thats the real link… we’ve been on the same page.. actually, me, you, Phil, and Geoff have all been on the same page this week!! And Mike T wasn’t bashing them that bad this week… See what two wins in a row can do!!

I figured i’d post it on this “post” cause it relates.. but for all those times that we agree or disagree… you got to admit that I said pretty much ALL of this in the past week, not bad for a guy who “doesn’t know anything”: (from Today’s Inquirer)

By Todd Zolecki

Inquirer Staff Writer

Charlie Manuel is aware that Carlos Ruiz has been in a terrible slump for almost two months.
But the Phillies’ manager also knows he likes Ruiz’s defense and his ability to handle the pitching staff. He also knows that if people are screaming about the impact the No. 8 hitter is having on the Phils’ offense, it probably means the first seven guys in the lineup aren’t doing as much as they should.

But how many more outs in clutch situations can the Phillies take?

Ruiz is hitting just .206 with two home runs and 20 RBIs in 189 at-bats. He has grounded into 11 double plays, second on the team to Pedro Feliz, who has 12 – although Feliz has 119 more at-bats. He has hit just .071 (2 for 28) in his last 10 games, and just .141 (10 for 71) with one homer and five RBIs since May 25.

“It’s awfully hard to switch out a catcher midyear,” assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said yesterday before the Phillies’ 4-1 win over St. Louis at Citizens Bank Park. “He’s a catcher who knows our staff. They like him. They’re comfortable. He’s catching and throwing well.”

In fact, Ruiz has a 3.56 catcher’s ERA – the best catcher’s ERA in the National League.

But double-A Reading catcher Lou Marson entered yesterday hitting .323 with four homers and 44 RBIs in 269 at-bats. He has emerged as one of the organization’s premier prospects.

Arbuckle said Marson could make an appearance with the team as a September call-up.

“Marson is getting close,” Arbuckle said. “We’d like for him from a development standpoint to just continue what he’s been doing at the plate. If you look at the average, you’ll say, ‘What are you talking about?’ But I think from a development standpoint, if we brought him here right now, I’m not sure he would hit that much more than Ruiz is hitting. I’m not sure it’s that big an upgrade.”

hes too much of a class guy to let out of your organization though and he knows pitching better than most people. so it wouldnt be bad to keep him around the clubhouse as some kind of coach with the eye of grooming him to be a major league pitching coach in a few years. perfect fit for that.

-Lidge doesn’t care what contract F-rod gets because he was more concerned with the right deal, not just getting the most $$ and years.

-Burrell and his agent are thought to have passed on a 2 year, $20M deal…”not even close to what Burrell and Genske have in mind”

-Phillies might look to trade Myers, but it won’t be in mid-season.. and according to a “close friend” of Myers, “getting traded is one of his biggest fears. To be honest, I still don’t think he ever wants to leave the Phillies.”

Thanks for that link Tim.. good info in there

I heard that all of wolf’s no-trade teams were midWest teams, and since he’s ben linked to the Phillies numerous times, I can’t imagine that we are one of the teams he would reject.. unless he doesn’t want to pitch in the post-season

I like Stark and think he does a good job, but he’s wrong if he thinks the Phils can’t get A.J. Burnett for Greg Golson, Jason Donald, and a lesser prospect (if they wanted to do so). Whatever the case, I agree with Jason above: either get a top tier pitcher, or don’t worry about it. We just don’t want to see Paul Byrd or Randy Wolf make their way to Philly.

i concur

ill be pissed if they get paul byrd. hes a piece of garbage. burnett hasnt done well this year so it wouldnt be a good move.

i still maintain that moyer will retire and carrasco will replace him.

itll look something like this next year

hamels
myers or free agent/traded for number two
kendrick
carrasco
Happ

eaton will be gone
moyer will be hried as a coach

ill bet myers is either their setup man next year or hes traded away this month. i still think that erik bedard will be a phillie this year. theyll wait until he makes a start off the dl and then pull the trigger. however, can they get him without carrasco or marson in the deal?

i dunno..