Phillies-Marlins: Jamie Moyer Heads to the Mound to Salvage Series

The Florida Marlins trailed the Philadelphia Phillies by seven games entering their series this weekend.

After the Marlins snuck out two marginal victories, their deficit has shrunk to five games. While the Phillies still maintain the upper hand, a sweep at the hands (fins?) of the Marlins could be the shift of momentum Florida is looking for.

Nick Johnson, recently acquired by the Marlins, felt coming into the series that a sweep was needed. Anything else would be disappointing.

As Sunday’s finale approaches, Florida is in position to finish the series just four games back of the Phils.

Philadelphia has lost five of its last seven, with the lone two victories coming from Cliff Lee and J.A. Happ.

Joe Blanton has continued his consistent pitching, contributing inning-eating starts nearly every time out. Yet the Phillies’ lackluster offense of late has failed to back up “Joe the Pitcher.”

Cole Hamels seems unable to find his groove this season. His most recent disappointing outing came last night in a 6-4 loss.

To his credit, he had never pitched more than 185 innings in his major league career before 2008, when the World Series MVP went for 262 strong innings. Injuries also hampered his April this season.

At least somewhat of the old Hamels will have to come through down the stretch to solidify the Phillies’ rotation.

As for Sunday, the 46-year-old Jamie Moyer will take on the Marlins, a task he hasn’t had trouble with throughout his career.

In 15 career starts, Moyer has earned a decision in each, going 13-2 with a 2.83 ERA.

Yet his dismal 5.55 ERA in 2009 stands as second worst in the National League amongst eligible starting pitchers. This and the arrival of Pedro Martinez hint at the possibility of Moyer moving out of the rotation.

There is no better opponent for the crafty veteran to face.

But in such an important game, Moyer is the last pitcher the Phils want to throw out there.

Hopefully he can continue his inconsistencies.

No, that was not a typo. Jamie Moyer needs to continue his inconsistencies for at least one more outing.

Since he allowed six earned runs on June 17, he has delivered a quality start in every other appearance. Basically, he would pitch well one start, terrible the next, and so on.

His last appearance, he allowed six runs over five innings. Sunday? Well, he’s due for a quality start.

So even though Moyer has been the epitome of disappointing performance, the stars are aligned for the ageless lefty. His 5-1 record in day games only adds to the résumé Moyer has to pitch today.

Hopefully he can make the most of what is possibly his last start as a Phillie in 2009.

Philadelphia Phillies’ J.A. Happ to Remain in Starting Rotation

After dropping five-of-six, the Philadelphia Phillies’ division lead had dwindled down to a minuscule five games.

Phillies enthusiasts began to question the integrity and legitimacy of the team’s 21-7 record in July. The Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, declared a protest of the city’s baseball team if they were to lose a fourth consecutive game.

Alright, so maybe it’s possible that there wasn’t this much panic in the City of Brotherly Love. But you get the point.

Fans want to see their team win, and letting your division opponents gain a game or two on you is never fun to watch. No matter how large your lead is.

When J.A. Happ took to the mound Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies, he was looking to earn his eight win on the season. The rookie of the year candidate did just that.

After two consecutive losses, Happ threw a complete game shutout to further implement his chances of winning the NL’s Rookie of the Year award. He allowed just four hits while striking out 10 batters.

The 26-year-old was rumored to be on his way to the bullpen with the arrival of Pedro Martinez. After his stellar performance, Ruben Amaro Jr, the Phillies’ General Manager, ended the speculation and proceeded to announce that Happ would remain a starter.

While it isn’t exactly his decision, Amaro only shared what the majority of us previously believed.

As of now, it appears manager Charlie Manuel will be forced to move into a six-man rotation. Martinez and Jamie Moyer would battle for the fifth spot.

The lone restriction from moving either Martinez or Moyer to the bullpen is that, well, they aren’t relievers.

The 46-year-old Moyer cannot be counted on to pitch every other day, and Martinez hasn’t pitched from the bullpen since his second season in the majors.

Martinez is expected to be given his chance, which may leave the inconsistent Moyer as the odd man out for a week or so.

This predicament, although one most teams wouldn’t mind having, leaves the Phillies in a tough spot.

The root of the issue stems from the acquisition of Cliff Lee. Then again, having one-too-many starters is never an issue.

Before the signing of Martinez and the trade for Lee, the Phillies had too few quality starters. Now, they have more than enough.

All of this will become a thing of the past come October, when the reigning World Champions will look to retain their title as the best in baseball.

Five or even six starters are not necessary for the postseason. Most teams will choose to go with a four-man rotation, as opposed to having a full five-man rotation.

Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Joe Blanton, and Jamie Moyer were the four chosen to lead the Phillies last postseason. At the moment, it appears Lee, Hamels, Blanton, and Happ are the presumed playoff rotation for the Phillies in 2009.

As long as the four remain healthy, there should be absolutely no controversy over the postseason rotation.

But for now, the Phillies will settle for six starting pitchers.

Cliff Lee Stellar In Phillies Debut As Philadelphia Takes Down San Francisco

Cliff Lee took to the mound for the first time in a Phillies uniform Friday, but took no hesitation in continuing where he left off in Cleveland.

