PhillyTalk: Ask the Writers and Experts

QI keep reading the Phillies have "nothing to trade"--but with Coste, Ruiz and Jaramillo, don't they have some depth at catcher? Admittedly there would be little interest in Coste (age) but he clearly is an acceptable back up for one of the others, making one available for trade. Am I wrong?

QWill Brett Myers change his entry music since he is no longer the closer? Will Ryan Howard work on his defense in the off-season?

QHey Todd! First off, as a lifelong Phillies fan (as opposed to the quote-unquote "fans" who base their existence off of snide, Eskin-esque Phillie-bashing), I'd like to say that I'm at least encouraged by the fact that so many Philadelphians are actually following every move that the Phillies make (or don't make) this offseason. My question is this: assuming Rowand goes, how do you feel about the Phils picking up Wolfie, Coco Crisp, and another reliever? Also - if we DO get another starter, is there any chance that Myers stays in a quasi-closer role? I know the answer will be no, but I'd love to see us stack the 7th through 9th innings. Finally, does Outman have a shot of making the rotation out of Spring Training?

QIt seems the Phillies are willing to let Rowand go for the sake of pursuing a starting pitcher;however, they just moved Myers back to the rotation for the reason that there were no free agents equal in quality to Myers. So in letting Rowand leave they are effectively trading Rowand for a starting pitcher who at best would be a 3 or 4 ,maybe 5 in the rotation, which doesn't make much sense to me.This assumes of course that they actually find someone. The worst thing would be Rowand goes and they don't connect with a free agent pitcher. Any idea, besides an unwillingness to spend money, why they seem to accept Rowand as gone? Is it a negotiating ploy with Rowand?

QTodd, I live in Burbank CA and I follow the Phillies religiously. Since I live so close to Anaheim I get to see a lot of AL games. How come no one is mentioning David Riske as a possible RH set up man to Lidge?? I know the royals don't get much press but his numbers (1-4 2.45 era)and age (31) would make him a nice addition to our bullpen. Thanks!

QWhat do the Phils want another starter for? Is Moyer retiring? Are they planning to release Eaton? Are they sending Kendrick back to the minors? Do they want to keep Myers in the pen? Are they trading Hamels? Because right now they have five starters. You've said they won't get rid of Eaton because of the money. As for the pen? Well, by my count they've got Romero, Lidge, Madson and Gordon. That's the back of the pen. So they are apparently looking for a couple middle inning relievers, but you can't get those. Nobody competes for those jobs. You just find someone and hope he works, and Durbin, Zagurski, Condrey and Davis seem as good as anyone you're likely to find for those spots. Their young and might improve, unlike Mesa and Octopus. Just getting rid of those guys improves the pen. It's not like the Red Sox had Seaver, Palmer and Mathewson in their pen. Mike Timlin was featured prominently. On the other hand, they need a third baseman. I don't mean for offense. I mean, with Hamels, Kendrick and Moyer they need someone to field third, which Helms and Dobbs showed they can't do. They're getting power out of short and second, so they can skimp a little on power at third and right field, but the defense without Nunez will be absolutely brutal. And with two lefties who use changeups and a ground ball rightie, they need someone to field third. Given that... So why the obsession with pitchers? Who are they planning to replace?

QTodd, have the Phillies shown any interest in Iwamura (Rays 3b)? I could imagine them sending, say, Jaramillo, Castro, and Helms. They could receive (for example) Iwamura, F Perez (cf), and R. de los Santos (p).

QTodd, Nice job here and on the blog. What are the Phils' back-up plans for CF if the can't sign Rowand? Would Torii Hunter be a good fit? How would the fans respond to his personality? I've always said a great deal of Phialdelphia fans couldn't care less about winning or talent, it's all about the attitude.

QThe lidge move is certainly creative. But i think i would've preferred them to trade the same personnel to the Orioles for Erik Bedard. He's a top flight starter. Plus, the Orioles need a cheap CFer since Corey Patterson is a FA.

QHow does someone with no apparent ties to Philly get to be an isolated Phils fan? I saw the following obit in the Des Moines Register today: DALLAS CENTER published on November 13, 2007 DR. DAVID JAMES BENSON Dr. David Benson, 63, passed away Sunday, November 11, 2007 from complications following heart surgery at Mercy Heart Center in Des Moines. Dave was born November 23, 1943 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Dr. Roy and Mable Benson. He graduated from Lamoni High School in 1961, attended Graceland College (1961 to 1964), and graduated from the University of Iowa, College of Dentistry in 1968. Dave served in the US Navy from 1966 to 1970 and was stationed in Guam. He was also a member of the Naval Reserves as a 2nd Lt. Commander in Seabees Unit 7, Battalion 25-07 from 1971 to 1976. Dave started his dental practice in Leon, Iowa from 1970 to 1977. He then moved his dental practice to Des Moines in 1977. David was an avid sports enthusiast and enjoyed many hobbies such as golfing, bowling, hunting, and fishing. He actively assisted and coached his kids in their various sports. The Iowa Hawkeyes were his favorite team; the Philadelphia Phillies were a close second. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Dallas Center Little League Baseball and Pheasants Forever. "The Phillies were a close second" kind of sums up their history, doesn't it.