With a 1-0 loss on Friday, the Phils dropped their series with St Louis and were bounced out of the playoffs. For the second time in two years, it’s a disappointing end to a year for a team that looked destined for great things at times during the regular season.
Again it was an offensive collapse that did the Phillies in. After scoring 11 runs in the first game of the NLDS, the Phils scored just ten runs in the last four games. Three of those came on a pinch-hit home run by Ben Francisco in game three. In the five-game series, Pence, Ibanez, Howard, Polanco and Ruiz combined to go 12-for-89 (.135).
Game five featured two brilliant pitching performances, one from Roy Halladay and the other from Chris Carpenter. Halladay gave up a triple and a double to the first two batters in the game, with Skip Schumaker’s double plating Rafael Furcal for the only run of the contest. Carpenter threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits. Utley had a single on a ball deflected by a diving Pujols in the sixth. Victorino doubled in the second and singled in the fourth.
It was even worse than that for the Phils. For the second straight year, Ryan Howard got the last at-bat of the season for the Phils. He grounded to second this time, but crumpled to the ground almost immediately after with a ruptured left Achilles tendon. The timeline for his return is not known, but he may not be ready for Spring Training.
Again the Phils were eliminated from the post-season in a series in which they scored more runs than their opponent. The Phils outscored the Cards 21-19 in this year’s NLDS and outscored the Giants 20-19 in the 2010 NLCS.
The season is over for the Phils after losing to the St Louis Cardinals 1-0 in game five of the NLDS. Since the start for 2010, the Phillies have won 199 regular season games, winning the most games in either league in both ’10 and ’11. They are 7-7 in their last 14 playoff games.
Halladay got the start for the Phillies and went eight innings, allowing a run on six hits and a walk. Two of the hits went for extra-bases, a double and a triple allowed to the first two hitters of the game. He struck out seven.
Halladay was the only Phillie to make more than one start in the series. In two starts, he threw to an 2.25 ERA and an 0.69 ratio. He allowed four runs on nine hits and two walks over 16 innings. All four of the runs he allowed came in the first inning. Three came on a three-run homer by Berkman in game one.
He faced a St Louis lineup that went (1) Rafael Furcal (SS/S) (2) Skip Schumaker (CF/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) Punto (2B/S). Schumaker starts in center, where he played 13 innings 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.
St Louis had six hitters on the bench to start the game, righties Matt Theriot, Allen Craig and Gerald Laird, and lefties Adron Chambers, Jon Jay and Daniel Descalso.
Furcal was the first batter of the game and tripled to center on a 2-1 pitch. Schumaker was next and Halladay got ahead of him 0-2, but Schumaker hit a 2-2 pitch into the right field corner for a double that scored Furcal and put the Cards up 1-0. Pujols was next and hit a weird spinning ball towards second. Utley bare-handed it and threw to third, where Schumaker was tagged out for the first out with Pujols safe at first. Pujols took second on a wild pitch before Berkman reached on catcher’s interference when his backswing hit Ruiz’s glove, putting men on first and second. Halladay got Holliday to pop to Polanco in foul territory for the second out and Molina grounded to short to set the Cards down.
Yet another aggressive play by Utley and this one works as he guns down Schumaker at third for the first out.
Halladay set St Louis down in order in the second, striking Freese out swinging, getting Punto on a line drive to third and the pitcher Carpenter on a ground ball to short.
Furcal grounded to second to start the third. Schumaker flew to left for the second out and Pujols struck out swinging.
Eight in a row for Halladay.
Berkman flew to center to start the fourth and Berkman struck out swinging behind him. Molina singled to center and stole second before Freese struck out swinging 1-2 to end the frame.
Punto started the fifth with a single to left. Carpenter was next and bunted, but Ruiz jumped on the ball and threw to second to force Punto. Carpenter didn’t run and was easily doubled up. Furcal flew to Ibanez to set St Louis down.
