Comments on: Gameday: Phillies (20-15) At Diamondbacks (22-12)

By: Don M

Don M — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:30:59 +0000

My main arguement on Howard is that NO TEAM is going to give up anything for him… they are all watching the same thing we are. Lincecum is one of the top young pitchers in all of baseball…. and as we all know, good pitching beats good hitting (Rockies sweeping us last year). I think the Phillies are smart enough that they would pull the trigger on a deal that involves a top pitcher, but don’t hold your breathe guys…it aint gonna happen…

By: Tim Malcolm

Tim Malcolm — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:57:53 +0000

I’m going to hold off on 2009 free agents for a little bit, since it’s still a bit early and more extensions should be signed.

By: Rob (the Phils fan)

Rob (the Phils fan) — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:50:25 +0000

Don M, if Myers has to only pitch 1 inning he will get back to his 93-95 mph. With lidge being so nasty, we need to keep Brett at starter. I am standing by the idea of trading Ryan Howard in the middle of the season. A team desperate for power or in a rebuilding phase. Also he has more value in the AL, but a team like the Giants, if they would put out Lincecum, you have to take that deal

By: Don M

Don M — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:43:46 +0000

Bruce -

I’m sure even you could get a hit off of Myers right now… My point was, he’s not close to a #1…or a #2… he’s maybe a #3 right now… He got ROCKED by teams he shouldn’t have.. and so far this year all he’s shown me is that he wants to be a closer. Its tought to be a closer with an 87 mph fastball though, and Lidge looks really good so far.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:24:48 +0000

Brett Myers is a few more starts like that away from being done as a starter. Well, only if theyre trying to win a championship and thats debateable.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:35:40 +0000

Wonder what Myers’ velocity was on the fastball???

By: Mike T.

Mike T. — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:27:35 +0000

Tim, can you bring up the 2009 Free Agent idea in a new post? Or is it too early?

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:20:10 +0000

The way this rotation is now, the phillies have NO chance in hell of WINNING the world series. zero. mark it down. they need at least one more productive starter from this list or elsewhere.

solets go through it for the trade deadline. Most of these guys are junk, burned out, or ancient. however..

john lackeys option is too good not to pick up, hes not going anywhere.
the phillies will patently refuse to even talk to sabathia even if he becomes a free agent so forget it. they will tell you they are not interested openly in public and not even bat an eye.

garland interests me but i think they will try and keep him. ben sheets probably isnt going anywhere.

another thing, i HATE getting people at the trade deadline in any sport and watching them walk in free agency. unacceptable. you do it so you can get a jump of resigning them. prior could be ok but at the deadline i want a sure thing.

derek lowe is 34 years old, but solid.

oliver perez has potential but teh mets wouldnt even answer the phone. after watching that heartless performance where he gave up 10 runs, i dont even want brad penny.

if burnett is healthy and you can resign him for reasonable rate ill take that. but in many ways hes just like brett myers.

isnt javier vasquez going to be a free agent? ill take that, ill resign him. but i doubt the white sox will cough it up.

who do i think the phillies will get? youd better hope they get joe blanton. because ill bet if they cant get him theyll settle for matt clement, jason jennings, steve traschsel. someone totally worthless, just like the gas can they got today. when they do stuff like that it looks like theyre not even trying to win.

now if you trade ryan howard for critical pieces and resign hamels long term ill be happy with that too.

now..ive had enough of this and im SICK of it. go get another starting pitcher who is a sure thing. cough up the money. theyve been in the SAME position for YEARS. you can either call it incompetence or intentional because theres no way around it this: theyre one starting pitcher away from contending for a world series. now go get one.

By: Mike T.

Mike T. — Thu, 08 May 2008 23:02:36 +0000

Here’s a 2009 free agent list from MLBtraderumors.com — It was listed awhile ago, so it may not be accurate as to who’s still available – but most of them are. It’s time to start thinking trade deadline…

Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Tony Armas Jr. (31)
A.J. Burnett (32) – can opt out after ‘08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Matt Clement (33) – $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (32)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) – $9MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37) – $7.5MM club option for ‘09 with a $0.375MM buyout
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Matt Morris (34) – $9MM club option for ‘09 with a $1MM buyout
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) – $11MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) – $13MM club option for ‘09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) – $8.75MM club option for ‘09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) – $12MM club option for ‘09
Brett Tomko (36)
Josh Towers (32)
Steve Trachsel (38)
Tim Wakefield (42) – perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Woody Williams (42)
Randy Wolf (32)

By: Geoff

Geoff — Thu, 08 May 2008 22:44:11 +0000

Yeah this is pretty obvious..Their starting rotation is inadequate. cole hamels is not NEARLY as good as webb. he has the POTENTIAL to be better, but right now hamels is still a little ways off from that level of success. hes great and all but he needs perfecting.

myers was terrible. disgraceful.

im not mad at their lineup, because thats what happens against someone as good as webb. what they need is someone like webb and they dont have that.