Phillies Offseason Talk

[MDS]

[Sgt PSN]

For the Phils to lie to Piazza would probably just lead to problems in the future- and I don't think that Piazza would be fooled by such rhetoric.

That was the recruiter in me talking.  Sorry about that. 

[Geowhizzer]

For the Phils to lie to Piazza would probably just lead to problems in the future- and I don't think that Piazza would be fooled by such rhetoric.

That was the recruiter in me talking.  Sorry about that. 

The teaching as a "noble profession" is similar.  Noble must have the same Latin root meaning as "poor."

[Geowhizzer]

According to FoxSports, Piazza is all but guaranteed to start with the Padres.

Excerpt:

The Padres are expected to use Piazza as their cleanup hitter and No. 1 catcher. They were preparing to go to spring training with two career backups, Doug Mirabelli and David Ross, splitting time at the position.

No amount of money the Phils were going to offer would have matched that.

[BigEd76]

The Reds announced a few hours ago that Mike Arbuckle will be interviewed for their GM spot.  He's one of seven candidates...

[PhillyPhreak54]

Here's the list of names still available for our bench: 

Rafael Palmeiro
Erubiel Durazo
Dave Hansen
Tino Martinez
Jose Offerman
Greg Colbrunn
Carlos Baerga
Scott Hatteberg
Jose Hernandez
Roberto Alomar
Ramon Martinez (can't re-sign with Phils)
Rey Sanchez
Royce Clayton
Manny Alexander
Alex Gonzalez (FLA SS)
Alex S. Gonzalez (TB 3B)
Mike Mordecai
Luis Lopez

Sammy Sosa
Bobby Higginson
Juan Gonzalez
Richard Hidalgo
B.J. Surhoff
Jeffrey Hammonds
Dustan Mohr
Gerald Williams
Denny Hocking
Danny Bautista
Chris Magruder
Ruben Sierra

Bengie Molina

I am shocked that Molina doesn't have a job yet. Did he price himself out of a job? Is Boras his agent?

That list is unimpressive. Baerga was half decent in Washington. Erubiel Durazo might be OK.

Also...

Gillick will be on SportsFinal tonight

[PhillyPhreak54]

Good post, Whizzer. I didn't realize that it was even that close between the two. I still would have wanted him here to come off the bench, but oh well.

[MDS]

Hidalgo is the only guy on the list who seems decent as a bench option. Doubt he comes here as a 5th OF.

[Sgt PSN]

That is the most unimpressive list of free agents ever.  EVAR! 


If Palmiero goes back to B-more, I bet he can give up Viagra with Anna Benson flaunting her stuff around the clubhouse. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

"No, I do not give out no trade clauses. Sometimes when you give a guy 10, 12, 15 million dollars that is enough of a no trade in itself"

-also-

"We have to get better."

-also-

--Pat Gillick

What a breath of fresh air. Even though I wanted Hunsicker, I am really starting to like Gillick.

He also said that they might be able to make a deal for a SP by spring as well as upgrade the bullpen too.

[Sgt PSN]

I like his attitude.  He seems like he's taking the job very seriously and is dead set on winning unlike any other ass clown who's been running this franchise since the mid 80's.  Then again, he's already won a couple of WS and put together a team that had 116 wins in the reg season so I think it's safe to say he knows what he's doing.  What's an acceptable time table for him to really build a legit contender?  Because I just don't see it happening this year.  Not with all the money tied up in Bell and Loserthal along with the glaring need for a stud in the rotation.  So what's he got?  2 years?  3?  More?  Obviously I'm not going to demand he bring a championship home this year (or even contend for one) but I do think that going into the 2007 this team should be competing for one (ala the 2000 Eagles) and by 2008 this team should be considered among the best in the league and one of the "automatic" favorites for the WS.   

[BigEd76]

I am shocked that Molina doesn't have a job yet. Did he price himself out of a job? Is Boras his agent?

The teams that needed catchers have already filled those holes while Molina still believes he's worth $7M a year...

[BigEd76]

The Padres finally announced the Ed Wade hire

He will scout the Double-A Eastern League and Triple-A International League for San Diego.

So he'll be checking out our farm teams...

I like this spin:

With Wade as the head of baseball operations, the Phillies won 86 or more games in four of eight seasons while the farm system produced 2005 National League Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard.

[LBIggle]

well my god.. get wade.

[MDS]

Friday night Phils games back on 1210, due to hockey being back......

Phils have now 12 candidates to replace Tom McCarthy, and Scott Palmer is not among them (or so they say).