In the sixth, Halladay got Jay (who took over for Schumaker in center in the third), Pujols and Berkman on three ground balls.
He got Holliday on a fly ball to center for the first out in the seventh and struck Molina out looking for the second. Freese was next and he singled to left. Descalso ran for Freese, but Halladay struck Punto out swinging 0-2 to leave him at first.
Carpenter singled into center to start the eighth. Furcal was next and hit a ball out in front of the plate. Ruiz took it and went to second, where his throw wasn’t handled by Rollins for an error. Ruiz was charged with an error and St Louis had men on first and second with nobody out. Jay bunted the runners to second and third with the first out and Halladay walked Pujols intentionally to load the bases. Halladay stayed in to pitch to Berkman and struck him out swinging 1-2 for the second out. Holliday flew to left to leave the bases loaded.
Manuel sure stayed with Halladay a long time. The pitch that got Holliday was number 126 in the game. Worked out great for the Phillies, but I think you have to bring Bastardo in to pitch to Berkman with one out and the bases loaded. Berkman is a lot better against righties than lefties. On the other hand, Halladay struck him out and kept St Louis off the board after loading the bases with one out.
Madson struck out Descalso and Punto in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Madson made four appearances in the series, allowing a run on four hits and no walks over 4 1/3 innings while striking out six.
Overall, the pen threw ten innings in five games for the Phils in the series. They allowed five earned runs on 12 hits and four walks over ten innings (4.50 ERA and a 1.60 ratio). They struggled in game one as Stutes allowed three runs in relief of Halladay. In game two they threw three scoreless innings to back Lee. In game three they allowed two runs over three innings in relief of Hamels, but held on for the win. Blanton and Lidge combined to throw two scoreless frames in game four and Madson threw a shutout inning in game five.
Nobody on the Cards had more than one hit in the game.
Schumaker and Theriot both went 6-for-10 in the series, each with two doubles.
Pujols was 7-for-20 with two walks and three doubles.
Freese 5-for-19 with nine strikeouts, but drove in a team-high five runs, including four in game four. Two doubles and a home run in the series.
Berkman was just 3-for-18, but with a big home run in game one.
Craig 1-for-10 with a triple and four walks.
Furcal 5-for-22 with two triples. He didn’t draw a walk out of the leadoff spot for St Louis in the series.
Holliday was 2-for-9 with two singles and Jay 2-for-12 with two singles. Jay drew three walks.
The Phillies lineup against righty Chris Carpenter 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).
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, Utley and Pence went in order in the bottom of the first with the Phils down 1-0.
Howard grounded to second to start the second, but Victorino was next and ripped a double to right. Ibanez fouled out to Punto for the second out and Polanco grounded to short.
In the third, Ruiz flew to right, Halladay struck out swinging and Rollins grounded to third on a ball he thought was foul.
Carpenter hit Utley with a pitch to start the fourth. Pence was next and grounded to second with Utley forced at second for the first out. Howard lined to second for the second out. Victorino moved Pence to third with a single, bringing Ibanez to the plate with men on the corners. Ibanez hammered a 3-2 pitch to right, but Berkman took it at the wall to end the inning.
Two hits for Victorino to start the game, but Phils can’t score. Ibanez just missed.
Polanco, Ruiz and Halladay all grounded out as the Phillies went in order in the fifth.
Rollins grounded to short to start the sixth. Utley was next and hit a ball to first, deflected by a diving Pujols and into right for a single. Molina threw him out trying to steal second for the second out. Pence grounded to second to set the Phillies down.
Fantastic throw by Molina to throw Utley out at second on a breaking ball. Again Utley aggressive on the bases and again it hurts the Phils. Utley stole 14 bases during the regular season without being caught. Over the last three years he has stolen 50 bases during the regular season and been caught twice.
Howard, Victorino and Ibanez went in order in the seventh. Howard got way ahead in the count, then flew to right 3-0 for the first out.
