Phillies Trade For Halladay

As everyone knows by now the Phillies traded for Roy Halladay. I would like to dissect this trade. There are some good things and some negative things. Let's look at the negatives first.
First, the Phillies traded away Cliff Lee who pitched unbelievable last year. It seems like they were trying to "dump" his salary because they have a strict $140 million payroll. So they traded Cliff Lee to the Mariners for three prospects. Now, Phillippe Aumont is suppose to be the best out of all of the prospects the Phillies received. Aumont supposedly has a good fastball but he is working on his secondary pitches. It sounds like that he is no where near Kyle Drabek at this point. They also received prospects Tyson Gillies who is legally deaf and wears a hearing aid in each ear and J.C. Ramirez. I can tell you I know absolutely nothing about either of them, besides that little tidbit on Gillies. It sounds like that the Phillies didn't get that much prospect wise in return for Lee. It seems that the Phillies were very anxious to get rid of Lee and his salary.
The Phillies traded the Blue Jays Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis d'Arnaud. In July, Drabek was an "untouchable." What is the difference now? The difference has to be that Cliff Lee wasn't willing to sign to a long-term deal with the Phillies. Prospect wise it looks like the Phillies lost overall in their farm system.
It seems that the Phillies have a two year window where they can make some severe damage. After the 2011 season Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Brad Lidge, Raul Ibanez, and Shane Victorino are all eligible for free agency. I think Amaro knows that it is just not possible to re-sign all of those guys to big time contracts. So by signing Halladay to a three year extension solidifies a star player after 2011. It is frustrating for us Phillies fans to watch Cliff Lee go but in the long run it might end up being a smart decision. Unless we watch Drabek pitch his way to Cooperstown. But let's not think that way.

The positives for the Phillies is obviously getting Roy Halladay. He has pitched 200 plus innings in the last four seasons and he has thrown nine complete games in the last two seasons. He is an innings eater who will go deep into games (similar to Lee) but don't expect him to have nine complete games in 2010. He still very well can but if the Phillies are in a game in the seventh inning and there down by a run and Halladay is due up to bat, there most likely going to take him out. Due to the fact that Halladay will be pitching in the National League will help him maybe ERA wise but hurt him in the complete game department.
Putting all of the Roy Halladay talk aside, there is 110 days until Opening Day and it should be a fun and entertaining season.

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A Look To The Future

I know that the Phillies just clinched a trip to the World Series but it's never too early to take a look to the off-season. I am going to put together a little something about the Phillies upcoming free agents and there prospects in each level.
2010 Phillies Free Agents
Brett Myers-Myers is probably a goner because we already have a closer and he will probably going to want a little too much money, but you never know, he could be in Phillies pinstripes next year.

Pedro Feliz-Pedro has a club option for 2010, and I'm guessing that they are going to exercise that option and bring him back for 2010.

Chan Ho Park-If the Phillies don't re-sign Park there are going to be some very unhappy fans. Park thrived in middle relief this year and doesn't have an ego so he is always willing to pitch in any situation.

Scott Eyre-In the beginning of the year Eyre said that he is going to retire at the end of the season but now he is saying that he would like to play just one more year. Assuming that he does play one more year, he will probably pitch for the Phillies.

Pedro Martinez-This is a decision that the Phillies are really going to have to think about, just seeing what Pedro has done there is no doubt in my mind that they should try to re-sign him.

Matt Stairs, Tyler Walker, Miguel Cairo and Paul Bako are all upcoming free agents. Out of the four of them the only one that I think will be back will be Bako to back up Ruiz.

2010 Prospects
The Phillies farm system is loaded in all aspects. I feel sorry for all of them because there really isn't a whole lot a room for them.
Anthony Gose-This guy is my favorite Phillies prospect. Nobody has really heard of him but all I can say is, he can fly. Gose played for Lakewood this year and he had a league high of 76 stolen bases. No that is not a typo he really had 76 stolen bases. He is only 19 years old so he still has a lot of time to develop. With speed like that there is always room on some ball clubs staff somewhere.

Kyle Drabek-By now everybody knows who Kyle Drabek is. Next year he will probably be in Triple-A LeHigh Valley for the whole season. Drabek pitched tremendous last year in his first full season in the minors. Towards the end of the season he got a "dead arm" which basically means that he was fried. This is the Phillies top pitching prospect so I'm sure this is not the last that you will hear of him.

Domonic Brown-This is Phillies top hitting prospect. Towards the end of last year he was called up to Reading and played 37 games with them. Brown is 22 years old and is going to play with Reading next year. He is a tremendous prospect and if the Phillies were one of the weaker teams in the league he might even have been called-up already.

