The Phillies are built to win with dominant starting pitching, but for the second game in the four they’ve played this post-season they didn’t get it last night. Oswalt allowed five runs in six innings in front of an offense that has plated six runs in their last 25 times at-bat and the Phils fell 5-3 to even the series with the Cards heading into game five.
David Freese had a monster game for St Louis. Coming into his at-bat in the bottom of the fourth inning, Freese was 2-for-13 in the series with seven strikeouts. He knocked in four runs in his last two at-bats, going 2-for-2 with a two-run double and a two-run homer.
Rollins doubled to start the game and scored when Utley followed and ripped a triple down the first base line. Pence knocked Utley in with a single to put the Phils on top 2-0, but was caught stealing on a strike-’em-out-throw-’em-out-double-play with Howard at the plate that seemed to kill the early momentum for the Phils. Lance Berkman ripped a double to the gap in right-center in the bottom of the first, plating Skip Schumaker to cut the lead to 2-1. Oswalt walked Berkman to start the fourth and hit Matt Holliday behind him, putting two men on base for Freese. Freese doubled into the left field corner, clearing the bases and put the Cards on top 3-2. In his next at-bat, which came in the sixth, Freese pounded an Oswalt pitch way out to center for a long home run that extended the St Louis lead to 5-2. Singles by Gload and Utley and a wild pitch by Fernando Salas helped the Phils get a run in the top of the eighth to cut the lead to 5-3. Marc Rzepczynski struck Howard out with a man on second to end the eighth and Jason Motte set the Phils down in order in the ninth.
With the strikeout, Howard is 2-for-15 in the series. That’s part of a big problem for the Phils that has seen Rollins and Utley pound the ball at the top of the order while most of the rest of the lineup goes quiet. Rollins and Utley are 15-for-29 with seven extra-base hits and four walks in the series so far. Pence, Howard, Victorino, Ibanez, Mayberry, Polanco and Ruiz have combined to go 16-for-92 (.174) in the series with 14 singles.
If I never see Jason Motte on the mound for Cards again it would be okay with me. The Phils have one hit against him in 3 1/3 scoreless innings in the set. Octavio Dotel got two more outs for the St Louis pen as well, he has now thrown 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the series over three appearances without allowing a hit or a walk.
The NLDS between the Phillies and the St Louis Cardinals is tied at two games all after the Cards topped the Phils 5-3 last night.
Oswalt got the start for the Phillies and went six innings, allowing five runs on six hits and a walk. Three of the hits went for extra-bases, two doubles and a walk. He struck out five.
He faced a St Louis lineup that went (1) Rafael Furcal (SS/S) (2) Skip Schumaker (2B/L) (3) Albert Pujols (1B/R) (4) Lance Berkman (LF/S) (5) Matt Holliday (LF/R) (6) Yadier Molina (C/R) (7) David Freese (3B/R) (8) Jon Jay (CF/L). Holliday makes his first start of the series in left, moving Craig to the bench. Schumaker at second against the righty and moves up to second in the order with the hot righty Theriot on the bench. Freese dropped to seventh in the order with Holliday in the lineup.
St Louis had six hitters on the bench to start the game, righties Matt Theriot, Allen Craig and Gerald Laird, lefties Adron Chambers and Daniel Descalso and switch-hitter Nick Punto.
Oswalt started the bottom of the first with a 2-0 lead. He struck Furcal out swinging 0-2 for the first out, but Schumaker was next and the lefty lined a single the other way into left. Pujols popped to Polanco for the second out before Berkman drove a ball off the wall in right-center. Victorino seemed to be having trouble with the sun and slipped when he got to the ball as he tried to throw. The ball dribbled away and he picked it up as Berkman went to third. Schumaker scored to cut the lead to 2-1 and Victorino was charged with an error that allowed Berkman to take third on his double. Holliday grounded to second on a 2-1 pitch to leave Berkman stranded.
Victorino wasn’t charged with an error in 1,150 2/3 innings in center during the regular season.
Oswalt struck Molina and Freese both out swinging 0-2 for the first two outs of the second. Jay grounded to second for the third out.
The pitcher Edwin Jackson struck out looking 1-2 for the first out of the third. Furcal grounded to short for the second out before Schumaker singled to right. It brought Pujols to the plate with a man on first. Oswalt struck him out swinging 2-2 to leave Schumaker at first.
Five strikeouts for Oswalt through three innings. He had thrown 39 pitches.
