PHILLIES: Phirst Place Phils

I wanted to wait a little bit until I wrote this post (don’t want to jinx anything), but that rationale kind of bit me in the behind once Andy Reid went back on his word and made and announcement that could possibly set back the Eagles franchise for a decade.

So, change of plans. I am now going to use this post now as a subtle reminder of what you all should really care about if you are a Philadelphia sports fan.

THE PHILLIES ARE IN FIRST PLACE!

Along those lines, if their recent play is any indication, they will finish there for their 4th consecutive season.

Phillies fans may be seeing a similar celebration in the near future.

After sweeping the Atlanta Braves in a crucial 3-game set at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies now find themselves in a position that they could have only dreamed of a few months ago. With a 6-game lead in the NL East and a magic number that is now less than a handful, the Phillies are a well-played series away from clinching another NL East crown. With a winning streak that now sits at 10 games and the best record in all of baseball during the month of September, I am going to go out there on a limb and say that it won’t be too much of a problem for the Phillies to solidify their spot in the 2010 postseason.

Unbelievable.

Think about it for a second.  This is the same team who sat in third place behind the Braves and METS of all teams two months ago. This is the same team that has seen 17 players go on the disabled list, including three players with multiple stints on the DL. And last but not least, this is the same team that almost dealt All-Star OF Jayson Werth at the trade deadline, a move which would have shown that management had ultimately given up on the season.

The fact of the matter is, even with the plethora of shortcomings the Phillies have faced, they seemed have passed every test the baseball gods have sent there way.

Sure, they may have gotten some help. The Mets and Braves showed their youth and inexperience by faltering down the stretch. That was somewhat expected. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. pulled the trigger on one of the more lobsided deals in recent history. That, again, was somewhat expected.  However, there is no way anyone could have ever expected the Phillies to play themselves into this position once again.

But, they did.

If you look at most measures of baseball statistics, they are in fact a pretty good indicator of the Phillies prominence. With a current 10-game winning streak, a MLB-best 17-3 record in September, and a NL-best 44-15 record since the all-star break, it’s clear that consistent play at this high level is what ultimately brought the Phillies back into contention.

However, stats don’t tell the whole story. They don’t fully show how the addition of Roy Oswalt, the growth of Cole Hamels, or the stability that Roy Halladay provides has made the starting pitching, not the offense, arguably the Phillies most valuable asset. They can’t truthfully describe how important the recent resurgence closer Brad Lidge has been to the team’s championship puzzle. And lastly, there is no way a box-score and a stat-line can explain how the Phillies have been able to overcome their obstacles and overwhelming odds to virtually guarantee the fans of Philadelphia another post-season run.

Unfortunately, as most of us know all too well, there are no such things as guarantees. Especially when it it comes to baseball in September.

Or October..

PHILLIES: Recap of September Call-Ups

Fresh off of a split with a double-header against the Florida Marlins and sitting just a half-game back of the NL East leading Atlanta Braves, the Phillies made what looks like the last of their September roster moves (besides Danys Baez coming back up when he is healthy), as it appears that John Mayberry Jr. will likely join the team on Tuesday for the final month of the regular season.

Just to recap this protocol, on September 1st, the MLB rosters are able to expand from the usual 25-man roster to a maximum 40-player roster. This allows players who are currently on the Phillies organizational 40-man roster that are minor leagues for whatever reason to be brought up to major league competition until the end of the regular season without any coinciding roster move.

Including the probable addition of Mayberry and optimism surrounding the health of Baez, that will most likely bring the total to nine, that being the number additional players who will be occupying spots in the Phillies clubhouse until October 3rd (final day of the regular season).

Here is a recap of all the moves and the impact that these players may be able to make down the stretch.

RHP Danys Baez: Baez, a reliever who was once thought of as a potential closer if the Brad Lidge situation did not pan out, has been much of a disappointment since signing a 2-year, 5.5 million dollar contract at the start of the 2010 season. Inconsistent at best and borderline unbearable at worst, there is a reason that the team is not rushing to bring him back to the fold from injury. At the most, he may take up some mop-duty roles if games are out of hand to keep the likes of Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, J.C Romero, and Jose Contreras fresh for when it really matters.

OF John Mayberry Jr.: While it’s not official yet, it’s widely assumed that Mayberry will be with the Phillies come Tuesday. Say what you want about him (overrated, a 1st rd. bust, etc.) but he really does have value for this team. For one, he absolutely demolishes lefties (.350 this year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley), so pinch-hitting duties and an occasional starting nod to spare Raul Ibanez against those southpaws may be in the cards for Mayberry if he is promoted. Secondly, Mayberry’s 20 stolen bases this year should give him an opportunity to pinch-run late in games. Lastly, his ability to play the two corner OF positions at an above-average level will give manager Charlie Manuel the option of using him during double-switch situations late in games. All things considered, none of this is valid if he is not added to the big league roster.

An interesting subplot to the end of the season could be the usage of Vance Worley.

