Phillies Offseason Talk

[MDS]

he never did steroids. burrell maybe. abreu probably. dykstra definatley.

You're farging dreaming. Take a look at him when he was a rookie. And look at him last year. Night and day. Get your head out of the sand.

jims the last i would see takin roids. but anythings possible.

[PhillyPhreak54]

who was booing thome? is he hurt that we want the younger, better version of him?

Thome was getting booed like crazy. And it was the morning show and Macnow who were advocating those boos.

I never understood it. Two years before that the city was eating out of his hand and then he gets hurt and the boos start raining down.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Overrated?

And Wagner isn't?

Come on, Slappy.




Please fight me, Jay!

Bring it!

Seriously...Johnny Damon in 3 years will be just like Bernie Williams was this year. He'll be good the next two years but if he keeps slamming into walls he'll be broke down in the 3rd and 4th years of that fat money deal he's sure to receive.

[MDS]

who was booing thome? is he hurt that we want the younger, better version of him?

Thome was getting booed like crazy. And it was the morning show and Macnow who were advocating those boos.

I never understood it. Two years before that the city was eating out of his hand and then he gets hurt and the boos start raining down.

i was away. i guess i missed it. well he was sucking, i can advocate booing him for not taking himself out of the lineup. but, come on. the guy shouldnt have been booed. loser philadelphia fans. well, i doubt he waives his fntc. maybe he can learn how to play third base. let jimmy cover all the ground.

[LBIggle]

in case you haven't noticed its what have you done for me lately.  last year it was K after K after K. he wasn't moved anywhere else in the lineup except 5th for a little bit.  it was obvious he wasn't in shape to help the team but his stubborn ass wouldn't give it up.  great, try it out for a little bit maybe, i respect the fact your not milking it like some other professional sports players i know.  but when your hurting the team, get off the field.

i posted earlier why they wouldn't give fat slow humongous howard a chance at catcher instead of the outfield.  i think he would be less of a liability there.  i think i had some non important "lol" posts or something, but no one really gave me a good reason why it would be a bad idea.  big target, first base is more comparable to catcher then right field, and we could then concentrate on third base and center field if thome isn't garbage again this year.

[Geowhizzer]

in case you haven't noticed its what have you done for me lately.  last year it was K after K after K. he wasn't moved anywhere else in the lineup except 5th for a little bit.  it was obvious he wasn't in shape to help the team but his stubborn ass wouldn't give it up.  great, try it out for a little bit maybe, i respect the fact your not milking it like some other professional sports players i know.  but when your hurting the team, get off the field.

i posted earlier why they wouldn't give fat slow humongous howard a chance at catcher instead of the outfield.  i think he would be less of a liability there.  i think i had some non important "lol" posts or something, but no one really gave me a good reason why it would be a bad idea.  big target, first base is more comparable to catcher then right field, and we could then concentrate on third base and center field if thome isn't garbage again this year.

Have you ever been a catcher?  As big as Howard is, he'd be done by about July.

The strain of catching over a season saps almost every catcher's stats once the summer heat kicks in.  It would be that much worse for someone the size of Howard (6'4", 260 lbs).

Here are some catchers, their size, and their September stats:

1.  Mike Piazza (6'3", 215):  .209, 5 HR, 7 RBI
2.  Jason Varitek (6'2", 230):  .173, 1 HR, 7 RBI
3.  Javy Lopez (6'3", 230):  .237, 3 HR, 12 RBI
4.  A.J. Pierzynski (6'3", 240):  .224, 1 HR, 8 RBI
5.  Jorge Posada (6'2", 205):  .294, 4 HR, 16 RBI
6.  Ivan Rodriguez (5'9", 210):  .200, 1 HR, 3 RBI
7.  Mike Lieberthal (6'0", 200):  .303, 1 HR, 10 RBI

Ryan Howard (6'4", 260):  .278, 10 HR, 22 RBI

The largest was Pierzynski at 6'3" and 240.  Howard is at least an inch taller and 20 pounds heavier.  These were the seven I looked up:  Lieberthal because he's a Phil and the rest because they're considered the best at their position.  The only two who hit above .250 for September were Posada and Lieberthal; the only one to hit 5 HR was Piazza; the only three with 10 or more RBI were Lieberthal (10), Lopez (12) and Posada (16).

Posada and Lieberthal are both on the smaller side, and Posada had a rough August (.253, 2, 9).  Lieberthal, the lightest of the "top catchers," had by far the best overall stats for August and September.

Make of it what you want, I am no Lieberthal fan at this point in his career.  But if you want to put Howard behind the plate, expect to lose at least half of those power stats for the last two months of the season.  Catching has too much wear and tear over the season for Howard to pull 10 HR and 22 RBI in September.

[Dillen]

and howard throws left handed...pretty easy decision there.

[MDS]

whatever happens, we need bell. hes awsome.

[Geowhizzer]

and howard throws left handed...pretty easy decision there.

[SunMo]

Jesus Christ, somebody suggesting a left handed catcher, that's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Like I said, I don't understand why we don't just let the defense fall into place naturally.  Get the best offensive lineup, and just let them figure out where to play.  For example, we could always move Howard to right and move recent-Gold Glove-winner Bobby Abreu behind the dish.  They could even switch off.  That is totally the way to get to 100+ wins.

[BigEd76]

Don Burke, Newark Star-Ledger

The Mets are prepared to outbid the Philadelphia Phillies -- and every other team, for that matter -- in their pursuit of free-agent closer Billy Wagner. Whether they land him or not will depend on whether Wagner, who makes his home in gentile Charlottesville, Va., would rather pitch in Philadelphia, where he has comfortably spent the last two seasons, or relocate to New York. It surely won't, the Mets believe, come down to money.
.
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The Mets are willing to guarantee three years at $10 million each and, if necessary, throw in a fourth.

[MDS]

whatever. let the mets overpay for him. bring back mesa.

[BigEd76]

Coming in February.  Too bad it's not realistic....there's grass stains on the jersey.... 

[SunMo]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/05top10s/phillies.html

Phillies top 10 prospects according to Baseball America