Phillies Nation

Beerman’s Report Card: Carlos Ruiz Signing

Posted by Nick Staskin, Tue, February 09, 2010 09:39 AM

Beerman’s Report Card will be a biweekly series that will run up to Spring Training. We will look at the signings, resignings and trades that were orchestrated by Ruben Amaro, Jr. this offseason. They will be no particular order; however check back every Tuesday and Thursday for new entries.

SIGNING CARLOS RUIZ TO 3 YR/$8.85 MILLION EXTENSION

When details of this contract extension first sprung, I really thought Chooch had parlayed a solid postseason into a three-year deal. To the initial eye, it looked like Amaro might have bid against himself, something he has done during his GM tenure before. However, like any responsible blogger/columnist/beerman, whatever you want to call me, I did my homework. Broke down some numbers. Compared some stats. Examined some contracts.

Ruiz will never be Joe Mauer. Hell, Carlos will never be Brian McCann. However, his on base percentage ranked third among full-time catchers in the National League at .355. Did you know that his .355 clip ranked higher than Raul Ibanez last year? Factor in the mere 39 strikeouts that Chooch accounted for and it is clear to see that the Phillies bottom of the order had a bat that could get the ball in play and help turn the lineup over.

However, it wasn’t Ruiz’s bat that garnered his new multi-millionaire status. Not many catchers in baseball can command a pitching staff like Ruiz can. Chooch can block the plate with the best of them, allowing only one ball to pass by him last season.

When it comes to holding runners, Ruiz allowed the fewest stolen bases of any catcher who started 100 games with 61 swipes allowed. He managed to throw out 23 attempted base runners as well.

In an era where the top catchers are seemingly going nowhere, and after trading away any and all catching prospects that they might have had, the Phillies locked up a very solid piece of the team at a very fair rate.

BEERMAN’S GRADE ON RUIZ RESIGNING: A-

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All-Pro Chase Utley

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, February 08, 2010 12:20 PM

In anticipation of the Super Bowl, Buster Olney mused in his ESPN Insider column yesterday about baseball players that could potentially make it in the NFL. Number 5 on the list was The Man, Chase Utley.  Buster said, “You could see him being a possession receiver who is willing to go over the middle and take the hit in order to get the first down.”  True, but we all know Chase would excel in any position on the field. 

Who else would make a good footballer – maybe Raul at linebacker or Ryan Howard at fullback?

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Phillies Sign Japanese Players to Minor League Deals

Posted by Amanda Orr, Sun, February 07, 2010 01:50 PM

Originally published Feb. 5, 2010.

According to Daily Sports Online, the Phillies signed Shigetoshi Yamakita and Naoyo Okamoto to minor league deals.  They each spent 2009 with the Shonan Searex, a minor league team of the Yokohama Bay Stars.  Both players are left-handed pitchers.

Yamakita, 32, posted a 2.47 ERA in 27 innings.  Okamoto, 26, had a 5.28 ERA in 15.1 innings.

UPDATE (Feb 7, 1:50 PM): Todd Zolecki tweets “Contrary to reports, the Phillies haven’t signed any Japanese pitchers.”  Basically, the Phillies haven’t officially announced any form of signing.

In other minor league signings, the Phillies added veteran outfielder Freddy Guzman.  Guzman is currently playing in the Caribbean Series and made highlights when he stole home.  The switch-hitter spent most of 2009 in different Triple-A affiliates, however he played in ten games with the New York Yankees, and stole four bases.

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Year In Review: Jimmy Rollins

Posted by Amanda Orr, Sat, February 06, 2010 02:20 PM

The Philadelphia Phillies are usually playing their best baseball when their spark plug is productive.  “As J-Roll goes, the Phillies go.”  2009 was no different.

Before the season started, Rollins batted .417 with a home run and four RBIs for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic.  With the hot start, it was thought that Rollins would carrying his success into the regular season.  However, it was only a sample size of at-bats.  Things didn’t go as planned, and Rollins batted .229 during the first half of the season.

