Comments on: The Dip: A Response to Paul Hagan

By: dino

dino — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:04:33 +0000

The logic of some here escapes me. Had the Phillies kept Lee, or better yet signed him, they would have had him all season, and there would have been no need to get Oswalt.They could have used lesser prospects to get more bullpen help. Thus, they would have been stronger in 2010.

Lee could have been signed. Blanton should have been released, or at least had arbitration. Instead, they throw 24 mil at a mediocre 4th starter who can be found for less than 5 mil. Howard did not need to have his K extended now, and it certainly didn’t need to be extended until 2016.

Lee’s first demand was 20 mil; the Phillies countered with 14. That was it-they traded him b4 Lee could counter. If they were willing to give him 14, who knows if he would have taken 17 or 18-just a 3 million difference which could have come from Blanton’s heist.

You guys think the Phillies are not rich,and act like it’s your own money you’re saving. these billionaire owners must be laughing as they count their money.

By: Georgie

Georgie — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:01:58 +0000

Well, you have to realize that Paul Hagan is looking at the world through his ’70′s Joe Paterno glasses, so it makes perfect sense that he sees it this way. I have not been able to let the Cliff Lee thing go, until now. I understand why RAJ felt the need to do it, and now he has made up for our loss by bringing Roy Oswalt here. It’s obvious RAJ and the FO want to win it all again, and I salute him/them for giving a us a FANTASTIC 1-2-3 starting lineup. I can’t wait for the game tonight..going out to mow now so I can be in front of the tube by 7pm.

Great post Dips.

By: repeat

repeat — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:30:20 +0000

that’s doc/oswalt/cole of course

By: The Dipsy

The Dipsy — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:16:12 +0000

I know that media guys have to find something to write about…I do. But, this Hagen’s article was just gratuitous silliness. RAJ goes balls out and makes a great trade, fleecing our old malfeasing GM in the process, and all a guy can write about is how the our GM is “admitting a mistake”? Well, what if we hadn’t done anything???? How much of a F-UP would RAJ be then? No. He’s making our team better. Paul Hagen’s persepctive is about as fresh as a Foghat concert. He’s gotta hang it up. He and Donnellon. Let Murphy write every Phillies piece. I wonder if Hagen wears a mask and carries a gun when he goes the to collect his paycheck each week. Seriously, when is the last time he wrote anything even remotely thought provoking? and I think the only “scoop” he’s ever come up with is what the Phils are serving at the post game buffet. Brutal. Please quit.

The Dipsy

By: SpinJamin

SpinJamin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:06:26 +0000

I just think the Lee deal was Ruben taking a chance that this team didn’t need him because they had Halladay. He wanted to get something in return for depleting the farm system for two pitchers and I think it had a lot to do with the fact that he was told he couldn’t add 9 million on the payroll and then just watch him walk away to the highest bidder. I don’t think that logic makes much sense to me, but it was a chance he took with good reason.

Now we have a similar quality pitcher, a managable contract, money back to help the payroll and didn’t have to give up too much quality besides Happ. I just think that we all just think we should be the Yankees and buy whoever we want, spend whatever we want and not worry about the consequences. When Phillies fans are willing to pay 1000 bucks for top seats and spend ridiculous money on luxury boxes then the team might be able to just keep signing whoever, whenever. Until that becomes a reality you have to understand the business side and you have to give Ruben all the credit in the world for fixing his gamble that didn’t really work and somehow coming out better in the end.

By: repeat

repeat — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:35:18 +0000

yeah and i wish the beautiful girlfriend i had in college hadn’t moved back to the island she was from because her dad got real sick(at least that’s what she told me.).. sh*t happens! we got doc,lee and oswalt now and for at least next season. knock on wood.. but for the 1st time in ages starting pitching won’t be a question mark for this team. at least for a little while. and no Hamels/Myers/Moyer ’08, Lee/Cole/Pedro 2nd half ’09 don’t compare despite their post season merits. no one knows how things will turn out. it sure is exciting though. they’re having panic attacks in Atlanta and flash mobs in Queens. Great piece Dipsy! And John Smallwood is a whinny little b*tch too.

