Phillies Nation

53 Responses to “What’s The Biggest Need Now?”

1. mbtoole Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 1:44 pm

   You forgot to list Chan Ho Park as either a long relief or 5th starter option.

2. NJ Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 2:09 pm

   The need for an upper-tier reliever isn’t great it’ll create a real mess once Romero returns, we just need a disposable lefty like Mercker to fill Eyre’s role while he pitches Romero’s innings.

   The Phillies biggest need right now is to get into camp, we don’t know if we need another frontline pitcher till we know the status of Brett Myers and if we’re going to pick a starter up though I like Lowe I’d look to pick someone up on a one-year deal to guarantee some more wins in the back of the rotation like Garland or target Oliver Perez since when Derek Lowe signs he’s looking at Kyle Lohse territory, inconsistent maybe but he’s got to sign somewhere and his bargaining power is on a par with hitch-hiker.

   The Phils don’t have a big need anywhere on the roster, there’s cover for Utley and Romero and this is still the superior roster in the division.

3. Andrew R. Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm

   One move that needs to be made is to go out and sign Ty Wigginton. He can play 2nd, give Feliz a break especially with his bad back, and give ibanez a break in LF as well. He would also be a right-handed power bat off the bench.

   The bullpen will be fine. Madson should pretty much control the 8, and Lidge in the 9. You’re telling me we have to go out and get somebody to help out for the 7th inning? Not really. It would be nice, yes. But no sense going out and getting some garbage in the hopes he can resurrect himself in spring training and become vital for 2 months. Phillies will survive.

   Starting pitching looks ok. Myers certainly is a question mark and it appears we are lacking a solid #2 pitcher. But again, the phils will sport some strong defense and tremendous offense. We don’t have to really worry about it, I dont think. It is not essential, but does make it interesting.

4. Tom G Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

   I am still interested in LOWE…he just fits our park. Romero on the shelf for the first 50 (for now, likely to be reduced to 25 or 10)…I think it strengthens the team.
   Brings him back to stay strong down the stretch, but allows for the Phils to keep Happ, a lefty, whether he is starter or a long reliever on the roster…
   Donald at Second for the early months is good too…instead of Giles.
   Ultimately, the utilization of youth early in the season can help protect the last half by not having as much unproven talent to rely upon.
   The phils can use the time to develop the youth they have while keeping pace with the METS and BRAVES…and jumping freshly into the second half to win the division

5. JohnKruksLoveChild Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 3:00 pm

   The biggest need is to figure out how to dump underperforming players like Eaton and Jenkins, but it looks like we’ll have to keep walking around a bit longer with those ankle weights.

6. john of Albuquerque Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 3:05 pm

   I agree with Andrew R that Ty Wigginton would be a fabulous additon to this team because of his versatilty and hitting prowess. Also, I would use Happ as a lefthander out of the bullpen as he does have decent stuff. Regarding pitching, I also believe that an excess of pitchers is a good thing. Would the Phils consider bringing back Randy Wolf? What would he cost for a two year deal?
   With pitching, “excess” spells “success”.

7. Don M Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 3:08 pm

   I think Romero’s 50-game suspension is set in stone… he’s gone until June 1st

   I think the biggest need… is for players to have defined roles in the batting order. Rollins is a serviceable leadoff hitter, but not ideal by any means.. He’s got too much power to bat #1.. I think Victorino in that spot would be great.. Werth would be nice too but he’s got even more power than Rollins..

   But the flip-flopping of Werth, Victorino, between #2, #3, #6, etc.. that make sit tough for them to be comfortable.. when you are the #2, you have certain things you try to do for a productive at-bat, to move a runner along, etc.. when you bat #6, you really try to knock in any runners that are still on the bases… I’d like to see our guys have set-roles, and watch them excel..

8. Don M Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 3:14 pm

   Wigginton could start for lots of teams… last report was that his agent was hoping for something like Casey Blake’s 3 year, $17.5 M contract… .. that won’t happen as the market is slowing.. but don’t be surprised to see Wigginton get 2 years, and $7 M… much more than the Phillies would want to spend on a part-time player

9. Woodman Says:
   January 7th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

   Rube needs to leave Derek Lowe alone. Let the stinking MUTS overpay for him. If he brings $16 million a year, he WILL be overpaid! If Rube takes care of our own guys (Hamels, Victorino, Werth, Blanton) it will be money better spent. Fact is, $16 mill per year for a 37-year old #2 pitcher (at best) is crazy! The MUTS are stupid enough to do just that! Let ‘em!