The Phillies started to struggle in Interleague play, and after an 0-for-28 slump in late June, Charlie Manuel benched Rollins for four games.  His average plummeted to .205, so Manuel thought some time off would clear his mind. 

Rollins returned and batted .358 in his next 13 games, which included seven multi-hit games.  In addition, it led to a re-surged Phillies ball club.  In July, Rollins batted .313 with a .924 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Rollins continued to improve as the season moved along.  He hit .272 with 14 home runs  in the second half of the season.  Rollins batted .234 in the playoffs, but his walk-off hit in the National League Championship Series overshadowed everything.

As always, Rollins defense was stellar.  His best fielding percentage among all shortstops led to his third consecutive Gold Glove Award.

During this off season, the Phillies already picked up Rollins’ $8.5 million option for 2011.  If he keeps goin’, so will the Phillies.  Afterall, he’s only the best shortstop in Phillies history.

2009 stats: 155 games, .250 AVG, .296 OBP, .423 SLG, .719 OPS, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 31 SB

Grade: 7.9 — His defense was always there, but his offense only showed up for half of the season.  If the grade was based on clutch hits in the playoffs, he’d get a perfect ten.

This concludes our 2009 Year In Review.  To view the entire list, click here and enjoy all  of the player recaps.

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Whom Can We Trust?

Posted by Michael Baumann, Fri, February 05, 2010 02:46 PM

I’m not that easily shocked, but something happened to me Wednesday night that I think bears repeating here. I was at a bar with a couple friends, when, realizing that the famed “Pitchers and Catchers” was only a couple weeks away, I let out a sigh and said, almost without thinking, “God, I’m ready for baseball season to start again.”

Three tables away, a man overheard my comment, came over my table, and almost without warning launched into a three-minutes of some of the most hateful invective I’ve ever heard about one Cole Hamels. I began offering some counter-arguments (”Cole was distracted with the new wife and baby” and “Cole was unlucky with his high BABIP”), but this man was hearing nothing of it. He didn’t hear me, because he was screaming so loud and not stopping to breathe, and even if he had, I don’t think he would have cared much about the fact that Cole allowed two more hits per 9 innings in 2009 than 2008, despite almost all other peripheral stats remaining the same.

It occurred to me that the Phillies’ ascendancy in 2007 and 2008 was due in large part to three players who, for whatever reason, were all just abject disappointments in 2009. These three–Jimmy Rollins, Hamels, and Brad Lidge, will all be back in prominent roles in 2010. I don’t think it’s fair to blame these three for the failure to repeat (after all, a lot of things went wrong in that World Series), but I do think it would help if the Phillies had a leadoff hitter with an OBP over .300, a No. 2 starter who’s somewhat more consistent than two-hit shutout one night, then 7 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings five days later, and a closer who’s not having literally the worst year ever for a full-season closer.

So from these three stalwart Phillies, what can we expect? Whom can we trust?

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The Total WAR Project, Part V: Los Angeles Dodgers

Posted by Paul Boye, Fri, February 05, 2010 02:20 PM

The Total WAR Project is a series of posts Mike and I began back at The Phrontiersman. In each post, we take a look at the biggest competition the Phillies will likely face – within their division, the National League and the American League – and evaluate their offseasons. Have these teams improved? Have they weakened? How good are the Phillies, in terms of WAR, in relation to their closest competition? Well, that last one will be reserved for the final post in the series. For now, we’re setting our sights on our competitors.

We’re using WAR – Wins Above Replacement – exclusively here, as it contains both offensive and defensive evaluations combined into one single, easy-to-use statistic. There are a few iterations of WAR, none differing greatly, and we use the one supplied by Fangraphs for our numbers and projections.

Typically, these posts begin with some sort of allegorical war story to tie in with the team we’re about to evaluate. You want a war story? Go read some of the comments on the last entry in the series, posted by Mike on the Cardinals.

In this episode, we’ll be taking a look at the National League runners-up in two straight seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Shall we?

