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Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Edgy MD Jan 18 2013 10:49 AM

Phillies resign Bastardo, their only arbitrant. Yes, I coined that word just now.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 18 2013 10:55 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

I'm thinking that despite his being pretty offensively-impotent, Ben Revere will be an absolute chigger, if only for his ability to keep Metly extra-base hits from existing.

Benjamin Grimm Jan 18 2013 10:56 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

A "chigger"? Did metirish sneeze on you?

Edgy MD Jan 18 2013 10:59 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Sounds like a slur targeting Asian Africans.

Swan Swan H Jan 18 2013 11:05 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Edgy MD wrote: Phillies resign Bastardo, their only arbitrant. Yes, I coined that word just now. You didn't coin 'bastardo.' I'm certain I heard it in the gag reel for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 18 2013 11:14 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

You guys. He'll be "annoying," if you prefer.

batmagadanleadoff Jan 18 2013 12:39 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Swan Swan H wrote: Edgy MD wrote: Phillies resign Bastardo, their only arbitrant. Yes, I coined that word just now. You didn't coin 'bastardo.' I'm certain I heard it in the gag reel for The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Muy funnyo, señor Swan. ¿Alquien dijo Headley?

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 22 2013 09:38 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013 Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jan 22 2013 10:04 PM

IN A WORLD... where your team's championship window might be closing... when you're afraid your fringy-platoon-player-loaded outfield might go all pear-shaped... ... sometimes, the sanest thing to do... is to call on a man... who KNOWS from pear-shaped. ... Sometimes, when you want to throw in the towel... you call on a man... who knows how to throw things like they are towels. ... Sometimes, when you're getting old... ... you simply need to get Young. Coming to stadiums this summer... Delmon Young IS... the Phillies' starting right-fielder.

Edgy MD Jan 22 2013 10:03 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

This is very wrong, but in the sense of viewing it like a scene in a Hal Roach one-reeler, I can't not laugh. The ump's sap-take is priceless.

Frayed Knot Jan 23 2013 06:59 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

I like the catcher's total non-reaction, as if he sees bats flying at umps like once an inning or something. It's not a bad gamble for the Phils w/Young: 750K w/incentives that could go up to 3.5mil and a likely power increase considering the stadium he's headed to. Probably not where the former 1/1 draft pick expected to be entering his age 27 season and his fourth organization. Alas, a couple of on & off field incidents plus a few seasons of sub-.300 OBAs coupled with mediocre power, a bad glove and Ryan Howard-esque speed will do that to you.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 23 2013 07:13 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Worse, he's being brought in to a situation where the Phils were struggling to figure out how to get promising Darin Ruf (.600 slugging at AA-- and a SSS .700-plus slugging in a majors cameo-- last year), Domonic Brown (like Young, but at least athletic and younger), John Mayberry, and Laynce Nix enough at bats in the corners. And Amaro aims to START Young over these guys, in right field (see above throwing GIFs). Yeah, he's cheap-- he also comes with some serious cost. And it's not just because he like to yell slurs at homeless people and has the BMI of a dying Kirby Puckett (although each of these things is true).

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jan 23 2013 07:17 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

That he accepted that deal is probably bad news for Scott "2 Years, $8 Million" Hairston.

Ceetar Jan 23 2013 07:26 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Worse, he's being brought in to a situation where the Phils were struggling to figure out how to get promising Darin Ruf (.600 slugging at AA-- and a SSS .700-plus slugging in a majors cameo-- last year), Domonic Brown (like Young, but at least athletic and younger), John Mayberry, and Laynce Nix enough at bats in the corners. And Amaro aims to START Young over these guys, in right field (see above throwing GIFs). Yeah, he's cheap-- he also comes with some serious cost. And it's not just because he like to yell slurs at homeless people and has the BMI of a dying Kirby Puckett (although each of these things is true). I get Ruf, but I'm not sure Mayberry and Nix really need AB. I'm not even sure Brown needs any. Looking at their outfield is why I think the Mets could easily have the third best OF in the division.

metirish Jan 23 2013 07:27 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

That's gold from LWFS...........pear shaped works in so many ways here, I mean, his head is actually shaped like a pear for one.....

