong>Barry Bonds</strong>, but he's still a possibility<br />11) <strong><u>Rangers<br /></u></strong>12) <strong><u>Orioles</u></strong>- Still trying to work out a deal to trade <strong>Erik <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Bedard</span></strong><br />13) <strong><u>Rays</u></strong>- Signed OF <strong>Cliff Floyd<br /></strong>14) <strong><u>Royals</u></strong>- Signed SP <strong>Brett <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Tomko</span></strong>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06494989321126521519noreply@blogger.com0