Comments on: The State of the Phillies

By: Marnie Zelazo

Marnie Zelazo — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:12:44 +0000

Just how do you explain the elements so clearly? I looked up an additional article similar to this and the writer just got me super confused lol. Anyway nice writing variety and incredibly interesting.

By: Brooks

Brooks — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:26:24 +0000

It seems the table is ready except for the bullpen. I think the starters we have, especially if they bounce back – will be fine.

This is a great time to project, with Lee & Hamels being the starters that hopefully can win us at least 18 games each. Blanton & Happ – if Joe can reach 16 wins as he has in the past and we cannot be sure what Happ is going to bring this year (16 wins would be just dandy) – add the 5th starter (Mathieson? Drabeck? Jamie? Kendrick???) perhaps the starters can come up with over 70 wins.

Which brings it back to the pen (Karen) – Lidge is the key here. If he even starts to show the junk he brought last year, it’s time to go. We have seen perfection from him and then a disaster. Too many holes in the bullpen right now.

I agree with Pat that the Polanco signing was sweet. His defense could be a liability but his offense (hopefully, we have seen the obvious turned inside out) should fill in the voids – we just need consistency.

08 was the Phils BP that got them to the Promised Land. 09 I think it was hitting more than anything – this year, it could be a lethal combination but people, it will not last much longer! Get your tickets now! You’ll be sharing these times with your grandkids!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:17:44 +0000

i stopped reading this when allen iverson was mentioned. dumb to compare the phillies with the sixers or eagles or any other philadelphia team.

By: Corey Seidman

Corey Seidman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:44:55 +0000

Mikemike – Condrey was non-tendered because he’s struggled throughout much of his career other than last year. He had an exceptionally low BABIP last year but EVERY OTHER number was the same, which is evidence that he was getting lucky more often than not.

When you add that fact to his nagging oblique injury, the non-tender isn’t surprising. Entering the offseason, it was evident that Amaro was only going to offer a contract to Durbin OR Condrey.

By: Corey Seidman

Corey Seidman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:34:14 +0000

George, if a pitcher has a problem with a certain catcher (i.e. Greg Maddux and Javy Lopez) or has more success with a certain catcher (AJ Burnett with Jose Molina instead of Posada,) that is understandable.

However, no Phillies pitcher has ever done anything but sing the praises of Carlos Ruiz, an elite defensive catcher with whom Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee have complete faith in to call every single pitch from the 1st to the 9th.

On a team that has an elite defensive catcher who commands the respect of every pitcher on the staff, Paul Bako does not warrant a roster spot. The backup catcher on a team built like that should be a Ramon Castro-type, someone who has power and an above-average bat from the catcher position.

If the Phillies had Javy Lopez catching, Paul Bako would make sense. But they don’t. So the argument that you need a guy like Bako, for an arbitrary reason that makes even less sense when you factor in that Ruiz is BETTER THAN BAKO at it, is hard to agree with.

If analysts didn’t feel the need to feed the public lines like “he handles a pitching staff well” out of laziness and an unwillingness to do actual research and/or homework, this wouldn’t even be a discussion.

By: George

George — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:18:00 +0000

Corey–Bako HAS bounced around without having a successful season, so he must at least be above average defensively. And part of defense, whether you agree or not, is an ability to handle a pitching staff. No pitcher wants to be shaking off his catcher all the time. There have, in fact been, pitchers who refused to throw to certain catchers, or at least preferred a particular backstop. I know you are not saying defense isn’t important, but you must have some strange ideas of what defense is if you think ANY minor leaguer would be a viable replacement for Bako. Marson couldn’t even replace Coste last year, and he was a better than average prospect. It was Bako who replaced Coste, and there was a reason for that besides the July trade.

I’m pleased the Phils upgraded, yes. But I still think your trashing of Bako is unwarranted, and your “handle a staff” arguments are specious.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:00:19 +0000

I dont get it either, Durbin at 2+ mil? really? Condrey isnt all that bad for what he does.

By: mikemike

mikemike — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:19:11 +0000

mean not as effective as condrey sorry

By: mikemike

mikemike — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:18:27 +0000

dont understand condrey non tender i thought durbin was as effective as condrey. but just my opinion

By: Corey Seidman

Corey Seidman — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:34:45 +0000

I’d guess the Dodgers end up with Wang. They’re in need of a starter and it would reunite Joe Torre and his former ace. He’s an intriguing name but there are many teams in pursuit of him. The back-and-forth bidding for Wang might price him out of the Phillies range.

He won’t make a ton of money, just more than most teams are willing to spend on a guy coming off multiple injuries and a terrible season.

By: EL GRINGO GORDO

EL GRINGO GORDO — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:21:51 +0000

The Padres signed Correia this weekend for about $3.5 million. So, he if off the “possibilities” list for a starter. I wonder if the ex Yankee Wang would be worth a serious look or is he too damaged in the shoulder area? He tried to come back last year and it did not work out. He was the Ace for the Yanks a couple years ago and won 19 games two years in a row. Anybody have an inside track on this ex star? I think he is only 30 years old.