The first batter the former Indian faced, Randy Winn, struck out on three pitches. This was only a precursor of things to come.

Aside from a one-out walk to former teammate Ryan Garko in the bottom of the second, Lee was lights-out all night.

In fact, it wasn’t until the sixth inning that Lee gave up a hit.

The run support was lacking for the left-handed pitcher, as Jayson Werth’s solo home run in the second inning was all that stood on the scoreboard until the seventh. But Lee didn’t let that get to him.

He continued to overpower the Giants, retiring the minimum amount of batters through five innings.

Once the Phillies took a 4-0 lead in the seventh inning, it became clear that Lee was going to win this game. His double off the right field wall in the eighth only helped his cause, as he was driven in on a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

He gave up a run of his own in the bottom half of the eighth, but held the Giants off the board the rest of the game.

Lee came back on in the ninth to finish what he started. That he did.

After a single to begin the inning, he retired Pablo Sandoval before finishing the game with a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Bengie Molina.

The newly-acquired Phillie was outstanding, allowing only four hits and one earned run. He threw his third complete game in his last four starts, giving the Phillies’ worn-out bullpen some valuable rest.

Cliff Lee made it loud and clear in his debut that trading for him over the highly-priced Roy Halladay was the smarter option.

The naysayers who remain adamant that Halladay was the correct choice for the Phillies will have a few questions to answer following Lee’s dominant performance.

He is scheduled to start again on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. It will be his first home start with the Phillies.

In other news, Shane Victorino sat out his second straight game with a swollen knee. Ben Francisco, acquired along with Cliff Lee, started in his place both games.

Pedro Martinez took another step toward his return with the Phillies in a Triple-A rehab start on Friday. He went five innings, allowing five runs. Four of those runs, along with 35 of his 84 pitches, came in the fifth inning.

The Phillies will continue their four-game series with the Giants at 9:05 PM ET on Saturday. Joe Blanton will take the ball for the Phillies, facing the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum.

Photo courtesy of ESPN.com

Should The Philadelphia Phillies Trade For George Sherrill?

After the acquisition of Cliff Lee by the Phillies on Wednesday, the possibility of trading for Roy Halladay became almost non-existent. The window remains slightly open for a deal involving a lower-level starter, yet is also unlikely.

Now that the Phillies have the No. 1 pitcher to go along with current ace Cole Hamels on the pitching staff, is there a need deserving of enough attention that the team should address?

There absolutely is.

Last season, the Phillies had the most dominant closer in baseball. That man was Brad Lidge.

As we all know, Lidge returned to All-Star form in 2008 by not blowing a single save all season. This season has been a polar opposite.

Through 42 appearances, he has blown six saves in 26 opportunities. His ERA currently stands at dismal 7.11.

In the regular season, letting Lidge work out the kinks in his game makes sense. You can send him into the game with a three-run lead and feel secure that the game is locked up, even if he allows a run or two.

In the postseason, you won’t have those three-run leads. The opportunities where you can feel secure with Lidge in the game will not exist.

A closer who is capable of entering the game in a crucial spot and getting the job done is needed. As of right now, Brad Lidge does not quite fit that role.

So where do the Phillies turn for a solution?

Could Brett Myers return in mid-August as the team’s closer, or should a trade for a closer be considered?

If a trade is in the realm of possibility, who is on the market and who could the Phillies give up?

The most attractive reliever worth trading for is 32-year old George Sherrill.

The Phillies have reportedly had interest in Sherrill, who has 20 saves in 23 opportunities. Sherrill also serves as an eighth inning pitcher for the Orioles, who do not put their relievers in many save opportunities as it is.

The left-hander has struck out 39 batters in 41.1 innings pitched, while recording an impressive 2.40 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP.

If Sherrill were to be involved in a trade to Philadelphia, is there any current member of the Phillies the Orioles would be interested in acquiring?

They have expressed that if Sherrill were to be dealt a closer would likely have to be sent back in return. Does that mean what you think it means? Would Brade Lidge be included in a trade?

I’m not positive the Phillies brass would be willing, but if George Sherrill was closing games as opposed to Brad Lidge this postseason, I would feel much more secure.

Brad Lidge was the Phillies’ Lord and Savior in 2008. Without him, the team would never have won the World Series. He will forever be regarded as a hero in Philadelphia.

But that was then, and this is now. In 2009, Lidge has been anything but what he was in 2008. His pitches are there, but his command isn’t.

Could he potentially work out his issues by season’s end and be back to form by the postseason? Possibly. Is the risk worth it?

George Sherrill is as good as it gets right now in Major League Baseball. With him enters a pitcher who is already pitching consistently well, not a pitcher who might pitch consistently well.

Many Phillies fans will balk at the possibility of trading their Zen Master of 2008. But when you simply look at the state of their current closer role, Lidge is not the answer for the Phillies.

In the postseason, the pitcher closing out games becomes just as important as those starting the games. If you can’t finish the game, why even start it?

