Harden Falls
The Chicago Cubs just landed Rich Harden in a trade with the Oakland A's.
So in the last two days, the Brewers have announced CC Sabathia and the Cubs have announced Harden. That leaves the Phillies with one
Harden Falls
Todd Zolecki
The Chicago Cubs just landed Rich Harden in a trade with the Oakland A's.
So in the last two days, the Brewers have announced CC Sabathia and the Cubs have announced Harden. That leaves the Phillies with one fewer pitcher to acquire.
Erik Bedard anybody?
A.J. Burnett?
Comments (25)
I've always liked Bedard but am not so high on Burnett. Two National League teams have made moves...Phillies, you're on the clock...and make it count.— cg- This is just depressing. Not only did the Cubs pick up another top SP in Harden, but they also got another rotation piece in Chad Gaudin. Both guys would have been great additions to the Phillies. And I don't think the Cubs really gave up all that much for these two arms - Matt Murton, Sean Gallagher, Eric Patterson, and another minor leaguer. Seriously... we couldn't beat that package????— oldowl
- If Myers can get demoted, why not Ruiz?— John in LA
- I am so F()cking fed up with the Phils offense. Last nights come back was great and all, but it was a little too late. Most of the runs came against the mets worst relievers anyway. Eaton is done I think, his last 4 or 5 starts have been horrible. The offense has totall killed the good vibe this team had. So much for all the comparisons to the 93' team, what a joke!!— Clinton, NJ
- Does anyone remember a team that offensively runs as hot and cold as this one? Joel Piniero? Really?— RG
- Jeez, Harden could have been sweet in Phillies pinstripes. We already have one underachieving head case in Allentown. No thanks to Bedard or Burnett unless one of Gillick's former employers give one away as a sort of retirement gift/lure toward a future Senior Advisor role. I'm still holding out hope for someone more together, like Roy Oswalt or Chris Young.— frankenslade
- Time to pack it up. Fire Manuel and start to rebuild.— mondonj
- Everybody seems to think Kendrick is chopped liver. He has pitched great, and he should be mentioned more along with Hamels!— Clinton, NJ
- I think we're in a freefall and I don't see anyone stepping up to get us out of it. We are well on our way to a 75 win season. Time to send a message to the big guns who have been sorely lacking in production and leadership. My starting lineup for tomorrow night would be Coste, Dobbs, Bruntlett and Feliz, OF of Werth, Jenkins and Taguchi, catcher would be Jaromillo from Lehigh Valley b/c I would send Ruiz down. That should wake some of these overpaid stiffs up.— KMG
Comment removed.- DAVEGAS: There is no other way to feel. Ruiz is so bad with his inning ending double play groundouts that he's even affecting guys who pinch hit for him. Coste was doomed to hit into a double play as well.— bski
- Only one comment on tonight's game......PATHETIC!!! On a lighter note.......Did anyone hear Wild Thing's comment about Sabathia? That at 6'7", 250 pounds, the Phils couldn't afford to feed him! LOL!— Norma
- I luv the Phils but I'm really getting tired of everyone saying the Phils offense is just in a funk. The offense has been wildly inconsistent the entire year. Even last year, the offense wasn't as consistent asit should have been. Fundamentally, as a team, the hitters have a terrible approach. I know Chase has been in a little slump, but it's hard to be mad at a guy who hustles his a$$ off on EVERY play. I really think J-Roll believes he is too cool for school. He's so average right now that he doesn't even deserve a good nickname. I like Mitch Williams and he generally says it like it is, so i hope he's right when he says he's sure the offense will break out of this slump. I long for the days when our only concern was to get pitching help...— MrPhillie
- To me Rollins looks like he doesn't even want to be out there.....there is no aggressiveness on this team, not in the batter's box (unless you count swinging at 2-0 changeups out of the zone aggressive), not on the mound, not on the basepaths...unless you count Utley barrelling into a catcher once a month.....you know that smell you get after 2 weeks when a small animal crawls up into the wallspace in your house and dies? This team has that same smell right now........— Mark1npt
- Mark: The only aggression in this entire organization is that displayed by the owners towards fans' wallets. This team is in dire need of a shakeup, and I don't mean via addition. Ruiz needs to go, Howard needs to be traded, Rollins needs to be put in his place, and who the heck even plays right field? I say we trade all of our starters for 2 or 3 top prospects and focus on 2010.— maximusud
- How about sending down Ruiz and releasing Taguchi? Send a message that this effort is embarassing. FYI, numbers on the "big three", over the last 35 games (tonight's not included but it would only make it worse) Utley has 6HR's, 19 RBI. Rollins is hitting less than .250 and Howard is on pace for 225 strikeouts this year. You three are the leaders of this team, you're each making eight figure salaries. Stop playing like dogs.— KMG