Oswalt walked Berkman on five pitches to start the fourth. Holliday was next and Oswalt hit him on the right arm with the first pitch of his at-bat, putting men on first and second with nobody out. Molina drove a ball to right-center, but Pence tracked it down for the first out making a nice running grab. Freese was the next hitter and he doubled into the left-field corner. Berkman scored easily and Holliday slid in just ahead of the relay from Rollins for the second run, putting the Cards on top 3-2. Jay moved Freese up to third with a ground out to second. Oswalt got Jackson on a fly ball to right to end the inning.
Furcal tried to bunt for a hit to start the bottom of the fifth, but popped it up to Polanco in foul territory for the first out. Oswalt’s 1-1 pitch to Schumaker was a ball inside as a squirrel ran right past Schumaker. Discussion ensued. It was still a ball. Schumaker flew to center for the second out and Pujols flew to right.
Oswalt had thrown 62 pitches. He came up with a pretty funny line after the game about wondering how big an animal it would have had to have been for the pitch not to have counted. It makes it kinda hard for me not to picture a herd of bison or something. So at least we’ve got that if not a baseball team to follow that can score without the help of a wild pitch or an intentional walk from planet Wackadoo.
Berkman grounded to third on a 3-2 pitch for the first out of the sixth. Holliday was next and singled up the middle before Molina flew to left for the second out. Freese followed and hit a 1-0 pitch out to straight away center for a two-run homer, extending the St Louis lead to 5-2. Jay grounded to second for the third out.
Double and a home run for Freese in his last two at-bats.
Blanton pitched the seventh, making his first appearance of the series, and set St Louis down in order. Descalso, double-switched into the game in the top of the inning, flew to right for the first out. Furcal grounded to first for the second and Theriot grounded to short for the third.
Lidge started the eighth with the St Louis lead cut to 5-3. Pujols flew to right, Berkman flew to left and Holliday struck out swinging 1-2.
Two perfect innings for the pen as Lidge and Blanton don’t allow a hit or a walk. Lidge threw ten pitches in the game and Blanton eight. Everyone should be available on Friday.
Freese is hitting .267 in the series after going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI. Schumaker also had two hits for the Cards, going 2-for-3. He’s 5-for-8 in the set.
Furcal 0-for-4 in the game and 4-for-18 so far.
Pujols 0-for-4 with a strikeout last night. 7-for-17 with three doubles in the series.
Berkman 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. 3-for-15 with a double, a homer and two walks in the series.
Holliday was 1-for-3 and scored two of the St Louis runs. 2-for-5 in the set.
Molina 0-for-3 with a strikeout. He’s 3-for-15 in the series with three singles.
Jay was 0-for-2. 2-for-11 with three walks in the series.
The Phillies lineup against righty Edwin Jackson went (1) Rollins (SS/S) (2) Utley (2B/L) (3) Pence (RF/R) (4) Howard (1B/L) (5) Victorino (CF/S) (6) Ibanez (LF/L) (7) Polanco (3B/R) (8) Ruiz (C/R). Mayberry back on the bench against the righty with Ibanez in left.
The Phils started the game with six players on their bench, righties John Mayberry, Wilson Valdez and Ben Francisco, lefties Brian Schneider and Ross Gload and switch-hitter Michael Martinez.
Rollins was the first batter of the game and hit a ball hard to center and over Jay’s head that bounced over the wall. Jay looked like he had some trouble finding the ball in the sun, but he might not have caught it even if he hadn’t. Utley was next and he ripped a ball passed Pujols and down the first base line. The ball kicked off the stands and Utley had a triple. Rollins scored to put the Phils up 1-0. Pence singled into center on the first pitch of his at-bat with Utley scoring from third to put the Phillies up 2-0. Howard was next and took a 3-2 pitch for called strike three as Pence took off for second and was thrown out on a close play to complete the double-play. Victorino flew to left for the third out.
I know it’s 3-2 and all, but I still think you want to avoid a caught stealing ahead of your five-hitter when every player you’ve sent to the plate in the game has gotten a hit. In his defense, Pence was probably safe.
Jackson struck out Ibanez and Ruiz in the second, both swinging. Polanco popped to Pujols in foul territory in-between.
Oswalt grounded to short for the first out in the third. Rollins was next and hit a ball back up the middle that Schumaker got to, but not in time to throw Rollins out at first. Utley was next and grounded out with Rollins forced at second for the second out. Pence grounded to third to leave Utley at first.
