Should the Phillies Bet the Farm on Roy Halladay?

With the Philadelphia area positively abuzz over the last few days about the prospect of the Phillies trading for Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay, the usual questions have sprung up countless times about what players the Phillies would need to part ways with to complete a deal.

Ultimately, the question becomes whether or not you should potentially mortgage the future to give yourself a much better chance to win right now.

The Phillies have a number of palatable prospects in the system, like pitchers Kyle Drabek and Carlos Carrasco, outfielders Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown, catcher Lou Marson, and infielder Jason Donald, to name a few.

Would it be worth trading some or possibly (but hopefully not) all of these potential solid major leaguers for Halladay?

There is also a strong possibility that the Phillies would have to part with J.A. Happ, just about the only player on the big league roster who fits the mold of being good, young, and cheap that a team would love to have as part of a trade.

I don’t know what the final trade scenario would be, but I do know that the Phillies should do everything in their power to complete a trade for Halladay.

If they could bring him in without losing a significant piece of the major league roster, they would have the best one-two punch in baseball at the top of their rotation.

Imagine Halladay and Cole Hamels starting four games in a best-of-seven series. How could you not love your chances? And with Halladay only being 32, you could get several more seasons of dominance out of him.

A trade for Halladay would instantly make the Phillies the favorites in the National League once again. With teams like the Cardinals and Dodgers playing much better this year than last, they will need the extra help come playoff time.

Many will argue against such a trade, worrying about the future of any player the Phillies would include in a trade for Halladay. Could they become All-Stars or even Hall of Famers?

If we all get to witness another parade or two down Broad Street in the near future, who cares?

It would be truly exciting to see a team make the big move to stay at the zenith of its sport rather than be content to revel in a recent title and play with house money for a while.

If, however, the trade is made but turns into a disaster for the Phillies, I, for one, would not fault them for at least making the effort. No one should.

The hunger of the team and the fans for another World Series is there. We shouldn’t be satisfied just to be competitive and in the mix every season.

We already have a team like that in Philadelphia. They’re called the Eagles.

If Halladay were to change addresses this season, he would be the highest impact player to be moved prior to the trading deadline—and the Phillies may be the only team with the budget and the assets to trade for him.

Not only would they be vastly improving their own pitching staff, but they also would be preventing a team like the Mets or any other National League contender from getting their hands on a Cy Young winner.

Use any cliché you want: striking while the iron is hot; emptying the chamber; going all in.

However you say it, just get Halladay in a Phillies uniform soon.

Philadelphia Phillies: No Untouchables in Effort to Obtain Roy Halladay

When it comes to securing a top of the rotation starter like Roy Halladay the word “untouchable” should be removed from any minor league prospect in the Phillies system.

Not Kyle Drabek. Not Dominic Brown. Not Jason Knapp. No one should be untouchable.

Throughout baseball history, teams become so enamored with their own prospects that the value of those players becomes so over-inflated reality becomes distorted and deals for known quantities are dismissed out of hand.

In Halladay’s case, the Phils have an opportunity to land a 1A pitcher. An inning-eating, groundball-inducing, ace who instantly makes the Phils the top contender in the National League—this year and the next.

In Drabek, Brown, Knapp, Lou Marson, Michael Taylor, Jason Donald, and Carlos Carrasco the Phils certainly seem to have a bright future, but they’re all unknown quantities at this point. The same way Phils’ prospects of yesteryear, like Pat Combs, Ron Jones, Jeff Stone, and Rick Schu were.

You just never know. For every wunderkind pitcher like Felix Hernandez there’s three Homer Baileys. For every stud outfielder like Ryan Braun there’s four Jeremy Hermidas.

It’s a crapshoot—especially for the youngsters like Knapp and Brown.

Like the NFL draft, it’s a lot of fun to dream about what the Phillies are going to look like in two or three years with all these young players up in the majors.

No one likes trading No. 1  draft picks for veteran players—it’s just not as exciting. And no one gets excited about trading all our “future All-Stars” either, but reality is they’re just twinkles in our eyes right now, and Halladay is the twinkle on another World Series trophy (or two).