Frayed Knot Jan 23 2013 07:29 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Yeah, he's cheap-- he also comes with some serious cost. And it's not just because he like to yell slurs at homeless people and has the BMI of a dying Kirby Puckett (although each of these things is true). But at least he doesn't have a family history of diabetes. Oh wait! Otherwise, agreed on all accounts. It's not a bad gamble providing they aren't committed to starting him on a regular basis and I can't believe they'd stick to that no matter how many sweet things Amaro whispered in his agent's ear. Charlie Manual may play the dumb bumpkin on TV but I don't think he is one. And, yeah, Sandy may just win this waiting game with Hairston after all.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Jan 23 2013 08:05 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Manuel does have weird doghouse issues, though. Outside of obvious performance issues, I think that's what's been keeping Brown from logging regular major-league hours, even in seasons like last year, when the Phils have been playing for fourth and down to four healthy OF. Ceetar wrote: I get Ruf, but I'm not sure Mayberry and Nix really need AB. I'm not even sure Brown needs any. Looking at their outfield is why I think the Mets could easily have the third best OF in the division. Point is... well, look at the rate stats. Mayberry is the same guy as Young, only with more pronounced platoon splits and defense that doesn't make your eyes spontaneously bleed and oh yeah, he's cheaper and under control for two more years AND THEY ALREADY HAD HIM. (Nix is the same way, only opposite-handed, and without the team control bit.) Brown's a little Young-y, but he's still, well, young. And not fat. Yet.

Ceetar Jan 23 2013 08:25 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Manuel does have weird doghouse issues, though. Outside of obvious performance issues, I think that's what's been keeping Brown from logging regular major-league hours, even in seasons like last year, when the Phils have been playing for fourth and down to four healthy OF. Ceetar wrote: I get Ruf, but I'm not sure Mayberry and Nix really need AB. I'm not even sure Brown needs any. Looking at their outfield is why I think the Mets could easily have the third best OF in the division. Point is... well, look at the rate stats. Mayberry is the same guy as Young, only with more pronounced platoon splits and defense that doesn't make your eyes spontaneously bleed and oh yeah, he's cheaper and under control for two more years AND THEY ALREADY HAD HIM. (Nix is the same way, only opposite-handed, and without the team control bit.) Brown's a little Young-y, but he's still, well, young. And not fat. Yet. Oh, I don't think Young deserves AB over them, I think perhaps they all suck. Young's only two years older than Brown actually. Clearly Brown's the guy who's least proven himself to suck, only through 500 AB, that you should play. And I guess he's the one that would be playing RF if that's as reported, but now that he's here I doubt anyone cares if Young takes AB away from the other two.

Edgy MD Jan 23 2013 09:56 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Supposedly, nobody's ever played in as many games as Delmon while compiling as many GiDPs as walks. I'd laugh, but I laughed at Juan Pierre. And I frankly wasn't particularly gracious with regards to Laynce Nix. The way I look at it is, young players should have some not-so-young players to fight with for playing time. Else, they may end up fighting themselves.

bmfc1 Jan 23 2013 07:27 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Anti-Semite Delmon Young: yet another reason to despise the Phillies.

G-Fafif Jan 23 2013 09:19 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

bmfc1 wrote: Anti-Semite Delmon Young: yet another reason to despise the Phillies. To be fair, I'm a virulent anti-Philite.

Frayed Knot Jul 08 2013 04:15 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Wow, we went nearly half a year without touching this thread. Says something about the Phils although I'm not sure what. Anyway, knee surgery for Ryan Howard. See 'ya in six to eight weeks (if things go well that is ... and, really, what could go wrong with the recovery process for a weight-bearing joint when one weighs 250 pounds?)