10. Mike B. Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    I think veteran relief is overrated unless you have none. We have plenty in guys who have been there and done that. Besides, veteran relievers can be had for a dime a dozen and you can get them at pretty much any time during the season. Lowe would be nice, and it would be doable if he would accept a lower salary this year and getting paid extra next year – after the books clear of Jenkins and Eaton – to compensate for a lower first year. That’s what they did with Ibanez. They back-loaded his contract. Signing Lowe, though, would really negate our ability to sign Hamels to a contract, especially because Ryan Howard is going to keep getting huge arbitration raises. NJ is right – let’s wait to see how camp plays out. Right now, we have four guys (Happ, Kendrick, Park, Carrasco) competing for three spots (SP #5, Romero’s spot, Seanez’s spot). What I think will happen is Happ will go to the bullpen to take Romero’s spot and either Park or Kendrick will start the season in the rotation, with the other filling Seanez’s spot.

    Ty Wiggington is a fascinating name, Andrew R. and Don M. My only complaint is that he doesn’t have a lot of speed, and we already have a lot of slow-footed bench players – really, our only speed guy is Bruntlett. We’d also have to trade Jenkins or Stairs, which means Stairs will most likely be gone.

11. RichieAllen Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    Is Lowe looking for 16 mil a year ? That is crazy,I agree with Woodman..let the mets have him for that.
    We’ll be ok…just need a few minor holes plugged now.
    Cant wait till spring training!!!!

12. NJ Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:36 pm

    The last I heard on Wigginton was around the 9/2 figure, he’s like Sheets in that it’s tough to see where he’s going in this market but the money won’t be bad considering. Maybe a guy like Emil Brown would be a fit.

    Agree with you on the line-up Don though doesn’t sound like Jimmy’s comfertable not leading off and I’m of the opinion Charlie should be willing to move Howard down a little in the order when he’s not hiting.

    Would like to see Amaron add a free agent starter to a minor league deal in the Jason Jennings/Chuck James class and keep an eye on Oli Perez, I’m not massive on the guy but day by day the market for him is shrinking.

13. NJ Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:42 pm

    Boras has outmaneuvered himself this off-season with a lot of his clients (I can only see 2 that have signed with 1 non-tender signing and 1 accepting arb), Lowe’s not going to get $16m though if he is Mets bound then again Oli Perez looks mightily attractive on the cheap.

    The Mets are looking like a guy with a bone sticking out of his leg who’ve gone out and bought really expensive bandaging when surgery should have been the answer.

14. Geoff Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    I agree. Booras doesnt realize that manny isnt going to get that money. if he does get that money, then that contract should be considered an outlier because you have to be insane to give manny 3 or 4 years at 25mm a year. thats batsh#t crazy!

    same with lowe. i thought the mets offer for lowe was right on the money. he was insulted by that offer, thats nuts. boras is openly saying its all about the money and lowe comes out and says he just wants to win…

15. Mike B. Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    Except then I saw his gruesome home-away splits (.314 to .234 last year). His base-running prowess seems to have declined (12 SB, 1 CS in 2003, 7 SB, 1 CS in 2004) – he basically looks like he changed from an Eric Bruntlett/So Taguchi to a Ryan Howard with a far better average and les power but the same ghastly 2:1 SO/BB ratio. And the Phils already have enough guys with those kind of numbers. I really wish I could delete my last post because I just got lazy and didn’t fact check.

16. Mike B. Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    I’m sorry, I meant Wigginton when I said “his.”

    I don’t think Boras has ever been this outclassed before in free agency – he nearly always gets his way. And he has no idea how to handle it. If this keeps up, he’s going to lose clients. You could argue that some love money more than the game, but certainly every player wants to have an idea where he’s going sooner rather than later. Players have already seen A-Rod and then Kenny Rogers fire him, now they’ll see a guy who’s obviously struggling to get them signed. Hopefully this means he’ll fade into irrelevancy within the next few years.

17. Georgie Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    I’m pretty sure Boras was squirming just a bit during that interview yesterday on MLBN. He’s certainly not a stupid man, so he must be starting to see the light, the $$$ are just not out there this year. But now the arrogant, greedy bastard has gotten himself in so deep he can’t really back down gracefully, and his clients are getting screwed over royally. They should all get together and fire his ass, I would LOVE to see that.

18. NJ Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 4:01 pm

    It’s not just Manny and Lowe, you’ve got to look at Oliver Perez, Varitek
    Garett Anderson, Joe Crede, Pudge Rodriguez, Gagne. Boras has more of a market for Bloomquist and Wilkerson than those guys right now.

