Beerleaguer for breakfast: Taking stock

Cole Hamels joins the growing list of non-existent or injured cornerstones on a team that appears short on horses. Is it time to despair?

The season is a marathon and not a sprint and yada-yada, but there’s one important marker the Phillies must strive to reach: July 13, the first of a three-day All-Star break. This is a tired team, this is an anxious team, this is an increasingly desperate team, but as best as they can, they need to get through these next few games with some wins, get the confidence back and go into the break ready to start fresh.

The season is quickly passing Hamels by. Readers speculated that his velocity has never quite come around to where it was a season ago. Others think he needs another pitch. I’m hesitant to go along with that. I see elevated pitches and a lot of good swings at him. There will be no Cy Young for the ace of the Phillies’ staff, who at this point, appears to be letting too much get to his head, including the officiating. He needs to get back to basics. His fastball/change-up combination is a devastating mix. It’s how he won the World Series and NLCS MVP, and it's how he’ll break out of this slump. He doesn’t need to be throwing breaking balls to the opposing pitcher, for example.

I see a lot of the same issues with the offense, which managed just two hits. They’re overanxious and chasing everything. Jimmy Rollins is a desperate hitter and an easy target for pitchers to pitch away. They’ve been lost without Raul Ibanez, their first-half cornerstone and best run producer, who said he's feeling significantly better, but still hasn't taken the field.

Maybe instead of a closed-door meeting, the Phillies should huddle-up and watch videotape of themselves in the Yankees series. This is a smarter team than what they’re showing. As expected, they’ve struggled through a very rough patch of the schedule. What should have been a fairly pleasant homestand to split long road trips, with games against Toronto and Baltimore, turned into an unpleasant grind. They’re clearly feeling the aftereffects at the end of this roadtrip.

One can only hope it’s fatigue, but the fact is they’re missing too many key components to compete at a high level, with Rollins' rally-ruining 0-for-27, Brad Lidge’s struggles, Hamels, the loss of Brett Myers and Ibanez’s injury. The Phillies are in a very bad spot.

Comments

[G-Town Dave]

Yup, that summarizes thesituation just about perfectly. Unfortunately for us fans, there's not much to do except wait & hope that the Phils find some brains & pride, & turn this thing around before it's too late.

[Tony D]

They'll turn it around, they are not as bad as they have been playing. It never is as bad as it seems.

Go to your 4th of July picnics and forget about this team for a while.

[Klaus]

I left for vacation on June 18th--the Phillies had just been or were about to be handled by the Orioles. I come home July 5th. I haven't seen a single game in the interim. I count myself deeply lucky.

With distance comes serenity. It can't get worse. The Phillies aren't a .300 ball club. A lot of them are playing well below career averages. It will get better. The division blows--really, truly. The issue will be decided, yet again, in September, but I like our chances. Top to bottom we are better than our nearest competitors. Plus, grit, grinding, heart, know how to win, been there, etc. etc.

[clout]

I agree with klaus from the prior thread and this team, talent-wise, is better than last year's as well as the best in the division.

But talent doesn't always = performance. Last year some players performed to the maximum of their talent. And, perhaps most important, everyone stayed healthy.

This year, totally different story. But, like klaus, I think this goes to the last week of the season.

[clout]

In LV, Carrasco scheduled to take the mound tonight against those tough Syracuse Chiefs.

BTW, the 4-5-6 batters in the Pigs lineup are Andy Tracy, Tony Tiffee and Dave Newhan. Scare anyone?

[Bay Slugga]

Someone on this team needs to step up and be a vocal leader on the field and off.

[loctastic]

so this was a bad weekend to get tickets for? damn

[clout]

A number of posters in the off-season suggested the Phils sign Juan Rivera, who, as a righty, would complement the Phils lefthanded power and is only 30 years old.

Rivera's line so far this season:
.304/.344/.515 with 14 homers and 46 RBI

[Burt]

can you freakin' believe this?!?!

What's a guy mired in the worst slump of his life to do? Sign on with Red Bull, of course.

PHILLIES SHORTSTOP JIMMY ROLLINS RECEIVES HIS WIIINGS AT JULY 4th GAME VS RIVAL NEW YORK METS
The First MLB Player to Join the Red Bull Roster,Rollins to Arrive to Game in Tricked-out Vehicle: The Red Bull MXT

WHAT: Rollins will arrive to the Phillies July 4th game raring to go in the hooked-up Red Bull MXT truck as Jimmy gets dropped off at MLB’s biggest rival game. This is Rollins’ first appearance as a Red Bull athlete and is the first MLB player to be supported by the energy drink leader.

**INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY WITH JIMMY**
Rollins attracted Red Bull by his emerging superstar status and dynamic on and off the field. Besides being an All Star and MVP Shortstop, Rollins spends his off-season recruiting new talent for his music label Bay Sluggas Inc., hosting bowling fundraisers for the Arthritis Foundation and collecting custom cars.

WHO: Philadelphia Phillies Short Stop Jimmy Rollins and Red Bull

WHERE: Citizens Bank Park JETRO LOT and PLAYER’s ENTRANCE
One Citizens Bank Way
Philadelphia, PA

WHEN: Saturday, July 4th, 2009 12PM

Call me old-fashioned, but when you're trucking into July with a .205 batting average, a league worst .250 on base percentage and a lousy 11 stolen bases (against 5 caught stealings), and on the heels of a very high-profile benching, maybe you should arrive at the ballpark early and quietly to study game tape and not in the "hooked-up Red Bull MXT truck"

[sneed]

clout: Signing Rivera would have prevented us from signing Ibanez, no?

[MG]

The offense isn't this bad and they will bounce back to some degree when Ibanez returns. These 3 Braves' starters could make any opposing offense look pretty weak and the back end of their bullpen with Gonzalez/Soriano is pretty damn solid too.

As for the pitching though, I do think it is really this bad or close to it. Still a huge question mark on what they will get from Lidge and right now this team has one of the 4-5 worst rotations in baseball.

Both Hamels and Blanton have pitched like back-end rotation guys, Moyer has worse numbers than Eaton at this time last year, and they are scrounging for a 5th starter. The only bright spot has been Happ.

Yeah they are likely to make a move for a starter at the deadline but the offense is going to have to carry this team in the 2nd half into the playoffs again.

[Jack]

Sneed: I think Clout's love for Dobbs means he would have preferred a Dobbs/Rivera platoon to Ibanez in left.

[MG]

sneed - Could have used that money instead to make a run at Lowe or another frontline starter. Still, Amaro was 100% in his call about Ibanez over Burrell.

Question is that he has come up snake eyes on all of his pitching moves. Moyer signing looks more foolish as day goes by (they are likely going to be on the hook for him to at $10M next year if he gives them 30 GS and 190 IP), Park was misused and overpaid, and Taschner has been a complete bust. Only Eyre has been effective in his role.

It hasn't helped though that Myers went down or that Hamels and Lidge have been big disappointments this year to a combo on injury/ineffectiveness. No GM can do much if his ace and closer perform so poorly coming off a year where they were the two lynchpins on your pitching staff.

[DanTheMan]

Some thoughts from Reading last night:

- Eyre got beat around pretty good by a lineup that featured one player with an average above .260

- Mike Taylor is still an absolute beat of a man and his 15th HR last night was no cheap shot to left-center. He also stole a base and slapped a single to the right side, while displaying good patience at the plate... more on him later

- Drabek was solid. He did get hit around a little but limited the damage and broke off a couple nice curveballs for Ks. The incredibly unreliable gun at Reading had him at 98 at one point in the 2nd and he was still hitting 95 in the 6th and 7th.

- Altoona is a BAD team. Can't hit, can't field. They had 3 errors. Their middle infielders must have miscommunicated 5 or 6 times. If the Pirates are really rebuilding I don't see a lot of help for them at AA

- The most disappointing part of the night was how Taylor flat out DOGS it out there. I don't know, maybe the knee is bothering him. The kid shows no desire to run hard in the field. He is the last one in the dugout every inning.... by a lot. 2 things jumped out last night. In the first inning with a runner on first Altoona doubled off the wall. As the runner obviously pulled up at 3rd, Taylor hauled off and overshot 2 cutoff men to throw a laser to home. Totally unnecessary!
Then in the 9th, on a low line drive, Taylor misplayed the ball and let it carom off his leg into the corner. He loped after it while allowing the runner to reach 3rd... no excuse for it. Should have been one base for the runner hands down.

They need to get someone to get in his earhole a little bit. His natural skills are making him so good that he looks like he's coasting out there.

He really reminded me of a certain former Phillie who could steal bases but never run down a fly ball in the outfield...

[MG]

Dan - The defense lapses/inconsistencies are the thing that has amazed me watching a couple of RPhils games this year but I guess generally true of most AA teams. Arguably the biggest difference between AA and MLB is the caliber and consistency of MLB defense you see. Take it for granted but some nights out there you see AA players just make some really routine gaffes.