Simply put, if you could have a consistent pitcher with a 2.40 ERA as opposed to a struggling pitcher with a 7.11 ERA, which would you take? The former, of course.

In no way, shape, or form am I declaring the Phillies as players for George Sherrill, nor am I lobbying to trade Brad Lidge.

But if the possibility to acquire Sherrill comes along, wouldn’t you support swapping Lidge and one other player for the top-notch reliever?

Trading for Lee two days before the deadline leaves the Phillies with time to make another move.

Technically, the team is still able to assemble a package of prospects to acquire Roy Hallday (what a menacing rotation that would be). The only problem would be the depleted farm system the Phillies would be left with.

Aside from Halladay, there are other pitchers to be had.

Yet if the Phillies are to make a deal for a Zach Duke-type starting pitcher, would bringing in a closer be more sensible?

If it involves George Sherrill, I believe so.

With the Farm Still Intact After Cliff Lee Deal, Phillies’ Repeat Hopes Grow

For nearly three weeks, Roy Halladay was the presumed starting pitcher the Philadelphia Phillies would acquire at the trading deadline.

Yet the Toronto Blue Jays’ overwhelming asking price became too much, as the Phillies were unwilling to give up their top two prospects, Kyle Drabek and Dominic Brown. The Phillies were also unwilling to give up current starter J.A. Happ.

Happ lost his first start last Friday since his major league debut, which ran across a span of 32 appearances.

But less than one hour ago, it was reported that the Phillies have moved on from the Halladay sweepstakes and traded for Cleveland Indians pitcher Cliff Lee.

Lee, who won the Cy Young Award for the American League last season, has a 7-9 record this season with a 3.14 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

The Phillies also acquired outfielder Ben Francisco, who is a right-handed bat the Phillies will be able to bring off the bench when needed.

Moving to Cleveland are pitching prospects Jason Knapp and Carlos Carrasco, catcher Lou Marson, and infielder Jason Donald.

Knapp, a second-round pick in 2008, has the highest potential of any of the four. At 18 years old, Knapp is not ready to be moved to the majors, but has a few years to improve.

He is 6’5″, 240 pounds, and throws a menacing 98 MPH.

Carrasco’s hype has died down after his disappointing showing in the minors this season, yet he remains a top pitching prospect. He was overtaken by Kyle Drabek as the Phillies’ No. 1 minor leaguer this season.

Marson has played very well in the minors this season and is likely going to be a solid catcher in the majors. His short time with the Phillies this season was not impressive, yet he returned to the minors soon after and continued his great play.

Marson was expendable due to the fact that the Phillies’ Single-A catching prospect, Travis D’Arnaud, appears to have more potential. Marson is much further along than D’Arnaud, and with Carlos Ruiz as the apparent Phillies catcher for the next few seasons, D’Arnaud is a better fit.

Donald was a highly touted infielder coming into spring training, yet with Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins already occupying the middle infield, he has no place on the team. His trade value wouldn’t have been higher than now, and the Phillies have zero use for him in the future.

The Phillies addressed two of their most gaping holes by acquiring a No. 1 pitcher and a right-handed bat off the bench, while the Indians acquired four high-potential prospects, all of which except for Knapp will be major league-ready in 2010.

Both teams saw improvements, and neither hurt the state of its chances of winning in the near future.

Marson and Donald were very expendable for the Phillies, and Carrasco was the pitcher the Phillies were most looking to use in a trade.

Knapp is an extremely talented pitcher, and the Phillies would have loved to keep him. But if you want the best, you need to give the best (or close to it).

Many Phillies fans will be left unhappy, as they were drooling at the fact of having a Cole Hamels/Halladay combination at the top of the rotation. But in all honesty, the difference in price between Halladay and Lee was too large.

Acquiring Halladay would have meant giving up Drabek, Happ, Brown, either Michael Taylor or Marson, and possibly even Knapp. The fact that none of Drabek, Happ, Brown, or Taylor was dealt to the Indians shows how extreme the price for Halladay was.

The future for the Phillies is not hit as hard as a trade with Toronto would have been, and the current team improves nearly as much as it would have with Halladay.

More to come as more information becomes available.

Philadelphia Phillies’ Bullpen Faces Numerous Health, Consistency Issues

On July 17, the Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen was at full strength for the first time all season.

Earlier in the season, J.C. Romero had spent 50-games suspended, closer Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list for a few weeks in June, and relievers Clay Condrey and Scott Eyre were on the shelf for a period of time.

The bullpen that was so successful in 2008 pitched with that same effectiveness for the six days they were reuinited, yet three recent additions to the DL have the team scrambling for much needed help.

J.C. Romero, Chad Dubrin, and Clay Condrey were the most recent victims of the injury bug after the were placed on the 15-day DL this past week. Andrew Carpenter and Tyler Walker were called up to fill the bullpen’s holes.

While Chan Ho Park and Ryan Madson continue to pitch well, the current challenges the bullpen faces will test their overall depth and talent.

The issue causing the most concern begins with the closer, Brad Lidge.

Lidge appears unable to solve the inconsistencies he has faced this season. He has yet to find any sort of groove, which is key for his mindset when closing games.

