The Zo Zone

It's worth a shot for Kris Benson. The Phils need arms.

As long as there is no major financial commitment and his health continues to improve I would love to see him in a Phillies uniform. The more options to choose from, the better the chances of finding a quality starter, and a little competition is a good incentive for everyone to step up their game.
8 days left
Go Phillies!!

I think it is worth a shot at Benson with a forty + year-old and Eaton at the back end of our rotation. However, is his wack job of a wife going to cause more problems like thier time in Baltimore and New York? That could be a lot of baggage for a 33 year-old surgically repaired arm. Livan Hernandez still sounds like a better option at this point. 8 days and counting.

Anna Benson in Philly. You're welcome Daily News back page headline writer.

I would prefer they re-sign Lohse; I think he is better established. That said, Benson could be a significant addition when you remember that Eaton showed us next to nothing last year, Moyer ran out of gas in the second half and Kendrick, although I really like the kid, is realistically still a question mark. You also have to figure Myers may struggle a little while he adjusts back to the starters role.

You know, there's a part of me that wishes the Phils would have flipped Lidge for a starter and kept Myers in the pen.

Benson is worth the shot as long as it's 1 year and cheap. Eaton is brutal.

If we can get Benson cheap, sign him up. Not sure what Livan Hernandez is asking for, but he does eat innings...how would he look as a middle inning guy (in case Madson goes south again)? We need as many arms as possible, I'd hand out low base salary contracts loaded with incentives like candy if I was Gillick.
Can Eaton figure out how to get thru the first two innings and get 10 wins again? What's the word on his shoulder issues?

I know this may be wishful thinking, but I'd love for both Kris Benson and Odalis Perez to sign minor league deals and pitch for the Iron Pigs until needed. There's a lot of free agents left on the market and I imagine some are getting desperate with Spring Training about to begin.

I agree. Sign Benson for one year with incentives. He's a good pitcher when he's healthy and getting him to spring training with the Phils is a good deal. Isn't it spring already? Seems like it. But Wait... we haven't gone through that inane 'March madness' yet. Damn.

I'm with you jimmymack, hand out low salary contracts with high incentive clauses like candy. I've also wondered why Hernandez hasn't appeared on anyone's radar. He is an innings eater like you said. I keep reading that they're close to signing Lohse. I think I'd take the shot with Benson over Lohse and see what Hernandez' price is. Let the Mets overpay for Lohse but drive the price up first.

Joe: where did you read or hear that the Phills are close to signing Loshe? I would prefer him and Benson if we could do it...

Typical phillies. Other teams go after pennants the phillies hope for one. Other teams do what it takes, the phillies hope that Eaton is healthy. They hope to sign Benson and then hope he stays healthy. No other team wants him. Other teams laugh at the phillies.

Your phillies are a joke.

My interest in Lohse depends on what they have to pay for him and how many years. Joe, I agree with you on the minor league deals: bring in Benson, Odalis, Jose Mesa (heh heh...just checking to see if everyone is awake) on a minor league deal and see what they have.

BB, go to scout.com and check out the phillies section. Check out the latest article by CD. He says its down to the Mets and Phillies for Lohse.

Hey, "Truth", why do you hang around here if you think so little of the Phillies? You're a miserable mf.

Pitching is a tough thing to quantify. Look at what happend to SF when they signed Zito and Boston when they signed Gagne. We all know the Phillies have gotten burnt but hey, atleast we don't have to watch the Pirates who don't even pretend to try. Recognize that a team can pick up guys cheap and they pan out. Think of Lohse and Romero last year. Guess what?
The Phillies found them. A guy has one good year and suddenly he thinks he's worth ten million a year. I'd rather get him the year before and let him prove himself. Its not as productive as having a great farm system but, its better than being the Pirates.

I think Gillick is doing a great job.

Truth was on message boards last year screaming about the Phils passing on Zito.

OK Truth, the challenge is out there again, you're Pat Gillick, what would you have done in the offseason? How would you "do what it takes"?
Can't spend over 110 million. Realistic trades.
You whine they are classless and won't do what it takes, please educate us with your in depth solutions.

Truth talked about the Mets commitment to winning when the originally traded for Benson. Now he's cmplaining about the Phils signing him on a minor league deal for depth. He's only happy when he can complain. to review, if any other team does it, its awesome, if the Phils do, they are a joke.

Once again Truth succeeds in getting us off topic. Ignore the idiot.