RHP Vance Worley: Now this is a bit interesting. Worley has made a meteoric jump on MLB prospect lists since going from Double-A Reading to his first ever big league on Monday in the span of 3 months (a time frame that also includes being involved in the Roy Oswalt trade rumors). Yesterday, Worley did nothing to stop his climb to the top of the organizational mountain, going 5 innings and giving up just 2 ER in a spot-start against the Marlins. Just to refresh your memories, the Phillies branch has never been thrilled with the idea of Kyle Kendrick as the teams fifth starter, and I’m going to go out there on a limb and say that Worley’s role on this team for every fifth game will show that. Catch my drift? Even if that is not the case, Worley’s two well above-average big league pitches (FB, Slider) will allow him to have some worth as a primary long reliever in the next few weeks.

LHP Mike Zagurski: This was to be expected. Zagurski spent a month with the Phillies earlier this season when J.C Romero was down, and has showed utter dominance at with Lehigh Valley this year (13 straight scoreless innings at one point). While his transition to the big leagues could be viewed by some as shaky, with the ability to expand the roster, having LHP representation in the bullpen besides Romero and Antonio Bastardo was a must, and Zagurski and the next player I am going to talk about were really the only suitable candidates who could fill that role for this team.

LHP Nate Robertson: The former Tigers/Marlins starting pitcher was signed almost two weeks ago by the Phillies for one specific reason. Flexibility. In the past two seasons, Robertson has pitched in 47 games. He’s started 24 of them. So basically, the guy has just as much experience starting games has he does coming in relief. That had to weigh heavily in the mind of GM Ruben Amaro Jr. when they he, along with other members of the front office, were discussing signing a LHP for the stretch run. Well, his 6.1 innings of scoreless baseball he pitched AGAINST the Phillies as a member of the Marlins on April 18th this season may have had an impact as well.

RHP Scott Mathieson: Probably the move that most fans wanted to see. In July, Phillies fans got a small taste of Mathieson’s near 100 MPH in one game of relief duty. That first big league appearance in three years (two Tommy John surgeries later) may not have gone as well as all those involved would have liked, but a player who can bring a fastball like that to the table when he steps up to the mound is bound to be an valuable asset to a team in the middle of a pennant race, regardless of how much he actually pitches.

1b/ OF Ross Gload: It’s not really fair to lump Gload into the Sepetember “call-up” category, but his presence back in the Phillies clubhouse after a month on the disabled list can is indeed  a welcoming addition to the roster. While a groin injury may have sidelined Gload for the better part of the Phillies recent surge up the standings, he should assume duties as the Phillies primary LH bat along with Domonic Brown off the bench when he is deemed healthy to do so.

INF/OF Greg Dobbs: Dobbs has been designated for assignment twice this season due to his ability to produce at the big league level, so his production and playing time may be limited. However, once upon a time, Dobbs was the league leader in pinch hits, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Charlie Manuel, being the player’s coach that he is, gives Dobbs a couple at-bats against RHP, since he still has shown the ability to hit them even during this stretch of baseball that may mark the end of his career.

C Paul Hoover: Kind of ironic that the first of these call-ups may have been the most insignificant. Hoover, as it stands right now, is buried behind Carlos Ruiz and Brian Schneider on the teams depth chart at his position. This year though, with injuries being a common theme with both of those catchers, Hoover’s worth is to the team is invaluable, whether he is in the clubhouse or being used as the bullpen catcher.  Can’t say I would be comfortable seeing him behind the dish in a meaningful game though.

Notable absences from this list include both Andy Tracy and Cody Ransom.  Before you say “Why?”, take note of a possible and probable reason.

They are not on the current 40-man roster.

So, in order for them to participate in a big league contest, the Phillies would have to take two players off the 40-man roster, enabling them to be picked up on another team via waivers. As of right now, I cannot see the Phillies doing that to anyone besides Dobbs, and he would have to REALLY struggle for them to do so. Truthfully, I don’t see Dobbs getting enough opportunities to struggle any more than he has already, so it’s kind of a mute point.

For right now that is.

PHILLIES: Reaction to Roy Oswalt

For the second year in a row, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. pulled the trigger on the deal that will most likely define the MLB Trade Deadline.

Last year, it was former Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee who was shipped to Philadelphia, a move that gained national headlines and made the defending World Series champs even more dangerous.

We all know how that worked out.

This year, it is now Roy Oswalt, a perennial ace wasting the last year or so of his prime with the Houston Astros, who will be the next one to “take his talents” to the City of Brotherly Love in an deal to help the Phillies win their 4th consecutive NL East crown.

And what a deal it was..

THE GOOD

There is so much good to talk about regarding this deal that it needs to be split up into two different categories.

WHAT WE GOT

You just have to take a look at Roy Oswalt’s career stats for about five seconds to realize the type of talent the Phillies just added to their pitching rotation. His credentials are astonishing (3 All-Star Games, Top 5 in Cy Young voting 5 different season), and with his 143-82 career record in just over 9 1/2 big league seasons, it’s easy to see why this guy has been considered an ace pitcher for the better part a decade, a distinction that Dan Haren, Fausto Carmona, and other who had been linked to the Phillies have unfortunately never had.

Roy Oswalt is the newest member of the Phillies starting rotation.

