Odds and Ends: Halladay a Hell of a Day
Posted by Pat Gallen, Sun, July 19, 2009 09:13 PM | Comments: 157
Analysis, News, Posts
Halladay shuts down Red Sox:
Roy Halladay may have just gotten even more expensive. On Sunday, Halladay bedazzled the prolific Red Sox offense by throwing a complete game. Doc allowed one run over six hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out seven and threw just 105 pitches, including 78 strikes. His ridiculous season continues to get better as he dropped his ERA to 2.73 and pushed his record to 11-3.
Halladay’s name is still the most popular amongst those floating through the rumor mill. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney believes the Blue Jays need to trade Halladay in the next two weeks, or they will regret it. He likens this possible trade to the Twins dealing Johan Santana to the Mets a few years ago. The Twins got a shoddy deal because of the position they were in at the time, and the same could happen to J.P. Ricciardi and the Blue Jays if they wait any longer.
On top of the constant linking between the Phillies and Blue Jays, J.A. Happ upped his value on the market with his splendid dismantling of the Marlins. His latest seven-inning performance has his name buzzing through the tradeosphere. The better Happ pitches, the higher his value becomes, but is it even an option for the Phillies to trade him now?
Mets continue to fade:
Meet the new Mets. They have little pitching, a struggling offense, and lack a certain je ne sais quoi.
This weekend was a complete letdown for a team that began the second half six-and-a-half out of first. The Mets lost three of four to division rival Atlanta at a time when they really needed a turnaround. On Thursday, the Braves won the opener 5-3 behind a quality start from Derek Lowe. Friday was even more of the same as New York was trounced 11-0. A 5-1 victory on Saturday salvaged the series to an extent, but Sunday, the Braves made it yet another headache for the Mets.
A 7-1 Braves blowout puts New York nine games out of first place in the NL East. Is that a surmountable number for a team decimated by injuries and lacking a true staff? Fernando Nieve, the young hurler for New York, left the game with an injury.
The Mets as a team seem beaten down to the point of losing all will to compete. Their manager may go, their GM could go as well, plus, their star shortstop Jose Reyes is still not ready. It’s the turning point for the Mets right now as they approach a double-digit deficit in the division.
Atlanta sits six-and-a-half behind the Phillies, with Florida seven out.
Marlins getting a new stadium, name:
Over the weekend, the newly swept Florida Marlins finally broke ground on a new stadium on the site of the old Orange Bowl. The 37,000-seat ballpark will include a pool, and most importantly, a retractable roof.
As the Phillies learned the hard way this weekend after a rainout and a lengthy delay, South Florida can’t keep a baseball team if they don’t build a roof. The sweltering heat of Miami has pushed the fans away in droves, but finally there is help on the way.
In addition to that news, when Florida moves into its new digs, they will officially change their name to the Miami Marlins. A new stadium for the Marlins is a dangerous possibility for the rest of the NL East. A cooler home and new found money brought in from the ballpark could make a good, young team even better.
Posts: 0 Chuck
I hear you on the 1.33 years…..but we have 2 shots at a WS within that time frame. So I think we do it. And….who knows…..Threepeat???? Now THAT would be cool. Totally worth NOT winning for a few years after that because we don’t have Drabek and Taylor. Just my opinion.
Posted: 11:12 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I do not understand how people can fall out of love so quickly with guys like Carrasco. Let me remind you: he’s consistently been our top pitching prospect… and he’d still be our TOP pitching prospect had it not been for Drabek’s recent success. Carrasco has consistently projected to be a No.2 starter, potentially behind Cole Hamels in our rotation. An All-Star last year (just like Drabek this year)… still very young. HE IS NOT “EASILY REPLACEABLE.”
I agree with Geoff… no other team can put a package as good as the Phillies can… Carrasco would headline a package in any other team, especially when you consider that he’s nearly MLB ready… so why do we have to be so jumpy and treat him as a second-level prospect? When someone says “oh let’s give up Drabek, Taylor and then 2 other guys like Carrasco” my stomach twitches.
