Kendrick Fires Another Gem; Howard to STL?
Posted by Pat Gallen, Sun, March 14, 2010 05:03 PM | Comments: 61
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First things first, Kyle Kendrick was once again spectacular in his third spring outing. He tossed four brilliant innings, allowing just two hits, although he did not strike anyone out, which is cause for some concern. The one number that sticks out is the zero runs allowed thus far. KK is certainly making the coaching staff think twice about inserting Jamie Moyer in the fifth starter spot. And even if Moyer is given that opportunity to begin the season, Kendrick is proving to be a legit fallback option should the elder statesman falter.
The Phillies lost today, 4-3 to the Orioles. Drew Carpenter pitched three strong out of the pen, giving up one run while striking out five. However, Sergio Escalona continues to allow baserunners at an alarming rate. The lefty allowed three earned runs and four hits in one inning or work. Not good for a guy trying to stick as another lefty in the big league bullpen.
Now, onto the fascinating/crazy trade talk provided by ESPN’s Buster Olney. He reported today that the Phillies discussed internally a trade that would send Ryan Howard to St. Louis for Albert Pujols. In no way does this mean a trade was talked about between the two clubs, rather, it seems as though the Phils brass has at least thought about sending an offer to the Cardinals.
Doubtful. There’s no way the Cardinals trade the greatest hitter in baseball and the face of an entire town. Even if they were blown away by an offer that included multiple top prospects, I still don’t think John Mozeliak pulls the trigger. The shockwave would be too much to handle in a city that lives and breathes baseball on an even higher level than Philly. Kind of cool to think about such a blockbuster, but i’d put it at about one in a million.
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
This is crazy. Really crazy, especially St. Louis. Both players are the faces of their respective organizations, especially Pujols.
Posted: 05:27 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 BS
This is crazy talk, BUT… if the Cards do poorly and are out of playoff contention, and they realize that they’re not going to be able to resign Pujols… it’d be logical to consider trading him.
Posted: 05:43 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
Maybe, just maybe, but highly unlikely, the Phils are talking Howard, Werth and a minor leaguer for Pujols, on the guarantee that Pujols sign a long-term $30 million per year contract with the Phils. This would put Dominic Brown in right field and make the Phils younger.
Posted: 05:49 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
30 million per year????? Ha. Thats a good one. If I were Ruben I would be worrying about whose face to rip off for leaking this story to the press. Buster Olney is usually pretty good, too. This has got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Why would they give Holliday all that money if it just meant watching Albert walk.
The Dipsy
Posted: 05:56 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I agree with you Dipsy but personally I would welcome this trade. Werth is probably gone after this year, or so it sounds. I would feel much better even offering 30 mil for a gold glove caliber complete hitter like Pujols over the 20-25 mil to Howard knowing what we know about Howard. That isn’t to say I don’t like Howard and am not eternally greatful for what he has done for us but we are talking about the best hitter in baseball.
Posted: 06:07 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 The Dipsy
Actually, 30m for 4 years wouldn’t be so bad. But he will want like 7-8 years. That is a big, scary number. I would do the trade in a heartbeat if it was a real thing.
The Dipsy
Posted: 06:11 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 GWFightinsfan
No way St. Louis ever lets Pujols out of town. He’s a once in a lifetime surefire Hall of Famer, they’ll do whatever they need to in order to resign him.
Posted: 06:13 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Ed R.
I agree GW…but Howard is pretty much a hero to St.Louis. It is after all his home town, plus he kills it whenever we play there.
Posted: 06:15 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 The Second John
I agree with BurrGundy in that why would they sign Holliday to a 7 year deal if it meant Pujols going away. Besides, can you imagine the P.R hit they would take if they traded Pujols? I would certainly do the trade if I were the Phills, but that would never happen.
Can you imagine though what it would be like having Pujols in their lineup? Man that would be awesome.
Posted: 06:17 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 George
Olney got his dates wrong. He confused the start of Daylight Savings Time with April Fool’s Day.
Posted: 06:37 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 John
If the Cardinals were interested in swapping first basemen with anyone, I’d think they’d look at Texiera first…
While KK didn’t have any strikeouts, he didn’t walk anyone either. His 9-2 ground/fly was a real plus as well.
Posted: 07:33 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Bobby D
Howard and Werth to St. Louis? Even with Pujols playing for the Phils I think that the Cards go way over the top in the NL for years with those two and MH. Rube would have to be crazy to even consider bolstering his (on paper) closest competition. RH needs to stay right where he belongs….pounding bombs into Ashburn Alley.
Posted: 07:38 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 WFC010
Pujols for Howard?
Doubt it would ever happen, but if it did… Yankees fans would probably claim we weren’t playing fair.
Posted: 07:39 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
I am obviously in the minority here, but I don’t see trading Wreth and Howard right now for Albert. And if the Phillies could sign him long term, doesn’t that mean they could afford both Wreth and Howard.