While his talent was not a question, Ruben Amaro Jr. also made the Astros address a one of his major areas of concern without involving another team. At 32 years of age, there were clearly some worries among the Phillies brass that they were getting a guy who was on the back end of his prime (which is still at an all-star level) who was being paid like a guy who was in the middle of his prime. That was proven by the Astros paying almost half of his remaining 23 million-dollar salary over the next 1 1/3 years of his contract, an incentive that gives much needed financial support to a team that now has the 4th highest payroll in baseball.

While the Astros will end up the Phillies approximately 11 million dollars for Oswalt to pitch next year and the remaining 50 games this season for the PHILLIES is good enough in itself, it is the combination of obtaining a #1 caliber starter along with that cap relief provided by the Astros organization (Phillies will only pay 12 million to Oswalt over the next 1 1/3 years, a figure that comes out to a reasonable 9.3 mil a year), is what allows all this to look like a home-run (grandslam even) in terms of the value the Phillies got in this trade.

Oh, almost forgot, the Phillies do not have to pick up Oswalt’s 16 million-dollar 2012 option that he and the Astros originally demanded either.

WHAT WE GAVE UP

I’ll be the first one to say it. Phillies fans everywhere should be grateful for what J.A Happ has given to the organization. His 12-4 season last year was pretty tremendous, and considering he was the best pitcher on the struggling staff in 2009 before Cliff Lee showed up, it’s undeniable that he played a huge part in keeping that team afloat when Hamels, Blanton and company were struggling. He really never got the appreciation his was due.

With that said, the fact that he was the centerpiece of this trade (not Domonic Brown, Jayson Werth, or Jonathan Singleton) rivals a blessing from G-D.

Phillies P J.A Happ was sent to Houston as the centerpiece of the Oswalt deal.

While Happ has a certain attraction factor because of the talent he showed as a rookie, relatively young age, and an even cheaper contract, he was truly never viewed as an asset within the Phillies organization. For instance, he wasn’t even the rotation to start the 2009 season, as he was beaten out by Chan Ho Park for the 5th starter slot out of Spring Training. CHAN HO PARK! That alone should indicate the amount of confidence that Amaro and company had with Happ.

All things considered, J.A Happ needed a change of scenery.

The Astros, by giving Happ the dubious honor of being the focal point in this deal, seem to think that he has the makings of being a stud pitcher, possibly even an ace to replace Oswalt. In contrast to this, with the way Happ was treated (especially recently), it’s possible that the Phillies viewed his 2009 year as his eventual “ceiling” or even a possible fluke.

After finishing 3rd in the NL while dealing with added pressure of being involved in the Cliff Lee trade rumors, Happ seemed to have solidified his status in the rotation coming into the new year. That was short-lived though, as a rocky start to the 2010 campaign fueled by a 3-month oblique injury was the driving force which allowed Happ to fall out of favor with management for good. The fall from grace was so drastic that when he was finally healthy enough to pitch, he was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley because of fears that he didn’t have the “stuff” that once made him so effective.

As a fan of Happ but also a Phillies diehard, I hope his career in Houston lies somewhere in between.

For the other two 19-year-old prospects involved in the deal (OF Anthony Gose and SS Jonathan Villar), the Houston Astros better pray that the baseball futures of both these teenagers will pan out. As of right now though, getting this deal done without giving away any of the top three prospects (Brown, Singleton, and P Jared Cosart) or surging pitching prospects such as Vance Worley or Brody Colvin makes it look like Ruben Amaro is getting away with felonious crime.

Or something similar to blackmail of Astros GM Ed Wade.

Don’t get me wrong, both these guys have major talent.

While the Astros won’t have the ex-Phillies and current Astros CF Michael Bourn clone in Gose (a player who stole 78 bases at the minor league level last year) in the fold, they did trade him in a corresponding deal Thursday night to acquire 3B Brett Wallace from Toronto. Wallace, who was ironically involved in a deal last year that sent former Phillies prospect Michael Taylor to Oakland, is a player who should help impact them at the big league level right away, something that could really help Houston build for the future. With Villar, the Astros get a shortstop who is projected to have three above-average MLB tools (Power, Speed, Arm Strength) when all is said and done and his is ready for the bigs.

Overall, you can’t deny that Houston did get some short-term and long-term value.

However, with the leverage Roy Oswalt was once though to have earlier this week, it’s pretty remarkable that Ed Wade could only get the Phillies to give up an OF prospect in Anthony Gose that is AT LEAST three years away from making an impact in the big leagues and the SS prospect in Jonathan Villar that has a dreadful 42 errors in Single-A this season and is not even the top prospect in the Phillies organization at his own position (that honor goes to Double-A Reading SS Freddy Galvis).

Advantage: Phillies

THE BAD

Yes, there is some bad in the trade. Well, bad is maybe the wrong word.

More like, concerned.

On paper, it shows that the Phillies traded a pitcher that was 12-4 last year and two more young prospects in addition to the 10 or so they sent in deals for Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee for a pitcher in Roy Oswalt who has a record of 6-12 this season.

