Phillies Nation

Ok, time to fess up.  I will be the first to admit that I’ve been a horrible fan for the past seven months.  Starting a new career with the fire department and continuously training since August has only allowed for quick glances at the TV and minimal time surfing the web.  I apologize for that.

But Sunday mornings, like for many people, are my mornings.  It gives me a chance to look back on the week, the month or in some cases the season we are currently working our way through.  This Sunday is one of those mornings.  Jumping from sport site, and some even more popular blog sites, to sport site it is amazing how much I’ve missed.

Philadelphia teams are doing very well in their respective sports this year.  The Sixers are out-performing almost everyone and have analysts scratching their heads at their success.  Good for them.  The Flyers currently trail by three points in the standing and are one of the most scariest teams in front of opposing nets.  I’d like to think we have come to expect this from all of our teams.

Continue reading Week In Review – Qualls, Quinn, Free Beer

It has been somewhat of a slow week in Philliesville with some minor transactions involving some once major players.  Brad Lidge finally inked a deal this offseason agreeing to a one year contract with the Washington Nationals.  The closer spot in Washington already belongs to Drew Storen and he has proven to be a big time finisher.

Lidge’s main role for this coming season will be to secure the later innings before Storen closes it out.  Also, he will be a veteran guy in a clubhouse full of young players.  I think Lidge will help on and off the field for the Nationals.  Pat gave a little Fare Thee Well for Lidge.  We will all remember that 2008 season.

Continue reading Week In Review – Valdez, Pierre, Lidge

We say goodbye to a legend. RIP Joe.

-Update: Just after finishing this post the Joe Paterno update flashed across the screen.  Paterno’s family issued a statement saying JoePa has passed away due to complications with lung cancer.  RIP Joe Paterno 1926 – 2012

Well Twitter did it again.  They killed somebody off.  Last night, according to Twitter, Joe Paterno died in a State College hospital while Beaver Stadium was showing a video dedicated to one of winningest college football coaches ever.  But wait.  It’s not true?  JoePa is alive? You are telling me that Twitter lied?  Can’t be true.

Turns out that all the pseudo-journalists reporting this info were wrong.  We can’t really blame them though, I guess, for trying to kill people off.  A lot of people have died according to Twitter in the past couple years.  Folks like Justin Beiber, Brittany Spears, Aretha Franklin, Paris Hilton and Morgan Freeman has reportedly died.  All of which are alive and well.  Even Barack Obama suffered a Twitter death once. My thoughts and prayers go out to JoePa and his family during this tough time.

Ok back to baseball.  There are 74 days until Opening Day.  Most of the big signings have occurred and now its just tweaking what you already got to get the team ready for this marathon of a season.  Ruben Amaro and the front office continue to tie up some loose ends inside the Phillies clubhouse by signing Cole Hamels to a one year deal.

Continue reading Week In Review – JoePa, Hamels, Bieber

UPDATE: According to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, the Phillies have signed former Mariner and Cardinal hurler Joel Pineiro to a minor-league deal that includes an invite to Spring Training.

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Will Prince Fielder sign in Washington?

When pennant flags are raised in 2015, many people will look back to this offseason as the one that shaped the National League East.  It’s the first one in awhile when such big names are moving simultaneously and at the same position.  Albert Pujols took care of his future already and now Prince Fielder still awaits his fate.

A dark horse in these negotiations could be the Nationals.  They have quietly acquired, ok maybe not so quietly, the top young talent in Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen and Bryce Harper and made a deal to bring in Jayson Werth for way too much money.  Recently they have been linked to Roy Oswalt, Gio Gonzalez (who they signed) and now apparently talks with Fielder’s agent have started back again.

As I have argued on Twitter (@kierancarobine) in the past weeks signing Fielder does not put the Nationals as favorites for the East.  I honestly think the Phillies still hold that spot but it would make the upcoming seasons that much more interesting.  Once their youthful movement is complete they will be the competing team on top.

Continue reading Week In Review – Pineiro, Nats, Sixers

Marlins intend on making it interesting this season. (Photo: Bocaratontribune.com)

With the official start of Spring Training a little more than 50 days away excitement levels are high in Philly and other baseball towns across America.  Even here in Virginia Beach, we are talking baseball on a regular basis.  People around here are tired of hearing me talk about the the Phillies and Doc and Cliff.  They would prefer to talk about the Nationals and Prince Fielder.

The fact of the matter is the National League East is slowly becoming the powerhouse of the Major Leagues.  It’s been a long drawn out debate about the toughest division in baseball.  The AL East has had bragging rights with the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays trading blows all season long for the past couple of years.