With nearly half of the regular bullpen not among the active relievers, there will be more situations when Lidge will be called on to pitch, especially in tied and one-run games. Pulling himself together will be key for the Phillies, especially in the long run.

Hopefully, the trio of Condrey, Durbin, and Romero can regain their health shortly after they become eligible to return to help solidify the bullpen.

Durbin has been inconsistent of late, which is likely due to his injury, but Condrey and Romero have been impressive in their appearances. Their return, along with whether they can stay healthy, will prove to be crucial if the Phillies want to run away with the National League East.

In other news, the Phillies reportedly told the Blue Jays that the asking price for Roy Halladay was more than they were willing to pay. A trade for the former Cy Young Award winner seems less likely with each day that goes by.

The Phillies are still in need of an additional starting pitcher, so a trade for Cliff Lee or Jarrod Washburn is a possibility.

If Lee or Washburn are not attainable, it is almost certain that another pitcher will be brought in. The market isn’t full of worthy trading pieces, but someone is going to have to be traded for.

Whether it’s a Joe Blanton-type trade or a CC Sabathia-type trade, the Phillies will need to equip themselves with one more quality pitcher to insert into the rotation.

Philadelphia Phillies Ready to Become “Philly’s Team”

No matter what, the Eagles will always be Philadelphia’s most beloved team.

The Flyers’ following is as strong as any other hockey team’s, but the Eagles dominate the local sports scene. On Sunday’s during the fall, the Eagles are on, and a victory from the Birds is the most meaningful outcome to nearly every fan within the city and it’s suburbs.

But for the next decade, there could be a new sheriff in town.

After a World Series title last season, the Phillies’ fan base was a strong as ever. But as the current season progresses, more and more of Philadelphia is falling in love with it’s baseball team.

The Phils currently have the second highest attendance percentage (percentage of capacity filled) in the major leagues, trailing only the Boston Red Sox.

Citizens Bank Park is rapidly becoming one of the single most lively and exciting parks in the country to watch a baseball game. The crowd is as into the game as any, and the team is flat out talented.

What brings fans even closer to their champions is the attitude given off by the Phillies. The 1993 National League Champion Phillies were a wild bunch, consisting of numerous characters

The Phillies of 2009 closely resemble that team.

There’s the clubhouse leader as Chase Utley, the energetic but likeable guy as Shane Victorino, the veteran figure as Jimmy Rollins, the new guy everyone admires as Raul Ibanez, and the rest. The overall team just gels so well together.

Rarely will you find too much complacency in the clubhouse. Everyone is each other’s buddy. More importantly, everyone is the manager’s buddy.

Charlie Manuel, the popular manager of the Phillies, was mocked by the majority of fans because of his awkward southern accent in his first year as manager, and even into his second season. But since, he has become an icon teetering on the verge of becoming a legend.

The players have always loved Manuel, mostly because they can trust him. He knows baseball, and he understands that throwing players under the bus isn’t the way to manage a team.

He has two simple rules: be on time, and play hard. That’s all he asks for.

Charlie Manuel is Philadelphia, and so is his team.

The Eagles continue to reign supreme as the fan favorite in the city, and that will continue for many years to come. But the current Phillies team has the ability to steal away the hearts of many fans over the next 5-10 years.

Philly fans love winners, especially those who have a personality. The Phillies are just that—winners with a personality.

But the relationship doesn’t extend solely from the fans to the players. The players admire the fans equally.

Many of the Phillies received their first World Series ring in ’08, and the love and affection shown by the fans ever since has been well recognized and thanked by the players.

There’s just an unbreakable connection between the two.

The fans can’t find much wrong to say about the Phillies, and the Phillies can’t find much wrong to say about the fans.

No one will ever knock off the three superpower fan bases in baseball—Chicago, Boston, and New York (for the Yankees)—as having the most love and desire to win for their team, but Philadelphia is making their case to be among the best fans in the league.

The days of the half-empty Veterans Stadium are long gone. Philadelphia has truly become a powerful baseball city.

Ryan Howard Fastest to 200 Homers: Is 763 a Possibility?

Ken Griffey Jr. was in line to be the one to break Hank Aaron’s home run record.

Injuries derailed that journey for Griffey once he moved on to play in Cincinnati.

Alex Rodriguez is the next presumed heir apparent to break the home-run record, now owned by Barry Bonds.

It still remains to be seen whether A-Rod has the ability to shatter Bonds’ record, as some still believe he could reach 800. Yet with all that hangs around him, Rodriguez is more likely to fall short of 763 home runs than to surpass it, as is anyone else.

As I see it, the only sluggers with a slight possibility of surpassing Bonds remain Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies and Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Howard became the fastest player to reach 200 home runs, while Pujols has accumulated 353 in his nine major league seasons.

Both are 29 years of age, while Howard is just two months or so older than Pujols.

By the examples set by Griffey Jr. and Rodriguez, breaking the all-time home run record is a marathon more than a sprint.

The man previously responsible for becoming the quickest to 200 homers was Ralph Kiner, who after 10 seasons left baseball with 369 long balls.

