The Zo Zone

I guess I would really like to know what is the deal with Eaton? Was his stint on the DL more to clear his head or really a physical issue? Theory #1...he is/was hurt, but the Phils (who could teach the CIA how to be secret) couldn't admit it after the Garcia fiasco. Theory # 2...are his mechanics, mental and physical, just screwed up?

How about a complete MRI workup, shoulder and elbow, whatever, to answer the physical questions. If it's mechanics and mental, will he be put on any program to mitigate both issues. Early to spring training? Sports psychologist?

They have 16M tied up in this guy, can he be as bad as he looked just on merit? There must be something correctable out there, it's not like he has Joe Cowley disease.

Story there somewhere Todd, ya think?

I know Kendrick pitched well for the Phils last year, but I don't think he has to be a starter next year. How about pitching him in AAA until he is needed?

I would be all for Loshe and Shilling. I think the Phillies will need to make the decision if they want to spend the cash on a starter or two, or on relief pitching.

If they go for the starter I think it is paramount they get someone who can pitch into the 6-7 inning, and for Charlie to let him pitch that long. It would seem to be a waste of money to spend money on a starter and then pull him in the 5th for your bullpen. Especially if they don't spend on quality middle relief.

Any thoughts on trying to sign Eric Gagne or
Eddie Guardado?

If Eaton pitches badly in spring training the Phils should relugate him to long relief. They can't afford to get off to another bad start by relying on this guy. I hope Jamie Moyer can get Eaton to visit his head doctor (They both live in the Seattle area, I really believe that Eaton's problems are more mental than physical.) With so much money invested in him they can't just cut him. With Eaton it seems to be a matter of location not movement on his pitches or velocity.

I hope they sign both Schilling and Lohse. I'll never forget that terrible pitch Lohse threw in the playoffs that resulted in a three-run homer but I think he pitched well most of the time. I think Schilling would like to come back here.

I would make signing Romero a priority. He was the only effective left hander in the bullpen last year.

Love to have Gagne if they can't sign Schilling and Lohse. That would mean moving Myers back to the starting rotation which would be easy to do if it was done in spring training. I think would be a good starter but monkeying with his arm mid season could prove to be a disater. He's got to be either or, not both.

GO PHILS!!!

Could Eaton be any worse in the bullpen then he was as a starter? At least in the pen he would only pitch in blowout games and only a few innings here or there. With Schilling and Lohse the rotation would be more soild and the demand on the bullpen would be less including Eaton. He's getting paid either way and it would save the Phills a few bucks( they wasted 24 mill on him already) by not having to get a backend reliever.

Gentlemen, Championship teams need more than a servicable catcher. Ask any pitcher you'd like, they'll tell you their catcher makes them better pitchers. Why not get a catcher ? What say you?

I think Ruiz was way beyond servicable. His arm & accuracy is above average, blocks pitches fairly well, has good speed on the bases and his offense is certainly more than adequate in this lineup. Pitchers seem to be fine with his pitch selection. Granted, I think he still needs work on setting targets and framing pitches, but I noticed more than once he barked at his pitchers, steamed the ball back when he was crossed (all old cathers tricks)and generally took command out there. So I'm a little lost on your concern for an upgrade there. I thought for a relative rookie, he did a fine job and should be even better next year. I like his upside, he's won't be Johnny Bench, but he won't be Gus Triandos either.

Pitching, pitching, pitching, then some more depth on bench, that's where I see our needs.

And adding a second crab fries station in left center, no on-deck series tickets in season ticket plans and TV's (or at least radio feed) in the smoking areas.

I think Ruiz was way beyond servicable. His arm & accuracy is above average, blocks pitches fairly well, has good speed on the bases and his offense is certainly more than adequate in this lineup. Pitchers seem to be fine with his pitch selection. Granted, I think he still needs work on setting targets and framing pitches, but I noticed more than once he barked at his pitchers, steamed the ball back when he was crossed (all old catchers tricks)and generally took command out there. So I'm a little lost on your concern for an upgrade there. I thought for a relative rookie, he did a fine job and should be even better next year. I like his upside, he's won't be Johnny Bench, but he won't be Gus Triandos either.

Pitching, pitching, pitching, then some more depth on bench, that's where I see our needs.

And adding a second crab fries station in left center, no on-deck series tickets in season ticket plans and TV's (or at least radio feed) in the smoking areas.

How about this rotation:
Hamels-Myers-Schilling-Kendrick-Moyer
and we troll for a closer, with Gordon as set up? Lohse was OK but for an entire season? Unsure.

Stay away from Gagne. I live in New England now (sorry) and know what he didn't deliver for Boston.