The Marlins have made the biggest splash this off season acquiring Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, Heath Bell and now Carlos Zambrano.  With a new stadium set to open the 2012 season with a bang, Miami has opened its wallet and declared ‘we want to win.’  The Marlins also brought in Ozzie Guillen to run this new look, new name, and new uniformed team.

Continue reading Week In Review: NL East Looking Scary

He kicks, he pitches and oh he can hit too.

With the holiday season in full swing, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro looks like he will be handing out pens this year.  Pens for what?  Well for signing contracts of course.  He has pens in one pocket and apparently contracts in the other.  And I could not be any happier.

Amaro continues to sign guys this offseason and the Phillies are looking to bring back most of the usual suspects as they open 2012.  Good for you sir.  Amaro has always been a win now, but save some for the future, kind of guy.  He has made both kinds of moves this week.

While letting JC Romero walk, Amaro signed Dontrelle Willis to a one year deal worth roughly $1 million to come out of the pen.  This move will all but ensure that the Phillies other lefty, Antonio Bastardo will become the new set-up man in front of Jonathan Papelbon.

Willis might be one of the only pitchers in the league with an incentive bonus based on plate appearances.  As for pitchers, this guy can rake.  In all his seasons pitching in the National League, minus 2.5 in Detroit, the guy has hit at least one home run.  In 2006, he hit three in just 64 at bats.  He is a career .287 hitter who might take a swing or two this season.  Corey took a look at his numbers against lefties and compared them to Bastardo this past week.  He also took a stab at a young Atlanta reliever.  Always good in my book.

Continue reading Week In Review – Pocket Full Of Pens

The Winter Meetings have lived up to the hype. Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson have found new homes, Prince Fielder will most likely be filling out a change of address form and Alex Gonzalez is calling Brewtown his new stomping ground. Mostly all big names are making big moves.

Just come on home Rollins

It’s a smaller move that could potentially help the Phillies in their negotiating corner. The St. Louis Cardinals, who a lot of people thought were front runners for Jimmy Rollins, allowed Pujols to escape their grasps. This left a lot of money lying around some thought would be to sign Rollins. They, instead, decided to re-up with Rafael Furcal on a two-year deal.

With Furcal and Gonzalez signing deals with the Cardinals and Brewers, respectively, this opens it up for the Phillies to focus on Rollins. There isn’t much of a market now for a shortstop and this will definitely work in Ruben Amaro’s favor. The only obstacle left is what kind of contract will Rollins get.

Continue reading Week In Review – Bye Bye Madson, Hello Rollins?

Will the Phillies re-sign Rollins at the Winter Meetings?

‘Tis my favorite time of the year.  As soon as the Thanksgiving table has been cleared, the Christmas decorations come out.  Watching football all afternoon with child-like giddiness knowing the best is yet to come is what the holiday’s are all about.

Now, we have already had some teasers thus far this offseason when the Phillies brought back Jim Thome and signed mega-cliche closer Jonathan Papelbon.  Those signings were just a taste of how great this winter could be.  The Winter Meetings are just around the corner (this week) and Ruben Amaro Jr. has already made flight arrangements to try and bring back Philly’s longest tenured player.

Amaro is heading to Dallas this week to meet with Jimmy Rollins‘ agent, Dan Lozano, to progress talks further in bringing back the former MVP to play short stop in Philadelphia next season.  Amaro won’t be alone in his venture out west as Lozano is said to have other meetings with additional suitors.  Also, the Phillies might wait and see what happens with other free agents, like Alex Gonzalez, to see how the market settles.

Continue reading Week In Review: Rollins, Mayberry, Minors

Rain should of stayed. Phillies suffer tough loss.

Mother Nature tried to do it.  She rained and rained but gave after two hours before the Phillies and Nationals finally got back under way after two outs in the first inning.

Kyle Kendrick was called on for the ‘spot’ start after the rain delay.  Kendrick pitched well in his six innings of work allowing only two runs on five hits.  His ERA is actually down to a respectable 3.24 with over 97 innings pitched this season.

The Phillies scored their four runs in the third inning with a run scoring triple from John Mayberry and an RBI double from Chase Utley.  Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz added RBI singles to put the Phils up 4-0.

Continue reading Madson Owes Kendrick A Solid Next Time

Phillies.com

The commentators tonight made a joke about a pitcher going a complete game and then coming out the next time without the same stuff.  I usually don’t buy into that kind of thing, but Cole Hamels played into it perfectly.

The Nationals stayed patient at the plate and Livan Hernandez (7-11, 4.21) pitched into the seventh to help Washington win 4-2.

Continue reading Hamels Walks Himself Out Of Game