    The Manny saga was written on the wall already but once Burnett signed the clock was ticking for Boras to get Lowe signed before the market massively shrivled and the rest of those names are going to be lucky to find themselves in a good situation this year. Boras always seems to feel he has a prime market for his clients and frankly as shown by A-Rod last year his big names don’t really need him to stimulate the market and his lesser guys are feeling the pressure of him misreading this off-season worse than Bavasi read it last year. I wonder whether the repurcussions will be better or worse when it comes to Ryan Madson, will Boras be out for blood or start loosening the noose around the GM’s…

19. NJ Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 4:05 pm

    ^Mike- Boras’s demise is worrying because he won’t become irrelevant without kicking and screaming his way out the door. We’ve seen him dealing from a position of power and I suspect he’ll start showing his teeth even more with his draft picks and cheaper free prending free agents to get his headlines where he can.

20. Geoff Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 4:31 pm

    I think that this failure, with Lowe, Perez, Manny, Varitek, etc will go along way to fixing the market. theres definitely some collusion going on, but im ok with that. the teams HAD to do this. they basically said “were going to let the yankees do whatever, but everyone else will gang up on boras and force the market back down thsi year.”

    tahts all theyre trying to do and im ok with it. force the market back down. oiliver perez wont get a silva contract like boras wanted for him. no way. lowe wont get 5/90 or even 5/80 or 5 years at all. varitek wont get a posada contract like boras wants. none of this will happen. the owners are making sure of it. if an outlier desperate team jumps in and breaks like the mets then theyll probably face reprocussions from the other owners.

    there is a good and growing VOCAL contingent of owners pushing for a salary cap or some kind of salary rollbacl this offseason.

21. Mike B. Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

    NJ, First I thought of King Lear: “Never, never, never, never, never!” But then this made the most sense.

    “MACBETH: I will not yield to kiss the ground before young Malcom’s feet, And to be baited with the rabble’s curse/ Though Birnal Wood be come to Dunsinane, And thou opposed being of no woman born, yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield. And damned be him that first cries, ‘Hold, enough!’” – Macbeth 5.10, 27-34.

    I haven’t read all of Shakespeare’s tragedies, but Macbeth, I think, fit the best. Being put into a position of power through recognition, essentially taking over the “throne” that is his dominance in the free agent market by getting all the best players and demanding their obscene deals, I hope that Boras has any basic knowledge of the Shakespearian tragedy, because there were always secondary casualties in his tragedies. If he isn’t careful, all his players could be secondary casualties by not playing next year.

22. NJ Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    Nice Mike B- The reality is his guys will get deals but his agent prowess has taken a massive hit and as with all good Shakespeare the tyrant won’t see himself as de-throwned until he feels the knife in his back but he’ll fight where he has power in the meantime.

    Am trying to think of suitors for his remaining for Lowe/Perez- The Mets, Cards, Brewers, Braves, Texas (can’t see the White Sox or Tigers in this). Once one has signed the other ones pretty much in begging and favour territory and you have to imagine neither player has much in the latter.

23. NJ Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    “Gammons says a lot of players could be looking for jobs in the spring, noting that AJ Burnett’s agents did a great job considering the Yankees wanted Derek Lowe. As a result, Lowe (a Boras client) is now without a job.”

    Again Oliver Perez… If the Mets do raise their offer to the rumored 14per over 3 for Lowe then it’s a free run at a now cheap and all but suitorless Perez.

24. Geoff Says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    The Mets will only get a second round pick for perez if he comes here, so i think im warming up to that idea…if he puts it all together again like he did in ‘04(i think it was that year?) perez would be a GREAT get for cheap. now, that begs the question: hamels myers perez blanton moyer happ. happ is cheap but do you think theyll move him if hes the odd man out? or send him to the bullpen to replace romero?…

    or does someone like blanton go? can you have 4 lefties in a rotation? all these interesting things arise from that

25. psujoe Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    RedSox just plucked Smoltz so the Braves are meeting with Lowe. Today or tomorrow. Lowe’s price tag just went up. baldelli off the market now as well. Time to refocus since we’re out of it for Lowe. Any thoughts on a right handed bat and a relief pitcher or do we just wait until Spring?