Scott Mathieson-We saw Mathieson with the Phillies in 2006 when he started a few games for them. In his lat appearance with them, he got injured and needed Tommy John Surgery. Mathieson is now back and better then ever. He is throwing bullets to the plate and he could be an option for the back end of the Phillies bullpen for 2010. In 32.1 innings pitched last year, Mathieson went 4-0 with a 0.84 era.

Michael Taylor-He had one heck of a 2009 season in the minors. Between Reading and LeHigh Valley, Taylor hit .320 with 20 home runs and 84 RBI. When Taylor was called-up to LeHigh Valley he struggled there for a little bit but he eventually got going but as soon as he did he hit the disabled list. Taylor is already 24 years old, so time could possibly be running out on him but expect Taylor to be up with the Phillies at some point next year whether it's because of an injury, a bat off the bench, or a September call-up.

Joe Savery-This was the Phillies first round pick in 2007 and really had a nice 2009. His ERA doesn't jump out at you at 4.40 but he had a 16-6 record between Reading and LeHigh Valley. Due to his tremendous record in Reading he was rewarded by being promoted to Triple-A. Savery isn't loved by scouts but if he wins games, that's all what matters in the long run.

I could go on for days with the Phillies propects but I will give you a few other prospects to keep your eye on. Pitchers Johan Flande, Vance Worley, B.J. Rosenburg, Trevor May, Matthew Way, Drew Naylor, Michael Stutes, and Michael Cisco. And as for the hitters there are 2008 first round pick Anthony Hewitt, Zachary Collier, Kelly Dugan, and Travis d'Arnaud.
There are many, many more prospects and a future Hall of Famer might end up being unmentioned but these are the ones that are being mentioned right now.

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Phils Lose To Brew Crew

Wow, what a disgrace. Just a horrible game the Phillies played tonight. They played with no intensity, zero desire to win, nothing, just very mundane, boring baseball. I will say they started out pretty good by scoring a few runs but from there it was all downhill. I wouldn't say that it is time to panic but if they lose tomorrow, I might start getting a little worried. There magic number is four to clinch to division. Now they have eight games remaining. All they need to do is win four of them. So if they play .500 baseball the rest of the way, they can guarantee there ticket to the postseason. The Braves and Marlins can help them out by losing themselves but they are both playing solid baseball at this moment. They look like they think that the Braves and Marlins are just gonna roll over and give it to them. They can't have that attitude. That's the kind of attitude that cost the Mets the past two years and we all know where the are today.
I will give a brief overview about tonight's game. Ryan Howard and Paul Bako both hit home runs. Kyle Kendrick started for Pedro and pitched four innings then Jamie Moyer pitched four more. Combined they went eight innings and gave up five runs. Then in the ninth inning Tyler Walker came into the game looking to keep the game the same and bring it into extra innings. He was unsuccessful. The first batter hit a single, then Ryan Braun hit a walk-off, two-run home run to win the game for the Brewers 7-5.
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Phillies:Joe Blanton allowed just two hits and two walks and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings in a 9-3 victory over the Marlins in Game 1 of a doubleheader Tuesday at Land Shark Stadium. Combined with six shutout innings the previous Thursday against the Nationals at Citizens Bank Park, Blanton (11-7) has now thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings. Blanton threw a career-high 18 consecutive scoreless innings Aug. 16-31, 2005, when he pitched for Oakland.
Brewers:Five days after he beat the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Dave Bush surrendered more earned runs -- five -- than he recorded outs -- four -- in a loss at Miller Park. Bush lasted only 1 1/3 innings in his shortest start of the season and lost for the first time in three starts. He'll face the Phillies for the first time since April 23, when Bush took a no-hitter into the eighth inning only to lose it on a Matt Stairs home run. He still won that day, allowing one run on two hits in a season-high 7 2/3 innings.