Make these guys “touchable” Ruben, and make this happen.

 

 

Phillies Beat Reds 3-2 as Victorino Pushes for Final Vote

Yesterday, Shane Victorino put an end to his off-the-field campaigning for the final roster spot ion the National League for the All Star Game. Instead, he is focusing all of his energy on the field.

Last night he did everything he could to help the Phillies win, including his game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth to give the Phillies a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Victorino put on a show for manager Charlie Manuel last night to show why he should be heading to St. Louis next week. The Flyin’ Hawaiian was one of two Phillies with a multiple hit night (Greg Dobbs the other) and a pair of stolen bases. He also scored one run and notched one run batted in, the game winner.

Should Victorino not win the MLB Final Vote for the National League, Manuel could still pick Victorino as a replacement player. Yesterday, it was made official that the Mets’ Carlos Beltran will not participate in the game. Beltran was voted the starter in the fan vote, but his injured knee will keep him out of the midsummer classic.

The Phillies also got another good start from Rodrigo Lopez, but his night was cut short after five innings. Lopez allowed two runs on five hits in five innings, striking out four and walking one, but inflammation in his right shoulder forced the starter out of the game in his second appearance this season.

After the game Lopez claimed he felt some tightness but believed he could be ready for his next scheduled start, which would not be until July 20.

Chad Durbin, J.C. Romero, and Ryan Madson got the job done out of the bullpen, pitching a combined four innings of one hit ball, giving the Phillies a chance to come back to tie the game, and eventually win it. Madson pitched the eighth and ninth innings to pick up the win.

The Reds jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Phillies tied it up at two with a solo home run from Jayson Werth in the sixth inning. For Werth it was his third home run in three games this series, and each has gone to right center field.

The four-game series concludes tonight, as Jamie Moyer takes the mound for the Phillies. He will be opposed by Micah Owings.

Jays Shopping Ace: Phillies Should Consider Roy Halladay Sweepstakes

Good citizens in Canada might utter OH NO Canada of the latest mind-blowing news. Earlier in the season Toronto Blue Jays were filled with elation, controlling its own destiny. Of course, injuries suddenly hampered prevalence of mounting above the Yankees and Boston.

And now the latest news that arguably the game’s best pitcher, Roy Halladay is getting shopped around.

He’s a high-profiled pitcher who is mostly targeted by high-market teams, such as Los Angeles Angels, Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Boston, and New York Yankees as the fans in Toronto nervously wait, understanding there might just be a painful sweepstakes giveaway.

The front-runners in desperate need of pitching, if they are seeking to defend their title, are the Philadelphia Phillies. When reports surfaced that Halladay was on the trading block, the baseball world literally jumped into shock, elation and determination of potentially adding depth to their starting rotation.

The Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. must take a stance, by selling a few players and maybe a few prospects in the form system to acquire a second ace in their fragile rotation.

It’s one concept to uplift confidence in a rotation that has suffered with frustration and mortifications, and are not measuring up to championship caliber and look dissimilar from the team they were a year ago.

Remember, the Phillies emerging ace, Cole Hamels, whose heroics delivered unhittable threws in the World Series and helped the Phillies overcome a drought of failures. Remember when he hoisted the Most Valuable Player award, and transcended into a legend before our very eyes.

Similar heroics haven’t being the Phillies typical mentality, and rather than maintaining poise and optimism, Hamels had an unordinary outing a few weeks ago, frustrated after getting dismantled by Toronto’s surging offense.

Manager Charlie Manuel removed him from the game, after a poor outing turned into the favor of the Blue Jays, who controlled a 4-0 lead. As Hamels walked off disfigured and irritated of his pitching flaws, he exchanged a few words with home-plate umpire Mark Carlson that provoked an ejection.

That pretty much summarizes the type of season it has being for the Phillies, the same team that awed us in the World Series, the same lefthander who fans became inspired by and attached to, referring to him as Mr. October and the next legend to vault in the big-leagues.

