Phightins

I don't know about that haha. They sure have the biggest following, but most of the fans that show up at the away stadiums are not "true fans" IMO. At least that is what I have discovered by attending Phillies/Red Sox games in Philadelphia. From what I have found, those "fans" are obnoxious and stupid. They don't even know a thing about their own team. And they are all local too, they just happened so start supporting the Red Sox when they started winning. I have come across very few who actually travelled from Boston. I will agree that the loyal Red Sox fans who have been through thick and thin with that team are very good fans.

http://www.realsportsheroes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/stairs.jpg

Right, but the Phillies are not feeling the effects of it. We are one of only a handful of teams actually doing significantly better financially this year than last. Essentially every game has been a sell out and merchandise is flying off the shelves. If you have the money, why not spend it?

Glad Duke made it....quietly having a very good season.

His health was a big problem in his final two years with the Mets. He now says he feels as good as he's felt in a couple years. I'd give him a shot...worst comes to worst he sucks, and in that case we're just out of $4 million (don't mean to sneeze at that kind of money, but the Phillies are in as good shape financially as anybody in the league), and we just give one of the kids in the organization a shot, or make another deal.

Well clearly the Super Bowl is the most hyped (to the point of being annoying), but I agree with ECN, my favorite playoffs are the NHL playoffs. World Series holds a place in my heart too since baseball is my favorite sport.

Phillies fans and Red Sox fans should be disqualified from voting here....tough to figure out who we will be voting for.

I have seen a bunch of potential packages thrown around. I am hoping that they do not go overboard (and the package I posted is IMO WAY overboard). I'd love to get him but not at any cost.

Well no Major League player should get away with some of the [expletive] Manny does, regardless of position, but that is another debate for another time lol.

A pretty good example of this will be shown with the Roy Halladay trade rumors. He is arguably the top pitcher in the game, and it is very rare to see somebody of that ilk traded. The Phillies are said to be interested, and the rumored package they would need to give up looks something like this... Kyle Drabek Dominic Brown JA Happ Jason Donald Lou Marson Joe Savery Possibly 1-2 other mid level prospects Granted, no MLB talent in there (with the exception of Happ), but in terms of prospect "value" that is about as heavy a price as possible.

Well yes I did compare them, but not in the way you are making it out. I did not say "which player is more valuable to the team based on the position they play, and which position is more difficult and essential blah blah blah", but I simply said that they are similar because neither is in the league for their glove. There, that simple. This is getting retarded.

FORGET IT!!! I am not comparing a damn thing. Are you really this blind? Was my analogy really that hard to decipher? I am not comparing Manny to Hanley. You just stated that you thought Hanley's lack of hustle and defense made him "overrated", and I attempted to prove this statement wrong by saying that Hanley is in the league primarily for his bat, much like Manny Ramirez. The positions they play mean absolutely nothing in this particular argument.

Read ECN's 2nd most recent post.

I am not throwing away 50%....that is what Manny does. You are right that might have been an extreme example since Manny literally throws away every aspect of the game besides hitting and Hanley at least gives marginal effort and is becoming a decent fielder...but did you really see right through that example? I thought it was clear as day, my bad for making it too confusing for you.

Too bad it is out of the Oilers' control...and the Sens' for that matter.

Nothing personal Warren, but it would be way easier and more organized if we kept all of the rumors to one thread. Anyway, deadline is still a few weeks away but the rumors are beginning to swirl...

It was an example to prove your argument against Hanley ridiculous. They are two players who are in the league for nothing more than stepping up to the plate 4-5 times a game and swinging the bat. Everybody knows that. I didn't think this would be so hard to comprehend..

I think you are completely missing the point. Come up with a trade that a team could make for LeBron James. A legit trade, not some BS where 5 teams would be involved and Cleveland would wind up with Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and Kobe Bryant. Make it a legitimate trade (although this is technically not a "legitimate" argument because this would never happen, but it is just for arguments sake). Then by comparison we will come up with a trade the St. Louis Cardinals could hypothetically make with Albert Pujols, or the San Francisco Giants could make with Tim Lincecum, or the Pittsburgh Penguins with Sidney Crosby. We will then compare "value" received by the team trading away the superstar. It isn't that LeBron isn't the most valuable player in pro sports (because honestly I would agree with that), but with the setup of the NBA it is impossible to realistically get a net value worth anything that would even make the Cavs pick up the phone and discuss a trade. Not necessarily the case in MLB/NHL in this era of teams valuing so highly (and in lots of cases overvaluing) their top prospects.

You said Hanley Ramirez is "overrated". You said he doesn't hustle, play D, etc. Isn't the same true for Manny? You don't see anybody calling him overrated. I'd say that the general public knows exactly what Hanley Ramirez will give you game in and game out. He is not in the league for his glove (although he is improving by the year), but he is one of the finest young bats in the game. How in the world is he overrated if everybody knows what his flaws are and talks about them regularly?

The question is not which player has the best combination of dominating skills and marketability. It is which player could bring the most net value in a trade. I know you disagree, but with the lack of a farm system in the NBA it is hard for that kind of value to be dealt in exchange for a superstar like LeBron. That's why it has to be an MLB or NHL guy, IMO.

And Manny Ramirez plays no defense, never hustles, makes dumb plays, and has attitude problems. Forget the fact that he is one of the greatest right handed hitters of all time, overrated!!! ....Come on dude, seriously?

But he is SEKZI!! What a stud that David Wright is.

Me and fly3rs were in my car driving to the bowling alley and had the game on the radio. I debated turning the game off before the 9th. Good thing I didn't. Heard Howard's homer in the car then ran into the bowling alley to see them finish it off. It was pretty cool despite the fact that not many people in the bowling alley seemed to give a [expletive] other than the crazy DJ.

Raul is back in the lineup tonight...batting 5th.

Aybar is having a pretty good game...