Another Trade Deadline has come and gone, and once again the front office has decided, for the most part, that the status quo is good enough. Good enough for what? We shall see. This is no surprise for many of us, as we are used to rumors abounding in July, only to find our Phillies only marginally better (or worse) than we were before. While rumors are fun, and the intellectual exercise of revamping lineups and rotations is plenty of fun for the baseball enthusiast, we once again must come to terms that the Phillies just do not make the big move that everyone wants.
As per usual, it is more fun to talk about the speculated trades than what actually happened, but for the sake of completeness, here we go: Joe Blanton for Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman and Matthew Spencer. Great. Nothing wrong with this deal other than the fact that this is about as big as they get here in Philadelphia. With Adam Eaton and Brett Myers having trouble …
First Place To Phillies: Welcome Back
Lookout Mets’ fans, the Phillies are back in first place. The Phillies beat the Washington Nationals Wednesday night 8-5, as the Mets lost their second in a row to the Florida Marlins by a score of 7-5.
The win, coupled with the Mets’ loss, puts the Phillies back into first place, a half game up on the Mets and keeps them one and a half games ahead of the Marlins. The Phillies have won four straight and look to complete the sweep tomorrow night against the Nationals.
Phillies’ starter Jamie Moyer again held his opponent to three runs, something he has done every time out since June 1, despite having some early trouble. Moyer’s first pitch of the game was sent packing by Willie Harris over the fence in right center. Fifteen pitches later, catcher Jesus Flores followed suit with a two run home run of his own. Things looked grim, but Moyer showed the composure of the 20+ year veteran that he …
ESPN.com’s Buster Olney and Jayson Stark are reporting that the Florida Marlins are close to a deal with the Boston Red Sox to acquire Manny Ramirez. The deal reportedly involves Jeremy Hermida (or Josh Willingham), pitcher Ryan Tucker, and big time outfield prospect Mike Stanton. The Red Sox would also most likely continue paying part of Ramirez’s remaining salary for this year.
I have previously stated that I do not think the Phillies should acquire Ramirez. That being said, I do think they should acquire him so the Marlins don’t. Or at the very least, give up on the overrated prospects they are currently holding onto and get Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. The Phillies cannot let the Marlins, who are just a game and a half back, m ake such a significant upgrade without doing anything, particularly on a player that the Phillies are supposedly the front runner in acquiring.
Is it just me, or does it seem like the Phillies’ front office isn’t all …
With five cemented starters in the rotation, it would appear as though the Phillies have found the second lefthanded arm for the bullpen that they have coveted all year. Touted prospect J.A. Happ was recalled to the big league club from AAA on Tuesday, replacing former starter Adam Eaton. Happ has allowed just four runs in two big league starts this season, but with all five starting pitchers in place, it would appear that his role the second time around will be out of the bullpen. Or will it…..
Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel stated to the media Tuesday that while Happ is starting this stint in the bullpen, he views him as a starting pitcher, not a reliever.
Responding to a question about whether Happ will get another shot at starting this season, Manuel replied
“Without a doubt there’s a chance, yes,” Manuel said. “We liked what Happ showed us.”
So what does that mean for the other five starters already in the rotation?
“It means we’re trying to get …
Was what I witnessed tonight the “swagger” Brett Myers spoke of when he said he found it in Lehigh-Valley? If so it needs to be bottled.
If you missed the game you missed a dominant performance by Myers (something no one has seen this season). Myers went seven-plus innings, allowing four hits and one run. The lone run allowed was a direct result of a Chase Utley error.
I know he dominated the last place Nats, but pitching a game how Myers did tonight builds confidence, which is exactly what he needs.
I’ve hammered Myers most of this season, and going into tonight I was hoping J.A. Happ would get a last minute start, but I have to give Myers a lot of credit tonight. He didn’t keep the Phillies in the game, he won the game for the Phillies. If he can put a string of starts like tonight together, the Phillies will be in good shape down the stretch.
Eagles’ defensive end Chris Clemons was taken to the hospital Tuesday because of dehydration, again begging the question, why do football teams practice in the summer? (For more on the actual story, read here.)
Seriously though, can someone please explain to me why in the world guys suit up in full pads and do two a days in 80+ degree heat? Wouldn’t you think that with the number of players that inevitably head to the hospital every summer the NFL would get the hint? Or how about when one of their players dies, like Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings did in 2001. Stringer died of heat stroke after 100+ degree temperatures rocked the region.
It doesn’t get to 100 in Minnesota in September folks. People do not die from heat stroke in September.
