The World Series is finished -- other than the ALCS, could the 2007 postseason have been any less enjoyable or memorable? -- but at least the Phillies begin their organizational meetings today at Citizens Bank Park. It basically involves every front office official, coach and scout from every level getting together and talking about what they have in the organization and what they need to do to improve.
There's plenty to improve.
I'm going to assume you're more concerned about the major-league talent at the moment. So everybody certainly will be discussing things like:
- How far should they go to re-sign Aaron Rowand?
- If Rowand leaves, can they go an entire season with Shane Victorino in center field and Jayson Werth and Greg Dobbs/Michael Bourn in right field?
- Is Brett Myers best suited for the bullpen or rotation?
- How far should they go to sign Curt Schilling, Mike Lowell and Mariano Rivera?
- Should they try to trade Pat Burrell again?
You know, stuff like that.
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The Bill James Handbook 2008 names Cole Hamels the 10th best player in baseball under 29 years old. James also says the Phillies have the 12th-best "young talent" in baseball.
“Hamels uses the changeup more often than a high school cheerleader,” James said in a news release. “His health is the only thing that will keep him from being great—but remember, arm injuries don’t strike down some great young pitchers, they strike down most great young pitchers.”
James ranks the Phillies as 12th-best team for young talent because of Kyle Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Brett Myers and Shane Victorino.
“Most of the team has exited young and entered prime, but is holding on to pieces of their youth,” James said.
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Howard is hosting a baseball clinic Nov. 10 at Penn. Click here for more information.
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Bugs & Cranks finds a mini-Ryan Howard.
Comments (4)
Pitching, pitching, pitching. We need pitching.
They can't sign Aaron and have enough left over to get decent arms. Probably now the same with Mike Lowell. Of course, the guy we want has a MVP playoff run and prices us out of the running.
Was that Eaton pitching to Frankie Burton? Sure looked like it the way he was getting hit. Hope that coach at third (2nd video) got his wedgie fixed, hilarious.
Yo Gillick, Amaro, Monty...P.I.T.C.H.I.N.G.
Posted by jimmymack | October 29, 2007 2:29 PM
Posted on October 29, 2007 14:29
I think priority No. 1 is to sign Mariano Rivera because it's a two-in-one -- you get a top-of-the-line closer and you get a strong young arm in the rotation with Brett Myers.
Assume Rivera costs $11 mil/season. You have another $14-15 mil (per the increase in payroll from last season to this) to spend on another starting pitcher, a third baseman, or Aaron Rowand.
Of those options, I say go with Rowand. A Greg Dobbs/Wes Helms is good enough to get by with the offense the Phils have. And adding another starting pitcher would make for a crowded rotation: Myers, Moyer, Hamels, Kendrick and Eaton (not to mention Scott Mathieson, Carlos Carrasco and J.A. Happ could be in the fold.)
Posted by V | October 29, 2007 4:41 PM
Posted on October 29, 2007 16:41
Pitching has to be the main priority this offseason. Getting Rivera and Schilling would be ideal, but not likely. It's probably one or the other. I think Schilling is the most likely to be available but I think I'd rather have Rivera and move Myers back to the rotation. I also think they need to get a solid 8th-inning reliever. I don't trust Flash's shoulder to handle that duty all season long. And if we do get a good back-end reliever, we can probably trade Flash to a pitching-starved team and eat a little salary. That would free up some more money.
We also can't neglect the offense because the back-end of our rotation will still be comprised of Moyer and Eaton, and you might see Kendrick take a step backward also. We're still gonna need a potent offense to get some wins during those starts.
We can't let Rowand walk and not have a very feasible Plan B in place to replace his bat, defense, and leadership. If Rowand prices himself out of Philly, we have to be prepared to overpay for Mike Lowell or have a very aggressive stance on trading for a guy like Atkins, Crede, or Blalock. We can't go into the season with only Burrell hitting behind Howard. What happens if (or should I say when) Burrell is hitting .201 again. That's gonna mess up a lot in that lineup (i.e. Howard not getting anything to hit and not being disciplined enough to take a walk). No offense Ry-Ho, I just call it like I see it.
I think I like the idea of letting Rowand walk if, and only if, his price tag becomes unreasonable AND Lowell doesn't stay in Boston or become the apple of the Yankees eye. Then, if we get Lowell, I'd give Bourn the opportunity to play CF everyday. Therefore, you replace Rowand's defense with Bourn's (an upgrade), replace his bat and leadership with Lowell's (a push), and add Lowell's glove and Bourn's speed to the lineup.
Posted by RTV | October 30, 2007 11:10 AM
Posted on October 30, 2007 11:10
RTV said: "if we get Lowell, I'd give Bourn the opportunity to play CF everyday. Therefore, you replace Rowand's defense with Bourn's (an upgrade)"
It's possible, I suppose, but certainly not proven, that Bourn is a defensive upgrade. Michael Bourn has shown questionable baseball IQ, and Rowand saved at least several games with running catches last year. I definitely wouldn't label Rowand as a defensive liability.
I do agree that the Phils will have to kick in for either Rowand or Lowell, probably not both. Their numbers are very similar, but given that Lowell went out and won the World Series MVP, he'll be commanding top dollar. Add to that the fact that Rowand is 3 years younger, and I think the answer is to keep Rowand.
As for 3rd base, I guess they're stuck with Helms. Dobbs is nice, but not an everyday 3rd baseman. I wouldn't mind seeing them re-sign Nunez for less money if they can, and go with the 3-man rotation and Nunez defensive strategy, at least when Eaton and Moyer pitch.
Posted by bobby | October 30, 2007 3:28 PM
Posted on October 30, 2007 15:28