Comments

[thephaithful]

Pelfrey and Myers have both been on tears as of late. Maybe a litte visit to Shea can wake Burrell up and help drive in the top of the lineup, who have been getting on base much better than in months past. Big series baby, lets go phightins!

[Mike]

Myers would beat the snot out of Pelfrey in a fight. I'm hoping he can at least outpitch him.

[thephaithful]

lets hope pelfrey's wife doesn't try to intervene

[MG]

The 80s style logo is a nice change of pace but I still like the throwback baseball cards ones the most.

[MG]

If the Phils lose tonight, this blog will be overrun by Mets' trolls the next 2 days.

[Bubba]

Third Base coach is serving his suspension for rudeness to umpires - gotta help the Phils score more and get thrown out less,
Coors Light on ice and getting ready for a good night.
Get the Mets out Brett

[drew]

"Coors Light on ice and getting ready for a good night."

With Coors Light, all signs point to a bad morning.

[SJ-Mike]

Maybe new GM Rueben Amaro will clean house after he assumes his new job. And yeah, I kinda laughed when I wrote that.

[PhillR]

Tonight is a good matchup for us. The Mets really struggle against righties. One thing of concern is that the Phillies haven't faced Pelfrey since he turned his season around in June. I hope our scouting reports have been updated.

[SJ-Mike]

I am also an idiot who posted in the wrong thread. I will resume lurking.

[PhillR]

Coors Light is gross. Yuengling please.

[NEPP]

Yeah, with Amaro in charge we'll finally break up that Good Old Boys network that's been running things in the FO.

[NEPP]

Funny story from Jon Heyman's SI column today: The free agent game is such a tricky one, and so many GMs have been burned by it. Towers said the one GM who plays it best is Pat Gillick because Gillick thoroughly researches everyone he pursues. Towers thought he might get a steal when he made a play for Jayson Werth coming off an injury with the Dodgers. But Towers said when he called for Werth and was told, "You better move fast. Pat Gillick's sitting in his living room in Springfield, Ill.'' Werth, who has 21 home runs, has turned out to be a steal for the Phillies.

[MG]

NEPP - I guess Heyman conveniently overlooked Garcia (where Gillick got hoodwinked by the ChiSox) and Eaton.

[CJ]

NEPP: I'm starting to become a big Werth believer. He's had almost a month now of every day play (Since Aug. 8th) and over that time, he's posting an OPS of 1.092. He has 6 HR, 15 RBI and 3 stolen bases (0 CS) in those 26 games.

I truly believe this emergence makes it even less likely that Pat Burrell is back next year.

[CJ]

MG: Well, Garcia wasn't a FA. Eaton, however, is certainly a big black mark on Gillick's free agent resume.

[king0fprussia]

PhillR, I agree on Yuengling. I rarely drink Coors Light (maybe that has something to do with October 07).

[J. Weitzel]

MG: So what you're saying is it's only OK to present photos of Ruben Amaro Jr. in an edgy, 80s, hot-pink way?

[phReed]

Hopefully Dobbs gets the nod tonight.
I talked with Harry the K today...what a gentleman.
I'm going Heineken Light tonight. The beer talk inspired me.

[phReed]

Hopefully Dobbs gets the nod tonight.
I talked with Harry the K today...what a gentleman.
I'm going Heineken Light tonight. The beer talk inspired me.

[NEPP]

I can't wait fot those games next years when we'll sometimes run out an outfield of Jenkins-Vic-Stairs....that'll be sweeeet.

Tonight's Lineup:

SS Bruntlett
CF Taguchi
RF Stairs
LF Golson
1B Tracy
2B Iguchi
3B Cervenak
C Ruiz
SP Myers

[Im a Met Fan]

J. Wietzel -- Great cover picture... I have my new background... and i also love "from beautiful queens ny" similar to when matt posts phils news on metsblog he puts a pink phillie hat

[CJ]

NEPP: Your sarcasm notwithstanding... based on Werth's recent performance, he'd make perfect sense as Burrell's replacement. And we both know Stairs won't be here next year. I'd imagine it will be Jenkins/Someone platooning in the other OF slot.

[clout]

CJ: Is it possible Werth is just having a hot month? Has that ever happened before? What makes you think he's become a new player? And if Werth replaces Burrell in LF, who plays RF?

[philsphan]

^Is that a AAA lineup? Oh wait Golson is in so it must be AA.

[NEPP]

CJ: Sorry sometimes I let it get the best of me...seriously though I'd be okay with Werth a full time guy in LF next season...that is if Burrell gets a huge deal somewhere else. I think Werth will only get better the more he see's righties...he's already got plate discipline which is the hardest thing to teach a hitter. I also agree that Stairs won't be here next season either.

So nobody's cool with my proposed lineup?

[NEPP]

You know if we let Burrell leave we could theoretically afford Sabathia...

