Comments on: Phillies Finish Home Stand on High Note

By: Polly Radford

Polly Radford — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:10:55 +0000

Came to this site by Google looking for answers on putting maps on my page and just wanted to say thank you for your help!

By: Georgie

Georgie — Mon, 10 May 2010 18:41:09 +0000

Heather, I completely agree with you regarding Cole, he was WAYYYYY off yesterday. I’m hoping it was the wind, or the cold weather, or his hair wasn’t laying right….I’m sorry, I didn’t really mean that last one. His inconsistency is concerning though, I was beginning to think he might be hurt, but I guess not. Maybe there’s a problem with his preparation, as in lack of? I don’t know, we seem to be the only ones who are worried about him, but I still say something’s off.

By: Phan in the outfield

Phan in the outfield — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:29:54 +0000

Sorry, I respectfully disagree. Perhaps it’s the semantics, however, signing Howard to such a massive sum yrs in advance of necessity and saying more than once that they don’t have the money to sign expensive players is being jerky. This guy has the goods on which a team should spend money. Thank you for the head’s up. I noticed the other discussion but you responded here, so I did likewise. I won’t go further.

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Mon, 10 May 2010 15:54:44 +0000

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By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:45:15 +0000

The Phils aren’t being “jerks”. But I agree that RAJ needs to try to get this done somehow if at all possible. This is being talked about as well on the other thread.

By: Phan in the outfield

Phan in the outfield — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:18:21 +0000

… and the Phillies org and Ruben Amaro, Jr. would be flatout stupid to lose Jayson Werth, especially since he’s made it clear he wants to stay here. As often as RAJ has been negative Werth has been nice in return about being in, and hopefully staying in Phila. He has also openly acknowleged that he doesn’t have the solid full yrs under him that Holliday and Bay both had when they signed. So he’s on a mission now, and who can blame him? RAJ just needs to stop playing games and try to work something out. I think more than anything Werth wants to be on a winning team, not w/the BoSox or the Muts or w/any of the teams that cut him before like LA or Toronto, all of whom could use him. But it means something to be w/a team that understands his talents & to be in a place that appreciates you. When he jogged back to RF the other day his RF peeps gave him a standing-O. That can not be bought, esp here and he knows it. I don’t care what you say about $$. He’s happy here. The Phils need to take advantage of that and stop being jerks. This can be done. Just DO IT.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Mon, 10 May 2010 14:37:40 +0000

I don’t know Manny…..he seems really locked in and SUPER-motivated. He totally knows THIS is the year to make a statement for his future.

By: Manny

Manny — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:46:42 +0000

“If Werth keeps this up…”

–> he’d become the best player in baseball automatically.

Not gonna happen. He’ll hit a slump or two on the way.. finish with an avg under .300, and there will be a point in the season when people will jump off the bearded bandwagon… that’s when we gotta make the move and resign him!

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:43:28 +0000

I love that Jamie keeps proving us wrong! He’s a great example of what us 40 year old’s can do!

By: Rich

Rich — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:41:41 +0000

Agreed Heather! Hamels has 2 good starts out of 7 so far. I think we’ve lowered our standards to the point where yesterday’s start against Atlanta “shows promise.” Please. Everyone says get rid of Jamie, but his WHIP and ERA are better than Hamels. In only 4 less innings of work he has 11 less walks too. I’m not saying Jamie’s a better pitcher than Cole, but their stats are neck and neck this year. Plus, Jamie’s 938 years older. A guy his age shouldn’t be outperforming three fifth’s of your rotation. Hamels needs to do a heck of a lot better than yesterday’s slop fest to get my confidence back. Let him put a string of 4 or 5 quality starts together before we start talking positive about this head case.

By: bfo_33

bfo_33 — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:13:43 +0000

If Werth keeps this up, someone is going to overpay him (too early to tell, but the BoSox have a ton of $, 2 old outfielders, and very little power – may offer Werth “Bay” money, Phils won’t match). Once the season starts, enjoy the moment, let Ruben worry about next year.
Lidge has pitched in two real games so far. He will get mph on the fastball as the year goes on, and his slider is making guys look silly (plus he’s throwing it in pressure situations, which he didn’t do lat year). Maybe not 2008 Brad, but certainly a lot better than 2009. Contreras has closer stuff, a nice back-up plan. Give Lidge a chance to get stronger.
We went to the ws with no pen last year. PP has improved an already impressive offense, without much of a dropoff in D, and the pen looks solid. Doc is everything he was billed as, and Hamels is throwing at least one new pitch, could be two – his control is going to be rocky at times until he gets the reps in. A very promising start, especially considering the injuries.