Now, there is no doubt that Oswalt is a better pitcher, than what shows up in the win/loss column. His 3.42 E.RA on the season is a clear indicator of that, and even with getting awful run support by virtue of playing on one of the worst teams in baseball,  he is still among the NL leaders in K’s (13th with 120) while ranking 47th in MLB in IP with 129 (better than NL All-Star Yovanni Gallardo).

But, with Oswalt being in line for single- digit wins and the first losing season (leads MLB in losses with 12) of his career, an obvious question remains.

Can Oswalt prove that he’s still the ace that he once was?

Time will tell.

If he is not, and the chronic back issues that he has and the pressure that comes along with Philadelphia come back to affect Oswalt, then the initial excitement of this deal could go sour very quickly.

THE VERDICT

Anytime that a GM can trade for an all-star star pitcher without having to touch any other parts of his teams big league roster, give up any of his top three prospects, and get 11 million dollars in cash back from the trading partner for good measure, it has to be considered a success.

I understand, if the Phillies kept Cliff Lee, they wouldn’t have had to do this.

Have to face the facts though. GM’s make mistakes too. Ruben Amaro decided not to keep Cliff Lee. In 1997, former Yankees GM George Steinbrenner (RIP) signed an unheard of Japanese pitcher by the name Hideki Irabu to a lucrative 14 million-dollar deal. He had a career 5.15 ERA with the Bronx Bombers, and was one of the biggest busts of the Steinbrenner regime. More recently in 2006, San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean inked Barry Zito to a notoriously awful 7 year, 126 million-dollar deal, something that he is still paying for today with Zito unable to produce a winning season in the three years since signing the dotted line. These things happen.

Will this deal help bring the Phillies back to glory?

By dealing Lee, Ruben Amaro thought the Phillies could be the same caliber of team and win with just the pure addition of Roy Halladay. When he realized that his intended goal may not pan out like that, he fessed up to his questionable decision and attempted to make amense for it by making a deal for Oswalt (Lee was out of the question) in an attempt to help save the season.

You can call GM Ruben Amaro many things, expletives even, but with this trade, “stubborn” no longer remains as one of those adjectives.

Can’t look into the past anymore either.

With Oswalt now in the fold, joining NL All-Star Roy Halladay and a surging Cole Hamels, you can now debate that the Phillies have the potential to have the most dominant starting pitching in the NL. While the rotations of the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and San Francisco Giants may be able to give a pretty good argument in that regard, there is no question that those opposing teams (and other contenders) will view the Phillies, with their improved rotation combined with an already explosive offense lineup, as an even greater overall threat to represent the NL, again, in the Fall Classic.

They have to get in the post-season first.

On a that note,  I’ll set the final scene for you now.

First weekend in October. Phillies have a 3-game series with the Atlanta Braves to end the season. NL East, of course, on the line.

The potential Phillies starters for those games.

“Halladay–Hamels–Oswalt”

That alone tells me enough about this deal. Well done, Ruben.

PHILLIES: The “Halladay” Season

While it has not been finalized yet after being announced just less than 48 hours ago, the deal that has been rumored to go down for the past half a year is actually about to happen.

The deal that I am talking about is something involving the Philadelphia Phillies and them dealing for a former Cy Young Pitcher by the name of Roy Halladay.

Ring any bells?

If it doesn’t, go into the Philly Phour archives and read over ever single post I wrote in the month of July, and then it will refresh your memory.

So, the trade that was destined to take place is actually doing so. Now, I hate writing about posts about issues that are not finalized, but even if one of the players fails a physical (which is rumored to have happened), this trade is going to happen. So with that said, here is what the final trade details look like involving not three, but four teams (opinions to follow).

Philadelphia gets: Halladay, three Seattle Mariners prospects (Phillipe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, Juan Ramirez), and six-million dollars in cash from Toronto

Toronto gets: Two Phillies prospects (Kyle Drabek and Travis D’arnaud) and Athletics top prospect Brett Wallace

Oakland gets: Phillies prospect Michael Taylor

Seattle gets: Cliff Lee

With all the details out there on the table, here’s my general opinion on the deal, in which my feelings have ranged from excited to bittersweet over the past two days.

THE GOOD

 

The Phillies now have arguably the best pitcher in all of baseball over the last five years

By getting Halladay, and signing him to an three-year extension (with a possible 4th and 5th year option), the Phillies window of opportunity for another World Series title has been opened for another five seasons. As a current Phillies fan, you have to be happy about having a top 3-5 pitcher in all of baseball for the next few years as players like Jayson Werth, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard are entering the prime of their own respective careers. With Halladay, those mentioned above, and guys such as Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, and Cole Hamels, the Phillies will be in contention for a championship every year for the next half a decade. There is no question about that. 

There’s no doubt that the Phillies gave up alot in this deal, but they didn’t just get Halladay in this trade. All three of the prospects the Phillies got from Seattle were highly-regarded (all top 10 in the organization). With Aumont, the Phillies get a pitcher who was former first-round pick in 2007 (same year and round as Drabek) and was the 33rd ranked prospect in all of baseball at the start of the 2009 season. Needless to say, the kid is good, so before you start sending Ruben Amaro Jr. hate letters for dealing Kyle Drabek, take a look at Aumont.

