This is a great time of year for prognostications, so let’s compare the everyday players for the Phillies and Mets. I hope this rivalry builds and stays with us for a long time.
Catcher
Carlos Ruiz: Solid defense, No. 8 hitter.
Brian Schneider: Solid defense, No. 8 hitter.
Edge: Pick ‘em (yawn)
First Base
Ryan Howard: 105 HR in his first two full seasons.
Carlos Delgado: Once a superstar, now showing his age.
Edge: Phillies
Second Base
Chase Utley: Best in the game, hands down.
Luis Castillo: Good batting average, speed and defense.
Edge: Phillies
Third Base
Pedro Feliz: Great defense, good pop.
David Wright: Best 3B in the game this side of A-Rod.
Edge: Mets
Shortstop
Jimmy Rollins: Backed up his talk with an MVP season.
Jose Reyes: Stopped running out ground balls. Grow up.
Edge: Phillies
Left Field
Pat Burrell: Quietly hit 30 HR with 97 RBI, now in a contract year.
Moises Alou. Older than dirt but can still rake.
Edge: Phillies
Centerfield
Shane Victorino: Great defense and stolen base threat.
Carlos Beltran: Five-tool stud.
Edge: Mets
Right Field:
Geoff Jenkins/Jayson Werth: 40 combined HR is realistic.
Ryan Church: Who?
Edge: Phillies
Yes, I’m a homer, but that’s a legit 5-2-1 advantage for the Phillies. Disagree? Let me hear it! Next up: Pitchers.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Don't Jump Off The Lidge Just Yet
Yes, Brad Lidge injured his knee on his first pitch of Spring Training. Yes, he had surgery on the same knee in October. Yes, it's exactly what the Phillies did not want to hear.
Don't panic. Brett Myers isn't going back to the bullpen.
The damaged part of the knee was removed so it won't be a problem. The rest of the knee is structurally sound. The surgery went well and the prognosis is the same... 3 to 6 weeks. The Phillies won't rush Lidge, so you can probably expect him to miss the first week or so of the regular season. Between Tom Gordon, JC Romero, Ryan Madson and the best offense in the league, the Phillies can certainly cover Lidge for a week or so.
Obviously, the Phillies don't want to suffer through another miserable April, and late inning losses can deflate a team. But hasn't this Phillies team proven to be as resilient as Rocky in the 15th round?
Yes, it's a setback and not a welcome one. But don't jump off the ledge... or Lidge... just yet.
Don't panic. Brett Myers isn't going back to the bullpen.
The damaged part of the knee was removed so it won't be a problem. The rest of the knee is structurally sound. The surgery went well and the prognosis is the same... 3 to 6 weeks. The Phillies won't rush Lidge, so you can probably expect him to miss the first week or so of the regular season. Between Tom Gordon, JC Romero, Ryan Madson and the best offense in the league, the Phillies can certainly cover Lidge for a week or so.
Obviously, the Phillies don't want to suffer through another miserable April, and late inning losses can deflate a team. But hasn't this Phillies team proven to be as resilient as Rocky in the 15th round?
Yes, it's a setback and not a welcome one. But don't jump off the ledge... or Lidge... just yet.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Howard Hits Biggest Homer
No ballpark can contain Ryan Howard. Neither can the courtroom.
Howard won his salary arbitration case when he was awarded $10 million, tying the mark set by Alfonso Soriano when he actually lost his case against the Nationals in 2006.
Why is this Howard's biggest homer? First, it gives the Phillies more incentive to lock up Howard with a long-term deal. If he has another Howard-like year, why bother going to arbitration and when you'll just have to pay him close to $15 million anyway?
Second, it just raised the bar by at least $3 million annually when Howard does negotiate a long-term deal. Before, he may have sought close to $15 million annually. Now, he'll probably seek closer to $20 million. Another MVP season inflates that number even more.
Finally, this was an amicable hearing, but let's face it. While the Phillies claim this hearing was more about determining a fair salary for a player with Howard's service time, not his performance, no player wants to sit in court year after year while his team argues that he doesn't deserve a certain dollar figure.
