Phillies Nation

144 Responses to “Rollins After Benching: ‘Oh Well’”

1. fred Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 5:40 pm

   I think everyones over-reacting. He was late, and he say’s it’s done so it’s done. The last thing that’s going to help this team is people making a big deal out of this. He was in the wrong, but it’s a bit harsh that people single him out as the only team leader. Just because he’s louder than Burrell and Utley dosn’t mean he shoulders more responsibility, all players are equal.

2. Tim Malcolm Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

   But fred, he’s the vocal one. He sets the example through words. And this team has been spiraling for some time now. They look dead, uninspired. This is the deepest of the hole now.

3. fred Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

   You’re not wrong Tim. I just think it’s a bit un-fair that everyone expects Rollins to carry the team. I’m just angry at how poor they were over the entire series, everyone sucked except Moyer, Bruntlett and Taguchi. I never thought i’d say that…

4. Chris C. Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 5:55 pm

   If this incident was isolated, it would not be a big deal. But what the hell is going on with this team? I thought maybe the come from behind win would spark something, it didn’t. Maybe getting dropped into second place will, hell, maybe getting dropped to third will. Something has to happen or its another year of being almost a very good team. That sounds really shitty.

5. Tim Malcolm Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 5:57 pm

   Well that’s interesting you brought that up. Look at those guys.

   Moyer: Oldest man in league, probably at this point immune to any malaise and just sticks to his game.

   Bruntlett: Doesn’t get many shots to play well, but always gives his all.

   Taguchi: Very soft-spoken but grateful to get a chance.

   Ruiz didn’t play too bad in this series either (boy, what a weird feeling this all is). Point is, the guys who really put their effort in all the time are are the ones playing well. The guys who seem to want to get in there and win, are winning.

6. fred Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 6:00 pm

   Yeah Chris I thought maybe they’d go on to at least win 2 of 3 after the comeback in game one, but it’s like that 9th inning never happened. I’ve gotta admit, I like the way Bruntlett plays. He came agonizingly close to a go ahead HR today as well.

7. Don M Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

   Ruiz actually played pretty well in this series..

   Bruntlett was the add-on to the greatest trade that Gillick (who for some reason 75% of the people on here think is a bad GM.) made with Lidge.. talk about a solid pickup!

   I was surprised to hear about the driving vs. team bus stuff… isn’t it called the “team bus” for a reason.. what if there is a car accident or something.. im just saying..

8. philliefan3452 Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 6:39 pm

   god rollins is such an idiot,the most important game of the year for us so far and that idiot cant make it on time.

9. Bruce Says:
   July 24th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

   I agree with Fred. Tim…are you fanning the flames of a minor issue for the sake of feedback to your blog?

   The team and management have more important issues to worry about than the unintended tardiness of one player. Because his name is Rollins and that it happened in a media-hyped series vs the Mets, it became a bigger issue than it should be… to use a favorite description…”making a mountain out of a mole hill”. As Rollins replied..
   “..it’s already done. Me and Charlie spoke about it. It’s done.” As I see it, there’s an understanding between Manuel and Rollins and no longer an issue. Another words, move on. There are far greater concerns for this team and their current struggles. As for Rollins, I’m fully confident that he will give 100% effort on the field and the perceived
   “selfishness” by a few disappears with the success of the team. BTW, If you were a Bosox fan, you might have issues with “let Manny be Manny”?

10. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    Bruce, im worried about you man. you notice there arent too many smileys on a baseball blog.

11. Lewisauce Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:03 pm

    Bruce, Manny can be Manny because he and his teammates have two rings.

    We got zilch.

    Tim’s right. This team has been playing like shite the past six weeks. There seems to be a lack of urgency, a lack of team cohesion (i.e. guys get up to bat and do their own thing instead of, you know, playing to the situation), a lack of passion.

    The only guy who can bring those things back is Jimmy Rollins. He is the “spark plug,” the “team leader,” the “vocal leader” — whatever you want to call him. He’s the catalyst. It’s not just the media and fans who look to him. The rest of the team does, too.

    His attitude is garbage this year. It is the exact opposite of last year, and I’m sick of it. If we are to win, he has to lose the “star glide” and start playing hard, start taking the game seriously, start being the leader.

    You’re either on the bus …

12. Kevin McGuire Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    Brilliant post and very true. Rollins needs to be held accountable. He’s not a shade of the guy we watched last season both on and off the field. If this late incident had occurred in May, alright. But this is in the dead of summer, against the top rival, in a battle for first place, after being shown up by his shortstop counterpart the night before (point that finger at me Reyes and I’ll break it right off!).

    That said, there are still a lot of games left and the Phillies are only behind by one game so it’s not like we should be writing off the season.

    Go Phills! Get your acts together!

13. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    The easiest way to get their attention is to shock them. to trade someone that poeple thought would never get traded, like rollins

14. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    or victorino

15. Greg V. Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:25 pm

    You know what I have no problem pulling for the Phillies. I’ve pulled for them in worse years. I knew they’d lose a lot of the time (esp during the Francona and Bowa years). The Phils were just an average team. Now they are a great team that has no heart and is playing some of the worst baseball I have ever seen. I don’t even feel like watching these guys right now. They waste perfectly good outings by Hamels and Moyer and they absolutely suck. Forget the 9th inning rally the other day. It was total luck that it worked out the way it did. This team is not playing like a winning team at all right now. And if you ask me, they don’t deserve a trip to the play offs.

16. Greg V. Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    And the reigning MVP ought to be damned ashamed of himself. He is no leader. He’s playing lousy all season and now he can’t even show up on time and he has a problem with it? His true colors are really starting to show and I do not like what I see.

17. Rob Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    This is bullshit. This is Rollins thinking he can pull some Manny type shit. He is supposed to be a leader and as Greg v put it he should be ashamed

18. Pete Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    I’m with Geoff – someone needs to get shipped out not just to try to make the team better, but as a wake-up call. Nothing else so far has worked, and there’s no reason to think it will.

    Charlie, who I like in spite of his sometimes odd in-game decisions, is rapidly losing control of this team.

19. ryan Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    j-roll tried to prop himself up as “team leader” and “captain” last year and it worked out well, but this year jimmy has his head firmly up his ass and needs to get it out if he intends on leading his team to the playoffs once again.

    great job by bruntlett in his place. he contributed more in one game than jimmy does in a week

20. Jim L. Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    A leader? More like MVS, Most Valuble Strapper of the year!
    Clearly a “team leader” would not travel outside of the team’s designated transportation or act the fool on the base path.

    Does anyone know if the team bus is adequate enough transportation for Howard, Burell, Hamels & Utlley? Something doesn’t pass the smell test here.