Polanco and Ruiz both grounded out to start the eighth. With the righty Carpenter still pitching for the Cards, Gload hit for Halladay. Gload struck out swinging 1-2, but Molina’s throw to first pulled Pujols off the bag and Gload was safe. Rollins smashed a ball back up the middle, but it was deflected by Carpenter, went to Punto and Punto threw to first in time to nip Rollins.
Close play at first for the third out. Rollins used to be a little faster than he is now.
Utley smashed Carpenter’s first pitch of the ninth to center, but Chambers took it at the wall for the first out. Pence grounded to third for the second out. Howard grounded to second to end the season, crumpling to the ground with an injury unable to get up as the Cardinals celebrated.
Utley just missed.
Rollins was 0-for-4 in the game. He hit 450/476/650 in the series, going 9-for-20 with a walk and four doubles.
Utley 1-for-3 in the game with a caught stealing. 438/571/688 7-for-16 with three walks, two doubles and a triple.
Pence 0-for-4 in game five. 4-for-19 with two walks and four singles in the series. 211/286/211. 2-for-5 in game one and 2-for-14 after game one.
Howard 0-for-4. 2-for-19 with a walk, a home run and six RBI in the series with a 105/143/263 line. People remember him striking out to end the NLCS in 2010, but Howard was good in that series, going 7-for-22 with a 318/400/500 line.
Victorino was 2-for-3 in game five with a double, which was the only extra-base hit in the game for the Phils. 6-for-19 with a double in the series. 316/316/368.
Ibanez 0-for-3. 3-for-15 with a home run and four RBI in the series. 200/200/400. He’s 10-for-46 (.217) for the Phils in the post-season since the start of 2010.
Polanco 0-for-3 in the game and 2-for-19 in the series (105/105/105). 8-for-his-last-65 in the post-season (.123) and 8-for-48 over the last two years in the playoffs with the Phillies (.167).
Ruiz 0-for-3 in the game and 1-for-17 in the series (059/111/059).
Mayberry didn’t play in game five. He was 0-for-4 in the series.
Gload 0-for-1 in game five and 1-for-2 in the series.
Francisco didn’t play in game five. He was 1-for-2 with a three-run homer in the series.
Martinez appeared as a pinch-runner but didn’t have an at-bat in the series. Schneider didn’t appear.
October 11th, 2011 on 10:59 am
Just looking at this game, am I the only one that noticed how bad Victorino’s throw was on Furcal’s triple. The play was still really close, which led me to believe they would’ve had him with a decent throw. Can’t help but think this game winds up totally different if Victorino makes a good throw and Furcal is out at third.
I feel really bad for Howard right now. I didn’t like the contract before and I hate it now, but he was just trying too hard. He was at least hitting the ball hard in game 5.
October 11th, 2011 on 11:28 am
I’m still trying to figure out what was going on in right field this whole series. It’s like there was a force field set up at the warning track or something.. balls were just plummeting..
October 11th, 2011 on 11:50 am
I agree that they really had a chance to get Furcal at third on the leadoff triple. Victorino’s throw was low, but Utley could have handled it and not let it roll to Rollins. If Utley does handle the ball, I think he can get Furcal going to third with a good throw.
I feel bad for Howard, too. Just a tough way to end the year.
I think they had a force field in center on the ball that Utley hit in the ninth, too. That looked pretty good to me off the bat. Right field got the ball that Ibanez hit to the track with men on the corner and the ball that Howard hit 3-0.
October 11th, 2011 on 12:56 pm
I think we lost this series in game 2. Up 4-0 Lee on the mound you are thinking….we got this! But we lost…I heard he is something like 95-1 with a 4 run lead. We had them against the ropes…
And there were plenty of other moments, but I think this goes to show just how hard it is to win in the playoffs…that anything can happen. Were we the best team in 2008?? Maybe not but we won it all…were hot at the right time, had a few clutch hits vs Dodgers etc…and took it all.
At this point its like…Jeez, NOW what?? What else can we do…I feel like the only thing we can do is do exactly what we did last year and try it again. Keep the fire burning and take it to em in the playoffs.