In a previous blog, I wrote that the Phillies were under no pressure to sign Howard long-term. I stand by that. They can finish this season under the terms of that deal with no problems and no hard feelings. After this season, it'll be time to pony up, and I have no doubt that the Phillies will do it. Sure, Howard emerged from the courtroom with a smile, but I that smile will lose some sparkle if they go to arbitration again.
Howard won his salary arbitration case when he was awarded $10 million, tying the mark set by Alfonso Soriano when he actually lost his case against the Nationals in 2006.
Why is this Howard's biggest homer? First, it gives the Phillies more incentive to lock up Howard with a long-term deal. If he has another Howard-like year, why bother going to arbitration and when you'll just have to pay him close to $15 million anyway?
Second, it just raised the bar by at least $3 million annually when Howard does negotiate a long-term deal. Before, he may have sought close to $15 million annually. Now, he'll probably seek closer to $20 million. Another MVP season inflates that number even more.
Finally, this was an amicable hearing, but let's face it. While the Phillies claim this hearing was more about determining a fair salary for a player with Howard's service time, not his performance, no player wants to sit in court year after year while his team argues that he doesn't deserve a certain dollar figure.
In a previous blog, I wrote that the Phillies were under no pressure to sign Howard long-term. I stand by that. They can finish this season under the terms of that deal with no problems and no hard feelings. After this season, it'll be time to pony up, and I have no doubt that the Phillies will do it. Sure, Howard emerged from the courtroom with a smile, but I that smile will lose some sparkle if they go to arbitration again.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Kendrick PUNK'D!
Could you imagine? You're 23 and coming off a rookie season in which you solidified the Phillies rotation and started a game in the playoffs. Then your manager and assistant GM tell you that you've been traded to a team in Japan. Classic prank. My favorite part was that Charlie Manuel told Kyle Kendrick that he was traded for a guy named Kobayashi... the hot dog eating champion.
This tells me a few things as spring training gets underway. First, this Phillies team has chemistry and unity. You don't pull off a prank that includes the entire team, the manager, the assistant general manager and the local press unless everyone is on the same page.
Second, this Phillies team is loose. Just like last year, the Phillies had fun playing baseball, even when star after star took turns on the disabled list. They're not worried about Johan Santana. They're not worried about Ryan Howard's arbitration hearing. They're having fun.
Finally, the mastermind behind the prank, Brett Myers, may have finally grown up. Always a hothead with a bad temper, these fun-loving Phils might be rubbing off on Myers. He has the ability to be a 20-game winner, but he needs to maintain an even keel to finally reach his full potential and complete the 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Cole Hamels.
Kyle Kendrick, you may have been punk'd, but now you have the right to get anyone in the clubhouse with full immunity. And you helped set the tone for what should be a ridiculously fun season in Philly.
Click here to see the video.
This tells me a few things as spring training gets underway. First, this Phillies team has chemistry and unity. You don't pull off a prank that includes the entire team, the manager, the assistant general manager and the local press unless everyone is on the same page.
Second, this Phillies team is loose. Just like last year, the Phillies had fun playing baseball, even when star after star took turns on the disabled list. They're not worried about Johan Santana. They're not worried about Ryan Howard's arbitration hearing. They're having fun.
Finally, the mastermind behind the prank, Brett Myers, may have finally grown up. Always a hothead with a bad temper, these fun-loving Phils might be rubbing off on Myers. He has the ability to be a 20-game winner, but he needs to maintain an even keel to finally reach his full potential and complete the 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation with Cole Hamels.
Kyle Kendrick, you may have been punk'd, but now you have the right to get anyone in the clubhouse with full immunity. And you helped set the tone for what should be a ridiculously fun season in Philly.
Click here to see the video.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Forget Hearings. It's Baseball Season!
Phillies pitchers and catchers have reported to Clearwater. The Phillies are legit World Series contenders. Jimmy Rollins is talkin' the talk again, predicting 100 wins. A Kris Benson signing, while not Johan-esque, is imminent and could go a long way toward solidifying the Phillies rotation. Okay, maybe I'm reaching.