Also in the deal, the Phillies got an outfielder in Tyson Gillies and a pitcher in Juan Ramirez. With Ramirez, the Phillies are getting a guy with a high-ceiling, but still has plenty of room to grow (very similar to Jason Knapp who the Phillies dealt for Cliff Lee). Gillies, who is comparable to Taylor in terms of worth for their respective organizations, was ranked anywhere from 4th the 6th out of all the Mariners prospects, and was the 2nd-ranked outfielder in the organization. In comparison to that, Taylor was ranked anywhere from being the 3rd to the 6th best Phillies prospect, and was regarded as the 2nd best outfield prospect in the organization. While Taylor definitely has the super-star potential that Gillies may not have, he was expendable due to the fact the Phillies have a better outfield prospect in Dominic Brown waiting in the wings behind the three all-stars (Werth, Victorino, Ibanez) that currently patrol the Phillies outfield.

With that said, for those who are claiming that the Phillies traded away their entire future for just 3-5 years of Roy Halladay, think again. Aumont, Gillies, and Ramirez will make an impact on the Phillies organization in both the Minor and Major League level of baseball. Mark my words.

THE BAD

Parting ways with Lee, Drabek, Taylor, and D’Arnaud makes the Phillies look like they are dumping their future for the present. In a sense, they are right. Truth be told, I do question the Phillies virtually trading off Lee for Halladay. Based on track record, there is no doubt that Halladay is the better pitcher, but there will come a time that all the innings pitched by Halladay will start to take a toll on his body.  I sure hope that time comes later rather than sooner, or this deal will be best described as the demise of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

I know a primary reason on why the Phillies in a sense chose Halladay over Lee was because of the ability to sign Halladay to a long-term extension. Each player had a different mentality. Halladay wanted to sign a long-term deal with a contender (Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, Angels) and Lee, with one more year with the Phillies, wanted to test the open market. The smart decision was to sign Halladay in fear that a year down the road Lee would spurn the Phillies for an absurd offer from the Yankees or Red Sox, and they followed that trail. 

Understandable.

However, the way the city of Philadelphia embraced Lee, especially during the playoff run, can’t be ignored. The Phillies fans loved Lee, and Lee loved Philadelphia, and for good reason. The Phillies gave Lee his best chance to win a World Series in his career, and Lee’s performance (and Chase Utley’s) almost got them past the Yankees to that point. Undoubtably, Lee was spectacular in his term with the Phillies, especially during the playoffs,  which something you can’t say about Halladay, because quite frankly, he’s never been to the playoffs before. 

It’s not just about dealing Lee in this trade. While I’m a little sad to see a possible future ace in Drabek and a potential all-star corner outfielder in Taylor go, I understand, because the Phillies did get two prospects back that have the potential to fill those same roles in the organization. I am though a little skeptical of the Phillies trading Travis D’arnaud. Now, I usually wouldn’t question an organization dealing a player who was in single-A for the majority of the season, but with Philadelphia it’s a little different. In the Cliff Lee deal, the Phillies dealt their top catching prospect, Lou Marson, to the Indians. Combine that with dealing D’arnaud in this trade, it leaves 19-year old Sebastian Valle as the top catching “prospect” in the organization, who is still a good four years away from contributing at the big league level. 

In any event, the need to deal for a relatively young catcher in the coming weeks is very clear, as Carlos Ruiz, Brian Schneider, and Paul Hoover are all on the wrong side of 30 and have limited value when it comes to the future of the Philadelphia Phillies. 

VERDICT

Essentially, the Phillies traded seven of their top-15 prospects (Drabek, Taylor, D’Arnaud, Marson, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, and Jason Donald) over the last six months for Roy Halladay and three other prospects. Just seeing that on paper, I’d still do it.

However, the process is very simple. In the next 3-5 years, or as long as Roy Halladay is with the Phillies, two things need to happen for the trade to be justified.

1. Roy Halladay has to win a Cy Young as member of the Phillies.

2. The Phillies have to win a World Series in that time span.

Of course, one of those two things can also satisfy some critics, but overall, by trading players that were once deemed “untouchable”, Ruben Amaro Jr. is implying that the Phillies future is now.

One final thing.

Roy Halladay, I hope you are ready. Philadelphia is a tad different than Toronto. 

This post will be updated once the trade goes final. 

PHILLIES: Shane Victorino’s All-Star Selection Overshadowed By Pedro Martinez

We’ll start with the good news first. BRANTORINO worked, both Detroit’s Brandon Inge and Philadelphia’s Shane Victorino were voted in to the 2009 all-star game by the fans. The fans are smart, because both players deserved it. Inge is a utility player, who has put up great offensive stats (19 HR’s 54 RBI’s) this season as the everyday third basemen for Detroit. Inge has been the offensive sparkplug of the first place Tigers’, off-setting the inconsistency of Miguel Cabrera and the decline of both Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen.

