2010 Philadelphia Phillies Off Season Thread

[mikeybot]

Get the fuck on the phone with Lee's agent tomorrow.
Lidge and Cole get 1/2 of the season(to be generous) to get their shit together or it's new closer and new #2 time.
Pitching, pitching, pitching.

Jro, you need to back your mouth up a bit better in crunch time
Uts, stay healthy, 'You're the man'
Shane, can't really say much
Ryan, bad time for a slump
Werth, could have done a little more, but can't kill him
Raul, good for a 37 year old in his first WS
Chooch rules in post season
Feliz needs to work on his fucking hitting.
Francisco, get in the batting cage tomorrow.

[Sinn Fein]

I want them to unload Hamels.

[Tax Kuntz]

We'll trade you Oliver Perez for Hamels

[Aizazzle]

Bullpen help, more pitching, and a better bench.

Concentrate on those three things, and I want another run at the fucking Yankees.

[Sinn Fein]

I want an MLB salary cap.

[mikeybot]

Yeah, love Stairs for 2008, but no help this year and Francisco, unless in left, is worthless

I want an MLB salary cap.
QFMFT

But the player's union is way too damn strong for that to happen.

[ih8Uboo-boo]

I'd like some bullpen help and a new 3B, but there aren't any 3B that are free agents.

[Aizazzle]

I'd like some bullpen help and a new 3B, but there aren't any 3B that are free agents.

As long as they don't have a monopoly on groundouts to other 3B, I will take them.

Feliz is amazing defensively, but holy fuck, he killed the Phillies in some key scoring positions tonight.

[Mother Shucker]

and go....

[fandango86]

I think there's a little bit of mutual obsession there right now, my friend.

You do bring up a weird point - When the Mets have won in the past, I really have never given a shit about what the Phillies were doing. Last year's WS seemed secondary to Phillies fans and even some of their players (Hamels) to celebrating the Mets' losing a small lead because their closer got hurt.

[domelogic]

you have made more posts showing hatred for the phils than every phils fan on here saying something about the mets. see i just made a comment and didnt use any of your hillarious play on words.

on the contrary fandango. i cared more about the phils playoff and ws run last year then the mets complete 2 year fiasco. but it is fun when you met fans run your mouth with nothing to back it up.

it use to be the yankee fans were the worst, now its not even close. mets fans by a long shot. here is to the mets finishing 4th again and being nonexistant

[lockjaaaaww]

Oh how I love this Phillie Mets "rivalry".

[Ball of Hate]

here is to the mets finishing 4th again and being nonexistant

If the Nats can get a couple of pitchers, the Mets can forget all about 4th place. It's basement time.

[flyerfan116]

I want them to unload Hamels.

x2...I couldn't stand him last year cause he's a whiny bitch, but he was winning. This year he's a whiny bitch who can't pithc. Get Toronto on the phone, Hamels for Halliday straight up. Hamels has talent but he has no heart until he finds that he has no place on this team.

Moyer and Myers need to go, along with Condrey. I'm ok with Romero if he's ehalthy but you need a complete overhaul.

I'm good with keeping Feliz @ 3rd, but he needs to work on the hitting.

I'd also like to bring up one of the young guys from the farm team for the outfield. Not everyday but just to rest Ibanez here and there

[fandango86]

but it is fun when you met fans run your mouth with nothing to back it up.

it use to be the yankee fans were the worst, now its not even close.

I don't really think I've ever really trashed the Phillies except Cole Hamels, who is a cunt. But even that was in response to his brushing aside talking about his own team's success to remind everyone that the Mets are choke artists. And that was so factually inaccurate. The Mets choked big time in 2007. Legendary choke. Awful, one of the worst ever. For all the happiness that seemed to bring some Phillies fans, I seem to recall them choking in the playoffs against a piece of shit fluke Rockies team. I don't remember, but if I pointed that out, that's just all in good fun, right?

But in 2008 the Phillies were simply the better team. The Mets gave it a good run but simply couldn't keep up once Wagner got hurt. I have a lot of pride that they hung in there as long as they did against a clearly more talented team. That's not running my mouth - I'm saying the Phillies were the better team. My issue with Hamels and some Phillies fans is that they choose to denigrate their own success by saying they only won because the Mets choked, and in 2008, that simply wasn't the case.

