Phillies Nation

94 Responses to “Braves Complete Sweep”

1. Morris Buttermaker Says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm

   When Milt Thompson played for the Phillies in the early 90’s, he was part of a platoon. Is it possible for him to platoon as hitting coach? Because he is doing a horrible job. Multiple players get stuck in weeks long slumps. And the offense can’t get anything going. The hitters make no adjustments whatsoever. It is sickening to watch. Something needs to be done about the offense. There is no reason for a lineup with this many strong offensive players to play so horribly.

   And it looks like Madson’s confidence is totally gone. The Phillies have known for years that he is not closer material, but they tried to force him into it. So now they don’t have a closer or an 8th inning pitcher.

2. the lopez Says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 11:28 pm

   what the hell?
   whats happening to my beloved phils?

3. phils_ftw Says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 11:44 pm

   This team isn’t repeating anything. At this rate they’ll be lucky to make the playoffs or wildcard.

4. Andrew R. Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 12:07 am

   Werth should’ve slid in hard with his cleats digging right into gonazlez’s arm. Guaranteed, he drops the ball on that one.

   and madson throws that POS 2-seamer, or cutter or whatever it is. Stick with the 95+ fastball and nasty change up. Last year his changeup was the most swung at and missed pitch in the majors. Why is messing with a 3rd pitch.

5. 14str8t Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 am

   How did that one feel Philly Nation?? Sorry, Bravos had to break out the broom and actually use it this time after blowing the opportunity to sweep the first series of the season. Oh well, we won that series too. Get a real ace and some decent pitching outside of this Happ kid. And while you’re at, get a lead off man that hasn’t fallen hard out of his prime. Good luck, suckas!

6. therookie300 Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 1:04 am

   Madson seems to be doing a Durbin impersonation. Look good with his best pitches then make a mistake and watch it get crushed. Every time he misses on a pitch it is getting hammered.

7. Kennedy Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 am

   Man, I’d love to poke around in Madson’s head for a little, f’in weird. He gets the Jeltz today for sure.

8. j reed Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 am

   Morris:P agreed on Thompson. I mean seeing it last year made me question his worth, but a WS has a way of letting people off the hook. But seeing it again….Considering the odds of a month long team wide slump relative to our talent slim to begin with, what are the odds of it happening again and at same time? Impossible you’d think. But no. If this doesn’t constitute a pattern then what does. It so fragrantly defies the the Law of Averages that I stab my eye with a hot poker everytime I hear some radio personality, sports writer or the phillies announcers dismiss this as “that’s baseball”, “it’s a long season”, or draw causual conclusions like “well its the same as last year and….yadda, yadda”. x because y therefore y because x…..Wow in the most statisically measurable sport, this crap. I will say that the Phils took good ABs tonight and played some small ball but the bull pen failed which brings me to Dubee. Aside from Happ and Condrey, this entire staff has stuggled or is struggling, and all within a 3 month span. Considering pitching is not given to chance like hitting (bad calls aside), what is the likelhood of this happening? Lack of preparation and antcipating the league adjustments I think are among other things mostly like the cause behind the horrible numbers our pitching has put up. I could go on about why I think he’s overated but i’ll get more depressed. What’s been so disappointing is that with a WS we have grown little and not developed into more seasoned, intelligent type of ball club I hoped for. It’s this part of the equation we lack. Everything else is in place, and its the stuff you can’t teach: god given physical prowess and will. The missing link: baseball IQ. And this is why you have coaches. Unfortuantely the coaches seem blind to the fact teams have adjusted to us and strategy is the best counter measure to this…talent gives you the chance to overcome it but only when it know what it’s up against.

9. Bruce Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 am

   To borrowed a line from the Grateful Dead’s song, Truckin’ ..”Lately it occurs to me: What a long, strange trip it’s been”.

   Nothing seems to be going right for the team. Every little mistake be it at bat, on the field or on the mound is exploited to the fullest advantage by the opposition. Phillies, once had great success on the road have finished their current road trip with a dismal 3-6 record. I suppose one could say the law of averages is catching up to the team. However, what is more alarming is the Phillies’ current slum that is showing no sign of ending as they have lost 14 out the last 18 games.

