Phillies Nation

‘Tis the Season

Posted by Brian Michael, Sun, December 24, 2006 02:56 PM

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

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For All It’s Werth

Posted by Brian Michael, Wed, December 20, 2006 06:43 AM

If you have been caught up in the Allen Iverson hoopla lately then it would have been easy for you to have missed the Phils latest crop of free agent signings. In an attempt to sure up their non-productive bench from a season ago, Phils brass threw 850,000 million dollars at Jayson Werth for the duration of 2007. If you’re thinking to yourself "Who is Jayson Werth?" you’re not alone. He has missed 193 games for the Dodgers over the last 2 season, including the entire 2006 season.

The former first round pick (22nd Overall in 1997) fought through an injury plagued season in 2005 and posted a .234 average in  337 at-bats. The best performance of his four major league season’s came in 2004 when he belted 16 home runs in 290 at-bats while mustering a .262 batting average after taking over the starting left field spot on May 25th of that year.

In other news, pending a physical scheduled for today, the Phils will also acquire the services of Free Agent catcher Rod Barajas. You may remember Barajas as the guy who hit that huge home run in a spot start against the Yankees during Game 5 of the 2001 World Series. Recently, over his last three seasons for the Rangers, his best offensive seasons came while playing at the hitter friendly confines of Arlington,Texas. There he belted 57 home runs and hit for a career high 60 RBIs in 2005, his best professional season.

At best, these moves give the Phillies a better offensive option in the late innings of crunch time. I’m reminded of the game played at Shea Stadium last season where the Phils eventually lost in the 16th inning on that ridiculously huge Carlos Beltran home run. I was in attendance that night and I honestly believe that the only reason the Phils lost that game was because of their lack of bench depth. While the Phils were trotting out Danny Sandoval, Chris Roberson and Sal Fasano as pinch hitters. The Mets where countering with Jose Valentin, Chris Woodward and Julio Franco. Sure, these guys aren’t anyone special but they look like the heart of the 1927 Yankees in comparison to the Sandoval’s, Roberson’s and Fasano’s of the world.

Maybe next year, the Phils will come out Fightin’. Maybe.

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Bill James on the Phillies

Posted by Brian Michael, Sun, December 17, 2006 06:48 PM

A few days ago, the Inquirer’s Todd Zolecki interviewed SABR-legend Bill James and the two had a quaint little discussion on the state of the Phillies.  James had an interesting take on the Phillies paradox - leading the league in runs scored while at the same time striking out and leaving RISP so often.  Apparently it’s not that big of a deal.  James also downplays the efforts spent on second-guessing managers, a subtle vote of confidence for the much-maligned Charlie Manuel.  Also featured is other one of Bill James’ revolutionary ideas, a claim that Pat Burrell is an underrated hitter.  Fascinating stuff.

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Late night moving and shaking

Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, December 07, 2006 12:37 AM

It has been reported and confirmed that around 10:30 pm last night the Phillies made a deal with the Chicago White Sox sending Gavin Floyd and a player to be named later (the player is Gio Gonzalez as leaked by White Sox GM Kenny Williams) for Freddy Garcia.  This of course gives the Philles 6 staring pitchers, so expect more moves to follow.  The pitcher that seems to be on his way out is a man who never saw a buffet he did not like: Jon Lieber.  Reports have the Brewers, Pirates and Rangers interested in him, with the Rangers especially interested if they fail to land Barry Zito.  Thae Rangers do have great depth in the bullpen, which is exactly what the Phils are looking for. 

The fact that this trade did not included Rowand means that the Phils most likely no longer have interest in Kevin Mench b/c both Burrell and Rowand are right handed hitters as well.  It is my humble opinion that Mench is a much worse offensive AND defensive player than Burrell.  Yes, I know that Mench is from Delaware, is a Blue Hen and has season tickets to the Eagles, but his best offensive year was in 2004 for the Rangers when he batted .279 with 26 HRs and 79 RBI’s.  Hell Burrell has better numbers than that, is more agile (how slow must Mench be?) and has a much better arm in the outfield.   

The rotation is looking like it will consist of Myers, Garcia, Hamels (one hell of a #3), Eaton and Moyer.  The opening day OF is more and more looking like Burrell in LF, Rowand in CF, and Victorino in RF.  What the Phillies need now is Bullpen help, specifically a set up man who can step into the closer role when Gordon goes down for the month or so that he most certainly will go down for, and a lefthanded bat off the bench.  Rumor has it that the Phillies have contacted representatives for Aubrey Huff who would fill the need of a left handed bat off the bench adequtely.  Last year Huff batted .267 with 21 HRs and 66 RBIs while splitting time between Tampa Bay and Houston. 

This is a step, and only the first step, but seems that when the window closed on a right handed bat to protect Howard Gillick switched his focus to pitching.  With one or two more key additions we could have something to look forward to next season. 

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Freddy Gets Fingered

Posted by Brian Michael, Thu, December 07, 2006 12:33 AM

The Phillies pulled off their first trade this off season by sending Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez to the Chicago White Sox for Freddy Garcia.  This move has been talked about in both Chicago and Philly sports media’s for about a week though the speculated deal included shipping Aaron Rowand back to Chi Town along with Floyd and/or Ryan Madson.

I believe this is a quality move by GM Pat Gillick. It now gives the Phillies something they haven’t for the 21 years that I’ve been alive : A solid starting rotation.

Obviously, the news of Garcia must mean the end of Jon Lieber’s services for the club. He has been linked to trades to Milwaukee for a combination of adding bats off the bench or restocking the depleated bullpen.

A five man squad of Garcia, Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton, Cole Hamels and Brett Myers turns the Phillies pitching rotation into one of the finest in the National League in time for pitchers to report in February.

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Is he going to choose the road less traveled?

Posted by Brian Michael, Tue, December 05, 2006 08:03 PM

Dallas Green is at it again.  He and Charlie have made up afer Dallas criticized Charlie’s managerial style mid-season.  Now that Dallas has received his slap on the wrist from the Phillies and kept his opinions to himself for a while he felt this week at the Winter meetings would be a good time to be heard agian.

This time around Big-D’s subject was the much maligned Pat Burrell.  Dallas believes Pat is at a "crossroads" in his career.   Green actually has a ton of faith in Pat’s ability, but thinks that maybe Pat is enjoying the nightlife in Philly a bit too much.  Dallas said of Pat, "It’s neat to have money, it’s neat to have good looks, and it’s neat to have broads all over you."  He admited that he and Pat have their own little watering hole that they go to together in Florida and even went as far as to say that there are many a player in the Hall of Fame that lived the lifestyle (see Mickey Mantle, Babe Ruth, et al.).  In Pat’s case though Dallas believes he needs to refocus his efforts on baseball. 

GM Pat Gillick agrees with Dallas in that he was quoted today saying he finds nothing wrong with Burrell.  Gillick believes he is a guy that wants to win and is intense, sometimes being too hard on himself even.  My question is are Pat and Dallas paying Pat these compliments in an attempt to drum up some interest from other GM’s?  Or are they hoping that Burrell recovers from his lingering foot/wrist/mental problems and becomes the type of player they hoped he would be when they gave him all that money as a promising #1 draft choice? 

Pat is 30 years old.  He has a choice to make.  Does he just want to be Mr. Old City or does he want to be a part of a three headed monster with Utley and Howard?  I believe (and I realize I am in the vast minority here) he is very capable of protecting Ryan Howard.  Let’s hope Pat chooses the correct path.         

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