Philadelphia Phillies 2010

[Phightins]

Decided it was time to fire up a new thread.

 

Anyway, some news today. Scott Eyre retired. Vital member to that World champion bullpen, but I had a feeling he'd retire. He said he'd only come back this year to pitch for the Phillies and it didn't sound like the Phillies were interested in having him back.

 

Also, the Phillies announced their Spring Training invitees. Among them are Dom Brown, Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, Freddy Galvis, Ryan Vogelsong and about 8 others. Vogelsong is probably the only one with a shot at making the team. He was with Pittsburgh before and spent the last three years in Japan, so he has experience and can start/relieve. He might have a spot on the team.

 

Lets make it three straight pennants!

Edited January 7, 2010 by Phightins

[Phightins]

38 days until Spring Training, and after tonight it can't come soon enough.

[BasX]

Hey, at least the Flyers are playing better.

[The Artesticle]

You still have Sixers basketball

 

lol good luck till Spring Training!

[Phightins]

Hey, at least the Flyers are playing better.

 

Yeah thank God, or the rest of this winter would be unbearable.

[fish7718]

Brett Myers is an Astro, you guys are [expletive]ed..lol

[Phightins]

Brett Myers is an Astro, you guys are [expletive]ed..lol

 

Yeah it's so weird, the Astros are becoming the team of misfit Phillies.

 

But seriously, I was kind of surprised the Phillies made absolutely no effort to bring him back. That kind of "hybrid" pitcher seems to be their biggest need right now since Chan Ho Park is in all likelihood leaving.

[Phightins]

Projected Roster as of 1/10

 

Lineup:

SS Jimmy Rollins

3B Placido Polanco

2B Chase Utley

1B Ryan Howard

RF Jayson Werth

LF Raul Ibanez

CF Shane Victorino

C Carlos Ruiz

 

Bench:

Brian Schneider

Greg Dobbs

Ben Francisco

Ross Gload

Juan Castro

Possibly one other guy

 

Other bench candidates: DeWayne Wise, Wilson Valdez, Andy Tracy, Cody Ransom

 

Rotation:

1. Roy Halladay

2. Cole Hamels

3. Joe Blanton

4. JA Happ

5. Kyle Kendrick/Jamie Moyer

 

Bullpen:

Closer: Brad Lidge

Setup: Ryan Madson

Late innings righty: Danys Baez

Late innings lefty: JC Romero

Left handed specialist: Antonio Bastardo

Long Relief: Chad Durbin

One/Two other spots, likely to be filled by some combination of the guys listed below/another free agent addition

 

Other bullpen candidates: Ryan Vogelsong, David Herndon, Sergio Escalona, Mike Zagurski

 

Potential Needs:

-Lefty Specialist

-Starting Pitching Depth

 

 

On paper, this is the best Phillies lineup of my life time (and that is saying something). This rotation 1-4 has the potential to be one of the best in the league if Cole Hamels can bounce back and if JA Happ can prove his last season was not a fluke. Lots of question marks in the bullpen. I'd love to see Chan Ho Park come back but it sounds like he wants to be a starter, and has teams interested in him as a starter. I'd like to see them add a veteran lefty to replace Scott Eyre who just retired, but I do think Antonio Bastardo has the potential to be very solid in that role. He already has the blow-away fastball and has some raw off speed pitches that if developed could make him a very good pitcher. I think their biggest need is starting pitching depth. I am fine with Kyle Kendrick or Jamie Moyer as the 5th starter if Pedro Martinez isn't brought back or if another free agent isn't added, but behind that they don't have too much established depth for AAA to tap into in case of injury.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Phightins

[fly3rs18]

not only is it one of the best 1-4 hitters, but you rarely see 6-7 hitters as good as ibanez and victorino

[Phightins]

The Phillies plan to convert Phillippe Aumont back into a starting pitcher this season. I wonder if he is over that hip condition. That would be amazing.

