Sunday morning update
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Sunday morning update
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
I was a little negligent with the blog yesterday, but I thought I'd fire off a few quick thoughts before I head out to the local neighborhood watering hole to watch some football.
1) I talked to Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. Friday night and he told me the Phillies had been "very aggressive" on the first day of free agency, talking to the representatives of more than 20 free agents whom they have identified as potential fits. That said, the name of the game this offseason will be patience. The Phillies' two most pressing needs -- a resolutation to their situation in left field and another arm or two for the bullpen -- happen to be in places where there isn't a glut of free agent talent.
2) The bullpen: The Phillies aren't going to be one of the teams throwing money at guys like Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes. Instead, they are looking at either a durable arm who can pitch multiple innings or a set-up man who can lock down the eighth inning (or both). While Ryan Madson pitched very well in the postseason, he hasn't proven that he can thrive in that role over the course of an entire season. There aren't a ton of bona fide options out there. Diamondbacks righty Juan Cruz is an intriguing name, but most of the other options are veteran guys. Amaro said he likes experience in the bullpen, but two of the biggest names - Doug Brocail and Russ Springer - are Type A free agents who would require the forfeiture of a first round draft pick if they sign. That would seem to make a potential signing difficult. However, keep in mind that the Phillies will get a pick if they don't re-sign Pat Burrell.
3) Left field: This is the one that I am guessing will take the most time. I don't get the indication that Burrell is going to be rolling in serious offers anytime soon. And right now, the out field market seems to be dominated by Manny Ramirez. It will be interesting to see where Ramirez lands, because whoever he doesn't land with will suddenly be moving on to the lower-tier outfielders. Remember, Aaron Rowand didn't sign until mid-December last year.
4) Tomorrow is the NL MVP announcement. I'd be shocked if it is anybody other than Albert Pujols.
5) The Bengals have the 25th ranked running defense. The Eagles have Brian Westbrook. Don't the Eagles have to run the ball this week?
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David, so far it's the second half ,the Eagles are losing 10-3 and Westbrook isnt running,Andy is just saving him for their playoff run !— marcards- Wouldnt Adam Dunn be a good replacement for Pat Burell? Hes a better feilder and batter but no one is throwing around his name?— traugdog420
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- Is there ever any end to the morons suggesting that we sign ANOTHER lefthanded hitter for the outfield?????? We already have enough of those for three other teams....Dave, wouldn't Kerry Wood look really good in the 8th inning? And as insurance in case Lidge ever goes down?...2 run Madsen and his pal Boras are not long for Philly and I remain unconvinced that that he is a true 8th inning guy. We've seen these glimpses of brilliance before only to have him fall back to his "2 run form".— Mark1npt
- Is there ever any end to the morons suggesting that we sign ANOTHER lefthanded hitter for the outfield?????? We already have enough of those for three other teams....Dave, wouldn't Kerry Wood look really good in the 8th inning? And as insurance in case Lidge ever goes down?...2 run Madsen and his pal Boras are not long for Philly and I remain unconvinced that that he is a true 8th inning guy. We've seen these glimpses of brilliance before only to have him fall back to his "2 run form".— Mark1npt
- Is there ever any end to the morons suggesting that we sign ANOTHER lefthanded hitter for the outfield?????? We already have enough of those for three other teams....Dave, wouldn't Kerry Wood look really good in the 8th inning? And as insurance in case Lidge ever goes down?...2 run Madsen and his pal Boras are not long for Philly and I remain unconvinced that that he is a true 8th inning guy. We've seen these glimpses of brilliance before only to have him fall back to his "2 run form".— Mark1npt
- There is no reason Howard shouldn't win the MVP. He was the MLB leader in HRs and RBIs, with 22 more RBIs than the #2 guy. That plus setting a Phillies record of 23 RBIs in September should make it a no-brainer. Most clutch month in the history of the team. What more can be said??— ChekUrFax
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- I have to agree with Mark1npt. I too was thinking about Kerry Wood. Yea, I know he's had arm problems and you definitely can't use him for more than 1 inning. But, if you only use him in the 8th or 9th inning of a close game that the Phils are winning, I hink he could do really well.— TexColorado
- Adam Dunn wouldn't fit because he's just has slow as Burrell and two other huge problems that he would cause for the team is the fact that he's a lefthanded hitter and he strikes out just as much as the lefthanded hitting Ryan Howard. A move that the Phillies should explore is dumping Geoff Jenkins to another team. No need to have an at best a platoon player of his caliber making 8 million a season. If this is accomplished combine that 8 million with the 12 million that Burrell would require. Then the Phils at least 20 million to play with in adding a LF via free agency or trade. They also have more cash flexibility in adding a SP and bullpen help. If they don't want to add a big name LF, I say the go after Juan Rivera. He's only 30 years of age and he wouldn't require a draft pick as compensation for signing him. He would be a better fit to share time in LF with Greg Golson. He can be a guy that would sign a 2 year deal and roughly make at most 4 million a year. He doesn't strike out that much plus he's a righthanded hitter.— cigy77
- They have as much a chance of dumping Jenkins and his $8 mil as they do Eaton and his $8.5 mil, exactly zero.....nobody else wants these guys...we overpaid for deadwood and now we just have to cast it adrift and call it driftwood.....this is where all the ticket price increases go...to the deadwood salaries of Thome, Garcia, Eaton, Jenkins.....yes Manny would have looked good in LF but we've already wasted enough money.....maybe we can plug Ruben Amaro SR. in there.....— Mark1npt
- Mark1npt, Kerry Wood won't come over here to set up. He is a closer and even if he agrees to come here will be very expensive and he has some health issues - lots of health issues in the past. If the Phillies are looking for a setup guy, I'll go with Cruz. He is only 30 and will be less expensive. Thinking about, losing the pick won't be that bad.— EL Zorro
- Zorro....Wood would definately come here for a chance to set up and win a WS....and he would fall in luv with us fans......wouldn't that be something, plus he could close on those days that Cholly has overused the BP and Lidge has already pitched in 5 straight games....however I'd still take Cruz also as we can use more innings from him and we'd have a complete shutdown BP for a whole year regardless of an injury here or there....never can have too many spare parts!— Mark1npt
- Giving up a first-round pick to sign ANY of these guys would be incredibly stupid. First-round picks are valuable. It is NEVER worth it to trade a first-round pick for a middle reliever. This is the same idiotic mentality that causes so many Americans to go bankrupt from credit card debt. People discount the future because they crave instant gratification so badly.— sil campusano
- And it's irrelevant that we'll get a first-round pick if we lose Burrell. The tradeoff would still be exactly the same: one first-round pick vs. one middle reliever.— sil campusano
- campusano, I won't sign a Brocail or Springer because they are both old, but risking a first rounder for Cruz is not a bad idea. Cruz is pretty good and still young. The pick we are going to forfeit is a late first round pick anyway. Of all the major professional sports, the baseball draft is the more upredictable; you never know for sure if that five-tool player you saw killing HS pitching will ever hit the breaking ball in professional ball or if that power hitting college player will bring his power to pro ball hitting a wooden bat. At least you know Cruz has a ratio of 12 strikeouts per 9 innings.— EL Zorro
