Comments on: Past weekend edition

By: egrissom

egrissom — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 01:37:57 +0000

I think it’s nearly a lock that Howard is going to be out for a long time at this point. I think Utley is the question mark. I would guess the Phils will trade for someone if it proves to be the case that Howard is out until after the break and Utley is going to miss a lot of time before it. Let’s hope so at least.

At least the big number of places where they can improve gives them a bunch of flexibility if they’re looking to add players that can help them get better.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:15:53 +0000

What if, guys, we do not see either Utley or Howard this year? I have several friends who are docs who tell me that this is looking more and more likely.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:36:00 +0000

I think Podsednik’s chances of making the team are good.

He can definitely help the team if he’s going to keep on hitting .371, but that might not even happen.

By: Leighton

Leighton — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:21:21 +0000

So given all the health issues…what do we think Scott Posednik’s chances are of making the team…I remember being pretty high on him when the signed him and he seems to be doing of in ST.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:11:11 +0000

Well, as I said before, given the issues this team faced at first-second-third-left, Papelbon’s signing was a serious miscalculation. They spent the money on the wrong position. Madsen would have done just fine. Given the guys who are missing from this team, the odds of having a ton of leads to protect are long indeed. The money should have been spent on the line up.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:11:19 +0000

I agree it seems like they could have worked all this Utley stuff out sooner. Would have been nice to know. The Phillies really don’t have anyone who can come close to replacing him. I have little confidence in Martinez, Galvis, Frandsen and Orr to be passable offensively.

I’m glad to have Papelbon, too. The Phils sure paid him a lot, though.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:37:05 +0000

You know, I am a Phillies fan and alway root for the jersey above any single player. But they are bothering me with this ‘nothing to see here’ approach to injuries and than all of a sudden, BAM! probably gonna start the season on the DL. If he’s hurt, says he’s hurt. I want Utley to play as much as the next person but if he cant, lets see who else will. I guess I dont see this huge advantage you gain by being all snide about it and really RAJ comes off as arrogant about it. I guess, on the other hand though, there really is no reason to have to tell us either so eh, whatever.

anywho, I was really pulling for Willis and was happy about the Pinero signing. I guess either didnt work out very well. Podsednik look to really have a good shot at the team and playing too.

I would have went with Madson first but signing Papelbon doesnt bother me. At the time of the signing, the Phils were gonna set the mark. I dont recall any other team that was gonna fork out big money for a closer at that time. The Phils were gonna pay either one big money and apparently settled on Paps. I’m not sold on the fact that if the Phils signed Madson to big money that Papelbon still gets 50 mil.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:16:50 +0000

The axe-man cometh again:

http://tracking.si.com/2012/03/19/phillies-release-sp-joel-pineiro/?eref=sircrc

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:59:46 +0000

Yep. I’m having trouble feeling optimistic about Utley. Seems like things could be better. John Mayberry and Freddy Galvis seems like it’s not as good a right side of the infield as Ryan Howard and Chase Utley.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/03/19/chase.utley.ap/index.html

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 15:24:14 +0000

And.. Utley left camp to have his knee checked out.

I thought I was kidding about having 8 copies of Wilson Valdez on the field. But we don’t even own the original anymore.