By: Brian Sr. of CO

Brian Sr. of CO — Mon, 10 May 2010 05:55:19 +0000

Either way, its going to suck next year without Werth. Maybe Im the only one here, but as much as I think RAJ has done a pretty darn good job, I think we will lose Werth. Ruben has said on multiple occasions when asked about keeping Werth, and he been very consistant about having a negative tone about it. In the off season Ruben said something about not being able to have an entire Roster of 15 Mil players, that was in direct reference to Werth. Most recently, (I believe it was Last week) asked about keeping Werth after giving Howard that INSANE contract, and he quickly came back with he would love to keep him, “BUT, keeping this team competitive for years to come is my (Ruben’s) job, and we just dont have that much money…” Does tghat sound like Ruben is interested in keeping him? Sure, if could all be a front, and he has every intention to TRY to keep Werth, but I dont see it happening. Werth’s numbers are getting better every year, and this season so far, he is hitting .349, 7 Home Runs, more than 25 RBI’s, and is leading the league with XBH’s! He will no doubt sign a contract worth AT LEAST 15 Mil, probably more like 18 – 20 Mil since Howard sign a contract worth 25 a year. Will Werth give a “home town discount”? I sure hope so. I tend to think he is gone. I am starting to think Ruben got the contract for Howard down this early knowing full well, that he wouldnt keep Werth around. Why else would he get a contract extension done for Howard this early, if he was NOT set to be a free agent this year? I hope I am wrong, and I liked the Howard signing overall, even though he hasnt hit his groove yet as far as power is concerned. To early to be concerned about Howard I would think, but I just hope that Werth does NOT sign with the Mets. Any other team, just not them. Sadly, I have a REALLY BAD gut feeling that the Mets will throw so much money at him (similar to Bay money). I sure hope I am wrong. I have never wanted to be so wrong. If we lose Werth, who possibly could take his place? Sure other players will play RF, but who in the organization could replace his numbers?

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 10 May 2010 02:53:54 +0000

What was up with Hamels today I wonder? Why on earth would you walk the pitcher to start the 6th inning unless your control was WAY WAY off? The count gets to 3-2, Kawakami isn’t known as a hitting pitcher…fastball in the zone. I don’t know what he was thinking but I would like the logic of throwing a ball in that situation.

Granted, it’s just one game but I’m kind of worried that Cole seems to have regressed today.

I’m sure you good folks will tell me I shouldn’t worry, but Cole hasn’t really inspired confidence in me with his uneven performances, and this one hasn’t gone very far toward reassuring me.

By: Number 47

Number 47 — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:19:32 +0000

Also, Ashburn needs updating.

By: Number 47

Number 47 — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:14:41 +0000

I’m split on Lidge.

On the one hand, I really didn’t like the look of those first two outs. Also, I do agree that his fastball speeds are dangerously low for someone responsible for closing games.

Still, I feel like some if his issues from last year have been resolved. In Tuesday’s game against the Cards he came in in a tie game with the go-ahead run on second. You don’t get much higher pressure than that, and aside from an intentional walk to set up a possible force, he didn’t even allow a baserunner. The mental part and some of the control seem to have returned. Not to mention the fact that the Cardinals are no joke of a team.

Will he ever regain the perfection of 2008? Almost certainly not. But perfect is a very high and often unattainable standard. Is he capable of being a decent closer this year? It’s too early to say anything, but I think he has a chance.

By: Choo Choo Coleman

Choo Choo Coleman — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:48:18 +0000

Lidge has lost the physical edge that allows a pitcher to be a winner. He has permanently lost 5 to 7 mph off all of his pitches, and he does not have the intelligence or the talent to adjust to finesse pitching in the same fashion as a Pops Moyer. I still sweat bullets every time he enters a game.

Never underestimate your enemies such as the Nats and Mets. For the moment, it’s anybody’s race in the NL east.

Werth looks confidently comfortable and zoned in all aspects of the game, especially hitting. It must be the caveman look that makes the difference.

By: JB

JB — Sun, 09 May 2010 23:18:52 +0000

The wind was blowing for both teams. If it was June, Howard’s knock and at least one of Utley’s flyouts are gone too.

By: Philly Texan

Philly Texan — Sun, 09 May 2010 23:12:59 +0000

I’m feeling pretty good about Lidge — despite the warning-track fly outs.

Those pitches were up to the first two batters and sure he got lucky with the wind. But it’s still a perfect inning. And the velocity of his fastball will get better.

I was just glad he wasn’t walking people. He seems to have better control with the fastball this year. And the slider looked downright filthy again today.

So there’s definitely some positives for Lidge. I think he’ll be pretty good this year.

By: Manny

Manny — Sun, 09 May 2010 22:59:33 +0000

Now MLB Network can finally replace that “YEEEEESSSS YESSSSSS” call for Buehrle’s perfect game with the call from Braden’s perfect game. It was driving me nuts.

WIN!

By: Manny

Manny — Sun, 09 May 2010 22:49:28 +0000

Dallas Braden (Oakland) just threw a perfect game!