Bobby Estalella isn’t just a pretty face with an armband tattoo. The former Phillies catcher, who has been out of baseball since 2004, has agreed to become a government witness is the federal perjury case against Barry Bonds. Estalella, who played with Bonds on the San Fransisco Giants in 2000 and 2001 is expected to provide first hand knowledge of Bonds steroid use.
Estalella first made news in 2003 when he testified during the BALCO investigation. In his leaked testomony he stated he knowingly used the “cream” and “clear” as provided to him by Bonds’ trainer, Greg Anderson. Estalella was also mentioned in the Mitchell Report. In 2003 the Los Angeles Dodgers were weighing their options for a backup catcher and referred to Estalella as a “poster boy for the chemicals”.
While physically he may be a poster boy, but steroids didn’t give Estalella the edge he needed. In his nine-year major league career he batted .216 with 48 home runs and 147 RBI’s.
Another former Phillie, …
Pitcher Tom Gordon is on the verge of signing a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The three-time All-Star spent the past three seasons with the Phillies. The marriage started out great, but went downhill fast.
In 2006, Gordon was an All-Star and saved 36 games. Age, injury, and ineffectiveness then caught up to Flash. His 2007 campaign (3-2, 4.73), was filled with injury and disappointment as Gordon eventually lost his closers job to Brett Myers. In 2008 he had high hopes, opening the season as the set up man for Brad Lidge, but his arm again gave him trouble. He didn’t see any action after July 5th due to shoulder and elbow issues. He finished the season 5-4 with a 5.16 ERA.
Gordon had surgery on his ulnar nerve this past October and will be ready by Opening Day. Gordon has expressed interest in returning to Philadelphia, but reports are the Phillies informed him the feeling isn’t mutual.
If Gordon has any gas left in the tank, this might …
Ruben Amaro Jr. has been a busy man the past couple weeks. After signing seven of the Phillies’ eight arbitration-eligible players, he ensured the core of the Phillies stays intact until after 2010. Although the World Champions are ready to defend their title, it doesn’t mean Amaro is done dealing. He’s stated as most recently as Thursday that he still intends on adding an arm to the bullpen and a right-handed bat off the bench (don’t be surprised to see him also take a flyer on a low-cost, high-reward type).
The most notable name that has been mentioned recently is free agent infielder Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra makes some sense in the fact that he can play the corner infield position (given the Phils outfield depth), but let’s be honest about a couple things. The Phillies have depth at all positions on the diamond and there’s nothing special about Nomar. Although it wasn’t that long ago that Garciaparra was involved in debates …
Last season Ryan Howard made history by winning the largest arbitration case in baseball history, when he was awarded $10 million. After coming off another season when Howard led the league in home runs and RBI’s, he’s looking to set another arbitration record.
When arbitration numbers were exchanged today, the Phillies submitted what they thought was a more than generous offer of $14 million, a $4 million raise from last season. Well Howard had other ideas on his mind doubling the Phillies raise with an offer of $18 million.
18 million dollars… It sounds like a lot of money Phillies fans. Well guess what? He’s going to win again.
I know, local sports radio is already flooded with calls complaining about Howard’s greed, and how could a guy who couldn’t hit his weight at the All-Star break, has the audacity to ask for $18 million (well phans aren’t exactly using the word “audacity”). Well fans are forgetting one thing. Ryan Howard is the league’s premier power hitter. He get’s …
The World Champion Phillies entered the 2008 offseason with eight arbitration-eligible players, most in the majors. The number dropped to six last week, after Cole Hamels and Greg Dobbs signed multi-year extensions. Well on the day when players and clubs exchanged arbitration numbers, the Phillies dwindled that number down to three, as pitchers Ryan Madson and Joe Blanton as well as outfielder Shane Victorino all agreed to contracts.
Madson, a free agent at the end of the 2009 season, has agreed to a three-year extension worth $12 million. Madson (4-2, 3.05 ERA), was a cog in the bullpen, known as the “Bridge to Lidge” during the 2008 championship season. Over his six professional seasons, Madson is 32-21 with a 3.94 ERA.
Blanton has agreed to a one year deal worth $5.475 million. Blanton was acquired at the trading deadline last season went 4-0 with a 4.20 ERA for the Phillies and …
How would Phillies fans feel about seeing Ben Sheets in red pinstripes this season? According to Nick Cafredo with Boston.com, don’t be surprised to see the Phillies make a run at the free agent pitcher.
The Phillies have long said they still want to upgrade the pitching staff, but with the likes of Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Shane Victorino, Jayson Werth, Joe Blanton, and Chad Durbin all arbitration eligible, the budget really isn’t there to go out and sign an upper tier starter. Hence why you’ve heard rumors about Derek Lowe never materialize, because the money just isn’t there (it didn’t help he’s entering his late 30′s either).