Will be interesting what we do with Ryan Madsen and Jimmy…I would love to see Jimmy signed for 3 years and Ryan signed for 3 years. And I guess in Left we give Mayberry the start, and see if Dom Brown picks things up.
Well it was a great season…just could not quite close the door, as they say, ‘There’s always next year’
Keep the Faith!
-L
October 11th, 2011 on 1:22 pm
Keeping the faith here, for the 54th out of 56 years I noticed that Victorino had more than one miserable monment in the field. This guy is a golden glove, for goodness’ sake. And Lee’s choke in game two was about all she wrote; the team was built to have one good inning and then rely on the aces. The only problem is that two of the aces weren’t. Again, who expects that, for goodness’ sake?
Jimmy for three with a club option. Pay him unless there is someone out there I cannot see. And Reyes makes me gag; he has silly good skills, but we would hate the self centered SOB. And Utley would beat him to death with a bat.
Speaking of Utley, I am seeing things like Utley to first and Polly to second. And then get a serious third baseman.
Dom Brown. I hope you guys are right, because from my chair he will never be an everyday major league player. He is a top prospect and he has to be TAUGHT how to play left field? I mnean, isn’t left where you put terrible fielders whose bat you need? Like Luzinski? He has to be taught to play there? Naaaaaaaw.
October 11th, 2011 on 2:58 pm
I think you’ve got to take a chance with Brown cause of the huge upside. The whole idea here is to get impact players cheap. You don’t have to look much further than Ryan Howard (who I think is owed $115 million through 2017) to see the problems associated with getting impact players expensively. I agree that Brown took a big step backwards this year, but I think it’s way too early to give up on him. Especially for a team that needs a corner outfielder.
I think Rollins for three years with a club option probably costs more than I would want to give. 255/316/403 in 1,750 plate appearances over the last three years. Gotta have someone there, though.
I think there’s a chance we do see some of Utley at first base next year, especially early in the year.
October 11th, 2011 on 3:47 pm
Yeah, it’s the “gotta have someone there” that’s the problem. Unless we wanna go with the kid at AAA….. which we have to do sometime. There just seems to be no one else.
The other thought that occurs to me is that Amaro and company didn’t do the Lee deal without some considerable thought about 2012. if for no other reason than neither Lee nor Halliday would have come here if it was only to be a one year party. Everyone knew about the expiring contracts. I have to believe they have already given considerable thought to what’s next and have real plans already laid about who they want to add/subtract. At least I sure hope they do. Like maybe they already know what to do about shortstop and will make it happen amazingly well.
I hope you’re right about Brown’s upside. I just wish he wouldn’t hide it quite so well.
October 11th, 2011 on 4:02 pm
I’m hoping by maybe August or so of next year he stops doing that thing where he runs in circles and then makes a sliding miss at fly balls. One step at a time.
I do think that Howard presumably out to start the year means a lot of chances for Mayberry, whether they come at 1B or in left. I still think he’s going to show really good power, but with a questionable on-base percentage. If he’s going keep getting better from here he’s going to be great. Hope that happens, but not convinced yet.
October 11th, 2011 on 6:07 pm
And Madsen? Do we think it is a Jimmy or Madsen situation, one or the other?
Lidge’s contract is up this year also correct?
So of our free agents, who do we see coming back and who do we want to come back. I heard Mets are interested in Lidge. So many questions…but this 2011 team, I would not want any other team, the only thing I would want from them is 100% healthy especially Polanco. Jimmy and Utley hitting well in the Post season was a small silver lining also
October 11th, 2011 on 7:13 pm
My hunch is that Madsen is gone; he seems to be willing to go elsewhere. And there are apparently a lot of back-of-the-rotation guys out there.
Oswalt is going to be optioned I bet. Whether he takes a reduced number from us is yet to be seen. No one is gonna give him 16 mil.
