Phillies Offseason Talk

[MDS]

the wagner fntc isnt a big deal because if the phillies are ever out of contention, he will demand a trade and will be willing to go just about anywhere. and usually there are plenty of teams in the playoff race who need bullpen help. the only thing is the money, which won't be a huge deal if the phillies can get some salary relief for thome.

[SunMo]

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/12938740.htm

[PhillyPhreak54]

Good. Get him signed ASAP. And another thing about the money -- there's no cap in baseball. They'll up their payroll or they'll deal Thome/Burrell or Abreu to compensate for the salary increase.

They're going to have to trade one of those guys anyways to get a good SP. The ones available on the market are pure garbage.

[SunMo]

hey would you mind posting that article?  i copied the link but i can't read the article because my work filter blocks anything with "sports" or "football" or "philadelphia eagles" 

[PhillyGirl]

They'd BETTER get Wagner signed.....

Posted on Wed, Oct. 19, 2005   


Urbina investigated for fight in Venezuela

By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com

The Phillies' Plan B might have just hit a snag.

The Phillies have considered setup man Ugueth Urbina as a possible closer if they don't re-sign Billy Wagner, who, like Urbina, can become a free agent next month.

However, Urbina might be embroiled in controversy again.

He was briefly questioned by police in Venezuela, then released as authorities investigated accusations that he assaulted several men after a party at his family's home.

Police said the incident occurred early Sunday after a welcome-home party for the major league player, when a dispute broke out between him and two of his workers about the whereabouts of a firearm.

"Under confusing circumstances, five workers were injured... one of them suffering back burns and on the right arm," said a statement from local investigators.

The incident occurred in the house of Urbina's mother, Maura Villareal, in the town of Ocumare del Tuy, about 26 miles south of Caracas, the capital.

"He hit us, threatened us with machetes, poured gasoline on us, and it was only by chance that he didn't burn us all," Argenis Farias, one of five laborers hurt in the incident, said Tuesday.

Police released Urbina after questioning, but the investigation continues. He was unavailable for immediate comment.

In September 2004, Urbina's mother was kidnapped from her home by drug traffickers and held for $6 million ransom. She was rescued 5 ½ months later in a mountainous zone in southern Venezuela. Urbina, then with the Detroit Tigers, left the team in the final weeks of the 2004 season and returned to Venezuela. He returned to them in the spring after they picked up his $4 million option. The Phillies acquired him in June.

Urbina has a record of 44-49 with 237 saves and a 3.45 ERA in 11 seasons. With the Phillies, Urbina was 4-3, with a 4.13 ERA and one save in 52 innings, but he also blew six saves.

The Phillies did not return messages left by the Daily News last night.

[PhillyPhreak54]

hey would you mind posting that article?  i copied the link but i can't read the article because my work filter blocks anything with "sports" or "football" or "philadelphia eagles" 

Your IT guy must be a stinkin Cowboys fan. Or the bosses know that productivity would be in the shteinter if they allowed you guys to read sports stuff all day long.

Phils make new Wagner offer


Ruben Amaro Jr. wasn't joking when he said the Phillies would aggressively pursue closer Billy Wagner through their organizational meetings.

At 9 a.m. yesterday, they began to map out their plans for the offseason and next year. They also delivered their latest proposal to Bean Stringfellow, Wagner's agent.

Amaro, an assistant general manager who is acting as the team's negotiator after the first last week of GM Ed Wade, said the Phillies believe Wagner, who can become a free agent next month, will see the proposal today. Stringfellow, who is based in Richmond, Va., is scheduled to visit Wagner's alpaca farm outside of Charlottesville, Va.

The Phils' latest best offer, delivered by Amaro and team president David Montgomery last week when they met Wagner and Stringfellow in Richmond, reportedly had a maximum guaranteed value of just under $22 million for three seasons.

Wagner has said he wants as much as 3 years for $30 million with a full no-trade clause.

[SunMo]

thanks, PG.

[SunMo]

Your IT guy must be a stinkin Cowboys fan. Or the bosses know that productivity would be in the shteinter if they allowed you guys to read sports stuff all day long.

we're a small business, so we don't have a full-time IT guy, my dad is the owner and he just has a guy come in to do stuff when we need it.  but yeah, i think they put some sort of spy on my machine that allows them to see where i go.  one day, all the sudden, I couldn't access anything.  sucks for me.  but I do get more work done in a day. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

I am a full time slacker from August to February. My boss knows and accepts this. Now if I only could get him to give me 6 months off a year while getting paid I'll be in heaven. But it won't happen so I'll continue to analyze my fantasy teams, the Eagles and the NFL in general on the clock.

[SunMo]

yeah, that's what gets me, my fantasy teams, i used to be able to do all the research i needed but now, i have to try to do it at home and with 3 kids who need bathes and bedtimes that doesn't allow alot of computer time.