   The woeful slum is not limited to one or two players but like a contagious diease, it has spread practically to the whole team. If they don’t have a sense of urgency in finding a remedy, they soon will find themselves chasing not one but possibly three teams in their division.

   The last two games brought new concerns with Hamels and Madson. The “ace” and stopper of losing streaks that we saw in Hamels last year has not consistently performed to that level of expectation this season, especially in his last two starts where he has failed to get out of the 5th inning.

   With Madson, it’s the case of the missing ‘change-up”; his equalizer and out pitch. He is not mixing his pitches and seemingly rely on his 95 MPH fastball almost exclusively. I know there are some young posters here who are in love with “fireballers” that can bring the heat. However, to give an example, I’ll use Bastardo. We saw him trying to overpower major league hitters with basically one pitch, the fastball. It didn’t take long for word to spread among hitters as they sat on his fastball and Bastardo become totally hittable. Bastardo, once off the DL needs to go back to the minors and learn to be a pitcher, not a thrower.

   Whether, Madson has an issue with self confidence and difficulty in adjusting from setup to closer and back to setup is only speculation with fans. The obvious concern and more easily resolve, in my opinion, is his questionable pitch selection. Please…throw more change ups!

10. » Braves Sweep Phillies Wasting Happ’s Excellent Outing | Blogging-Baseball.com Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 am

    [...]  Phillies Nation’s Amanda Orr recounts what happened next: After that, everything fell apart [in the eighth] for Ryan Madson, who continues to struggle. Matt Diaz hit a RBI double, but Garrett Anderson gave the Braves insurance on a 2 run bomb. [...]

11. M.P. aka A.J. #54 Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 am

    I agree with you all except on Thompson – I am not sure he is the issue only because they have no problems at times. The inconsistency is not the hitting coach, it is the player. Now, his job tomorrow is to get them in the batting cages and hitting. I would even call up some of their pitching to give them ‘live’ pitching even if it is A and AAA level. No easy stuff, just get them to throw their side sessions at players.

    As for Madson – I told you all so !!!! I hate saying that because of Karma though LOL Seriously, he needs to go back to AAA just like Myers and Lidge (though due to injury) and regain that confidence.

12. Papa Thompson Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 7:05 am

    Unlike Wednesday’s loss, at least there are some positives to come out of last night — another good outing for Happ; Rollins got two, count ‘em, two hits; and the Phils stand a good chance at lighting up Livan tonight after seeing all of that 60+mph junk from Vazquez.

13. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 7:26 am

    I think this again comes down to poor coaching. The Phils hitters don’t seem prepared against the opposing starting pitching or go-to relievers, on the flip-side teams like Atlanta look like they expect to see the back-end of the Phillies bullpen and have schooled up.

    I’m struggling to believe the Phillies lack of consistent performance is down to on-the-field play. You hear so much about certain prominent and lesser role players with teams being students of the game, outside of Chase Utley and Jamie Moyer you don’t hear about the Phillies players using their time away from the diamond to find an edge or improve elements of their game. The most I’ve heard is Jimmy Rolllins (credit to him for a multi-hit game) taking extra batting practise which many people seem to feel can hurt as much as help a hitters preparation.

    Echoing the previous post there is positives though from this loss which is very important.

14. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 7:39 am

    Now that we are sellers, do you think we can move lidge’s contract, for prospects or ibanez and bring up taylor.

15. DHall Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 7:48 am

    No fire, no passion, no energy, and no intensity. I watched Werth jogging for a ball that dropped in front of him 2 nights ago. No hustle running to first. Rollins hadn’t had a hit since Clinton was in office, yet he’s laughing in the dugout. These guys just collect their millions and go home. Why should we care since they dont? There’s more to life than the Phillies!

16. Eli Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 7:49 am

    mikemike – that is the spirit, you are a smart fan. sell to us, we will be #1 and respresent the eastern division. let’s go mets. only a matter of time, the marlins will be way below 500 and so will you

17. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 am

    eli I know when to sell to get the most value, people on here will blame Thompson, what the hell do they think he is doing to hurt players, hitting coaches are like as*** everyone has one but it really serves no purpose

18. justphantastic Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am

    just think IF they could have won 1/2 of those games.. the race would be over

    i think the WFC is a 1x deal. When Cole looks like Paul Abbott and Madson looks like Taschner

    They did show some offensive signs yesterday, but it was offensive to us as fans to continue to watch this…

19. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 am

    I STILL SAY SELL NOW

20. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:20 am

    eli now that the phillies are out of it, did you see any mets divison champ shirt, I would like one.