Ibanez may or not be back, but he will not be an everyday player if he returns for a LOT less money.
Jimmy is anyone’s guess. But if he wants five years, I hope he is not back.
Lidge thinks he can still close. If that is his stance, he will likely not be here.
October 11th, 2011 on 8:20 pm
Agreed with all those last comments…however I would like to see Oswalt and Madsen on the team, and Jimmy
October 11th, 2011 on 8:47 pm
Yeah. No argument. But not for 5 years for Jimmy, 16 million for Roy, or the top dollar/years Madsen is likely going to chase.
October 11th, 2011 on 9:38 pm
I think they have to bring Madson back unless he wants a ton of money. I’m going to be surprised if they bring Oswalt back. Giving Rollins a five-year deal seems like a pretty poor idea.
October 11th, 2011 on 11:47 pm
I hear there are a lot of closers out there on the market, though I can’t give you names. Do you think Madsen is that crucial?
October 12th, 2011 on 9:07 am
I think Madson is pretty important given how few reliable arms the Phils have in their bullpen. If you just replaced Madson with a new closer, the Phils would be in a lot of trouble if that guy didn’t pitch well.
Maybe they’ll even get a second lefty for next year.
And I think you’re right that there are a ton of guys who can close that can or might be available as free agents depending on options. Heath Bell, Papelbon, Francisco Cordero to name a few, but there are lesser known guys that could surely close as well who will be available.
October 12th, 2011 on 9:27 am
This is going to be one fascinating offseason.
October 12th, 2011 on 11:57 am
BTW: the Daily News for today, Wednesday, has a LOT of interesting stuff in it about the Phillies, re: amaro, Victorino, Rollins, Charlie.
October 12th, 2011 on 1:23 pm
I think the Phillies could have done a much better job with resting Victorino down the stretch after they had clinched everything they needed to clinch. His numbers for the series look okay after getting two hits in game five, but it seems clear he wasn’t himself at the plate or in the field for the series. He hit 179/257/321 in his last 149 plate appearances for the year having hit 314/389/551 in the first 437.
I thought the stuff that Amaro said about needing to have better at-bats was kind of absurd. I’m all for better at-bats, but they need better players. Manuel didn’t make Polanco the every day third baseman, didn’t give Howard an absurd contract, didn’t put Michael Martinez on the roster for 162 games, didn’t make Ibanez his everyday left fielder at age 39, didn’t set the team up so Ben Francisco was the only option in right, didn’t produce a roster where giving 663 plate appearances to Wilson Valdez over two years seems like a reasonable choice given the options. Saying that Charlie doesn’t know how to teach people to have good at-bats seems sort of ridiculous.
In the first six years (2005-2010) that Manuel managed the Phils they were in the top three in the NL in scoring every year. In 2011, they were seventh. If anyone thinks the problem is that Charlie Manuel got stupid all of the sudden I disagree. It cause the players they put on the field got worse.
October 12th, 2011 on 1:24 pm
Chuck Lamar’s replacement named, for those the follow the minors:
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/131595823.html
My first thought is to not let him near the young arms based upon Baltimore’s track record with young pitcher injuries over the last few years.
October 12th, 2011 on 1:25 pm
P.S. Agreed on the idiocy of Amaro’s comments. I think he is just as frustrated as the rest of us right now, but his job requires him to not be delusional.
October 12th, 2011 on 3:44 pm
I tend not to put too much stock in the ‘after the season’ press conference. No one wants to really talk about anything related to how the team just failed and reporters like to needle on about how you gonna fix it. Thats there job and I get that but no one can really say anything at this point that means anything in the grand scheme of the offseason so for me, i just take it at face value and wait for the rest of baseball to finish and then get to thinking what may or may not happen.