[MG]

If JRoll goes hitless again tonight and now this whole Red Thing Bull, how badly is he going to get booed on Friday night? Do you think most of the fans turn on him and boo him vociferously?

[Jack]

MG: Considering how much more Lowe cost than Ibanez, there's no way we would've gotten Rivera and Lowe. It was clear from the beginning that a 4-year, 60 million deal for Lowe was out of this team's price range.

[sneed]

MG: Your points are contradictory. Was Ibanez worth the money or not? I don't know about everyone else, but based on our performance without Ibanez, I am sure glad we have him an not Juan Rivera.

The Phils would never have signed Lowe for 4 years.

Injuries and suspensions have had an effect on Amaro's pitching decisions. As I have said numerous times, why harp on Taschner? He was a 50 game replacement. Park has actually been worth his money out of the pen in the past month. He's been our most consistent reliever at a time when we really needed him.

The Moyer choice was a mistake in retrospect, but I have a feeling Gillick would have made the same move. If a guy wins 15 games with a sub 4 ERA as a 45 year old, what historical evidence do you have to suggest he will totally implode the next year? Granted, you have no evidence to judge whether he would repeat his 2008 performance, which makes that decision so difficult, but for a pitcher who relies completely on guile and location and not velocity, it seemed quite plausible that he would be serviceable for another year or two.

[Jack]

Dan: Interesting report, but all I've ever read from scouts and the Phillies indicates they love Taylor's makeup and work ethic, so I'm not sure what to make of your blasting his defensive effort.

[EastFallowfield]

Lowe's road ERA of 4.84 would certainly make him fit right in with the rest of our shaky staff.

[Andy]

Right now, I find the Phils to be the most un-watchable first place team in baseball.

I'd almost rather watch a lousy team like the Nationals knowing that, well, they're not supposed to play all that well. (Almost. The curse of being a Phan.)

[Horace]

DanTheMan,

Taylor's FIRST error of the year, game 72. His performance statistically over EVERY offensive category is top 3 and top 10 including stolen bases for his league.

First error over the course of the first half probably suggests he plays a above average outfield not to mention his 6 assists and a few which were dropped.

Your reference to the lack of hustle off the field would demonstrate an understanding that it is a long season and one should pace themselves rather than provide false hustle moments while the game is in idle session. Taylor is doing something in his league that nobody does statistically and his plan of attack is working to this point.

[PHIinBK]

so Taylor has a crap attitude and drabek got touched up a bit by a crappy AA team.

Fantastic news.

[thephaithful]

I hope the Marlins take first place in the next couple days just so we can laugh when they lose 19 out their next 20 like they do after most of their win streaks.

[Jack]

PHIinBK: Yeah, terrible prospects. We should trade them for Jarrod Washburn.

[thephaithful]

Manny Bonds and Griffey Jr. were all notable aholes throughout their minor league careers. Heres to Taylor being a better ahole and player than all 3!

[MG]

sneed - Phils chose to invest in Ibanez in lieu of pursuing additional starting pitching.

I agree that Phils wouldn't have signed Lowe because they seem to have a pretty dead set rule of no more than 3 yrs on a FA pitcher whether starter/closer. Generally a pretty good rule to follow except when you give you bigger contracts to guys with suspect injury histories (e.g, Gordon) or questionable talent (e.g, Eaton).

As for Taschner, yeah he was a mistake and he has been more than a "50-game replacement." Phils traded away a commodity (Paulino) that might have been useful if they stashed at AAA to start the year and Taschner has been generally poor in his role as a backend bullpen guy. The comparison would be to Seanez last year year who provided a big boost to this team early on in the season in April/May and pitched well until Cholly overused him.

As for Moyer, maybe Gillick does make the same mistake. I wasn't opposed to resigning Moyer but giving him a 2nd year backloaded with a ton of options was penny-wise, pound-foolish. Just like when the Phils signed Feliz to a 2nd yr even though there was apparently no other team who was willing to offer him a guaranteed 2nd year to Moyer at big dollars. That is when Minaya hung up the phone and went with the likes of Redding and Hernandez instead.

[bay_area_phan]

Among my concerns about the Phillies' organization, I list starting pitching at the top, followed by the bullpen, followed by Rollins, followed by whether Amaro knows what he's doing, followed by the bench, followed by Cholly's sometimes head-scratching managerial decisions, followed by whether Carrasco has the head to be a major league pitcher, followed by about 5,000 other things before I get to the fact that Michael Taylor is always the last Reading Phillie to reach the dugout after innings end.

