Lots of Phillies News

The internet just got turned on at my new house in DC, so I have a backlog of Phillies news to report.  Let’s just dive right in.

• The major stories coming out of the first round of the playoffs revolve around the Tigers knocking off the Yankees.  Let me first say, for those that watched the Tigers celebrate on TV, that looked like a lot of fun (even though they didn’t technically win anything).  Speculation out of New York and the Yankees HQ in Tampa Bay points towards the firing of the legendary Yankees skipper, Joe Torre.  Upon hearing the news, I immediately pictured him as the next Phillies manager.  It seems that will have to wait until next year with Uncle Charlie set to return to the Phils.  All signs still point to him as manager, despite his own recommendation to allow someone else to manage the Phillies next year.  Still, think of the possibility of having Torre fill one of the Phillies coaching vacancies.  How funny would it be with Larry Bowa directing third-base traffic in the Bronx if Joe Torre would land in South Philly.  The early odds though put Torre either heading to Texas or staying with the Yankees.
• In case you missed it, check out Phillies Nation contributor Julie Michael in the Delco Times talking about the Phillies’ future.  
• A recent interview with Jamie Moyer has his return in question.  When asked if he will stay in Philadelphia or desires to return to Seattle, he responded, "We have a mutual option, and at this point I don’t know what I’m going to do."
• A Dodgers writer thinks Randy Wolf would be a good choice for the Angels.
• Check out the off-season feature over at A Citizen’s Blog.  It features the 1950 Phillies, affectionately known as the Wiz Kids, with profiles of Phillies greats including Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, Jim Konstanty, Curt Simmons, and Del Ennis, coach Eddie Sawyer
• If the Red Sox deal Manny in the offseason (which they never do) they will certainly consider picking up Pat Burrell as a replacement.  Perhaps a trade for Trot Nixon might even be in the cards?
• The Phillies have added Florida State University to their 2007 spring training schedule.  The game will be on February 28 in Clearwater. 
• Based on the relationship between wins and salaries, Baseball Prospectus released its Marginal Wins report.  The Marlins had the most bang for Jeffrey Loria’s buck; Dave Montgomery paid a bit too much.
• Finally, congratulations goes out to the two division winners of the Phillies Nation Fantasy League.  In the Schuykill Division, it was the "Ligers" who took home the crown and in the Deleware Divsion, "kruk rules" proved most worthy.  Nice work everyone.