I dont want to dwell on it but I jumped off the couch as soon as Utley made contact in the bottom of 9… I thought it was out.. i hoped it was out…
I’m along the same lines as everyone else… Im good with Rollins for 3 yrs. If not, I am also fine with a verteren one year stop gap. kinda like Furcal/Renteria killing the Phils the last two playoffs… I’m with Greg from an earlier comment section post and decline Oswalt option (he wont get 16mil/yr on open market anyway) and bring him back on a Carpenter ‘like’ deal. Whether or not Oswalt agrees with this is another story… I like Madson back and I think the Phils know they need him. I see a huge amount of the 12 mil paid to Lidge last year getting set aside for Madson. I hope for a contract for Hamels. Pence will be an big arbitration payout. Howard tearing his achillies made his contract extension look even worse, which i wasnt sure was possible but now is.
I do hope the big guy is OK though. It really kept me from smashing my TV b/c I wanted to know what the heck was going on and after i figured it out, the fire was burned down a bit… time heals all. next season awaits!
October 12th, 2011 on 4:34 pm
I really hope Howard is okay, too. What a terrible way to end the season.
I kind of agree that we don’t need to pay too much attention to what is said at the press conference a day after the end of the season (as long as nobody makes a surprise announcement that they’re retiring). For Amaro especially I think there’s some evidence that there’s not a lot of relationship between what he says he’s going to do and what he actually does. That’s fine with me — as much as I’d like to know what he’s actually thinking, I think it’s probably better for the Phillies that way and he has come up with some fantastic moves.
October 13th, 2011 on 12:33 am
MLB quotes Amaro as wanting Brown to have a full year at AAA ball. In left field presumably.
October 13th, 2011 on 9:10 am
I saw that quote from Amaro. I don’t really believe him. I think Brown gets at least 300 at-bats with the Phils next year, unless he really doesn’t produce at all with the bat. But I think he gets a chance to be a big part of the team.
October 13th, 2011 on 2:13 pm
I think the 2012 Phillies need Brown, and need him to be productive in the Majors, to be successful. (Alternatively, trading him for an equivalent that plays Third Base wuold work; I have no problem giving Mayberry left full-time either.)
October 13th, 2011 on 3:14 pm
I think the Phils have to pay Polanco $6.25 million next year and they aren’t going to pay him to watch. I think he plays 3B just about every day. Hope I’m wrong on that one.
I agree that a productive Brown in 2012 would help the Phils out a whole lot. I’d be happier with Mayberry plus a lefty in platoon in left. I think the first choice is going to be Brown, but we’ll see what happens. Mayberry was better than I expected this year so I could be wrong, but I think you still don’t want him playing every day.
October 13th, 2011 on 4:37 pm
I like the “trade Brown for a similar level prospect who plays third” idea. But then I think Brown is never going to be a player, so I would. Besides, we NEED someone at third. (Do you REALLY think that Amaro will force us to watch Polly again? Say it ain’t so, Eric.)I kinda like Mayberry’s upside more. When he is on the field, at least he LOOKS like he knows how the game is played.
October 14th, 2011 on 10:18 am
I’m afraid it’s so. At least I think it’s so. I hold out hope it’s not so, but I’ll be surprised if the Phils pay Polanco $6.25 million not to play next year. They don’t really have a lot of other options in the organization right now. Right now they don’t have a shortstop, either, and don’t have any other options there as well.
October 14th, 2011 on 12:16 pm
The thing that I keep holding onto is that these guys are into this team for a LOT of money. Roy and Cliff are here for a few more years. Cole will be here for next year, at least. Next year still seems to me like an “all in” year. I think that they will spend money this coming year when they need to.
That is my fervent hope.
October 16th, 2011 on 11:46 pm
I’m along the same lines as everyone else… Im good with Rollins for 3 yrs. If not, I am also fine with a verteren one year stop gap. kinda like Furcal/Renteria killing the Phils the last two playoffs… I’m with Greg from an earlier comment section post and decline Oswalt option (he wont get 16mil/yr on open market anyway) and bring him back on a Carpenter ‘like’ deal. Whether or not Oswalt agrees with this is another story… I like Madson back and I think the Phils know they need him. I see a huge amount of the 12 mil paid to Lidge last year getting set aside for Madson. I hope for a contract for Hamels. Pence will be an big arbitration payout. Howard tearing his achillies made his contract extension look even worse, which i wasnt sure was possible but now is.
