The Roy Halladay and cash for 3 prospects deal between the Phillies and the  Toronto Blue Jays, and the Cliff Lee for 3 prospects deal between the Phils and the Seattle Mariners (with the Mariners flipping a prospect each with the Oakland A’s) was actually two trades but historically, the huge 4 team deal will be seen as one and will rank high in the MLB all-time trade records.

A lot of ink has been spilled as to why the Phils foiled all of our dreams by trading lefthander Lee.  Our dreams of a Halladay, Lee top of the rotation all went for naught over an alleged ceiling on the Phils payroll budget and perceived need to replenish a Minor League system depleted by last season’s trade for Lee and the deal for Halladay.

Lee, whose short stint surely will go down in MLB annals having won his first 5 starts, completing 2 of them, going eight innings in a 3rd and seven innings each in the 2 others.  He struggled a bit in September, but then went undefeated in 5 post-season starts winning 4 of them, including a sensational 6 hit, 10 strikeout World Series opening win over the Yankees in the Bronx.  I can’t recall a pitcher in my 50-some years of baseball consciousness who accomplished what Lee accomplished in a mere 2 months of regular season and in the post-season.

It would have been a sight to behold; Halladay, Lee, a hopefully rejuvenated  Cole Hamels with Joe Blanton and lefthander J.A. Happ providing the balance of the starting rotation.   The prospect of Halladay joining Lee at the top may well have eased the pressure on the bullpen immensely allowing for flexibility regarding the set-up and closer spots.  Both Halladay and Lee are capable of complete games with every start.  Halladay’s got 49 CG in his 12 season career, 25 of them in the past 3 seasons alone.  Lee notched 10 CGs over his last 3 seasons, 13 for his career.

In looking at the respective careers of Halladay and Lee, Halladay looks on paper to be the superior pitcher.  But the Philies fates in 2010 ride to a large extent on whether Hamels recovers his 2008 magic, whether Happ can at least equal his rookie year performance, whether Blanton can continue to pitch effectively, whether Brad Lidge’s efforts in 2010 more closely resemble 2008 than 2009 and whether the Phils can add some further depth and efficiency to the bullpen.  If Hamels falters, the second-guessers will have a field-day ripping Amaro Jr. for trading away Cliff Lee.

We eagerly anticipate spring training and the 2010 season.  It’s great to be a Phillies fan and know that we’re not hoping futile hopes and pipe-dreams.  Checkout this Phillies Nation piece on Phillies fans’ perspective on the coming 2010 season — makes for enjoyable reading.

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After blogging straight through from the inception of this blog in April, 2006 through the end of the 2009 World Series, I decided to take some time off with the end of the Series on November 4.

While resting from blogging, I did try to keep on top of the Phillies’ frenetic off-season action leading up to the recent vintage “Mother of Blockbuster Deals” — where super-star pitcher Roy Halladay was acquired from the  Toronto Blue Jays for 3 top prospects while trading last year’s ace and post-season undefeated lefthander Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners for 3 Mariner top prospects.  Phillies fans, who had fond visions of a monster Halladay/Lee top of the rotation had those dreams dashed.  But more about the Halladay/Lee moves in a subsequent post.  But for now, here is a pretty comprehensive list of reports following the ebb and flow of the Halladay/Lee Deal:

• Phillies Get Halladay, Mariners Acquire Lee, by Gregg Bell  (AP Sports)
• Holding 2 Aces Never in Cards, by Andy Martino (Inquirer Staff Writer)
• Seven Prospects Involved in Blockbuster, By Jonathan Mayo and Lisa Winston  (MLB.com)
• Halladay an Important Upgrade for Phillies, by Mike Bauman   (MLB.com)
• Bill Conlin: Phillies GM Amaro is Master of the Shell Game, by Bill Conlin   (Daily News Sports Columnist)
• AP Source: Phils Have Tentative Deal for Halladay, by Rob Maaddi  (AP
  Sports Writer)
• Halladay to Phillies; Lee to Mariners, by Jeff Passan
• Halladay Deal Starts Taking Firmer Shape, 3 Phillies Prospects Said Coming Back    (The Canadian Press)

To begin, it appears that the Phils have parted ways with erstwhile starter/ reliever Brett Myers and let reliever Clay Condrey go to free agency. 

They signed free agent infielder Placido Polanco, who incidently preceded current incumbent Chase Utley at 2nd base.  Polanco  played some 3rd base during his stay with the Phillies and the consensus is that the Phils acquired an important cog here.  In my estimation, Polanco’s offensive stats reflect an offensive upgrade over Pedro Feliz at 3rd base.  Their respective 2009 offensive production in homers and RBIs are close to even, although career-wise Polanco averages more games played per season than Feliz while striking out less and drawing more walks.  Polanco’s career batting average is 50 points higher than Feliz and is  although, career-wise Feliz has 45 homers more than Polanco.  Defensively, they are both on a par.  I like the flexibility of Polanco in the lineup availing the Phillies consisted small-ball possibilities as well as the power of Ryan Howard, Raul Ibanez, Utley and Jayson Werth.