[Jack]

FWIW, Hanley Ramirez and both Upton brothers had their attitudes questioned while playing in the minor leagues. They were just too good and became bored there. Hanley actually admitted this, I believe.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

What's this "Taylor ahole" stuff? Everything I've read is he's a hard working, good guy.

[Horace]

I have watched Michael Taylor several times this year and would not ever describe him as anything other than fantastic both on and off the field.

One error on the season demonstrates he gets it done in the field.
offense speaks for itself!!!!!

Off the field he is as accomadating to the fan base on a day to day basis as there is in this unit. He participates in Faith Nights at the ballpark and approachable and personable to the masses. To suggests he carries an attitude is painting a depiction that does not represent the experiences of those in attendance frequently.

[MG]

On CitiField:

Meanwhile, like Mets fans and their Shake Shack burgers, Citi Field is gobbling up home runs at an alarming rate. At least, that's what Rybarczyk reports, thanks to data culled from his hittrackeronline.com Web site.

According to Rybarczyk, the most significant change in ballpark effect by the Mets' switching from Shea Stadium to Citi Field this season has been in terms of home run production. In the first 37 games of Citi Field's existence, the Mets and their opponents were "robbed" of a combined 36 home runs that might have cleared the fences at Shea. Compare that with only two home runs -- both by Chase Utley of the Phillies -- hit at the Mets' new home that would not have been round-trippers at Shea, and you're talking a staggering difference in ballpark factors.

So what's causing such a dramatic effect? Here's Rybarczyk: "The fences at Citi Field are considerably taller than those at Shea Stadium, and that for a typical home run ball, each additional foot of fence height is equivalent to moving the same height fence back by 0.84 feet. So, the 16-foot fence in left field at Citi Field is not only much deeper than the left-field fence at Shea Stadium, it is 8 feet taller, which equates to about another 6 feet of distance."

Hard enough to hit HRs with that power-deprived lineup but apparently Citi is really going to be a good pitcher's park especially if the Mets actually play some corner OFs who can cover some ground.

[Jack]

MG: I think Sneed was saying that without injuries, Taschner would have only been a 50-game replacement. But because Lidge and then Eyre got hurt, they had to keep him around. So the problem is the injuries, not Taschner.

[sneed]

MG: Taschner was SUPPOSED to be a 50 game replacement. Injuries and bad luck have dictated otherwise. Paulino might have been useful this year, but unless we deal Lou Marson, we have our young backup catcher in AAA, don't we?

Moyer could rebound next year just like Felix has this year. Agree?

Taschner has pitched in what, 2, meaningful situations? The Ibanez move and Amaro's contract management far outweigh the Jack Taschner experiment.

We are still in 1st place aren't we? Where's the guy that posted our record at July 1st the last few years? This division is worse. We're going to limp into the break but break things open with a strong final two months.

As clout said, it takes a lot of luck and health to win a title. You need to be virtually major injury free and have a number of role players perform above career norms. This happened to us last year and we won a championship. It is not happening this year and our odds of repeating our slim - and slimmer than they were when we came home from that epic Yankees series. At the same time, we have a good shot at our 3rd straight division title and have the deepest farm system we've had in years. There is a lot to be happy about with the Philadelphia Phillies.

[kilbillrain]

Year after records for WS winners.
2002 Arizona: 98-64
2003 Angles: 77-85
2004 Marlins: 83-79
2005 Red Sox: 95-67
2006 White Sox: 90-72
2007 Stl Cards: 78-84
2008 Red Sox: 95-67
2009 Phillies: 84-78 (projected)

Approx 50% with playoff caliber records the year following WS win.

[MG]

The one thing I have been astounded by this year is just how many HRs this pitching staff is surrendering. Everybody on this staff is giving up the long-ball and I still haven't heard much of a reason why besides the usual suspects (e.g., CBP is HR-friendly park, they are leaving pitches up, they don't have pitchers who throw hard).

LA said that Blanton was giving up a ton of HRs on the inside of the plate with his fastball but it would be really interesting to see an analysis of really why this was occurring.

[mw217]

I would rather Taylor save his energy for hitting and stealing bases (2 for 4 with a home run and a SB last night) than trying to beat Tuffy Gosewich back to the dugout between innings.

And being in the position farthest from the home dugout, wouldn't you expect him to get there after everyone else?

[MG]

sneed - Who said anything about dealing Lou Marson or being overly negative? A successful season for this team would be making the playoffs whether via the WC or NL East title. That isn't an unreasonable expectation and I am willing to bet that is what the Phils' FO is expecting after upping the payroll this offseason.