+1
October 17th, 2011 on 1:28 pm
I will be curious about how arbitration with Pence goes. He made $6.9 million in 2011 and is going to get a lot more in 2012. I’d be okay with Rollins back for three years, but not exceptionally excited about that. I really have some trouble envisioning Rollins and the Phils coming up with something they both like for three years.
I will be really surprised if Oswalt is back with the team in 2012. On the other hand, it seems that the Phils should be able to draw some guys at the end of their career who are drawn to the opportunity to get bounced from the playoffs in heart-crushing fashion.
October 17th, 2011 on 2:04 pm
PS on this is that I always forget that Oswalt is not that old. I picture him as being at the end of his career, but he’s really not unless he wants to be. He turned 34 at the end of August and is younger than Halladay, Oswalt is only about a year older than Utley (Oswalt turn 34 in August and Utley will turn 33 in December).
October 17th, 2011 on 3:52 pm
Yeah. I’m actually kinda hoping that they can work out a two-year deal with Oswalt. He can still pitch if he wants to.
One thing that I know for sure is that I have no idea what Amaro will do, but I have a feeling I’m going to like the final product on the major league level. I may not be a fan of losing to prospects, but the team in Philadelphia will be as strong as it can be.
October 17th, 2011 on 4:10 pm
I feel pretty sure that the Phils are going to win a lot of regular season games next year, too. I don’t think Amaro is going to trade away Brown. We’ll see. I’d guess Oswalt isn’t done pitching, but is done pitching for the Phils.
October 17th, 2011 on 4:39 pm
If they can get Oswalt for ANYthing close to what they are paying Blanton, I want him. 10 million? I still think that if he is healthy, he is better by far than anyone else they can have. I think it is very risky to think that Worley can repeat his performance next year. I sure hope he can, but that sophomore year has been hard for an awful lot of guys.
October 17th, 2011 on 4:40 pm
Oh. Eric, if not Rollins, who? How do you think they ought to play that for the nexxt few years, and with whom?
October 17th, 2011 on 5:23 pm
I think if we can get Jimmy for 3 years that is a no brainer. 4 years is borderline, 5 years is no. If the Phillies are smart…they will come to him with a deal quickly that is decent and also say…shop around see what you find. The BIG SS $ will be going to Reyes. But as we saw with Rowand SF is not shy about giving guys a lot of years (although maybe they have changed that attitude)
There are two things to think about in my opinion
1.What do we need to do to make the playoffs.
2.What do we have to do to win the WS.
My answers…
1. Not much…we should make it with Poly at 3rd, Howard injured for part of the year etc etc.
2. Well in order to win the WS the biggest thing is just making the WS…look at the teams that are winning the WS these days…AND look at us in 2008…its a total crap shoot. Get in, get a little hot, get a little lucky and win.
We just missed a few of those items in 2011.
I think if we played Cardinals again in 5 games with our starting pitching we win…it was a total total fluke we lost game 2, with the talent we have we should have flat out won that game.
So we don’t need to do much…we need to just make the playoffs…
And sure…I am VERY interested in Jimmy, Lidge, Oswalt, Howards Health, what prospects stick around…and love to talk about it and read about it.
But that is just my 2 cents on this team…we are good…we are good enough to win the WS and we don’t need to do much…other than be smart and keep pushing for it.
October 17th, 2011 on 5:37 pm
on that note…I think a two year deal with Oswalt would be nice…his health is the thing that gets me…But Worley should be kicking butt again (not as much as 2011) and Blanton def has something to prove and hey…maybe will have his best year in a while.
so lets say for a minute we don’t have Jimmy…who do we have? as much as I can’t imagine Phillies without Jimmy I would take Furcal for ONE year, but at this rate why would he come here not the Cardinals??
and I think we HAVE to hold onto Vic…I have heard trade talk about him…I say no way…we need him. A full year with him and Pence in OF and Mayberry/Brown would be nice to see. Vic has a strong drive and is good for this team.
