Phillies Nation

Two days before Wade can start packing

Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, July 28, 2005 11:41 PM

Man, I guess we all saw that sweep by the Astros coming, so we really can’t complain.  Haha, of course we can!  The Phils, 3rd in the league in runs scored, could only muster up 4 in 3 games.  The pitching was just as poor, as the starters gave up runs early and opened up plenty of room for the big 3 of Houston to work.  Even Ryan Madson got burned for a GW homer.

So again, I think we need to talk about the Phils starting rotation because when Sunday comes and goes, its still gonna be mediocre at best.  While Myers is more or less stable, Lieber is definitely tailing off, Cory Lidle is completely melting down, Padilla is hit or miss, and Tejeda, despite his relative success, is barely a legit fifth starter.  But you know that’s just my opinion, read what the fielders have to say:

“Would I be disappointed if we didn’t do anything? Not really,” rightfielder Bobby Abreu said. “Our team is pretty solid right now. Maybe we could use one more starter, but if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t mean we can’t win.”

Said catcher Mike Lieberthal: “I don’t think I’d be disappointed [if Wade stands pat]. As a player, we’d like to think we can do it with the group of guys that are already here.

“Maybe a month ago, you could have said we needed pitching. But the way Vicente Padilla and Robinson Tejeda are throwing right now, it’s hard to say we definitely need another starter.”

Uh oh, has Ed Wade replaced the team’s Gatorade with his homemade kool-aid?

Now that there’s two days to upgrade, let’s see what’s still out there.  A deal involving Billy Wagner seems off the table which most likely rules out Boston’s Bronson Arroyo or Wade Miller.  Del Unser was out in Seattle scouting RHP Joel Pinero and LHP/St. Joe’s guy/old timer Jamie Moyer.  However, the most likely deal at the time seems to center around Danys Baez, the Devil Ray’s closer.  Have we not learned from Paul Abbott that Devil Ray pitchers are a bit suspect and a lot bad?  Besides, there are already 2 closers in the Phils bullpen.  I feel like Moyer would be a good addition.  A nice short term deal for someone who would be happy to come home and retire and he’s a lefty to boot!  Acquiring Moyer would be a nice little experiment for Wade if he can get the deal done.

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Full Circle

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, July 25, 2005 07:31 PM

Today marks Phillies Nation’s one year anniversary!  Remember, this was the game day last year where Eric Milton had a no hitter through 8 and a third.  Boy how far have the Fightins’ come!  Off to Houston and the Astros launch back to back home runs twice against Lidle and tack on another for good measure.  Only Mike Lieberthal so far can take advantage of the home-away-from-home confines of Minute Maid Park as Andy Pettitte continues to lay the smack down.

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Trade Deadline and Playoff Push Approaching

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, July 25, 2005 12:21 AM

A sweep over the Padres this weekend put the Phils 3 games back of both the division and the Wild Card races.  Chase Utley continued to put the team on his shoulders, with two game winning runs in three days.  And with lines like ”You always should run out every ground ball hard. You never know what can happen,” its no wonder Philly loves this guy.  Is it safe to say he is on the untouchable list for the next week?

Most talk has pointed to Wagner moving to the Sox, the Red or the White, in a three team deal involving A.J Burnett.  But half the league is in the AJ sweepstakes.  The Newark Star Ledger also claims the Phils are trying to package Urbina and Padilla for a starter such as Cleveland’s Jake Westbrook or the Dodgers’ Odalis Perez.  Ed Wade no doubt took advantage of a free scouting session on Thursday as Perez smoked the Phils for a 1-0 win. 

But let’s say for a second, oh, the trade deadline comes and goes, what will our rotation look like?  Tejeda has just returned as the fifth starter, Lidle is back after a two day absence from the team, and Padilla is hanging on by a thread. There are many questions marks here.  Forget about Cole Hamles, he missed his start yesterday with back spasms and I don’t trust Gavin Floyd to handle the pressure down the stretch.  Therefore looking at what will be if nothing happens, it seems likely that out of desperation some move will be made for a starting pitcher.

On the other hand, Uncle Charlie thinks all he needs is an arm to toss the first six innings.  ”With our bullpen, we feel like we’re in good shape if that happens,” he said.  However, on Sunday this approach irked the young Brett Myers, who, after 95 pitches through six innings of one run ball, said ”I felt strong, I wanted to go another inning.”  I would have to take Brett’s side on this but for different reasons.  There’s no need to set the bar low for Phils starters; they already only have three complete games on the year.  Sure, the season is heading into the deep summer but this will eventually become taxing on the bullpen. I’m not sure if this will become the official Charlie Manuel strategy but it looking to be that way. 