Thanks jimmymack, I was about to post just what you did. Lets hear it Truth, you're Pat Gillick and you have the same team to work with and 110 million payroll. Tell us how you'd land Santana and how you would have gotten Lowell and traded for Harden and robbed Arizona and Colorado of their pitching. Then tell me exactly how you find good pitching and determine which ones will be worth signing and which ones will end up like Gagne and Zito.
I think a lot of GMs in baseball would like to hear it too.

If we can snag Benson for a year there's still a way Eaton can really help out ... selling hot dogs on the lower level.

If we can snag Benson for a year there's still a way Eaton can really help out ... selling hot dogs on the lower level.

Truth, can you give me your prediction on how Santana will perform the next 7 years as a Met? I asked you this earlier and you refused to give me your predictions. Do you seriously think that he will be healthy and an elite pitcher for all 7 years? If so you are just as delusional as the Phillies Front Office would refuses to make the budget bigger to put a team that is on the edge on top. Santana will end up as Mike Hampton or Kevin Brown at worst and Barry Zito at best.

Signing Benson would give the Phils the insurance they need for when Eaton is injured or just plain sucks.....what about the bullpen? Are they going to sign Alfonseca again? Good old six finger did a nice job last season

I AGREE,HAND OUT THOSE INCENTIVE LADEN CONTRACTS TO THE LIKES OF BENSON,HERNANDEZ,PEREZ...IF ONLY ONE EMERGES AS HELPFULL,ITS WORTH THE MONEY...AS FAR AS LOHSE,I STILL BELIEVE HE WILL END UP BACK IN PHILLY

the mets should just be paying off mo vaughn,when santanas arm blows out

Truth = Zero

Mets = Chokers

Love the idea of getting another arm in Benson. Every year, the playoffs teams have a starter who over-achieved, and wasn't in the plans at the beginning of the season (2007-Kendrick).

This year it could be Benson...and if it isn't, how much did it cost us?

The Phils are playing the same game with Lohse that they played with Feliz...waiting for his price to come down. Only problem...not everyone needed a 3rd baseman, everybody needs pitching, and most are willing to pay more than the Fightins.

Great move Fillies. They must be desperate, if they sign Met castoff Benson. Tells you all you need to know about the Filly pitching situation. Of course you know if you get Kris, you also get the media nightmare and ex-stripper wife of his, Anna!Check out www.annabensonworld.com Her embarrassing antics helped get her husband traded by the Mets to begin with. But Omar made another of his wise moves...they trade Benson for John Maine and Jorge Julio, who was in turn traded for Orlando Hernandez. Maine and El Duque for Benson...not a bad deal!!! GO METS!

I like Lohse over Benson,better arm and better stuff. Although Benson may have better control and has never had an ERA over 4.97 I just hope they pick up one of these guys.

Benson's head is too small. Look at the photo.

I'd go for Livan Hernandez or Lohse.

(Yes, I'm kidding about the head. Kind of.)

Benson has been a 10-game winner in the past. He may help the Phils as a #5 and moving Eaton to long relief may help both the Phils and Eaton. It may make Eaton mad enough to prove he belongs in the rotation. I also would like to see Lohse back, but not on a long-term deal. He simply does not have the stuff.

I just went back and read the previous post from Todd,and AJ=MORON you are really living up to your name. You need to read peoples posts better and not respond to things that are not even written and not change them around in your head. KMG was totally correct in saying that the Phils got closer at third. They didnt catch the mets and didnt pull close, just got closer than they were. The whole clutch thing is about wanting Jeter up at the plate and not the 'best 3rd baseman in baseball' when it counts. Learn how to comprehend what you read. Its not always about stats bro, and if your any kind of baseball fan, you should know that.

Benson is only 33 yrs old. Wow, that changes things. I thought he was more like 38. I think he may be worth a shot but he won't agree to go to the minors. Hernandez wouldn't go to the minors or sign a minor league contract. If Benson doesn't make the rotation he'd want to be dealt or released. I wonder if the Phils haven't just about given up on Eaton if they're chasing these retreads. Another thing is maybe Outman and Carrasco really aren't that great if the Phils aren't thinking of going with them instead of considering Benson. The trouble is the Phils have really 3 question marks in the rotation. Worse case is Moyer can't get anyone out, Kendrick can't keep the ball low and Eaton is through. It could happen. Especially Kendrick and Eaton.

Thank you, Clinton.

AJ- in your post, you said the Phillies "must be desperate, if they sign Met castoff Benson. Tells you all you need to know about the Filly pitching situation."