The Phils also signed utility players Ross Gload and Juan Castro as well as  Brian Schneider to spell 1st string starting catcher Carlos Ruiz.

The top 4 of Phillies starting rotation shapes up at this early point as Halladay as the ace with lefthander Cole Hamels followed by Joe Blanton or young 2009 Rookie of the Year contender lefthander J.A. Happ, depending on manager Charlie Manuel’s preference as to the #3 and #4 spots.  It appears that ageless lefthander Jamie Moyer, youngster Kyle Kendrick and possibly Chan Ho Park battling for the 5th spot.  Here’s hoping that Hamels is able to comeback to his 2008 form which won him MVP in both the NLCS and the World Series and that Halladay’s work ethic has a positive rub-off on the rest of the pitching staff.

Consensus has it that Moyer has the edge due to the size of his contract and so it may well be that Kendrick and Park may again join Ryan Madson, a hopefully healthy and straight J.C. Romero, Chad Durbin, closer Brad Lidge and some young hopefuls. 

The big challenge for the Phils will be ascertaining of Lidge is able to return to something approximating his 2008 form rather than his disastrous 2009 and making an insurance move to spell him should he again falter.  A steady, consistent bullpen, with Halladay completing games often enough to keep the ‘pen rested spells a 100 win season and a sure 4th straight trip to the post-season.  Go Phillies!

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Joe Blanton pitched 5 quality innings on Friday in his final tune-up for the regular season, with Tampa Bay scoring single runs in the 1st and 4th innings.  The Phillies bullpen was nearly perfect shutting the door on the Rays over the final 4 innings while infielder Jason Donald drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded rightfield single as the Phils edged the Rays by a 3-2 score in Pat Burrell’s return to Philly game.

In Saturday’s game, ace lefthander Cole Hamels was pounded for 6 Tampa Bay runs on 6 hits in 5 innings, although Hamels struck out 7 while walking 1 and Rays starter Matt Garza was rocked nearly as bad giving up 4 runs on 6 hits in 4 innings as Tampa Bay came out on top in a 9-7 slugfest.

Burrell, sporting a Tampa Bay uniform in 2009 after spending the previous 9 years with the Phils, was emotional about his return to Philadelphia. The  AP recap for Yahoo sports reports;

The Phillies treated their former outfielder to a five-minute video presentation on PhanaVision before Friday’s game.

Burrell watched from the dugout as his career played out before his eyes, to the tune of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love is.” An emotional Burrell came out of the dugout to thunderous applause and tipped his cap.

“I didn’t know they’d bring out the archives,” he said. “It was pretty special. I didn’t anticipate that. It was definitely emotional, something I’ll never forget.”

Upon his 1st inning plate appearance, Burrell was yet again loudly cheered and again tipped his cap to the fans.

The AP recap continues that Burrell;

lined an RBI single for Tampa Bay’s first run. He went 1-for-3 with a walk, and delighted the 39,338 by swiping his first stolen base [in the 6th inning] since 2004.

“I couldn’t believe I was safe,” Burrell said.

“We’re going to miss Pat,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “He was here for a long time and everybody liked him. Pat was a big contributor and played a big role of leadership. We’re going to miss him and wish him all the luck in the world. If he had to leave, I’m glad he’s in the American League. At the same time, life goes on for the Phillies.”

The Phils notched a run in the 6th inning and, trailing 2-1 going into the 9th inning, they sent out closer Brad Lidge who pitched a perfect 9th inning.  The Phils tied the game in th 9th before Jason Donald’s bases-loaded walkoff single won the game.  Lidge notched a win in his final tune-up while reliever Winston Abreu, who gave up 2 hits and loaded the bases before Donald got his game-winning hit, was charged with the loss.

On Saturday, Hamels was pounded for 4 runs out of the starting blocks in the 1st inning as Burrell, in an unusual lead-off spot in the batting order, solved Hamels for a lead-off homer and 1st baseman Carlos Pena went yard on Hamels with 2 men on later in the inning.

Hamels recovered to pitch scoreless ball in the 2nd through 4th innings as the Phils knotted the game in the 4th as rightfielder Raul Ibanez and 3rd baseman Greg Dobbs each slammed 2 run homers off of Garza.

But a tie is as close as the Phils got as Tampa Bay went ahead with 2 more runs off of Hamels.  The Phils got 1 run back as Jason Donald, replacing  Jimmy Rollins at shortstop, slugged a 2 out solo shot — 6-5 Rays.