Howard struck out swinging 0-2 to start the fourth. Victorino was next and grounded to short for the second out. Ibanez flew to left for the third.
Jackson had thrown 44 pitches through four innings. He had been perfect since the first except for the infield single by Rollins.
The Phillies were trailing 3-2 when they hit in the fifth. Polanco led off and singled to left on a 2-2 pitch. Ruiz swung at the first pitch and flew to left for the first out. Oswalt bunted Polanco to second with the second. Rollins got ahead but grounded to first on a 2-1 pitch to set the Phillies down.
Utley led off the sixth with Theriot at second after Schumaker had grabbed at his leg during his at-bat in the fifth. He drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch that was outside. Utley was running 3-2 when Pence hit a ground ball to short. Furcal fielded and threw to first. Pujols saw Utley round second, came off of first and threw to third where Utley was tagged out for the first out of the inning. It brought Howard to the plate with one down and Pence on first. Howard got ahead 3-0, but flew to center on a 3-2 pitch for the second out. Victorino grounded to second to set the Phillies down.
That’s not so much a good play by Utley. We might want to cut him a little slack what with being the only guy who ever gets a hit and whatnot, though.
Lefty Arthur Rhodes took over for Jackson to start the seventh and struck Ibanez out swinging for the first out. Righty Octavio Dotel got Polanco on a ground ball to third for the second out. Ruiz flew to center to end the frame.
Righty Fernando Salas started the eighth for St Louis. Gload hit for Blanton and singled to right. Salas balked Gload to second and Martinez ran for Gload at second. Rollins smashed a 2-1 pitch, but Theriot took it on a short hop and threw to first for the first out with Martinez moving up to third. Utley chopped a 1-1 pitch up the first base line that hit first base and popped up in the air too high for Pujols to get it in time to get Utley. Utley had a single and Martinez moved up to third. Salas’s 1-2 pitch to Pence was outside and in the dirt. Molina couldn’t block it and Martinez scored from third to make it 5-3 with Utley moving up to second. Pence grounded to short for the second out with Utley holding second. Lefty Marc Rzepczynski took over for Salas and struck Howard out swinging 0-2 to leave Utley stranded.
Righty Jason Motte started the ninth for St Louis. He got behind Victorino 3-2, but threw two strikes in a row before Victorino grounded to Pujols for the first out. Ibanez didn’t come close to hitting Motte’s 0-2 pitch, a high fastball he waved at for the second out. Polanco got behind 0-2 and blooped a ball into right-center, but Jay made a nice sliding catch to end the game.
The Phils finally do something against Salas, who is charged with a run in two-thirds of an inning. The other four guys who pitched in relief for the Cards in the game combined to not allow a hit or a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Rollins was 2-for-4 with a double. He’s 9-for-16 with a walk and four doubles in the series.
Utley 2-for-3 with a triple and a walk. 6-for-13 with two doubles, a triple and three walks.
If you had told me that Rollins and Utley were going to go 15-for-29 with seven extra-base hits and four walks in the set I wouldn’t have guessed the Phillies were going to win half the games.
Pence 1-for-4 with an RBI. 4-for-15 with two walks and four RBI in the series.
Howard 0-for-4 and struck out three times. 2-for-15 in the series with a walk, a home run and six RBI.
Victorino 0-for-4. 4-for-16 with four singles and two RBI.
Ibanez 0-for-4 and struck out three times. 3-for-12 with a home run and four RBI in the series. 1-for-8 since going 2-for-4 in game one.
Polanco 1-for-4. 2-for-16 with no walks in the series.
Ruiz 0-for-3 in the game and 1-for-14 in the series.
Roy Halladay will face righty Chris Carpenter tomorrow night in game five. Not really what we were hoping for, but it will at least give people a rare opportunity to use the phrase “must win” without hyperbole. Almost worth it.
But not quite.
October 6th, 2011 on 10:36 am
Call me crazy, but I thought BOTH calls were bad on the first inning double play. The pitch looked outside, and the tag looked late.
Still not an excuse for failing to put 0′s on the board. Coming into the series, I probably would have penciled Worley in for game 4, but I’m less attached to the veterans than Charlie is.
Interesting that Lee got up to warm up. And then sat down and Bastardo got up. And then neither of them came into the game.
I have no idea where the offense went. I was excited after Game 1. I want that back. It sure vanished in a hurry..
At least it’s Halladay for game 5. I don’t expect another first inning 3 run homer from Berkman. If he gives one up, that’s probably the series.