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Lidge Blows Save

Yet again, Brad Lidge has blown another save. I have tried to be as optimistic as possible throughout this season about Brad Lidge because I thought he would get his closing issues figured out but it doesn't seem like it is getting any better. The Phillies had a 6-5 lead going into the ninth inning and Lidge got the call to close. With two outs and runner on first and third, Jorge Cantu hit a line drive to center field and then the game was tied. Pinch hitter Brett Carroll came up and he hit a base hit that scored the winning run and the Phillies lost 7-6 and Brad Lidge blew his 11th save of the season. A very tough loss for the Phillies.
Anyway, Cole Hamels pitched tonight and did very good through the first three innings but then after that Cole gave up a total of four runs in seven innings. Overall, not bad. I was really hoping Cole would only give up one or two but he didn't
On the bright side, Raul Ibanez and Ryan Howard both hit home runs tonight but that obviously wasn't enough. Jimmy Rollins hit his 40th double which to me is remarkable because remember when he was really struggling this season, he has really turned it around and as everyone says as Jimmy goes we go.
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Phillies:J.A. Happ left Friday's game after just three innings for precautionary reasons. He had missed his previous two starts because of a strained right intercostal muscle, and when he appeared to favor it on a play in the third inning, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel decided to take him out of the game. Happ said he was fine. He said he felt no pain or discomfort, but because the Phillies already were without left-handers Scott Eyre, J.C. Romero and Jack Taschner in the bullpen, Manuel wants to make sure Happ is healthy in case he needs him in the bullpen in the postseason.
Brewers:Jeff Suppan has worked seven quality innings in each of his last two starts, including a win over the Astros on Saturday in which he set a season high with seven strikeouts. It was Suppan's third win at Miller Park in 14 home starts; he's 3-7 with a 5.92 ERA at home and 4-3 with a 3.56 ERA in 13 starts on the road. Suppan missed the Phillies when the Brewers went through Philadelphia in April, but he's 3-6 against them in his career with a 6.13 ERA.

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Phils Take The Series

Coming into this 10-game road trip all the Phillies were concerned of doing was winning every series. They were successful in the first attempt by beating the Braves this afternoon 4-2. This game took a while to complete because of a rain delay that delayed the game in the fifth inning of today's game. Once it got back going the Phillies starter Cliff Lee did not continue because the rain delay was so long. Tyler Walker resumed his position and pitched two scoreless innings and ultimately got the win.
The Phillies bullpen deserves some praise after what they did today. They only gave up one run during five innings of work. That one run came in the ninth inning when Brad Lidge gave up a single that scored a run but the run was unimportant. And they won the game 4-2. Now, there magic number is down to six and they could clinch the National League East as early as Wednesday.
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Phillies:Joe Blanton was not overly dominant Thursday against the Nationals, who lined into two double plays and had other miscues on the basepaths, but he threw six scoreless innings in the victory. He allowed just five hits and four walks and struck out seven. It was an important recovery from his last outing, when the same Washington squad battered him for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Marlins:After two straight five-inning starts, Josh Johnson recorded his 23rd quality start in his 30th start. The All-Star strives to become the first Marlin pitcher with more than 15 wins since Dontrelle Willis won 22 in 2005.

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Phils Power Past Braves; Magic Number Down To 8

J.A. Happ was making his first start since September 2 against the Giants. In the third inning Happ was having some problems with his strained oblique. After the inning, Charlie elected to take him out for precautionary reasons and they brought Kyle Kendrick in. Kendrick did a really good job tonight. He pitched four innings and did not give up any runs.
The offense was facing a tough pitcher tonight in Tim Husdon. They only got three runs off of him in seven innings, including two Ryan Howard home runs. But in the eighth and ninth innings they scored six more runs and ended up winning the game 9-4. And as I mentioned in the title there magic number is down to eight.
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Phillies:Pedro Martinez has been terrific since signing with the Phillies, especially his last outing on Sunday night. In that game, the right-hander threw 130 pitches, 80 for strikes and exited to a standing ovation at Citizens Bank Park during a 1-0 win over the Mets. Martinez seems to have recaptured the magic he lost with the Mets last season. He had command of all of his pitches and kept the Mets hitters off balance all night.
Braves:Javier Vazquez dominated the Cardinals during his second complete-game effort of the season on Sunday. His line -- two earned runs and seven hits -- didn't provide indication of how impressive he was. Before surrendering four straight singles in a two-run ninth, he had allowed just two hits and thrown 79 pitches. The 33-year-old right-hander has won three straight decisions and allowed a total of two runs in those three victories. Each of the four runs he surrendered against the Phillies on Aug. 16 came via the two homers he surrendered to Ryan Howard.

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Phils Complete Sweep

It looks like that Cole Hamels is finally back. Through five innings tonight Cole was throwing a perfect game but a base hit broke that up. Cole was really good tonight, by using his change-up effectively and locating his pitches. He went eight innings and allowed just one run.
The Phillies offense kicked off with a double by Jimmy Rollins in the fifth inning that drove in a run. Surprisingly they did not hit any home runs but they scored four runs and won the game 4-2. Brad Lidge got his 30th save of the season. Hopefully, Lidge can get his mechanics back and return to his 2008 form.
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Phillies:Consider J.A. Happ a tentative starter for the moment. He strained his intercostal muscle before his scheduled Sept. 7 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. He missed that start and Saturday's start against the Mets at Citizens Bank Park. Left-hander Jamie Moyer pitched in Happ's place in both of those games, and he would take his place again if he is unable to pitch Friday against the Braves at Turner Field. The Phillies certainly would love to have Happ back in the rotation. He is a National League Rookie of the Year candidate.
Braves:Tim Hudson has been in position to win each of the three starts that he's made since returning from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery. Most of the 14 hits he's surrendered in his past two outings have occurred in bunches. While allowing four runs in five innings against the Cardinals on Saturday, he surrendered four consecutive first-inning hits and exited after allowing three straight hits to open the sixth. In his lone start against the Phillies last year, Hudson allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings.