The other thing I am wondering about is…how healthy is Chase?? Is he secretly in insane pain ever game? If you remember he signed that long term deal when he was young passing up a bigger pay day…did he know something we/Phillies didn’t??
My hope is that he is healthy of course and hopefully his good #’s in the playoffs reflect that.
But you know 3 years ago that shot in game 5 is gone
October 18th, 2011 on 10:12 am
I guess I’m in the minority here, but when I was talking about declining Oswalt’s option, I was talking about not bringing him back. Yes, he’s better than Blanton for the same dollars.. but we still have to pay Blanton. I’d rather see the money diverted to paying some new offense guys, if we can. Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Worley, Kendrick can be a championship rotation, with Blanton either in long relief or traded away. I’d much rather find some consistency in the offense than bring back an unnecessary, expensive starter with a balky back.
October 18th, 2011 on 12:52 pm
I just think you need as much starting pitching depth as you can have going through the regular season. You can’t go into the season with only 5 viable starters because somebody is bound to get hurt. In my mind you need at least 7.
October 18th, 2011 on 12:58 pm
I don’t think this Pitching/offense is an either/or. Given the committed monies I think that the front office is still “all in” next year and if they have to bite the luxury tax bullet, they will.
October 18th, 2011 on 1:38 pm
Blanton has a 4.85 ERA with a 1.43 ratio over the last two seasons and is set to make $8.5 million in 2012. I think we should pretty much be counting on him to be on the team and in the rotation. Let’s hope he does well pitching for a new contract.
On Rollins, I think the thing is that we shouldn’t make a big or long investment in a guy who’s not a very good offensive player. The exception to that is if they weren’t going to use the money they saved on Rollins improving the team somewhere else. I’d rather see them bring back someone cheaper, but if the choice is that or not bringing back Rollins and not using that money to help the team elsewhere, I’d rather have Rollins. Of the potential free agents, in terms of a short-term solution I think guys like Furcal, Scutaro and Clint Barmes would be near the top of my list of the guys that look like they will be available (although Scutaro probably won’t be given his options).
I agree with what Greg said about needing more than five starters. I think they already have Kendrick pencilled in to be starter #6. I agree that who starter #7 is going to be is important, but I hope the Phillies see it as less important than who is going to play shortstop and left field (assuming it’s Polanco at third).
October 18th, 2011 on 5:08 pm
I am having regular dreams that they are NOT assuming Polly is playing everyday at third next year. Of course, just to show you how wild dreams can be, Pujols CAN play third. Ok. Ok. So I have a rich fantasy life. So sue me.
October 18th, 2011 on 6:07 pm
PS- it kind of makes me sick that the only reason the Cardinals are in the WS is because we swept the Braves in the last series…makes me sick and a little pissed off
October 18th, 2011 on 6:11 pm
well, there is another reason. we sucked in the post season. Lee choked. and the offense from the 3 to 8th position choked. Once again.
October 19th, 2011 on 12:27 pm
Eric, probably time to put up an “I am not a bot” door.
Speaking of things that aren’t bots.. I’d rather just about anyone over Oswalt for 7th starter. Won’t be worth the money he’ll command, with injury issues. I’d prefer Wilson Valdez as 7th starter..
October 19th, 2011 on 2:35 pm
Think you might be right about the bots.
I think Oswalt could still have very good years left. The Phils probably got the worst year of his career in 2011, with the exception of 2009 when he went 8-6 with a 4.12 ERA for Houston. He was fifth in the NL in ERA in 2010, though, and that wasn’t that long ago. His 2011 was bad, I think it’s just a question of how much it hurt him. I think the answer is not enough for it to make sense for the Phillies to bring him back.