Now for Victorino, the Flyin’ Hawaiian has truly been flyin’ as of late. Since word came in a week ago of Victorino needing a fan vote to get into the 2009 All-Star game, Shane has given fans across the country reasons to put his name on the ballot. In the past week, Victorino has two 4-hit games, and has a walk-off single. The Victorino selection is also a good one for the National League All-Stars, as Shane has experience playing both centerfield and the corner outfield positions. His versatility will be useful for the National League, with the health of two starters (Raul Ibanez and Carlos Beltran) in question.

Now for the, well, other news. Just minutes after hearing that Victorino was going to St. Louis, I heard the name Pedro Martinez whispered across the press box at Coca-Cola Park (Lehigh Valley’s stadium). The looks of the faces involved in the conversation said it all. What I learned next changed my entire attitude of the day.

Pedro Martinez, and his agent, are discussing the figures on a deal that will bring Pedro back to baseball, in what else, a Phillies uniform. Imagine that visual? Well, it may actually happen. The Phillies went down and saw Martinez in a simulated game yesterday, where reportedly the former 2-time Cy Young Award winner pitched three innings, topping out at 93 mph.

The velocity is encouraging news, although I can’t say that Phillies are about to take a  chance on this 37 year-old head-case is. Before the season, Martinez was looking for a one or two year deal worth between $4-$5 million dollars per year (pro-rated). For all intents and purposes, lets say the Phillies sign him, and for the minimum of those request, one year, $4 million.

You know what that means. No Roy Halladay. No hope of acquiring a Cliff Lee or a Roy Oswalt. With this deal, Ruben Amaro Jr. is basically saying that signing an aging Pedro Martinez is a better way to go than trading prospects for Halladay, Oswalt, or Lee. That will surely be the case if Amaro gives Martinez $4 million for a half of a season at the back end of the Phillies rotation.

In just a half a season as the GM, this is could be a make or break deal for Ruben Amaro Jr. By passing on Halladay for Pedro Martinez, if the deal works out and the Phillies repeat as champs, Amaro will look like a genius, because every single Phillies fan will question, or at least give thought to the decision. However, if the deal doesn’t work out, meaning the Phillies struggle, and Pedro reverts back his performance from last year, in which he went 5-6 with a 5.61 E.R.A with the New York Mets, the credibility of Ruben Amaro Jr. will be absolutely shot.

The fact of the matter is, Roy Halladay is on the market, and he would OK a deal to Philadelphia. I’m not saying dealing an entire farm system is worth Halladay, but I’d rather do that than take a $4 million dollar chance on a egotistical 37 year-old pitcher who is years past his prime. At least with Halladay, you know what your are getting for the price you are paying. You know that Roy Halladay will give the Phillies a better chance to repeat as World Series champs at the present time. With Pedro Martinez, you cannot say that with the same certainty. 

PHILLIES: 2009 “Ultimate Standings”

ESPN SportsNation recently released its annual “Ultimate Standings” to the public. These rankings combine every team in the four major American professional sports to determine the most successful franchises in the eye of professionals and the public. The teams with the highest mean in overall rankings of the following categories determine where they fall in relation to other teams:

Bang For The Buck (BNG): Wins during the past three years (regular season plus postseason) per revenues directly from fans, adjusted for league schedules.

Fan Relations (FRL): Openness and consideration toward fans by players, coaches and management.

Ownership (OWN): Honesty and loyalty to core players and local community.

Affordability (AFF): Price of tickets, parking and concessions.

Stadium Experience (STX): Quality of arena and game-day promotions as well as friendliness of environment.

Players (PLA): Effort on the field and likability off it.

Coaching (CCH): Strength of on-field leadership.

Title Track (TTR): Championships already won or expected in the lifetime of current fans.

Overall, I believe that Philadelphia sports as a whole got slighted a bit. For a passionate city like Philadelphia to not have one team in the top 20 is an absolute travesty. The Phillies though, at 24th overall, are the highest ranked Philadelphia team. While 24th ranks them higher than 80% of professional teams, after seeing the Tampa Bay Rays  ranked above Phillies, I feel compelled to explain the case for the 2008 World Series Champs. With that said, I’ll go through each of the Phillies’ rankings according to ESPN’s, and explain if they deserve a better, worse, or equal grade in each category, with the symbols listed above.

BNG: 69

Wow! This is the worst of the Phillies’ rankings. Hard to believe this because in the past three years, the Phillies have won 2 NL East Titles, both in comeback fashion in the last month of the regular season. Seven games in seventeen days sound familiar? Also, most of the events that led to the Phillies’ storied 2008 World Series run happened in front of the home crown. The Phillies clinched their most recent NL East crown on a 6-4-3 DP in a one-run game against the Washington Nationals, won every single playoff game, and lastly won all three World Series games, including the clincher, all at home. Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park may not give you the same experience per ticket as a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field or a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, but it surely is better than half the teams in professional sports. A higher ranking is needed.