What difference a year makes, in a juncture when the Phillies should be endorsed and pleading for another ace to uproot pitching woes.  

As it stands, the Phillies have the worst ERA among starting staff in the National League. Meaning the Washington Nationals can use remodeling in the starting rotation. Even their bullpen at the nation’s capital, a locale President Barrack Obama wouldn’t relish tossing the traditional first pitch.

Maybe he’ll toss a few at Wrigley Field in Chicago, where he formally resided and once already tossed a pitch at the White Sox game.

Oh none of it matters, the Phillies are what matters, and acquiring Halladay in a blockbuster deal before the non-waiver trade deadline, which looms closer, will be an automatic retool to subsidize another remarkable World Series run.

In addition, it relieves much pressure and burdens off Hamels, having to throw off the mound brilliantly in each start, just to mollify his team of drilling deeper problems late in the season.

By reaching a deal in acquiring Holladay’s mechanics, will make the Phillies arguably the National League’s most dangerous pitching staff and a team not to be reckon with down the stretch.

Half of the players on the team have been there a year ago, experiencing elation and glory as the first sporting team in Philly to win a major championship in 25 years, since the Sixers captured a title in 1983 in a town that has painfully suffered and became the first town to reach 10,000-plus loses.

The championship-starved city will be generous, welcoming a top-notched pitcher to cure blemishes and banish struggles that have Philly fans speechless. At Citizens Bank Park, a pitcher-friendly ballpark, the volume is not nearly as loud as it was.

A year ago, average fans and even the players could have employed earplugs to minimize the volume of the rabid fans that loud echoes were heard in the entire town.

Now days, buzzing noise is echoing about Halladay in the crazy sports town, where Brotherly Love converts into Sports Love, especially adding the best pitcher in baseball. He was the face of Toronto, luring in a large crowd and now will attract a town of devoted and lovable fans.

Sometimes, Philly fans are a real pain and obnoxious, booing their teams whenever any underachieve.

Remember, it’s the City That Booed Santa Claus.

Isn’t that naughty?

Amaro acknowledged that the Phillies were contemplative in pursuing Halladay. A year ago, they rode a 7-0 postseason surge and if seeking to repeat a successive run, it starts with consistent pitching on a regular.

Thus far, conducive pitching has being anything, but consistent Adam Eaton was opted to pitch in the minors and was considered as an expensive blunder, spending time in the bullpen, finally releasing him in spring Brett Myers is the one starter who struggles mightily in the first-half of the season and then picks up productivity in the second-half.

Setting a record was the 46-year old veteran Jamie Moyer with a skyrocketing 8.15 ERA earlier this season for the worst in his career.  

These are good examples to snatch Halladay away from the neighbors north of the border. As Jays’ general manager J.P. Ricciardi says he’s willing to listen to offers and will deal a large portion of his team that’s willing to part ways in giving up good value, the 2003 AL Cy Young winner might be a steep expense.

Halladay is owed about $7 million and $14.25 million salary this season, including $15.75 million next season. Taking on his contract shouldn’t be much of a problem or hinder his arrival.

The Phillies have a payroll of $133 million, and obviously they can spent $7 million on a high-profile pitcher who might emerge into the next 300-game winner at the rate he continues to threw strikes and walk off the mound victorious.

And when the season concludes, the Phillies are expected to clear up $29 million in salary cap space with Myers, Eaton and Geoff Jenkins.

In the final year of Halladay’s three-year, $40 million contract, the Phillies could be getting him as a rental player, if he decides to leave when his contract runs out in 2010. Certainly, Halladay, who has a no-trade clause, would accept playing with a postseason contender and a team like the Phillies.

There have being speculations that Halladay will finish out the reminder of his contract with the Jays, and then become a free-agent, if the Jays remain in playoff contention.

Basically, the Jays are dumping their stellar ace to keep payroll intact for next season, according to Fox Sports and have suggested that signing Halladay to a long-term deal could be a hassle.