October 6th, 2011 on 10:56 am
I think the decision to steal second with Howard at the plate against a righty when every hitter in the game had gotten a hit is really bad, even with the count full. It was a very close play at second. I agree that strike three was also probably out of the strike zone as well. Still, the Phils had a 2-0 lead and a long way to go in the game. I don’t think either call should be high on the list of stuff that went wrong for the Phillies in the game.
I still feel good about game five with Halladay. It feels like a lot of playoff games recently where we’ve been wondering where the offense went, though.
October 6th, 2011 on 11:10 am
At least Madson didn’t pitch and both Lidge and Blanton looked good. I’m trying to stay positive here. Feeling relatively confident with Halladay on the mound, but to have the entire season come down to one game still makes me panic somewhat.
October 6th, 2011 on 11:18 am
For me I would call it more concern than panic. Anything can happen in one game, no matter who the Phillies pitch. It can especially happen if they don’t hit.
They looked good against Carpenter early in game two — let’s hope it wasn’t just about Carpenter going on three days rest. Also, just while we’re on the subject, up 4-0 in the fourth with Lee on the hill would have been a good one to win.
October 6th, 2011 on 11:22 am
I couldn’t agree more with having Lee on the mound and 4-0 lead. That was pretty much how this team was drawn up.
I wasn’t a big fan of the Utley slide into third in the sixth. It kinda looked like he lead with his face. Not the best of ideas and somewhat embarrassing.
Rumor has it that a pitcher is “fine” on three days rest, but really feels it during his next start. I’m clinging to that hope.
October 6th, 2011 on 12:14 pm
I was pretty amazed when Lee choked up that lead. This team relies on that not happening. Doc needs to be tight from the first inning on and not yield runs early.
October 6th, 2011 on 12:25 pm
I totally agree about the team relies on that not happening. I don’t think there are a lot of formulas for the Phils win in the post-season — the starting pitching is great, the offense is good enough and Madson pitches well is the one that works. Lee and Oswalt allow ten runs on 18 hits in 12 innings is going to cause some problems.
Like with the Pence play, I don’t think there was any one offensive moment that cost the Phils the game. Seems like the big ones in game four were Pence thrown out at second (a mistake even if it works), Utley thrown out trying to go first to third on a ground ball to short (looks bad when it doesn’t work, but I can understand his thinking that nobody on the team besides him and Rollins ever, ever get a hit) and Rzep strikes out Howard (what are ya gonna do?).
I do agree that Lidge and Blanton pitching well were good signs. Let’s hope it matters.
October 6th, 2011 on 12:47 pm
Yeah. I’m not mad at Utley for trying to get to third. He knows the guys following him are having trouble driving in runs. He tried to make a sac fly good enough.
I saw someplace that Doc’s first inning ERA this year is around 4. I don’t know if that is true, but if he allows a couple of runs in the first or second, our next conversation will likely be about who the Phillies will be bringing back next year.
October 6th, 2011 on 1:22 pm
Six runs in the last two games. Four of them have come from the bench. Here’s hoping the regulars get back into the game.
October 6th, 2011 on 1:22 pm
I agree. I thought Pujols made a nice play to come off of first then made a good throw to third. It was a nice play by St Louis.
This year Halladay had a 3.66 ERA in the first inning (13 earned runs allowed in 32 innings) and a 2.14 ERA in innings other than the first (48 earned runs allowed in 201 2/3 innings). For his career he has a 3.73 ERA in the first inning and a 3.15 ERA in the not-the-first-inning.
I don’t know, but believe that it’s true that just about everyone’s numbers in the first inning are a little high. I think it’s also true that the first inning is the inning where teams usually score the most runs. Again, not sure but I think the reason for that is that the first inning is the only inning of the game where a team has complete control over who will bat (excluding pinch-hitters) before the game starts.
That said, I don’t know if the gap between Halladay’s first inning and other innings is bigger than it should be. It sure looks like it is, though.
Across the NL in 2011, pitchers threw to a 4.54 ERA in the first inning and a 3.73 ERA in the innings that weren’t the first.
You know who didn’t pitch worse in the first? Chris Carpenter. 2.65 ERA in the first inning in 2011, 3.59 ERA after the first. Release the hounds of panic.
October 6th, 2011 on 3:24 pm
Yeah, but didn’t the Phillies just score three runs off of Carpenter in the first inning as well? Halladay is better than Carpenter, but the Cardinals offense is better than the Phillies. I really don’t know who has an advantage.
