Phillies Offseason Talk

[Rome]

I saw enough of him last year to know he blew. I realize he was alright for FLA, but he was a steaming pile of garbage last year.

Ding!   

so he was good for Florida (as a setup man) and garbage for the Mets (as a closer)

why wouldn't he have been a good setup man again?

Maybe because he played in front of 534 people a night in Florida and choked like a chicken under the hot lights of New York?

Playing in Philly is different than Florida, Mo.  And it's not as if pitchers sustain greatness or even proficiency from year to year.

Like Phreak said, he was good in Florida and was horrendous last year in New York.  Amazingly, the Cardinals are going to pay $4.5M per year for a guy who was pretty bad last year.  Better them than the Phils.

Just my opinion, of course.

[SunMo]

ok, you make a fair point, but the choking dog theory may also apply to closer vs setup roles. 

i just don't want to hear any complaining when the Phillies are giving up leads like a hooker gives up STDs in the 7th and 8th innings   

[Rome]

You're assuming that Looper was the only option available to the Phillies.

It's December 16th, bro.  Pitchers & catchers don't even report for another two months.  Gillick is far from finished putting the club together.

I'll take a wait and see approach until then.

[Wingspan]

wasnt looper pitching hurt in the 2nd half of last season?

Pre-All Star   3.41

Post-All Star   4.68

[stillupfront]

JMike gets probation, no trial

Burrell was with him and didn't get charged because he swung and missed three times.

[Wingspan]

JMike gets probation, no trial

Burrell was with him and didn't get charged because he swung and missed three times.

i dont think i like you.

but that was a laugher.

[Eaglez]

I hope they can move Bell. I'd take any pitcher the Pirates are offering, but I would like someone to stick in right now at the bottom of the rotation.

As for Abreu, he did have a crappy last half of the season but he is still a very good everyday player. I'm not going to get rid of a guy who can put in 160 solid games a season for someone that isn't going to give me production until a few years from now if even that prospect gives production at all. And the only way that you should trade a good, all-star everyday player is if you get a solid pitcher who will go out there 30-35 games and get you 15-17 wins plus keep you in games late to give you the opportunity to win.

That is all.

[Rome]

Aaron Fultz re-upped!

Holla! 

[Geowhizzer]

Jose Contreras and Jon Garland will be shopped by the White Sox to various teams, including the Phillies. The Sox will want pitching prospects in any deal, and may ask the Phils for one or both of the prospects they dealt to the Phillies in the Jim Thome trade.

Found this on PhilaPhans...

I would take Garland for sure and I would even take Contreras but Garland would be choice #1. Plus his wife is hot.

Don't want Contreras, but I would love Garland.

[SunMo]

Hamels to get his shot
Manuel: Youngster to compete for starting job
By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com

Despite their best efforts, the Phillies have failed to add a starter this offseason. What's more, they probably won't have a lefthander in the rotation.

Both issues could be resolved if they consider letting Cole Hamels compete for a spot in the rotation. As of now, that is an option.

Manager Charlie Manuel last night said that Hamels, the club's 2002 first-round pick, will get a chance to compete with 2001 first-rounder Gavin Floyd and 2005 rookie righthander Rob Tejeda for the fifth starter's spot.

"If he's as cool a customer as we think he is, I think he could handle it," Manuel said on Comcast SportsNet's "Daily News Live."

"It depends on how he'd do in spring training."

Manuel acknowledged that the Phillies' brass would rather let Hamels, 21, who has a devastating changeup, accrue more starts in the minors. Injuries have limited him to 28 outings, but he is a spectacular 11-3 with a 1.54 earned run average and 208 strikeouts in 152 innings. Nonetheless, he hasn't pitched above Double A, and was shut down with a chronic back issue after three starts there last season. Manuel said Hamels is recovering nicely after a scare 2 weeks ago during his rehab sent him to a specialist.

That relieved Manuel, who compared Hamels to C.C. Sabathia, whom Manuel helped push onto the Indians' roster when he managed in Cleveland. Hamels, Manuel contended, could be the sort of young pitcher who excels without a ton of time in the minors, "as long as he's healthy and throwing strikes."

In other news, the Phillies signed a veteran reliever, but not the one they hope will set up for new closer Tom Gordon.

Lefthander Aaron Fultz and the Phillies yesterday avoided arbitration when Fultz agreed to a $1.2 million contract, twice as much as his previous biggest contract. Fultz, 32, posted a 4-0 record and 2.24 ERA in 72 1/3 innings, all career bests.

He made $550,000 the last two seasons, spent with Minnesota and Philadelphia. He made $600,000 in 2003 with Texas.

Fultz had never before finished a major league season with an ERA under 4.56.

why the hell not, he can't be worse than anybody else they've got.  if he's really going to be a stud, like they think he will, he should be able to compete whether he has a lot of minor leagues starts or not.  look at Dontrelle.

[MDS]

barring any trades, the rotation appears to be: lieber, myers, lidle, madson, tejeda/floyd/hammels.

floyd and hammels would have the inside track because tejeda can be extreamly effective out of the bullpen. wont the be embarassing for gavin floyd, having a kid who has barely pitched in the majors and not even above AA beat you out for a spot on the big league team?

[JTrotter Fan]

barring any trades, the rotation appears to be: lieber, myers, lidle, madson, tejeda/floyd/hammels.

floyd and hammels would have the inside track because tejeda can be extreamly effective out of the bullpen. wont the be embarassing for gavin floyd, having a kid who has barely pitched in the majors and not even above AA beat you out for a spot on the big league team?

You mean, barring anyone coming to their senses.

[BigEd76]

The PTBNL in the Padilla trade is.....Ricardo Rodriguez, a starter/reliever mix that sucks...

[PhillyPhreak54]

Yay.

[MDS]

Well it was either him non-tendering Padilla and letting him walk. So, I guess the chance on the guy who sucks is worth a shot? Cholly isn't Bowa, plus he knows he has a short leash and that he has to win now. So, if this guy sucks ass, don't expect to see him around a lot.