Barry Bonds didn’t hit for 40 home runs in a single season until his eighth season, yet Ryan Howard has yet to hit for less than 47 homers in his short career.

Howard is sprinter straight out of the gate, while Bonds took his time, staying near the middle of the pack. Some sprinters have the ability to keep their pace, while others fade back into the pack.

Will the numbers begin to fade for Howard? Certainly not yet, they won’t.

The only thing against Howard is that, well, he’s 29. That wouldn’t be such a negative point in his case to break the record except you have to consider the fact that he is currently playing in just his fourth full season in the majors.

Blocked by Jim Thome, Howard was unable to make his way into the league until the age of 25, and didn’t play for a full season until he was 26. Bonds emerged at the young age of 22, and Pujols entered at 21.

The loss of three or four valuable years will prove to be costly in his mission to surpass Bonds.

If you take Howard’s average home runs per season (49), and multiply it by 10 (estimated years of play left), and then add it onto his current total, he still falls short of 763.

Playing until the age of 40 is extremely difficult, especially for sluggers. But even for those home run hitters who manage to play until 40, their numbers almost always decrease in their final seasons.

The fact of the matter is, it is almost certain that he will not hit 49 home runs for the next ten seasons, and even if he does, it won’t be enough.

If Ryan Howard had made his way to the big leagues just a few years earlier, his outlook on the possibility to break the record would be much brighter.

It is much too early to tell if anyone will be able to pass Bonds in the near future, especially Howard. The record has been broken just twice since Babe Ruth established his 714 career home runs.

An injury, or simply just an irreversible slump could signal the end of anyone’s journey to be the home run king, which is why the record is so rarely even come close to.

Howard has the ability to hit 500, and possibly even 600 homers, but 763 would take a miracle.

Albert Pujols is the prototypical player to pass Bonds, but it is also too early to judge whether he has it in him.

With 30 home runs in each of his first nine seasons, Pujols has the consistency and the flat out ability to be the record holder. He has as likely of a chance as anybody ever has at the age of 29. But then again, so did Griffey Jr.

Talk to me when he reaches 700.

Philadelphia Phillies Second Half Preview

The halfway point of the Major League Baseball season is long gone.

The Home Run Derby has passed us by, and the All-Star Game soon followed.

After what was the dullest, most boring day of the entire year in the world of sports, we welcome back baseball on Thursday.

The Philadelphia Phillies, who have been a very solid second half team in the recent years, went into the break 10 games over .500 with a four-game lead over the Florida Marlins in the National League East.

The Atlanta Braves sit six games back, while the New York Mets remain 6.5 games out of first (now that’s fun to say).

Will the Phillies begin to run away with the division in the coming months? Or will their lead dwindle down to give the rest of the teams in the division a chance to catch up?

Technically, the only way to find out is to way and see. But we don’t have the time and patience just to “wait and see”. That’s why I’m here, to preview the Phillies’ second half of the 2009 season.

Enjoy.

 

Current Position

The Phillies currently are 48-38 (.558) with a four-game lead in the NL East. They are 10-1 in their last 11 games.

 

Projected Finish

With the tough schedule ahead for the Phillies, it will be a rough July. But beyond this month, and especially when September rolls around, the team will see many more easier opponents.

Although I am not particularly a fan of giving an exact number when it comes to win projections, I’m going with 93 victories (which means 69 losses), only because it’s one more win than was earned last season.

First place in the division should be easier to accomplish and clinched earlier this season. While I’m not saying the race is over just yet, I do see the Phillies ending up winning it by 5-7 games (remember, they won it by three last year).

 

Key Players

In the first half, Raul Ibanez, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, and others carried the Phillies to the position they are in now. In the second half, even more players need to step up, especially pitchers.

With the injuries that have damaged the pitching staff, the club is lucky to be at where they are now. Nine starting pitchers have already been sent to the mound, compared to the seven used the entire season in 2008.

Pedro Martinez won’t do much, if anything, to make the Phillies a much better team. Acquiring him is equivalent to picking up another Jamie Moyer. Both will give you five or six innings, and hopefully, each will keep you in the game.

But who exactly needs to bring their game face for the last 86 games of the season?

On the offensive side of the ball, Jimmy Rollins is the obvious choice. His struggles are beginning to look like a thing of the past, but a return to his horrible slump would deeply harm the Phillies’ playoff and World Series hopes.

Among others, Ryan Howard will need to playing a bit more of all-around baseball than he has been thus far. We’ve come to learn that a high average is no longer a part of Howard’s game, but reaching base more frequently and hitting the ball more consistently needs to be worked on.

In the rotation, the ace, Cole Hamels, desperately needs to pitch with more consistency. We all know he has the repertoire to shut batters down every start, and he has shown it through his entire career, just not this season (or half of it, I should say).

With the current condition of the rotation, Hamels’ return to the ace he was in October last season will a huge plus.

In the bullpen, Brad Lidge absolutely needs to get back into a groove. Whether he will be able to return to 2008 form remains to be seen, but if he finds a way to lower his ERA to 5.00 and blow only three saves the rest of the season, I’ll be fine.