Do the names Brian Stokes and Ruddy Lugo mean anything to you? The Mets traded cash for Stokes this offseason, he was 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA with the D-Rays last year. The Mets signed Lugo off waivers this offseason, he had a 1.75 WHIP and a 5.60 ERA with Oakland last year. Does that tell us all we need to know about the Muts pitching situation?

Would I kill the Mets for signing either of them? No. They are depth signings, just like Benson would be for the Phillies. That's what baseball teams do. No one has come on here and said Benson is going to win 25 games this year.

Maybe Ruddy Lugo can pitch 1/3 of an inning and give up 7 runs, like Glavine did in game 162. Wait a second, I think the Marlins just got another hit...

Once againthe masses are spending the Phils money for them!
Get Benson(armless/injury prone wonder) for cheap-it's a steal.
"If no one else want him sign Lohse for one season and make him prove himself"
The answer to the clueless one who asked where Santana's career would be in 7 yrs-I dont care about years 5-6-7 if years 1-2-3-4 ave out to be 18 game win season's+ 2 penants if I'm the Mets-do you?
To answer the moron that asked what I would do with 110 million if Gillick-I would go to the media and tell them this team needs to resign Rowand get another pitcher and a .300 hitter to make an IMPACT in the playoffs. My suggeation as GM is we offer ONE more year to Lowell. Livan Hernandez could eat up innings and get 12-15. If Gillick I would declare if they don't get it done with this line up I'll retire!

KMG & Hillary (clinton nj):
Feliz's .200 post season average proves he's a wonderful clutch hitter. Just what you'd expect from the #31 ranked 3B in baseball.
He does have some power, however. And in bandbox CB Park that is a plus. I'll grant you that. I can only imagine what David Wright's numbers would be if he played his home games in that launching pad. Hell, Jose Reyes once hit 3 HR's in one game in that bandbox. Jose Reyes!

PS: Truth...keep up the insightful blogs!

Hey truth, so Santana is worth the money the Mets signed him for if they only get a few good years out of him on the front end of the contract? so what you're saying is he was worth 30mil a year? 30 mil a year for 18 wins?

This moron wanted to know what you'd do with 110 million if you were Gillick. You'd go to the media and tell them the Phils needed to resign Rowand? Why? to jack up his price a little more? 60 million in 5 years wasn't enough? I think you and the Giants are the only ones that think he's worth that money.

Oh, don't forget the .300 hitter, they're a dime a dozen.

Note how truth doesnt name the .300 hitter. and $23 mil a year for an 18 game winner? Hmmm, didn't Glavine win 15 for much cheaper? Rowand's career numbers are worse than Jenkins, he's a great clubhosue guy, but he's coming off a career year and is already slowing in the field. $12 mil a year for a corner outfielder to be that will hit 15 hrs and bat .280 is absurd.

Benson replaces Eaton, Anna in for Alycia.
Lets go for it.

No, they need to stop being cheap and go for Anna AND Alycia

That's a great article by Rich Hoffman today.

How could you even consider supporting wearing that garbage 18-1 crap? If you are an Eagles fan and you actually cheered for the Giants last Sunday...well, you need to take a look in the mirror and figure some stuff out. That made me sick. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the Patriots either, but there was no doubt who any Eagles fan should be cheering for.

Hoffman hit the nail on the head with that one.

Atleast they said the right thing.
The Phillies are the team to beat.

pedro could be in some trouble over some birds. while this isn't illegal down there it could/will lead to soem problems for pedro up here. you know fans at all the stadiums will get on him for this and he could get some kind of punishment from the league since they could look at this as being "moraly" wrong or whatever other clause bud wants to use.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3234767

Make sure the animal rights people get this story. He can share a cell with Michael Vick.

KMG: I was just re-reading one of your above blogs and again another misleading statement from you. Actually Lugo was 4-0 with a 4.30 ERA and 1.460 WHIP with Oakland last year. You better get your stats correct if you want to debate me.

As I said before...EVERY team is looking for bullpen help. There is definitely a shortage of good relievers in MLB. The Mets are no different. Santana and some of the other starters must pitch deeper into the games. Certainly losing Glavine and his 5-6 innings and replacing him with Santana's 7-8 innings will help. And expect longer efforts from John Maine, who at 26 really may blossom this year. As well as Perez. Time will tell.

If .300 hitters are the benchmark for mediocrity in this era why does the bottom of the Phillies line-up look so pathetic? Burell, Feliz, Ruiz, (Werth, Jenkins, Brumlett) et al?
They have one thing in common-they are cheap players(with the exception of the mistake)
Don't forget that stud Victorino batting a hefty .268 in the 2 hole.
As a matter of fact the Phils have 1 guy (Utley) that will hit over .300, and possibly a 2nd (Rollins)....

