06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[mpmcgraw]

What a bitch.

You are an idiot. 

[NGM]

Phillies "capsule" from Yahoo.com

Philadelphia Phillies

First impression: The Phillies had 12 games to make up in the East – or three in the wild-card race – and went straight for starting pitching, re-signing Jamie Moyer before October was done, signing Adam Eaton in November and trading for Freddy Garcia in early December. Despite speculation right-hander Jon Lieber – who, at $7.5 million for 2007, is a relative bargain – would be traded, the Phillies enter camp with six starters. Or, at the very least, six pitchers who expect to start. Considering the fragile middle finger on Eaton's throwing hand, an ailment that has hindered the pitcher's past two seasons, GM Pat Gillick would be wise to keep an alternate starter close by. The Phillies do have a lot going for them; stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley on the right side of their infield, beloved gamer Aaron Rowand in center field, charismatic Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, developing ace Cole Hamels in their rotation and a pitching staff that, as a whole, was better as the season went on. All that's left is a jump from pretty good – they've won 85 to 88 games in five of the past six seasons but not made the playoffs since 1993 – to very good, a step that will depend on their bullpen.

Competition: Lieber could eventually go for a reliever (as could Rowand), but in the meantime the final spot in the rotation is his or Eaton's, with the odd man out taking a role in the bullpen. Eaton's power arm could be a better fit there. Meanwhile, they'll need a setup man for closer Tom Gordon, which probably will fall to Antonio Alfonseca, Geoff Geary or Ryan Madson. Rod Barajas and Carlos Ruiz are side by side at catcher, though Barajas should win that job.

Healing: Rowand's season of living dangerously ended in late August, accessorized by crutches. Three months after running face first into the center-field wall in Philadelphia and missing two weeks for it, Rowand collided with Utley, broke his ankle and subsequently had surgery. He'll be fine for spring training. Fellow outfielder Jayson Werth missed a good portion of 2005 and all of 2006 with a wrist injury.

Next: After feeling his way through nine first-half starts, Hamels, 23, was borderline brilliant in his next 14. In the National League, only teammate Brett Myers had more than Hamels' 101 strikeouts after the break, and Myers had only six more in 12 1/3 more innings. Hamels' season arc showed a young pitcher becoming more confident in the strike zone, walking 24 in 44 2/3 innings in the first half and 24 in about twice the innings in the second.
sule" from yahoo.com

[MDS]

What a bitch.

You are an idiot. 

AIDS and VORP.

[BigEd76]

Lieber rumbled into spring training yesterday in his 2-week-old Ford F650 SuperTruck, a customized blue-and-black beast, 9 feet, 2 inches tall and 25,000 pounds, with six doors, 45-inch wheels, seating for seven, a satellite dish and customized leather interior. It cost him $211,000, more than twice the $94,000 base price.

At least it'll make his drive away from Clearwater much more interesting...

[Rome]

His aim sucks.  Look at that.  He missed Cholly by a good four to five feet.

farging hack.

[MURP]

Lieber supports gasoline conservation.

[Rome]

Speaking of conservation have you seen the car that gets 2 miles to the gallon?



It has 1,001 HP and does 0-60 in 2.5 seconds.

List price:  $1,700,000

[rjs246]

I want three of those.

[Sgt PSN]

That thing looks like a Ferrari, Lamborgini and a Beattle rolled up into one. 

[BigEd76]

burp

[Rome]

NO MORE TACO'S!  I'VE HAD ENOUGH, DAMN IT!!

[ice grillin you]

jesus

[Geowhizzer]

He hit the banquet circuit with gusto!

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Howard's numbers for this season:

41 HR, 105 RBI, 130 K's, 1 Heart Attack

[Wingspan]

compared to last year



jesus howard...