Also isn’t Albert up for FA after this year, Ryan has through 2011 remaining. So you make this trade, and then lose Albert at the end of this year where does that put us. I know Albert is the better hitter, but he also has had more injuries if I am not mistaken the Ryan. That would scare me. I would rather you sign Ryan for 21-23 million and Wreth for 12-15 for 3 or 4 years that is only 5 million more then you are paying Albert.
Also I do not see RAJ signing any 6-7 year contracts with anyone, and I agree with that.
Posted: 08:42 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
Now you want to talk about straight up, which would never happen, but I would have to do that deal.
Posted: 08:43 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Scotch Man
Escalona and Bastardo aren’t exactly wowing me this spring. It might be time to ink a free agent LOOGY. Unless Zagurski is throwing well.
Posted: 09:42 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
Geez I would love that deal. I know I’m probably in the minority here, but I’m not a big Howard fan, but I’m a HUGE Pujols fan… I know it would never happen, but it would be GREAT if it did.
Posted: 10:10 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Bobby
Things I keep reading on this blog keep getting stupider and stupider
Why is Kyle Kendrick with only two strikeouts a concern? He’s obviously a groundball pitcher and is getting outs effectively.
Posted: 10:11 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 George
The lefties are certainly doing poorly, but it’s early yet. Zagurski only has two innings in, Bastardo and Escalona not many more.
The Phils are close to their budget limit now, so a signing would probably only bring in a question mark. Let’s all hope the right handers in the pen can get out the tough lefties until Romero is healthy.
I know what a left handed specialist is, but I’m not familiar yet with the acronym LOOGY. Could someone fill me in, so I can stop equating the term with the gobs of tobacco Dykstra used to spit all over the Vet?
Posted: 10:16 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 George
Internal trade talks: The janitor is sweeping up when Amaro passes in the hallway.
Janitor: “Why don’chu guys trade Howard for Peujolz?”
Amaro: “Go clean the restroom, idiot, before I can you!”
Posted: 10:24 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Jay
I don’t know how Werth got thrown into this deal. If anything, it would be Brown the Cardinals would want.
Posted: 10:26 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 John
Goerge – Lefty One Out GuY = LOOGY
Bobby – Kendrick didn’t strike anyone out. While that’s certainly not vital to success on any given day, K’s are an important way for a pitcher to limit balls put in play. The same way we all want Ryan to whiff less, we want K’s from our pitching staff. The less balls hit, the less of a chance of base-runners, resulting in less opportunity to score.
Posted: 11:02 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Greg
Ruben Amaro Jr. has stated that the talks are blasphemy and there is no way it’s happening. No trades taking place, it’d be “unfair to Ryan”. I, for one, am relieved. Howard is awesome. Sure, he strikes out a lot, isn’t as good as a hitter as Pujols, and plays an inferior defense, but he loves playing in Philly, he loves his teammates, loves his fans, and his fans love them.
As for Kendrick — I’m actually hoping he will be named the 5th starter right from the get-go, even though I know it’s not happening. If he was the 5th starter for the first week, that would allow the Phillies to use Moyer out of the pen as a Left-handed specialist/late relief, and while he may not be overpowering, he’d at least be able to keep things together until Romero is back.
Posted: 11:07 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Bobby
John- Kendrick has struck out two in 9 innings of work. You can’t say “cause for concern” or anything like that when all he’s thrown is one games worth of innings and his sinker is working effectively.
Don’t let that come off the wrong way, I’m rooting for Kendrick to win the spot. It’s just ridiculous to make the assumption that only two strikeouts in 9 innings is a concern for a ground ball pitcher.
Posted: 11:25 PM on March 14, 2010
Posts: 0 Pat Gallen
Bobby, thanks for the “stupid” remark, really nice of you.
Anyway, I said it’s cause for SOME concern, and it is. Even though he’s a groundball/contact pitcher, he needs to miss a few bats and right now he’s not. Soon enough, some of those balls in play are going to be hits, which are going to be runs.
We’re all rooting for Kendrick, but the K/9 has to go up at least a little bit.
Posted: 05:58 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 bfo_33
Derek Lowe is a decent comparable to KK. In seasons where his so/9 is over 5.5, his era averages 3.7 (ranges 3.2 – 3.9). In seasons where he is under 5.5k/9, his era is above 4.5 (with 2002 being the odd year, only 5.2 so/9, era at 2.6, but holds true the other 10 years). Strikeouts are an indication of how good your stuff is. Don’t have to strike out 12/game, but if not striking out anyone, it means guys are tracking the ball, and will eventually hit it. Still spring, not a major concern yet, but it is an indication he doesn’t have an out pitch. Balls in play are eventually goign to add up to runs.