Ceetar Jul 08 2013 05:25 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Frayed Knot wrote: Wow, we went nearly half a year without touching this thread. Says something about the Phils although I'm not sure what. Anyway, knee surgery for Ryan Howard. See 'ya in six to eight weeks (if things go well that is ... and, really, what could go wrong with the recovery process for a weight-bearing joint when one weighs 250 pounds?) remind me to lose weight again..geeze. is this a tacit throwing in the towel for the Phillies? The way he's been running I wouldn't be surprised if it's been torn a while. (Stupid Phillies, running an injured player out there when it clearly wasn't working)

Swan Swan H Jul 08 2013 05:32 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Ceetar wrote: is this a tacit throwing in the towel for the Phillies? The way he's been running I wouldn't be surprised if it's been torn a while. (Stupid Phillies, running an injured player out there when it clearly wasn't working) Good thing they only gave him a one year, $4 million deal.

Frayed Knot Jul 27 2013 09:28 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

GM Ruben Amaro says he [u:1mlgfnba]will not[/u:1mlgfnba] rule out dealing Cliff Lee, Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz, or Michael Young - although Lee is now scratched from his next start due to neck soreness.

Edgy MD Aug 11 2013 05:32 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Phillies phalling phast, refusing to show any heart and help us catch Washington. There seems to be more than a small chance that they may end up behind Miami, the way things are going, and the last thing the Mets of the Future need is a 2013 confidence boost for the Marlins of the future.

Frayed Knot Aug 11 2013 05:38 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

On Saturday they jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 2nd inning with Cliff Lee on the mound and the no-hitting Nationals across the diamond and still somehow managed to get steamrolled. But hey, they just extended Chase Utley for two more years (with options for like sixteen more) so there's that.

Edgy MD Aug 11 2013 05:53 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

The Phils are dunn. They don't impress me of coming back to relevance any time soon. But the last two times the Marlins cleaned house, they rebounded quicker than anyone suspected. They're who I'm fearing beyond this season.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 16 2013 11:48 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Phils call a press conference for this afternoon for the purpose of whacking Cholly Manual.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 16 2013 11:52 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Phils call a press conference for this afternoon for the purpose of whacking Cholly Manual. All I was able to find was this: PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phillies have called a news conference for Friday afternoon, but they have not disclosed the topic. The news conference is being held at 2:30 p.m. in the media interview room at Citizens Bank Park. The media alert did not list who would be attending to speak at the "Press conference to announce news from the Phillies." That would be pretty harsh to fire him at this point. He should at least get to finish out the season. My guess, if this is about Manuel, is that they're announcing that he'll finish the season and then move into an advisory front office role.

G-Fafif Aug 16 2013 11:55 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Multiple Twitter sources confirming -- or confirming they've read each other's Tweets. Under Manuel, Phillies won five consecutive NL East titles, the first of them in stunning fashion (ahem), after missing the playoffs for 14 years. In 2008, they won their first WS in 28 years, the second in their sorry history. Last year he wrangled them into the Wild Card race despite being presumed dead at midseason. Yeah, he deserves to go.

batmagadanleadoff Aug 16 2013 11:56 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

I wouldn't mind if he managed the Mets one day.

Edgy MD Aug 16 2013 11:59 AM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Wow, that's astounding. What did he do that couldn't wait until the end of the season to address? Go golfing with Jerry Sanduskey? He just won his 1000th game, which is almost 10% of all wins for a team that's been around forever, and about 50% more than any Met manager ever won. UPDATE: Jay Z Didn’t Really Dedicate ’99 Problems’ To Charlie Manuel August 14, 2013 12:01 AM PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - UPDATE: As it turns out, this was a joke that got misunderstood. Ah well, it would have been more fun if it happened. Cindy Webster @Cindy610 For the record, Jay Z did NOT actually dedicate 99 Problems to Charlie Manuel last night. I obviously need to work on my twitter sarcasm. Charlie Manuel surprised almost everyone last week when he quoted hip-hop legend Jay Z at his 94WIP radio show at Ponzio’s. “Let me tell you something like this, I got 99 problems and a contract and managing next year, is not one of my problems.” Manuel said when asked about his future with the Phillies. “I understand that if you tear something down, you start rebuilding it more and things like that, that there’s going to be a lot of changes. A lot of times it depends whether you want to clean house or partly clean it. That’s kind of how I look at it. At the same time too, I’m not worried about it.” According to some reports on Twitter, Jay Z Tuesday night at Citizen’s Bank Park surprised almost everyone when he dedicated the song ’99 Problems’ to Manuel during his concert with Justin Timberlake. But as it turns out, it was just people who were taking liberties with the original tweet. http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2013/0 ... ie-manuel/