FRL: 22

It’s hard to argue for the Phillies to be ranked higher in this category, as the harsh reputation of Philadelphia fans have been well documented (throwing snow balls at Santa, batteries at J.D Drew are some well-known instances). Reasons for the high ranking are pretty obvious though. When opposing teams come into Citizens Bank Park, they see a packed house night in and night out, as the Phillies are ranked second in the MLB for home attendance in 2009. The fans, who boo loud when things go wrong, but cheer louder when they go right, are as dedicated as they come. A sea of red, white and grey Phillies shirts consistently fill the Bank’ game after game, and MOST of the fans know what they are talking about. Speaking of the fans at these games, they are greeted by the likes of Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Cole Hamels, as they are the usuals who sign autographs an hour before game time, and usually have an extra incentive, like “Dollar Dog Night” six times a season, to come to the park. Solid number right here.

OWN: 32

A pretty neutral opinion when it comes to this ranking. The core of the 2008 World Series team is signed long-term, as Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard are all signed with the Phillies for at least three more years. The best apart about this is all four players mentioned above are home grown, in which they have all been brought up through the Phillies farm system, which is a testament to the scouting within the organization. A GM change at the end of the 2008 season may have sent this ranking down a bit, but Ruben Amaro has proved early that he can run a baseball team, as his first signing, Raul Ibanez, has proven to be the best 2009 free agent acquisition in baseball.  Overall, this is a decent ranking, with room to grow if Raul Ibanez can pan out for an entire season, and Ruben Amaro Jr. can bring up his minor league prospects properly. 

AFF: 27

In comparison to the rest of baseball, the Phillies are on top on their game when it comes to affordability. So what if the ticket prices aren’t the cheapest? The reason you can get into a Pittsburgh Pirates game for $5 is because they haven’t made it to the playoffs in over a decade and it’s the only way they can sell tickets. The Phillies a winning team, a tremendous following, and still offer deals which can give you lower-level seats for under 30 dollars in a ballpark that doesn’t have a bad seat in the house. It’s about quality of the experience, not the quantity of nice, cheap seats, that are empty at most ballparks because the teams that have those seats usually aren’t winning. It doesn’t seem that ESPN recognizes this, which they shows in the rankings (the Cincinnati Reds and the Arizona Diamondbacks rank higher than the Phillies).

 

STX: 10

A Philadelphia delicacy offered at the ballpark

A top-10 ranking, not bad. It’s well deserved though. Unlike most cities, Philadelphia has a unique food culture that is represented at the ballpark. Some of the highlights are a $8.50 cheesesteak from Tony Luke’s, crab fries from Chickie and Pete’s, and soft pretzel/water ice vendors at every corner. For traditional food, Bull’s BBQ and Harry The K’s give you good quality and decent quantity for a cheap price. You put all that together with a ballpark that is five years old, a fan base that is enthusiastic about their team and city, and the best mascot in all of sport linking the fans and the players together, the ranking is justified.  

PLA: 10

Another top-10 ranking. Again, it’s well deserved. After winning the World Series in 2008, every single player on that Phillies team could run for the next mayoral election and probably win. That’s how much respect the fans have for those players who ended a 25 year title drought for the city of Philadelphia. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Cole Hamels probably have their own keys to the city, for the way they play on the field (perennial all-stars), and the way the promote themselves off the field (involved in many charities). It’s to the point that Chase Utley can even curse on national television during the World Series parade in front of millions of people, and he is still loved.

CCH: 36

Good ole' southern boy Charlie Manuel is an underrated skipper, even with a 2008 World Series ring

Charlie Manuel just got robbed of his World Series ring by this ranking. While he may not be an English major, the guy can flat-out manage. With Pat Burrell, Jimmy Rollins, and J.C Romero, the 2008 Phillies had their fair share of guys who thought very highly of themselves and the way they play the game of baseball. But, Manuel, who is known in baseball circles as a players manager, does far more than just nurture big egos. The former big league catcher has years of major league baseball experience, and has lead the Phillies to five straight years to a record over .500, something current Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who is ranked 21 spots ahead of Manuel on this list, couldn’t come close to doing.

TTR: 6

The highest ranking for the Phillies right here. That’s what happens when you win a World Series title for a city desperately seeking there first professional sports championship in 25 years. I am a little confused why the St. Louis Cardinals are the only team in baseball ranked ahead of the Phillies, as they have the same amount of titles (one) that the Phillies have in the past 20 years. I guess they deserve some of that high ranking due to the fact that they have a guy by the name of Albert Pujols, the best player in baseball not on steroids, locked up for the next decade. Besides the Cardinals (and the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes) unnecessarily high ranking, you can’t complain where the Phillies stand in this aspect of the standings.

 

Overall, the Phillies are the top-ranked Philadelphia team in these “Ultimate Standings”, so I can’t complain all that much. I just don’t see how the Tampa Bay Rays, having one good year after ten bad ones, barely putting fans in the stands in that minor league stadium they call Tropicana Field, can be ranked above the Phillies? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Oh well, I explained my case.

I guess if the Phillies can repeat as champions, or come close to it, maybe they can pass the team who they beat in the 2008 World Series in next years rankings.

PHILLIES: Ibanez Press Conference (7/7)

Up in Lehigh Valley tonight, Raul Ibanez went 1-2 with a walk, single, strikeout, and a run scored while playing seven innings in a rehab stint with the Iron Pigs as they played host to the Pawtucket Red Sox. Ibanez has been sidelined for the last two weeks with a strained groin. After the game, he held a short press conference for about four minutes, answering some questions about his current health, level of play, and outlook on the next couple days. Here is the transcript.