There wasn't even a rivalry this year, so I really don't know what brings all this on, but whatever.

Anyway, I don't think the Phillies have the worst fans, nor the Yankees, and one or two bad apples aside, not the Mets. Clearly the Red Sox have the worst fans. :icon_wink

[lockjaaaaww]

We'll trade you Oliver Perez for Hamels

Can we add Wang in that trade?

[Lunchbox420]

And Go ;)

[Philly loser]

It's already been said, but bullpen help and bench depth will be big

I'd love to see Kyle Drabek get a shot at the 5th starter role in the spring

[askewcore]

This seems a touch unnecessary.

I think the Phillies deserves a congratulations for a great season.

[domelogic]

slow down. it is nonsense to want to trade hamels and bringing up young players who arent ready isnt the answer. do they need another starter, sure. a closer maybe and a better bench, absolutely.

i follow the minors pretty closely and there isnt anyone ready to come up. savery and drabek are a year away. you dont go from pitching aa to the majors, just ask kendrick and bastardo. taylor needs at least another half season in aaa and brown hasnt even played half a year in aa. mayberry is your best shot for the outfield but the way he played in aaa, he is a platoon player at best.

forget halladay. the phils will need a 3rd baseman soon. i dont see anyone in the minors at this point so it looks like free agency for that. feliz is not very good at the plate but plays damn good in the field.

the core of this team is better than most. howard, utley, rollins, werth, victorino will be around for the next two years at least. there are many teams that would like that nucleus. the phils just made it to the ws the year after winning it, how bad can things be

[Lunchbox420]

This seems a touch unnecessary.

I think the Phillies deserves a congratulations for a great season.


awww booo...you non rub it in the face kill joy...:action-sm

in response to....

http://www.wackbag.com/showthread.php?t=115979

[askewcore]

Oooh. SideSHOW Bob.

I get it. I get jokes.

[Kugzilla]

Need to upgrade the starting pitching in the off season, and see if Drabek is ready.

Nucleus is strong.

[Sinn Fein]

Hamels is a liability at this point. Who knows what the fuck is going on in the guy's head?

[flyerfan116]

Hamels is a liability at this point. Who knows what the fuck is going on in the guy's head?

Excatly, and after thinking about it i am willing to give him one more shot, even though he is a pussy. BUT i expect in the off season he:

1. Condition himself better his mandatory 5 or 6 days of rest or whatever is bullshit big game pitchers pitch when needed bottom line,

2. Learn how to throw a fucking curveball or some variation of one. 2 Pitches is just not gonna cut it.

3. Get therapy to make him understand that it is not all about him....an ump gives you a bad call, tough shit...move on, a fielder makes a mistake? oh well get over it no throwing your glove or cursing into your mitt....if youu give up a homer does Chase tap you on the shoulder and say 'what the fuck?' you are on a team, the team wins and the teams loses, but you back eachother up.


I really think next year is going to be a big year for him. David Montgomoery was on 610 the other day and flat out said they expect him to get a 3rd pitch but next year.

And dome he also stressed that they would be brining up the younger guys to start getting them ready, so like it or not don't be suprised to see it next year.

[mikeybot]

I hated him while he was GM, but I have to give it to Wade, he set the farm system up well.

[domelogic]

Excatly, and after thinking about it i am willing to give him one more shot, even though he is a pussy. BUT i expect in the off season he:

1. Condition himself better his mandatory 5 or 6 days of rest or whatever is bullshit big game pitchers pitch when needed bottom line,

2. Learn how to throw a fucking curveball or some variation of one. 2 Pitches is just not gonna cut it.

3. Get therapy to make him understand that it is not all about him....an ump gives you a bad call, tough shit...move on, a fielder makes a mistake? oh well get over it no throwing your glove or cursing into your mitt....if youu give up a homer does Chase tap you on the shoulder and say 'what the fuck?' you are on a team, the team wins and the teams loses, but you back eachother up.


I really think next year is going to be a big year for him. David Montgomoery was on 610 the other day and flat out said they expect him to get a 3rd pitch but next year.