metsguyinmichigan Aug 16 2013 12:02 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Starting to see posts that Manuel is gone, press conference at 2:30. Ryne Sandberg, perhaps?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 16 2013 12:09 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I wouldn't mind if he managed the Mets one day. Was thinking the very same thing. I suppose he's gotta be a candidate.

Edgy MD Aug 16 2013 12:11 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I wouldn't mind if he managed the Mets one day. Was thinking the very same thing. I suppose he's gotta be a candidate. Save money by giving him Jerry's old uniforms.

G-Fafif Aug 16 2013 12:12 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Sandberg reportedly his successor.

Edgy MD Aug 16 2013 12:19 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Not a lot of HoFers this side of Frank Robinson putting their legacy on the line with managerial gigs. Good for him.

dinosaur jesus Aug 16 2013 12:23 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Not clear how firing the manager is supposed to improve the team, when everybody knows the problem is that they're old, injured, or not very good to start with (and probably don't have the money to do anything about it, locked into that ridiculous Ryan Howard deal). But that's an old story.

metsguyinmichigan Aug 16 2013 12:25 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Why not let Charlie finish the season for them? It's not like the Phils are going to be roaring back into contention, he's had a ton of injuries and did well with the team for a long time.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 16 2013 12:31 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Always weird to see a manager in street clothes. Ruben all crying now. Cholly asked to stay with the org

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 16 2013 12:36 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Charlie's going down with a lot of class, I have to say. Been asked to stay with team but will take time off. Acknowledges he'd still like to manage.

bmfc1 Aug 16 2013 12:40 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

The MFPs fired their manager? I'm jealous.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 16 2013 12:41 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

metsguyinmichigan wrote: Why not let Charlie finish the season for them? It's not like the Phils are going to be roaring back into contention, he's had a ton of injuries and did well with the team for a long time. I agree. He's done a hell of a job for them over many years, and he deserves a better exit than that. They could at least have called the press conference for 2:30 a.m. instead of p.m.

Ceetar Aug 16 2013 12:42 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I wouldn't mind if he managed the Mets one day. Was thinking the very same thing. I suppose he's gotta be a candidate. as long as that one day's a meaningless Spring Training game or perhaps a game after they've clinched and the real manager is sick.

bmfc1 Aug 16 2013 12:44 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Maybe they thought that Sandberg would be sought after by other teams so they wanted to lock him in. Maybe they want him to learn the team "first hand", or some cliche like that. If Sandberg was such a great managerial candidate, wouldn't the Cubs have signed him first?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 16 2013 12:46 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Rube says once he decided that Cholly wouldn't be back it was better to start right away with the future direction. You can tell the writers are preparing to destroy the Phillies for this.

Edgy MD Aug 16 2013 01:00 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

I could be wrong, and it may well be irrelevant, but I get the notion that mid-season replacements don't force a team to conform with league-mandated minority-quota candidate search processes that they would have to go through in the offseason. Mets have hired 100% of the available mushy, white-haired, retirement-aged ex-Phillies managers with a championship under their belts. Yanks have too, though, so if Sandy wants him, he'd better move fast. If Sandberg was such a great managerial candidate, wouldn't the Cubs have signed him first? They did and they developed him. He was runner up in their previous search, and rather than stay in the organization waiting for the next opening, he left. Doesn't mean that he wasn't great, only that they found somebody who they thought was a better fit at the time. Only 30 of those jobs laying around.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 16 2013 01:07 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

