The Morning After
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND WASHINGTON -- The Phillies trained down to meet their new ace late Thursday night. I'm doing the same right now, trying to catch my breath after a crazy week of rumors and roster moves. Needless to say, this is a dizzying time for these Phillies. Incredible what a week can do. When we left St. Louis, the Phillies had escaped with one victory -- but needed 11 innings despite one-hitting the Cardinals. A rumored deal for Roy Oswalt had hit the skids and the Phils were still teetering on the edge of contention in the National League East. Incredible what a week can do. Now, we're headed to Washington to watch a pitcher named Roy make his anticipated Phillies debut. Sound familiar? So much happened Thursday and it was hard squeezing all of it into the paper. But we had substantial coverage of the deal. A few tidbits that were buried or didn't make it: -- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he is likely done making moves. "We've added enough payroll, I think," he said. That said, Amaro will keep some discussions open in case anything favorable falls his way, like a lefthanded reliever for example. But I highly doubt another move is made before Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline. -- When asked about what adding Oswalt's contract means for free-agent-to-be Jayson Werth, Amaro avoided the question. "This is a situation where we'll have to take that matter when it's time," he said. "Right now we're focused on trying to win this year." -- Details about that 2012 Oswalt club option that turned into a mutual option: If Oswalt opts out of the $16 million option, he receives a $2 million buyout. If the Phillies terminate the option, Oswalt receives a $3 million buyout. -- We won't be able to speak with Oswalt until after he makes his start Friday night. It'll be interesting to see how much he interacts with his new teammates before the game. Typically, pitchers don't like to be bothered before games they start. But there will be so much going on.
The Morning After
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN PHILADELPHIA AND WASHINGTON -- The Phillies trained down to meet their new ace late Thursday night. I'm doing the same right now, trying to catch my breath after a crazy week of rumors and roster moves.
Needless to say, this is a dizzying time for these Phillies.
Incredible what a week can do. When we left St. Louis, the Phillies had escaped with one victory -- but needed 11 innings despite one-hitting the Cardinals. A rumored deal for Roy Oswalt had hit the skids and the Phils were still teetering on the edge of contention in the National League East.
Incredible what a week can do. Now, we're headed to Washington to watch a pitcher named Roy make his anticipated Phillies debut. Sound familiar?
So much happened Thursday and it was hard squeezing all of it into the paper. But we had substantial coverage of the deal.
A few tidbits that were buried or didn't make it:
-- Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he is likely done making moves. "We've added enough payroll, I think," he said. That said, Amaro will keep some discussions open in case anything favorable falls his way, like a lefthanded reliever for example. But I highly doubt another move is made before Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline.
-- When asked about what adding Oswalt's contract means for free-agent-to-be Jayson Werth, Amaro avoided the question. "This is a situation where we'll have to take that matter when it's time," he said. "Right now we're focused on trying to win this year."
-- Details about that 2012 Oswalt club option that turned into a mutual option: If Oswalt opts out of the $16 million option, he receives a $2 million buyout. If the Phillies terminate the option, Oswalt receives a $3 million buyout.
-- We won't be able to speak with Oswalt until after he makes his start Friday night. It'll be interesting to see how much he interacts with his new teammates before the game. Typically, pitchers don't like to be bothered before games they start. But there will be so much going on.
-- Oswalt's career ERA is 3.42. In August, that drops to 2.80. In September and October, it's 2.78.
-- What is Roy Halladay's favorite thing about Oswalt while watching him from afar? "The competitiveness," Halladay said. "He goes after guys. He challenges guys. He competes every time he goes out there."
-- Brad Lidge redefined the role of closer. He spent a good deal of time reassuring Oswalt, his friend and former teammate in Houston, that Philadelphia was a place to be. But Lidge downplayed his role. As he said, "Philly kind of sells itself right now."
"I think he was going to come here regardless," Lidge said. "For the most part, he's pitched in the National League his whole career and he wanted to do that. He's a guy who wants to win. He wants to win a ring. This is his opportunity. This made a lot of sense for him."