    As far as I see it, Rollins may be slowly clearing the path for Jason Donald, which may not be a bad thing in the long run.

21. Scheity Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    Love the comparison to Manny, although Bruce, the trademarked phrase is “Manny Being Manny.” Slight verb confusion, haha…anyway, the reason that SAWCKS fans let Manny be Manny is that the guy still goes out and mashes. Manny Being Manny might involve wandering around left field and occasionally into the Monster to take a piss or call for pizza; it might occasionally involve running around with a midget in the dugout (like he did in 04); it might occasionally involve yelling at the comped tickets guy; but people allow it because, above all, Manny Being Manny involves being one of the single most intelligent, focused and dangerously consistent hitters in the league — if not of all time (at the risk of hyperbole).

    Rollins, if this were an isolated incident — let’s say he was batting .300 and getting dirty and energizing the team — wouldn’t have much of a problem. Oops, blip on the radar. But like T-Malc said in the post (a good one…nice job, buddy), this is the latest smudge on a man that has to, needs to, serve as the symbol of this team. And that symbol, as Malcolm put it, is selfish, uninterested and soft.

    It’s disgusting. Slumps happen, and anyone who’s played the game knows how hard it is to bust out. But playing hard, that’s a different story. And, just like the Phillies may come to find if they don’t pick things up, help’s gonna show up too late.

22. Lewisauce Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:16 pm

    Geoff’s got a good idea. Make an unexpected trade. (Does Colorado need a shortstop?)

    I don’t know what the hell happened to Jimmy, but I agree with the majority on here. His horseshit has to end and he needs to start playing and acting like he gives a damn.

    Pete, you might have a good point. It seems like everything Charlie has tried to get these guys to play with heart and as a unit has failed; maybe he’s just losing control of the club house.

23. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    i agree. nothing else has worked. something shocking has to be done to wake these PRIMADONNAS up

24. Mr Met Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    It’s time for Manuel to hit the dog track. This is 2008, not
    the 1950’s. He’s going to pull a Vince Lombardi on a guy the
    team really needs for such an important game? Yeah, OK, you
    made your point. Stupid.

25. tom Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 9:58 pm

    no. if anything this means you cannot trade victorino. he is the heart of this team and has been all year. you can’t complain about the team being lifeless and primadonnas (don’t get me started, rollins got caught in traffic and was late… how does that make him a primadonna? it’s just bad timing, and worse timing given the circumstances around the game… and it doesn’t help he’s been awful at the plate) and then turn around and trade the energy guy on the roster.
    i don’t care if rollins shows up 2 minutes before the first pitch as long he isn’t poop at the plate like he has been.

26. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    it makes him a primadonna because on monday he said that he didnt care about the face that he was playing poorly, about the fact that he was dogging it again on a fly ball against he marlins. didnt you pay attention? thats why hes a primadonna. im sick of this asshole, hes become a differnet person since he wont he mvp, and about half as good a player. get him out of here while he still has value because this team is going nowhere until someone ELSE steps up and takes control of things and leads by setting a positive example like aaron rowand.

27. Scheity Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

    Do you think…maybe…he wants out?

28. Kyle Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    The Jays are nuts to even discuss the possibility of getting rid of Doc Halladay, but if it’s true, there is a guy I’d sell the farm for.

    I really believe the offense will come around – they have the talent – but what would it take (if anything?) to get it done? Or, is this just the Newark Star Ledger blowing hot air?

    I would do Carrasco-Marson-Happ-??? for the guy. He is nails.

    Hamels and Halladay would trump any other one-two punch in the game.

29. doubleh Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 10:58 pm

    From what I understand Halladay is not happy in Toronto (go figure) and wants out.

    Shoot, they could pretty much take their pick from our farm system as far as I’m concerned. He’s a better gamble than Burnett.

    Doubt he’d want to come to Philly, though. But he should take a look at what Sabbathia’s doing and see how he could feast on NL Rosters.

30. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    he has a good sinker, hed like CBP

31. Kyle Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:20 pm

    Why would he not want to come to Philly? A good young core, Lidge locked up and easier lineups to face?

32. James K. Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:21 pm

    Jimmy Rollins is so overrated – probably the most undeserving MVP of the last 20 years. Can anyone answer for me why he is not taking his own team’s bus to games? And don’t give me the traffic excuse, you’re in NY Jimmy, this isn’t the sticks of Philadelphia anymore there’s traffic.

    This debate has happened many times already, but once and for all, which player is the MVP:

    Player A: .296/.344/.531, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 41 SB, 118 OPS+, Gold Glove, Team wins 89 games

    Player B: .325/.416/.546, 30 HR, 107 RBI, 34 SB, 150 OPS+, Gold Glove, Team wins 88 games

    It’s not even close… and I think you all know A=Rollins, B=Wright from 2007. Jimmy, your career as an “All-Star” is over buddy.

33. Geoff Says:
    July 24th, 2008 at 11:23 pm

    you gotta get this asshole out of town before he torpedoes the season. they can recover from this slump if they move him now. otherwise itll be toolate

34. Jeff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:02 am

    James, 2007 just REALLY wasn’t your year now was it then?

35. Kyle Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:06 am

    Kind of like Wright was an “all-star” this year.

36. joseph Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 1:09 am

    if this was reyes he would get murdered in new york. J-Roll should get pummeled for his lateness. he is a weak leader. he is so cocky, lets face it, he got lucky on his guarantee last year. if the mets had won atleast one game the final two weeks mets would been in the playoffs. they trotted scrubs like phil humber to pitch in those pressure games b/c of injuries to the rotation. lets face it phillies fan reyes is twice the player that rollin is and the mets have a killer rotation.

37. Bruce Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 1:12 am

    Lewisauce~ Look, I don’t condone a player, any player violating team rules. Rollins understood the reason for being benched. He also know that he is being held to a certain standard that leadership implies. However, he probably felt the punishment did not fit the circumstance of why he was late in reporting. I might add that the team bus was reportedly late for the same reason…heavy traffic. Rollins arrived shortly AFTER the bus completed it’s trip.

    My point is that I read here so many harsh reactions and rants (”selfish”, “primadonna”, etc.) that can not be justifiably linked to an issue of unintended tardiness. An issue, IMO, that was blown out of proportion by a minority of fans and probably certain media in selling tabloids and fodder for trash jockies of the airwaves in the coming days.

    All I ask is that we give Rollins, last year’s MVP and one most responsible for guiding the team to the division title, a benefit of doubt at the very least. Obviously, if the Phillies are to repeat as division champs, they will need him in the lineup. His subpar year (so far) is probably linked to his stay on the DL and missed 24 games in total and has said that he was still “uncomfortable”. I’m not sure if that meant physically or the rhythm of his swings with the bat. Even if his 2007 MVP season was a one time “career year” event, he can still help the team defensively and on the basepaths to go with his hitting.