 

Key Storyline To Watch

Every day we hear more and more assurance that Roy Halladay will be dealt to the Phillies in return for quite the hefty price.

Many fans have made it known that whatever the price is, they want the former Cy Young.

Personally, I’d rather not give up the four top prospects in the Phillies’ farm system, along with J.A. Happ, in order to receive Halladay in return.

I understand that people believe prospects are over-hyped, and that Halladay is a proven player. Honestly, both of those statements are correct.

But let’s say we move back to around 2002, and the Phillies are on the hunt for a superstar pitcher.

The opposing team wants three top prospects and a major league player.

What young players do the Phillies give up? Let’s say Cole Hamels, Carlos Ruiz, and Ryan Howard.

Hamels was a highly touted prospect, but Ruiz’s and Howard’s hype can be compared to that of Kyle Drabek and Mike Taylor and Dominic Brown.

To say that these prospects are over-hyped may end up making you look like a genius, but could also turn out completely wrong and make you look like a moron.

Howard Eskin pointed out that only one-fifth of minor league players ever pan out. Well, you know what, these guys are a part of that fifth.

Steve Phillips shared that keeping prospects can get GM’s fired. Well, sir, you are an expert in the subject of getting the boot, so maybe we should take your word, especially since you traded away Jason Bay, and attempted to do the same to Jose Reyes.

Listen, these prospects the Phillies have are the Cole Hamels’ of the world, the Ryan Howard’s of the world, and Carlos Ruiz’s of the world. These guys are players who will make an impact for years to come.

Giving up three prospects may mean losing three future key players.

While the one player in return will certainly contribute that season, and possibly a few beyond that, the future beyond that is left unknown.

If the Phillies trade for Halladay, their chances of winning this year are greatly increased. But their chances of winning five to 10 years from now aren’t.

I would rather see a lower-level starter with a much lower price (i.e. the Joe Blanton trade last season) sent to the Phillies than Roy Halladay.

The Phillies have been built on keeping their prospects, trusting in their players, and trading/signing the role players who are so essential to a team’s success.

Why abandon that train of thought now?

 

Key Series To Watch

July 16-19 @ Florida Marlins

July 20-22 vs. Chicago Cubs

July 24-26 vs. St. Louis Cardinals

July 30-Aug. 2 @ San Francisco Giants

Aug. 7-9 vs. Florida Marlins

Aug. 21-24 @ New York Mets

Sept. 1-3 vs. San Francisco Giants

Sept. 11-13 (double-header on 13th) vs. New York Mets

Sept. 24-27 @ Milwaukee Brewers

Oct. 2-4 vs. Florida Marlins

 

Playoff Prediction…

Nah, I’m not that foolish.

 

Thanks for reading. I hope you learned at least the slightest bit of information from reading this.

Philadelphia Phillies’ 2009 Midseason Review

Nearly two weeks prior to my writing questions and a ballot for a midseason report for the Philadelphia Phillies, the team was playing terrible baseball. After an 1-8 home stand, I set up a series of questions and a voting ballot for four members of the Phillies community to answer.

Yet, because of a few setbacks and other blocks in the road, the article was delayed. When all was cleared, only three of the writers had been able to contribute.

It got to a point where I doubted that posting the article would make sense, since the questions became outdated, largely due to the Phillies’ improved play. Yet, I had a change of heart tonight and decided to go through with the article, even if a few of the issues in the questions have been solved.

So without further ado, here is the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies’ Community Midseason Report. The report entails five questions, answered by a total of four writers, and a ballot, also filled out by each contributor.

The group of writers consists of myself, Shay Roddy, Scott Eisenlohr, and Flattish Poe. Any kind words or questions shall be directed to them, not just myself. Without them, this wouldn’t be possible.

Just keep in mind that these questions were constructed sometime near the end of June.

 

1. The Phillies began the season the same way they have for years now—with mediocre play. Yet, as April progressed, the team gradually improved until May came around, when the Phillies hit their stride.

It wasn’t until mid-June that the wheels started to fall off. Evaluate their current position in the standings, their record, and whether or not they have exceeded your expectations.
 
Scott Eisenlohr: The Mad Dog, Chris Russo, on Sirius radio, said that the Phillies’ season was perhaps disappointing to Phils fans as they should have put some distance between them and their rivals.

I don’t see it that way.

The Phillies won the NL East in 2007 on the last day of the season and last year on the second to last day. This was supposed to be a dog fight between the Phils and the Mets, but the Marlin and Braves have joined the race.

I think the Phils are right where they should be and will play better ball in July.

Shay Roddy: The Phils have been above average. Despite their poor play as of late, their record is above .500, and they have maintained a comfortable lead atop their division. Every team will go through their slumps, and the Phils will eventually get hot again—they’re too good not to.

They’ve been plagued by injuries, which is something they did not experience a lot of last year. That seems to be the most concerning thing right now. All things considered, the Phils currently sit about where I expected right now—with a comfortable lead atop the NL East.

Flattish Poe: The Phillies have fewer total wins than any other division leaders in the MLB at 39, and they tie the Nationals for fewest wins at home at 13. And despite losing 11 of their last 14 games, they still lead the majors in road wins and have managed to stay atop the division thanks to the Met’s misfortune.