And dome he also stressed that they would be brining up the younger guys to start getting them ready, so like it or not don't be suprised to see it next year.

agree with you on hamels. i think everyone had some seriously high expectations after the 08 ws. he wasnt great this year but he was completely awful. he doesnt make a ton of money but he also wasnt a number one starter either. this offseason will tell us everything.

i hope montgomery was talking about position players and not pitchers. these youngs guys need to know how to throw to more experienced hitters before throwing to the best in the majors. it hasnt worked out for the phils having a player skip aaa but what do i know i am only a fan.

[Aizazzle]

To no one's surprise, Phils picked the 2010 option for Cliff Lee.

Brett Myers will not be a Phillie next year. Thanks for the the good and bad times, Brett!

The Phillies have yet to make a decision on whether to pick up the $5 million option on Pedro Feliz next year.

[Philly loser]

I won't claim to know who might be out there
but if they don't pick up the option on Feliz
what are the options at 3B?
He's a very good defensive player
but his offense is all but non-existent

[Wilmington WOW]

bye bye
After eight seasons with the Phillies, Brett Myers will be moving on.

In a phone conversation this afternoon, Myers’ agent confirmed a report that the Phillies have informed the 29-year-old right-hander that they don’t intend to re-sign him. Myers will file for free agency today, according to agent Craig Landis.

“Brett was not entirely surprised, but I think there was certainly a piece of him that was hoping the Phillies would want him back,” Landis said. “Your pride as an athlete kicks in that, why wouldn’t somebody want me. He was prepared for the possibility. We had discussed it a while back. I expected there was a good chance the Phillies wouldn’t want him or need him. To hear it as a human being, it always bothers you a little bit. But on the other hand, he realizes ‘OK, if that’s their decision, we move along as a business. We’ll act accordingly. We have no choice but to start the next chapter of Brett’s career.”

Myers’ tenure with the Phillies never was boring.

In eight years, he made three-opening day starts and closed the game that clinched the 2007 NL East championship. Myers was charged — and later exonerated — with assaulting his wife in 2006; he was sent to the minors in 2007; he made a speedy recovery from hip surgery that could’ve ended his season in 2009. A former first-round draft pick, Myers was a top-of-the-rotation starter and a late-inning reliever, and he went 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA in 240 games.

Landis said the Phillies never gave Myers a reason for why they don’t want him back. Ruben Amaro Jr. has not yet returned a call seeking comment, but he said this afternoon that there was some division within the Phillies’ front office about whether Myers was best suited to be a starter or a reliever. Either way, the Phillies have five starters (Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer) and three late-inning relievers (Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero) under contract or club control for 2010.

“They just said they don’t see him as a fit next year for what the Phillies need,” Landis said. “They told me they don’t have any need. I followed it up afterwards and talked to Ruben, and he said they don’t need him. They don’t see a fit there, quote-unquote.”

Myers figures to draw interest on the open market because of his age (he’s only 29) and his versatility.

“He’s had some good years, and he’s still young, so his age is going to be a big positive,” Landis said. “The fact that he has started and relieved, there are a lot of options. We’ll listen to everybody. I don’t know where it’s going to head. But I expect there will be a good market.”

(UPDATED, 4:45 p.m.): Just heard from Amaro, who had this to say about Myers: “I respect Brett. He’s one of our homegrown guys. He’s come a long way and matured. There are times when we feel like it’s time to move on, and for us, we just felt like it was time to cut the ties.”

[Wilmington WOW]

BY SCOTT LAUBER
Wilmington News Journal

Well, Ruben Amaro Jr. just got through talking to us reporters for about 30 minutes at the Bank, and we’re closer to knowing some of the answers. Without further ado, then, let’s get right to it:

1. Will Pedro Feliz be back at third base?
Don’t count on it. The Phillies have until Monday to decide whether to exercise their $5.5 million option on Feliz’s contract for 2010, and, well, they’re on the fence. “More than anything else, we want to see what options may be out there for us and decide whether picking his option up is best suited for this club to try to move forward,” Amaro said. “He had a solid year for us. I like the man personally. He’s a great person and a great teammate, but I also believe in trying to improve and sometimes change can be for the better. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to [change], but it’s just something that we’re thinking about.” In talking about Feliz, Amaro sounds a lot like he did a year ago when he discussed Pat Burrell’s future with the club. Amaro was very leery of keeping the lineup exactly the same as it was in ‘08. He wanted to make at least one change to avoid stagnation, and left field seemed to be a logical (and, with Burrell becoming a free agent, timely) place to make a change. This year, third base may be that position. “It’s great to have the core players that we have, and it’s great to have many of them under contract,” Amaro said. “At the same time, I welcome change. I think it’s good, if you’re changing in the right way.”

