2008 Phillies Spring Training Thread

Started by Wingspan, February 14, 2008, 12:25:45 PM

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SunMo

I'm the Anti-Christ. You got me in a vendetta kind of mood.

MDS

Jimmy I got the money today. UPS guy said it was stuck under a vent or something. Thanks, bunky.
Zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. I'm sick of playing second fiddle. I'm always third in line for everything. I'm tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over.

SunMo

who the farg are you calling Jimmy, Herschel?
I'm the Anti-Christ. You got me in a vendetta kind of mood.

MDS

Zero hour, Michael. It's the end of the line. I'm the firstborn. I'm sick of playing second fiddle. I'm always third in line for everything. I'm tired of finishing fourth. Being the fifth wheel. There are six things I'm mad about, and I'm taking over.

Munson

So is Lohse still out there? get rid of Eaton already.
Quote from: ice grillin you on April 01, 2008, 05:10:48 PM
perhaps you could explain sd's reasons for "disliking" it as well since you seem to be so in tune with other peoples minds

PhillyGirl

QuotePhil Sheridan: Phillies need to forget about Eaton

By Phil Sheridan

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Phillies overcame three seemingly insurmountable obstacles to win the National League East last year, and they weren't the Mets, Braves and Nationals.

They were Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber and Adam Eaton.

The more time goes by, the more astonishing it really is that the Phillies were able to rally and win the division. Of course, it required both superb offensive production, which the Phillies can count on again this year, and a stunning choke job by the Mets, which they can't count on.

To win in a tougher division this year, the Phillies must have a good, even very good starting rotation. They no longer have to worry about Garcia and Lieber. They're gone. That leaves Eaton. The Phillies had to hope against hope that he could come back and contribute after his horrendous 2007 season.

Now it seems clear that he can't, and the sooner the Phillies deal with that and move on, the better. Magical thinking - relying on what you hope for rather than what you see - has doomed this team many times.

When Eaton was talking about his balky back a few days ago, it was as if Tommy Greene had reappeared in Clearwater. The big righthander was always sure everything would be swell if he could just get his back right.

Funny thing about backs. They feel fine until you try to make an unnatural movement. You know, like throwing a baseball or trying to hit one with a bat.

Waiting for Eaton to feel right may be futile. It may not even matter. There is increasing evidence that he just can't pitch effectively at the major-league level anymore. The Phillies' best move is to erase his name from the list of potential fifth starters.

It isn't necessarily bad to have a competition for the job. After all, the Phillies had a surplus of quality starters at this time last year, remember? They were so well stocked, everyone expected general manager Pat Gillick to trade the extra starter for some middle-relief help or an extra bat.

That promising, accomplished six-man rotation? Eaton, Garcia, Lieber, Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer.

By the pennant race in September, the rotation was Hamels, Moyer, Eaton, Kyle Lohse, Kyle Kendrick.

Myers was in the bullpen. Garcia and Lieber were on the scrap heap.

Having someone earn the job with a strong spring may be better than handing out spots to worn-out millionaires like Garcia, Lieber and Eaton.

Myers and Hamels give this team as good a 1-2 as there is in the National League East. Myers looked terrific the other day against Toronto's lineup. Hamels wasn't in command yesterday against the Rays, but he was trying to blend a curveball into his repertoire. Besides, he didn't look that imposing last spring, either.

"That's sort of the routine I have, I guess," Hamels said. "I'd rather make all my mistakes now. The results might not be what I want, but if I feel physically right, I can bear down and go into the season the way I want."

While Moyer and Kendrick are coming off solid years, there are reasons for concern because of age: Moyer is 45, and Kendrick is 23. For now, though, the Phillies have to count on both of them when the season begins.

Things began to get interesting yesterday and will heat up each day. Two contenders for the fifth spot pitched against the Rays. Fabio Castro looked sharp in three hitless innings. Young Carlos Carrasco gave up six runs on five hits and four walks.

A couple of more candidates, Kris Benson and Travis Blackley, are scheduled to throw today. Benson is coming back from an injury, so his simulated game today will be a major step. Tea-leaf readers will note that Blackley is starting today against Cleveland, which means he will get his first work against the opponent's full starting lineup.

That leaves the Durbins. J.D. started 10 games for the Phillies last season. Chad is a 30-year-old righthander pitching with his sixth major-league team.

A couple of the also-rans likely will wind up in middle relief. Pitching coach Rich Dubee said the other day that there was no need to make the starter-or-reliever call until late in spring training. That means this competition will go right to the end of the exhibition season.

The outcome will have a huge impact on the Phillies' chances to go back to the playoffs.

The offense is still there. Hamels thinks a 20-win season is realistic for him "with the lineup we have." And it's true. This lineup, with effective starting pitching, can win a lot of games.

Without good starting pitching? If you remember the near-miss seasons of 2005 and 2006, you know the answer.
"Oh, yeah. They'll still boo. They have to. They're born to boo. Just now, they'll only boo with two Os instead of like four." - Larry Andersen

Rome

How are they supposed to "forget" an $8M payroll outlay?   Sheridan should stick to covering dog shows in Harrisburg and leave actual sports reporting to people with a clue.

Sgt PSN

Paying Eaton $8M to not pitch would be the smartest money they've ever spent. 

troyhstewart

Quote from: Sgt PSN on March 08, 2008, 10:29:23 AM
Paying Eaton $8M to not pitch would be the smartest money they've ever spent. 

This.

Rome

Quote from: Sgt PSN on March 08, 2008, 10:29:23 AM
Paying Eaton $8M to not pitch would be the smartest money they've ever spent. 

Teaching him how to fly a single engine cessna would be better.

PhillyGirl

Quote from: Sgt PSN on March 08, 2008, 10:29:23 AM
Paying Eaton $8M to not pitch would be the smartest money they've ever spent. 

I think if the Phillies asked the fans to donate, they'd be happy to.

Rome, wtf are you talking about?
"Oh, yeah. They'll still boo. They have to. They're born to boo. Just now, they'll only boo with two Os instead of like four." - Larry Andersen

BigEd76




Looks like Carrasco and Castro will start the season in Allentown and they're considering a rule V guy (Travis Blackley, the guy with the porn star wife) as the 5th starter

I also read today that So Taguchi learned English by watching Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo and doesn't want a translator to help him out.  I guess Incredibles is next on the list....


ice grillin you

Quote from: BigEd76 on March 08, 2008, 02:28:34 PM



Looks like Carrasco and Castro will start the season in Allentown and they're considering a rule V guy (Travis Blackley, the guy with the porn star wife) as the 5th starter

I also read today that So Taguchi learned English by watching Monsters Inc and Finding Nemo and doesn't want a translator to help him out.  I guess Incredibles is next on the list....


there was a big article on him wed or thurs in one of the papers easy...or is that the one youre talking about and youre just reading it now
i can take a phrase thats rarely heard...flip it....now its a daily word

igy gettin it done like warrick

im the board pharmacist....always one step above yous

mpmcgraw

Blackley has a porn star wife?

that is incredibly accurate?