- MrPhillie.....I totally agree with you about Chase. He's about the only player on the team who has never been booed. Even when he was in his 0-24 slump! In fact, the fans gave him a standing ovation when he finally did get his hit to end that slump. I also agree with you about J.Roll being "too cool for school". 99% of the time, I agree with Mitch Williams. And I agree with what he said about J.Roll having to call a team meeting. But since he's a large part of the problem lately, I don't think it will happen. CHARLIE needs to lay into the team like he did after that game in the beginning of last season. It was a real wake-up call. Maybe that will work again. I'm thinking Charlie's thoughts are that the All Star game is coming up and the team will get some rest. And I could have just gagged when Ryan made the little "We're a better second half team" speech, again! EVERY game counts!— Norma
- I saw the Phillies live here in Kuwait and when Ruiz hit into the Double play... I about Gagged!!!— Philly-d-kidder
- Tin Man in the Wizzard of OZ. Their tickers are starting to really trouble me. Milt Thompson have tenure or some pictures. He gotto go. We can't fire the players. I TOLD YOU SO......We need a catcher ! ! ! ! Hitting is contagous and slumps are too...Watching this team run the bases,they(most of them) take one base at a time. They look like an over/55 softball team..When is the last time this team has had a big inning without a HR ? Gillick don't give a rats ass he won't even leave his forwarding address next year. Lame duck GM . I guess he's feeling the pressure from Monty..He's telling Gillick no more spending! The guy who's really stressing,Rueben Amaro, He already has Wade on his speed dial. Looking for Condo in Houston..Who else has him on a short list to hire him..Well thats all for tonight.— pat h
- At the end of the 2004 season (when Jim Thome had a good year for the Phillies and Ryan Howard was had demolished minor league pitching), I suggested in this newspaper that the Phillies should let Howard play first base in the 2005 season and trade Thome for a class A pitcher. Todd answered that this was the most stupid suggestion he had ever heard. I guess I would have said the same had someone else suggested it. But see what happened in 2005. Now I suggest the same: Trade Howard to the American league if some team wants to give a class A pitcher. The only time the Phillies did great in the 40 years I have been following them was after they got Steve Carlton.— piet
- Another loss where the offense is dominated by the opposing team's starter. Everyone goes up looking to pull a fastball. The problem is that starters are in the rotation because they have good secondary pitches, and they seem to always pitch "backwards" to the Fightins. This is where the line-up has problems! Can anybody on this team hit a curveball, slider or change-up? It's rare to ever see an opposing pitcher throw a 2-0 or 3-1 fastball. And why is Chase swinging at high cheese? For that matter, why does anyone swing at high cheese? Yeah, sure, it looks inviting to hit, but nobody ever squares up on it. The first thought in the batter's mind upon seeing a high pitch should be curveball. Let the high fastball go by. You can't hit it, and the umps hardly ever call high strikes these days. Whereas if you think that high pitch to be a curveball, you'll stay back and time it better. Another big problem is 2-strike hitting. This team strikes out way too often. Once you get 2 strikes, the thought should be staying back and hitting the ball up the middle or the other way. But not our Phils. They get 2 strikes and are still trying to pull the ball out of the park, only to look foolish on a breaking pitch or change-up.— southpaw57
- If I hear one more player talk about being a second half team, I'm gonna puke. There seems to be absolutely no leadership on this team, not Utley, Howard, Burrel or Rollins. I still wouldn't have paid Rowand what he got from SF, but it sure looks like the void he has left is a major problem. Plus, I can't watch Carlos (6-4-3) Ruiz anymore, bring up Marson. I loved Charlie's comment that if he was hitting we wouldn't even be talking about Ruiz.....DUH! I've been to every game of this homestand so far and between watching this slop and my wife busting my chops for going to 10 games in a row, I'm thinking of taking up following competitive eating or even soccer instead of baseball....LOL. Geez, this is depressing.— jimmymack
- I was thinking that maybe the pitching staff/Moyer/Hamels/bullpen should conduct the meeting saying we've been working our butts off for you guys now give us some run support!! Someone definitely needs to whip Rollins/Victorino into shape. Gary Matthews even commented on Rollins not waiting for "his pitch" and all the ground outs/pop-ups.— KarenA
- Hmmmm. Interesting thought, Karen A. Why CAN'T the pitching staff call a team meeting? And I've often wondered why they don't look to leadership from the *old guy*, Moyers. Who ever said the *captain* has to be a postion player?— Norma
- The leadership void by Rowan is obvious. There is no leader. Chase is too quiet, JA Roll is thinking Dollar Signs, Howard is thinking Big Macs, and Ruiz is thinking Tacos. Charlie is TOOO NICE!!!! Sorry but only way to wake them up is fire Charlie. They wont listen to Pitchers no one does but other pitchers.— mondonj
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