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Ask Andy Martino

Inquirer Sports Writer

Email Andy at amartino@phillynews.com

Most Recent Questions & Answers

Questions: 21 - 10 of 500

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Hamels & Victorino signings

QInquirer states that Hamels & Victorino are unsigned ?

What's that all about ?

Joe Menta, PA 02/29/08

AThey simply haven't agreed to terms yet. If they don't agree to terms, the Phillies ultimately can renew them at whatever price they want.

Andy Martino

Better Bench This Year?

QWith the addition of Feliz, the Phils now have a lefty bat off of the bench in Dobbs, and Jenkins when Werth starts in RF vs. LHPs. Add the righty bats of Coste, Taguchi and Bruntlett (and hopefully not Helms).

All are nearly 30 or older, don't offer any speed...who will run for Burrell in late innings.

Is there a "bunter" in that group?

Is this an improvement over the bench from last year?

Phillybob, PA 02/28/08

AThe Phillies actually think they have a stronger bench than last year. Taguchi can't run like Bourn, but Manuel will feel more comfortable having him pinch-hit than Bourn. Dobbs is a weapon off the bench. Coste is better than Barajas. Bruntlett is this year's Nunez, although I think they're hoping he can be a little more productive offensively. And Werth and Jenkins could put up some big numbers in right field. But we'll see.

Andy Martino

Arbitration

QWhy did the Phillies sign Utley to a multi year deal last year but they won't do that with Howard? Wasn't Utley in a similar situation as Howard is as far as service time goes.

Mike, Washington, NJ 02/26/08

AThe Phillies signed Utley to a seven-year, $85 million contract extension. Howard might want $120 million more than that to sign an extension with the Phillies. That's obviously a huge difference. The Phillies might have talked with Howard about a seven-year, $100 million extension, like the one Albert Pujols got from the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004. But now that Howard won his salary arbitration hearing, there's absolutely no chance Howard's team will go that low in negotiations.

Andy Martino

Spring Practices

QHey Todd,
I am heading down south the 2nd week of March and wanted to know the deal with practices. What time is usually the best to catch the action. How close to the action can you get? Thanks

Chris , Richland, PA 02/22/08

ANow is the best time to be here for practices. Once games start, I'd get here as soon as the ballpark opens. (Of course, I can't remember what time that is.) You can watch BP and perhaps some infield/outfield drills if they're working on them. But you can always stop by the Carpenter Complex to see what's going on. Something usually is.

Andy Martino

February Vacation

QI'm looking for a warm, fun vacation for next winter. I know I can purchase tickets to Spring Training games on the Phillies website, but is it possible to watch their workouts in Feb at Clearwater? Sorry you're missing this messy weather up here.

Kris , Phoenixville, PA 02/22/08

AIf you're here in February before games start, I'd get to the Carpenter Complex around 9. The team usually works until 1. There are bleachers set up on all four fields so you can watch whatever is going on.

Andy Martino

what's going on with lohse?

Qhi todd - great blog, i just wish you answered more questions. one intriguing one i haven't found any answers to: what's going on with kyle lohse? how low have his demands gotten, now that spring training is starting and he still doesn't have a deal? do the phillies add him in addition to benson if they can get him cheap? or has the ryan howard arbitration loss siphoned what remaining $$ they budgeted?

ron, york, PA 02/22/08

Jim Salisbury wrote about Lohse in his Sunday baseball column: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080224_EXTRA_BASES.html

I don't see the Phillies signing Lohse. He's still holding out for cash, and the Phillies have $3 million less to spend after Howard's victory.

Andy Martino

Howard arbitration fallout

QHow does the fact that the Phils will have to pay him $3M more than they wanted affect their future decisions, particularly this year? Doesn't this mean they'll have less room to acquire other players?

Paul, Philadelphia, PA 02/21/08

AI've heard rumblings it could. It's simple math, really. They're paying $3 million more to Howard than they had hoped. So that means $3 million less to spend elsewhere, unless the Phillies decide to pump up their budget in July. But there's no doubt it has an effect.

Andy Martino

Punk'd

QHow do you feel the phillies handled the whole punk'd thing?

jennifer, philadelphia, PA 02/19/08

AI don't have a problem with it, although I can see why some people thought it went too far. But when you're in a baseball clubhouse, you better be able to handle getting busted on and made fun of. And you better be able to take a joke, even if it's being traded to Japan. Kendrick is one of the nicest guys in the cluhhouse, so I think they chose him because they knew he would take it well. He did.

Andy Martino

SANTANA TO METS

QDoes the Johan Santana signing by the Mets affect the Phils chances of repeating as N.L. East Champs?

Chuck, Thurmont, MD 02/08/08

ADefinitely. I think the Mets' rotation is stronger and deeper with Santana. The Phillies rotation has questions everywhere: Can Hamels stay healthy? Can Myers fulfill his promise as a starter? Can Kendrick avoid the sophomore slump? Does Moyer have more to give at 45? And is Eaton capable of pitching well at all?

Andy Martino

Team Dynamic

QTodd, do you think that the Phillies team structure lends itself to be a very good regular season team, but not a playoff team? By that I mean the team during the regular season can out slug most teams and win 88 to 93 games, but in the playoffs where most of the time you are facing better pitching, the Phillies don’t have the starting pitching depth to match up and have too many players who strike out too much (Howard 180+, Utley 100+, Burrel 100+).

OG, Hamilton Twp., NJ 02/07/08

AI'm not sure if that's the case. I think the Rockies simply were the hottest team in baseball at the time. I think if Trevor Hoffman hadn't blow that lead in Colorado in the one-game playoff, and the Padres had advanced to the NLDS, we might have been talking about the Phillies in the NLCS, or maybe even the World Series. But I do think the pitching remains a concern. There are so many ifs in that rotation and bullpen.

Andy Martino

Questions: 21 - 10 of 500

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