    BTW, I find a bit puzzling when you stated “… Manny can be Manny because he and his teammates have two rings.” Are you implying that the management has DOUBLE STANDARDS, one for the team and one for a star player who contributed in winning a world series championship? Would you say that a description like “primadonna” would fit Ramirez and his reputation for lackadaisical conduct (not to mention some bizarre shenanigans)?

38. J-Man Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 2:12 am

    It’s just “J-Roll being J-Roll” lol it’s more about Manuel showing who’s boss rather than him punishing J-Roll for being late…If the Blue Jays are shopping Halladay,Gillick better put an offer in there and i don’t mind cleaning out the farm system for him…Maybe the Blue Jays have been scouting the Phils prospects because were getting ready to trade for him rather than Burnett.

39. J-Man Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 2:26 am

    If this slump continues,i think Charlies days are number here,i mean it does seem like he’s losing more and more control of the team and he make some of the dumbest decisons like pulling Burrell out late in close games and putting a SS (Brunlett) in the OF and Taguchi who’s no better than Pat Fielding…I still think we should of fired him before the 07 season and brought in Pinella or Girardi…Gillick and Pinella were together in Seattle when they won 116 games.

40. ActuallyChilled Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 5:04 am

    jimmy iverson

41. ActuallyChilled Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 5:06 am

    jimmy iverson = j-son = “jayson”

    Nah, i got it….

    we cal him Jimmy “JI” Rollins… interim nickname to substitute J-Roll.

42. fred Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 6:33 am

    Bring back Larry Bowa ! Jokes…

43. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 7:25 am

    The issue is Jimmy thinks he’s right, he all but said it. Doesn’t matter if he is or isn’t he’s not being a team player let alone a veteran leader. Irreguardless of his status as a leader he has to set an example as one of the veterans on the team, he’s no kid anymore.

    He is not playing hard and comments are worrying, when he got pulled from the game for not running out the pop-up his comments did not seem like he cared all that much what he’d done, I hate to say it but he needs an injection of Jeter. He’s the only player getting repremanded and it’s not about him being the leader now, it’s about showing up and respecting the game which he seems to have a sincere lack of now.

    If there’s any change that can be seen in his game it’s that he’s not working hard out there, Who cares about the mistakes trying to do that bit extra or popping up on a ball he was zeroed in on, he’s not working out there and he’s coasting. It’s becoming more about his lack of discipline both on and off the field and his offensive production is clearly down to not executing the fundementals. I wasn’t expecting a repeat MVP season but I had no doubts on him going out and giving his all.

44. RiVLez Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:08 am

    I think Charlie Manuel is correct and it’s a shame other managers do not do it. All managers have the same rules but they do not enforce it. Good for Charlie. You can’t be a laid back manager like Willie was, they will step all over you.

45. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:25 am

    Jimmy has broken the only two rules Charlie has in a matter or two months and he’s come out and says he doesn’t agree with yesterday decision as if he has a leg to stand on.

    Mets fans must be licking their lips right now realising they don’t have to be great to win this division, they just have to be better than us which isn’t much of an ask. Our pitching is not going to get any better than it is right now which is on the whole very strong and consistent. It will not hold up unless the offense starts carrying the load and every bad outing will be magnified.

46. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:45 am

    Bruce, people arent pissed that he was late as much. people are pissed because of the way he handled it after the game, which was a completely arrogrant, selfish way to handle that.

47. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:51 am

    theyrre both primadonnas. rollins has devolved into a complete turd this year. manny ramirez is already a complete turd but he produces year in and year out. look at jimmys numbers, they completely suck offensively. he has 6 HR 35 rbi and hes hitting .270. thats terrible for a leadoff hitter. leadoff hitters hit .300 or else they stop being leadoff hitters or else theyre on a bad team. jimmy shouldnt even be on this team with those numbers, and the only reason they havent traded him is because hes still the mvp. if he wasnt jimmy rollins wed have booed him out of town already.

48. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:51 am

    then you tack on his attitude and it means like must trade immediately as soon as possible. get him out of here now. no time to waste.

49. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 8:55 am

    howard has had bouts with it before but hes past that right now. now, jimmy has gotten the lindros syndrome and has become eric lindros post-mvp.

50. TJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:00 am

    Jimmy Rollins will not be traded for anything less than Halladay. Thats what I believe and I’m sticking to it, its a shame that Rollins isnt showing any heart out this and he must be dumb if he doesnt realize that hes setting an example for this team right now. They are clearing following his lead by coasting and to put it in Brett Myers terms “Having Fun.” The real leader of this team should be Cole Hamels. The guy has the most coinfidence on this team, other than probably Lidge. If Hamels was more animated he would fire up this team every time he pitched instead after an inning ending striking out he walks to the dugout like it was too easy, with a calm expression and no pep in his step. I think this is the same thing that is happening with the Devil Rays, they dont have a clear cut leader and they look like a different team then two months ago. This happened to the Mets last year and its the reason the Red Sox have been so successful. Leaders equal passion. Passion equals wins.

51. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:10 am

    Well stated. I was referring to Halladay, yes. They really need him desperately. If we got halladay then we become the automatic favorites in the division again. then you can turn around and trade carlos carrasco as a package for an outfielder and not even bat an eye.

    then you got

    halladay
    hamels
    blanton
    moyer
    kendrick

    this year, and

    halladay
    hamels
    blanton
    happ
    kendrick

    next year. brett myers isnt in either of those rotations for a reason.

52. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:18 am

    I was surprised that there were people on here thinking this is not a big deal.. maybe if its a game against the Nationals or something, but a game against the Mets.. you show up an hour late ??

    Jamie Moyer gave an interesting interview yesterday and made some comments about how players need to hold themselves accountable.. being a leader means being a leader in the clubhouse, on the field, AND off the field..

    Is the issue over.. yes, but the bigger issue is that Rollins was sitting in the rubber match vs the Mets. And Bruntlett had a nice game, but Rollins needs to lead this team… he runs his mouth, and then is nowhere to be found this season.

    And for the dude that compared Rollins and David Wright for MVP…. Wright did not deserve that Gold Glove last year… Feliz, Ramirez, or Chipper Jones all should have taken it over him.. and the only legit player that could have won MVP over Rollins was Holliday, who I said before, probably should have won it last year cause they made the playoffs too

53. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:21 am

    RJ The Rays are a very different team and they have brough specific veterans in for their leadership which is something we do not have outside Moyer.