Speaking of starting pitching, the Phils will face Andy Pettitte, Roy Oswalt, and Roger Clemens in Houston over the next few days.  I had the opportunity to watch the Rocket Friday against the Nats and he was dominating.  It will be interesting to see how the Phils handle a hot team like the ’stros and some nasty pitching on the road.

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Well fans

Posted by Brian Michael, Fri, July 22, 2005 02:39 AM

So you were worried about the Phillies were you?   Well do not be worried, because they are not.  I was out in Old City (the name of the place will remain nameless, but it was not 32 degrees I promise you that).  So there I am drinking my gin and tonic and who walks in but Geoff Geary, Chase Utley, Phillies PR guy John Brashier, and then comes Pat Burrell.  So you say, ok so what?   And that is what I thought, until the last player walked in….it was none other than JASON MICHAELS.  Is he kidding me/us?  Is he trying to beat up another cop?  What is going on here?  Not only that but big bad Kenny Lofton tried to fight a reporter from the Bucks County Courier Times (that is a shitty paper) b/c the reporter questioned his pitch selection.  Are we done, I do not know, but at least we know the Phils can pick fights and pick up chicks…if only they could do the same on the field!   

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The Clothesline

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, July 19, 2005 08:41 PM

There’s quite a bit gossiping going on with less than two weeks until the trade deadline.  Trade rumors are abound and it is still uncertain if the Phillies are buyers or sellers.  Ed Wade has pretty much reached his credit limit at Citizen’s Bank so it’s more likely he’ll be trimming the fat…right?  Well, that would be that rational option, but we must remember Ed Wade is essentially a lame duck GM - some have talked about his plans to blow up the team.  That cannot happen. 

There are still two and half months of baseball to be played and the Phils at least have a fighting shot this year.  Sure the Braves are going to take the division again, but the Nats are beginning to stumble and the Fightins have a legitimate shot at the Wild Card.  Unlike past teams, I think they have another run in them, like that stretch in May.  These games against the NL West might be a chance but might be too early.

Back to the trade deadline.  Some Phillie names have come to the surface in the consistent buyers market of the AL East.  It’s rumored the Yankees may settle for Endy Chavez or land Vicente Padilla to steady their roller coaster rotation. The Red Sox are certainly interested in Billy Wagner with Foulke on the DL.  Even Thome has been mentioned as trade bait, especially after last night.  On the buying end, the Phils are definitely looking for a 5th starter and have been scouting Kip Wells.  But again, these are just rumors, the more important question is what to do with who’s staying.

Let’s talk about wasting talent.  Utley is finally blossoming but what to do with the Ryans?  I would surely like to see Madson get another chance at earning a starting spot, he’s much too good for the bullpen.  A decision on Ryan Howard’s future - whether viz-a-viz Jim Thome or not - must be made soon.  Because he is a stud and in very un-Bobby Abreu-like fashion last night he went 1-5 with a walk off home run.  Watching from his box behind home plate, with a big question mark on his forehead undoubtedly sat Ed Wade.  There’s a decent shot he’ll leave his successor with a mess of a Wild Card caliber team.  Coasting along the Ed Wade routine will not help this team this year or next.  I would love to see Monty do like Wade did to Bowa and fire him before the season’s over.

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Thank you Bobby

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, July 11, 2005 08:34 PM

Way to go, Bobby.  As an ambassador to baseball carrying the nations of Venezula and Phillies, he has made both constituencies very proud.  He’s up to 19 dingers (one more than his regular season total this year) and only 8 outs.  If he knocks some of those yellow balls out, he should be nominated of UN Secretary General.  Howard Eskin, playing the role of Cuba, would undoubtedly oppose the bid…

So the comparative politics lesson through the first two batters is: Venezula is better than Canada.  Sounds aboot right….

Wow and after the final better we finally settle the debate:  Venezula, despite its oil hoarding socialist tendacies, is the best country in the world.  Darn.  Bobby Abreu shattered all home run derby records and finished with 41 dingers in one night… 

Not to spoil the good time, but I must mention the Inky outlined the Phillies chances for the remainder of the year. To reach the NL average for wins by the wild card winner, the Phils would have to go 48-26.  Though the stat intended to advocate “shedding their overaged, overpaid and under-productive veterans for younger, scrappier players in the Chase Utley mold,” 48 wins in the second half is an issue in and of itself. 