For Halladay, I would offer: Taylor-OR-Brown, Carrasco, Donald, and Knapp. Anything above that is a deal breaker, in my opinion.
Posted: 11:13 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
PAT ATTENTION to whats going on around baseball in regards to Halladay. NOBODY is willing to give up what Toronto is demanding for him. Thats consistent across the board. What happens when everyone does that? THEN the price comes down and Phase II – the real negotiations begin. Now the price comes down to something similar to what got Dan Haren.
Thats what normally happens. And if Ricciardi doesnt drop the price then the player wont be moved. And I think he could end up getting himself fired. This reminds everyone of the Santana situation where the Twins priced themselves out of a good package and ended up with a weak return.
Posted: 11:17 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Hate to say it but I think the Phils would be very smart to see Halladay go into the off-season as a Jay. Riccardi’s unwillingness to get his dirty trying to get a deal done is going to come back and hurt him. Once we get into the off-season Halladay isn’t so prized a commodity with Cleveland fielding offers for Lee, with Peavy dangling, Lackey, Webb and Bedard as free agents.
Halladay seems gettable for a much fairer Johan Santanaesque price when the above comes into play.
Posted: 11:18 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Replacing one good starter (Happ) with a great starter (Hallladay) is an upgrade BUT its still leaving that hole there. I dont think youve really solved anyhting if you do that. It makes no sense. YOu improve a team by trading prospects to add TO the roster. Theyre not getting a 25-man roster player from us out of this deal.
Posted: 11:19 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Manny, you just went on about how much you like Carrasco (which is fine..I get that)only to put him in a deal. THAT deal (the one you propose) probably won’t cut it. If we offer Drabek it gets the deal done, I think. Ok, so if you want to keep Carrasco, then give up another pitcher. And please don’t say Kyle Kendrick…..Toronto doesn’t want our junk.
Posted: 11:21 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Yeah….Happ should absolutely be off the table. Sure….right now Halladay IS better than Happ and one for one is an upgrade. BUT…a HUGE hole is opened up and then what….???
Look at this rotation…
Halladay
Hamels
Happ
Blanton
Pedro/Lopez/Moyer
and then look at this…
Halladay
Hamels
Blanton
Pedro/Lopez/Moyer
Pedro/Lopez/ Moyer
Now which one looks better?
Posted: 11:28 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Ben
on the flip side look at this rotation comparison
Hamels
Happ
Blanton
Moyer
Pedro/Lopez
vs.
Halladay
Hamels
Blanton
Moyer
Pedro/Lopez
thats our current rotation vs one with halladay and we trade happ. look, i don’t want to give up happ, but his value is only rising. maybe we can now include him and not include drabek. but frankly, if we go to the playoffs with rotation 1 vs rotation 2, our odds sky rocket to win the series with rotation 2.
don’t overpay, but including happ is not the end of the world. we make the playoffs playing solid ball. if you won’t believe we can’t make the playoffs with either of those rotations you are crazy. but can we win in the playoffs with both rotations? i’d rather have the second one.
Posted: 11:37 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Grrrumpy Miner
randy Says:
July 20th, 2009 at 8:53 am
As to the mets falling quickly…what about a trade to pick up Shef for a right handed bat of the bench? Prolly wouldnt take much to get him
M.P. aka A.J. #54 Says:
July 5th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
There are plenty of overrated players:
Carlos Beltran
Ryan Church
Fernando Martinez
Daniel Murphy
Angel Pagan
Jeremy Reed
“Gary Sheffield”
Cory Sullivan
Luis Castillo
Alex Cora
Carlos Delgado
Nick Evans
Ramon Martinez
Argenis Reyes
Jose Reyes
Fernando Tatis
David Wright
Omir Santos
Brian Schneider
Elmer Dessens
Pedro Feliciano
Sean Green
Eddie Kunz
Arturo Lopez
Patrick Misch
Carlos Muniz
Fernando Nieve
Bobby Parnell
J.J. Putz
Francisco Rodriguez
Brian Stokes
Ken Takahashi
Billy Wagner
Livan Hernandez
John Maine
Jonathon Niese
Mike Pelfrey
Oliver Perez
Tim Redding
Johan Santana
Randy….Most of IF not ALL of the fan base here thinks,that last example lists EVERY Metropolitan to play this season INCLUDING Gary Sheffield is “Over rated” as listed by a Phillies fan 2 weeks ago.Now WHY would you want an “Over Rated” player ESP from the Mets on your team and SECONDLY,If Sheffield meant the last piece for the 2009 World Series Part Deux…I highly DOUBT the Mets would gift wrap a player Phillies Fans look as “Over rated”.And to see guys like Andrew (Who wishes every single Met player Yesterday,today and tomorrow DIE in a plane crash and of course never existed) A friend of mine who posted the “Over rated” statement (No disrespect to you AJ54) and yourself rooting for Sheffield would come off as hypocritical.