26. Don M Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Yea I just saw that too.. Smoltz and Baldelli both to the RedSox

    Smoltz gets $5.5 M, with $5 more in incentives… and the Braves become the front-runners for Lowe, becuase the Mets have turned their attention to Redding (offering him a deal already) and Wolf (deal should come shortly)

    The Braves wanted AJ Burnett and lost him, and EVERYONE thought Smoltz would go back to Atlanta.. I was praying we would sign Smoltz out of nowhere but he hates pitching in Philly and especially in CBP.

    Interesting to hear that the Phillies, Reds, Pirates, and Orioles were the other teams trying to get Baldelli.. makes sense for him to stay in the AL where he can DH and save his legs.. wonder what moves are upcoming as the Phillies know they need to add a decent RH bat to really sure-up this team. I think Stairs is the odd-man out because Jenkins is owed so much money still..

    Can we get anything decent in a trade including Matt Stairs? Stairs and Kendrick to an AL team for something…??

27. Don M Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    Also.. the list of players “Surprisngly Not Offered Arbitration” from mlbtraderumors…

    Bobby Abreu
    Joe Beimel
    Pat Burrell
    Adam Dunn
    Braden Looper
    Jamie Moyer
    Randy Wolf
    Kerry Wood

    Aside from Wood and maybe Wolf, we can see now that most GMs made these decisions with excellent foresight.

    …..

    I’m not sure if that list-and-comment was from Buster Olney, or from Tim Dierkes, but I have to agree

28. Geoff Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    I agree that the Braves will sign lowe now…theyre mad desperate..

    maybe coste and kendrick or stairs can get you like dennis sarfate or brian burress or someone like that from baltimore. the O’s have plenty of young pitching and a hole at catcher…

    maybe the phillies can make a surprise play for oliver perez…the mets may sign redding AND wolf (YES! i hope they do….), because tim redding sucks despite his ire to the phillies and randy wolf sucks. two total junk pitchers for the phils to knock around multiple times per year. perez will only cost you a second round pick to sign, which might really not be such a bad thing. it would allow you to have a very stable rotation. perez wouldnt necessitate a myers exit and if he ever puts it all together with his delivery hell dominate. too many moving parts in his delivery, i think he should shorten himself up.

29. Geoff Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    it was a graet idea to not offer arb to burrell…they wouldve paid twice as much as the rays did…

30. Gregie Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Some of you ppl are crazy. Do you really belive that Perez will ever sign with you and that shoebox you play in?????? His ERA would prob. be in the low 5’s in there!

31. NJ Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    It’s not that crazy when you think his options are all but gone if Lowe signs with the Mets and he has to sign somewhere even if it’s just for the year. The only other ft are the Braves who haven’t been rumored to be into him, the Cards/Brewers don’t seem to be in the market and Pitts won’t pony up unless he’s at costs.

    Oli Perez as a Phillie… never though it but it’s really not that crazy an idea considering the market.

32. Mike B. Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    NJ, I don’t trust Perez. I go to school in Pittsburgh, and I remember between 2005 and 2006, every time he started I read about how horribly he got shelled. And it’s not like he hadn’t had good seasons before that. I read a scouting report on sportsnet.ca that said “Control and command of the strike zone is always an issue with him. Getting out of the first inning is often his biggest problem on the mound.” Don’t we already have a guy in Myers who struggles getting out of the first inning? If our offense struggles, we can’t afford to have a guy who the report calls “A wildly effective mid-rotation starter.” Then on thebaseballcube.com, I saw his control rating was 21!!! (Cole’s control is 85, Myers 74). I really don’t want a LH version of Vincente Padilla. Not only that, it’ll definitely make Happ the odd man out and he’ll get lost in the southpaw shuffle.

    I’m kind of worried that the quality of our rotation depends on whether Brett Myers can actually put together a consistent season. If he can, we have our #2, but if not, we’d need to sign Lowe, or some other very good RHP. And we can’t because of Eaton.

33. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:30 am

    Yeah I used to live in pittsburgh too…if he was really cheap hed be worth gambling on, thats why i wanted to get him. but hell go back to the mets because no one else really seems to want him at all. i think the braves will sign lowe because they seem VERY desperate since losing out on burnett.

    i think the phillies will bring in another starting pitcher to compete for the 5th job, like a cheap reclamation project maybe. and another reliever and a right handed bench bat to replace stairs. im not gonna spend time hoping they sign lowe. i mean, come on. boras still hasnt dropped his price enough and he wont have to. the braves will cave in now that smoltz is gone. after that, the mets will sign oliver perez and tim redding. baltimore will sign kenshin kawakami to go with uehara. the odd man out is randy wolf, who i have trouble placing. i think the dodgers will sign jon garland, the rangers will sign sheets ultimately or else hell return to milwaukee. the brewers will sign braden looper. odalis perez might be a decent move here to compete for the 5th spot if he doesnt have a job already by spring training. i think that hell either sign with washington or houston though.

    im trying to think of another cheap non mentioned semi-quality starter to add to the competition on the market….any ideas? anybody want to go through freddy garcia again?

34. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:32 am

    they wont sign lowe, i mean it would be nice. but they committed themselves with moyer. now well be stuck with another cheap scrapheap guy to add to the mix. if the rotation falls apart by june theyll make a move then to bolster it otherwise we have what we have.

35. NJ Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 9:13 am

    remember someones getting left out in the cold here whether it’s Lowe, Perez or Sheets. The only clubs rumored to still be interested in frontline pitching are the Phils, Angels, Mets and the Braves are rumored to be more interested in the less is more options. Unless a team like the Brewers, Cardinals or Dodgers have a sudden change of heart then one of these guys is going to fall as the Mets can’t afford both Lowe and Perez on a decent salary and the Boras client left behind is in Kyle Lohse’s position last year.

    I don’t think Perez is a bonifide front-line pitcher because of the kinks in his game but i the Mets do sign Lowe then he’s a better buy by virtue of a near top pitcher at a massively reduced rate. I think Amaro’s approach is lets see if a top guy falls or we’ll go into ST with whats already an exciting batch.

36. Don M Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 11:09 am

    I don’t think the Phillies should or will have any interest in any pitcher besides Derek Lowe… last I read was the Mets would be willing to offer Lowe ($42/ 3 year = $14 M per).. which is the HIGHEST I thought the Phillies should even consider.. Having lost out on Burnett, and then Smoltz, and with Chipper Jones making comments about being pissed about Smoltz leaving, etc… I think Lowe goes to the Braves and gives them a nice staff of Hudson (Returns late season), Lowe, Jurrgens, Vazquez, and Campillo or Reyes .. they could be good again

    Phillies website lists or SP depth chart in the following order:
    1. Hamels, 2. Myers, 3. Moyer, 4. Blanton, 5. Kendrick, 6. Eaton, 7. Park, 8. Carrasco* *=Prospect

    Missing from that list is HAPP who is listed with the bullpen guys, probably just never switched his name from the postseason list. We’ve tried to move Eaton, offering to eat all but $1 Million of his salary, asking nothing in return… you have to think that SOME team will need an innings-eater at the low cost of $1 Million.. Eaton should be gone before the season starts

37. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am

    The Braves seem desperate enough for Lowe, but Im also reading that the Braves are in teh final stages of negotiation with Kenshin kawakami, which would shut the door on a move for Lowe. So if Kawakami goes to Atlanta, then Boras has to decide which one of his clients the Mets will overpay for. I think given that hell cost a draft pick (a first rounder to most teams but not the phillies) i have to think oliver perez is unsignable given his inconsistencies. if he was cheap and he puts it all together thats great but hes too whacky and one whacky pitcher is enough (myers). i think oliver perez will return to the mets.

    the mets seem very far apart on derek lowe so id have to think that if they bring back perez, then theyll sign tim redding. and if atlanta doesnt sign derek lowe then youre looking at the phillies and maybe the angels as the only real suitors with money and intentions…

38. NJ Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    I agree you want Lowe and I’m not into the idea of signing a guy just for the sake of it though I expect Lowe to sign first and with the Mets, it’s not his mega-deal but he’s still going to land a ‘very respectable’ contract. I don’t see the Braves ponying up, they weren’t interested in him early and their rumored more of a suitor than a serious bidder especially since they seem to be into the Japanese guy.

    My logic on Perez is he’s very signable for the 1 year at a massively reduced cost in which your adding a very good arm to the rotation, he’s inconsistent as George Bush’s telepromter but at a reduced rate playing for a payday that’s a deal you can’t pass up because it doesn’t dent the payroll much and your instantly a better team sticking him behind Myers or even towards the back of the rotation. If he’s available on a multi-year deal then he’ll be signing a very team friendly contract because he has no options and he gives you the ability to not have to pay Myers to stay because you’ve already replaced him at a lower cost and freed a spot towards the front of the rotation for Carrasco. It also makes Joe Blanton a very tradable chip if the intention isn’t to keep him around into his FA years. I do want to see Happ given a shot but if the above could be a reality Perez on the cheap is too good to pass up on. You stack up the reasons against and look at the reasons for and the for’s come out on top because like him or not, once Lowe signs he’s cheap and all but out of options.