But what is in the budget is to take a flyer on a talented pitcher and hope he’s overcome his injury woes. That’s exactly what Sheets is. Talent-wise, there’s no better pitcher on the free agent market than Sheets. Armed with a fastball in the upper 90′s and a devastating curveball, Sheets has the potential to be …
The Phillies have signed free agent Marcus Giles to a minor league contract. The deal is said to be worth $600,000. Giles last played for the Padres in 2007 where he struggled batting a meager .229 with 4 home runs and 39 RBI’s. In 2008 he signed a minor league deal with the Rockies before being released prior to the start of the season. The Dodgers signed him to a deal thereafter, but after being sent to Las Vegas, Giles decided to hold out in hopes a major league team would come calling. Giles ended up sitting out the entire 2008 season.
This is another no-impact signing. Although he’s only 30, expections should be real low. Giles has a good glove, but offensively he hasn’t produced since 2005. That’s three seasons ago counting his year vacation. At best he’s insurance should Chase Utley not be fully recovered from hip surgery. Unless his bat is hot, once Utley returns, expect Giles to be optioned to Lehigh Valley.
Major League Baseball officially suspended J.C. Romero this afternoon. While some hoped Commissioner Bud Selig might step in and do the right thing, he chose to stand firm on baseball’s drug policy, even when the guilty party did nothing wrong. Before taking the suppliement, Romero ask his nutritionist, his trainer, and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to review the contents, and all three approved its use as no substances in listed were on Major League Baseball’s banned list.
Well just because the commissioner of baseball chooses to turn a blind eye to flaws in his drug policy doesn’t mean you, the fan, have to. We at Hot Stove Philly have started an online petition in support of J.C. Romero and his innocence.
While he did test positive, Romero took all the necessary precautions to ensure this would not happen, and if Commissioner Bud Selig chooses not to do anything it doesn’t mean fans of Major League Baseball can’t show their …
Relief pitcher J.C. Romero has been suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for violating their anti-doping policy.
While Romero isn’t the first player to be suspended for the use of performance enhancing drugs, his situation is different than most. The league doesn’t feel he’s a cheat, but that he’s guilty of “negligence” for using a supplement that contained banned substances. I still don’t see where there was any “negligence.”
Romero purchased a supplement at GNC in Cherry Hill, NJ. Prior to taking this supplement Romero went over it with his trainer and the MLB Players Association. All parties said the supplement contained no banned substances. Since this was an over-the-counter, FDA regulated supplement, there should have not been an issue.
Romero failed a drug test in August, than another in September. Major League Baseball reviewed what Romero was taking and found something that will trigger a positive result. Unfortunately, no one from the league or the MLBPA informed Romero.
“One thing I’m …
On last night’s Hot Stove Live, the MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported that free agent pitcher Derek Lowe has rejected the New York Mets’ three-year, $36 million offer, and is still holding out for a $16 million annual salary. While it’s unknown if the Mets are willing to give $48 million over three years, Heyman did say the Mets’ biggest threat for Lowe are the Phillies and the Atlanta Braves, while the Boston Red Sox and a “mystery team” also remain in contention.
After adding Brad Penny, the Red Sox’ rotation seems full. As for the “mystery team,” anytime you deal with Scott Boras (Lowe’s agent), there’s always a “mystery team” involved, even if it’s non-existent. Outside of the Milwaukee Brewers or St. Louis Cardinals, I cannot see any other “mystery team” in play. Odds are Lowe will be pitching for a National League East team.
Hot Stove Take: While I’m not sure if $16 million a year is in the Phillies’ budget, I would …
The Phillies have signed pitcher Gary Majewski to a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training. Majewski was the backbone of the Nationals bullpen in 2005 when he 4-4 with a 2.95 ERA.
In 2006 he started the season strong for Washington going 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA, but after being dealt to the Cincinnati Reds at the trading deadline, he developed shoulder problems and went on the disabled list after only 19 appearances. This fueled speculation that Nationals general manager Jim Bowden knew of Majewski’s shoulder injury at the time of the trade, but made the deal anyway. Bowden has denied these accusations.
Since Majewski’s shoulder problems he hasn’t been the same pitcher. Over the past two seasons he’s gone a combine 1-4 with a 7.14 ERA at Cincinnati and 3-2 with a 3.88 at Louisville (the Reds Triple-A affiliate).
This obviously an impact move. At best it’s rolling the dice on a pitcher who’s struggled with injuries, but if healthy has …
First I have to start off by saying I feel bad for Sean Avery. Yes, the player that everyone loves to hate is getting a raw deal by both the NHL and now the Dallas Stars. All for making comments to the media that were intended to hype up a game that no one outside of Dallas or Calgary really cared about.
Gary Bettman’s initial six-game suspension was shameful, but comments he made at a luncheon on Tuesday were even worse.
“To be perfectly honest I wouldn’t want to have to explain to my 12-year-old daughter what he said,” the commissioner said.
It’s actually laughable. First off Gary, you’re 12-year-old daughter probably knows what the term “sloppy seconds” means (don’t be so naive), and second off, what do you say to that same daughter when people like Todd Bertuzzi, Marty McSorley, and Chris Simon use their sticks as weapons?
To take it a step further, now the Dallas Stars have become the morality police and have forced Avery …
