Holy cow, The Inquirer today is crammed with Phillies coverage.
Let's start with an intriguing possibility: the Phillies could be in first place in the National League East before the weekend is finished. They open a three-game series tonight against the Cincinnati Reds, who own the worst record in baseball. The Phillies must take at least two of three against the Reds -- remember the Phillies lost two of three to the Kansas City Royals earlier this month, a team they absolutely should have beat -- before they open a four-game series this weekend against the Mets.
A sweep against the Reds would be especially nice because the Phillies are starting J.D. Durbin in Game 1 in Friday's doubleheader, and another minor leaguer Saturday.
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The latest Philliescast is up.
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Pat Burrell's struggles are causing headaches for Charlie Manuel and Pat Gillick.
Fans e-mail me and suggest the Phillies should eat Burrell's contract and trade him. It's a thought, but how much salary would the Phillies have to eat? Say the Phillies ate $10 million of his $14 million contract next season. Is there a team out there that would want to spend $4 million on him? There might be, but the market typically isn't great for hitters who hit .200 -- no matter what they are making. That said, perhaps there is a team out there that thinks Burrell could use a change of scenery. Of course, Burrell still would have to waive his no-trade clause to make that happen. But in the meantime, Manuel is better served playing Greg Dobbs, Michael Bourn and Jayson Werth.
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"And tell the cook this is low grade dog food. I've had better food at the ballgame, you know? This steak still has marks from where the jockey was hitting it." -- Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack.
Bob Ford continues to beat a dead horse. He wants Brett Myers back in the rotation when he is healthy.
That certainly is something to consider because I looked at every National League playoff team since 1994, and guess what?
That's not a shocker, but I still found these numbers interesting. Thirty-four of the 48 playoff teams finished in the top four in the league in ERA, and just one finished in the bottom four (the Colorado Rockies in 1995). The Phillies currently rank second-to-last in the league with a 4.88 ERA. So history shows the Phillies are on the wrong side of the tracks. They need to improve their pitching staff, and the only way they can do that is by making a trade. The Phillies know they need to make one, but I don't get the feeling anything is imminent.
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Surgery has been recommended for Jon Lieber, which means his Phillies career likely is finished. He will seek a second opinion, but I do not expect to see him in red pinstripes again.
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Talked to the 700 Level Sports Fanatics on Sports Radio 950. Listen to it here.
Comments (6)
even up til last year i would have been in favor of moving myers back to the rotation, pitching is pitching. but after watching madson go back and forth and be terrible in both roles in '06 i think he needs to stay in the 'pen. it's not like the bullpen is pitching lights-out and doesn't need him as bad as the rotation does. not to mention, he wants one role this year. just leave him in the pen and bring him back to the rotation next year.
and if leiber is going to be off his feet for an extended period of time after surgery, how (ahem) portly is he going to get? he might have to trade in that monster truck for a tricked out hover-round to be ambulatory.
Posted by mike | June 26, 2007 9:50 AM
Posted on June 26, 2007 09:50
Desperate times call for desperate measures. It's time to move him back to the rotation for the rest of the year. I beleive he even said only in a emergancy..well it's here. Won't get much out of him for a few weeks while he gets back in starter routine, but what choice do we really have, this division is there for the taking.
As far as Burrell...time to think out of the box. Send him and Milt Thompson or Greg Gross or Mike Schmidt or whoever down to Florida for a two week course in recognizing where the strike zone is and how to hit on a level plane. Nobody is going to pick up his salary this year or next year so we need to either maximize this investment or just write it off. he won't play himself out of it (been there, did not do that). He is useless and just taking up a roster spot...you would think they would do anything to get some payback on their 14 million a year.
Jon Leiber...way to blow your contract year, come in out of shape, sulk about going to pen and then hurt yourself. There is a baseball God. Enjoy your minimal contract next year, hope you get a good price when you have to sell your truck.
Posted by jimmymack | June 26, 2007 10:12 AM
Posted on June 26, 2007 10:12
Tod, let's take the best-case scenario and imagine the Phillies somehow get into the playoffs. Are they going to beat the Dodgers or Padres in an opening series with Hamels, Eaton and Moyer? I'd say no. But with Hamels and Myers going one-two, they might have a fighting chance. So stretch out Myers' arm, and hope that Gorden and the rest can handle the pen. Their chances are built upon prayers, but that seems like the best one to me.
Posted by steve baker | June 27, 2007 5:19 AM
Posted on June 27, 2007 05:19
Todd, let's take the best-case scenario and imagine the Phillies somehow get into the playoffs. Are they going to beat the Dodgers or Padres in an opening series with Hamels, Eaton and Moyer? I'd say no. But with Hamels and Myers going one-two, they might have a fighting chance. So stretch out Myers' arm, and hope that Gorden and the rest can handle the pen. Their chances are built upon prayers, but that seems like the best one to me.
Posted by steve baker | June 27, 2007 5:22 AM
Posted on June 27, 2007 05:22
I figured out why Philly teams always stumble: our sportswriters jinx them right when they are about to do something decent.
Todd- did you have to make it the title of your blog entry?
Posted by vinceabs | June 27, 2007 8:48 AM
Posted on June 27, 2007 08:48
Im just whizzing in the wind here... but I just got a copy of this year's Phillies Yearbook and noticed an old college photo of Burrell at bat for the University of Miami. His batting stance back then was noticeably different from what it is now. From his current, more upright position I've noticed he spends a lot of time throwing his butt back when he gets an inside fastball. In his old batting stance, his butt is already out of the way. He's in more of a crouch and I'm wondering if he saw the ball better from that position. Perhaps if he went back to what got him to the pros in the first place (a career college BA of .442 aint too shabby), he might start smoking the ball again? Like I said, I'm just whizzing in the wind. But you never know...
Posted by Mark | June 30, 2007 3:01 PM
Posted on June 30, 2007 15:01