Phillies Nation

26 Responses to “Odds And Ends: Offseason Begins”

1. Griffin Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm

   Tim, great job as always, I look forward to the daily video features.

   Good news on Moyer, we’ll happily have him back. I hope the Phillies are really going after Tazawa and not just pretending like they did last year with Kuroda. Then again, it’s hard to question any moves from last offseason since they did result in a Championship. Wow, saying that will never get old.

2. john Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 1:09 pm

   Barack Obama: “So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that’s being emitted.”

   Obama’s plans to bankrupt the coal industry.

3. NJ Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm

   Tawaza’s a completely different ballgame to Kuroda but do we really have a shot? Something tells me he’s not getting past the Yankees, Sox or Dodgers and wouldn’t rule out the Mets or Cubs offering stupid money.

   Moyer coming backs a given, everyone knows how important he is to this team and every time someone else is on the mound there seems to be some reference to that pitcher conducted himself in the way Moyer does. Really can’t tell how good of a pitching coach Dubee is but Moyer’s making his job a hell of a lot easier.

4. dan Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm

   when do they release spring training schedules? i’m planning my trip down to clearwater as soon as i can

5. Bruce Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm

   To “john”: Politics has no place here on PhilliesNation. Please keep those silly remarks to yourself.

6. Robbi P Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm

   I feel that even if moyer does not dish out 17 wins, but I hope he does, but Cole Hamels will gain even more experience then before. Myers should be better with his playoff experience and Fat Joe Blanton is our 3rd or 4th starter. lets the race begin for the number 5! is J.A. Happ ready or is Carrasco going to take the reins!

7. Grrrumpy Miner Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 2:55 pm

   Bruce…John wants everyone to feast on his political gripes..the best response to carp like that is to ignore it.

8. Bob Myers Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm

   One of the great things about this team is that key players could all have BETTER seasons in terms of their personal stats next year. Imagine if Rollins, Utley and Howard have better batting averages and more homeruns. Imagine if they don’t hit the cold streaks they had. Imagine Hamels with 20 wins, and Blanton is capable of that, or near that. We could win 100 games regular season, and it’s not hard to envision.

   One key thing is that the players keep themselves conditioned well physically so we start the season well and avoid injuries.

   It’s awesome to be able to contemplate trades, drafts, additions, when our team is already the World Champion!

9. Chase Mutley Says:
   November 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm

   Back in May, did anyone think that PITCHING would be the least of our worries this off-season? I’m more concerned with left field and our bench than our rotation and bullpen. We’ve got the best bullpen in the business and with Cole emerging as an obvious ace and Myers getting his head on straight to be our #2, we can focus on a nice #3 starter, Blanton #4, Moyer #5 and we’ve got Haap and (hopefully) a year-older, year-wiser K.K. waiting in the wings in case Jaime’s 46-year old wheels fall off.

10. Chuck Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Tim……can’t wait for the daily updates to keep the interest going until next Spring…….I, too, am planning on Clearwater. We went this past Spring year and had a blast!! Next Spring should be even better!!

11. NJ Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    Finding an everyday right-handed bat to go in the outfield is the primary concern and it’s hard to see how that void can be filled without re-signing Burrell since Ibanez will probably net a pretty similar deal. As for the bench right now we stand at Dobbs, Stairs, Jenkins, Coste, Bruntlett and either 1 spot to fill or the 12 pitcher and although so freshening up would feel good thats a good bench.

12. Chuck Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    NJ….this may sound crazy……and I’m seriously not jumping on his bandwagon because of the leadoff double in the 6th inning of Game 5…..but I can see the possibility of Werth switching to left and using Jenkins more in right. Ok…he had a sub-par year. I think he is poised to greatly improve next year as he begins his second season in red pinstripes. With regular playing time he could bring 25 hr and 80 rbi to the mix…..that’s not too far from Burrell’s numbers this year. Then all you have to do is go out and find a cheap 4th outfielder either by way of trade or free agent and Charlies can mix and match. No way should we even begin to think about signing Manny or Bradley. I don’t care how much Charlie couold manage them effectively…..those two guys are headcases that this team doesn’t need.

13. mikemike Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pm

    Chuck be serious jenkins and werth. I can’t believe you would serious say that.

14. Manny Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    I agree with Chuck. I don’t want a “star” OF to replace Pat… Jenkins is pretty good and we can’t forget about him. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he should start… Bring a very good guy who won’t give us drama or put Jenkins in.