Posted: 11:38 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Friends – Possible scenario: Halladay has told the Jays he wants out now. He sees the Phils, Cards, Angels, Sox, Yanks. He wants to go the post season THIS year. Riccardi tells Halladay that he’ll try and trade him but won’t give him away. Halladay then counters and says: “I want out now. get what you can. I’ll keep my mouth shut. You try to trade me in the off season and I’ll block it. I’ll play the last year with your shitty team and then let 30 teams bid for me.” Now Riccardi would probably think to himself that if Halladay wants to play for a winner he can just play for a winner next year and he’ll trade him at the deadline next year. He can think that, and he might be right. But can Riccardi take that chance? If Halladay is made to sit until July 31 of next year he will either:
1. Say screw you to the Jays and play out his deal, block any trade, and the Jays get nothing;
2. Halladay can handpick the team he wants to play for. This, for all intents and purposes gives Riccardi NO leverage if he can only negotiate with that team. And the Jays get screwed.
Riccardi should just play it safe and get a fair return for Roy before the deadline this year. Don’t get fancy and try and outthink yourself. If he doesn’t make a deal and Halladay will follow through on his threat, Riccardi is out of a job.
The Dipsy
Posted: 11:39 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Moyer, Pedro and Lopez should not fill out two slots in the rotation for the long haul. Lopez is a nice option but he’s had, what, two starts since coming back? Pedro? We all have to wait and see and one or two good starts (I’m thinking positively) isn’t a good barometer for the long haul. Moyer? 9 wins…yes. Lat start was magificent….yes. But…he’s AT BEST a number 5. That’s why Happ’s presence in the rotation is so important. And don’t forget…..Hamels is NOT the same pitcher he was last year.
Posted: 11:45 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Pat – Stop stealin my cliches :)
The Dipsy
Posted: 11:46 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
I agree. All these people continue to think we HAVE to give into their demands. We HAVE to trade Happ, or this guy or that guy,etc. Ruben Amaro has pulled Happ off the trading block (Fox Sports) so guess what? hes not getting traded – END OF DISCUSSION.
The Jays are the ones that have no leverage. The smart thing to do is exactly what dipsy said: play it safe get a solid return. Hes way out of line with his demands and I think hes going to be ran out of town if he screws this up.
Posted: 11:46 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
Chuck: My point is that Carrasco is good enough of a prospect to have him in a package (INSTEAD of Drabek or Happ). From what I hear, he’s not better than Drabek (that’s why I’d rather lose CC) but he’s still gonna be a solid starter in the MLB. As fans, we are definitely undervaluing him right now… I’d love to see this thread in March or April, or anytime last year to see us all screaming DO NOT TRADE CARRASCO.
Posted: 11:51 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
Carrasco has always been ranked so high because of his “STUFF” .. but he hasn’t really ever put it together for a long stretch of time..
His Minor League Career ERA = 4.10
he’s struggling more at AAA, then he has at the lower levels, so I don’t think the Phillies feel comfortable with what they are seeing growth-wise from Carrasco.. otherwise they wouldn’t have given Bastarso, Lopez, Pedro etc chance to be the #5 starter
Carrasco in 2009:
4.97 ERA 108.2 Innings, 114 hits, 34 walks, 107 K’s … 1.36 WHIP.. in AAA
…
JA Happ has been great this year.. but you can’t say that you would rather have him in your rotation than Roy Halladay.. that just isn’t smart. We could be seeing JA Happ at his absolute best… he’s only got something like 16 career starts.. if his value is sky-high do you move him, allowing us to keep Drabek? Or do we hold on to Happ thinking he has a chance to be THIS GOOD for his career, or at least for a stretch of time?
