Comments on: Odds And Ends: Offseason Begins

By: NJ

NJ — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:12:53 +0000

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.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:02:17 +0000

Carrasco is a starter…

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:38:32 +0000

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.

By: mikemike

mikemike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:31:26 +0000

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

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:28:52 +0000

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.

By: mikemike

mikemike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:27:20 +0000

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.

By: NJ

NJ — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:26:19 +0000

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.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:55:39 +0000

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.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:45:08 +0000

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

By: J-Man

J-Man — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:34:46 +0000

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.