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Scott Proefrock on 97.3 ESPN FM

Posted by Pat Gallen, Thu, February 04, 2010 04:39 PM

Phillies Assistant GM Scott Proefrock was a guest of the Sports Bash today and talked about the state of the team, including some chatter about Cliff Lee. He touched on such topics as Placido Polanco, Cole Hamels, and the health of the bullpen.  Proefrock also showed enthusiasm while talking about the youngsters in the system.

Listen to the interview right here:

Scott Proefrock on our partner station, 97.3 ESPN FM

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Phils Ink Villarreal

Posted by Pat Gallen, Thu, February 04, 2010 02:36 PM

In their never-ending quest for arms, the Phillies signed former Braves and Astros relief pitcher Oscar Villarreal to a one-year, minor league deal today.

Villarreal last pitched in the majors in 2008, sitting all of last season after Tommy John surgery.  His last full year was with Houston, and it was relatively uninspiring.  He posted a 5.03 ERA in 35 appearances in ‘08 and has had an up-and-down major league career.

According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, Villarreal tossed a bullpen session in Arizona and threw about 89-90 mph and will be certainly be looked at as plug for the leaky pen.

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Submit Your Recipes for the Phillies Nation Tailgate Cookbook

Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, February 04, 2010 11:42 AM

As you may have heard, we’re collecting recipes for the first edition of our Tailgate Cookbook. We’ve already had many creative submissions like “Grand Salami Pie” and “Philly Phanatic Honey Dew Melon Daiquiris”.

Preferably, the recipe can be prepared in a parking lot using portable equipment, but if you’re more of a couch tailgater and have a special food you like, you can submit that too. Our book will cover three chapters: tailgating at the park, tailgating at home, and tailgating with booze (food and drink recipes using alcohol).

We’ll test all the recipes and select the most delicious ones to be published (with credit) in our book. Use the form below to enter or upload your favorites and email us with any questions.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

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Year In Review: Pedro Martinez

Posted by Michael Baumann, Wed, February 03, 2010 03:33 PM

You’d have to go back a long time to find a pitcher in Phillies pinstripes who had a better career resume than Pedro Martinez. In his day, he was as dominant as any right-handed pitcher ever to play the game.

So even though he would turn 38 during the playoffs, and even though his previous three seasons could best be described as “injury-riddled” or “mediocre,” the Phillies, in a scene straight out of a thousand movies, talked him into giving it one last spin.

And you know what? In 12 starts, counting the postseason, he wasn’t too bad. It was obvious that this wasn’t the turn-of-the-century Pedro who was so dominant he looked bored half the time. But he maintained his impeccable control (4.63 K/BB ratio for the regular season), changed arm angles, and could still reach back for a low-90s fastball a couple times a game.

All in all, what turned out to be a low-risk deal for $1 million plus incentives paid off quite well. By the time he signed in mid-July, the Phillies had, for months, trotted out a finally over-the-hill Jamie Moyer and a parade of fringe veterans and AAA kids who might not have quite been ready. Pedro stepped into the fifth starter’s spot and pitched well enough that he warranted three outings in the playoffs. And that’s where this gets complicated.

In his first start, Game 2 of the NLCS, Pedro looked like he had been cryogenically frozen after the 1999 season and the Phillies had decided to decant him for the occasion. Seven shutout innings, only two baserunners allowed, 23 batters faced, only 87 pitches thrown. Of course, the Phillies eventually lost when Chase Utley started throwing to an imaginary fifteen-foot high first baseman.

But Uncle Cholly was impressed enough to throw Pedro back into the fray for Game 2 of the World Series at Yankee Stadium. He didn’t pitch badly, even amid a chorus of “Who’s Your Daddy?” chants. He struck out eight Yankees in six innings, but he took the loss when either A.J. Burnett had the game of his life, or the Phillies hitters just forgot to show up.

Game 6 was a different story. All I’ll say about that game is that Andy Pettitte didn’t pitch that great either, and while Pedro could have saved the series by throwing a three-hit shutout, I don’t know if it was reasonable to expect him to do that.

So for a good half-season, an up-and-down playoff run, and the best Jheri curl since Michael Jackson’s Thriller album cover, I thank you, Pedro Martinez, and wish you well.