~cue the dream music~

"Phillies have signed free agent pitcher CC Sabathia to a 6 year, $150 million deal this morning in a stunning move by the normally conservative franchise from the City of Brotherly Love. The Phillies have made themselves the favorite to win the NL East in 2009 with an outstanding rotation of:

1. CC Sabathia
2. Cole Hamels
3. Brett Myers
4. Jamie Moyer
5. Joe Blanton/JA Happ/Carlos Carrasco/Kendrick all fight it out in Spring Training.

~music dies~

Where was I?

[CJ]

clout: Actually, Werth would stay in RF and I'd imagine we'd put someone else in LF which is a much less demanding defensive position. I'm not sure who they'd sign for the other outfield position.

And I'm not arguing that this is MY preferred option. I'm merely saying that Werth's performance as an everyday player is making it a lot easier on this front office to justify letting Burrell walk.

[NEPP]

CJ, I'm sure the FO is thinking the exact same thing about Werth and Burrell's departure. They'll mention that and then purposely "leak" some story about Burrell turning down their respectable offer 2 days after he signs a 3-4 year deal with an AL team.

[CJ]

clout: Maybe the Phils will get one of the Marlins outfield castoffs like Cody Ross. I'm not saying he can come close to filling Burrell's shoes, but the Marlins will likely be dumping someone like Ross or Hermeida since they have so many arbitration eligible players and they have Maybin knocking on the door in the minors.

Or maybe they sign a guy like Milton Bradley or bring back Bobby Abreu!!!! ;-)

[NEPP]

Oooh Abreu! He's a former gold-glover you know.

And he's having the typical pre free agent surge in his stats this season.

[J.R. King]

Awesome artwork Jason

Mets-Phils is the lead story on mlb.com as well as Yahoo and ESPN baseball pages

[clout]

NEPP: "he's having the typical pre free agent surge in his stats this season."

Sometimes you make statements that are so clueless they take me aback. You're usually pretty sharp.
Abreu OPS+ past 4 seasons
2005 126
2006 126
2007 114
2008 121

[J.R. King]

Either the teams need to post lineups or I need to calm down about this game.

Maybe I'll stop hitting refresh and grab a Yuengling.

[CJ]

clout: Did none of my options intrigue you? Let's say we operate from the assumption that Burrell will be too pricy (not an unreasonable assumption)... what do you suggest this team does?

[clout]

CJ: Bradley would be an extremely high-risk player. He's topped 500 ABs only once in his career and he's having a career year at age 30 in his walk year. Also, his defense is now just average. Mix in attitude problems and you've got a high-priced disaster waiting to happen.

That said, because he won't be as expensive as Burrell and the other top free agents I expect the Phillies to make him their number 1 priority.

[CJ]

BAck to the standard lineup
Rollins
Victorino
Utley
Howard
Burrell
Werth
Dobbs
Coste
Myers

[NEPP]

clout, on Abreu I was referring to his post all star numbers this year: .356 avg, .430 OBP, .950 OPS in 177 ABs, 14 2B, 5 HR, 36 R, 25 RBI, 23 BB, 27 SO.

Its like he woke up after the break and realized "Hey, I'm a free agent in 3 months...crap."

[CJ]

clout: Certianly high-risk... that's for sure. But if we could get 400 ABs out of him and a 120 OPS+, we could always trot Jenkins out there against a handful of RHP for the other 150 ABs.

[clout]

CJ: "Let's say we operate from the assumption that Burrell will be too pricy (not an unreasonable assumption)... what do you suggest this team does?"

Rebuild. If they can't afford Burrell then they have no chance at the other top OF free agents (Manny, Dunn). That means an OF next year of Werth-Vic-Jenkins/Golson. They would be lucky to win 82 games with those guys even if they signed Sabathia, which they won't.

[clout]

NEPP: Players have streaks. See Pat Burrell, who this board has declared both washed up and a superstar at various times while he finishes with the same stats year after year.

[NEPP]

5 Safe Bets for 2009:

1. Moyer will not come close to his 08 numbers which are out of line with his last few years.

2. Myers won't be as good as he has been in the 2nd half but should still be respectable.

3. Rollins should be better...not much better but a little better.

4. Howard should be much better average wise.

5. Bullpen won't repeat this run...too many FA's leaving.

[CJ]

clout: You don't believe they could land a guy like Milton Bradley? I doubt he'd be cost-prohibitive. He's never made more than $5 million in a season. I'm not saying he could replace Burrell, but a career 118 OPS+ isn't terrible... as long as he can stay healthy (big if).

I don't think Golson is in this team's ML plans for next year... unless he's the 5th OF on our bench.

[KoolEarl]

clout- but are they as pronounced or prolonged as Burrells slumps have been over the years?

[CJ]

NEPP: I would expect Myers to be closer to his 120 ERA+, which would make him a very solid #2 starter behind Hamels.