21. Morris Buttermaker Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 am

    Hitting coaches serve no purpose? Have you seen what Don Mattingly has done for the Dodgers?

    Well, we have had plenty of bad news with the Phillies, but let’s look at the positives.

    First of all, tomorrow is the 4th of July- fireworks, hot dogs and beer. What could be better? There is a strongman competition down on the Parkway tomorrow. And there is an ice cream festival at Penn’s Landing. And of course, Sheryl Crow and the Roots at the Art Museum.

    Also, look at all the free time the Phillies bad play is giving you. I can hardly spend more than 5 minutes on this site until I get so disgusted I have to move on. Same with Philly.com. I don’t want to spend anytime reading articles about this hot mess. I also barely watch CSN and ESPN. I am getting all sorts of things done.

    Finally, tomorrow’s game is being broadcasted by Fox. And we will get stuck listening to some national broadcasters and they will spend little time actually talking about the game. Instead you will get to hear about Independence Day, Rocky, Cheesesteaks and the Curse of William Penn. And best of all, no Chris Wheeler, the Sarge or T-Mac.

22. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:45 am

    Coaching is the most important element of any team in any league particularly baseball where the line between success and failure can be so thin especially in the NL.

    The Phils, Dodgers, Cubs, Mets, Brewers etc. all have pretty much the same amount of upper tier talent. Right now your seeing how much better coached the Dodgers are and how well and how well they’ve drafted for their system, your seeing the Mets failure to understand how important role players are and for the Phils it’s tough to see any kind of visible coaching except a rigid and inflexible line-up and predictable in-game decisions.

    I think the reason the Phils have dug themselves a hole is our coaching does seem to serve no purpose. You can’t have these many talented players failing to make adjustments unless the coaching is poor.

23. timb Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 am

    betwixt Uncle Chuck and Milt Thompson, we may have two of the most ineffective coaches in the majors. i wouldn’t trust those two to mow my lawn.

24. Eli Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 8:59 am

    mikemike, you are a mets fan? I was unaware, thanks buddy! I am glad to see more of us on here. soon we should buy the phillies site and take over that too as we are taking the division. i am happy to see mets gear with 2009 division champs, and we will be featured as a success story of 2009. Beltran, Reyes, Delgado are heroes.

25. Eli Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 am

    Timb – as a loyal mets fan, even I am apalled at your ungrateful comment. charlie led you to a Worls series. if jerry did that, i’d be so happy. davey johnson is the best manager in history and led us to victory. even as a arrogant mets fan, that statement is wrong, wrong, wrong. enough defence of charlie. let’s go mets.

26. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:06 am

    Eli your Mets have no chance of taking the division this year, you are a frail team and many o the guys you have on the DL aren’t exactly team first, lets pull together personalities. IF the Phils don’t take the division which the majority of the insiders still expect them to do then its the Fish or Braves who have surged. Get ready for next year and hope your GM stops trying to buy a championship and gets you a true support cast.

27. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 am

    Charlie is a great players manager, a great guy, a formerly great hitting coach but he’s not a great tactician like a La Russa or Torre, motivator like Pinella or sees the game like the younger managers.

28. Jeff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:17 am

    I love how the little Eli troll pops up. Listen troll Jerry is not leading you anywhere. He is aweful. The Mets beat a pirates team and struggled. KROD was not worth the money. The Phillies are atleast playing bad together. I have never seen this team be so bad. It will turn around when Raul comes back. Then we will smash the MUTS.

29. Gavin Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:25 am

    The Phils should sell at the deadline. This team isnt winning any divisions or championships. Anyone who thinks otherwise is in “World Champ” denial.

