Comments on: Post-season exposes the Achilles heel of the Phillies — turns out it’s the post-season

By: egrissom

egrissom — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:35:59 +0000

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.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:27:04 +0000

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..

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:11:41 +0000

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.

By: Leighton

Leighton — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:07:19 +0000

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

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:08:33 +0000

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.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:38:40 +0000

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).

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:58:00 +0000

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.

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:52:31 +0000

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.

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:12:37 +0000

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.

By: Leighton

Leighton — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:37:18 +0000

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