Report: Phillies can add Pete Rose to Wall of Fame
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME: According to Bob Brookover at Philly.com, a baseball source says the Phillies have been given approval by Major League Baseball to add Rose onto its Wall of Fame.
Rose may likely be on the ballot this year with Scott Rolen and others.
My take: It doesn’t matter who “others” are. Rolen should be there. Case closed.
THE SAGA CONTINUES: Chase Utley may finally belong to someone this year. The former Phillie apparently has narrowed his decision to four teams, one of them likely being the American League champion Cleveland Indians.
GOMEZ, YOUNG MAN: Phils Manager Pete Mackanin, on MLB Network Radio Thursday, said Jeanmar Gomez “deserves right out of spring training to be our closer.”
I disagree with that. The 29-year-old (happy birthday, by the way!) started strong but finished poorly, as his strikeout rate fell and his ERA climbed in August and September.
Plus on a team like this, why set bullpen roles immediately? Pat Neshek, Joaquin Benoit and Hector Neris should all be contenders to close.
Also, do we still need closers?
Ah, whatever. We have a ways to go still until April.
