Phillies Nation

The Papelbon deal takes up $11 million for the Phillies in 2012.

Here is a revised look at the Phillies 2012 roster and payroll projections. The numbers for the arbitration players and players lacking service time are subject to change. They are merely educated guesses.

According to the Associated Press, it appears the MLB Luxury Tax will not be going up as it had the previous five seasons. It will remain the same as it was in 2011; $178 million. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Phillies won’t go over it, but in the past they’ve seemingly been reluctant to do it. It had gone up $8 million per season over the last five years of the old CBA. That’s no longer the case.

Included in the new CBA is a provision that will raise the minimum salary from $414,000 to $480,000. That could change some things for the Phillies with guys like Mayberry and Martinez. In the projections below, I’ve made those changes.

Continue reading Updated Roster and Payroll Projections

(PHOTO: AP)

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com said in a series of tweets that the Phillies were attempting to unload Joe Blanton in an attempt to clear salary space to keep Roy Oswalt.

Verrrry interesting, to say the least. Who would that taker be, if they were able to find one? Undoubtedly, the Phillies would have to eat some, if not ALL, the remaining money on Blanton’s contract. Right now there does not seem to be any sort of market for Blanton, which significantly hurts the Phillies chances of re-signing Little Roy.

Lidge leaves for the Nats. (MLB)

Washington Nationals reliever Brad Lidge joined “The Sports Bash with Mike Gill” on 97.3 ESPN FM on Tuesday. Lidge was very candid about the Phillies not wanting him back and the team’s signing of Jonathan Papelbon over friend Ryan Madson.

“I came back to the Phillies and I said, ‘Let’s talk. My heart’s still here,” said Lidge. “It never left. Let’s see what we can do.’ Unfortunately, at that time, they had changed their mind and didn’t have a contract for me.”

Obviously, the Phillies went in another direction, going after guys like Chad Qualls and Dontrelle Willis. Lidge understood the changes. “Yeah, it’s disappointing. I’m not crying about it or nothing. I understand it’s all business and that’s part of it. But it was disappointing and unfortunate because, of course, I did want to come back to Philadelphia.”

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO LIDGE’S INTERVIEW

It started as a seed in the soil. Two seasons ago, I asked Brian Michael to put up the money for an HD Flip Cam. I though nightly/weekly reports from Citizens Bank Park would show that we were THE insider blog. The “Phillies Nation Phancast” was done from time to time (when I could find someone to hold a camera for me) and wasn’t the greatest production in the world. But with that trusty Flip Cam, I was able to get great footage from different angles of the stadium and from different events throughout the season.

Slowly, that seed morphed into a small plant. The small plant became Phillies Nation TV, which Corey Seidman and I shoot on a monthly basis. We began shooting PN TV’s late in the 2011 season and have tried to keep up with it to the best of our abilities. Our hard work and diligence has paid off.

The small plant is now larger than we ever imagined it could be.

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Service Electric’s 2 Sports in the Lehigh Valley. Phillies Nation TV will go from an 8-10 minute show into a 30 minute program that will be taped once a week and will air three times per week – with days and times to be announced soon. So, those of you in the area of Allentown, Bethlehem, Quakertown, Reading, Northampton, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and parts of Northern New Jersey will be able to see PN TV several times a week, satisfying your need for all things Phillies. You’ll also be able to get it on-demand.

Service Electric Television is a private, family owned cable business servicing over 294,000 subscribers located in approximately 250 communities in Central and Northeastern Pennsylvania and Northwestern New Jersey. 2 Sports, the channel we’ll be on, is the TV home of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and Reading Phillies. So we’ll feel right at home covering the Phillies and their minor league affiliates while adding a new dimension to the network.

With this new partnership, we’ll be able to give you greater access to the minor leaguers we’ve come to know and love. We’ll also continue to provide the best Phillies coverage possible.

Needless to say, we’re completely stoked and can’t wait to get started on this newest project. Myself and Corey will continue the hosting duties with Ian, Jay, and all of our Phillies Nation contributors involved in some way, shape, or form. The ideas are already flowing, but of course, we’d love to hear from you. What more would you like to see out of Phillies Nation TV? Please, feel free to leave your thoughts/comments/ideas in the comments section below.

Today, I discuss the Sixers beating the Bulls and becoming an elite team with John Gonzalez. We also dip into “Philly Villains,” a special that has been running on Comcast SportsNet this past week and touch on the Flyers home woes.

Enjoy!

Continue reading Pat Gallen on CSNPhilly.com’s Lunch Break

Brown is one of several African-American players on a Phillies roster loaded with them (Photo: AP)

This is a special guest post written by a friend of Phillies Nation, Zaki Edwards, from the always-funny website, PhillyGameday.com. Check out some of his old stuff and have a laugh or two.

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Barry Bonds could have hit 100 home runs in 2001 and I still wouldn’t have been able to convince other black guys at my high school that baseball wasn’t wack. No amount of stealing from Rickey Henderson or wall-climbing catches from Torii Hunter could have changed their minds.