2. So, if not Feliz, then who will play third?
There are some free-agent options out there. Mark DeRosa, Adrian Beltre, Joe Crede, Melvin Mora and Troy Glaus filed for free agency yesterday, and over the next two weeks, Chone Figgins will join them. The question, of course, is whether the Phillies can find an upgrade for Feliz who also fits into the budget. Amaro said he hasn’t had lengthy conversations with team president David Montgomery about the 2010 payroll, but he doesn’t believe it will exceed the $130-$140 million range. The Phillies had a franchise-record payroll this season, and in early October, Montgomery told The News Journal that payroll likely won’t increase much next year. They already have $103.5 million committed to only 12 players, so unlike last winter, Amaro won’t have much financial flexibility with which to wheel and deal.

[Kugzilla]

I think keeping Feliz for 5.5 is a bargain, as he's one of the better fielding third basemen in the year. He could become a reserve if they can get one of the other guys with a stronger bat. They need to upgrade the bench anyway, and one of the reasons they could never pinch hit for Feliz is no one was that strong a feilder.

Trenton Times Mark Eckel had an interesting take on things, and talks about Hamels, who I think is worth keeping around unless you can get Roy Halladay for him. He's a kid and needs some help, but has talent. HEre's Eckels article: http://www.nj.com/columns/times/index.ssf?markeckel

[Philly loser]

http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/truth_rumors

Lackey, DeRosa to Phils?
With the World Series over, the best way for the Phillies to get over the disappointment might be to look forward to next season, as Charlie Manuel did Wednesday night.

“I'm gonna tell you something. We will be back,” Manuel said. “As MacArthur said, I guess, we will be back.”

Yahoo! Sports’ David Brown is right with the Phils’ manager, as he offers some advice on how the team can back up Manuel’s bravado.

Two free agents the Phillies should pursue, according to Brown, are pitcher John Lackey and infielder Mark DeRosa, who would replace Pedro Feliz at third base.

Lackey “doesn't have all that many miles on him,” Brown said. “Has postseason experience. Doesn't lack colefidence, um, confidence. Lackey and Cliff Lee give you guys you can count on. Joe Blanton, too, if you're not going to count on him too much. The rest of the rotation — J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, Marty Bystrom — will sort itself out.”

Though Chone Figgins would probably be a better fit for the Phillies, Brown said, he will likely be too expensive. DeRosa is a worthy option.

“Anyway, DeRosa has a habit of making the playoffs (six times in 10 seasons) and, if his hand injury is healed, he will fit like a Lego in a Legoland.”

[fandango86]

I think Beltre would be a better fit for the Phils than DeRosa. Quite a few years younger, 2 time Gold Glover, and is coming off a rough season so could be a bargain for a 1 yr w/option type of contract.

And Lackey's going to the Mets, assuming he values money and personal stats over winning. He's got his ring, so...

[Aizazzle]

Mark DeRosa would be a good fit for the Phillies. He might not have Feliz's glove, but he doesn't have the monopoly on groundouts to other 3B either.

Having said that, I wouldn't expect the Phillies to go out and get a major free agent this year. According to Ruben Amaro, they already have $102 invested in 12 players next year. He also says that Montgomery & Company don't want the payroll exceeding the $130-140 million payroll, they have right now.

[Sinn Fein]

I hope they keep Feliz. He's a solid defensive player. They won't get rid of him (yet), so Hamels needs to do something drastic in the off-season, like screw his head back on the right way and come up with another pitch or two.

http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/truth_rumors

The rest of the rotation — J.A. Happ, Jamie Moyer, Marty Bystrom — will sort itself out.