But the Phillies could be getting an ace to mend struggles. This season, Halladay is 10-2 with a 2.79 earned-run average and only one of six major-league pitchers to reach the double-digit mark in wins.

Not at all are the Phillies done shopping, Amaro also have his eyes on Pedro Martinez and will explore his options. Amaro watched Martinez threw a stimulated game in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday afternoon.

Personally, I prefer Halladay shopping, over gambling. By acquiring Martinez, it could be a huge risk. He’s injury-prone and vulnerable for spending an ample of time on the disabled list, bad idea for the Phillies.

By bringing in Halladay, they have a legitimate shot at repeating. And he’s worth the addition.

They must go Halladay shopping.

Is Roy Halladay Worth the Philadelphia Phillies’ Future?

Roy Halladay has long been one of my favorite pitchers in baseball.

Although he was not commonly known by the casual fan until these past few seasons (largely due to the fact he plays in Toronto), Halladay has been a consistent and talented pitcher his entire career.

Except for one major league season in which he posted an ERA of 10.64 in 13 starts and 19 overall appearances (that disaster was in 2000, his second full season), Halladay has only had an ERA above 4.00 one time, in 2004.

He was awarded with the American League Cy Young Award in 2003, and was a worthy candidate for the award in many of his other seasons, including this year.

Although Halladay missed a few starts this June and has struggled since his return, he has been lights out for the majority of the season.

He has pitched for less than seven innings only twice, and has allowed three or less runs in 12 of his 16 starts.

His ERA currently stands at 2.79, his WHIP at 1.09, and strikeouts at 98.

And suddenly, Roy Halladay could be packing his bags and boarding a plane out of Toronto.

With only one year remaining on his current contract, the Toronto Blue Jays have said that they are listening to any offers that may come their way. However, it was made clear the Jays are not going to look to trade Halladay, and are only listening to the possible offers that could be made.

If the Blue Jays are intrigued by any offer to a point where they cannot refuse, Halladay could be on the move.

One possible location is Philadelphia and the World Champion Phillies.

It has been reported the Phillies are interested, yet would whatever the Phillies would need to put on the table be too much to trade away?

The Blue Jays are supposedly looking for a package of prospects, and one or two major league players.

Would this mean the departure of a Jayson Werth-type player, along with the Phillies’ top prospects Kyle Drabek (pitcher), Dominic Brown (outfielder), and possibly Carlos Carrasco or Joe Savery (both pitchers)?

It would be likely both Drabek and Brown would have to be included, and either Savery or Carrasco could be as well. On top of that, a major-league player would need to be sacrificed, yet who could that be?

Unloading a pitcher should be out of the question, since the club is already scratching for major-league ready minor leaguers out of their own system that can be of use to the team.

The Blue Jays would have no use for a bench player, so would the Phillies have to part ways with Jayson Werth? Werth would be an upgrade over David Dellucci and Adam Lind, their right fielders, and is likely the only need the Jays have that the Phillies may be willing to meet.

Understand that in no way, shape, or form am I saying that Werth will be traded. This is just merely speculation and a suggestion. Yet it would seem Werth would be the most expendable player and fits what Toronto may want.

But would Werth, Drabek, Brown, and either Carrasco or Savery, and even possibly one other minor-league player be too much for the Phillies to lose?

Would it be more sensible to trade for a number three or four starter to solidify the back end of the rotation without having to lose so much talent, or is giving up much of your future worth the possibility of winning this and/or next season with Halladay?

Other factors to take into consideration are Halladay’s salary and no-trade clause.

It has yet to be seen whether he would waive his NTC to come to Philadelphia, and the $14.5 million Halladay is making this season just adds to the large sum of salary going into the main focus of the team.

Is all of that goes into this deal worth trading for Roy Halladay, even if it does mean a second-consecutive World Series Championship this October, or is the price too steep to pay?

The market for pitchers this season is thin, and however likely a Halladay-to-Philadelphia deal is, the Phillies are bound to make a move sometime before the July 31st deadline.

Just what that move is remains to be seen.