39. NJ Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Agree Geoff Lowe is Philly-bound if the Mets do a 180 and go with Perez but it’s as sticky a negotiating situation as it gets both Lowe and Perez being represented by the same guy and the Mets have made it clear they want Lowe and Perez is a back-up plan. It just doesn’t make much sense considering all that has gone on especially with Boras that Lowe doesn’t sign first and I don’t see Perez crawling back to the Mets afterwards at costs especially with Boras doing the negotiating, he won’t get screwed twice by the same guy unless instructed to by his client.

    Whichever guy signs first leaves the other looking for a paddle and both guys make any team better (Lowe as a frontline pitcher and Perez a little further back in the rotation going into pretty much every game with the advantage in match-up)

40. Don M Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    Perez isn’t that good, and there is no reason for the Phillies to add another starter, let alone an inconsistent one..

    Lowe was in Atlanta yesterday meeting with Bobby Cox… he goes there and he’s the ACE of the staff, so I think its a done-deal.. They’ve got the money, and the need.. he’ll become a Brave or a RedSawk

41. NJ Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    I’m sceptical of Lowe ending up in Atlanta but the chances are raised by the Smotlz exit, I know Perez has his knocks and admit he’s certainly not going to be confused for an ace but I think he’s the one guy outside Lowe who could make this team better if only marginally and without causing much of a cash-flow problem.

    Biggest need right now would be for the kids on the farm to have a impressive year, I’m looking to Carrasco to dominate in AAA, Savery to show the reason he was drafted and Drabek to improve fast. I’ve got to say that Tommy Hanson in Atlanta scares me to high heaven.

    BTW Geoff where have your outlandish suggestions gone?

42. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:44 pm

    however, lowe wants to come east…i still have a hard time seeing how theyll sign him unless they really think Ja Happ is going to work out of the bullpen…if happ is going to be a reliever like they list on their site then so be it and then there would be an open slot in teh rotation still…

43. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    After being back into baseball for a few years now Ive gotten past the “The Phillies cant get every pitcher I like” phase…

44. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    I also got more into contracts and realized that in a sport with guaranteed cotracts you have to play the contract game much more.. i mean, teams just arent going to trade good young pitching thats under team control for a long time…

45. Don M Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:02 pm

    So you don’t think the Giants will trade Tim Linccecum for Ryan Howard anymore??

46. NJ Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    But some of your suggestions early last year where more entertaining than a Mets reporter!

    I wonder how badly the next crop of draft picks are going to be hit by the belt-tightning, think a lot more guys are going to be unsignable this year and play the Nancy Drew game. One area the Phillies really need to start addressing is the controllability of the bullpen, it’s not getting any cheaper.

    Is it just me or does Tommy Hanson seem like the kind of pitcher who’ll shut you down and then steal your lunch money and make you cry?

47. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    No I didnt think that even then…that was someone else. I called for them to trade shane victorino brett myers jimmy rollins and ryan howard for the entire first half of the season pretty much. I was all about trading Jimmy Rollins for prospects to “send a message” to the team.

    But once they won the World Series theres no panic factor anymore, so you just sit back and play the contract game now. Jimmy is signed under market value for like 2-3 more years now so he isnt going anywhere.

48. NJ Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    My favourite was Gallaraga and Joyce for Myers.

49. Georgie Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    Yeah, I miss Geoff’s rants,then he and Don would get into a big argument, it was quite entertaining.

    BTW, I just heard something on MLBN about the Mets having a new-found interest in Lowe, they are thinking a ground ball pitcher would be a good fit in their new, smaller stadium, hhmmm….

50. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm

    It would be nice if the Phillies had some good relief prospects to bring up. I feel that maybe one or two of the starter prospects they have should convert to the bullpen so they can come up and pitch sooner. Theres going to be a logjam in this rotation once carrasco comes up. happ drabek savery bastardo stutes etc. some of those guys will have to be relievers to make this roster.

51. Geoff Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    Since they won I mean, the impatient angry fan thing goes away and you can neutrally take a look at the situation…so thats helped a lot….by teh way, isnt joyce down in tampa now anyway?

52. Don M Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    we were pretty damn entertaining.. or annoying… it all depends on how you look at it

53. Georgie Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    Oh, it was definitely funny, I could wake up on the wrong side of the bed, but all I had to do was log on here and I was laughing out loud in no time!

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