Unfortunately, while players awaited morning physicals, they were watching Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens compete for the title of Biggest Liar in a colossal waste of taxpayer money. Don't get bogged down in this mess. Regardless of who you believe, both men's reputations are forever tarnished, both will make millions from their future book deals, and baseball won't change it's record books.
Focus on what a great time of year this is. The Phillies, Mets and Yankees are all contenders. Every team is brimming with optimism (except for the Marlins and Pirates). Start buying tickets. Take a weekend trip to Florida to see your heroes up close. Talk trash with other baseball fans. Start planning for your fantasy draft. Try to figure out which Phillies infielder... Howard, Rollins or Utley... will be this season's MVP.
Whoever said December is the most wonderful time of the year clearly doesn't appreciate the beauty of a 6-4-3 doubleplay. It's baseball season, baby!
Unfortunately, while players awaited morning physicals, they were watching Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens compete for the title of Biggest Liar in a colossal waste of taxpayer money. Don't get bogged down in this mess. Regardless of who you believe, both men's reputations are forever tarnished, both will make millions from their future book deals, and baseball won't change it's record books.
Focus on what a great time of year this is. The Phillies, Mets and Yankees are all contenders. Every team is brimming with optimism (except for the Marlins and Pirates). Start buying tickets. Take a weekend trip to Florida to see your heroes up close. Talk trash with other baseball fans. Start planning for your fantasy draft. Try to figure out which Phillies infielder... Howard, Rollins or Utley... will be this season's MVP.
Whoever said December is the most wonderful time of the year clearly doesn't appreciate the beauty of a 6-4-3 doubleplay. It's baseball season, baby!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Pondering Benson & 5th Starter Candidates
The Phillies seem to be a lot more interested in free agent RHP Kris Benson than they've let on. After a ho-hum throwing session in December, Benson has quietly thrown for Phillies scouts twice in the past week or so and has shown enough to start somewhat of a buzz.
Go ahead and sign him. Benson is willing to take a one-year, incentive-laden contract. It gives you another arm at the back of the rotation. Best case scenario: He performs as well as a number three starter. Worst case: He gets hurt, doesn't contribute and you plug in one of the guys who you were prepared to stick at the back of the rotation in the first place.
What are the other options? Chad Durbin has experience as both a starter and reliever, making him ideal for long relief and spot starts. Adam Eaton is better suited for bagging groceries than throwing a baseball. Farmhands like Carlos Carrasco and Joshua Outman are at least a year away from the big leagues.
The darkhorse who nobody seems to be mentioning is J.D. Durbin. He's a cocky former top prospect who had control problems until he stopped trying to throw every pitch through a brick wall. He threw a couple gems last season and has the potential to be solid if he can put it all together. Don't be surprised if J.D. Durbin grabs the last spot in the rotation with a strong Spring Training.
As for Kris Benson, why not? It's a no-lose situation for both sides. After all, your top division rival did just sign a guy named Johan.
Memo to Anna Benson... if you think you were heckled in New York and Baltimore, do not tempt the Phillies Phaithful.
Go ahead and sign him. Benson is willing to take a one-year, incentive-laden contract. It gives you another arm at the back of the rotation. Best case scenario: He performs as well as a number three starter. Worst case: He gets hurt, doesn't contribute and you plug in one of the guys who you were prepared to stick at the back of the rotation in the first place.
What are the other options? Chad Durbin has experience as both a starter and reliever, making him ideal for long relief and spot starts. Adam Eaton is better suited for bagging groceries than throwing a baseball. Farmhands like Carlos Carrasco and Joshua Outman are at least a year away from the big leagues.
The darkhorse who nobody seems to be mentioning is J.D. Durbin. He's a cocky former top prospect who had control problems until he stopped trying to throw every pitch through a brick wall. He threw a couple gems last season and has the potential to be solid if he can put it all together. Don't be surprised if J.D. Durbin grabs the last spot in the rotation with a strong Spring Training.
As for Kris Benson, why not? It's a no-lose situation for both sides. After all, your top division rival did just sign a guy named Johan.
Memo to Anna Benson... if you think you were heckled in New York and Baltimore, do not tempt the Phillies Phaithful.
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