I'm not positive Moyer is back next year.

[McFadden]

Is guess the'takeover' of shea will be rained out tomorrow?

[NJPhilliesPhan]

Going to get a beer myself and settle in for the game. Lets go Phils!

[NEPP]

Moyer could very easily hit a big brick wall if he comes back. He is going on 46 afterall. I agree on Myers though...I think he likes being a starter again. You gotta give him credit...he's brought his ERA+ up to 101 going into tonight's start. Considering everything...that's a pretty impressive accomplishment.

[BloodStripes]

Lets go Phillies!!!

[CJ]

Go Phils! I'll try to jump on some this weekend. Later...

[BloodStripes]

Take to the tongue chewer Phils. Gotta win.

[phReed]

to quote Creed in II: ding ding

[redbeard]

let go fightins!

[curt]

Met announcers are already laughing at Cholly for batting Utley & Howard back to back

[mb]

Beerleaguer consensus seems to be that this game is going to require some alcohol. I agree.

[phReed]

that about sums it up from the leadoff-a-game spot

[Dan R.]

What a great start for the announcers...Harry said Rollins' fly went to right...haha.

[EastFallowfield]

Charlie trying to ensure we see Pedro Feliciano sometime tonight.

[redbeard]

nice steal vic

[EastFallowfield]

Nice play Jose Reyes allowing Shane the extra base, costs 'em a run.

[BloodStripes]

Good start Phils.

[phReed]

Cohen saying that is a homer at CBP. Relax, whiner. This booth is acting a little too frontrunnerish.

[inky]

Yeah really....a homer in CBP? Please. Has he even seen some of the bombs Howard hits to opposite field? What a homer.

[EastFallowfield]

They say Kalas can't see anymore-look at Cohen...he called a fly ball a CBP HR and now says Burrell's flop after the dive cost the Phils an extra base-the ball was far enough away that the extra base was there anyway.

[redbeard]

talk about embarrassing plays

[Russ]

hey they scored 1-0 Phils!!!!

[Russ]

aw man Murphy doubled

[Russ]

davis wright is really working the count

[curt]

22 games before Bat is a DH.

[Russ]

full count

[NEPP]

CBP's dimensions as imagined by most other teams:

LF: 205
CF: 288
RF: 198

[Russ]

David Wright walked

[Russ]

this is the live game chat right???

[inky]

How was that third ball not a strike?? Wow.

[EastFallowfield]

Delgado's 10th DP hit into in 8 games. Wow.

[redbeard]

wright went down looking. the ump was wrong.

nice dp.

[EastFallowfield]

Seems pretty quiet at Shea so far. Maybe they're nervous?

[inky]

That's almost up to a Ruiz-ian level.

[Russ]

this is the live game chat right???

[Wanks]

Yeah, it's a bit slow tonight.

[redbeard]

shut up mccarthy. noone cares about your stupid reports, especially during at-bats. just go away please.

[NEPP]

Burrell's fall back to earth has got to be the most disappointing part of this season.

[KoolEarl]

Burrell still looking like a slack-jawed yokel at the plate

[inky]

Just read Lauber's update for tonight's game.... A letter from Schmitty and a good read before this series.

http://www.delawareonline.com/blogs/phillies.html

[Lemoyne]

If it takes an email from Michael Jack to win this series, fine...

[Dan R.]

Good thing Burrell's error didnt cost a run in the first. If he stays on his feet and just fields the ball and gives up the hit, Murphy doesn't get to second. He is slow as hell.

[curt]

A few guys on this Met team are too hot to touch.

[J. Weitzel]

I'd rather have a letter from Aaron Rowand.

[EastFallowfield]

Castillo's gonna kill us tonight because the Mets fans are upset he's in there, and they're usually wrong.

[NEPP]

~reads Weitzel's comment~

LOL...the only problem is the postage on that letter is kinda pricy.

[inky]

hilarious...if only we had a letter from Rod Barajas along with it.

[EastFallowfield]

Gary Cohen says something about "Mr. Freeze" on the way to break thinking they're off the air...guess he's talking about Castillo's AB.

[EastFallowfield]

42 pitches for Myers already. Another innings eater!

[inky]

Myers' pitch count is wayyyy to high for only two innings. Let's hope he can get some easy outs the next few.

[phReed]

Jimmy's at bats tonight have been awful.

[Hope SE]

Re Rollins: I just have Gameday, but it looked like he pulled a low outside pitch to the right side -- if so, just terrible, over-trying, poor approach. phReed sounds right.

[EastFallowfield]

Phils didn't read Schmitty's email.

[kells]

Top of the 4th-time to switch to the Mets broadcast. McCarthy is unbearable.

[SJ-Mike]

No dance for Reyes!

[EastFallowfield]

Reyes had already started to dance before Howard snagged his liner.