362 replies to this topic

[KWebz]

Not only did they sign him, they signed him to be their right fielder!

I might have to make a trip or two to Philly this season. They are going to be a terrible fielding team.

Terrible might be a little harsh. They have a healthy Infield which will be a huge improvement from last season. The outfield will be a problem but they'll still be better than the Mets and the Marlins hands down.

[DJ MC]

Terrible might be a little harsh. They have a healthy Infield which will be a huge improvement from last season. The outfield will be a problem but they'll still be better than the Mets and the Marlins hands down.

The youngest player in that infield is 33--Howard--and he's not good. Utley was average last season, but he's 34 and injury-prone and trying to play second base. Rollins is 34 and was below-average last season. Young is flat out bad. Revere should be good in center, but Brown hasn't shown himself to be anything special defensively and the other Young is, well, flat out bad, too.

Maybe terrible was a bit strong, but they certainly won't be very good in the best case, and worst-case could make last year's Tigers look like the 1973 Orioles.

[KWebz]

They still have excellent pitching and some young players that could turn out to be pretty solid (Brown, Ruf, Galvis). I'm not saying they'll win the World Series or be a sure playoff contender, but they should be able to finish around .500.

[SportsGuy]

They still have excellent pitching and some young players that could turn out to be pretty solid (Brown, Ruf, Galvis). I'm not saying they'll win the World Series or be a sure playoff contender, but they should be able to finish around .500.

Are they keeping Halladay? I think he is a FA after this season. They should deal him in July.

[DJ MC]

Are they keeping Halladay? I think he is a FA after this season. They should deal him in July.

I don't think Amaro would do that. Which is another reason I'm so down on the Phillies: I think their GM is, in baseball management terms, a buffoon.

[bnickle]

They're making one final run and I think they will have a good season. They'll be in the playoff mix. Consider they played like 15 games over .500 over a 2 month span once they got relatively healthy last year. Now, being an "old" team injuries could be derail their 2013 season again, but if they stay pretty helathy I think they are a contender.

[KWebz]

http://sports.yahoo.... ... 44597.html

Really excellent article on Roy Halladay.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Grantland: Blow up the Phillies!
http://www.grantland... ... eir-roster

[BSLChrisStoner]

FanGraphs: Halladay Doesn't Answer the Question
http://www.fangraphs...r-the-question/

[BSLChrisStoner]

NBC Sports / Hardball Talk: Phillies could trade Lee if they falter
http://hardballtalk....if-they-falter/

[KWebz]

Here's something silly. 

 

http://www.zoowithro...uch-set-to.html

[Pedro Cerrano]

What on Earth has happened to Roy Halladay?  Yes, last year his ERA was in the mid-4s and he's obviously declining but after tonight's game against Cleveland, his ERA at the end of April will sit at almost 7!  Either his decline will be about as steep as you can get or something is up with him.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Yeah, I've wondered if something is up too. I mean he's just getting absolutely tattooed. He is 35 years old, and has thrown over 2,700 innings and missed time back in '04-'05 due to Tommy John. 

 

I wonder about Verlander 3-4 years from now. Now, he may just indeed be one of the true freaks of the game, but if he's human, he might fall down in a few years. He just turned 30 in February, and had over 1,500 innings prior to turning 30.

[JeremyStrain]

What on Earth has happened to Roy Halladay?  Yes, last year his ERA was in the mid-4s and he's obviously declining but after tonight's game against Cleveland, his ERA at the end of April will sit at almost 7!  Either his decline will be about as steep as you can get or something is up with him.

 

Ever wonder what happens when a guy tries to pitch a year more than he can?

[KWebz]

The game last night was atrocious with the only highlight being Delmon Young's homer and him going 2-3 his first day back. Phillies sports writers keep betting on him coming back and really sparking the offense but I'm not so sure. I'll need a better sample size

[BSLChrisStoner]

Ryan Howard: 223 ab's, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 7 hr's, 32 rbi, 15 bb's, 72 k's, .260 baa, .738 OPS

[BSLChrisStoner]

Grantland: In loving memory of Ryan Howard
http://www.grantland...-of-ryan-howard

[BSLChrisStoner]

Sports on Earth: Deal or no Deal?
http://www.sportsone...rticle/54094354

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baseball Analytics: So why not, Jonathan Papelbon?
http://www.baseballa...n-papelbon.html

[KWebz]

Great articles. It'll be interesting to see how they play through the rest of July.