[Rome]

I am a full time slacker from August to February. My boss knows and accepts this. Now if I only could get him to give me 6 months off a year while getting paid I'll be in heaven. But it won't happen so I'll continue to analyze my fantasy teams, the Eagles and the NFL in general on the clock.

Your fantasy league teams suck.

I own you.

Biatch.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I own both of you.  1st place, bishes.

[Rome]

Not for long, Shaggy.

One of these weeks, Trent Green is gonna light it up.  Same for Deshaun Foster.  And when that happens...

TA-DOW!

[Father Demon]

Update on Urbina  (Link requires registration)

Phillies relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina has been questioned about his role in a bloody brawl Sunday on family property in Venezuela, according to newspaper reports.

The incident occurred after a welcome-home party for the pitcher. Urbina went out to eat, then returned about 2 a.m. with several people to the farm in the town of Ocumare del Tuy, about 25 miles south of Caracas, several Venezuelan newspapers reported.

According to one of the farmworkers, Urbina started asking about a firearm that had disappeared. The worker, 21-year-old Ricardo Osal, told police that Urbina and others rounded up the workers, beat them, attacked them with a machete, then splattered gasoline and paint thinner on them and burned them.

At least five people were injured in the incident.

Urbina said that he was not involved, and that he was sleeping at the time, the newspapers reported. He has not been arrested.

Urbina, 31, voluntarily visited local authorities for questioning.

The Phillies said last night they had not heard about the incident and declined to comment until they knew more. Urbina's agent, Peter Greenberg, did not have any details but said Urbina is all right.

"I've been trying to find out a little more about that," Greenberg said. "I've left him a message, but right now I don't know much."

Osal reportedly suffered machete wounds on his hands and back, while another worker, Tony Rodriguez, was burned on his back and right arm.

Venezuela can be a dangerous place for wealthy athletes and their families.

Urbina's mother was kidnapped in September 2004 and held for ransom before finally being rescued in February after a police raid. Phillies rightfielder Bobby Abreu, also a native Venezuelan, and other high-profile athletes have armed guards at their homes and almost never leave without them.

Urbina, whom the Phillies acquired from the Detroit Tigers in a trade for Placido Polanco on June 8, is expected to become a free agent, and his future with the club is uncertain.

The Phillies are trying hard to re-sign closer Billy Wagner, to whom they made another contract offer yesterday. Urbina has said he would like to return to the closer's role.

Although it remains to be seen how potential legal problems in Venezuela may affect Urbina, the Phillies could look at him as an alternative if Wagner is not re-signed.

"We really haven't talked that through," Greenberg said. "I know he really liked playing in Philadelphia. Bobby [Abreu] is his best friend, and he loved being in that environment. Even though he wasn't a closer, he was happy."

As the Phillies' setup man, Urbina went 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA with one save in 56 appearances. He allowed four runs in one-third of an inning in his first Phillies appearance June 9, but had a 3.46 ERA after that.

Dayummmmm....

[PhillyGirl]

They'd BETTER get Wagner signed.....

Posted on Wed, Oct. 19, 2005   


Urbina investigated for fight in Venezuela

By MARCUS HAYES
hayesm@phillynews.com

The Phillies' Plan B might have just hit a snag.

The Phillies have considered setup man Ugueth Urbina as a possible closer if they don't re-sign Billy Wagner, who, like Urbina, can become a free agent next month.

However, Urbina might be embroiled in controversy again.

He was briefly questioned by police in Venezuela, then released as authorities investigated accusations that he assaulted several men after a party at his family's home.

Police said the incident occurred early Sunday after a welcome-home party for the major league player, when a dispute broke out between him and two of his workers about the whereabouts of a firearm.

"Under confusing circumstances, five workers were injured... one of them suffering back burns and on the right arm," said a statement from local investigators.

The incident occurred in the house of Urbina's mother, Maura Villareal, in the town of Ocumare del Tuy, about 26 miles south of Caracas, the capital.

"He hit us, threatened us with machetes, poured gasoline on us, and it was only by chance that he didn't burn us all," Argenis Farias, one of five laborers hurt in the incident, said Tuesday.

Police released Urbina after questioning, but the investigation continues. He was unavailable for immediate comment.

In September 2004, Urbina's mother was kidnapped from her home by drug traffickers and held for $6 million ransom. She was rescued 5 ½ months later in a mountainous zone in southern Venezuela. Urbina, then with the Detroit Tigers, left the team in the final weeks of the 2004 season and returned to Venezuela. He returned to them in the spring after they picked up his $4 million option. The Phillies acquired him in June.

Urbina has a record of 44-49 with 237 saves and a 3.45 ERA in 11 seasons. With the Phillies, Urbina was 4-3, with a 4.13 ERA and one save in 52 innings, but he also blew six saves.

The Phillies did not return messages left by the Daily News last night.