Phillies Nation

Exclusive New Wall Photos

Posted by Brian Michael, Fri, December 30, 2005 11:13 AM

Yesterday I had the chance to check out the new left field wall at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark - you can check out the photos.  Construction is coming along nicely and there is a noticeable difference in the depth of left field.  I just hope the Phils know what they’re doing here.  Montgomery announced that it would shave off 22 home runs, but only if at least 50% of those come from the visitors tally will the move be a success.  If you remember David Bell’s game winning home run last season during a BPS, that will be a measly can of corn next season.  We’ll have to track homers from each game and see how the new wall holds up.  Still, I think the main reason for the face lift is to make the park more attractive to free agent pitchers.  John Smoltz was always bad mouthing the place, so hopefully this should shut him up for a while. 

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New Left Field Wall Construction - Citizen’s Bank Park

Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, December 29, 2005 10:05 PM

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Get Involved

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, December 27, 2005 07:40 PM

Now that Johnny Damon has succumbed to the dark side, the Red Sox are in need of a center fielder and it just so happens that the Phillies have one available.  Jason Michaels is on Boston’s list to replace Damon but it’s questionable who they would give up in return.  Most of their tradable position players are either aging or on a decline since the World Series year.  The youngster Kevin Youkilis, one of the stars of Moneyball, might fit in nicely as the Phils future third baseman.  But an even better pickup would be Matt Clement.  I hope Pat Gillick has recognized this opportunity to pick up one of those elusive pitchers he’s been seeking. 

Three more pitchers have found new teams within the past week: Kevin Millwood, Javiez Vazquez, and Miguel Batista.  Batista was traded to Toronto yesterday for another potential third base replacement, Troy Glaus.  Though the Phillies have not shown much interest in any of these particular guys, watching all these transactions pass by is getting a bit depressing.

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‘Tis the Season

Posted by Brian Michael, Sat, December 24, 2005 12:29 PM

From all of us at Phillies Nation to all of you die-hard Phillies fans, Happy Holidays!! 

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Ace in the Hole - Brett Myers

Posted by Brian Michael, Fri, December 23, 2005 10:13 AM

The latest comment chatter makes a great segue for the post I was planning for today: that is, Brett Myers.  With the competition heating up for the number 5 (and probably 4) starter, we also have a little battle going on for the role of Phillies ace.  We’ll know who comes out on top by seeing who gets the nod opening day against the Cards at the new and improved Citizen’s Bank Ballpark.   For what it’s worth, Brett Myers is my vote for staff ace.

The debate on Myers was well analyzed in the previous post’s comments.  Despite how you feel about his performance prior to last season or his personality, putting Myers in context of the other slightly above average Phillies starters, Lidle and Lieber, he comes out on top.  More than that however, is that with the offer of arbitration, Myers will only be under a one year deal next season.  This will give him the ultimate incentive to work hard and perform - a nice, new contract. 

I agree the Phils should not offer him a long term deal yet.  If, as I suspect, he pitches well before the All-Star break, then they should start talking.  Gillick is sure to have learned from the Wagner debacle and not allow Myers to test the free agency market and risk losing him to a team more "committed to winning."  So it will be a balancing act for the Phils front office to determine when exactly to sign him.  Myers, for his own part, can certainly help make the decision easier by taking the role of Phillies ace and running with it all season.

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Love Me Non-Tenders

Posted by Brian Michael, Wed, December 21, 2005 11:59 AM

As many of you know, midnight was the deadline for clubs to offer contracts to those eligible for arbitration.  The Phils offered deals to Jason Michaels and Brett Myers, but left Endy Chavez out in the cold.  Though the details of the offers have not been disclosed, it’s likely Pat Gillick’s purse will take about a $2 million hit on next season.  Fortunately there might be some pitchers on the cheap in the Endy Chavez league.  Some other notable non-tenders include:

Starters - RHP Wade Miller, RHP Kurt Ainsworth, RHP Ryan Franklin, RHP Josh Fogg

Relievers - RHP Dan Kolb, RHP Chad Bradford, LHP Craig Breslow, RHP Jose Diaz, RHP Joe Borowski, RHP Ramon Ortiz, RHP Dewon Brazelton

Immediately, the Red Sox dropout, Wade Miller, looks promising.  However, shoulder troubles and a 4-4 record over 16 starts last season might not dramatically improve the current roster.  Dan Kolb out of the bullpen might sound nice.  He pitched decently for the Brewers but kinda sucked after being traded to Atlanta.  Still, I think he has the potential to significantly improve the Phils pen (significant meaning a slightly more than negligible effect, nothing spectacular).  There might be a few other guys worth taking a look at, but as we’ve all come to accept, real improvement for the Phillies squad is not coming through free agency this off-season.

There are plenty of average players out there, but not much that will help the Phils.  I’m not sure if Pat Gillick realizes this when responding to the acquisition of Ricardo Rodriguez to close the Padilla deal.  "We’re trying to get a little more depth in our pitching staff.  We’re trying to give Charlie and Rich Dubee a few more people to make choices from, come spring training."  The thing is, the Phils have plenty of arms, both starters and relievers - they’re just not that great.  So it’s no longer an issue of quantity but quality.  Gillick needs to start picking up players that will improve the pitching staff, even if just marginally, and stop adding to the mess that’s already there.

