Phillies Nation

52 Responses to “Harden, Phils Offense Work Together In 5-0 Shutout”

1. Phil Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 9:38 am

   What do you mean turned Harden into a strike out pitcher? He’s right now the best strike out pitcher in baseball…

2. Pat Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 9:47 am

   You forgot that “Pat the Bat” got a triple late in the game. We had a 2 game lead over the Marlins going into the series with the A’s and the Angels, and we still have a 2 game lead after… its as if we never played them… and I am waking from one bad dream.

3. Geoff Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 9:48 am

   They definitely need to pickup harden man. they better sweep the rangers. those three pitchers are garbage.

   hardens splitter is pretty filthy.

   gillick said that myers is being shopped as a reliever and that he has value as a reliever right now. thats like, automatic trade to me. myers plus a few non untouchable prospects, and boom, starter in the fold.

4. Geoff Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 9:52 am

   I cant believe florida hasnt siezed the opportunity. the rays have been owning their ass

5. Geoff Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 9:53 am

   i hate the lightning and the buccaneers, but all of a sudden i have no quarrel with the rays

6. Lewisauce Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 10:02 am

   Back to nicknames, real quick:

   K-How is perfect.

   GIDP needs to be pronounced “gidip” not “giddy-up,” because “giddy-up” has connotations of “get up and go” or “energy” or “juice” in some form. And Ruiz at the plate is more of a dead fish than a get up and go.

   That Harden looked real, real good. The only problem is his injury history. I still don’t want Sabathia or Bedard. Let the Cubs/Yanks overpay for CC. Bedard is a cancer on the team. Try everyone else (Mad Dog, Harden … and Geoff is on the money when he says Harang would be the sleeper steal of the year) before Bedard or CC.

   I’m off to the Poconos for a couple days, so I won’t be posting. Go Phils.

7. Don M Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 10:02 am

   Harden is going to cost much more to get than Sabathia or Bedard.

   The Brewers are said to be VERY interested in Sabathia… which I guess means that they won’t be selling Sheets.. but buying Sabathia. So that scenario is out.

   Jason Stark has again said that the Phillies are interested in Bedard, and that they aren’t worried about whether or not he will fit-in or disrupt the clubhouse..

   GORDON SUCKS!!!

8. Phil Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 10:42 am

   I’ll take any top pitcher at this point. Harden is my #1 though.

9. Tom Says:
   June 27th, 2008 at 10:58 am

   how is it possible to lose 5-6 straight series and still be in first place…

   always take the positive

10. Tim Malcolm Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 11:28 am

    It’ll take a load to get Harden from Beane. And that’s if the A’s feel like unloading him (they are in 2nd place).

11. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 11:29 am

    I actually think the A’s will be buyers. They might go after brian fuentes and they have a better chance than the phillies do to get him.

    the rays could be buyers too because their farm system is loaded too.

12. Bruce Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

    Jim Salisbury of the Inquirer says “the Astros had a high-ranking scout in Philadelphia on Sunday.” Is there a possibility that Ed Wade would offer Roy Oswalt for a bundle package of prospects from the Phillies?

13. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    I wonder who they were scouting?

14. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

    Hamels pitched on Sunday…

    my best guess is they were scouting either Victorino, or Dobbs… who im sure a lot of teams will ask about since he is the best pinch-hitter in baseball the past two years.

15. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    Actually So-Taguchi was the best pinch hitter in baseball last year.

16. Tim Malcolm Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    Report from SF says two Rockies scouts were at the Phils/A’s series. Both teams are said to be looking at Brian Fuentes.

17. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    Interesting. I still think the A’s are trying to pick up Sabathia and will trade Harden because Sabathia is an adequate replacement.

18. Bruce Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    With Bourn in CF, the Astros’ shrewd GM (chuckle) may be looking at Jason Werth and/or Myers and a few prospects for Oswalt. Since Shawn Cachon is put on waivers, this could raise the level of interest on Wade’s part.

19. Bruce Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    Sorry for the misspelling… it’s Shawn Chacon.

20. ryan Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    the phillies really don’t do a good enough job of working pitch counts against top notch pitchers. they are not going far this year without learning how to work against aces. while nobody really does well against pitchers like harden, the phillies do especially poor because they go up swinging at the first pitch all to often.

21. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:57 pm

    Does anyone else kind of feel bad for Eaton? He’s tied in 1st with Hamels in the team in quality starts and yet he only has 2 wins because the Phillies give him no run support.

22. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    Why the hell would the A’s dump Harden.. but acquire Sabathia…who is a free agent after this year??

23. Bruce Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    Gordon did pitched yesterday and showed the effects of a long layoff. Is it worth the possibility of giving top level prospects for Fuentes as a new set-up reliever in a bullpen that leads the league with the lowest ERA? I would think a more urgent need is to try for an upgrade to the rotation.

24. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    Sabathia said he wants to play on the west coast, he’s from Oakland. Harden has injury issues, they want to dump him.

25. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:11 pm

    Dude, Gordon is going on the DL hes definitely injured. He wasnt good before his break and he wasnt good yesterday after they admitted he was hurt AND once again didnt put him on the DL when they shouldve immediately done so.

