Comments on: Odds And Ends: Offseason Begins

By: NJ

NJ — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:12:53 +0000

Matt would agree durbin is not going to be an elite reliever and isn’t likely to produce the same form as last year, but I have faith Romero/Madson will pick up where they left off and with the return of Eyre and the elevated performance of Condrey, Durbin’s (who would have been an all-star if middle relivers were recognised) versitility could really help this team. He’s arm was dead by September but he won’t be relied on in the same way in the coming year and I think your looking at a 3.10/3.30 ERA guy with a good winning percentage.

Carrasco in the pen isn’t an option. He hasn’t got control enough of his stuff to go out fire strikes and rebound the next day if he gets hit and if we want him to achieve his potential as a frontline starter he needs more time learning how to tilt things in his favour on the mound. The kids still only 21 and are stopgaps to not have to rush him into the rotation prematurely. Down the line a healthy Drabek would probably be a better candidate to have set-up prior to putting him in the rotation.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:02:17 +0000

Carrasco is a starter…

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:38:32 +0000

Just playing devils advocate here, but considering how small windows are for winning championships, and considering how electric Carrasco’s stuff is, wouldn’t you make a deal with the devil for a 7th / 8th / 9th combo of -

7th – Carrasco / Eyre
8th – Madson / Romero
9th – Lidge

A lot of games would be over after the 6th inning. Carrasco could get major league experience, and could still become a starter in 2010.

By: mikemike

mikemike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:31:26 +0000

Tim maybe you can help me already they are starting with cap numbers. the phillies are at 103 and there are raises coming. but with burrell and gordon and tag, that’s 21 million to spend even with howard getting say 15, Hamels 5 million and werth and madson getting more its doesn’t add up to 120 million payroll the added money

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:28:52 +0000

NJ -

I can understand the hesitation to convert Carrasco, but I think we might have seen the best of Durbin. I’m just curious, what makes you think he’ll go back to being a solid 7th inning guy? His career numbers aren’t very good.

By: mikemike

mikemike — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:27:20 +0000

I really believe that Durbin is not a top reliever. The teams starter to hit him. They starter to get to him after seeing him a couple of times. question is who takes his place. They drafted a couple of real good looking college relievers, but need at least one more year in minors, The more I read the numbers on bradley he is the best option under ten million a year out there he has really good splits number. Carrasco as a reliver isn’t a good idea. He is a starter and that is the role he is being groom for to be a top of the rotation starter. He might need more innings in the minors to be ready. He most likely will take Moyers place in 2010.

By: NJ

NJ — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:26:19 +0000

Not liking that idea in the slightest, Carrasco has raw talent but he’s not the pitcher some of these kids who’ve been seeing time in the back of the bullpen are. Very happy with Durbin who’ll come at half the cost of a top free agent bullpen arm and there’s nothing to suggest he wont have another good year.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:55:39 +0000

Another big question that nobody else is talking about: Is everyone comfortable with Durbin? Does anyone here think his April – July performance was a mirage? He doesn’t have great career numbers, and was primarily a starter before this year.

Kind of a radical thought, but since the Phils are in pretty good shape as far as starters go for the forseeable future, how about making Carasco a 7th inning guy and taking a long term approach towards grooming him to be Lidge’s eventual replacement. He has great stuff. Just a thought.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:45:08 +0000

MikeMike is right.. we need a legit power bat after Howard.

I do agree that Jenkins will have a semi-rebound year next year. Maybe something in the .275 13-18 hr range in a part time role in LF/RF.

As for the bench, I really think that Donald could be a potential RH bat. I’m very comfortable with him and Dobbs in the late inning mixed in with Stairs/TBN Utility OF

By: J-Man

J-Man — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:34:46 +0000

I’d like to see us sign Tazawa,but the Dodgers,Yankees,and Cubs love to overpay them Japenese players…I though about Werth moving to LF and Jenkins taking over RF and i not a fan of that idea Jenkins production is really declining and the playing time he had this year he wasn’t that impressive…Props to him for that big hit in game 5 of the World Series,but i don’t think it should gurantee him an everyday start.

