Phillies Offseason Talk

[ice grillin you]

yeah what did you expect to get for padilla?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

a dozen prime-grade T-bones?

[Geowhizzer]

yeah what did you expect to get for padilla?

Blalock AND Teixeira. 

[BigEd76]

Scott Palmer was on WIP this morning and said that he always wanted to grow a goatee, but WPVI wouldn't let him.    He also said that he loves being on the inside of trade rumors and discussions and finds it hard to keep from spilling the beans about stuff that's been talked about.  When asked why the Phils haven't made any major moves to get fans excited, he said that there's still plenty of time until the season starts and there might be something brewing...   

[Wingspan]

Scott Palmer was on WIP this morning and said that he always wanted to grow a goatee, but WPVI wouldn't let him. 

you're that happy about scott palmer growing a beard?

seriously...go take a smilie class or something.

[Sgt PSN]

a dozen prime-grade T-bones?

I don't think Texas can trade away Kansas City's farm system. 

[MDS]

Did Angelo ask Palmer how Monty's balls taste?

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

seriously...go take a smilie class or something.

I've been saying all along that BigEd has a severe smilie addiction.
He overuses and misuses them more often than not.

We really should ban him.

[MDS]

Jacque Jones signed with the Cubs, so throw out the made up trade rumors with Burrell and Abreu

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

There's still hope!  The Phillies/Eagles and Cubs/Bears could make a deal incolving Abreu, Prior, Jacque Jones, and URLAKKERRR!!  GET URHLACHKERRR!!!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

What's the deal with the penny-pinching all of a sudden? With just a little more money/years, we'd still have Billy Wagner instead of Tom Gordon. Now Gillick lets Braden Looper get away. What's the deal and where's this starter he keeps saying they're looking to get?
-- Nick D., Jackson, Miss.

The difference between Wagner and Gordon was pretty vast in terms of dollars and years, about $22 million and at least one more guaranteed season. The most Gordon will make is $21.5 million, and that's if the Phillies pick up the 2009 option. Wagner will pocket that much after his second season. Given that, Gillick had no choice but to let Wagner take New York's money and hope for the best from Gordon. Gordon's salary is more symptomatic of the market exploding on the Phillies, and could win up being a bargain.

The same argument is made of Looper, even though his decision put the Phillies in a bind. It's tough to describe a team with an expected $94 million payroll as penny-pinching, but Gillick is working within a budget and is striving for roster flexibility. As for the starter, it looks like that's going to end up being Ryan Madson, which could be a very good thing.

Do you think Chase Utley will start at second? Also, is Pat Burrell going to be in left? And any more information about Madson being a starting pitcher?
-- Kim K., Glassboro, N.J.

Ah, Glassboro, the town which houses my alma mater. Of course, it used to be called Glassboro State College then, which gives you an idea of how old I am. Anyway, I digress. Utley and Burrell are guaranteed starting spots next season. Utley will likely hit third, with Burrell fourth or fifth.

As for Madson, my money is on him being in the starting rotation. Manuel likes him there, and Gillick is open to the possibility. Sure, the Phillies would have liked to have traded for a starter, but Madson is a fantastic option. Plus, a bona fide ace would have likely cost Bobby Abreu.

OK, I'll bite.  If Madson is going to be a starter, along with Lieber, Myers, Lidle, and Floyd, who in the hell is supposed to be the setup man?

This team has more holes than an English Muffin.

[BigEd76]

No more Chavez 

[MDS]

Huzzah!!!

[Rome]

This blurb was in Philly.com this morning and made me laugh quite a bit...

That the Phillies have held on to Michaels is related to the fact that the Padres yesterday traded starter Adam Eaton and reliever Akinori Otsuka to the Rangers. The Phillies are believed to have offered Michaels and righthander Rob Tejeda for Eaton and Otsuka.

Yeah, like the Padres were going to give up Adam Eaton for a fifth outfielder and the 10th pitcher on the Phillies staff.

[BigEd76]

Did you see what they traded them for?  A 6'11" back-of-the-rotation pitcher, a #1 overall bust that was acquired from Florida for Urbina in 2003, and a 5th OF acquired in the Soriano deal...