And some people think things aren’t going well.

Since I’m not a fan of expectations, I’ll just venture to guess the consensus among Phils fans is the team has failed to meet anyone’s, except maybe their rival’s.

Christian Karcole: I have never been a fan of looking too much into a slump. When I see a team go on a tear and move into first place in their division, I always know their play will level off and other teams will catch up, and vice versa.

I had faith that the Phillies would quickly put an end to their poor play.

Have they exceeded my expectations?

Well, since I’m writing these answers during the middle of this home stand, I have to say they are exactly where I thought they would be. A four game lead over the Marlins, and a 6.5 game lead over the Mets is a great sign, so as long as the Phillies keep their consistent play up, they shall be fine.

2. Jimmy Rollins has been disappointing, to say the least, as has Brad Lidge, and the starting rotation is one of the worst in the league.

Which of the three is most crucial that it is fixed sometime in the near future?
 
SE: Jimmy Rollins has gotten four hits in the last two games after going something like 0-28. Both were wins. This team absolutely needs Rollins to hit, play defense, and steal bases to win.

That is the most important.

If you don’t have the lead, you don’t need to save games.

SR: Rollins’ attitude is particularly frustrating. Being the leadoff hitter is a spot that is extremely important to him, yet he takes the complete wrong approach. His job is to be a speed demon, and beat out ground balls, and then use his speed on the base-paths.

But instead, Rollins continues to pop balls up.

The rotation is something that should eventually work itself out. They’ve been plagued by injuries in that area, but have, by in large, proved their depth. Lidge has certainly struggled as well.

However, since his return from the disabled list, his velocity has been up, with his fastball hitting the 94-95 MPH zone, which sets up his slider. I think that the issues in all three areas will be resolved with time.

The only thing that could possibly speed up the process would be a July trade for a high-profile starter.

FP: It’s no secret that when Jimmy’s hitting, the team is winning. And Charlie Manuel’s concerned about the team getting beat late. Last year, late beatings weren’t the norm, thanks in part to Brad Lidge.

But even in 2008, Brad threw his share of nail biters. Personally, I think Rollins is tired of the front-runners who fill the stands and he feels trapped, but he’s not willing to chew off his arm to escape.

Lidge came with a bum knee and a confidence problem, but a little luck at just the right time last year got him through. Rollins is one guy—someone else needs to step in to lead the herd. Brad needs to get his mind right. But the starting rotation is a whole flock of trouble.

That has to be fixed first.

CK: Is there much you can do here?

With Rollins, it’s more of him working himself out and getting into the right mindset. Before his recent streak of quality baseball, J-Roll was swinging with an uppercut, causing him to hit the ball in the air as opposed to line drives.

Now that he has somewhat corrected that, you can see it in his play. Hopefully he can continue playing this way.

Lidge is the same way. He just needs to work himself out. A pitcher or two is definitely needed, but instead of a Roy Halladay or Pedro Martinez, I’d target a lower level No. 3 or 4 starter to fill the role. The price will be much less, in dollars and prospects.

Overall, the most crucial of the three is none. They all need to be worked out. The Phillies go when Jimmy goes, the Phillies need that shutdown guy at the end of the game, and another starter is needed.

3. Every hitter in the lineup has seen some inconsistent play. Even Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez have fallen victim to a slump.

Excluding Jimmy Rollins, which batter concerns you the most so far this season?
 
SE: All the hitters, with the exception of Rollins, is where they should be. Shane Victorino is hitting in the .290 range, and I might have expected him to be more consistently near .300 or above.

Greg Dobbs, hitting in the .230 range, is a bit of a concern, but he is not a starter.

SR: Ryan Howard. Normally, his 200 strikeouts don’t bother you once you see his power numbers, but this year his power numbers are down a little. He needs to get those up by year-end.

Your team’s in pretty good offensive shape, though, when your second biggest offensive problem is an all-star.

FP: Off the cuff, I’d like to whine about Pedro Feliz, but he’s on track to having the best offensive year of his career. Maybe that’s all they can expect from him. I could also complain that Carlos Ruiz has shown only rare moments of the offensive glory that contributed to playoff wins in 2008.

And I could even whine about Ryan Howard’s team leading 93 strikeouts.

But I’d rather talk about the offensive potential that still lurks in Jayson Werth.  He’s second in Phillie strike outs at 66 (16 ahead of third place Chase Utley), but when he gets on base, he’s aggressive. That’s why, even though his slugging percentage puts him at sixth on the team, he leads the league in total runs scored by only one.

I think if he found a way to reduce the number of times he slumps back to the bench in disgust, he’d be an offensive phenomenon.

CK: While Ryan Howard has been the point of consistency, his numbers are a little down. Pedro Feliz is having a great year compared to last season, Ruiz has been playing as he always does, and everyone else has been the same, if not better, as they were last season (except for Rollins, of course).