Howard/Pujols is one of the few trades that could be made for each team without a riot in either city, but the Phils will never make this deal. I’d much rather have two years of Howard than 1 yr of Pujols, even if he is currently the best player in baseball. Phils aren’t going to sign him for the A-Rod deal he is looking for, and I don’t blame them. I’d rather resign Howard for 4yrs.
Posted: 06:29 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 bfo_33
Mistake on my part – Pujols is signed through 2011. The trade as stands still doesn’t make any sense for the Phils, esp if Werth + prospects are included.
Posted: 07:08 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NickFromGermantown
Is this a joke? St. Louis would never get rid of Pujols.
Posted: 07:49 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 George
Well, now that I know what LOOGY stands for (thanks, John) I’ll still equate the term with the big globs of yuck produced by Lenny Dykstra. It appears to me that the inventor of this acronym didn’t think much of the lefty specialist, or he wouldn’t have bothered to add the “Y” at the end. I’d hesitate to call J.C. Romero a “LOOGY.”
What do we call this guy if he usually faces two batters? LTOGY (Lefty Two Out GuY) just doesn’t work.
Posted: 08:05 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
To all those who say “Howard loves playing in Philly”…REALLY? Enlighten me. From Howard’s actions, he seems to me to be a purely “show me the money” type guy….IMHO, if Philly doesn’t pony up the most money when he becomes a free agent, no way he take a little less to stay here (unless the outbidding team is a total basement dweller.)
I mean, that’s fine, he’s perfectly within his rights to seek the absolute largest contract he can get. But as far as a guy with the face of Philadelphia baseball, how about folks that wanted to play here so bad they signed a contract for below market value (see: Halladay, Utley.) How does Howard get the tag of the face of Philadelphia baseball and not one of these fine folks?
Howard sees this baseball team as a dollar figure and nothing else. Don’t waste your nostalgia for Howard. Howard will play here as long as this is the place that offers the most money. Otherwise, I’m sure he won’t let the door hit him on the way out.
Posted: 08:06 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 George
Sentence should read, “I’d hesitate to call J.C. Romero a “LOOGY” to his face.”
.
Posted: 08:13 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
Heather if that were true, wouldn’t he just gone to arbitration each year, his latest contract did not break the bank, and he could have made more money going year to year, and how can you make a statment like that when he has not even gotten to FA yet with this team. I disagree with you and think if you offered him a 4 year deal for between 21-24 million a year he would stay, as long as you do not wait until he hit FA, extend him before, and that contract even at 24 million a year would be under his true “Market value”
Posted: 08:56 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
Beta sig-at his latest contract he is paid more than Pujols per season so please don’t tell me Howard left money on the table. It’s a contract strongly slanted towards Howard. He could go season to season and possibly make more, but if he gets injured, that ends up hurting him, so he could have looked at that and figured it was in his best interest to sign even if he would have made slightly more going year to year.
The Phillies were more than fair to Howard. They paid him 900,000 in 2007, the MOST (at that time) of any player not eligible for arbitration. They didn’t have to do that. In 2008, Howard declined a $7 mil contract from the Phils (a whopping amount for a first year player). Instead he went to arbitration to squeeze more money out of the Phils before signing his present contract.
Also, I do question whether a $24 mil/year contract will be the market value when Howard comes to free agency. With Pujols, Fielder, Howard, and A-Gon on the market at roughly the same time, and the Skanks out of the bidding because of Texiera’s contract with no-trade clause…I wonder if all these guys are going to get what they think they’re worth.
Again, just to reitrate, all of this is not a slam on Howard. He has a perfect right to sell his services to whoever he wants for whatever price the market will bear. I just have an issue with the folks that think he’s somehow emotionally attached to anything in Philadelphia besides his paycheck.
Posted: 09:12 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
I never said they were not fair to him, and you obviously do not like the guy, he was rookie of the year and MVP and has carried this team in August every year he has been here. So I also do not think they have overpaid for him, and in you little world he is out for just himself and the money. While everything you read from his teammates, and people who know him better then you are I give the impression he actually likes it here and his teammates and is a great club house guy. That is my point.
Also with the exception of Albert(whom I am almost certin will stay in St. Louis) Howard would get his money first in that crowd, which if allowed to test the market would be higher than 24 million. That is why you sign him to an extension before he can accept offers form other teams
Posted: 09:19 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
Beta sig, two things first:
1) I don’t like or dislike Howard. I don’t know him personally.
2) I admire his ability as a baseball player.
All I’m saying is I’m not such a Phan that I think Howard wants to sign at Philly so bad he’ll accept a discount (like Halladay did.) I think if the Phillies offer him the largest contract, he’ll sign here. If he gets a larger contract anywhere else, I think it’s adios.
If I’m wrong about that, I’ll be more pleased than anybody. But again, based on his actions thus far, I don’t think Ryan Howard loves the Philadelphia Phillies so much he’ll cut the team a break as some other players have done.