To avoid having these stupid training camps during the hottest part of the year, move the season back a month or a month and a half. Believe me, there is just as little going …
The Phillies have placed third baseman Pedro Feliz on the 15-day disabled list with a sore back. Feliz missed the entire series with the Braves with his back woes, but hoped to return to the lineup in Washington. Unfortunately it hasn’t improved.
“Pete Happy”, as the fans refer to him, is doing exactly what the Phillies expected this season, batting .256 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI’s (right in line with his career averages), while playing stellar defense.
In Feliz’s absense, Greg Dobbs will get a majority of starts at third base, with Eric Brunlett getting the nod against left-handers.
The Phillies have recalled Mike Cervenak to take Feliz’s place on the roster. Cervanak, a utility guy, had a brief stop in Philly before the All-Star break, when J.A. Happ was sent down. He’s 0 for 1 on the season.
The Phillies roll into Washington, D.C. to face off with the Nationals riding a short, but important, two game win streak. They look to build on that momentum as they continue to fight for first place in the National League East with the division leading New York Mets and the Florida Marlins. The Phillies come in to Tuesday tied with Florida for second place, a half a game back of New York.
Brett Myers is set to start Tuesday in the series opener. There had been some speculation that with the recall of J.A. Happ from AAA that perhaps Myers’ start would get pushed back a day, enabling the Phillies to showcase their young lefty for prospective trade partners. It seems, as of right now however, that that is not going to happen. It is unclear as of yet if Happ is even with the big league club, and perhaps could start Wednesday, although that would be pushing it close with the trade deadline at 4:00 PM …
With just under three days until baseball’s trading deadline, all appears quiet on the Phillies front. Aside from some little rumbles here and there, there’s real no big news when it comes to the Phillies It’s quite possible the acquisition of Joe Blanton will probably be the only trade the Phillies will have made when the deadline passes.
It doesn’t have to be, and it shouldn’t.
While I don’t advocate making a deal just to give your fanbase the impression you’re doing all you can to improve your club, I believe if a reasonable deal can be made, management needs to explore it.
If you look at the Phillies, most think they need to go out and get an outfield bat. Geoff Jenkins has struggled in right field and Jayson Werth is much more valuable playing against left-handed pitching. The only real available options are Seattle’s Raul Ibanez, and the Pirates Jason Bay. Ibanez isn’t a good fit for the Phillies. He bats left-handed, and the Phils have plenty of bats form …
This past week started very poorly for the Phillies but ended on a high note.
Coming off a tough series with the Florida Marlins in which the Fightin Phils lost the final two games, including a gem thrown by ace Cole Hamels, the Phillies rolled into Flushing hoping to put some distance between them and the Mets. Mission accomplished, sort of. After one of the most amazing comebacks in recent history, the Phillies failed to capitalize on the momentum built from winning the series opener and looked flat the following two games. The Phils won one inning, while the Mets won 26 innings. The Phils simply lucked out and won the right inning, avoiding a sweep.
On top of their struggles on the field, the Phils have had to deal with some off the field issues as well. Reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins was late to Saturday’s game and was summarily benched by manager Charlie Manuel for breaking team rules.
After the debacle in New York, the Phillies came home to face the Atlanta Braves a game …
There’s no need to worry anymore about Adam Eaton giving up a double to an opposing pitcher to start a two-out rally. At least for now.
Like Brett Myers a month ago, Eaton accepted a demotion to Triple-A to “find his swagger”. Unfortunately, Eaton never really had much swagger to lose. Eaton will at least spend the next 10 days at Lehigh Valley, but there’s a good chance, Eaton will not be back with the Phillies until 2009.
“Adam felt it was in his best interest and the Phillies’ best interest to re-establish himself as a guy who could start, and he wasn’t going to do that with the Phillies,” said Jim Lindell, Eaton’s agent. “I think he can do that, and will do that. I think Adam thinks he would be in the Phillies’ rotation next year, but he knows he has to prove himself to the manager and the organization. The best place for him to do what he needs …
Comcast SportsNet is reporting that the Sixers have agreed to terms with guard Kareem Rush. The announcement is expected for Tuesday.
In 71 games last season with Indiana, Rush averaged 8.3 points in 21.2 minutes per game and shot 38.9 percent from three.
Rush was drafted by Toronto in 2002 out of Missouri. He has averaged 6.8 points per game and shot 36 percent from three in five seasons with the Lakers, Bobcats and Pacers.