Roy Halladay: Philadelphia Phillies Must, Not Should, Acquire The Ace

Ken Rosenthal first reported yesterday that the Toronto Blue Jays will listen to offers about their stud ace, Roy Halladay, speculation started to fly around the sports world as if Brett Favre was considering a comeback.

ESPN picked it up and ran with it, Comcast Sportsnet ran with it as well. Just about every source for baseball did as well like they did last season with C.C. Sabathia.

This time last season, Sabathia was already traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. However for weeks prior to the blockbuster between the Cleveland Indians and the Brew Crew, there were rumours that he would land in one of eight different cities.

The Philadelphia Phillies were one of those teams, and were believed to be the front runners for his services for a long period of time. But they lacked major-league-ready prospects to offer to Cleveland.

Sabathia was eventually dealt to Milwaukee for Matt LaPorta, Rob Bryson, Taylor Green, and Zach Jackson.

This year for the longest time, it looked like there wasn’t going to be any big-name, bona fide aces on the market like a Sabathia.

The names thrown out there were guys like Erik Bedard and Roy Oswalt. While both a terrific pitcher in their own way, one is a free agent after the season and the other has a no-trade clause.

But they weren’t good enough to really give up one of your top prospects to get.

In Bedard’s case, he’s often injured and has a bad attitude. While he’s a great talent, and is having a tremendous season for the Seattle Mariners, he’s not worth a top prospect.

Oswalt’s case is a much different story. First, there’s no way he gets traded if owner Drayton McLane has a say in it. Second, Oswalt determines where he would want to go. Who knows if he’d accept a deal to Philly any way?

Now the best pitcher in the entire league in many people’s mind is on the market, and the Phillies are believed to be the front runners as of right now.

Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse says a source told him that, “Phillies are the leaders at this point.” Buster Olney also think the Phils are the early favorites to land Halladay. Joel Sherman of the New York Post also believes they are in the lead for the right-handed pitcher.

The thing with rumours is that if it keeps getting thrown out there, there has to be some truth to it. Last year, there were rumours that the Phils were talking trade with Toronto about Halladay. In fact, Rosenthal wrote they have repeatedly asked about Halladay over the past two years.

Jim Salisbury, who is columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, reported in his latest column that one Phillies person told him that they are “serious” about acquiring Halladay.

Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki for MLB.com posted in his blog what general manager Ruben Amaro Jr said today when he spoke to reporters.

Amaro said that he does have some untouchables in the organization, although not giving names, those are pretty much common knowledge by now. Those players are Kyle Drabek, Jason Knapp and Dominic Brown.

But Doc is a different animal.

Roy Halladay is the type of pitcher that you give up a couple of your top prospects. He’s been the best pitcher in the league for awhile and yet he doesn’t get much praise because he’s no a Yankee or a Red Sox.

He’s 10-2 with a 2.79 earned run average and 98 strikeouts this season for the Blue Jays. Already he has three complete games, something that he does.

If they call Joe Blanton an “inning-eater,” then what do you call Doc?

The guy has thrown over 200 innings in each of the last three seasons, and racked up 20 complete games in that time span. That’s an old-time baseball pitcher.

Since 2005, Halladay has went the distance 28 times. In his career, 43 times he has completed what he started.

His groundball-to-flyout ratio is exactly what the Phils would love to get for their hitter-friendly ballpark. This year he has 1.28 groundball-to-flyout ratio. He has a deadly sinker, something that Bedard or Oswalt has.

While he’s a strikeout pitcher as well, Halladay is the total package.

Plus he’s under team control for the 2010 season as well. He makes a lot of money, but that shouldn’t be a factor because Brett Myers, Adam Eaton, and Geoff Jenkins will come of the payroll after this season.

Halladay does have a no-trade clause, however according to Jon Heyman, one of his friends “he’s shy, but thinks he would approve a trade to New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.”

That takes me to my next point. Why would Toronto trade him to their divisional rivals the Yankees or the Sox? One of the reasons they are open to trading him is because of the division they play in.