Posted: 09:40 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Don M
while we’re at it, we should trade:
Hamels for Sabathia
Rollins for Hanley Ramirez
Ibanez for Carl Crawford
Posted: 09:49 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
The Phils would happily pay Pujols whatever it took to sign him, the money they’d recoup in peripherals would be immense. St. Louis would take us to the cleaners in a trade and it is so obviously ‘the source’ being a low level assistant asked would you trade Howard for Pujols and that being spun into a rumor.
If Pujols reaches free agency he’s Yankee bound no doubt about it.
Posted: 09:53 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
If they keep improving the team and they keep winning, he will want to stay because he has made his money. And if they offer a contract extension how is he going to know if some one will offer him more. That is why you sign and extension BEFORE He goes on the open market. And if the Phillies offer him a fair deal, I’m inclined to think he would take it. Based on what actions that he went to arbitration one year? After he won the MVP and ROY, what else has he done to make you think he is only in it for the money. He has tried to improve himself and believe it or not, now has some ties to the city. So say he hears that the Red Sox are going to offer him 28 million if he goes in to FA, and the Phillies put an offer in front of him for 24 million, he would take that chance, I would have to disagree with you.
If the PHillies put a reasonalbe offer on the table to extend him next ST he will not sign it. You keep saying that he has acted like he is only about money and I do not see that
Posted: 09:53 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
love it Don! While your at it we should throw in some more one’s that might be considered realistic on here…
Castro for DeRosa
Werth for Justin Upton
Brad Lidge for Papelborn
JA Happ for Kyle Drabek and Brett Wallace… (uhoh i didn’t just say that did I…?)
Posted: 09:56 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
I think for Ryan Howard if it’s a difference of $22 million and $25 million….then as long as the number of years is there….then the Phils would have a shot signing him at the $22 million per year figure.
I mean, I don’t know the guy personally, so I really don’t know….but, Heather, really???……a “PURELY show-me-the money type guy”????? I don’t know about that.
Sure….at the end of the day …..money matters….. but if it’s just a few million per year then I have a hunch Howard would want to stay here. More of a difference than that in dollars….then that’s a different story.
Posted: 09:57 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
St. Louis is going to offer Albert some big time money before his contract runs out you can bank on that. And if they spend money and make the team better every year he will stay. Not all athletes are as jaded as some of you people on here think they are. And didn’t the Yankess sign Tex to like 7 years? You see either of them being a DH. I think more likly it would be the Red Sox.
Don M so you are the low level employee that has started this rumor, cause I like your trades. Would do all three today.
(that was meant to be a little sacarastic)
Posted: 09:58 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Thing is with Howard’s next contract he’s going to start thinking legacy, we see x years/x dollars when a lot of the time the sound of things from the inside is players/agents look at total contract numbers
If He’s going to take around the $150m mark like the Wells and Soriano’s the years won’t be so friendly. Economics or not some players are going to get their money in the next few years and Howards one of them, unfortunately money says status in the game and even the Joe Mauer contract’s going to be a whooper.
Posted: 10:01 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
On a side note I just watched the Phillies Twins game on DVR. The kid they got from the Yankees is on fire, any chance he will be bench when the big team moves up north. I know it is ST and all and he has only a small sample size, but everyone on here does not include him on the bench so I was wondering what they plan for him
Posted: 10:01 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
The bat boy for Eric Bruntlett.
Then he and Werth can have a contest to see who can grow the longest beard.
Posted: 10:02 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Kid from the Yankees? Jesus Sanchez?
Posted: 10:04 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 beta sigma shag
He played 3rd when a rod was out last year, I am drawing a blank, he hit a 3 run HR against the Twins, and the other day hit on in the both the split squads game, not sure why I can not think of his name, I freakin just watch the dam game on DVR
Posted: 10:08 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
Oh Cody Ransom. Doubt he sticks with the numbers game since he would have to beat out Greg Dobbs or Gload… Espn’s fantasy projections seems to think he’ll be with the Phils at some point in the year.
Posted: 10:11 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
Ransom is “on fire”???
He’s 2 for 10.. Granted both hits are HRs……but 2 for 10.
Posted: 10:18 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 NJ
He’s the INF compliment to Matt Stairs…
Posted: 10:19 AM on March 15, 2010
Posts: 0 Heather
” So say he hears that the Red Sox are going to offer him 28 million if he goes in to FA, and the Phillies put an offer in front of him for 24 million, he would take that chance, I would have to disagree with you.”
All things being equal, I personally think Howard signs with the Sox at that point…but as I stated, I would love to be proven wrong.
“Based on what actions that he went to arbitration one year?”
Let me lob that question back at you…Based on what actions do you think he gives the Phillies a discount?
Posted: 10:40 AM on March 15, 2010