Posted: 11:54 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Manny. Carrasco is not all that….yet. And if he is he should consider accelerating his progress. Relax. Geoff, is that a misprint or are you agreeing with me? I thought I just saw a pig fly past my window. Ha. (I hate emoticons)
The Dipsy
Posted: 11:55 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Carrasco is a great prospect but he’s not the hot property he was, no matter what we’d like to think Riccardi wants Drabek and Knapp, he also wants one of the outfielders and wants major league ready talent in the deal as well.
Maybe Riccardi is working hard to try to get a deal done behind the scenes but on the face of it it doesn’t look like he actually does want to deal Halladay otherwise he wouldn’t be arbitrarily asking for all the top prospects and then more.
Posted: 11:57 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
If you let Halladay get to the offseason, the potential suitor list expands… right now, there are only a few teams that are in position to make a run at a postseason (want to add Halladay right now) and that have the prospects to make it work. After this season, more teams will have fresh money to spend and bright futures to build. The most dominant pitcher in baseball is going to fill seats and every GM out there is going to have to see what they can do to get Doc Halladay. I don’t think you can miss an opportunity to bring Halladay to Philadelphia right now, even if it’s only for 1.5 years. Don’t act hasty, don’t give up the farm but be open minded about it. It might seem like a steep investment but we might be able to win a couple of world series’ to make Doc want to stay… or he leaves and we get 4 picks as compensation. In either case, I want to see this special group of players have the opportunity to build a dynasty. Without Hamels’ 100% and without Myers, this team doesn’t have the pitching to win in the postseason.
Posted: 11:59 AM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
I remember all of that. This is the same as the Sabathia situation give or take a few factors. The Indians got ONE elite prospect for Sabathia and a bunch of guys that were either filler OR are too far away to tell but are good at that early stage (like Knapp). Carrasco is a fine piece to that deal. They may have to give up Taylor instead of Drabek. If so then so be it. Taylor is blocked – though you still should try and hold onto him but its much better than trading away your top pitching prospect.
Posted: 12:00 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Don…the point is WHO EVER SAID THAT IT HAS TO BE EITHER HAPP OR HALLADAY? That is a FALSE dilemma. Happ is not on the trading block, and Toronto has NEVER said that they MUST HAVE him. That choice is simply just MADE UP by the fans and speculators in the media. There have been NO reports that the Jays are demanding Happ.
Posted: 12:02 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
JA stays, period, to say he is not tested is crazy, did he not spot start last year, when Myers went down to AAA and pitch well, did he not come into post season games in relief and pitch real well, he has been tested and is a real deal, 2 or 3 guy in a rotation, Drabek, and Taylor or Brown would work for me, throw someone else in there.
And why is that just cause a guy is on the trading block does that mean they “gave up on him” A trade is not always about giving up on a guy, it is getting value for the guy. I do not think anyone is saying Carrasco is a bust, but if you can get Halladay value for him in a deal you do it.
Say Carrasco becoms a solid 2-3 pitcher for the Jays in a year or two, and in 2 or 3 years Drabek is their Ace. Phils resign Halladay to 4 or 5 years and the phils win two WS in that time, did they give up on those guys or just get value for them
Posted: 12:03 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
And I do realize thats its annoying when I capitalize words for no reason.
Posted: 12:05 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
I never said Happ INSTEAD of Halladay….I said Happ AND Halladay. Yeah, he’s had 16 starts, that’s true. But….at THIS point…..I would rather gamble and hold onto him and deal Drabek, who has 0 starts. Granted, he’s being touted as the next ace, but what guarantees are there? None. We all can compare Happ to Kendrick and how Kendrick had this breakout year in ’07. But Happ has developed more pitches, is more crafty, and has this poise and composure that Kendrick didn’t have. It just seems like he belongs. Is Happ the next Cy Young? Probably not. But is Drabek?
