Comments on: Spoiler alert

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:00:09 +0000

Yeah, I hear you about the money. But you know, somebody has to be a star, and we’ve just about run out of them.

I think Brown will be the exact opposite of a star, but like I said I hope to god I’m wrong because Amaro seems to think he’s wonderful.

I actually think that Amaro’s job will be on the line next year if he repeats the incompetence of this past winter. He needs to get it right this winter.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:52:34 +0000

I still think Brown could be a star. And definitely agree about the contract — he doesn’t need to be a star in the short term.

I really think we need to hope for more from Howard than his 2011 season in 2013. The Phillies have so much money invested in him that they’re going to have enormous problems if they continue to invest so much in him and get so little in return.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:34:48 +0000

I by no means believe Ryan Howard is a good player anymore, but I also don’t believe he is this bad. I believe next year will be slightly worse than 2011, which is at least acceptable. If he continues on his current downward trend and doesn’t level off/rebound a bit, it won’t matter what the team does.

On Dom Brown, I don’t believe he will be the star everybody hoped for, but he will still be an above average major league player. His ability to take a walk and hit the occasional bomb will see to that. A player with his skill making the major league minimum is extremely valuable, especially on this team of over-priced veterans.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 20:01:35 +0000

If you’re looking for something to go very close to the top of the list of things to worry about for the Phillies, I would go with Ryan Howard being terrible. Cause the Phillies are committed to paying him $95 million over the next four seasons. So we’re going to be seeing a lot of him playing at a position you have to get offense out of if you’re going to be good.

He hasn’t looked good this year.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:57:50 +0000

My feelings are really this strong because I have no faith at all in Dom Brown. None. He has showed us nothing except that he can catch an average fly ball. That IS an improvement, of course.

I hope to god I’m wrong.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:55:12 +0000

I’m pretty sure that if two of the OF positions come out of the team we have now, we will once again miss the playoffs regardless of whatever they do at third. This team is not good enough, plain and simple, and one can only hope that Howard and Utley’s return in good playing shape for the whole year.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:31:59 +0000

I agree that Brown plays a lot in one corner OF spot next year. Schierholtz/Mayberry might be an okay platoon in the other, but Pierre, Schierholtz and Mayberry seems like too many fourth OF to have on the same team at the same time, especially if Schierholtz and Pierre continue to be left-handed. I don’t know how the offense can be non-terrible if they don’t add an OF who is clearly better than anybody they have (except the future Brown we’ve made up) in the organization.

I would really like to see Ruf play in the OF before it’s over. I think we will.

Right now the Phillies are trying to make the post-season playing Mayberry every day in center. He’s not a good center fielder and he’s hitting 239/313/397 against righties for his career.

I will be absolutely thrilled if the Phillies trade for a big name third baseman.

I think they need another starter as well.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:14:23 +0000

My gut tells me with Mayberry’s hot streak, the team will feel comfortable with either a Pierre/Mayberry or Schierholtz/Mayberry in one OF spot, Brown in the other corner, and sign one of the many CF options on the market. They’ll also trade for a big name thirdbaseman, sending off (maybe) Schierholtz, Valle (my guess at the prospect catcher to be moved), a SP prospect (May?), and/or a couple of the young relief pitchers.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:35:10 +0000

Yeah. At least they gave us a thrill here at the end. I don’t think it’s quite time to completely throw in the towel for the year, but it’s pretty close.

Aumont was terrible in the Houston series, but I do think there’s reason to hope he can help very soon. De Fratus has been really good.

I will be curious what they have planned for Mayberry going into next year. As good as he has been since Victorino and Pence were dealt, I hope it doesn’t have much to do with him playing against righties.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 18:33:07 +0000

With the Cards looking like they’re in free fall and the Dodgers piling on the injuries, hope isn’t lost. I don’t know that aiming for a particular win total is as interesting as just tracking how many games back we are. But if I had to guess who the 2nd WC would be right now, I think I’d have to go with Milwaukee.