-- Jamie Moyer (who has seen his share of midseason trades), probably best sums up the team's attitude at this point:
"I think this club – we’re in an envelope of time where, we have a great chance to win, and I think this organization respects how hard it is to win, the players understand how hard it is to win, the coaching staff understands how hard it is to win, and we’re making a nice little push right now.”
-- And lastly, the Phillies lost a genuinely good guy in J.A. Happ. He has always handled himself professionally -- especially with the writers -- but was obviously overcome with emotion Thursday. Happ is a smart guy (three years at Northwestern will do that, I suppose). He understands the situation, but it didn't make it any easier for him. All he's known is this organization. Wish him the best with Houston, where he starts Friday night.
It speaks well of Lidge that he helped to sell Oswalt on Philadelphia and the club. Lidge may be struggling on the mound but he's been a professional in all other respects.— smel4727- I feel a little bad for Happ. He is leaving one of the top teams to go be a bottom feeder in Houston. I always wanted the Phils to trade him, since I really don't see him as being anything more than a #3 or 4, but this must be tough on him.— therev
- I was hoping just because the Phils added Oswalt,that they would decide not to help the bullpen. And, this is what makes fans so mad about the Lee trade. Because, if the Phils had kept Lee, then they would still have Gose and Happ. SO, if they wanted to fix their greatest weakness,(bullpen) then they would still have the flexiablity to do so. Now, since they added Oswalt, they will do nothing to help bullpen or add utiltiy infielder to help the phils get by into Utley comes back. This part of the story is being under-reported by media. Oswalt trade cripples the organization to fix bullpen. Madson, has an ERA around 6.00 and Lidge is done! Lidge may look good against young aggressive hitters but when he faces patient lineup,(the kind of lineups in playoffs) he is going to struggle and probably cost the Phils some wins. There are plenty of relievers out there that could help, Dotel,Nunez,Farnsworth etc... These guys are all upgrades over Madson and Lidge. Please add atleast another steady arm to bullpen, why risk so much money adding Oswalt and then stupidly not fix the most glaring weakness. BULLPEN!!!!
- Let's not forget in this euphoria that the Phillies still have a mess on their hands with the closer.— Bill from Delaware
Lidge looked good last night. Give him a chance to get totally healthy and hot again.— Leegles- What makes the bullpen even tougher is you have a Rule 5 guy (Herndon) who is seldom used, and a guy (Baez) that you don't want to use, taking up 2 roster spots. Now it sounds like they are going to go with what they have. That's not good enough!— snakeman
- snakeman - exactly right. Making a big bullpen move would require either eating Baez's contract or giving Herndon back to the Angels. Unless someone gets injured I think this is our pen. Is there a glimmer of hope for Baez using him just for one inning? I guess we can hope ...— s
- what time will the press a-holes be asking him a 100 times about the rumors of him not wanting to come to philly— amann08
- Don't read too much into Lidge's outting last night. It wasn't a save opportunity and these are the DBcks.— hbbfam
- Amaro may still get a lefty reliever and I would not be surprised if he did. Wait and see.— KGKoons
- Everyone including Amaro knows the Oswalt trade is an admission that the Lee trade was a mistake. I will give Amaro credit for at least trying to correct the situation. In the past in typical Eagles and Phillies-past fashion they would have taken a more stubborn stance rather than admit a mistake and try to correct it.— dinsdale
I was at the game last night and Lidges stuff was great. He needs to be that way more than once however. I think this road trip will be huge for him.— Servo- They will get a reliever after the non-waiver deadline.— UncleEddie
- Snakeman, you are right. However, I have to think that RAJ and Cholly will make a decision at some point to do what is best for the team. They are obviously holding on to Baez because they think he can help the team. And they don't want to give up Herndon. But the bottom line is they will do what's best for the team when the situation is critical (i.e. Lee last year. Getting Oswalt. Choosing Chan Ho Park as starter, and then letting Happ start last year). This FO deserves credit that they make the tough decisions when they need to.— PSU DEJA BLUE
All the best to HAAP. Hope he kick a** in Houston.