    We are not in a position to trade Rollins and although Toronto would be a trade partner in that situation we might be better looking to the Dodgers and package headed by Billingsley or Kershaw. Healthy everyday shortstops with solid D and offensive tools are at a premium at the moment and although I think Rollins would be great trade bate to electrify the rotation and land address a couple of other areas, it’s not going to happen. As for Cole being more animated, that would be a terrible mistake. Look at Sabathia’s first start with the Brewers compared to his last 3, a bit of emotion on the mound can add to a performance but that’s where it has to stop. Starting pitchers have to be prepared, attentive of their body and focused and their leadership has to come from leading by example and being there in the dugout to help their team-mates. Veteran presence carries far more possibilities than vocal leadership in baseball and it’s the everyday guys that need to keep taking the field in the right way.

    As I’ve said before we need to leave every game having left the other team beaten and bruised whether we win or loose. We need to start doing those little things: running the base paths harder, working the starting pitchers and getting through the opponents bullpen early in a series, chasing down the line to first on a probable out like Charlie demands. Even in game 1 against the Mets in the 9th Howard could have made it to 1st on Feliciano’s error but he wasn’t hustling. Players will get hot and they’ll slump like Utley but you respect the game and it’ll come around, you don’t respect the game and the rules of the clubhouse like Jimmy and all that negativity will filter through.

    No matter the short-term cost I hope Charlie sits Jimmy untill his pleading to get out there but it isn’t going to happen,

54. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:22 am

    *apologies for the typo TJ

55. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:23 am

    Can we stop with the Roy Halladay talk… we’re not getting him and you’re making people depressed because of it

56. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Its not “cool” to hustle and give it your all… it looks so much cooler when you stand there and pose and stare and point.. THAT is how you make it on SportsCenter.

57. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:26 am

    Nicely said Don, same with the Holliday talk too. Also the talking down of Moyer is depressing too, he may not be an inning eater but he is the guy responsible for a productive Kendrick and Cole becoming an ace, his presence in the clubhouse cannot be matched and if he plays on and isn’t re-signed then the same thing will happen to the pitching thats been said has happened from Rowand not being in the outfield.

58. Gavin Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:28 am

    Oh Aaron Rowand, we hardly knew ye.

    Rollins act as grown old.

59. Gavin Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:30 am

    There’s no reason to trade Rollins. Thats assanine. We just need someone who is a team leader instead of him. Its pretty simple I think.

60. Rob E. Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:35 am

    I am not calling for a Rollins trade but the Blue Jays have made it known that they are looking for an MLB ready short stop.

    I would definately pull the trigger on a Carrasco, Golson, Rollins trade. Then extend Holladay immeadeately. He is increddibly underpaid and also is probably the most underated pitcher of the last 10 years. I really dont think people realize how good he is.

61. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:38 am

    I think there would be no defensive dropoff with jason donald in there because rollins’ defense has slipped too. its time for him to go. im going to stick by that and im not going to stop promoting that idea until the trade deadline passes.

    ryan howard finally took his struggles seriously and turned his season around. now its almost august and jimmy has numbers no better than geoff jenkins!!!!!

    and dont give me this middle of the race garbage. this team is DEAD, totally lifeless. theyre not winning anything unless something SHOCING and HARSH is done by the general manager to get their attention.

62. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am

    Roy Halladay is amazing. im not going to stop pumping that move.

    he has a VERY good sinker. hed own CBP and hed own that NL

63. Scheity Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:42 am

    Rollins won’t get traded. That isn’t how this business works.

    I just hope Manuel and he had one of those Jake Taylor-Rick Vaughn moments from Major League last night, where Manuel tells him that until he gets his shit together, he’s no good to him or the team.

    Then Rollins comes out with lightning bolts cut into his hair and glasses with skulls on the bridge of the nose. That would be the ideal option, I think. Yeah, definitely skulls.

64. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:44 am

    I know they usually go for prospects. whens the last time a true blockbuster happened?

65. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:45 am

    Why on earth would the Blue Jays trade Roy Halladay… one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past 10 years.. for Rollins, Carrasco, and Golson…

    Geoff, Rollins isn’t going anywhere… he’s still a hell of a player, great defender, steals bags, and gives at least SOME swagger…

66. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Its not called swagger if you dont back it up, and he hasnt. When you dont back itup its called being an asshole, which is what he is. Roy Halladay asked to be traded the other day. It was all over Sportnet canada.

67. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Rob: Rollins, Carrasco and Golson… I’d expect Rios to come to Philly with that package, it would be robbery sending the reigning MVP, top pitching prospect and top outfield prospect who would be included on the major league roster of many teams.

    Halladay/Rollins would be like the A-Rod/Soriano deal with a lesser prospect or two accompanying the lesser player. (hypothetically as it’s not going to happen just like the Toronto deal won’t) We could expect a deal from the Dodgers to include Billingsley or Kershaw and Kemp with couple of mid-level with upside prospects swapping ZIP codes in the deal.

68. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am

    What this team needs…

    A GOOD ON-FIELD BRAWL !!!

    you heard it here… they should have nailed someone for Reyes acting like a clown, and Im pretty sure that a brawl would bring this team together in a hurry!

    Howard wanted to kill Josh Beckett a few years ago, so you know he’s down.. Burrell is a monster.. you know Dobbs can hit..

69. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am

    Halladay could be prized away as he’s not happy with how things are being done up in Toronto but you don’t offer a star plus top prospects for anyone, the league would probably veto that deal as it’s so one sided.

70. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:50 am

    Thats a good call. They havent intentionally beaned someone in ages. I wouldve beaned Reyes. Sent rudy seanez or clay condrey out there and had him throw it at his knees.

71. LetsGoMets! Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:50 am

    The Blue Jays and Halladay are working on an extension. They aren’t trading him, get a clue.

72. James K. Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:51 am

    You Phils fans are in a dreamworld. Rollins for Halladay!!! What a joke!

    As if the Jays would be ridiculous enough to trade one of the top 5 pitchers in baseball for a guy with an OBP of .332 making $8 million. This is comical.

    Also, maybe Wright didn’t deserve the Gold Glove last year (it’s a pretty worthless award, as Derek Jeter and Rafael Palmeiro are past recipients) but Rollins didn’t deserve it last year either. Regardless, Rollins winning MVP last year was a complete joke and everyone (outside of Philly) realizes it.

73. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:52 am

    The Jays were working on an extension but the reports out of Toronto suggest things have gone sour there.

74. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:52 am

    Really? you must not read the canadian sports news

75. NJ Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:54 am

    Come on James, Tulo might have been a valid recipient but Rollins was very good defensively last year, there isn’t a respected writer out there that didn’t think he was and I challenge you to find a respected writer who has openly said Rollins should not have won the GG because of overrated defense.

76. Lewisauce Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:55 am

    It’s becoming clear that the biggest off-season mistake was not the failure to acquire Lohse (or any other SP). It was the failure to retain Aaron Rowand. I’m not sure how we could’ve made that work money-wise, but the consequences of it are clear now.

    Bruce: Charlie has two rules: be on time, and hustle. Rollins broke Rule No. 1 (after breaking Rule No. 2 two months ago), and then said he basically thought he didn’t do anything wrong.

    As an isolated incident, even that would be OK. But consider that:
    — There has been a noticeable drop in his hustle this year
    — There has been a noticeable drop in the entire team’s hustle this year (with exceptions)
    — Too many hitters, lead by Jimmy, are “doing their own thing” instead of playing to the game at hand
    — The entire offense has been in an awful slump/funk
    — We are wasting good start after good start by Hamels/Moyer
    — Jimmy would be forgiven if he were hitting .296 and tearing it up on the bases, but his bat has been awful
    — He DID break Rule No. 1 earlier this year.

    If I told you last year at this time that Jimmy Rollins’ biggest problem in ‘08 would be a lack of hustle, you’d all say I was nuts. And you’d be right. My point is, how did this guy go from Pete Rose-esque in his attitude and determination to Jose Reyes-esque in one off-season?

    I don’t know how it happened, but it did. Charlie (and Jimmy?) have to figure out a way to fix it. If they can’t, then Gillick fixes it — with a blockbuster trade.

77. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 9:55 am

    i actually wouldnt care if they moved rollins for some mlb-ready prospects. id be totally ok with that. it would send a very very loud message to the clubhouse that they better get their shit together.

78. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am

    He got too big-headed. thats right on lewisauce.

    this is a PATTERN peeps, hes been doing this all year. ive seen him in his old for like ONCE this year. he went 4-4 and stole some bases a week or so ago and thats the only spark ive seen out of him all season. clearly a one time thing.

79. John Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    the met fan aside, you people are typical idiot phillies fan, ” o Jimmy’s having an off year, trade the a-hole. how dare he have a bad year” get off your god damn high horse. you do realize that the phils were in first place for about a hundred more days than they were last year, take a deep breath and realize that hey, even if they have been playing like crap, they are ONE, UNO, 1 game out of first with two whole months to play

    of course if you idiots ran the Phils, we’d trade Jimmy cause “he’s an ass” trade Ryan cause look at all those strike outs and start Coaste even though their are seniors in the public league who are better gloves than he is

80. Rob E. Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am

    NJ: I honor your opinion but Honestly I think Golson is awfully overated, the guy K’s all the time. Also Halladay isnt getting traded, I am just having a cream dream about the phils getting someone that good

    Also I agree this team needs a good rumble to wake it up.

    Especially Tatis needs an ass whop’n. He is so cocky and he was out of baseball for two years. he should be humble and if not, then we humble him with a fastball to chin.

    Would Nolan ryan stand for that shit. NO. You tried that on him, he would throw at you once a game for the rest of your career.

81. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am

    dont you think for one second that pat gillick wouldnt hesitate to trade him out of here for some prospects.

    this team loves dumping salary and they havent done it in midseason for a very long time and theyd love to dump some salary and lay down.

82. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:07 am

    Nolan Ryan was like the only starter i consider better than Steve Carlton, like ever. i loved it when he beaned people at age 50 and then whooped their ass right after it.

83. Lewisauce Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:08 am

    I like Don M.’s suggestion. A brawl.

    Reyes should have had a fastball thrown at his eye. L.A. said it best: “Somebody needs to plant one in his neck.”

    Seanaz is the guy. I’m telling you he’s a sociopath. We need to put that to good use.

84. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 10:11 am

    Then why did all the sportswriters outside of Philly all vote for Rollins… mets fans are homos

85. Phil Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:07 am

    I read Geoff saying Roy Halladay would own the NL. I couldn’t agree more. He already pitches in the best hitting division in baseball. He would move to the NL and be the best pitcher of all time. Santana moving to the NL wasn’t AS big of a deal because the NL East hitting wise is probably as good as the AL Central. You never know, maybe Halladay would like it over here and want to stay. Maybe he’ll sign for cheap. He seems like the kind of guy that would take a paycut to play for a contending team. Halladay-Hamels could be the best 1-2 punch ever. God, imagine this in the playoffs.

    Halladay
    Hamels
    Moyer
    Kendrick/Myers/Happ/Blanton

    That rotation would go up against Zambrano/Dempster/Harden/Lilly any day.

    I’d even take Halladay/Hamels over Webb/Haren or Sheets/Sabathia

86. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am

    yeah i think you have to inquire about him AT THE VERY LEAST. just see what they want. you never know, it cant hurt to try. but shame on them if they ass around again. gillick has already been caught asleep at the wheel once. after they failed to get sabathia he got blind-sided when the cubs turned right around and got harden out of nowehere. he better not get caught again. dont you dare let some other NL team get him. the mets have no shot at him, niether do the braves or marlins, so if the phillies step up and get it done, with rollins or without him, then they automatically win the division providing they also get that outfielder

87. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:27 am

    I thought that bullsh!t was all settled, how did Gillick fall asleep on the Sabathia trade.. they wanted we didn’t have.. and he’s going to become a Free Agent anyway.

    Harden has been injured his whole career.. so that wouldn’t have been a smart move either, because what they needed more than anything was someone steady to go eat innings..

    you guys keep brining up the same dumb sh!t every other week and it drives me up a wall… OF COURSE they are going to look into Halladay..they’ve looked into EVERY pitcher that has been rumored-available this year.. but to sit here and act like

    A.) we’re going to get him
    and B.) Rollins + two prospects is good enough to land him

    That is just retarded..

    I’ve been on the same page with most of the guys on here for the past few weeks, but now its getting back to this blow the team up and trade everyone, and just being unrealistic.. F*CK.

88. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:29 am

    we didnt have on sabathia, which is what i said. but we did have enough for harden because they really didnt get all that much for him. gallagher is a good pitching prospect but the rest of them arent the best. the outfield prospect is ok. it didnt seem liek they got a whole lot for harden.

89. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:33 am

    Yea but you talk about Gillick being asleep at the wheel and whatnot… I would have FLIPPED if they traded for Harden, cause HE DOESN’T STAY HEALTHY!!!!