By: mikemike

mikemike — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:09:22 +0000

Werth and Jenkins behind Howard will mean 150 walks for howard. They won’t pitch to him. Do you guys watch baseball did you see what happen to boston when they traded manny.

By: NJ

NJ — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:58:49 +0000

Chuck wouldn’t say it was crazy as it went through my mind too but it raises a problem. Pats main purpose is giving Ryan Howard protection in the line-up and although another LHB in the line-up is concerning unless Werth is going to be expected to fill that void.

I’ve thought long and hard about this and I don’t see a right handed outfield bat unless it’s via a trade that fits what’s needed better than Pat even in limitied duty, the real question here is what do we expect out of Golson and when.

By: Manny

Manny — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:32:17 +0000

I agree with Chuck. I don’t want a “star” OF to replace Pat… Jenkins is pretty good and we can’t forget about him. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he should start… Bring a very good guy who won’t give us drama or put Jenkins in.

No.1 lesson from this season: it takes 25 to win it

By: mikemike

mikemike — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:28:25 +0000

Chuck be serious jenkins and werth. I can’t believe you would serious say that.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:13:02 +0000

NJ….this may sound crazy……and I’m seriously not jumping on his bandwagon because of the leadoff double in the 6th inning of Game 5…..but I can see the possibility of Werth switching to left and using Jenkins more in right. Ok…he had a sub-par year. I think he is poised to greatly improve next year as he begins his second season in red pinstripes. With regular playing time he could bring 25 hr and 80 rbi to the mix…..that’s not too far from Burrell’s numbers this year. Then all you have to do is go out and find a cheap 4th outfielder either by way of trade or free agent and Charlies can mix and match. No way should we even begin to think about signing Manny or Bradley. I don’t care how much Charlie couold manage them effectively…..those two guys are headcases that this team doesn’t need.

By: NJ

NJ — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:46:13 +0000

Finding an everyday right-handed bat to go in the outfield is the primary concern and it’s hard to see how that void can be filled without re-signing Burrell since Ibanez will probably net a pretty similar deal. As for the bench right now we stand at Dobbs, Stairs, Jenkins, Coste, Bruntlett and either 1 spot to fill or the 12 pitcher and although so freshening up would feel good thats a good bench.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:28:05 +0000

Tim……can’t wait for the daily updates to keep the interest going until next Spring…….I, too, am planning on Clearwater. We went this past Spring year and had a blast!! Next Spring should be even better!!

By: Chase Mutley

Chase Mutley — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:15:14 +0000

Back in May, did anyone think that PITCHING would be the least of our worries this off-season? I’m more concerned with left field and our bench than our rotation and bullpen. We’ve got the best bullpen in the business and with Cole emerging as an obvious ace and Myers getting his head on straight to be our #2, we can focus on a nice #3 starter, Blanton #4, Moyer #5 and we’ve got Haap and (hopefully) a year-older, year-wiser K.K. waiting in the wings in case Jaime’s 46-year old wheels fall off.

By: Bob Myers

Bob Myers — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:58:23 +0000

One of the great things about this team is that key players could all have BETTER seasons in terms of their personal stats next year. Imagine if Rollins, Utley and Howard have better batting averages and more homeruns. Imagine if they don’t hit the cold streaks they had. Imagine Hamels with 20 wins, and Blanton is capable of that, or near that. We could win 100 games regular season, and it’s not hard to envision.

One key thing is that the players keep themselves conditioned well physically so we start the season well and avoid injuries.

It’s awesome to be able to contemplate trades, drafts, additions, when our team is already the World Champion!

By: Grrrumpy Miner

Grrrumpy Miner — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:55:53 +0000

Bruce…John wants everyone to feast on his political gripes..the best response to carp like that is to ignore it.