[Phightins]

Brad Lidge had more surgery today. It was just a minor knee thing though, and it doesn't really change his time table for this season. He is still questionable for Opening Day just as he was before this.

[Phightins]

Joe Blanton signed a 3 year $24 million extension today.

 

The Phillies now have Roy Halladay locked up through 2013, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton both through 2012, and JA Happ is not even arbitration eligible yet. All at very reasonable prices too. Ruben Amaro has done a hell of a job.

Edited January 21, 2010 by Phightins

[Universe]

Phillippe Aumont and Eric Gagne on the same team? Quebec would turn into Phillies fans.

[Phightins]

Shane Victorino signed a 3 year $22 million deal today as well. Carlos Ruiz is up next.

[Phightins]

The Phillies signed Jose Contreras to a one year contract today.

[Phightins]

Carlos Ruiz signed a 3 year $9 million extension today. Hell of a bargain for the guy who is IMO the most underrated catcher in baseball, and I'd argue one of the most valuable guys on this roster.

 

This means that our entire starting 8 (except for Jayson Werth) and our entire starting rotation is locked in beyond this year. Ruben Amaro, you are the man.

[Phightins]

The Phillies have given out a few minor league deals this week and filled out the 40-man roster. They signed INF Brian Bocock, OF Fredy Guzman, and RHP Oscar Villarreal. I don't think any will make the team out of Spring Training, but all are solid AAA depth moves. I'd say Bocock probably has the best chance of any of them to make the team, since as of today Juan Castro is the leading candidate to be our utility infielder, which basically means that job can be had if another infielder in the organization has a great spring. Villarreal probably has next to no shot, since he is coming off Tommy John surgery, is injury prone, and is prone to giving up homeruns. In other words, he is a disaster waiting to happen pitching in Citizens Bank Park. But still, not the worst depth move since he has experience and you can never have enough pitching. Don't know a lot about Guzman other than that he has been in the Yankees organization and has a bit of MLB experience, but he probably needs 3 or 4 guys in front of him on the depth chart to get hurt for him to have a chance at making the roster.

Edited February 4, 2010 by Phightins

[Phightins]

Pitchers and catchers in 8 days, and it cannot come soon enough.

 

http://media.philly.com/images/cbpsnow.jpg

Edited February 9, 2010 by Phightins

[Smitty]

Yessss.

 

Can't wait.

[bigdog17k]

Pitchers and catchers in 8 days, and it cannot come soon enough.

 

http://media.philly.com/images/cbpsnow.jpg

 

Can we go ice skating?

[Phightins]

Lol I know that looks so strange.

[Phightins]

http://zozone.mlblogs.com/assets_c/2010/02/halladay%20sn%20cover-thumb-450x495-1782231.jpg

[Guest The Situation]

Phillies Notebook: New Phillies' righthander Aumont looks more like starter

 

http://media.philly.com/images/021710_aumont_400.jpg

 

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20100217_Phillies_Notebook__New_Phillies__righthander_Aumont_looks_more_like_starter.html

Edited February 17, 2010 by The Situation

[Phightins]

That would be great. He absolutely has the talent to be a future MLB top of the rotation guy. The problem when he was in Seattle's organization was that hip condition he had. I heard he was in serious pain by the 4th or 5th inning, which is why they moved him to the bullpen in the first place. If he is over the hip thing that would be fantastic.

 

Also, a friend of mine who is a Mariners fan said he thought JC Ramirez (other pitcher we got in the Lee trade) was their best starting pitching prospect. His numbers were just inflated because the league he played in last year is a joke, and pretty much every park was ridiculously skewed in favor of the hitters. So people who hadn't seen him pitch just assumed he was average because of pretty poor numbers in A-ball, but when you see him pitch you can see he's incredibly talented. I have not seen him pitch yet but I trust the guy who told me that. Time will tell.

[Universe]

Hoping he can get some games in this year with the Phillies because I don't think he will dissipoint many.