30. I'm Chutly Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:30 am

    HA HA HA HAH AHHAH!!! and Lidge is worth the money???? AH HAHAH AH!! At least the Mets have an excuse, their team is injured and they are playing with AAA and bench players. Yes I agree they should still find a way to win, but their not. WHAT’S THE PHILLIES EXCUSE? THEY FLAT OUT SUCK RIGHT NOW….PERIOD…. Your beloved Phillies should have at least a 10 game lead over the second place team. BUT NOOOOO!!. Because your beloved Phillies SUCK, they have allowed the Marlins, Mets and Braves to be in spitting distance to first place. FOR SHAME!!!! IT’S NOW A FOUR TEAM RACE AGAIN. Your beloved phillies could have and should have won this division in July. So, who really sucks? The Mets? the Marlins? The Braves? No…………………………The Phillies? YESSSS!!!!!

31. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 9:34 am

    Who’s winning the division…?

32. justphantastic Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 10:20 am

    hey chutley

    who are the WORLD PH***** CHAMPIONS????

    LAUGH THAT OFF CHUCKLES

33. Marc H Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 10:33 am

    NJ–The Marlins. Good younf pitching, fresh legs and hungry.

34. justphantastic Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Marc H

    who are the WORLD PH***** CHAMPIONS????

35. Marc H Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:00 am

    justphantastic :

    Look, I’m a Phillies ticket holder. I’m right there with you. But guys who had great years last year just aren’t having them this year(Lidge, Madson in particular). I’ll hope until the last out of the 2009 season. But you asked a question and I gave you an honest answer

36. Georgie Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Hey, I just saw Matt Yaloff on MLBN, I always kind of liked him when he was with csn philly.

37. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 am

    Eli not a mets fan but when people come on here and try to blame a hitting coach in the majors for the problems, its time to move on. major league players make a ton of money and does anyone think a j roll who has been successful for years under milt thompson, doesn’t know his problems. don’t blame coaches for the players failure, in the minors its real important as they come up, but what the hell can thompson say to howard or werth who are major league players for more than five years,

38. nk Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am

    ryan madson needs to stop throwing fastballs when he has batters in an 0-2 or 1-2 count! throw your changeup, considering it is your best pitch! end of story!!!

39. Jeff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 am

    YEA I would say Lidge is worth the money. You ask why…HE BROUGHT MY TEAM A WORLD FFFF SERIES RING…Something you have not done since 86

40. cas Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 am

    Is it possible that, just like in 1993, everyone last year had a career year and played over their heads at once and this is more like what the real talent level of this team is? And, please, Mutts fans, don’t talk to us about YOUR injuries; we’ve lost our #2 starter for the season, have one outfielder on the DL, one relief pitcher on the DL, and have one reliever who just got off the DL. (Did I miss anybody?) This is all depressing beyond belief.

41. Bruce Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:50 am

    Attention fans of the former “Byrd’s Nest”. Latest MLB news:

    “The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for starting pitching and according to the Philadelphia Daily News have discussed is veteran Paul Byrd, who posted a 4.60 ERA in 30 starts with the Indians and Red Sox last season…”.

    Preparation for reviving “Byrd’s Nest” may soon take place.

42. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 am

    Bruce I hear that rumors it byrd or wang, the offer for wang is taylor, worley, d’nauld

43. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:17 pm

    Where did you see that offer for Wang? Seems massively excessive…

44. Bruce Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    To Georgie’s comment..”I just saw Matt Yaloff on MLBN, I always kind of liked him when he was with csn philly.”

    I too like Matt Yaloff. I last seen him as postgame host for SNY network covering the Mets and wondered why he was no longer with the station. He never gives the impression of being a “homer” and is forthright with criticism when the team performs poorly (which is often). Maybe the station felt uncomfortable with his uncompromised views. Personally, it’s always interesting for me to hear different viewpoints on the other side.

    And to Morris Buttermaker’s comment..” tomorrow’s game is being broadcasted by Fox. And we will get stuck listening to some national broadcasters and they will spend little time actually talking about the game.”

    That’s funny. I have the same thoughts with the broadcasting duo of Tom “Ronald McDonald” McCarthy and “Babbling Sarge” Mathews. They too spend more time talking about themselves with jokes and anecdotes that are totally irrelevant to the game on the field. Tom is so distracted with Sarge that he often errs on pitch count and type of pitch thrown. The duo seem to lack the ability to add color and excitement to key dramatic moments as if it were an afterthought. I missed the late Harry Kalas’s play calling.

45. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:41 pm

    Where did that business about Wang come from? Thats a hefty offer for a guy whos struggling.

46. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    Still 2 losses ahead of the Mets and Marlins and 3 ahead of the Bravos.

    Taylor Worley or D’nauld for Wang, who is 1-6 with a 10.06 ERA, 2.13 WHIP, and .373 BAA….yeahhhhh im sure they would give their top hitting and catching prospect for him…

    RIghhtt mikemike, go put your mets shirt back on, your a clown.

47. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 pm

    and D’nauld**

48. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:50 pm

    Michael Taylor is a stud. He probably is untouchable unless its for like Cliff Lee or Dan Haren. This will be playing for the big team in a year or two. Theyll MAKE room for him (seya Victorino) – Werth to CF.

    That would be a beast lineup

    Rollins (ASSUMING he returns to leadoff form at some point)
    Werth
    Utley
    Howard
    Taylor
    Ibanez
    Feliz/Donald or whoever the 3B is
    Ruiz
    P

49. Bruce Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:52 pm

    If it comes down to Byrd or Wang, it wouldn’t be a difficult choice. Bottom line cost is salary alone (Byrd) or salary AND a boatload of prospects (Wang). You choose.

50. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 12:58 pm

    Byrd is not a real option – AMaro basically said that the other day – that he isnt better than what they have.

51. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    Geoff please drop the Dan Haren talk its NOT going to happen and talking about it here is stupid because you might as well be talking about Zack Greinke just because the Royals aren’t going to make the play-offs. The Angels tried for Haren and the D-Back said they wouldn’t even entertain an offer.

52. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Actually the D-Bcks said theyd consider it if they are blown away..that was posted on foxsports.com under the mlb headline/rumor section from their local paper….they said it would take an offer “similar to that which brought Haren to Arizona” to move him…so hes out there. Phillies have more to offer than the Angels do.

53. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    Yeah NJ, Geoff is right, Haren and Lee can be had for the right price, the article said the offer would have to be “staggering.”

    Personally, i think you go get Haren for whatever cost, he signed, and he is dominant. Assuming Hamels gets his act together, Hamels, Haren, Happ, Blanton, Moyer…Drabek next year.

    I would keep Drabet and Taylor, everyone else, is available.

54. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    Drabek, damn, i can’t type today.

55. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    The Angels system is stocked and has been for years for one and read between the lines, if you believe there’s even a remote possibility it’s going to happen your deluding yourself whilst pissing the rest of us off who are trying to be realistic about the season and realistic trade possibilities.

56. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:11 pm

    Your just kidding yourself guys…

57. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm

    I didn’t say its going to happen, but if i see it written that both CAN BE HAD for the RIGHT PRICE, with the Phillies stacked in the minors with talent, why wouldn’t they look into it?

    If they don’t get a top flight arm, they aren’t going to do anything, you know it, i know it, Charlie knows it and Ruben knows it.

58. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm

    EVERYONE could be had for the right price, point is no-one is going to pay THAT price.

    The D-Backs are in love with Haren to the point they’ve prioritised him over Webb. They’re a young team built to be significantly better as the next couple of years progresses so their not going to suddenly have buyers remorse and throw out their whole blueprint just because a front office exec said the offer would have to be ‘overwhelming’, again read between the lines, that doesn’t mean he’s ‘available’, it means the offer would have to be so good the commissioners office would considering a veto.

59. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    I agree…at the very least they need someone solid. If they get that, and if they bolster their bullpen and bench they COULD make another run if the offense catches fire again and the bullpen shores up and returns to form.

    Itd make it a LOT easier if they get an elite arm though. Otherwise you have to depend on a lot of things falling into place one more time. Also, having a guy to take pressure off of Hamels would REALLY help.

60. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm

    I disagree, the Phils would LIKE another frontline arm which is something most contenders are coveting but the problem for much of the year especially the recent losses have not been the starting pitching. Their looking to replace Brett Myers and then see what’s available in terms of frontline pitching.

