Week In Review – Pineiro, Nats, Sixers
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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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.
Now I know what some of you are thinking; ‘why is this chump so hung up on the Nats in this Phillies blog’. Reason being is that when all these pieces start coming together for other teams, the Phillies luck may have run out and the current contracts run their course without renewals. Ruban Amaro has spent the last few seasons preparing for the now and trading away key components of the farm. So what’s left?
Keith Law ranked the Phillies organization as the fifth best in all of baseball. That’s good news. Jay Floyd, as always, takes it one step further to introduce you readers to the prospect list. See what’s in store for the 2012 season down on the farm.
It’s always fun to look back at the season before and relive certain games. Like Opening Day, when my friend calls my reaction to John Mayberry‘s walk-off single as an out-of-body experience running around CBP flailing, these are games you will never forget. This is why we count down the top 20 moments.
This week Carlos Ruiz, Cliff Lee, and Ryan Howard power through top moments 13, 12, and 11. Any ideas on what games made it into the Top 10?
Top Moments are made by top players. And the Phillies have a lot of them. Our own man behind the curtain took the time out and updated all of our player pages with the new additions and subtractions updated. Check out your favorite Phillies. Also, if you missed any of the player reviews we have put them all in one neat little post so you don’t have to look far.
And last but certainly not least we here at Phillies Nation care about our female readers. Which is why we gave you, not one but, two videos featuring the best looking man in the blogsphere, Pat Gallen. PG talks beer, Ryan Madson and Cole Hamels on episode 8 of PN TV then sits down for CSNPhilly.com’s Lunch Break. He sat down with Rhea Hughes and talked Phillies and Sixers.