The A.L. East is one tough division to crack, with the Yanks and Sox in there as well as the Rays, the Jays are unlikely to win the division with the team they have now.

Sherman has ruled out the Yankees on his twitter account, stating a Yankee official told him there is “zero chance” they trade for Halladay for the same reasons they didn’t get Johan Santana.

The Phils have what it takes to get Halladay, it’s just a matter of them putting together the right package to get him in Philly and not give up way too much.

One of the aforementioned Drabek, Brown, or Knapp would likely have to be in the package, although that’s not a given. Toronto is looking for a top shortstop prospect, and the Phillies have that in Jason Donald.

Something along the lines of Brown, Donald and Carlos Carrasco with another propesct is likely what the package would have to look like.

I’m in the boat that I don’t care what it takes as long as it doesn’t hurt the big league club this year or next (i.e. trading J.A. Happ or Jayson Werth).

With the addition of Halladay, Philadelphia would win the N.L. East by default and be the favorites to repeat.

He’s that kind of pitcher.

Citizens Bank Park: Philadelphia PA

If there ever was a team that needed a new stadium it was the Philadelphia Phillies. The concrete wasteland that was known as the Vet was the biggest abomination in the history of American sports. Veterans Stadium was home to the worst turf in baseball, a court house in the basement, and more rats than all other stadiums combined. The wrecking ball finally came and the Phillies moved across the street to the baseball-only Citizens Bank Ballpark.

This is what Old Jeb from the Beverly Hillbillies must have felt like moving into his new digs. Talk about an upgrade! The Phillies went from having the stadium in the country to having one of the best.

Citizens Bank Ballpark has great sight-lines, lots of fan interaction and above all, one of the best food options in Baseball. To my knowledge there is no one on this earth who has enough will power to walk down the faux street “Ashburn Alley” and resist the smells of an Authentic Philadelphia Cheesesteak. Or how about some crab fries from Chickie and Pete’s?  It contrast to Philadelphia food culture, this park also won an award for having the most Vegetarian options in MLB.

Citizens Bank also passes the test when it comes to beer they pour. The options are the best at Brewery town, where they specialize in local beers, imports and microbrews. It’s worth searching out one of these stands and getting your brew there.

Another thing that makes Citizens Bank so great is that fans can have different experiences depending upon where they sit. The lower seat area’s are reserved for the baseball purist types. The upper decks are mainly reserved for families and the outfield sections are great for the causal fan who is just looking for a place to hang out with their friends.

Most of the seats are pretty decent, but some of the upper deck seats (especially the outfield section) are pretty far from home Plate. This is made up for by the very large video board in left field. There is a great out of town score board on the right field wall. If you are looking to save some coin, there are plenty of standing room only spaces to watch and enjoy the game.

McFadden’s is a bar located on the third base entrance. It’s a “Irish” bar that is open year round. It’s the substitution for the lack of nightlife activity in the immediate stadium area.

Most people drive to Citizens Bank. Interstates 76 and 95 intersect right there in South Philly by the ballpark. The Walt Witman Bridge from New Jersey practically casts a shadow on the park. Philadelphia’s under developed expressways are a complete mess, even during the best of times. During a game day, it’s brutal. Fortunately the Broad Street subway line runs from Center City right to the sports complex. This is by far the best option if you are coming from Center City.

Citizens Banks however, is not perfect. For one, the area surrounding the park is a virtual wasteland of parking lots, warehouses and sleepy urban neighborhoods. The only real option for a bar outside of the stadium is Chickie & Pete’s and even that is a bit of a drive. Tony Luke’s is a great place to snag a hoagie (The Roasted Pork come highly recommended).

Citizens Bank is one of the Crosshair Guides favorite ballparks. What it lacks in history it more than makes up for in charm and amenities.  No wonder Phightin Phils put together this first championship in 25 years. They finally have a place that players want to be, a place where fans want to be, and place that the City of Philadelphia can be proud of and call home.

Hey Philly, Wake the @#%! Up: Vote for Pablo Sandoval

Philadelphia is the City of Tough Brotherly Love, right?