Posted: 12:11 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
A dynasty doesn’t come because you’ve traded for one guy. The reality is the Phils will more likely give up all their top talent to see this year not end in a championship because the chances of repeating are so miniscule. Then as much as the Phils have a chance to contend maybe the Phils don’t get of to such a good start next year and suddenly the teams back where it was with guys like Abreu looking to dismantle, maybe the Phils just flat out run into the problem the Braves had all those years of worse like the Angels they get sent home in the first round of the play-off back to back years.
Maybe the suitors for Halladay increase in the off-season as the price inevitably comes down but all of a sudden Halladay isn’t the only guy out there and Bedard isn’t the only free agent. Teams will be on like Cliff Lee and Jake Peavy’s back in play, Brandon Webb’s a likely free agent, the Angels will have to pay big to retain Lackey and Erik Bedard will have multiple teams after him. Suddenly things don’t look so rosy for Halladay when he’s one on a list of a half dozen names teams would settle on.
It happened with Santana and he was no doubt the best pitcher in baseball when he was dealt. The off-season could be the real point the Phils cement the opportunity to add that final piece and still impact prospects to give the team as much of a chance to win 5 years from now.
Posted: 12:11 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
I, for one, never said it had to be Happ or Halladay … but if JA Happ is the difference between us landing Halladay in a trade or not, I think I would say goodbye to Happ .. because, as good as he’s been… maybe even as GREAT as he’s been … he is no Roy Halladay.
Toronto has scouted Happ a few times.. which is speculation, I guess.. but to anyone that knows anything about baseball, the reason they are scouting him is because they are interested in acquiring him .. right?
I never said that the Jays are demanding Happ .. in fact, I haven’t read anything, anywhere about who or what they are demanding ..
but I’ve been saying all along that I can’t see any deal for Halladay that doesn’t include Happ or Drabek .. last week I was ready to say goodbye to Drabek, today I’m not so sure … Happ looks great, and I think me and you (Geoff) were the two guys saying in the offseason that he would have a real shot at 15 wins and 3.50 ERA, and a Rookie of the Year .. but I just wonder how long Happ can stay THIS good.
Posted: 12:12 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Whats with all the Carrasco talk? If the Jays would take Carrasco and Knapp as the pitching going to Toronto, I would personally pick them both up and drive them to SkyDome or whatever you call where Toronto plays. Right now Carrasco is Nuke Laloosh before he started breathing through his eyelids. As far as Sabbathia, this team is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than the 2008 Brewers.
The Dipsy
Posted: 12:12 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Philly Texan
You can’t trade Happ for Halladay.
Makes no sense. Still leaves a hole in the rotation. While the quality would be better, because Halladay is better than Happ, that doesn’t matter much with this team. Does it matter if the Phils win 7-1 with Halladay or 7-3 with Happ — only to lose the next day because they had to start Lopez or Pedro or whoever……
Ofer the Jays: Donald, Carasco, Dominic Brown and Kendrick.
If they don’t bite, then bag it and go after Aaron Harang. That guy can pitch — gives 7 inn. almost every time with 3-4 runs (although he still loses cause the Reds can’t score.)
Hamels, Harang, Happ, Blanton. pretty good postseason rotation.
Posted: 12:18 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Philly Texan – Thats dumb. The point is not winning the division, its what happens in the playoffs. I feel a lot more comfy with Halladay, Hamels, Blanton than Hamels, Blanton, Harang. Your playoff rotation doesn’t get it done. Just my opinion.
The Dipsy
Posted: 12:21 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
I don’t know if I got to keep all of my major prospects I’d be pretty happy with Hamels, Harang, Blanton and a choice between Happ, Moyer or Martinez in October. Teams have won with less and lost with more.
Posted: 12:27 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Maybe Happ CAN be this good for a long time. Or maybe he’s in for a serious sophomore slump. Who really knows? It’s all gamble. I just think that as good….or as “GREAT as he’s been”….it’s foolish to trade him if it comes down to him or Drabek. Especially if he’s got a shot at 15 wins, a 3.50 ERA and Rookie of the Year.
