Originally Posted by epoxy

I'll agree with that, no clutch hitting and the lineup is dysfunctional. They can't move runners up or hit and run due to being strikeout prone and most of them don't shorten their stroke with two strikes. No rythm to the lineup. I would not sign Ryan Howard to a big contract. I'd keep giving him one year contracts until he becomes a free agent and then I'd let him walk. He strikeouts way too frequently for my liking and his defense is abysmal. I wish we could have gotten Mark Texiera.
The starting pitchers have been fine as of late (Moyer, Hamels and Myers, anyway), but they need another "stud" to complement Hamels. One more bad start from Kendrick and I'd put J A Happ in the rotation. I can live with Officer Joe Blanton as a number five, but not if Kendrick is going to be the four. The bullpen has been tight, but they need a professional lefty to help J.C. Romero before his arm falls off. They also need a long reliever, maybe Kendrick if Happ is moved to the rotation. I wonder who's going to take Moyer's spot when he's through? At his age he could fall apart any day now.
They need an everyday rightfielder, Jenkins looks washed up and although I like Jason Werth, I'd rather he were my fourth outfielder. I'd like to see the Phillies snatch Nate McLouth from the Pirates, put him in center and move Victorino and his rifle arm back to right. Victorino needs to learn what the cutoff man is for.
If the rest of the lineup were producing the way they're supposed to (they need much more from the six hole), they could live with Carlos Ruiz catching and Pedro Feliz at third. They are both excellent defensively and Ruiz calls a great game, I think he has the lowest "catcher's ERA" in the league. Chris Coste should never start more than thirty-seven games a year.
Greg Dobbs is the best pinch hitter in the league, but So Taguchi and Eric Bruntlett give them a really weak bench. This area needs much improvement in the off season.
Although I wouldn't have given Aaron Rowand a monster contract like the Giants did, his leadership is obviously greatly missed and the current lack of a leader is killing them. Jimmy Rollins is showing he's no leader and Utley doesn't have the personality for that role.
Charlie Manuel is poor tactically and now he's "lost" the team, they are not responding to his being a player's mananger and they have the "dead fish eye" look about them. There's no sense of urgency to win right now. He must go. The third base coach (Steve Smith) and hitting coach (Milt Thompson) need to go, also. Davey Lopes helped this team immensely with his knowledge of base stealing and Rich Dubee has the staff pitching well, so they shoud stay.
If Mark Cuban purchased the team that would probably help more than anything. I dread Ruben Amaro jr becoming the next GM, afterall, he was trained by Ed Wade.
Uncle Cholly should bat Burrell in the cleanup spot, in between Utley and Howard and he should consider letting Victorino leadoff.

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

You prefer Fatty Blanton over Kendrick? Kendrick has some good stuff and is only going to improve with more coaching. He needs to stay in the rotation to keep in form.

Originally Posted by peacemover

By the way- have you paid attention to Ryan Howard's power numbers over the last three years?? If so, other than his strikeouts and not batting for average, what is your rationale there? He has almost 40 HRs and close to 100 RBIs this yr- over 40 HRs last yr and like 57 HRs and NL MVP in 2006, so I think you need to give the big fella a little more respect there- plus he has one heckuva a scoop for a glove over there @ first base. You have to be KIDDING ME about Texeira. One of the most over-rated players in the big leagues. C

are his power numbers to Howard's over the past three years.

Kendrick has far outperformed what anyone realistically could have expected of a young pitcher who was called up mid-season as a rookie last year and has managed to pitch well enough to stay in the bigs so far... He has a lot to learn yet, but he IS learning... Let's not give up on him quite yet after a shaky outting or two...

Agreed about Werth- he is okay as a hitter and not that great as a fielder- not much of an arm as far as getting the ball back to the infield from the corner.

WOW! Lidge just struck out the side to go 30-30 in save ops this yr... Nice!

Originally Posted by epoxy

Why don't you tell me.

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

You prefer Fatty Blanton over Kendrick? Kendrick has some good stuff and is only going to improve with more coaching. He needs to stay in the rotation to keep in form.

Originally Posted by zete_374

PS. Where are all the morons that thought Chase Utley was going to be the MVP??

Originally Posted by zete_374

Because they are not as good as you think they are.


As soon as all the clueless Philly fans starting picking Brett Myers to win 18 games I knew it was time to go to Vegas and bet that Brett Myers would NOT win 18 games. Philly fans are almost always wrong. Brett Myers is a career .500 pitcher that only averages about 9 wins a season.

How about the "best" offense in baseball? You have to be an idiot to think the Phillies have the best offense in baseball. You probably think Jerome McDougle ready for a big year, L.J. Smith is going to have a breakout year and Andre Igoadala is going to develop a jumpshot this year too.

The Phillies offense IS and always was overrated. They probably lead the league in strikeouts. The team lives by the homerun and they are too inconsistent. They can win a game 20-1 but then they get shutout the next two games. Some idiots will look at the season totals and see a bunch of runs but who cares? I would rather win a series by 2-1,2-1,2-1 vs wining a game 20-1 and then losing 0-1,0-1.

PS. Where are all the morons that thought Chase Utley was going to be the MVP? I say who cares? It is irrelevant just like Howard and Rollins winning the MVP. WIN a PLAYOFF game and call me!
How are you going to feel if the Mets win the NL East? Are you going to have parade for Howard, Rollins and Utley?

Originally Posted by OGrey

You are a piece of work. Who didn't think Utley was a clear favorite to win the MVP early in the year?

Seriously Zete, I agree MVP's don't mean much without some playoff wins but pretty much everyone in baseball thinks Utley is among the top tier and is always on the short list for MVP.

Originally Posted by zete_374

So you agree with me that MVPs don't mean much without playoff wins?

Originally Posted by OGrey

I'm a fan. In the end I want to see a championship so MVP's mean little to me without team success.