Comments on: Closered down

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:30:34 +0000

Sigurski and Matheson were optioned today.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:28:25 +0000

I do miss Werth; right field continues to be a worry. So does the five hole. And I have a hunch that I will miss him again this year. I am firm, though, in knowing that he is not worth the money it would have taken to keep him. If I have to choose between the money and Werth, I choose keeping the money.

Hmm. Was not aware that Pete Orr was that old. Sigh.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:15:42 +0000

If you think you miss Werth now, just wait a month or so.

I can’t get too excited about Pete Orr. He turns 32 in a few months, has three career home runs and a career on-base percentage of .287. The Phils are desperate, but I’m not sure he’s the silver lining.

I think the only hope for the Phils at second until Utley comes back is that Castillo can play. In 2009 he hit .302 with a .387 on-base percentage for the Mets. That wasn’t so long ago.

Also, Castillo 1-for-2 with a pair of walks just today.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:54:07 +0000

Nats announce that they will be hitting Werth in the two hole.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:54:01 +0000

The more I think about Eric’s comment on Madsen being overworked now, the more I think it may actually happen and the more I get this horrible feeling in my stomach.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:44:40 +0000

If only Orr were actually a kid…and could actually hit against pitchers that won’t be in AAA.

Hamels will be fine. I think our expectations may be a bit high. He will certainly be an above league average pitcher, and the best “fourth” starter in the league.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:29:48 +0000

is it my imagination, or does Contreras look meaniner this year.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 19:27:41 +0000

This Orr kid is intriguing.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:22:39 +0000

I would say there’s no chance for Lidge to be good in 2011, but that’s pretty much what I thought in 2010 and he was pretty okay. So I still think he has no chance to be good in 2011, but I think I might be wrong, too. In summary, I think it’s better if he’s not hurt.

I do agree it means there will be other bodies in the pen. That doesn’t mean Charlie has to use them, though. I think it just means more work for the other guys he will use. That could be a problem. I could easily see him blowing out Madson this year, which would be a disaster for the Phils. I will be interested to see what Stutes, Mathieson, Herndon, Kendrick, Worley and Zagurski do this season — the guys just on the outside of the core of the pen. If Manuel gets confidence in some of them, it seems like it could go a long way towards keeping Madson and other core guys healthy. I also think that some of them at least are good enough to contribute.

Hamels was the MVP of the NLCS and the World Series before he turned 25. I’m not saying he’s going to the Hall of Fame, but I’m not sure how nuts we need to go over his spring training stats.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:25:28 +0000

Blanton is likely to throw one stinker in there, so I’m going with a slightly more realistic expectation of 161-1. Especially if they can’t figure out the closer thing.

Lidge going to the DL may be the best thing for the Phils, especially since it seems that he is in rough shape and there are other younger (cheaper) pitchers who are likely to be more effective. This is the only way that Charlie will give them a real chance.