2009 numbers: 5-1, 3.63 ERA, 44.2 IP, 37 K, .276 BAA, 1.25 WHIP, 4 HBP

Grade: 5.5/10—Let’s face it, he was an average pitcher for half a season, and that World Series Game 6 was something of a stinker. But an effective and entertaining starter in July on a “Why not?” signing is worth at least a golf clap.

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Odds and Ends: Dykstra, Lowry, Howard

Posted by Pat Gallen, Tue, February 02, 2010 09:37 AM

-Poor Lenny Dykstra. It seems he has hit rock bottom as his mansion is now up for sale in California for $14.9 million. “Nails”, as he was so affectionately called here in Philly for years, left the house a mess according to Reuters. Dog feces and raw sewage were some of the items left behind by the former centerfielder.

Dykstra is going through a financial free fall, as he owes nearly $13 million on the property and is being nailed (pun intended) by 20 different lawsuits following his bankruptcy. Check out a great piece in ESPN the Magazine about his so-called business that was making millions. Tough fall for someone who was once a tough dude.

-Noah Lowry’s throwing session has been pushed back to allow for his twice-surgically repaired arm to heal a bit more before putting it on display.  The 29-year-old Lowry has missed the last two full seasons with a neuromuscular disorder, but is angling for a new job after things went south with the Giants.  You can read Paul Hagen’s article from the Daily News regarding the details of that.

Again, Lowry would be a nice pickup should he sign a minor league deal. Say it with me: you can never have to many arms.

-Ryan Howard is in Clearwater. The Phillies cleanup hitter has been working with Sam Perlozzo, according to the Inquirer, and looks even more slender than a year ago.  Roy Halladay has reportedly been working out at the Phillies spring training complex as well, which is a quick drive from his offseason home in Oldsmar, FL. Good to see the $20 million men getting a head start on what should be another incredible season for both.

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Darren Daulton’s Celeb Darts Outing a Success

Posted by Pat Gallen, Mon, February 01, 2010 10:26 AM

It was a great turnout for a great cause.  McFadden’s Ballpark was packed with Phillies fans of all ages to support Darren Daulton’s favorite charity; the Arc of Philadelphia.  Garry Maddox, Larry Christensen, and Larry Anderson all played darts with fans (including myself) and all had a blast.  “Dutch” put together a great night, and was helped by Michael Barkann of CSN, and his wife, Ellen.  Barkann was the emcee of the event.  Here are some pictures:

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Odds and Ends: Taylor, Lowry, Wang

Posted by Pat Gallen, Fri, January 29, 2010 10:18 AM

-While scanning the Top 100 MLB Prospects, as ranked by ESPN’s Keith Law, an uneasy feeling came over me when I found #24.  The kid is built like a statue, going 6′6″and 250 pounds, and is now a member of the Oakland A’s.  Michael Taylor is his name, and I have a funny feeling he will come back to haunt us as one of those Ryne Sandberg-types.

Guys that are 6′6″ with great instincts, a power bat, defensive skill, and a Stanford background don’t grow on trees.  Maybe I’m at my own party on this one, but I almost wanted to see him stay more than Domonic Brown.  Taylor was interviewed at a Phillies game during the summer and just impressed me with his camera presence and demeanor.  Sometimes upside is overvalued, not that I don’t think Brown will be a stud, because he clearly will, as Amanda Orr pointed out. However, I think the Oakland A’s are in for a treat of a player with Michael Taylor.  Now, playing in their ballpark is another story.

-The Phillies will watch former San Francisco Giant Noah Lowry pitch on Tuesday as he continues his comeback from a rare nerve disorder. He’s now 29-years-old and has missed the past two seasons, but I like the idea here.  Again, the Phillies are searching for low-risk, high-reward types and Lowry certainly fits that bill.