What?

[MilkmanDan]

I don't think Cole Hamels will be a major concern, as has been said, he's won at every level his entire life from little-league to world series MVP. He had an off year, and he didnt handle it well going into the postseason, it rattled him. Hoping Moyer or Dubee (both) get in his ear and just get his confidence back, thats all he's really lacking and it shines through. Maybe dump that Survivor cunt wife of his, I'm sure she's a great support. (I dont watch survivor but my chick told me she was on that, and was a total C)

Pedro Feliz has made game winning catches at 3b. Unless someone falls in your lap I exercise the option to keep him. We're so spoiled because we just had 4 guys hit 30 home runs + last year, that a .260 or so hitter with only 10 hr's we think stink. Remember when Schmidt retired and guys like Von Hayes or Juan Samuel would lead the team in HR's that year with 17 ? Spoiled we've become.

Bench - Has to be strengthened. Matt Stairs, thanks but goodbye. Paul Bako , you have to go, shame Lou Marson went to Cleveland in that trade, I think we did pretty good though with that one. Eric Bruntlett, no mas.

If we can somehow add one more clutch starting pitcher (yeah I know every team wants that) they'll be in good shape. I hate how they keep Bumping Kyle Kendrick down when his career record is 24 - 14. And Bring up Kyle Drabek to get a taste at the bigs, went 12-3 last year in the minors, won the pitcher of the year award for his level (cant remember if double a or not). The guy the Bluejays so desperately wanted.

Thats enough for now. It has been so enjoyable watching this team the last few years.

[Philly loser]

Phils decline option on Feliz
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Phillies_decline_option_on_Feliz.html
The Phillies have declined the option for 2010 on third baseman Pedro Feliz’ contract, general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. announced in a press release. The Phillies had a $5.5 million option, a $5 million salary for 2010 and a $500,000 buyout.

Feliz, 34, batted .266 with 12 home runs and 82 RBI in 158 games for the Phillies this past season. With runners in scoring position, he hit a team-best .336, which ranked 13th among all National League players.

“This doesn’t preclude us from bringing Pedro back next season,” Amaro said in the statement. “While this allows us to explore other opportunities, we will continue to keep the lines of communication open with Pedro and his representative.”

The fact that the Phillies made Feliz a free agent means their personnel department has identified potential candidates who would either provide a substantial upgrade (the Angels’ Chone Figgins, the Mariners’ Adrian Beltre both possess better offensive numbers over the last 3 years and are regarded as solid defenders) or, at the very least, provide better cost efficiency than the money they would pay their incumbent (the Orioles’ Melvin Mora, and the Cardinals’ Mark DeRosa and Troy Glaus and the Tigers’ Placido Polanco are among the veterans who could be available).

Figgins, for example, has hit .301 with a .386 on-base percentage with 117 stolen bases over the last three seasons. But he will be 32 years old on Opening Day (nearly a year older than Jimmy Rollins), has played his entire career with the Angels, and can play second base and the outfield as well as third. Good luck predicting the type of contract he would ultimately receive.

Same goes for Beltre. And what about DeRosa, a player whom the Phillies have long admired, but who is coming off wrist surgery and will be 35 on Opening Day? Is there a team out there who would give the versatile righthanded hitter a hefty multi-year contract? Or might he wind up providing a better value than Feliz?

An offensive upgrade at third base is their best option at improving a lineup that led the National League in runs and home runs, but was prone to maddening stretches of impotence thanks in part to its vulnerability against lefthanded pitchers. But by declining his option, they risk being left with a less attractive option at third.

[domelogic]

i would look at derosa or beltre for third base. as much as i would love to see polanco here he wont play third and i dont think a role off the bench is what he wants now.

for all of you who keep saying give drabeck a shot, stop. let the kid mature through the minors. the last pitcher of the year in the minors was carasco in 2008. he struggled in aaa 2009, was traded to cleveland and they through him in games and got a big 9+ era for that. why take the chance on breaking down a kids confidence in the hopes he can be a 5th starter. i dont get it

lackey would be nice especially since they need a right handed starter

[Philly loser]

Phils still in the running for Halladay
By Jim Salisbury
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
CHICAGO - Ruben Amaro Jr. arrived at the annual general managers' meetings late this afternoon and listed his priorities for upgrading his team this off-season.

