I’d like to get Holliday, but don’t see it possible, even if rollins is gone and we added prospects. The Rockies are going to want a top flight outfield prospect in addition to pitching, 2 positions in which the phillies have no depth.

I would go into next season with only Utley, Victorino, Hamels, and Moyer (obviously I am exaggerating a bit) – everyone else I wouldn’t mind trading. This team needs drastic change, and being so fundamentally flawed offensively; playing in a matchbox; and never getting the right pitcher, whether it be via trade or free agency, they will never win a championship as currently constituted.

Even though their best days are behind them, I would look into trading for either Juan Pierre or Gary Matthews in the offseason. Both those guys can play all 3 outfield positions, and are the odd men out with their current teams. Both guys can play defense, and both guys are capable hitters. Both guys know how to manufacture runs, and both guys are willing to sacrifice stats to better the team. I would also trade Howard for an above average sinker ball pitcher and some minor league depth. I guess Burrell could play first, although i don’t mind him in the outfield. and I would also look into moving Myers.

My lineup next year would be:
1) Victorino
2) Pierre/Werth
3) Utley
4) Burrell
5) Rollins
6) Matthews/Werth
7) Feliz
8) Coste/Ruiz/Marson
9) Hamels

Bench: Dobbs, Bruntlett, Werth, Golson, Coste/Ruiz/Marson

There is still enough power in the lineup without Howard, and this team would be better defensively, and would hit for a higher average, while scoring more runs. I think Werth should go back to the bench – I don’t think he is a starter in the majors.

Secondly with Howard’s ever increasing salary only a few teams will be willing and able to pay that skyrocketing salary. Therefore you are severely limited as to what you can get in return.

howard is only movable, repeat, ONLY, for good pitching. rollins can give you young position players. with that you can afford to trade for matt holliday. id rather have one year of a focus steely eyed professional like holliday than the rest of the time with these punks like howard and rollins. who cant focus on the job at hand and blame their problems on other people. get that shit out of here. bring in professionals, not crybabies.

Nothing’s changed and it’s not all blue sky because they have to sustain playing well over a matter of weeks win or loss and give themselves a chance to see October. We don’t have to win every game but we have to build on the last two games and make the other teams feel like they’ve played a contendor and not a team in flux.

The Phillies certainly do have the team to win the NL East. I have said it all along that the Phills will win it. How far they will go after that, I do not think very far. Our pitching has been far better than anyone has anticipated this year, and our offense was furocious until the mid-summer’s collapse. The big if to me is the offense. If they play like they are capable, the Phillies will do well. Cholly must manage this team in Base 2 Base Offense fashion from this point forward for success. No doubt about it.

Just curious. What happened to all of the Sell, Trade, Retreat talk that has been on this blog for past few weeks?

GO PHILLIES!!!!!