By: Corey Seidman

Corey Seidman — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:02:21 +0000

George – I never said defense was arbitrary with catchers. It’s extremely important and you will never hear me say otherwise. “Handling a pitching staff” was what I ruled insignificant and will always deem so.

Bako is an average defender. He is neither good, nor bad. If he was a very good defensive catcher, I could understand how he keeps bouncing around from team-to-team, never having a successful season. But he isn’t. Schneider on the other hand, is a very good defensive catcher, making him a valuable backup.

By: George

George — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:55:33 +0000

If defense and the ability to handle a pitching staff were not issues at catcher, there would be fewer big bats converted to first basemen. I’ll agree that Scneider is better than Bako, but I’ll still say that Bako would play the uniform off “ANY Double-A or Triple-A catcher.”

The Braves aren’t going to trade Derek Lowe to a division rival. The Phils will have to find someone else.

And why is everyone so concerned over the number 25 man, Castro? He’s definitely an improvement, definitely within budget. Bruntlett was not only lousy, his numbers over the last few years were getting worse. Castro’s weren’t.

And “I dont like dipsy,” please memorize these sentences from “The Tom:”

“He is gonna have a step back before he can step forward…will have to make adjustments that will make him better. ALL GREAT PITCHERS HAVE THIS PERIOD.” (Emphasis, mine.)

The Tom is referring to Happ, but this could also be applied to Hamels, who is also young, (actually, he’s younger than Happ) and whose only setback so far was last year.

By: ashmidt

ashmidt — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:49:29 +0000

i believe little ruben is a genious, this team is already better then last years . and i dont think hes going to try to fix something that is not broken. if we do pick up halladay i dont think he would give up more then maybe happ and taylor. ruben is in the drivers seat.

By: Corey Seidman

Corey Seidman — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:43:08 +0000

Derek Lowe is an intriguing name because the Braves are looking to move him due to an excess of starting pitching (even though that doesn’t truly exist, as the Phillies have shown in recent years.)

But I would doubt the Braves would be willing to trade Lowe to an NL East foe, and if they do, they certainly won’t be paying a good portion of his contract. Lowe will make $15M a year for the next three years, so if the Braves are unwilling to pay some of that, the Phils DEFINITELY will not pursue him. He’d be more of a financial commitment than Roy Halladay.

Not sure how I feel about Matt Capps. He’s coming off of a dreadful season and he’s never had impressive strikeout numbers. He was awesome in 2007 and 2008, though, and his BB/9 numbers have usually been great.

Capps made $2.425 million last year and will likely only command $3M a year after that horrid 2009 campaign. The Phils might be able to sign him to a two-year/$6.25M deal. That would be a nice signing.

Smoltz is a must-have.

By: The Tom

The Tom — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:48:35 +0000

Phillies should sign Matt Capps at a lower number and John Smoltz and a older but I think we can get Atlanta to eat some money and get Derek Lowe. Without a good number 3 we arent going to win the World Series. Happ was great last year dont get me wrong. He is gonna have a step back before he can step forward. He will be 12-8 with around a mid 4 era this year I feel, but will have to make adjustments that will make him better. All great pitchers have this period. I think the Phillies rotation needs another top arm to make it good.

Another Arm would give us a chance to get 170-205 innings from our top 3 starters and limiting the pens abuse.

By: I dont like dipsy

I dont like dipsy — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:35:12 +0000

This team will not WIN the big game again. Jr. is an idiot. We still have no pitching. Worrying about Planco who is 40 on the downside. Condrey, Lidge, Madson, are all overrated. Hamels is a one hit wonder. Lee did great in the postseason but we saw what he did for a 6 game span. The phillies are like the Flyers and Eagels. Just cant get it done. The flyers are horrible. DEVILS RULE BABY.

By: Corey Seidman

Corey Seidman — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:20:40 +0000

Well, if you’d put Carlos Ruiz in the Hall of Fame before Mike Piazza….I’m not even sure there are words in the English language that can be used to argue. I could throw stat-after-stat, observation-after-observation to show you why that makes no sense, but if you’re making an outlandish claim like Ruiz > Piazza, reason obviously isn’t a big part of your argument anyway, so nevermind.

Bako had 116 at-bats in 2009. He would have needed 9 additional hits to hit .300. Nine more hits result in a few more runs scored and the difference of ~1 win. That is significant. Very significant. Bako is an average defender with no bat. I’m not sure how you can justify being okay with a giant hole in a batting order. But ok.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Why did Piazza the gratest offensive catcher ever basicly suck? And Carlos Ruiz has alread had a more productive and better career. Id put Carlos in the HOF long before Piazza. Get a grip.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:10:16 +0000

Re: Bako
You figure your back up catcher gets what 50-75 Abs a year? So the difference bwtween a .300 hitter and ..235 is? 2-3 hits?
At some point people will understand that catchers arent supposed to hit. If the do it is nice like a pitcher getting a hit. Ill take schneider over bako for sure but to talk about Bakos bat is retarded. Like talking about Myers or Hamels hitting.