To them, baseball wasn’t flashy enough. It wasn’t black enough. It was a “white sport”.

I’m pretty sure I slept through that day in Blackness Prep or something since I always have and always will think baseball is the greatest sport known to man. No one had to convince me that it was cool to take that piece of metal the coach gave you to hit a ball and run as fast as you can. It’s all I’ve wanted to do everyday for the past 20 years of my life.

Of course, I’m in the minority of the minority. And so is every other black baseball player and fan that can name more than five players on their favorite team.

It’s a phenomenon that has been talked about at length for the past few decades, but one that seems to be fading in the City of Brotherly Love as of late: The Phillies are employing more black players and the number of black Phillies fans seems to be on the rise.

Continue reading Why Have Black Fans Rallied Around the Phillies?

Chad Qualls (AP)

The Phillies have made what would seem like one final move to try and solidify the bullpen by signing veteran Chad Qualls.

From the Phillies:

Right-hander Chad Qualls signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Phillies, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced today.  The contract includes performance and awards bonuses.

Qualls, 33, went 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA in a team-high 77 games for the San Diego Padres last season.  In his final 19 appearances, he posted a 1.96 ERA and held opposing hitters to a .219 batting average.  Qualls made the eighth-most relief appearances among all major league pitchers last year.

Over the past seven seasons (2005-11), Qualls has made more appearances (512) than any other major league pitcher and ranks second in relief wins (34), trailing only Jesse Crain (38).

Originally a second-round selection by the Houston Astros, Qualls has a career record of 38-34 with 51 saves and a 3.78 ERA in 537 games for the Astros (2004-07), Arizona Diamondbacks (2008-10), Tampa Bay Rays (2010) and Padres (2011).

Qualls will wear #50.

I think you’re all well aware of my stance on guys of this ilk. Is he going to be a big difference maker over cheaper, younger, less proven relief pitchers like Michael Schwimer or Justin De Fratus, among others? Not that it’s a waste of over $1 million, but it just seems like an unnecessary investment. Perhaps Ed Wade has his paws on this one, as Qualls is a former Houston Astro. That being said, Qualls has been a decent pitcher in this league for a long time.

Hunter Pence is back. (AP)

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Phillies and Hunter Pence have avoided arbitration by coming to terms on a one-year, $10.4 million contract. Heyman was the first to tweet the news just after 3 p.m.

Pence had originally asked for $11.8 million, the Phillies countered with $9 million, and the two sides have split the difference.

Now comes some interesting days ahead for the Phillies. Not only is Cole Hamels a free agent after 2012, but Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence will be as well. Who do you keep if it comes down to it? Clearly Cole is the priority, but the Phillies just gave up a boatload to get Pence, you’d think he’d be the second priority. He will obviously command top dollar next offseason. Ruben Amaro Jr. will have his hands full, for sure.

Juan Pierre. (MLB)

The Phillies have inked speedy outfielder Juan Pierre to a minor-league contract.

Last season, Pierre, 34, was still a serviceable player with the Chicago White Sox, although we know he is completely one-dimensional. He will give you slap hits and speed and not much else. Over 158 games, Pierre hit .279 in 711 plate appearances, however, his steals fell from 68 in 2010 to just 27 in 2011.

Among active players, Pierre has the most career stolen bases (554) and ranks 26^th on the all-time list. And according to Jayson Stark of ESPN.com, he ranks No. 1 among active players in K/PA ratio (1 every 17.8 at-bats). Not much swinging and missing going on there.

That being said, I would rather the Phillies have inked Pierre and gone with him over signing Laynce Nix to a two-year deal. I feel as though this contract makes much more sense. Pierre will provide no power, but with your final outfield spot up in the air, plus the addition of mashers like Jim Thome and Ty Wigginton, it’s hardly a necessity.

All-in-all a low-risk, high-reward move by the Phillies that could pay dividends should one of the starting outfielders go out for an extended period of time. Pierre is clearly declining as a player, but for the price, it’s worth it to take a shot that he’s got something left in the tank as a backup. That said, the Phils still need to address the middle infielder spot that sits empty after the trade of WIlson Valdez. At this point, Michael Martinez is the only legit option.

Pierre’s numbers the last three seasons:

Brad Lidge moves on to the Washington Nationals on a one-year, $1 million deal. He spent four seasons in Philadelphia and was integral in the 2008 World Championship as he went 48-for-48 in save opportunities that season, which is something the fans in this town will never forget.

Injuries have wrecked his career as of late, but Washington decided to take a flier on him to help guide a young bullpen down in D.C. Lidge is one of the nicest people, baseball or not, and is filled with the wisdom of nearly a decade in the majors.

Lidge reportedly received a low-ball offer from the Phillies to stay in town, so he decided to take the better financial deal rather than try to make the team on a minor-league contract.

We wish Brad well in Washington, except for when he faces the Phillies. Can anyone else feel the remnants of 2008 slowly slipping away? Kinda depressing if you think about it…

If you’d like, please share your thoughts on Brad Lidge in this space.