    How about you unload myers and lesser prospects for a number 2 and give up a castro type or two (B prospect) for fuentes. you get both. romero becomes full time LOOGY fuentes becomes setup.

26. Bruce Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    Phil says…”Harden has injury issues…”. You won’t be able to convince the “hitters” on the Phillies with that line. (laughing)

27. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:19 pm

    Whatever team gets sabathia WITHOUT a negotiation window is insane. you have to demand that. stuff like that could make the phillies suck for 10 years and still not have won a title anytime recently.

    uyou have to go for it all but you have to be very smart whne youre doing it.

    if they give up all that cleveland wants for him. A prospects, mlb roster players. I guarantee with one hundred percent certanty that not only will getting sabathia not get them a world series but they will also not resign him AND they wont even SNIFF the playoffs following this season for the next 7 years!

28. Pete Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    Anyone still think Dice-K, Zambrano et al. are better than a healthy Rich Harden? If the Phils had any kind of offense, I’d say we should open the cupboard with anyone but Marson to get him. As it is, making such a trade may cripple us in the future for nothing. If this team can’t figure out how to hit good pitching, trading away our top prospects this year is pointless.

29. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    what does LOOGY stand for??

    Sabathia is a free agent after this year… the A’s don’t have the payroll to sign anyone to the kind of deal Sabathia is looking for. Which is why they always dump guys for prospects.. the same way the Marlins do.

    I think Harden is still under contract next year… so why would the get rid of him… add Sabathia… then lose Sabathia.. it just doesn’t make any sense.

    Harden would look great in a Phillies uniform, but Im not getting my hopes up. I think Oswalt and Bedard are the most likely candidates… or a #3 type guy

    If we can get Fuentes without giving up a “top prospect” then its a steal. Castro isnt that good.

30. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    That arguement about Harden got started because someone called him the “TOP PITCHER IN BASEBALL” …. but he’s only stayed healthy once in 5 years.. When he is on, he is definitely one of the best.. but he’s got the same wrap that Hamels has… you aren’t that valuable if you can’t stay on the field..

    That said… I would love him on our team, and I think Hamels/Harden is as good a combo as Webb/Haren …or at least damn close to it in a playoff series

31. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

    LOOGY = Left Handed One Out Guy (Romero or whoever they get to take that role is obviously more than that but its become a commonly used term for one of your two 7th inning type guys.

32. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    wooord… ive seen it a lot… and knew it was LEFTY “something”

    How about Vincent Padilla’s NO HITTER tomrw night!!

33. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    I think harden is top 5 in terms of talented starters. speaking on talent alone. not necesarily “best” because best implies more factors

34. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    If they cant hit vicente padilla, then seriously you should just blow up this teams lineup completely and rebuild it. because that would be REVOLTING.

35. Bruce Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:34 pm

    Geoff~ I won’t be as presumptive on Gordon’s future status with the team as you are. After all, the management knew about his arm problems (labrum tear) before the season started and had monitored Gordon closely during the course of the season. Based on that, it’s probably why he is not on the DL earlier and may continue to pitch so long as he contributes to the success of the bullpen.

36. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    15 day DL.

37. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    Don M, you should read mlb trade rumors websites instead of getting defensive about things. The A’s are looking to trade for Sabathia. The A’s have a much lower payroll than their cap is. The A’s have a ridiculous amount of trade chips. Sabathia may take a paycut to play at home. The A’s are looking to unload Harden because of his injury issues. They’re always sellers, Beane is a genius and is looking to build the ultimate team that will last for 3 years and win 3 in a row. Why keep a pitcher that breaks down every season when they can unload him for a shit ton of prospects? You really have no idea what you’re talking about sometimes. They need to unload him before he gets injured again. They know they’re not making the post season with that offense.

38. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    right on phil. harden needs 5 or 6 starts since coming off the DL for teams to start talking again. Just establish something for his season which he has done enough of. By the deadline this guy will be a hot commodity if hes healthy.

    i do think the phils will make a push for oswalt for some reason. i keep hearing theyve scouted him like a few times in the past few weeks. ed wade is retarded, gillick isnt retarded but he is an idiot. therefore we should come out ahead in the deal.

39. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    I know everyone hates on Gillick, but he did build one of the best baseball teams in history. I think he’s made some dumb signings, but I think they are signings that he thought would better the team, and it appeared that it would better the team, but it didn’t end up bettering the team. He’s a lot better than Ed Wade.

40. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    I know im kidding to some extent. i have a bigger problem with the guy that gives physicals. garcia was injured of course and eaton was injured last year for like the whole year.

    some signings, also, are because the owners told him to be cheap and get a lesser guy. when you do that youre taking the risk of getting someone who sucks.

41. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    Yeah, if the owners weren’t so cheap I bet they’d sign someone better than Jenkins in RF or would have gone after Miguel Cabrera at 3B. Imagine that infield if Miggy was our 3B.

42. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:16 pm

    I know. The marlins wouldve told us to go to hell though I think.

