Comments on: Dare to compare

By: egrissom

egrissom — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:54:01 +0000

I’m not sure it can get get that much worse at the Ibanez/Francisco slots by just making a move for the sake of making a move. Conor Jackson? Jeff Francoeur? Matt Diaz? Ryan Spilborghs? I’d take any of them gladly (although maybe a little less glad about Conor Jackson than the others).

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:56:17 +0000

Willingham is on the DL. Soriano and Lee have horrible contracts. I do like the idea of Cuddyer, as he is an above average bat that can play a lot of positions and is only signed through this season. Ludwick reminds me too much of Maycisco.

In other words, I don’t know what’s out there, but it seems like they need to do something. As long as RAJ doesn’t make a move just for the sake of making a move, I’ll be happy.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:33:54 +0000

Willingham is the name I have heard from other soures. He has achilles problems, I think. But could take a corner.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:13:17 +0000

I don’t know anything. If I had to guess, my list would include Ryan Ludwick, Michael Cuddyer, Josh Willingham, Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:51:17 +0000

I hear you. And I sure agree about that bat; that person needn’t be a super star, just a bat that reresents a reasonable threat.. probably from the right side to hit behind Howard (the coventional wisdom). Aside from Gload, the bench does not worry anyone, that is for sure. And Gload cannot run for himself yet.

Do you see any likely candidates for such a move?

By: egrissom

egrissom — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 20:28:08 +0000

They’re 19 games above .500 and it isn’t the All-Star break yet. That’s not so bad. The current makeup of the team doesn’t make them look like the favorites to win anything, but even if they went into the post-season with this roster they would have a chance. The thing that’s a little bit frustrating is that it seems like there are places where the offense could be improved by adding even an average hitter. We’ll see what the Phils do in the second half, but I hope they add a hitter. I think they will and maybe one guy to pitch out of the pen who’s old enough to drive.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:48:45 +0000

My hunch is that everyone knows that the Phillies are good, good enough to get to the post season. I think that eveyone sees the W/L record and gets that this team is as close to a sure thing for the post season as the baseball gods allow.

Just as surely, everyone knows that they will be meeting teams in the post season that also have excellent pitching. This is an offense that is showing itself to be easily muzzled by even average pitchers, much less the more formidable arms of the other post season teams. In a short series, that feature of this team places this team at a real risk of elimination; one wonders about having to face a wild card Braves’ team that has very respectable pitching, for example. It is no hard thing to imagine the Phillies not surviving that confrontation especially after this past weekend series where they scored but 5 runs in 3 games. Regardless of the two wins accomplished during those same three days, it is clear that the offense makes this team vulnerable in a short series.

Given that, I think the angst of the Philly voices have more to do with looking ahead to those short series at the end of the year. Regardless of how good Halliday, Lee, and Hamels are, only one of them has ever been perfect, and then only once. It would be a far better TEAM if the offense would think that 4 runs is not to be a rare experience. There is little question that this team will very vulnerable in the post season. Been there. done that. Got the T-shirt. Unfortunately, they do not make bumper stickers unless one wins it all. As they are now, I doubt Las Vegas makes them the fav to win it all. With a better offense, it would be a no brainer.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:59:45 +0000

They kinda seem like they’re doing okay to me.

I’m with you on both being surprised about Madson and concerned about the bullpen. Baez isn’t good and hasn’t been for a while. The Phils need Madson. Baez, Bastardo, Carpenter, Herndon, Mathieson, Stutes and Juan Perez. That’s going to take the Phillies all the way? With Worley and Kendrick in the rotation?

Great numbers for Carpenter at Triple-A at least, where he’s allowed one run in his last 17 1/3 innings and struck out 24.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:48:42 +0000

P.S. Madsen to the DL. Really? I think that leaves Baez as the only pitcher that was in the bullpen on opening day. It’s a good thing that the one thing they had at AAA was bullpen depth.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:47:35 +0000

So, what you’re saying is that even though they have the best record in baseball, they aren’t the worst team in baseball? Hard to believe when reading any Philadelphia sports columnist.