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Phils Take Game Two

I think it is fair to say that overall this year Joe Blanton has been the most consistent Phillies starter. Tonight he continued that by pitching another quality start. In his last start against the Nationals he gave up eight runs, but this time he did much better. Over six innings Blanton did not give up any runs. If his pitch count wasn't so high he could of went deeper but he didn't and luckily for him he got the win.
The Phillies offense was rather stagnant tonight, but one big blast put the game out of hand. In the seventh inning, Jayson Werth hit a grand slam and made the game 6-0. Tyler Walker gave up one run in the ninth inning and the Phillies won the game 6-1.
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Phillies:Cole Hamels has pitched very well in three of his past four starts, having allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings against the Mets on Monday. The left-hander did not have his best fastball, instead relying on changeups and curveballs.
Nationals:The Nationals have decided to start Ross Detwiler on Thursday night against the Phillies, pushing right-hander J.D. Martin back to face the Mets at Citi Field on Friday night. The original plan was to let Detwiler pitch out of the bullpen because he was close to his innings limit, but Washington wants to see him get two more starts before the season is over.

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Crazy K Shuts Down Mets

During Spring Training Kyle Kendrick was vying for the fifth spot in the rotation. He obviously did not win that spot so he went down to LeHigh Valley to work on his change-up. Kendrick made a spot start today and he showed the Phillies that he has improved since Spring Training. Over seven 1/3 innings Kendrick just allowed two runs that came in the seventh off of an Anderson Hernandez two-run home run. Kendrick ran into problems in 2008 because he was unsuccessful of keeping his sinker down and the hitters were getting into favorable counts, which led to problems for Kendrick.
The Phillies got just enough runs to support themselves into today's game. Ben Francisco and Shane Victorino both hit home runs, and they got a very important insurance run in the eighth inning. Brad Lidge got the opportunity to close and he did get the save but it was not pretty. Lidge gave up two runs and he got out of the inning with a strikeout of Angel Pagan.
The Phillies have a game tonight at 8:05 to cap off the doubleheader. I will be attending the game but unfortunetly I will not be able to write a blog of the game. The up next will be for Tuesday's game against the Nationals.
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Phillies:Cliff Lee went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first five starts with the Phillies, but is 1-2 with a 9.60 ERA in his previous three. He allowed 10 hits, five runs, four earned runs and struck out four in seven-plus innings Wednesday in a victory over the Nationals at Nationals Park. Lee suffered some bad luck in that game. A missed double play cost him a run in the seventh, and an error cost him a run in the eighth. Regardless, the Phillies are hoping Lee gets back on track against the same team that got 10 hits against him last week.
Nationals:The Nationals have not announced a starting pitcher for Tuesday's game.

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Phils Blow Another Save

Jamie Moyer was making his second straight start as he was filling in for J.A. Happ. In the first inning the first five Mets batter got on base and four of them scored. After that Jamie really settled in and only gave up one more run. Moyer ultimately ended up pitching seven innings and allowed five runs.
The Phillies offense was able to help out Moyer as they got a total of three home runs. Pedro Feliz, Chase Utley and Raul Ibanez all hit home runs off of Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey. Raul Ibanez had a total of three RBI's on the day, which raised his total to 86 on the season. Considering that he bats behind Ryan Howard everyday, who is a RBI machine, that's pretty impressive from your five, six hole hitter. The Phillies were leading the Mets 9-5 going into the eighth inning and Brett Myers came in looking to keep it the same. This was the first time that Myers has struggled since he has came back. He gave up three runs and the Phillies only had a 9-8 lead going into the ninth inning. So Ryan Madson came in and with two outs in the ninth David Wright hit a two-run home run that gave the Mets a 10-9 lead and went on the win.
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Phillies:Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he is leaning toward starting Kyle Kendrick in Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Mets. It would be Kendrick's first start since last season. Kendrick spent most of this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he went 9-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 24 starts. He is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in four relief appearances this year for the Phillies, but is scoreless in his past three.
Mets:John Maine's ERA in 56 2/3 innings against the Phillies is 2.54, his best against any opponent he has faced more than once. Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard have combined for nine hits in 28 at-bats against him, two of them home runs by Howard. Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Pedro Feliz and Carlos Ruiz have a combined .339 average in 59 at-bats against Maine. He has allowed only two home runs in 19 2/3 innings at Citizens Bank Park.

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