Howard’s average continues to loom around .250-.260, so I call that consistency. Yet, he still needs to lower the strikeouts and improve more aspects of his hitting. On the bench, Eric Bruntlett is a big concern, but his bat isn’t as crucial to the team.

4. Speaking of Raul Ibanez, what bad is there to say? He had been “slumping” in the week or so before his departure to the DL, but that could be because of his injured groin.

How surprised are you with Ibanez’s performance? Do you believe he will be able to keep it up?
 
SE: Ibanez is something like a career .287 hitter. His power numbers surprise me, although Safeco Field is said to be more cavernous than other fields. He should finish the season around .314.

SR: Obviously, Ibanez’s progress will slow down a little at some point, and the injury didn’t help at all. I expect him to be good when he comes off the DL, but continuing this season’s progress where he left off seems a bit far-fetched.

FP: My concern with Raul’s slump was the number of times he struck out. But if my memory serves me right, Chase Utley looked the same in the second half of 2008, when he was being poked by hip pain.

I am surprised Raul’s done what he’s done. Anyone under the age of 30 would argue this is no game for old men, yet the stats are consistently riddled with leaders who are veterans.

But the most important question is, can Raul keep it up?

If he continues the consistent attention to his mental state and his physical conditioning, I say he can. And this simply supports my stance on the mandatory fitness rule.

I think teams should be allowed to require it. The guys who last the longest work the hardest. Nothing good ever came of mediocrity.

Just ask Raul.

CK: Raul Ibanez certainly won’t hit with as much power and surprise as he did in April, May, and most of June. I foresee him beginning to slow down, and ending up with about 40 home runs, 115 RBI, and a .300 average.

5. With of all of the distractions and injuries the Phillies have faced in April, May, and June, they still sit a few games above .500 and, most importantly, in first place in the NL East.

Although they once sat with the second best record in baseball, the Phillies are still the same World Champions that they were in 2008.

How do you foresee the last three months of the season to play out?

Will the Phillies win the division, the wildcard, or miss the playoffs? (No playoffs prediction needed, that’s too far into the future).
 
SE: I believe they are still the best team in the East, although after it shakes out, it will be the Braves, not the Marlins or the Mets, the Phillies will have to fend off.

SR: Because of how weak the division competition is, I don’t see making the playoffs becoming a problem. The Phils were relatively injury-free last year. They haven’t experienced such luck this season. Repeating as champs is a tough feat, but the Phils have the tools to be very good for years to come.

FP: Starting out strong always seems like a curse. The Marlins looked like they were invincible in the first twelve games. Now the Phils have managed to top the division for weeks, but it took a bunch of losses by the Mets and wins over the Nationals—the losing-est team in baseball—to keep them there.

Even so, I believe Phillies’ management will start thinking smarter, not harder, and coach the team to a division win. But more of what they’re doing won’t work. The players have done what they’ll do with a level of guidance that used to be enough.

Pedro Feliz didn’t know how many outs there were when he mistakenly leaped off first base on a hit and was picked off to end a crucial inning, but Davey Lopes was standing right there.

There’s more to coaching first base than clicking that stop watch.

CK: The Phillies are still an extremely talented squad. An acquisition to the rotation will only help the team improve. My worries for the Phillies are not based on their players who have not performed, because their talent is still there, but rather on injuries.

Injuries are what can derail a team (hence the New York Mets). Once two or three relievers or starters begin to miss time, roles are mixed up and arms become tired in overuse.

As long as the number of injuries can shrink, I expect the Phillies at the top of the NL with the Dodgers at season’s end. But, unfortunately, injuries can never be predicted.

 

Award Ballot:

Most Valuable Player: (SE) Raul Ibanez; (SR) Raul Ibanez; (FP) Raul Ibanez; (CK) Raul Ibanez

Most Impressive Hitter: (SE) Raul Ibanez; (SR) Raul Ibanez; (FP) Raul Ibanez; (CK) Raul Ibanez

Most Impressive Pitcher: (SE) Clay Condrey; (SR) Ryan Madson; (FP) J.A. Happ; (CK) Joe Blanton

Biggest Surprise: (SE) Jayson Werth; (SR) Ryan Howard (defensively), Raul Ibanez; (FP) Ryan Howard; (CK) Pedro Feliz

Most Improved: (SE) Jayson Werth; (SR) Ryan Howard (defensively); (FP) Howard’s defense; (CK) Howard’s defense

Biggest Disappointment: (SE) Brad Lidge; (SR) Brad Lidge; (FP) Cole Hamels/Jimmy Rollins; (CK) Brad Lidge/Jimmy Rollins

Most Consistent: (SE) Clay Condrey; (SR) Chase Utley; (FP) Shane Victorino; (CK) Raul Ibanez

Best Starting Pitcher: (SE) Jamie Moyer; (SR) J.A. Happ; (FP) J.A. Happ; (CK) Joe Blanton

Best Reliever: (SE) Ryan Madson; (SR) Ryan Madson; (FP) Tyler Walker; (CK) Ryan Madson

Best Fielder: (SE) Chase Utley; (SR) Carlos Ruiz; (FP) Shane Victorino; (CK) Carlos Ruiz

« Previous Page — Next Page »