    If Haren did become available a team like the Angels or Rangers have much more enticing trade bait that the Phils do. I just hate rumors being spun as realism here, it’s like wishing Mike Schmidt was our 3rd Basemen of the future.

61. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    So basically your saying if the Phils offered..

    Victorino, Carrasco, Brown, Worley, Marson, Savery and Donald..

    They wouldn’t listen?

    I would be able to go sleep soundly after that trade, i dunno about you.

62. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    How about this just went to modell’s and my nephew wanted a phillies shirt, they are marked down from 24.99 to 3.oo. think modell wants to get rid of there stuff, they must also believe they are done.

63. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:22 pm

    Brett Myers IS frontline pitching. Look what he did down the strech and in the postseason AND this season once he settled in…he was frontline. They lost him, now they NEED to replace him – with – ANOTHER frontline pitcher.

64. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 pm

    Has anyone found any truth to the Wang rumour? All I can see of any merit was Buster Olney a few days ago saying the Phils are interested but it would probably take JA Happ.

65. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:24 pm

    Well…the offer for Haren was two A prospects, two B prospects, and two C prospects. but those guys ended up not panning out like they wanted

66. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    On Foxsports they reported that the D-backs and Indians would listen. I’m not saying its going to happen or its a real possiblity. But if your the Phillies, looking at this roster, you have 3 years for a legit shot at another title, or more.

    Gettin Haren, gives you an awesome 1-2, probably a shade behind the Giants. That 1-2 with our lineup, and the bullpen, they could rival the Dodgers for the next couple of years.

67. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    IF Victorino, Carrasco, Brown, Worley, Marson, Savery and Donald for Dan Haren you might as well throw in Drabek, Howard and mighty joe young because the league would use its power to veto grossly one sided trades.

68. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:26 pm

    I dont believe the Wang rumors. The Phillies would not trade JA Happ for Wang. The Yankees should hold onto Wang because trading him now is selling waaaaaaaaaaay low.

    JA Happ is a SOLID LEGITIMATE starting pitcher who is only getting better. He is not going to be traded – period. He isnt a prospect anymore, hes a bona-fide major league starter

69. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:27 pm

    Geoff, honestly that offer i threw out, your telling me that wouldn’t be enticing to a team like the D-Backs?

    I’m not crazy am I ?

70. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    haha…mighty joe young

71. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    One sided?

72. jack seiwell Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm

    It seems batalico & the wild thing understands what is wrong with the phils moreso than the phils coaching staff. ive been a philly fan since 1948 and i will be til the i die but right now they seem to be a lackluster team and they look terrible.

73. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm

    NJ, my point with that ‘offer’ is that it would seem to be the type of ’staggering’ offer that could entice them to give Haren up.

74. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    I just don’t think the team can stand pat and just figure everything is going to turn around and go back to the old ways.

    You have the pieces, get some balls to make the offer.

75. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    LG- Look at recent blockbuster deals and what kind of packages went to each side. The one with the biggest return as far as I can recall was Mark Teixeria going to Atlanta where the Rangers were able to prize that bit much more than most deals of that kind for Texiera AND Ron Mahay.

76. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:34 pm

    NJ, i don’t understand what your saying… that the names i threw out are too much for Haren or too little?

77. Bruce Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    Hey little Guy, you made a comment..”offer would have to be “staggering.” ..Personally, i think you go get Haren for whatever cost”. Really? Like a game of Monopoly, it’s fun to play with funny money and make moves as an wanna be GM. (chuckles)

    In the real world, do you honestly think Amaro would seriously mortage the team’s farm future and hand out $7.5 megabucks in salary for Haren? Like NJ implied, keep dreaming.

78. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    far too much your talking one starting outfielder who would be the starter on any team, a guy considered to be a top pitching prospect around the league, the teams top outfield prospect plus two near major league ready prospects highly regarded around the league, a former first rounder progressing well and another high drafted pitching prospect developing well in the minors. You’ll NEVER see a deal with that many guys, let alone that many highly regarded prospects being sent for 1 player.

    In hockey terms not even the Gretsky deal was that big and had to take multiple players going each way for a deal to get done. And that was for a once in a generation player.