And many of them held by mushy white-haired mediocrities.

metsguyinmichigan Aug 16 2013 01:09 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Edgy MD wrote: I could be wrong, and it may well be irrelevant, but I get the notion that mid-season replacements don't force a team to conform with league-mandated minority-quota candidate search processes that they would have to go through in the offseason. Mets have hired 100% of the available mushy, white-haired, retirement-aged ex-Phillies managers with a championship under their belts. Yanks have too, though, so if Sandy wants him, he'd better move fast. If Sandberg was such a great managerial candidate, wouldn't the Cubs have signed him first? They did and they developed him. He was runner up in their previous search, and rather than stay in the organization waiting for the next opening, he left. Doesn't mean that he wasn't great, only that they found somebody who they thought was a better fit at the time. Only 30 of those jobs laying around. Dallas! I always kind of though Ryno got hosed in Chicago. He did all the right things, the team threw Quade in there supposedly as an interim, then stuck with him when the team did better than expected, then dumped him.

Edgy MD Aug 16 2013 01:14 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

And heck, who said the Cubs have all the judgment in the world. I'd hate the Phils to think, "if he was so great, why didn't the Cubs hire him?" Why didn't the Orioles hire Davey Johnson? Why did the Senators let Gil Hodges go? That's half the fun of baseball transactions, and the key to all trades --- different teams evaluate and value the same talent differently.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Aug 16 2013 01:26 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

It does sound as though the Phillies grabbed Sandberg with the idea of having a successor. This is a bit different then when the Mets had no idea what they'd do next when they pushed Randolph out. For one they believed they'd get back into the race (they did), but in retrospect it was a big mistake to have stuck with Jerry when they could have opened it up for anyone.

metirish Aug 16 2013 01:26 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Amaro hanging by a string I would think.

Benjamin Grimm Aug 16 2013 01:28 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: It does sound as though the Phillies grabbed Sandberg with the idea of having a successor. This is a bit different then when the Mets had no idea what they'd do next when they pushed Randolph out. For one they believed they'd get back into the race (they did), but in retrospect it was a big mistake to have stuck with Jerry when they could have opened it up for anyone. And if the Mets did have a successor in waiting, they'd be criticized for that too, for having somebody breathing down Willie's neck.

Edgy MD Aug 16 2013 01:41 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

You don't designate, imply, or leave open for interpretation any possible implication of a designated successor for a first-time manager. That's only something you build under vets with a successful track record, and a secure contract. During Terry's first season, when he was field coordinator, he made certain that spring of never even visiting the big league side of the spring training complex, lest he be perceived as any succession threat to Manuel. And, of course, he not only was a threat, but successful one. Like bagging chixx with Mike Damone, the best way to score is to act cool and disinterested. Gary Carter didn't know, as he never hung with Mike.

Ceetar Aug 16 2013 01:43 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

Edgy MD wrote: You don't designate, imply, or leave open for interpretation any possible implication of a designated successor for a first-time manager. That's only only something you build under vets with a successful track record, and a secure contract. During Terry's first season, when he was field coordinator, he made certain that spring of never even visiting the big league side of the spring training complex, lest he be perceived as any succession threat to Manuel. And, of course, he not only was a threat, but successful one. Like bagging chixx with Mike Damone, the best way to score is to act cool and disinterested. Gary Carter didn't know, as he never hung with Mike. Also, the best way to get a job is to have another job in the organization. true outside baseball as well.

Zvon Aug 16 2013 02:54 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

I haven't seen that many Phils games this season. I don't know if Charlie was losing it or what. But I loved the guy and I'm sure Phils phans and players did too. He's a true character of the game and I shall miss him stammering through his post game interviews.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Aug 16 2013 10:53 PM Re: Division Rivals: Phillies in 2013

metirish wrote: Amaro hanging by a string I would think. Amaro should have been hanging by more than a string.