And they’re intelligent sports fans—baseball being, perhaps, first and foremost amongst that knowledge base.  So you guys can handle the truth without candy coating.

In all sincerity, I mean no disrespect.  I love and admire the loyalty you shower upon your guys.  Even better, I appreciate how you reserve your unconditionality for players who are truly deserving.  Bedrock human-beings like Chase Utley and Donovan McNabb (most of the time on the latter).  That said…

Quit being dumb:

Sandoval—38 R, 23 2B, 3 3B, 13 HR, 48 RBI, 3 SB, .328 average, .381 OBP, .945 OPS

Victorino—60 R, 22 2B, 6 3B, 6 HR, 39 RBI, 13 SB, .306 average, .369 OBP, .832 OPS

 

There is just no comparison.  Anywhere.  Take a closer look.

You can even throw Little Panda’s bugaboo up there and it doesn’t hurt his offensive case—he’s whiffed 44 times, but the Flyin’ Hawaiian’s gotten nothing but air on 39 occasions.  Given Sandoval’s outright dominance over Victorino in almost every category, five extra punch-outs doesn’t mean much.

Then there’s the matter of defense.

It’s only a slight stretch to call Pablo Sandoval a superlative defensive third baseman in this his first full year at the hot corner.  At any level of baseball.

And Little Money got his other nickname because he is a catcher by trade and showed a remarkable likeness—both in flair for dramatics and physical proportions—to Big Money Bengie Molina.

Philadelphia fans, think of what that means for the All-Star squad.

Because Yadier Molina rode the hometown vote into the starting slot, he will get most of the playing time behind the dish. Brian McCann, the only backstop truly worthy of All-Star acknowledgement, cannot make an early appearance because, as is, the team has only the two capable of donning the Tools of Ignorance.

Consequently, a potent offensive option will be atrophying on the bench, relegated to some late game work.

With Little Money on the roster, McCann is freed up and the whole shebang has more flexibility.  Did I mention Sandoval’s a plus defender?

Meanwhile, Shane Victorino is an awesome defender and a fearless competitor.  He’s also an outfielder.  Yaaaawn.

He’s a joy to watch, but he doesn’t add much to a cast already glistening with defensive Illuminati.

And that’s the larger picture, Philly fans—I’m trying to appeal to your reason and self-preservation.

YOUR team is the defending National League Champions.  YOUR team has got to be the favorite, at this point, to make a return trip to the World Series.  The PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES arrive in St. Louis for the Summer Classic with a real sense of utilitarian commitment.

I’m sure Utley, Ryan Howard, Charlie Manuel, and Raul Ibanez (if he were playing) are very motivated by that home-field advantage carrot that’s dangling out there.

So why aren’t their fans voting that way?

Pablo Sandoval offers distinct advantages over Shane Victorino regardless of the angle from which you approach the matter.  He offers better ability to get on base and generate runs—the runs scored disparity is more a function of the anemic Orange and Black supporting cast than a flaw in Little Panda’s game—and he packs flexibility in his equipment bag.

For those who care, Sandoval’s also far more deserving.  But why should that matter?

Shoot, the only guy who should be even close to Pablo Sandoval is Matt Kemp, and that’s simply because I’d never expect Los Angeles Dodger fans to vote for a San Francisco Giant—even a clearly more deserving one.

Just as I hope they’d never expect me to return that particular favor.

But I hope they’re listening with a shred of their ear in La La Land because, if the Phightin’s are not the prohibitive favorite heading into the back 81, then it’s their Bums wearing the tag.

Which means even the City of Angels should want Pablo Sandoval in the All-Star Game and just as badly.

Painful though it may be for both fanbases and cities, it’s in your best interest for the real hardware.  So keep that in mind and bite the bullet.

Vote for Pablo.

 

**www.pva.org**

Roy Halladay: Previewing a Possible Destination

The Toronto Blue Jays GM, J.P. Ricciardi has officially acknowledged that Roy Halladay is available for trades. 