The Phils and Rays trded 2 runs each in the 7th with the Rays pounding lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero in his final pre-season appearance.  We won’t be seeing Romero for a while as he begins serving his 50 game suspension on opening day.  The Rays added an insurance run in the 9th.

Garza, although being pounded in the 4th inning, was awarded the win and Hamels was charged with the loss.

In other news, lefthander J.A. Happ, who lost out to Chan Ho Park for the 5th rotation spot, made the opening day roster and will be assigned to the bullpen.  The Phils now have 3 available lefthanded relief arms with Happ,  Jack Taschner and Scott Eyre as Romero serves out his 50 game suspension.

A couple of days ago, this blog noted that the Phils were looking at veteran outfielder Gary Sheffield as a possible additional righthanded bat off of the bench.  On Friday, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo reported that Sheffield has signed a deal with the Mets and may get to play everyday in rightfield.  Sheffield would have been a good match for the Phils off of the bench, but, as a starter and a position player in rightfield, he’s old and slow afoot.  Look for the Phillies talented and slugging lefthanded hitters such as Chase Utley and Ryan Howard to give a rightfielder Sheffield fits and rack plenty of extra-bases.

For all of Friday’s and Saturday’s results of spring training play,  click here and here.

Sunday is opening day and the Phillies open the season hosting the Atlanta Braves.   Brett Myers will start the opener for the Phis against Atlanta’s Derek Lowe.  The teams have Monday off and resume play on Tuesday as Joe Blanton is opposed by 23 year old Jair Jurrjens.

For all of Sunday’s opening day games, click here.

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As previously noted on this blog, when the Phillies released outfielder  Geoff Jenkins, they also initiated contacts with veteran outfielder and AL DH Gary Sheffield in their search for another righthanded hitting bat off of the bench.  MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki indicates that the Phils are also looking at  Texas Rangers’ outfielder Andruw Jones but, IMHO, Sheffield, with his 499 career homers and career BA in the .290’s is by far the preferable choice.

Zolecki rpeorts:

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he spoke with Sheffield and his representative, Rufus Williams, after the the slugger’s release was announced Tuesday morning. Sheffield, who will make $14 million this season, can sign with any team once he clears waivers. And the team that signs him would have to pay only the league-minimum $400,000.

The Phillies want Sheffield, but would Sheffield want to play for the Phillies?

It seems like a long shot. He played just 18 games in the outfield over the past two seasons with the Tigers, while playing 225 games as a designated hitter. Obviously, Sheffield would not have that option with the Phillies.

“I can go out there on an everyday basis and play in the outfield,” Sheffield said. “That’s what I yearn for. I want to be in the outfield. At the same time, it kind of puts you in a box when you accept the DH role, because people start labeling you as that’s all you can do. And that’s not the case.”

But even if Sheffield can play in the outfield, he would not be an everyday player with the Phillies, who have Raul Ibanez,  Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth in the outfield. Sheffield has just 34 plate appearances as a pinch-hitter in his career, hitting .360 (9-for-25) with one homer and 10 RBIs. Would he accept a reserve role?

“We had a very productive conversation with the Phillies,” Williams said Tuesday evening in a telephone interview. “We’ll take the next couple days to see where we are. It’s a hard question to answer at this point. We’ll have to see the opportunities that present themselves, and see where he wants to go based on those opportunities.”

But it is clear the Phillies prefer another right-handed bat for their bench.

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Righthander Brett Myers provided a quality pitching performance giving up 1 run, a homer, and 3 hits while striking out 3 in 4 innings, leftfielder   Raul Ibanez and rightfielder Jayson Werth put on a hitting clinic and 5 relievers pitching an inning apiece gave up but 2 hits while walking none for the Phillies as they breezed past the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday at Clearwater by a 9-1 score.

The Phils scored single runs in the 1st and 3rd innings before scoring 2, 3 and 2 more in the 5th, 6th and 7th innings.  Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, Werth, Ibanez and 3rd baseman Pedro Feliz each picked up 2 hits as Ibanez drove in 3 runs and Werth collected 2 RBIS.    Myers won his 2nd game of the spring while Toronto’s lefthander Brad Mills, against whom 7 of the 9 Phillie runs scored in 5 1/3 innings of work, was charged with the loss.

MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports that the Phils have released outfielder  Geoff Jenkins, who pounded a clutch pinch hit double which led to the World Series winning run in the 6th inning of the 5th game of last season’s post-season classic against the Tampa Bay Rays.  Zolecki notes:

While Jenkins had one of the biggest pinch-hit at-bats in Phillies’ history, Philadelphia did not think he could be as effective a pinch-hitter as Matt Stairs, and the club unconditionally released Jenkins on Tuesday — paving the way for an additional right-handed bat off the bench.