Agree with the first inning stuff. It’s the only inning where you can guarantee that you will have the “optimal” lineup facing the pitcher. I’m sure there is also something to the pitcher not being “loose” yet, but it really is a meaningless stat just based upon sample size for a specific pitcher.
October 6th, 2011 on 3:41 pm
I think meaningless stat is a good guess, but it’s too late for me to call back the hounds of panic now. I wonder what Chris Carpenter’s stats are in the first inning when he’s throwing on three days rest? Or in games that start at 8:37?
October 6th, 2011 on 4:29 pm
The thing is, stats aside, if the Cards score 2 or 3 runs early, the O hasn’t shown that they would score enough to win. If Howard does not awaken, that will be two years in a row that the four hole has been an utter loss.
October 6th, 2011 on 4:52 pm
I agree. I don’t think it’s over if the Cards jump out to an early lead. But I wouldn’t feel real good about it either. If four through nine in the lineup aren’t going to do anything at all, though, the Phils are going to lose anyway whether it’s tomorrow or in the next round. Hopefully the resurgence starts tomorrow.
Hope they score early, too, cause I don’t like their chances much against the St Louis pen.
October 6th, 2011 on 9:52 pm
Yeah. What’s up with Card’s pen. Weren’t they supposed to be the weak part of their team? Geez.
October 7th, 2011 on 9:08 am
It was. They’ve looked pretty good recently. Their numbers for the series overall aren’t good, cause the Phils hit Rzep and Boggs hard in game one. Their pen has a 3.95 ERA in the first four games. Since game one, though, they’ve allowed one earned run in 11 2/3 innings (that’s an 0.77 ERA). On the plus side, the Phils are due to put together something against them.
October 7th, 2011 on 9:44 am
Yeah…I’m going with their due.
October 7th, 2011 on 9:44 am
Let me try that again:
Yeah…I’m going with they’re due.
October 7th, 2011 on 11:20 am
Either way. As long as Jason Motte stops striking everyone out I’ll be happy. Octavio Dotel is tied for the team lead in post-season strikeouts for the Cards and he’s thrown 2 2/3 innings (4 strikeouts).
October 7th, 2011 on 12:00 pm
My only prediction for tonight is that there will be no damn squirrels on the field. I have no such prediction for tasered fans.
October 7th, 2011 on 3:34 pm
Lets Go Phils!
October 7th, 2011 on 4:08 pm
I also think it’s a pretty safe prediction that we won’t see much of Blanton, Kendrick, Stutes or Worley pitching in relief. Hopefully Halladay goes nine and it doesn’t matter. I also don’t think it’s going to be a good night for the Valdez, Martinez and Schneider fans clubs.
I sure hope the Phils come out tonight looking relaxed. Tired of seeing the glassy-eyed hands on the hip I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening thing.
Let’s go Phils indeed.
October 7th, 2011 on 4:35 pm
Schumaker in center for St Louis and Punto at second. Schumaker played 13 innings at center during the regular season. Theriot, 1-for-7 against Halladay for his career, on the bench with the switch-hitter Punto (4-for-14) at second.
http://twitter.com/#!/CardsInsider/status/122400111438467074
Seems odd to me to put Schumaker in center for such a big game. Wasn’t he grabbing the back of his leg in game four? Probably ensures he goes 4-for-4 and drives in three runs, but whatever.
October 7th, 2011 on 10:36 pm
7th inning. Howard leads off. Hasn’t had a hit since forever. Count is 3-0. And he frikkin’ swings.
October 7th, 2011 on 11:20 pm
Zeros. Sigh.
Hope Howard’s ok. Looked like his ankle. Again.
This team needs more than a minor makeover for next year..
October 8th, 2011 on 12:14 am
Apparent achilles. May be gone all next year if so.
October 8th, 2011 on 1:11 am
Ugh.
At least DaMannse wins prognosticator of the year with his Halladay first inning stuff.
Great game, but it didn’t have a good ending. I hope Howard is okay, too. He doesn’t look like he is. I didn’t mind him swinging 3-0. Would have been nice if it had gone further though (and Utley’s ball in the ninth and Ibanez’s early with men on the corners).
I agree the team needs a makeover. I think one is coming.
October 8th, 2011 on 8:17 am
Inexplicable stat of the year, Pitching Division: Halliday starts 34 games and 17 times the leadoff hitter reaches.
