Comments on: Cheap Starters on the Market

By: Keystone

Keystone — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:25:32 +0000

Bastardo’s gonna turn it around and be the ace of the staff in 2010!

By: karen

karen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:14:41 +0000

Beyond Taylor, Brown and Drabek there is not much down in the AA/AAA level. Not sure below that but it certainly isnt this major source of talent that I can see as a season ticket holder to lehigh valley and frequent attendee to reading

By: Don M

Don M — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:57:21 +0000

I might agree with that.. but I can’t see the Phillies adding a player that would
A: Increase Payroll by $10 M per year
and
B: Force the team leader, and leadoff hitter of the past decade, down to #7 in the batting order

That’s a good way to make things unpleasant in the lockerroom

…
If we did get Figgins (which we won’t).. I would have Rollins 6th, Ibanez 7th, Ruiz 8th, Pitcher … Let Rollins have two guys behind him with a chance to make things happen

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:32:38 +0000

The guy has a bizaare delivery – Valverde.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:31:58 +0000

It looks like the Phililes CAN afford big money on one Type A free agent, at least thats what Im reading in the tea leaves here….veeeeeeeery interesting. We didnt think they had the cash. But they do…I think they should take some of that and lock up Lee though. That guy is my favorite pitcher to come through here in a looooooooooooong long time.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:29:48 +0000

With Valverde, if the Astros dont offer arbitration, then you swoop in there big time. However, if they do youd have to tread carefully with the offer to him.

By: Manny

Manny — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:28:28 +0000

Valverde is solid, but everytime I think of him I remember last year’s 9th inning comeback against the Astros… he totally blew it. It was awesome.

By: Manny

Manny — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:24:58 +0000

Don M: Raul is also better than a 6 hitter. He’s better than Rollins, too. I’d hesitate to move Raul to the 7th spot, while giving Rollins the 6th.

By: Don M

Don M — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:23:36 +0000

I’ve seen Jose Velverde linked to the Phillies in two seperate articles..

the reasoning being that there isn’t much of a market for Closers this year, so the Phillies could land him relatively cheap.. and he would give us multiple, experienced options for the backend of the bullpen

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:16:50 +0000

Beltre has worn 5 before hasnt he?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:02:26 +0000

As far as relievers, apparently the Phils have reached out to 6 or so, including Fernando Rodney.

By: Don M

Don M — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:00:31 +0000

Yea but Rollins is better than a 6 hitter… I would imagine that Rollins would be #6, Ibanez would be #7, with Ruiz #8

…Victorino, the better contact hitter, would remain in the #2 spot?

…
I really, really, really can’t see them bringing Figgins here.. it would be nice to have a true leadoff hitter, but I think they really want to bring in a Right-handed bat with power

Beltre might have been on the juice.. I wonder if he still has any natural power left? but I think he’s their target.. he would slide perfectly into the #6 or #7 spot (not too much pressure on him to put up huge numbers)

and the fact that he hits LHP so well means he’s exactly what we need..

Only question is.. what number will he wear, #29 is taken by Raul-the-Bat

By: Manny

Manny — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:35:59 +0000

The exciting thing about bringing Figgins is that you pretty much have to move Jimmy down in the lineup… which in the end is better for him, and better for the team as a whole.

By: spanky yankee

spanky yankee — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:28:30 +0000

please don’t get halladay…he’s gonna cost alot they already gave up players for cliff lee,sure i’d like halladay but i’d rather em go after some one like ben sheets,rich harden or kelvim escobar…as for 3b figgins is their first choice because if they get him they can finally move rollins down in the lineup beltre will be their 2nd choice if they can’t get figgins,but i see ruben going hard after figgins and if they lose out on him and beltre,they’ll prolly try and get feliz back on a 1 year deal but i don’t think he’ll be back…

By: George

George — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:20:16 +0000

I forgot. They won with off years from Rollins and Lidge, too.

By: George

George — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:16:29 +0000

Some of these ideas are from Fantasyland. Rolen? The man hasn’t gotten along with two totally opposite manager types, has only one shoulder, and is approaching the old folk’s home. Sure, he can still field and maybe hit a little when he’s not on the DL, which he usually is. And Halliday! Too much to give up for one year, and with the present staff, probably not needed. Maybe the Phils could use another starter, but that’s no reason to sign injury risks like all of the above mentioned “high reward” types. They won the 2009 pennant with an off year from Hamels, a non-existent year from Myers, a mediocre year from Moyer, and a host of stopgaps like Bastardo, Rodrigo Lopez, Chan Ho Park (for a short time), and Carpenter. It wasn’t until midyear when Lee and the surprisingly effective Martinez joined the crew, and the Phils were already ahead even then.

Let’s get real, and forget this starting pitching speculation. It’s bullpen and bench help the team will be looking for, and a long-term third baseman with some real ability.

By: karen

karen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:35:38 +0000

I would love to keep Werth. I think he is just a special player who definately is still growing as a player. I love Victorino, but I am not sure if he is a more valuable option that Werth. Raul is still shaky depending on how he recovers from the surgery. Is Francisco a guy they want to play in the outfield everyday or only as a bench player? I would love Taylor to play in Philly, just because he is definately a potentially great player.

I definately hope they can do something to get Ruiz into a longer deal…..he is definately growing into a great catcher and a real leader on the team.

And I would consider replacing jroll when able to do so. He is okay but not a star and he loves to talk but not back that talk up.

By: shag beta sigma delta

shag beta sigma delta — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:58:04 +0000

JRoll is not going to get moved to the 8 spot. He had really bad first 3 months, but he will be better next year. He did pretty well to get up to .258. He is a 275-280 guy with streaks like the rest of this team. Vic is not ideal in the lead off either, if they get Figgins which I do not think they will, JRoll may be moved to the 2 spot, but I doubt it, Vic would be moved to 7th.
JRoll
Figgins(VIc)
Chase
Howard
Wreth
Raul
Vic(Beltre,3rd base guy not named figgins)
Ruiz
Pitcher.
I think instead of spending the money they may have on one guy, they need some pen help, a 4 or 5th starter, and bench guy. I do not see stairs back, so left handed power guy who can actually play once in a while in the field, or why not Matsui as a bench bat. The Yanks are not signing him, but he would never play in the field.
I see Cole having a big year, and Chase having an MVP year, if he can stay healthy the whole year. Think you need to Platoon Raul a little more, and maybe Wreth.
I know they will not do it but I would love to see them sign Jayson to 5 year deal this off season.

By: Mike in 314

Mike in 314 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:39:19 +0000

Well, on a positive note, if the rankings on that link hold up the Phillies will probably be playing in November next year … although I really don’t think Lee and Hamels are both among the top 17 pitchers in baseball.

By: j reed

j reed — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:42:31 +0000

psujoe- Yeah I didn’t have a fantasy team this year so I wasn’t pouring over stats for hours. Thanks for the list. cbs sportsline is where I play fanatsy actually. I’ve been baseball stat. nerding out over at Fangraphs but more just learning sabrmetrics than paying attention to all the players. I forgot all about cbs sportsline. They have good traditional stats. and great match-up features.