I liked how lohse pitched, but how can a guy, eleven games UNDER .500 for his career, demand any kind of big payday?? Not to mention never having an era under 4.20 for a year???? I hated watching Eaton pitch this year, but at least he has a career winning % over .500 Eaton was still a bad signing, but at least he's over .500 It's BS how Lohse and that A-hole of an agent can think he deserves anything more than 3-4 million a year. I'm so sick of these players getting overpaid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How can that person (above) be for putting Kendrick in AAA? He's exactly what the Phillies need, a guy who figures out a way to get through six innings on a regular basis. He was the second best pitcher on the team for much of the season.

Our friend from Clinton, NJ., who's sick of players getting overpaid should switch to another sport. Maybe curling.

I wouldn't count on anything from Gordon next year. That guy's pitching on fumes.

"they sunk too much money into a pitcher with an ERA over 6.00."

Todd, so far, that is THE understatement of the 21st Century!

clinton nj, why do you care how the owners and players divide up the spoils? They're both getting rich, and you don't get to keep anything that's left over. Who cares what any individual player or owner makes.

Care about the team winning.

Todd,
Great blog ...

Any chance you could check in with Eaton over the winter to see if he's following Moyer's prescription (sports psychologist, better winter training program)?

I know the guy has the right to some privacy, but as fans, don't we have the right not to be tortured by the specter of brutal pitching?

Todd -- You should probably mention that Schilling is a type A free agent and would therefore cost $10+ million plus our first round pick. Not worth losing the next Joe Savery for one year of a 41 year old pitcher. He's not the Schilling from 1992-2004. Better off with Lohse types where no draft pick is lost. With the Phils' offense they don't need great pitching to win 90 games, just pitching that is average or close to average.

Also Rowand and Iguchi are both type As -- if the Phils offer arbitration to both (they'd be crazy not to) could be looking at either good players on one year deals or another 4 picks in the first few rounds of the draft. Signing Rowand for 3 or 4 years and losing the two compensation picks would be a terrible move. I like Rowand on a one or two year deal but he had a career year in 07 and is not a $10m+ player in 2009-2010.

When discussing free agent decisions don't we have to consider the draft picks?

To respond to Steve and AWH, I just dont like guys getting overpaid for underachieving. If they play great, they should get paid great.(chase,j-roll,hamels someday) Guys shouldnt be overpaid for just getting through the season pitching under .500 ball. My friend and I used to argue all the time that ball players make to much money, and this was before these salary booms.My friend would say they're overpaid,and I would defend the players, saying they're the ones bringing in the fans and the money, so It should go to them. Which I still believe, I just dont like guys getting overpaid. I truely believe its agents like Boras that have created this mess....But I'm still a diehard phils fan no matter how much these players are overpaid!!

In response to I's comment: I think that draft picks are important, but I also think that they're less important in the baseball context than in the context of any of the other three big U.S. sports (with the possible exception of hockey), because it's not that often that baseball draft picks (even high draft picks) end up becoming serviceable (much less great) players, and it's exceedingly rare that that happens within a year or two of their selection. If the draft pick(s) forfeited by signing Aaron Rowand for 4 years were potentially Kevin Durant (or even Al Horford), then of course, it'd be crazy to sign Rowand. But they aren't, and asking the team to forgo a shot at a player who may have just had a career year but would still be no slouch at .280-.340-20-90 and stellar defense for an uncertain benefit three to four years (or more) off seems unfair to team, current employees, and the fans. How much did we like being told that the sixers essentially traded their top star for draft picks that might or might not pan in four years? It sucked, right?

Why do they even consider hanging on to Wes Helms. Beyond the fact he can't field anything but something hit right at him, takes about 2 minutes to run to first base, seldom ever hits in the clutch and not that well anyway, what's the deal? Hopefully, sign Lowell, but whatevef, send Helms on his way. He adds NOTHING at third base, as a pinch hitter,
and drags down the team whenever he comes up or plays in the field!

Why do they even consider hanging on to Wes Helms. Beyond the fact he can't field anything but something hit right at him, takes about 2 minutes to run to first base, seldom ever hits in the clutch and not that well anyway, what's the deal? Hopefully, sign Lowell, but whatevef, send Helms on his way. He adds NOTHING at third base, as a pinch hitter,
and drags down the team whenever he comes up or plays in the field!

Oh no!

Rumor has it Shilling wants to chat with the mets now!

Please- take him back phillies!

i quess he wants to write his blog to a large crowd!

pitching/- oh yeh- he will do that too once in a while!

make ya a deal, you take shilling and we will throw in the other bigmouth from philly-wagner

Why does everyone think Kendrick is a sure thing? He might just be another one-season wonder a la Brandon Duckworth, Tyler Green, Nelson Figueroa, etc.

Gagne? Are people kidding when they mention Gagne? Do people realize that he had an ERA over 6 when he was in Boston and they started only using him in games that were out of reach? I would prefer to take a pass on him. He has had three good years in his career and has not done anything since the steroid crackdown. He went from nothing to great to nothing. hmmmmmm....