I agree, the prospect is daunting - the Phils would have play somewhere on the level of, oooh, between the Cardinals and White Sox.  Is there any possible way?  Maybe, but only if Bobby Abreu continues at this pace.

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Saturday, in the Park

Posted by Brian Michael, Sat, July 09, 2005 08:47 AM

Ooooh, so close last night, what an exciting game; though the Phils failed to score the tying run on three big plays.  Pat Burrell was thrown out at home trying to score from first on a double, David Bell got caught up in a run down between third and home and Ryan Howard flied out on a ball hit just 399 feet to straight away center.  The Phils look to rebound today after an dropping the last two.  I’ll be at the game.  Call me if you’re looking to party, I may have an extra ticket.

I wonder if J Roll’ s hand with be healthy enough to let him play in the All-Star game.

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Trivia 4

Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, July 07, 2005 09:21 AM

Which Phillies manager, with at least 1 year managed, has the best winning percentage?

Answer Posted

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Game Thread..sort of

Posted by Brian Michael, Wed, July 06, 2005 07:09 PM

Jason Michaels is leading off for Rollins who is experiencing some soreness in his right hand. Many people have been calling for Utley or Michaels to replace Rollins in the lead off role, let’s see how he does.

First AB - Struck out looking

Second AB - Bloop RBI single (coulda been a double if he ran)

Third AB - Check swing, 5-3 groundout

ooooh, they’re walking Lofton to load the bases…

Fourth AB - Check swing, fielder’s choice, but run scores

Game Break: Roy Oswalt wins the final spot on the NL All-Star roster - Wagner finishes 4th, Myers 5th.  Phillie fans are denied back-to-back selection, but can only blame themselves.

Fifth AB - Flied out on first pitch

Well, since there’s really nothing more boring than reading a game thread with one participant, I guess we should analyze Michaels’ experience leading off.  It’s pretty obvious, as the box score shows, Michaels is not your archetypal lead off hitter.  He didn’t take many pitches, except for when he struck out looking in the first, he wasnt on base much and did not score any runs.  He’s does not have blazing speed, but in general he does get on base (.415 OBP this year) and despite his spot in the line up, he did drive in 2 runs.  That being said, I think Jason should stay in the middle of the lineup, specifically in the 6 hole with an occasional call up to 2nd.  That is if he can stay outta CB4.

UPDATE - Jimmy Rollins and Billy Wagner added to All-Star roster as subs.

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No Excuse

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, July 04, 2005 01:22 PM

This is the true story of 25 strangers, picked to play on a team and have their lives taped, and find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting REAL. The Real World, Philadelphia!

In this episode, the gang as usual hangs out in Old City, tossing back martini’s and shots of Jäger, spewing their best game on unsuspecting ladies. 

“Hey baby, I play for the Phillies, wanna get freaky?”

“Like, oh my God, it’s Pat Burrell!! I totally love you!”

“Well, actually, I’m Jason Michaels, but Pat and I are boys.  Let’s roll back to the Irish Pub and me you and him and have some fun.”

“Eww, skeevy, nevermind.”

Dejected by his failed advances and his overshadowing by the other house jock from Florida, Jason turns his attention to the scantly clad bartender at 32 degrees.  Unfortunately everything but his drink order falls on deaf ears.  Eventually 3 am hits, and he stumbles out the door hazily eyeing a slice of pepperoni from Margarita’s.  As he steps out, one of Philly’s finest, as he does every night at the witching hour, pushes the crowd along in his toughest cop voice;  but Jason is having none of it.  “Do you know who I am?” he retorts.  The cop pays no attention and instead hastily moves the other clubbers along.  “Do you know who I am?! I’m Jason Michaels, mo fo, I do what I want!”  The cop, losing patience, approaches our inebriated friend.  Standoff!  Michaels assumes the fighters stance, lunges forward, and , the unassuming cop is punched in the face.  Oh, but he’s not done yet, Jason continues to pummel the uniformed member of the PPD until backup arrives and saves him.  Uh oh, Jason you’re going to jail.

Oh Jason, my poor boy.  You are a city-wide, if not national, celebrity and you punch a police officer.  There is no excuse.  In all our drunken endeavors and in all our run-ins with the law, this is something everyone remembers no matter how many Red-Bulls and Grey Gooses (Grey Geese?) you’ve downed - do not punch a cop.  I’ll listen to your side of the story, but it won’t matter:  You don’t hit girls and you don’t hit cops.  You are truly a meathead and an embarassment to the city, the ball club, MLB in general, and the surname Michael. 

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