How did you feel about your performance tonight?

Ibanez:  ”I felt good about it. Getting three at-bats against a good pitcher and playing the field, I feel like I am getting there.”

How is your groin reacting to playing two days straight?

Ibanez: “It’s progressing. It was a lot more testing today, more stuff, running the bases, playing the outfield. Didn’t feel any pain so I’m pretty happy with that.”

This is your first visit to Allentown, what are your thoughts on the Coca-Cola Park and the fan support here in the Lehigh Valley?

Ibanez:  ”I was really impressed with the facility. I had no idea it was this nice, it’s a beautiful place. It’s brand new, and with the batting cages and clubhouse, it’s top notch. It’s probably the nicest Triple-A park I have ever played in, I can definitely say that.”

Your not getting a lot of swings in your at-bats, are you concerned about that at all?

Ibanez:  ”Seeing the pitches is the most important thing in these games, and I feel that I did that well. As long as your swinging when you have to swing, and seeing the pitches, you’ll do fine. I walked today, walked yesterday, saw four pitches in my first at-bat, three pitches in my last, five pitches in my second at-bat, and six pitches in an at-bat last night, so it’s good.”

The pitches that you saw were big-league pitches coming from Clay (Buchholz), have you thought about that at all?

Ibanez: ” Yea, I mean Clay (Buchholz) throws the ball real well. He was throwing the ball real well tonight. I faced him last year and he threw the ball real well then, and he’s got great stuff. The guy threw a no-hitter so he has top-notch stuff.”

In your last at-bat, you singled on an 0-2 pitch, then slid into second to break up a double play, how did that feel on the groin and did you feel any pain?

Ibanez:  ” It was good. Had no trouble making the plays, had no trouble with the slide, so that’s a good sign.”

When you have do things like a first slide, first hit-and-run, first time diving for a ball, does testing your groin cross your mind?

Ibanez: “It’s something you have to test out. You can simulate some things off the field when it comes to baseball, but with this, you just have to go out there and play. That’s why I’m here.”

Are you going to get a better gauge on your groin with how you feel tomorrow morning?

Ibanez: “I think I’ll be fine. I can’t make those distinctions right now, I’ll talk to the trainers tomorrow, they will ask me how I feel, just like you guys are, and I will tell them and they’ll decide where to go from there.”

It was said in the Philadelphia Inquirer today that your probably going to get the day off tomorrow, is that still the plan or a plan?

Ibanez: “Probably. When I talked to Ruben (Amaro Jr.) earlier about this, there was probably something in the conversation about not playing three in a row. I don’t remember exactly what was said. Scott (Sheridan), the Phillies trainer, has his own plan, he knows exactly what he is doing, so I am going to let the staff handle the decisions and I’ll just handle the playing.”

 

All in all, it was a good day for Ibanez. He played the field, face a big-league pitcher for three at-bats, and even did some good things on the bases by scoring a run and breaking up a double play. He seems likes he is getting back into form, but there is still concern about rushing him back too quickly, especially from an injury with a groin. With that said, Ibanez will probably get the day off tomorrow, travel with Lehigh Valley to Scranton for a two-game series against the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Yankees so he can DH once (since it an AL affiliate the DH is used) and play the field once. At that point, which will be Thursday night, the Phillies should know if they can activate Ibanez for the start of the Pittsburgh Pirates series on Friday, or if he needs extended rest past the All-Star break.

PHILLES: A Much Needed Win, A Review On Lopez

After getting swept by division foe Atlanta, the Phillies were searching for answers and confidence on a 2-hour plane ride back last night, and at the most inopportune time. Hanging in the balance was a 3-game series against the New York Mets, two of the games on national television.

Well, it looks like something happened. Something clicked. Some light went on.  An energized, cocky but not confident Phillies squad stepped on the field Friday night, and finally looked like a shell of the team that won two straight division titles in as many years, dominating the Mets by a score of 7-2 on Friday night. Yes, it was just one win, but it was a big win. 

Losers of 14 out of 18, fresh off a sweep, and with a pitcher on the hill who was in his first major league action since 2007, really anything was possible (something Kevin Garnett can agree with). However, that pitcher, Lopez, showed flashes from a past that has seen 65 major league wins, and for all intents and purposes, pitched a gem.

His line, which was highlighted by  6 1/3 Innings Pitched, 1 Runs, 6 Hits, 4 Strikeouts, wouldn’t win him a Cy Young, but in the given situation, was exactly what the Phillies needed. He also executed on the little things, something that Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer have failed to do in recent starts. By throwing strikes, showing pinpoint pitching placement with his fastball, he kept the Mets hitters off-balance for the majority of the game. It may have been only one start, but if Lopez can give the Phillies some outings similar to Friday’s game against the Mets in this replacement stint, I have a strong feeling that Ruben Amaro Jr. can find a someplace for Rodrigo Lopez in the the starting rotation, permanently.

One quick final note, I will be attending the Phillies-Mets July 4th game on Saturday, so a post may not come until Sunday morning. 

Have a great Independence Day!