By: Andrew from Waldorf

Andrew from Waldorf — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:27:02 +0000

Bottom line
Lee was gone in 2011 anyeay and Oswalt is here. With the Astros paying some of the salary. If Oswalt is good this more than makes up for the Lee trade. The second one. But again the first one wasnt that bad and still have Ben from it and the prospects from Seattle.
Now get me a reliever Ruben.

By: Ryan H

Ryan H — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:24:12 +0000

Ed 2: Buster Olney is the absolute worst. Well, maybe not worse than Keith Law. But the two of those guys are 1 and 2 in the rankings of biggest moron “experts” on ESPN. Olney is a guy who clearly has an agenda and preconceived narrative to follow. He’s been poo pooing the Phillies since their run of NL dominance has begun and trying to play up the Braves all year. Add to that the fact that he is a complete Yankees brown noser. Clearly he cares about the Yankees first and the rest of baseball second. Jayson Stark and Peter Gammons have so much more credibility than Olney IMO. There is no way in the world you can look at this Phillies team on paper and now in the standings and not consider them among the favorites to win the division. Yet that’s Olney’s story and he’s sticking to it.

By: Andrew from Waldorf

Andrew from Waldorf — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:21:15 +0000

Dipsy I am proud of you. This article is almost 100% correct and on the money. Your best work yet.
Things are getting interesting with this team and this website ( please stay up today).

The Oswalt deal is probably even a better deal then the Lee deal was. Its a home run.

By: Ed 2

Ed 2 — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:18:02 +0000

Media pundits around the sports world are focusing on this trade as some type of solice for all those hurt by the untimely dismissal of Cliff Lee. Some have even done so with streams of unwarranted venom spit at RAJ. While people like Hagan, i agree, seem to be speaking from the crystal clear image of retrospect and from their shiny 1980s looking glass, its the national media who have been the most outlandish.

Buster Olney (with his more and more obvious toupee) went so far as to, first, demand an apology for trading Lee from RAJ, to then claiming that he EXPECTS an apology. Maybe over at Vanderbilt he took a class at wagging the dog, but i dont believe its an ethical basis for reporting.

Im very upset to say that I have to completely agree with Dipsy and his assessment of the media and the organization. I guess I have to stop the notso subtle digs…for now.

By: Tony

Tony — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:16:48 +0000

We can probably get Taylor back if Amaro wanted to and for cheaper than what his value was in December. His stock has gone down a bit since leaving the Phillies farm system.

By: psujoe

psujoe — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:14:58 +0000

Taylor was blocked. He’s in AAA doing OK .268, but only 5 dingers in 328 ABs. 66 KO’s. He’s still only 24 though.

By: Me

Me — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:06:33 +0000

i wish we still had michael taylor… as don m pointed out… the blue jays basically flipped taylor 4 gose & we couldve given the stros singleton & had brown & taylor

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By: psujoe

psujoe — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:50:23 +0000

Thanks Geoff.

By: Don M

Don M — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:42:31 +0000

I’ve heard Wallace is already more a DH .. wonder why Toronto flipped him so quickly.. and basically traded Micahel Taylor for Anthony Gose ???

JA Happ is solid .. not spectacular .. but Houston has been losing money on their team this year, so talent wasn’t their biggest need. They wanted average pitching at a team friendly rate .. Happ fits that bill more than anyone on our roster

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:34:45 +0000

If they both void the option he becomes a Free Agent. If one party does not agree he becomes a free agent.

By: psujoe

psujoe — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:34:41 +0000

Don,

Wade flipped Gose for Wallace who will start for them in 2011. Now he can dump Berkman for more prospects. They did get a #4 starter Happ, A starting 1B in Wallace and a talented young SS. Love the Phils end, but two cheap starters was probably the best he could get.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:34:03 +0000

Well Wade also got a replacedment for either Feliz or Berkman – whicchever leaves, when he flipped Gose for Brett Wallace, who should finally be up to start next season or even sooner.

But Oswalt allows us to be in solid contention next year as well, and likely a year beyond that if the Phillies pick up his option. That way, regardless of whether Werth stays or goes in FA, if you have a front three of those guys, youre always in contention.

By: psujoe

psujoe — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:31:45 +0000

Nice article. Lee dump was a mistake, almost everyone agrees on that. However, the Oswalt trade is off the charts good.

Question. Can the Phils offer Oswalt arbitration if they both void the option? Or is that reserved for players with less service?