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Can’t Get No Relief

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, December 19, 2005 10:01 AM

Ok, so it looks as if the Phillies entire pitching staff is a mess.  First of all, you have a pool of mediocrity to choose from.  On top of that, it is disorganized to the point where we can’t even tell starters and relievers apart.  Our friends over at Beerleaguer.com have tried to sort out the current staff.  Here, in the wake of losing out on Looper, we’ll look at the free agent relievers available to add to the mix.  MLB’s Free Agent Tracker lists 62 bullpen arms available, below are a select few, including some former Phils:

Adding Alfonseca could be a possibility, but his extra digits and elbow injury last year are big detractors.  I used to be a big fan of Shigetoshi Hasegawa but his last two seasons took a real downturn.  I wouldn’t mind seeing the Phils pick up Julian Tavarez, not the least of which because he’s owned the Fightins throughout his career.  Dotel wouldn’t be a bad choice either - though the Yankees among others are already in hot pursuit.

Truth be told, the Phillies currently have a full pitching staff on the books.  So the point is not to fill a hole, but to upgrade.  Hopefully this will not reduce the urgency of Pat Gillick.  The current lot, while adequate, does not strike fear in the bats of opponents.  Unless a serious addition is made, and it does not seem to be available through free agency, we can only hope for a season no worse than last.  We just have to hope Pat Gillick can cross off everything on his shopping list through trades and Charlie Manuel will whip up some respectable pitching.

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Not Every Arrest Deserves A Prosecution

Posted by Brian Michael, Fri, December 16, 2005 08:22 PM

Free at last, free at last, God almighty, JMike is free at last.  Yes, that is more or less the exact quote from Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Thomas Gehret who presided over Jason Michaels’ hearing.  If you fail to remember why in fact Jason Michaels is appearing before a Philly judge, check our post from last July.  After trying to fight a Philly cop with all his drunken bench warming rage, Jason Michaels proved to us today that celebrities do indeed get special treatment.  He basically got off with community service and anger management training.  I just hope they train him to repress his cop bashing anger and channel it into a Billy Wagner fastball.

All told, it was a relatively minor crime and JMike is probably getting what he deserved.  I mean who among us can honestly say they haven’t challenged an authority figure to a duel while drunk?  Not I, that’s for sure.  However, it does set an unhealthy precedent.  Eugene Blagmond, the FOP spokesman, was none too pleased with the outcome.  "I’ve never heard of anyone ever assaulting a police officer, as flagrantly as he did, and getting ARD [Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition]. It doesn’t look good, and it certainly doesn’t send the right message to society."  You’re right, Mean Gene - give him the chair, like that cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.  It will free some salary space, that’s for sure.

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What’s Pat Have Up His Sleeve?

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, December 13, 2005 03:59 PM

Padilla’s departure leaves two holes.  The savings of $4 mil in payroll gives Gillick more cash to lure a better starter; but the Phils are nonetheless minus one.  Yet, there is an opportunity here, one I’m sure hasn’t passed by Pat Gillick.  Many are speculating that he has a deal up his sleeve and the Padilla dump was just the prologue to something bigger.  Has he convinced Javier Vazquez to take Philadelphia off the ‘do not call’ list?  Maybe the Phils are looking to save up to pay Abreu’s contract somewhere, Oakland perhaps? Or maybe it’s to help send Bell to Pittsburgh or LA? 

Well, some of the money looks to be set aside for Braden Looper.  The Phils are rumored be closing a deal with Looper by the end of the week.  Also, the Padilla deal seemed to take the Rangers out of contention for the reliever.  Still some starting pitching is needed, picking up Looper is hardly enough.  That’s part of the problem with the Eagles this year, they didn’t spend all the money they had available.  I’m sure Gillick will spend it.  I just wonder if he has an ace up his sleeve or simply a pair of #4 starters.

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Phillies Lose Two Starters

Posted by Brian Michael, Mon, December 12, 2005 03:07 PM

The Phils traded Vicente Padilla to the Rangers today for a player to be named later.  It seems even new jack, Pat Gillick, realized that Padilla was too much effort and not enough return.  He had great stuff but, Padilla could never keep his head in the game long enough to be a serious starter.  Maybe he’ll do well as a closer someday.  We’ll find out who the Phils got in return, though it seems the point was to just get rid of Padilla.  The Phils saved about $4 million in salary on the trade.  I’m not too sad to see Padilla go, I’m more concerned by who will fill his spot in the rotation.

Not Matt Morris - today he signed with San Francisco.  He was one of the few decent free agent starters left on the market, and no doubt considered by Pat Gillick for the Phils rotation.  Despite recognizing this position as the biggest need this off season, there have been no new additions to the rotation, only subtractions.  Is this the Standing Pat people talk about or is he right to let these chances at starting pitching pass by?

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