Jenkins said that the move is tough to take but Zolecki reports:

“What’s there to be mad about?” Jenkins said. “I picked a great year to be here. I wish it worked out better and I could be with them, but I don’t regret one minute. I wouldn’t change a thing being with these guys, going through what we went through last year.”

At the same time that the Phils released Jenkins, they have apparently had contacts with veteran outfielder Gary Sheffield who had just been released by the Detroit Tigers, but more about that in separate post.

The Phillies also announced the news that Chan Ho Park beat out J.A. Happ in the competition for the No. 5 starter behind Myers, Cole Hamels,   Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton.

For all of Tuesday’s results of spring training play, click here.

It’s official that Myers will be the opening day starter for the 3rd consecutive year according to this report by MLB.com’s Zolecki:

Myers allowed three hits and one run in four innings against the Jays on Tuesday. He struck out three en route to finishing the spring with a 3.52 ERA.

“The way he’s pitched here, he was the logical choice,” Manuel said.

Left-hander Jamie Moyer will start next Tuesday against the Braves. Right-hander Joe Blanton will pitch April 8.  Hamels, who will make an exhibition start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park, is scheduled to pitch April 10 against the Rockies in Denver. Myers would then be slated to pitch the 11th, and right-hander Chan Ho Park would toe the rubber on the 12th.

The Phillies next play the Yankees on Wednesday at Steinbrenner Field. The Phils have yet not named a starter but it is reported that Brad Lidge, Lefthanded reliever Scott Eyre and Ryan Madson are scheduled to pitch against the Bronx guys.  The Phils close out their Florida exhibition schedule by entertaining the Washington Nationals at Clearwater on Thursday.

For all of Wednesday’s scheduled exhibition games, click here.

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The Phillies displayed their offensive power pounding 3 of their 4 homers against lefthander Mike Hampton.  Veteran Chan Ho Park made a big pitch for the 5th rotation spot count as the Phillies belted the Houston Astros by a 13-3 score at Clearwater on Monday.

After the Astros touched Park for a run on rightfielder Hunter Pence’s RBI double in the 1st inning, the Phils answered in the bottom of the inning as shortstop Jimmy Rollins quickly knotted the score by solving Hampton for a lead-off homer.

When Kazuo Matsui’s RBI double put Houston up by 2-1 in the 2nd inning,  Eric Bruntlett, playing 3rd base, reached Hampton for a 2 run shot to give the Phils a 3-2 lead.  The Phils added 2 runs in the 4th on RBIs by Bruntlett and catcher Carlos Ruiz, as well as 2 more in the 5th on a 2 out, 2 run shot by 1st baseman Ryan Howard, his 9th homer of the spring.

Meanwhile, Park breezed through his final 3 2/3 innings, allowing a total of six hits, two runs while walking 1 and striking out 7 in an impressive 5 2/3 innings to win his 2nd game of the spring.  Hampton was charged with his 2nd spring loss.

Reliever Chad Durbin replaced Park with 2 out in the 6th and was touched for a solo shot by shortstop Edwin Maysonet before recording the final out of the inning.

The Phils offense continued to click in the 6th inning busting the game wide open with 4 more runs highlighted by catcher Ruiz’s 2nd homer of the spring, a 2 run blast off of lefthanded reliever Wesley Wright as the score mounted to 11-3.

Relievers Clay Condrey and Mike Koplove shut down the Astros in the 7th and 8th innings.

The Phillies added 2 more runs on 3 hits in the 8th off of reliever Chris Sampson

For all of Monday’s results of spring training play, click here.

In other news, the Phils reported releasing veteran infielder Marcus Giles while optioning off outfielder John Mayberry Jr. and right-hander Carlos Carrasco to Minor League camp.   The Carrasco move was expected in that he’s got potential but showed this spring that he still needs more seasoning.  Regarding Mayberry,  MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki notes:

Mayberry hit .246 (17-for-69) with six doubles, three homers and 10 RBIs. The Phillies prefer he play every day in Triple-A Lehigh Valley rather than sit on the bench and get a couple pinch-hit at-bats a week with the Phillies.

Ace lefthander Cole Hamels, recovering from left elbow discomfort, was shelled for 3 runs on 10 hits in 4 innings in a minor league start, also at the Carpenter Complex.   Hamels threw 65 pitches in the outing and is scheduled to start the Saturday exhibition game in Philadelphia against the Tampa Bay Rays.   MLB’s Todd Zolecki indicates that Hamels “believes he will be ready to pitch April 10 against the Rockies in Denver.”

Righthander Brett Myers goes for the Phils as they host the Toronto Blue Jays in a Tuesday night game at Clearwater in one of his final tune-ups for the April 5th season opener against the Atlanta Braves.   Zolecki also indicates that the opening day start may be up for grabs between Myers and Joe Blanton who has had an excellent spring.

For all of Tuesday’s scheduled exhibition games, click here.

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