October 8th, 2011 on 1:23 pm
Wait till next year.
October 8th, 2011 on 8:51 pm
Telling stat: In their last five postseason series, the Phillies have batted .231, .227, .212, .216 and .226.
October 8th, 2011 on 9:28 pm
According to channel 6, Howard Achilles tendon surgery when swelling goes down (recovery time unknown until after surgery) and likely surgery for Gload’s hip, Polanco’s hernia, maybe Pence’s hernia, Hamel’s elbow AND hernia.
October 8th, 2011 on 9:53 pm
That’s kind of a long list. Torn Achilles for Howard is really not good news. Let’s hope it’s not too long before we see him on the field again.
October 10th, 2011 on 2:10 pm
Postmortem…where does the team go from here? This team obviously needs some offensive help and is up against it as far as signing free agents would go. It seems the most tradeable asset this team possesses is one Mr. Cole Hamels. Do they even go there? I don’t know if I like the idea, but I’m just trying to be realistic as well.
October 10th, 2011 on 4:05 pm
It needs fresh hitters. A productive Dom Brown would help.
I would:
- Extend Cole
- Decline Oswalt’s option
- Trade Blanton (for a bag of balls)
- Plan on a 2012 Rotation of Roy, Cliff, Cole, Vance, & Kyle.
- Give Madson closer money
- Let Lidge go
- Let JRoll go
- Let Ibanez go
- Give Brown the guaranteed Left Field job (confidence boost)
- Give Mayberry first (looks like Howard could miss all of next year – if Howard comes back, platoon Mayberry with either Brown or Howard)
- Move Polly to Short
- Sign or trade for a new third baseman, with actual power
.. for starters.
October 10th, 2011 on 4:12 pm
Incidentally, the free agent third basemen do not make an inspiring list.
Wilson Betemit KC
Casey Blake LAD *
Eric Chavez NYY
Mark DeRosa SF
Greg Dobbs PHI
Edwin Encarnacion TOR *
Wes Helms FLA
Melvin Mora ARI
Aramis Ramirez CHC
Miguel Tejada SF
Omar Vizquel CWS
(* have option with current club for 2012)
October 10th, 2011 on 5:58 pm
What to do, what to do. Let’s see. i think I would:
1. Sign Hamels.
2. Trade Brown for a third base propect of Brown’s supposed talent level. (Several reasons for this include that there are more outfielders than third basemen, and I do not believe Brown will ever play everyday.)
3. Tradeable guys who would bring serious value include Victorino and Pence. I’d explore what Victorino – who is in the prime of his career – would bring in terms of hungry, young talent.
4. Rollins cannot be signed for five years. For three, yes, simply because I cannot see anyone else available. Buy not for more than three.
5. Madsen is gone if he wants top dollar.
October 11th, 2011 on 8:48 am
Trading Brown now doesn’t make any sense to me as his value has never really been lower. I think he will be fine. His numbers last year are a lot better than anybody gives him credit for, especially June/July when he was starting to get healthy and have more regular playing time.
I’ve heard the Polanco to short thing before, but that is a disaster waiting to happen. He isn’t even a third baseman, let alone a shortstop.
The good news about Madson is that the market is flooded with closers this year, so the values should be relatively low, especially since he has so little “experience” in the role. I’ve heard 2/$14M in places, but that could be a pipe dream. If Rollins is willing to come back on a 3 year deal with a 4th option year that will vest with normal playing time, I’d be willing to do that. Decline Oswalt’s option and bring him back on a Carpenter-like deal (2/$21M).
Beyond that? I really don’t know. The team still needs to get younger and these moves don’t really do that. The pitching staff is fine, but the offense needs help. Some would say the pitching staff is better than fine, which is why I was thinking the team may look to trade from strength to shore up the offense.
October 11th, 2011 on 10:42 am
I’d go Hamels back, Madson back, keep Brown and go with a Brown/Mayberry in left. Someone’s going to have to play first for a while to start the season, too (that’s my guess at least).
I don’t think they can bring Oswalt back unless he’s real cheap. I doubt he will be. I think the rotation goes Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Worley.
I would bring Rollins back if he wasn’t too expensive, but I think he will be.
If they don’t bring back Rollins they really, really need a shortstop from outside of their organization. I’d guess there is close to no chance that Polanco can play short. I think he’s play eight innings there since 2002 and turned 36 yesterday. I think they have nobody in the organization who can handle either short or third except Polanco, who will almost surely handle third for 2012.