    No.1 lesson from this season: it takes 25 to win it

15. NJ Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Chuck wouldn’t say it was crazy as it went through my mind too but it raises a problem. Pats main purpose is giving Ryan Howard protection in the line-up and although another LHB in the line-up is concerning unless Werth is going to be expected to fill that void.

    I’ve thought long and hard about this and I don’t see a right handed outfield bat unless it’s via a trade that fits what’s needed better than Pat even in limitied duty, the real question here is what do we expect out of Golson and when.

16. mikemike Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 7:09 pm

    Werth and Jenkins behind Howard will mean 150 walks for howard. They won’t pitch to him. Do you guys watch baseball did you see what happen to boston when they traded manny.

17. J-Man Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    I’d like to see us sign Tazawa,but the Dodgers,Yankees,and Cubs love to overpay them Japenese players…I though about Werth moving to LF and Jenkins taking over RF and i not a fan of that idea Jenkins production is really declining and the playing time he had this year he wasn’t that impressive…Props to him for that big hit in game 5 of the World Series,but i don’t think it should gurantee him an everyday start.

18. Matt Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    MikeMike is right.. we need a legit power bat after Howard.

    I do agree that Jenkins will have a semi-rebound year next year. Maybe something in the .275 13-18 hr range in a part time role in LF/RF.

    As for the bench, I really think that Donald could be a potential RH bat. I’m very comfortable with him and Dobbs in the late inning mixed in with Stairs/TBN Utility OF

19. Matt Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Another big question that nobody else is talking about: Is everyone comfortable with Durbin? Does anyone here think his April – July performance was a mirage? He doesn’t have great career numbers, and was primarily a starter before this year.

    Kind of a radical thought, but since the Phils are in pretty good shape as far as starters go for the forseeable future, how about making Carasco a 7th inning guy and taking a long term approach towards grooming him to be Lidge’s eventual replacement. He has great stuff. Just a thought.

20. NJ Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Not liking that idea in the slightest, Carrasco has raw talent but he’s not the pitcher some of these kids who’ve been seeing time in the back of the bullpen are. Very happy with Durbin who’ll come at half the cost of a top free agent bullpen arm and there’s nothing to suggest he wont have another good year.

21. mikemike Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm

    I really believe that Durbin is not a top reliever. The teams starter to hit him. They starter to get to him after seeing him a couple of times. question is who takes his place. They drafted a couple of real good looking college relievers, but need at least one more year in minors, The more I read the numbers on bradley he is the best option under ten million a year out there he has really good splits number. Carrasco as a reliver isn’t a good idea. He is a starter and that is the role he is being groom for to be a top of the rotation starter. He might need more innings in the minors to be ready. He most likely will take Moyers place in 2010.

22. Matt Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    NJ -

    I can understand the hesitation to convert Carrasco, but I think we might have seen the best of Durbin. I’m just curious, what makes you think he’ll go back to being a solid 7th inning guy? His career numbers aren’t very good.

23. mikemike Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm

    Tim maybe you can help me already they are starting with cap numbers. the phillies are at 103 and there are raises coming. but with burrell and gordon and tag, that’s 21 million to spend even with howard getting say 15, Hamels 5 million and werth and madson getting more its doesn’t add up to 120 million payroll the added money

24. Matt Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm

    Just playing devils advocate here, but considering how small windows are for winning championships, and considering how electric Carrasco’s stuff is, wouldn’t you make a deal with the devil for a 7th / 8th / 9th combo of -

    7th – Carrasco / Eyre
    8th – Madson / Romero
    9th – Lidge

    A lot of games would be over after the 6th inning. Carrasco could get major league experience, and could still become a starter in 2010.

25. Phil Says:
    November 2nd, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    Carrasco is a starter…

26. NJ Says:
    November 3rd, 2008 at 7:12 am

    Matt would agree durbin is not going to be an elite reliever and isn’t likely to produce the same form as last year, but I have faith Romero/Madson will pick up where they left off and with the return of Eyre and the elevated performance of Condrey, Durbin’s (who would have been an all-star if middle relivers were recognised) versitility could really help this team. He’s arm was dead by September but he won’t be relied on in the same way in the coming year and I think your looking at a 3.10/3.30 ERA guy with a good winning percentage.

    Carrasco in the pen isn’t an option. He hasn’t got control enough of his stuff to go out fire strikes and rebound the next day if he gets hit and if we want him to achieve his potential as a frontline starter he needs more time learning how to tilt things in his favour on the mound. The kids still only 21 and are stopgaps to not have to rush him into the rotation prematurely. Down the line a healthy Drabek would probably be a better candidate to have set-up prior to putting him in the rotation.

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