    A pitcher could be the best of all time, but if he can’t make it through the year, then he’s not that valuable

90. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:38 am

    how about this, hes going to stay healthy the rest of the year and lead the cubs into the playoffs. if hes not healthy and he doesnt contribute significantly to their success thie year, then you can break that out and remind me that i was wrong.

    but, hes under control for liek 2 more years as well…

91. Don M Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am

    alright, but then how about you stop talking about Gillick shitting the bed on that trade…. because that is why I keep bringing up the fact that he’s been on the DL 6 times in 6 years..

    since 2003… he has only made 91 starts… and he’s 36-20 with a 3.36 ERA

    He’s GOOD, but he’s not a God.

    Lets see what happens..

92. Phil Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Maybe trading Rollins will light a fire under everyone’s ass. They can look at the trade and say, “Wow, I could be next because I’m playing like shit.” Trade Rollins and some prospects for Halladay. Bring up Donald. Donald can’t be any worse at the plate, and he will be a little worse defensively. Who cares about his defense when you have 2 of the most lights out pitchers in the game, and the ageless wonder going every 5 days. This team lacks leadership. I don’t know what happened to Rollins, he’s too busy doing ESPN commercials. He cares more about that than playing the game. Utley isn’t a leader, he just wants to play the game and not be bothered. Burrell chokes when he is in line to be the leader. Howard only cares about the green. Hamels is too cocky. That leaves us to Moyer. Moyer needs to go into that clubhouse and say, hey what the fuck are all of your problems? Stop being a bunch of pussy boy primadonnas. I’ve played with better talent than all of you and they never acted like this(Griffey, A-Rod, and Ichirio.) Maybe he needs to be the guy. He’s respected in the clubhouse, and he has the most experience. Also, Jamie Moyer is pitching incredible this year. He needs to go tell them like it is.

    I am so fucking sick of this offense failing to hit when our pitchers are giving them a chance to win.

93. Phil Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Geoff, the Cubs aren’t making the post season, just like the Phillies aren’t. The Brewers WILL take over in that division. That team has heart. The Cubs and Phillies don’t.

94. James K. Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:56 am

    http://www.firejoemorgan.com/search/label/jimmy%20rollins

    If you have 20 minutes, read those entries detailing why “J-Roll” didn’t deserve MVP or Gold Glove. Scroll down the page for more. It is extremely well written by smarter men than I.

    GO METS

95. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am

    Who is getting the wild card over the Cubs? The Brewers look like theyre going to win that division. And Unless St Louis overtakes them then the Cubs will take the wild card. the phillies wont win the WC, nor will the mets. they have to win the division.

96. Phil Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    The WC has a good chance of coming out of the East. Marlins, Phillies, or Mets. The Cubs are playing terrible baseball right now.

97. metsfan Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    I do not think the rockies want rollins. They have Tulowitzki even if he his having a really bad year after last year they are not going to give up on him and he doesn’t make a lot of money. Plus they are not going anywhere so they do not need him. And they will not want his salary.

98. Geoff Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:04 pm

    Well, I think the Phillies, Mets, Marlins will have to make good moves at the deadline in order for the off two out to have a good shot at the WC.

    The Phillies still need to make like 2 or 3 MORE moves to begin to look legitimate.

99. metsfan Says:
    July 25th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

    The Phillies or Mets do have a chance the win the WC only if the Phillies bullpen keeps doing what they did the first half and Myers gets out of his funk. The Mets have a chance only if the bullpen gets better and Church comes back and stays healthy.

100. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

     the phillies WILL finish in 3rd or 4th place in their division is they dont do something SERIOUS to turn things around. be it a shocking trade or getting people to play better or what. at their current clip their headed for a nestled little spot just ahead of the nationals. IN FOURTH PLACE!

101. metsfan Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:10 pm

     Don’t get carried away the Phillies are not finishing worse then 2nd place. The Mets and Phillies are with out a question the best 2 teams in the NL East! And the Mets and Phillies in the top 4 in the National League with the Cubs and Brewers. Its always nice for a team to make a big move but they can win with the team they have now.

102. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

     What if the marlins grab a bat and an arm and gillick stands pat?

     what if the mets get a corner outfielder and a bullpen arm?

     if the phillies keep playing this way their headed straight down. they wont beat anybody playing this way. not even the nationals. this malaise has set in hard and it has to be stopped. NOTHING manuel has tried has worked at all. Thats why something extreme has to be done.

103. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

     I love the guy who keeps talking about Roy Holliday. What is wrong with you? The guy is not avialable. The Blue Jays would never trade him. Face it, we are not a good team. Are starting pitching besides Hamels is a joke, Rollins sucks, Howard yest he hits home runs but look at this average and strikeouts. The bottom line is the Mets are a better team then us. For all the talk about how the Mets are not mentally tuff and if you give them a good punch they will fold … well they have proven this year that it is the total oppoiste. The Phillies are not in there heads proven by the fact that they are 9 and 4 against us this year. We suck and Jimmy the leader Rollins is garbage this year.

104. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm

     Geoff… if you were close to me right now, I would punch you in the baby-maker

     You are the most extreme person of all time.. always calling for these trades, and benching whoever, and bring up all the prospects, and now saying they are going to finish in 4th place in the NL EAST ???

     Moyer showed his leadership yesterday, using the old-school method of reaching players through the media.. and challenging them to step-up and be accountable.. he knows the talent is there.. its the desire that is missing from this team.. for whatever reason, they are waiting to turn it on…

     The Rockies just signed Tulo for 4 years in the offseason… they dont need a SS.

105. metsfan Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:17 pm

     What do you think the Phillies need more a Hitter of Starter? I think the Phillies need a starter more then a hitter.

106. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

     Listen up and listen good. The Phillies are a bunch of over paid garbage pickers. Looking for new TV’s on the highway when all that can be found is McDonald’s rappers and old beat up license plates.

107. metsfan Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

     Steve, the Mets and Phillies are about the same. The both have seperate faults but they are both able to win the division or the wc. And Rollins even if I am not a big fan of him is is still an MVP and you are not going to replace him.

108. Rob E. Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:21 pm

     I gotta say I am more worried about the Marlins then the Mets. With Von Herck back, that other kid from Oklahoma and now Annibal Sanchex coming back, Look out. That team will have a very good rotationm, easily the best in the East.

109. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

     Tuesday night the Phillies had one of the greatest comeback wins that I can ever remember…. now its Friday.. they lose a 6-3 games, and then a 3-1 game…

     and you are all this crazy shit about releasing players, trading MVPs, like i’ve said before..