"Third base, bullpen, bench," the Phillies' GM said in the lobby of the O'Hare Hilton, where the meetings run through tomorrow.

What about starting pitching?

"We're more bullpen-intensive than anything else," Amaro said.

The Phils' attempt to build a better bullpen this winter apparently won't stop them from trying to strengthen their starting rotation.

More than one baseball official with knowledge of the Phillies' off-season plan said today that the team remains very much in the picture to acquire Toronto Blue Jays righthander Roy Halladay.

The Phils unsuccessfully pursued the six-time all-star in July and ended up acquiring Cliff Lee from Cleveland instead. The Jays are still looking to move Halladay, and sources say there has been recent contact between that club and the Phillies.

"Philadelphia is into winning now, and Halladay fits that," one rival front-office man said.

As in the summer, there are serious hurdles to the Phillies' pulling off a deal for Halladay. Toronto is looking for a premium package of young, major-league-ready players and prospects. The Phillies balked at the Jays' request of pitchers Kyle Drabek and J.A. Happ and outfielders Domonic Brown and Anthony Gose this summer. If the Jays' price has come down - and it may have with Halladay due to become a free agent after next season - the Phils might be open to more serious talks. Drabek, as was the case last summer, remains an untouchable.

The Phils paid nearly $140 million in salary and bonuses in 2009, and they already have more than $106 million committed to 12 players for 2010. That's before Joe Blanton, Shane Victorino, and Carlos Ruiz get significant raises. That is also before they get a third baseman and upgrade the bullpen.

There won't be a lot of room to take on Halladay's $15.75 million salary for 2010, but sources say the Phillies might make an exception for that caliber of pitcher and make another big run at the World Series while they have Lee (he can be a free agent after 2010), Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayson Werth in their primes.

As many as a dozen teams could be in the running for Halladay, so his coming to Philadelphia is far from a sure thing. But don't count it out. These are the glory days for the Phillies. They are thinking big, and players want to play for them.

"We're in a fortunate position," Amaro said in general. "We've become an attractive place to go."

That's one reason the Phils did not pick up Pedro Feliz's $5.5 million contract option for 2010. There are a number of free-agent third basemen, and Amaro believes he can land one.

"It's about getting marginally better if we can, much like we did in left field last year," said Amaro, explaining his decision on Feliz. "I don't see us making a blockbuster. But there's enough quality out there [to justify] not picking up the option. There are more third basemen than third-base positions that need to be filled."

The Phils will investigate top free-agent third baseman Chone Figgins, but his initial price tag of five years and $50 million might give them pause. Figgins has been an important piece in the Los Angeles Angels' success and there are signs that they want to keep him.

The Phils will take a look at Adrian Beltre if his price tag is not prohibitive. Mark DeRosa is a likely target, and there's word he'd like to play for the Phils. Don't be surprised if the Phils jumped on Miguel Tejada or Placido Polanco, both of whom are open to playing third base. Tejada, who made $13 million with Houston in 2009, is looking for a three-year deal, but the market could take him down and make him attractive to the Phils.

Several teams have tried to trade the Phils a third baseman. Boston may move Mike Lowell, but he is owed $12 million for 2010 and has health issues.

"I'd say it's more likely we end up with a free agent at third," Amaro said.

Figgins, Tejada, and Polanco are all Type A free agents, meaning the Phils would lose a first-round draft pick if they signed one of them before Dec. 1 or the player was offered salary arbitration by that date. Amaro said he'd prefer not to lose a pick, but wouldn't let that hold him back if he could sign the right player at the right price. If all third-base possibilities fall through, the Phils could reopen talks with Feliz.

Notes. Raul Ibanez had surgery to repair a sports hernia today. Amaro said Ibanez had damage on the left and right side of his abdomen. There was no report on lefty reliever Scott Eyre, who was scheduled to have loose bodies surgically removed from his elbow. Brad Lidge is scheduled for similar surgery tomorrow. . . . Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd was named Sporting News executive of the year at a dinner tonight.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20091109_Phils_still_in_the_running_for_Halladay.h tml