79. phanman Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    Maybe against the Mets and the home stand the Phillies will gel….its got too there is alot of wholes in this team …..pitching…lack of men on base…key hits ….bull pen….injuries or non-injuries …some are ok one day the out for 3 days….Charlie needs some new arms….people others haven’t seen on a regular bases HAPP is gonna be their ACE….Hamels…is a WAS BEEN….philly pitching is so predictable MOYER still don’t lknow why they signed him…but then again look what their paying on the ledge Lidge…oh well we’ll all have to wait and see I do know if it starts getting ugly early in the first game against the METS….the fans will show it BIG TIME…..

80. The Little Guy Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    Okay NJ, thanks for clarifying.

    I feel what your saying, bottom line, i think you gotta make a move, preferably a big one to not only strengthen the team, but shake up the mood and revitalize the clubhouse, feel me?

    Haha.

    Lets go Phils.

81. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:04 pm

    wang for taylor not happ is the rumor

82. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    Apologise if it seemed like I was going at you the LG just trying to avoid the next 3+ days being about how we should get Dan Haren like its a realistic possibility that will turn into anger when we don’t trade for him.

    I feel you I just feel the solution has to be the un-sexy better fundamental play driven by time studying the opponents. I feel supremely confident the guys we have in the system that can keep this team relevant for as long as it is managed and coached to a top-tier level. I agree short-term improvements can be made but I think subtle moves are going to be the most effective way of contending this year which is all we can really ask for.

83. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    mikemike where’s this rumour coming from?

84. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    agree LG…wang for taylor is NOT going down? Michael Taylor could play everyday for a few other teams in baseball RIGHT NOW. it would be better to let him develop a bit more and then move victorino to make room for him next season.

85. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    There are a few prospects Id move, but a the more I see of Taylor the less I want to move him…and hey I just read the Royals would “listen on Zach Greinke” from Stark, whos very good. But that doesnt mean hes gettable – same as Haren. It means theyd trade him if theyre blown away – otherwise forget it.

86. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Makes more sense that Werth will become the odd-man out. His salary next year is very high in his walk year, it’s going to cost the Phils more to keep hm around at a time their more likely to be able to sign Vic to a multi-year deal and he has much more peripheral value than Werth who’s also that bit older.

87. Geoff Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:20 pm

    I do agree that Werth could be moved. Vic could get 2-3 years to allow Brown to develop.

88. Gavin Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    The Phillies need a few more #4 starters like Wang, Byrd, et al considering we already have 5 of those already.

89. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    Werth is cheap at 2.4 million why is that high.

90. NJ Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    because the second and final year of Werth’s deal is almost 3x’s the value of his first year, then he’s a (likely) typa A free agent who’ll be looking for a multi-year deal in what will probably be an improved economy.

91. Eli Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 4:36 pm

    Jerry manuel will be in the HOF for turning this mets team around. mikemike is even being converted to a mets fan by wanting to sell the phillies. good for us, if he does, when the phillies get hot they get hot, so we have to take first now. mikemike is making a mistake by wanting to sell everyone. he will be like us after the injuries, but it is what he wants. lets go mets

92. Met Fan From NYC Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    I love how the phillies are only 1 game up on the mets and the mets have there all star first baseman hurt, all star shortstop hurt, all star center fielder hurt, number two and three starters, two setup men (including wagner), and a bunch of reserves. Now the phillies have two crucial players hurt in Raul Ibanez, whom i have great respect for, and Brett Myers. Now, lets see what the phillies lineup would look like with the injuries the mets have.

    DL:
    Jimmy Rollins
    Ryan Howard
    Raul Ibanez
    Brett Myers
    Joe Blanton
    Ryan Madson

    This is the type of players the Mets have on the D.L. Now, tonight will start the three game sweep when the mets minor league team defeats the philladelphia phillies

    Lets go mets

93. mikemike Says:
    July 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    Nj I can’t believe he is a type a free agent.

94. cas Says:
    July 4th, 2009 at 9:42 am

    I do not want to literally give away the farm for anybody. The Phillies used to have one of the worst farm systems in the majors and I don’t want to go back to that. I want to have a strong base to draw on for years to come.

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