Posted: 12:39 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
that was an offseason projection.. because I thought he was going to get 35 starts..
He’s good.. he acts like a professional.. and doesn’t get rattled.
but Roy Halladay is Roy Halladay..
BUT.. Geoff or someone said that Amaro took Happ off the trading block??? I haven’t seen that anywhere to confirm it.. but that would probably mean Drabek is gone.
Because, again, I really can’t see a trade going down where other teams would let the Phillies get Halladay, without giving up ONE of Happ or Drabek
Posted: 12:44 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Dipsy….if it’s Carrasco and Knapp then I’ll go along and pay for gas and tolls if your drive.
The Carrasco talk was started by the press, of course. I heard it this morning on Sports Rise as it being Carrasco, Taylor, Donald and Drabek as being what it would take to get it done.
Posted: 12:46 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Don…I heard Amaro last Wednesday on WIP responding to Eskin asking him if Drabek was untouchable. Amoro’s response was “as of right now, yes.” So, I guess you could read into that and think that Amoro wouldn’t rule out moving him at a later time.
Posted: 12:49 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
^Amaro
Posted: 12:50 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Thats from Scott Lauber – Phillies beat writer for Wilmington Paper I think.
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090720/SPORTS01/907200344
Posted: 12:51 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Taking it a step further, I guess you could make an assumption that Amaro wanted to wait until Happ had another start or so before deciding on which way to go with him.
Posted: 12:52 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Its a piece on Happ, but the quotes from the Manger and the GM (yesterday post game) indicate that hes not being traded.
Posted: 12:53 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
and I’ll bring my GPS to help us get to Toronto with no problems getting lost
Posted: 12:54 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Chuck. I have made the switch from WIP to 950. I suggest you do the same. Missanelli is sooooo much better than Eskin. He actually, like, knows things. And can, you know, have a conversation or a dialogue. Also, Eskin doesn’t know shit about anything most of the time. If I wanna know baseball dirt, I listen to Olney, Gammons, Kirkjian. Thats about it. And I like David Murphy. Just in case you were interested which I’m sure you weren’t.
The Dipsy
Posted: 12:59 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Philly Texan
Dipsey,
The postseason is a crap shoot. There’s no way to know if Hamels, Halladay, Blanton, and Moyer/Pedro would be a better playoff rotation than Hamels, Harang, Happ, Blanton.
Remember that Halladay has never pitched in the postseason and he’d face a tremendous amount of pressure after coming over in a blockbuster trade. Not saying he wouldn’t be good, but you never know. That’s why it’s a crapshoot. Would we have guessed that Myers would beat CC in last year’s playoffs? Or that Moyer would beat Garza (the ALCS MVP) in the World Series?
It’s a crapshoot — just ask the Cubs and Angels last year. Which is why we should think hard about dealing Drabek and/or Taylor (and certainly Happ) for Halladay.
Give me Hamels, Harang, Happ and Blanton, and I like our chances in the postseason. Maybe they win it, maybe not, but it’s gives us a good shot this year and would be better for the phils in the long run.
Posted: 01:04 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
WIP is a great radio station if you need to get a quick injection of hate and loathing of the world. I’m not in the US and occasionally if I can’t sleep I’ll listen to some late night WIP because it’s just comical.
Someone should emulate airheads and make a move about WIP.
Posted: 01:05 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
I dont mind Gargano. I used to like the Gargano/Missanelli show back in the day. Otherwise I cant listen to it.
950 ESPN is solid. Missanelli doesnt care about any prospects though – hes always a “trade the farm” guy. Otherwise, Missanelli is really cool. Eskin is a piece of trash that hates every team other than the Eagles – including other Philly teams.
Posted: 01:08 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
NJ – WHERE are you? PT – No, the playoffs are not a crap shoot.
The Dipsy
Posted: 01:09 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
that’s assuming Harang’s available…….
Dipsy, actually I AM interested. Thanks. Yeah, Eskin’s a d!ck. Peter Gammons is a baseball God.
