The Cubs have the Billy Goat. The Red Sox have Babe Ruth.
The Pirates ... well, I'm not sure what their deal is.
So what's the Curse of the Phillies?
"Uncle," Brett Myers pleaded after last night's 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Uncle is right. The Phillies lost Shane Victorino to a strained right calf and Michael Bourn to a sprained left ankle. That's a huge loss should both of them miss an extended period of time. (It sounds like Victorino's injury is more serious than Bourn's injury.) The Phillies closed last night with Pat Burrell in left field, Aaron Rowand in center field and Greg Dobbs in right field ... not exactly Bourn-Rowand-Victorino defensively. The Phillies will learn more about Victorino and Bourn's status this afternoon, when they get MRI results from Victorino and x-ray results from Bourn.
This is just the latest in a litany of injuries that have included Myers, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Tom Gordon, Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber, Jayson Werth and Francisco Rosario (remember him?).
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Lost in the shuffle last night is that Cole Hamels pitched a gem.
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Read more about the Kyle Lohse trade here. He is expected to be in Chicago sometime today. He also is expected to start Thursday in the series finale against the Cubs.
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The non-waiver trade deadline is 4 p.m. today. The Phillies could make a trade for a relief pitcher before it passes. But they also might need to make a move for an outfielder at some point, especially if Victorino or Bourn miss an extended period of time. They're already an outfielder short, which means they might have to bring back Werth sooner than they anticipated. And outfielder Chris Roberson is hitting just .263 with three homers and 39 RBIs in triple-A Ottawa, although he has hit better than .280 in each of the last two months.
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Madson could pitch again this season, which is good news. The bad news? He probably will miss at least a month.
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I used the Phillies Report today to discuss something I brought up in a previous post: Which injury has hurt the Phillies the most this season? I voted for Garcia's injured right shoulder. But I also talk about Chris Coste's and Tadahito Iguchi's status with the team, etc.
Comments (14)
Get Conine back. He should never have been traded in the first place.
Posted by Johan | July 31, 2007 8:15 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 08:15
Conine isn't the answer. If Victorino and Bourn are hurt for extended periods of time, a tired and old veteran won't help.
They'll need Chris Roberson to be a playmaker. He hit a three-run homer last night and he's got the speed to be effective. Who knows what happens next, but Roberson could be a part of that.
Posted by V | July 31, 2007 10:31 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 10:31
Chris Roberson? He cant hit above 260 in the minor leagues. He couldnt cut it the last time he was up. We need a major leaguer like Conine, this is a pennant race.
Posted by eddie | July 31, 2007 10:48 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 10:48
Chris Roberson, playmaker? WOW hahah....too funny
HE'S AWFUL.
Posted by matt | July 31, 2007 11:49 AM
Posted on July 31, 2007 11:49
I didn't say Roberson IS a playmaker. I said the Phillies would need him to be a playmaker. He has the speed to do it. And when you consider the speed the Phillies just lost - Victorino, Bourn - I'd rather have Roberson in the lineup than Conine. Easily.
Besides, who would you want to give up for Conine anyway? Another trade means another lost prospect. And for someone in his 40s, Conine isn't worth losing a quality minor leaguer just for a playoff push.
Posted by V | July 31, 2007 12:45 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 12:45
The Phillies missed out again. Joel Pinero
could have helped this team. He has a good arm. He could have started or relieved. I am sure the cost would not have a high one.
Don't trade the youth. Winning a playoff spot this year may have gone down the tube with the
Braves' deal. I can't understand renting an average player for two months with a cost of the future.
SIGN ROWLAND! Don't let a guy with substance leave again. Bourn is a role player. Rowland
is a LEADER. Please sign him. Rowland will end up in St. Louis like someone else that plays hard from Philly.
Posted by Dennis | July 31, 2007 1:28 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 13:28
You think the Phillies should have gone after Joel Pineiro and his 5.03 ERA, and you don't know the starting center fielder's name (based on the fact that you got it wrong twice). Pat Gillick better watch his back; he's got competition for the GM job.
Posted by joe | July 31, 2007 2:02 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 14:02
Roberson would have to get on base first, which seems to be his biggest challenge. Being fast back to the dugout after a pop-up to 3rd base doesn't count as speed. He has moved from prospect to suspect.
Posted by jack | July 31, 2007 2:13 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 14:13
Two minutes before the deadline. I'm curious what news we'll be hearing in the next hour or so.
Posted by V | July 31, 2007 3:58 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 15:58
so i'm speaking now in my devil's advocate voice... but why do we need a veteran guy, like Conine, or a suspect/prospect, like Roberson, to wander around rightfield? why can't super-sub Greg Dobbs play out there? sure, the circles he ran under all those fly balls last night made me a little nervous, but he did catch all of them and he's got the bat to keep the offense hot... i believe he also started a game or two in left field when Burrell was struggling, so I say again, why not Dobbs until we get Victorino and/or Bourn back?
Posted by Lea | July 31, 2007 4:26 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 16:26
also, just posted that the Phils have acquired Julio Mateo (RP) from the Mariners. the article does not mention who the Phils gave up, so I'm going to assume that it wasn't a top prospect.
Posted by Lea | July 31, 2007 4:43 PM
Posted on July 31, 2007 16:43
Dobbs can play the outfield but you also need him at 3rd because you get no production from the 2 3rd baseman that we have. Gillick is better at acquiring mediocrity than he is at getting rid of it (Barajas).
Posted by shane | August 1, 2007 8:24 AM
Posted on August 1, 2007 08:24
The Phillies' Curse? It must be the Curse of Ol' Pete -- giving up on Gover Cleveland Alexander.
Posted by Eric | August 1, 2007 10:30 AM
Posted on August 1, 2007 10:30
Someone needs to become a GM because the one in the job now isn't doing the job. The new catcher, Mr. AE, a damaged Garcia, and KL
from the Reds Granted the new second baseman was a nice addition.
By the way, when will the develop the minor league system? Of course, we can always sign quality free agents like Helms.
Thanks for the spelling tip on Rowand. I guess spelling his name correctly is more important than signing him. Yeah, worry about
the big things, man. Let another quality guy leave Philly. Polanco would be a nice piece to still have.
Posted by Dennis | August 6, 2007 9:05 AM
Posted on August 6, 2007 09:05