     FantasyBaseball and REAL baseball are worlds apart.. you can’t have an ALL-STAR at every position.. you try to improve your team when you can without giving away your future.. you try to make smart long-term deals, and avoid 4-5 year contracts if you think the player will only be good for 2-3 (aka ROWAND, LOHSE)… you guys gotta relax with this shit.. WHAT IF we sweep the Braves again.. and the Mets lose 3 in a row… are we back to a powerhouse team??

     Fact is, they are a good team, who should make the playoffs this year… anything less will be disappointing, anything more will be a success

110. Phil Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

     Don M, at this point and the way they’re playing, I don’t foresee them making the playoffs. They’ve collapsed, and they’ve collapsed hard. The fact of the matter is that if they do fail to make the post season then you do blow the team up. All it will prove is that they are a bunch of overpaid primadonna’s.

111. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

     Im so happy that Moyer did that. That was a good thing. But do you think Jimmy Rollins gives a damn about what he ahs to say?

     I think the phillies need a starter more. Brett Myers needs to be replaced with a sick ass top of the rotation guy. blanton helps, but hes not enough.

     They need a hitter pretty badly though. right now, basically all but two ro three guy have become COMPLETELY WORTHLESS.

     chase utley, jimmy rollins, victorino, werth, like NONE of these guys are consistent at all? theyre all up and down WILDLY. people have slumps, but not as extremely up and down as this team is unless, what? maybe theyre overrated and maybe they really arent that great.

     bring in people that are consistent. i dont care how much money they make. I dunno where the jimmy to colorado thing came from, i never said that and it doesnt make anysense.

     HAlladay, not holliday.

     im calling for all this shit because this team THREW away their lead and CHOKED up any advantage they had over the past 6 weeks. its all gone now and they have to sratch their way back. doing that reqwuires HEART, something like barely anyone has shown this season.

     jimmy rollins has no heart. chase utley used to but doesnt right now. howard and burrell show it sometimes. vic, feliz, werth, jenkins….sometimes.

     but who has heart everyday? in thsi lineup? NOBODY!!!!!

112. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

     if you think the phillies are just “in a slump” and need to play a little better, then YOU are dealing with fantasy baseball. its much deeper than that.

113. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

     I agree that if they blow the playoffs the following people need to go: myers, eaton, victorino, rollins, ruiz, jenkins, gordon, coste (totally collapsed too), werth (inconsistent), and many others.

     there are like 5 people worth keeping. maybe 7 or 8 depending on the mood.

114. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:31 pm

     You are wrong Metsfan. The Mets starting pitching is far more superior then ours. Now that Delgado is hitting there offense is not too far behind ours. The Mets are doing it with 25 guys all contributing picking each other up. The Phillies what are we doing? Plus you no the Mets … if they add another bat or Church comes back playing the way he did, then there offense is right there with ours. The Mets lost last year because they where to relaxed thinking that they can turn it on whenever they wanted to and the division would be there’s. The Phillies where handed the division last year by the Mets. They had Willie Randolph who instead of getting angry and firing his guys up he went along like everything was fine and his team followed him with no urgency. Totality different team this year. They are not going to slow down. For all of you Phillies fans who think they are just hot right now and will come back down to earth think again. The Mets are going to keep rolling. The one important thing that the Phillies had over the Mets last year and the start of this year was confidence and heart and toughness. Well they are 9 and 4 against us this year and have proven to be more mentally tuff then us.

115. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:32 pm

     Are they still 6 games over .500 ?? Do they have a winning record on the road ?? Does this group of players all see their individual AND team performance improve each year in the second-half ??

     Somebody let me know the answers.. cause I forget.

     If the Marlins or the Mets really scare you.. you have problems.. neither one of them has as much talents as this Phillies roster. Sometimes things just don’t click, but I guarantee you that soon the Phillies will win 8 or 9-out of-10 and everyone will be talking World Series again..

116. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

     “Steve” and “us” don’t go together.. because steve is a Muts fan.

117. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

     What makes you think the Phillies have more talent then the Mets? What is wrong with you? The Mets have jsut as much talent then us just look at there starting staff and compare it to ours. God Don you dont understand what needs to be done here.

118. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

     ok Don you keep living the dream that Myers, Blanton and Eaton will take us to the playoffs with all that talent

119. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pm

     Geoff.. PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE. take like 20 seconds to think before you start typing from now on instead of flying off the handle

     Werth may be inconsistent, but he is also one of the most clutch players they have… and his inconsistency is because he only gets to play 50% of the time.

     You want Rollins and Victorino to go? the two most dangerous baserunners and game-changers we have… Good Idea…

     Ruiz.. who again, has the lowest CATCHER ERA in the NL…. and is one of the main reasons our bullpen was the best in baseball in the 1st half… but getting rid of him and Coste is smart, since you know Marson will hit .400 next year

120. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

     Hey the Phillies will finish is last and the Mets will ride to the playoffs and don’t worry we will reprsent the NL east a little bit better then the Phillies did last year. We wont get swept out of the first round of the playoffs lol. Losers. It will be fun looking down on you all for the rest of the year. and one more thing stop booing Donvan McNabb YOU RETARDS.

121. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:41 pm

     Hamels, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Victorino, Burrell, Lidge

     The Marlins have Hanley Ramirez… and some good young pitchers that get hurt every year.

     The Mets have Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Maine, Santana, Wagner… and a weaker bench and bullpen then the Phillies.

     Im not going to convince Mets fans the Phillies are more talented, and no Mets fans is going to convince me that the Mets are more talented… but we’re on a PHILLIES blog, so im not even going to try, cause any Mets fan on here has no life.

122. steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:44 pm

     I use phrases like “LOL” and I say “us” when talking about the phillies, but im a mets fan as of yesterday when the got in 1st place.

123. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:44 pm

     no Eagles Giants on here.. its baseball !!!

124. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 12:56 pm

     The NFL is disgusting and disgraceful.

125. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm

     I am thinking…what do they have if they dont make the playoffs..really? They have TWO legit prospects (marson, Donald) ready to come up and one questionable prosepct (carrasco). happ i consider part of the mlbfold already. the rest of them are farther away than those three. so you dont have much of a new blood infusion in the next year or two. and outside of some of the core/elite players on this team (lidge hamels burrell howard utley) what do you really have? you have a few ok guys liek kendrick and blanton who will stay and the rest of it is all overrated mediocrity or straight garbage.

     so why not rebuild a litttle bit if they fail to make the playoffs? move a few guys for good mlb-ready prospects to restock the team with TALENT for a little 3-5 year run. Why stay in purgatory?

126. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

     Because for every Jon Lester there are 50 Homer Bailey’s out there… you NEVER know what you are going to get from a prospect.

     IF they don’t make the playoffs, we both know there will be some changes, it will probably be the end of the Pat Burrell era.. but you don’t trade good players just for the sake of making a change.

127. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

     what if someone comes along and says, hey, well give you and mlb-ready third baseman, and mlb-ready starter, and an mlb-ready outfielder for jimmy rollins at the winter meeting?

     youd say no to that?

     i like burrell but i think theyll let him walk if they dont get him really really cheap. id actually prefer burrell to stay because you know what hes going to give you.

128. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:16 pm

     this is why you were crazy… WHAT IF…

     What if the Yankees offered you A-rod and Jeter for Adam Eaton??

     you dont make sense when you think of all these WHAT IF trades and shit

129. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:18 pm

     You need to throw out some actual names of players, and they have to be realisitc.

     Like when Phil was saying the Phillies should trade Ryan Howard straight up for Tim Lincecum

     the Phillies should do that.. but the Giants shouldn’t and wouldn’t …..

     If the prospects are LEGIT top prospects then yes.. but no team is going to give you THREE LEGIT TOP PROSPECTS for anybody… because they would loose all this cheap, young talent for something you are trying to get rid of..

130. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

     right, but hypothesizing is a time-tested argumentative tool.

     would you trade howard for lincecum? sure. will that ever happen? no way.

     what if someone offered you a videogame for adam eaton if you ate half his salary? would you do that just to get rid of him? i would. i would even accept the WORST prospect in their whole system.

     i havent heard you suggest any trades lately for us to break apart or support….

131. Rosco Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pm

     This team is killing me!

     The Phillies, in years past, have been a second half team…my fear is they are counting on that. We are only 6 games into the Second half, with a record of 2-4. I’m not ready to abandon ship yet, but my feet are awfully damp!

     I love Jimmy. He has a great attitude towards the game. He is a mental giant who, more then anyone else I’ve ever seen in maroon pinstripes, can prevent a slump with the wood from effecting the output of his glove. That said, I think he is suffering from a slight dulling of his star.

     Jimmy expressed frustration at being as low as 5th in all star voting for shortstops at one point. Obviously a trip to Yankee Stadium was not in the cards for the reigning MVP.

     The attention that was piled on Rollins last season had been refocused on Chase Utley until his cooling off in June. I don’t think J-Roll is selfish, I just think he got used to the attention. But in for a guy who has played his entire career in Philly, he should know the mentality of the town.

     Jimmy, check back in baby! We need you.

     When Jimmy Rollins plays well, the Phillies win.

     The MVP for the NL is probably long gone, but there’s always MVP of the World Series…

132. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm

     I was saying the whole time how I didn’t want Burnett because his contract is terrible and he’s overrated..

     I don’t think they are all that far away, and I don’t think they should make a move just for the sake of making a move…

     I would be ALL for Roy Halladay, but unless we hear from a reliable source that it is a possibility, why waste time saying how great it would be. As soon as I heard Jayson Stark say the Phillies talked about Holliday, but that it wasn’t going to happen…. I said we should all stop talking about it..

     Im not pushing one way of they other.. im trying to keep you guys from going to extremes every day. PROSPECTS… you never know how they will pan-out, so you should never over-value what you have, but if you think you have good prospects, don’t dump them for rental players. Nobody thought before this year that Donald or Marson would be impact-players at the big-league level… I just want everyone to remember what they said a week ago or two days ago and stop freaking out when we lose

133. J-Man Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 2:10 pm

     Fire Charlie Manuel…Look what happened to the Mets when they dumped Randolph.

134. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 2:14 pm

     i think you’re joking..

     but for people that are really thinking that way, the Phillies have improved dramatically since Manuel has been here.. and the change would be back to an -in-your-face kind of manager, none of the players want someone intesnse to be in charge

135. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

     Wow you no what I am a retard guys …. the Mets are better then us. I am sorry for saying stuipd things like the Phillies have more talent. I am just such a Phillies fan it is hard for me to admit that I cried like a little girl when the Phillies won the East just to imparras themselves by getting swept right out of the playoffs. Are MVP predicts 100 wins this year but shows up late to a game against the best team in baseball the Mets and his reason was becasue he likes to leave ten minutes after the team bus and try to race it there. What a clow are Phillies are. I wish are team had pitches like Santana, Maine, Perez, Pelfrey … hitters like Reyes, Wright, Beltran, Delgado …. I wish we had players and not a bunch of no talent hacks like the Phillies have. Brett Myers rules he is the ace of the staff lol. Losers

136. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 2:25 pm

     the phillies do have more talent, that talent is jsut totally specied out righ tnow though, liek all of them. thats why im so hard on them. they do have the most talent.

137. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

     Its pretty cool when unoriginal people use your name and post comments that are meant to be funny, but aren’t … Mets fans are the gayest without a doubt

138. Geoff Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

     only a mets fan would do that.

139. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

     My name is Don M my team is in second place after the NY Mets beat us 2 games in a row and have now beaten us 9 times this season. This makes me angry so I cry about how much talent my team has and make fun of Mets fans. I am the same guy who Boo’s Donvan MCnabb at eagles games

140. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

     Donvan Mcnabb should not be getting booed … just like Don M everyone in Philly are retard air heads … talk about air head fans …. the Phillies on Manger on what he thought of Reyes HR celerbration “Why should it bother me we have guys on are team who do the same thing” …. air head Philly fans lol Stop Booing D Mcnabb

141. Steve Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

     Calm down Don M your a little out of hand

142. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

     I am not out of line I am just angry becasue the Mets are a much better team and Donvan MCnabb gets booed it makes me cry

143. Don M Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

     you’re pretty cool.. seriously

144. Tommy A Says:
     July 25th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

     What is it that Jimmy says in the Phillies TV promo? “This isn’t a cupcake city.” Well, Tastykakes aside, Jimmy’s right about that. But this year he’s playing like a cupcake. I gave the guy some slack after the injury — not 100%, etc. But that should have zero effect on attitude, and it seems to me his attitude sucks this year.

     This team needs a serious shake up to play up to its potential.

     At the beginning of the season we were worried about pitching – both starting and bullpen. Well, the bullpen has really done it’s job (in most cases) and we have gotten more than our share of decent starts from a rotation that’s nothing to boast about. What none of us worried about was offense. Save a couple of 20 run games and a big 9th inning comeback the other night, this offense is asleep. Yes, we’ve got 3 of the top homerun guys…but the table setters and the clutch hits are snoozing.

     But besides all that — this team just doesn’t appear to want to win. There’s no urgency. I’ve seen Phillies teams in the past with much less talent play better than this team. They need to turn it around — starting tonight. Somebody needs to go into that locker room and kick some ass. Any volunteers?

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