    They DEFINITELY need to upgrade over jenkins and So at the 4th and 5th outfield positions.

    what other 3b were out there? i never believed that lowell was actually on the market. rolen was out there, morgan ensberg. eh. maybe zimmermann really was available like itd been stated before. id go for that. i lik ethat guy. he seems like a leader on a team of totally sucky guys.

43. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    haha Zimmermann is exactly that. I also think he’d thrive somewhere better like the Phillies. Feliz was a good pick up and was better than nothing. He’s a great defensive 3B and a decent bat.

44. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:22 pm

    PHIL is the most knowledgable gentleman on this website.. nobody else knows as much as him about trade rumors.. or the things that make good teams good.

    Don’t bother to question the logic behind the A’s targeting Sabathia, but getting rid of Harden, who they have under contract.. because if you do that.. Phil will somehow think you are attacking him personally, and then tell you different websites to read… eventhough you already read http://www.mlbtraderumors.com all the time… but since its an entire webstie based around RUMORS.. you try to not put too much faith in it… But seriously..

    Phil, what are the Powerball numbers going to be tomrw night?

45. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    the feliz signing is ok. it stands out only beacuse the jenkins and taguchi signings were so bad. that you need more from everyone else than you normally would need. feliz will be ok as a 7th guy i guess. i still dont like his hitting but he has some pop in his bat at least. he kills high fastballs.

    but theyre not getting anything at all from jenkins. just, please, get him out of here. give him to someone like the pirates. for like, a bad pirates prospect. seriously. well even throw in taguchi for free!

46. Geoff Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    im totally serious about jenkins. just get the hell out of here. i would GLADLY trade him for a HORRIBLE prospect who could go and SUCK in AAA, even if theyre like 37, thats ok too.

47. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    Feliz is a solid 3rd baseman… he’s hitting like .250, .260 which is what you thought he would do.. heading for the all-star break he has 8 HR and 35 RBIs… if he can be .260, 20 HR, and 70 RBI ……….. that would be awesome to go along with his gold-glove caliber defense.

    The lack of production from Rollins (is he still injured??) Howard.. Burell has come back down to earth… those are the guys we should worry about. not Jenkins.

48. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    Don M, that is the most childish thing I’ve ever seen. And yes, I am more knowledgeable than you, obviously. What part of the A’s want to unload Harden don’t you understand? The guy has only pitched 1 full season in 5 season. He’s constantly hurt. Billy Beane wants to unload the guy. That’s what he does. He traded Haren and he wasn’t even hurt and they still had him under contract. The A’s are probably part of Sabathia talks because I’m sure Sabathia has said I would like to play in Oakland. If they can get him at a few million dollars a year discount then I’m sure they’d take him.

49. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    EAt me… you can’t say to other people that they don’t know what they are talking about because I questioned the A’s going after Sabathia…

    When was the last time they signed a stud Free-Agent??… and they dump these guys to bring in prospects, guys that they can control for a few years. And when those guys get close to free agency.. they trade them for prospects and start over again… Just like the Marlins… Billy Beane is the best GM in baseball, to be able to field that competative a team year after year..

    Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to see if Harden stays healthy… ride him through this year and trade him next year, when IF he can stay healthy, his value will be through the roof…

50. Phil Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    No, it really wouldn’t. Why ride him and see if he can stay healthy when his chances of breaking down in a month are better than his chances of staying healthy. If he breaks down he’s worth a low level prospect, if you trade him now he’s worth an A, B, and C prospect, if you wait to see if he stays healthy he’s worth maybe 2 A’s a B and a 2 Cs or an A 2 Bs and 2 Cs. It would be better to trade him now. All I’m saying is that I read that the A’s are looking at Sabathia. It’s probably so they can still unload Harden and Blanton and contend. Plus if he wants to sign there at a discount, whynot keep him? What if he wants to do a 5 year $80 contract to play near home. Some players do shit like that. Not all players are only about money. I know if I was a baseball player and I could play in Philly for 5 years $80 million or could play for the Yankees for 6 years $100 million I think I’d take playing near my home and playing for the team I cheered for as a kid.

51. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    A’s payroll from Opening Day this year… 3rd lowest in baseball at $47,967,128. Back in 2006, they spent $62+ million.. good for 20th in baseball.

    I really just don’t see them bringing in a $15 million+ per year starting pitcher.. And I know he’s a huge Oakland Raiders fan.. but can you see him giving up millions and millions just to play there, or the A’s paying him what his market value is? I can’t…

    You know your stuff.. I’ll give you that… but so do I. And when you start acting like you know everything, and nobody else makes any sense.. it looks bad.

52. Don M Says:
    June 27th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    See, but what team is going to give up an A, B, and C prospect…for a guy that has been on the DL something like 6 times in 6 years.. His value will go up if they can prove he’s healthy.. but that is a risk to them as well.

    That would take the Phillies giving up, Carrasco, Cardenas, and Donald??

    If we think they should def keep Marson, Savery isn’t “top” yet.. I would love to know what the Phillies are thinking about Howard… the can’t sign this guy to a long-term deal now.. and if Cardanes projects as an outfielder, that maybe frees up Golson. But if we don’t re-sign Burrell.. who plays left next year, espc if Werth or Victorino get traded… lots of questions.. and too many rumors

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