The Blue Jays’ bridesmaid status in the AL East has forced Toronto’s hand. They probably cannot keep Roy after his contract expires in 2010 because the Blue Jays cannot make the playoffs in the toughest division in baseball.

Roy Halladay does have the rest of this season and the next on his contract. It may seem like Toronto’s front office is jumping the gun. However the sooner he gets traded, the more value Toronto will receive in return. 

Halladay will have to be paid at least half of his contract this year—around $7 million—and then $16 million next year. 

The major key to making any deal work is Halladay’s no-trade clause. Apparently, Halladay has told J.P. that he would be open to a trade to the right team and situation.

I have have asked someone for a translation of that statement from Canadian to English, and it literally means that Halladay will only accept trades to a legitimate World Series contender.  

I have pared down possible suitors for Halladay to five teams: Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Dodgers, and Phillies. 

The Jays most likely will not trade within the division unless they are completely blown away by an offer, taking the Yankees and Red Sox off the table. The Yankees and Red Sox probably would not be willing to give much in return anyways, since they could potentially just buy his services in 2010. 

The Angels should make an inquiry, considering their injury issues at the front of their rotation, but it remains to be seen if they have the pieces necessary to manufacture a deal. 

The Dodgers could also show some interest although early rumors of a trade with the Dodgers have included Kershaw or Billingsley as the foundation, two players the Dodgers would refuse to give up. 

There are other teams in playoff contention that could be possible suitors, like the Giants and the Mets. However, Halladay probably would reject an offer to a team that is a question mark to make the playoffs and doesn’t have all the pieces necessary for a title run. 

This brings us to the Phillies, a team that has been openly pining for a front-of-the-rotation starter.

The Phillies have over the past couple years preferred to shy away from big trades, and have made moves for decent veterans that has worked well. Kyle Lohse in 2007, and Joe Blanton in 2008, both showed that the Phillies can get solid pitching without having to give up their key prospects.

These moves were all made by former GM Pat Gillick, and even though new GM Ruben Amaro is a Gillick disciple, he appears to be willing to give up the prospects necessary for a big-time player. 

Money would not play a factor for the Phils, as they stand to drop $30 million off the payroll this summer with Myers, Eaton, and Geoff Jenkins become free agents. 

Halladay would most likely love a move to Philadelphia, a team just off a World Series win, and in the National League. Yes Halladay would be moving from a pitcher’s park to a hitter’s, but Halladay is a ground-ball pitcher, and he would be facing easier competition. 

He wouldn’t have to be the de facto ace since Cole Hamels has already grown comfortable with the role in Philly. They could be 1A and 1B, in no particular order. Halladay would also enjoy interacting with Jamie Moyer. Halladay may even impress Jamie enough with his work ethic that Jamie would be willing to share the secret location to the fountain of youth. 

Now the big questions: Do the Phillies have enough to make a trade with the Blue Jays, and would they be willing to give up several prospects? A trade may have to include a Phillies major leaguer, J.A. Happ, who has been pitching very well for the Phils. The Phils won’t let a major leaguer go, since they are trying to contend for a title now. 

This leaves the Blue Jays the oppurtunity to pick three to four prospects from the Phillies’ farm system. The Phillies have plenty to offer, with only pitching prospect Kyle Drabek being untradeable.

Any combination of pitchers Carlos Carrasco or Antonio Bastardo, along with outfielders, Dominic Brown, Michael Taylor, and John Mayberry Jr., and catcher Lou Marson and shortstop/third basemen Jason Donald, should be offered.

Three to four prospects from that pool may be enough for Halladay, and all those prospects should be offered for him. It shouldn’t be too much to stomach for Philly, because their window to win is now, and if Halladay doesn’t perform up to expectations, the Phils can let him go and get two first-rounders for him in 2011. 

Halladay is a stallion who could shine in Philadelphia. He is a star with workhorse qualities that can make back-to-back World Series titles a serious possibility in Philadelphia.  

 

Baseball Wives

Hey look, a show on E! that actually looks somewhat interesting and baseball related, from the Sun-Sentinel:

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