Posted: 01:09 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Actually, there is no one better than Ray Didinger on any of the stations. Everyone likes Gargano, including me. WIP is strong on the Eagles. Ike is good too. Eskin is totally over.
The Dipsy
Posted: 01:12 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NJ
Maybe not immediate all-stars but you’ve got to think Drabek, Taylor and Brown could be big contributors in the future. By all means give away one, two if the rest of the package is weak but not two of the top guys and the major league ready players. If no-one else is going to pony up then let Riccardi soil his seat by going into an off-season with a lot of available arms when trying to make a deal.
I don’t want us to be like Mets fans and hang our hats on the idea one guy to carry the team only to suffer the pain of realism followed by anger. This team can either win with close what it has or it’s not going to win at all, that’s not saying Halladay doesn’t help this team more than anyone else could but you don’t need four complete games pitched to win a play-off series.
Posted: 01:13 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Kennedy
We should get Halladay. That is a given. With the Rangers out of the picture, we have the farm system to do it, and honestly we can’t afford to let him go anywhere else. If my life was on the line and I needed to pick one pitcher from the last decade to start a game for it, it would be Halladay. He is the best.
That said, we shouldn’t need to give up Happ. We get Halladay, give Hamels a couple weeks off before the playoffs to rest his arm, keep Happ, and Blanton keeps pitching the way he has, we win a WS. Dodgers get Halladay: They get a WS. Cards get Halladay: they become the frontrunners for the WS. Same for Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, I’d even like the Rockies chances with Halladay. Besides Pujols, if I picked one player to anchor my team in the playoffs, it would be Roy Halladay, and backed by Hamels and Happ, we would repeat.
I think Drabek, Taylor, and Donald would be a very doable offer for us, and would also be the best the Jays could get. We’ve got a surplus of starters 2 years out of the majors (1 yr away: Carpenter, Kendrick, Bastardo 2 yrs away: Carrasco, Savery, Stutes Worley, Drabek)
That means trade Drabek for Halladay now, this yr got the playoffs with:
Halladay
Hamels
Happ
Blanton
Moyer/Pedro/Lopez
2010:
Halladay
Hamels
Happ
Blanton
Moyer/Carpenter/Carrasco/Kendrick/Bastardo
2011:
hopefully a resigned Halladay
Hamels
Happ
2 or 3 of Carpenter/Carrasco/Kendrick/Bastardo/Savery/Stutes/Worley
Even if we trade Drabek, we still have a surplus of guys who will be MLB starters. They might not be on Drabek’s level, but assuming we can resign Halladay (which we should be able, given the money we won’t be spending on Eaton+Myers), we’ll be dominant enough in the rotation already. With a nucleus of Halladay, Hamels, Happ, Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Rollins, Lidge, Victorino, Werth, and the extra money coming in, we’ll win multiple WS between 2009 – 2011, and all those guys are already under control in those yrs besides Werth (FA in 2011) and Halladay (would be FA in 2011). This is a team of destiny. The Phils have 2 WS victories in their history, get Halladay, and we’ll probably double that.
Posted: 01:13 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Yeah, Gammons keeps his mouth shut until there is something to talk about. And a tip for you, Chuck – if you want something not to happen in your life, tell Ken Rosenthal what it is and hire him to say that it WILL happen – and then you’re golden.
The Dipsy
Posted: 01:15 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Geoff
Eskin reminds me of Rush Limbaugh or whatever left-leaning equivalent of Limbuagh is popular now (Ariana Huffington?). The person is so biased and blatantly in the employ of one interest group that they have zero credibility yet idiots still listen to them. Its been so long since I cared about political talking heads – or about Eskin. But thats who he reminds me of – a total shill for the Eagles.
The lesser/younger guys at WIP are Ok sometimes on the weekends. They are more hockey/baseball oriented.
Posted: 01:15 PM on July 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck
Ken Rosenthal reminds me of that little animal that I constantly see in my backyard….looks something like a groundhog…oh, that’s right…its’s a weasel.
Posted: 01:22 PM on July 20, 2009