Before his lengthy setback, Lowry had two above-average seasons with a below-average tossed in.  In 2007, he made 26 starts, going 14-6 with an ERA of 3.92.  He won’t strike guys out (87/87, BB/K) but that could have been because of the arm trouble.  He struck out 172 in 2005. The only problem is the park factor.  His .226 BAA on fly balls would likely make a jump due to the fact that he played in spacious AT&T Park for his entire career.  If he still has it, and can be ready by opening day, I would take a chance on a guy like Lowry.

-Chien Ming Wang I’m not so sure about. Six teams are reportedly interested in the former Yankee, and Scott Lauber said earlier in the week that while the Phillies were interested, they weren’t sure how interested because of his injury.  He won’t be back at the start of the season, which renders him semi-useless as Jamie Moyer is in the same position.  They need someone who can step in right away.

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Phillies Prospects Make Several “Top 50″ Lists

Posted by Amanda Orr, Wed, January 27, 2010 10:18 PM

With spring training around the corner, it’s time for prospect rankings to be released.  Late last summer, Phillies Nation’s Ben Seal ranked the Phillies top 25 prospects.  Since the list, a few trades have been made, but that didn’t stop the Phillies from having multiple top prospects on MLB.com’s and AOL Fan House’slists.

ESPN’s Keith Law ranked the Phillies farm system 24th in baseball.  That’s a huge jump from last year, when the Phillies system was in the top 10.  As we all know by now, many prospects were traded.  However, the following list proves that the Phillies still have top talent in their farm system.

Domonic Brown (OF): Ranked 14th on MLB.com, 19th on Fan House

Brown is currently the best prospect in the Phillies organization.  With Jayson Werth’s future in jeopardy, Brown could be an every day major-leaguer as early as 2011.  He hit .313 last year and has five-tool potential.

Phillipe Aumont (P): Ranked 47th on MLB.com, 29th on Fan House

Aumont has had some injuries issues, but with his hard fastball and great slider, he can be nasty on the mound.  The Mariners converted him to a reliever due to injuries, but the Phillies will try to convert him back to a starter.

Anthony Gose (OF): Ranked 46th on Fan House

Many scouting reports are saying that he is still “raw,” but he has blazing speed.  He can be scary on the base-paths.

Tyson Gillies (OF): Ranked 50th on Fan House

Although known for his speed and defense, Gillies hit .341 last year.  His offense continues to progress, and like Gose, can be scary on the base-paths, as he stole 44 bases last year.

Former Phillies prospects: Kyle Drabek ranked 17th on MLB.com and 15th on Fan House.  Michael Taylor ranked 35th on MLB.com and 38th on Fan House.

MLB’s and AOL’s lists are fairly different, but they have something in common: they both notice the potential in these young Phillies prospects.  The Phillies also have several players, like Sebastian Valle and Trevor May, who did not make the list, but still have loads of potential.

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12 Spring Training Games will be Televised

Posted by Pat Gallen, Wed, January 27, 2010 04:58 PM

Thank God. Spring Training is nearly here, and you’ll all be able to see 12 games on the tube.  Here is the press release straight from the Philles:

Fans will be able to access 26 of the 32 Phillies spring training games via TV, radio and/or internet. The 2010 schedule features 9 televised games at Bright House Field in Clearwater, two broadcasts from the road in Florida and one at Citizens Bank Park.  Phillies spring training will also air on 1210 WPHT for 14 games and phillies.com will stream six games live.

Comcast SportsNet will carry three games including the New York Yankees match-up on March 4.

The Phillies will air on myPHL17 three times including the final spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 3 as part of the On-Deck Series held at Citizens Bank Park.

The Comcast Network will broadcast four games against American League teams in Clearwater including a St. Patrick’s Day telecast against the Yankees. ESPN has picked up a game at home against the New York Yankees on March 22 as well as on the road opposite the Atlanta Braves on March 24.

This means the season is fast approaching, and although Spring Training games are often tough to watch all the way through, it is a breath of fresh air knowing that actual games are around the corner.  Some of the Phillies Nation crew (including myself) will be at the St. Patty’s Day game against the Yankees, and we hope to see you there for a major tailgate before the game.

Spring Training: 22 Days away.

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