If Glavine can give you 83% of the victories that Santana can for 40% of the price. The Phils should have done better a few yrs ago and signed him.

Last year was a fluke for this classless organization.

PAY RYAN HOWARD

Remember, Lohse's agent is Scott Boras, so despite the reports, some team is likely to overpay for his services. The Phillies do not need to be chained to someone like Lohse for three to four years, especially when they need to lock down Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels long term.

Benson might be the best low-risk alternative on the free agent market. Gillick, meanwhile, should be credited for his ability to mine baseball's scrap heap and find respectable contributors. Who's to say he can't do it again come mid-season? And who knows whether we'll see the likes of Joshua Outman, JA Happ, Carlos Carrasco... maybe even Joe Savery?

Wow, Truth, by your logic maybe the Phils should trade all their players and sign a bunch of Juan Pierres so they'll have .300 hitters. Of course they'll score about 200 less runs instead of, you know, leading the league in them. Are you planning on penning the sequel to Moneyball with your keen baseball acumen?

Last year was only a fluke because you whined back then how the Phils didn't win. If you are so certain on the Mets, take it to Vegas and wager your house. Or you could continue to whine here. Thought so.

Infielder Eric Bruntlett avoided arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year contract worth $600,000 plus performance bonuses, the Phillies announced today.
Bruntlett was acquired from Houston in the November trade that brought closer Brad Lidge to the Phillies. He hit .246 with 14 RBI in 80 games for the Astros last season.

In 320 career games, he has a .250 average with nine home runs and 50 RBI.

TYPICAL PHILLIES.
NOW THE TYPICAL BRAINWASHED FAN CAN APPLAUD THIS small and cheap and incentive laden SIGNING....

Yes, because other teams don't have role players, even their bench players are superstars. The Phillies are so cheap, why haven't they traded for Pujols, Sabathia, Manny, etc!!!!?!?!? I hate them so much, i must comment on every move!?@?@??@?@ I can't help my whining self

AJ=MORON,this is a post for PHILLIES fans and info/opinions about them,not the mets.Why do you keep posting here and talking about the mets?? Go to a NY blog and brag there all you want about your beloved team,and take truth with you,he is just a downer!

Bruntlett was thrown into the deal as a spare part, a utility infielder/switch hitter who may get a start here or there to compensate for injuries, or play a matinee after a night game on the road.

That's what bench players typically make with numbers like that.

Feliz has two hits in ten postseason AB's, hardly enough to really gauge his abilities in the clutch. He's played in 8 playoff games and had ten AB's,sounds like he never had the chance to get into any kind of groove or rythm

HILLARY(clinton nj): I like blogging with you Filly fans. What a hoot your blogs are. Great comedy.
And don't count on Feliz getting into any groove this year....there may be no post season for you guys. An its spelled rHythm. Filly schools?

The Phillies are still the clear cut favorites to win the East. Thats right, clear cut. The mets did not improve much.

They Improved their number 1 pitcher from Glavine to Santana, but also lost Glavine.

They start two declining and seriously aging players. Delgado and Alou. Alou is going to miss at least 30-40 games like he does every year. Having to play both Ryan ( i cant hit left handers ) Church and Endy Chavez as your two corner outfielders isnt scaring anyone.

The Phillies have improved their starting pitching, improved the bullpen ( Lidge had a 2.8 era as a closer last year and a 36% strikeout rate ) His slider when on, is still simply unhittable.

The Phillies have improved defensively as a whole as well. Not only is Victorino much improved over Rowand in center ( not only covering ground, but we all know Rowand has no arm at all ) but Jayson Werth is a fantastic right fielder. His zone rating was the same exact as Shanes. We have improved our third baseman dramatically, both offensively and defensively. Feliz could easily hit 30 home runs and knock in 100 runs for us.

I really dont want the Phillies to give Lohse 11 million for 3 years. I would rather see them sign Benson, Livan or Perez. The Phillies need to put money into the farm system and go out this year in the draft 3 of the top 50 and 6 in the top 110 picks and draft and pay top talent. The Phillies system is weak right now, but all of their stars have come from the system. So the team has done a decent job of drafting talent. Howard, Utley, Rollins, Burrell, Myers, Madson, Hamels all came from the draft.

Go Phils!

You forgot Omar Baby Daal's lifetime 2-0 record against Pedro when Pedro was on the Sox. Pedro went on the DL after one of them. How do I know this? I went to both- one at the vet, one in fenway.