Yeah, winning another NL pennant and/or WS would be great but that is expecting an awful lot of this club.

As for Moyer (and a couple of other guys on this staff), it really comes back to keeping the ball in the park. It really was the difference between '07 and '08 Moyer was the amount of HRs he allowed. If he allowed 30 HRs again last year, it likely would have added another 15 ERs or so to his ERA. Then he finishes at 4.58. Still a solid season but much less impressive.

Same for this year. If Moyer can figure how a way to slightly moderate his HRs allowed, he could have a nice 2nd half.

[sneed]

MG - Just meant assuming we keep Marson, Paulino was expendable. We swapped marginal ML players and we had a need with a LOOGY (who does better against RH, so yes, he sucks).

Also, not saying that you specifically are being negative, I'm just trying to lift the collective mood. Obviously Weitzel makes salient points about where this team is today, but I like to always hold on to some reasonable perspective. It's too early to write the team or franchise off. Lot to be happy about.

Taylor/Drabek = future studs.

[flynnpsu]

OT question..

I'm heading to CBP for the 4th of July game against the Mets. What time do the parking lots open for tailgating? The game starts at 4.

[TK]

Future HOF Michael Taylor on WIP right now...

[Smitt]

MetsBlog has us pitching Rodrigo Lopez tomorrow, is this right? Why not give the youth a chance here if not for anything but trade bait

[Bedrosian's Beard]

see yesterday's thread regarding Lopez.

[gm-carson]

I'm about to make Campaign Jeer for this season- all towards Jimmy Rollins.

[Brent Mydland]

hididanyone anyone see McCoy got a 4 year deal? Does anyone think he will be pro-bowl this year? Mcnabb take this team to superbowl winit and shut up all those jerks. Dawkins screwed my wife and lefttown for mile high city. he can goto hell. he left his jock in my sink and iam so mad.

[DanTheMan]

Glad to hear others have seen differently of Taylor this year. This was my 3rd trip to Reading and this was the first negative I had to say about him.

2 quick points:
- I have no problem with him making an error. In fact it was the right play as he stopped short to get in front of the ball with a lead late in the game and caught a bad bounce.... my issue is with the speed at which he chased that ball

- I think Drabek and Taylor could play at the MLB level right now with at least some moderate level of success, dont think that I'm saying either one is not a bonafide prospect.

I've been searching for a reason why Taylor seems to be expendable yet guys like Dom Brown are untouchable when they seem like very similar players... maybe last night I saw a possible reason.

... or maybe the trade rumors are leading to Taylor's change in attitude... I'm just reporting what I observed

[DutchNailed]

Brent Mydland--->hilarious. In other news, the best cuban pitcher defected. Maybe the WFC should cough up some dough. He hits 102 on the radar.

[Horace]

What is WIP?

[G-Town Dave]

Horace: WIP 610 AM. Local sports talk idiocy.

[MPN]

About to make campaign jeer? I think you left off the "official" as in, "I'm about to make campaign jeer official." I wish some folks on here would pick up wrist cutting (as in body mutilation, not suicide) or Opus Dei or something. Everyone is pissed right now, but let's not go overboard folks.

[The Truth Injection]

I about to make Capaign Front Runner. Carson is probably in since that is all he is.

[clout]

sneed: The Phils signed Ibanez for $31.5 million for 3 years. The Angels signed Rivera for $12.75M for 3 years.

Kinda early to conclude the Phillies made the smarter move, no?

[clout]

Truth: I'm not so sure that Carson is a frontrunner as much as he has an extremely short attention span. One game is enough to cause him to completely change all his views. The concept of a 162-game season is utterly alien to him. The concept of 5 or 6 games in a week is too much for him to grasp. There are a number of posters here who fit that category, with G-town Dave the most flagrant example.

[Bubba]

I think, by definition, if you still care about the Phillies after the last couple of weeks you can't be a front runner.
If you're a front runner you have turned the page to the Eagles ( Someone mentioned WIP just a few post back)

[sneed]

clout: I didn't draw any conclusions. I just made sure it was clear that it was Ibanez or Rivera. So far, we made the right decision.

[dick allen-15]

dan..thanks for starting the " taylor doesnt hustle " thread..You are a complete idiot !!! The guy made a tremendous play Sat night in Reading to catch a short fly that the 2nd baseman lost in the lights and turned that into a double play..This kid is beyond reproach in every aspect and belongs in the majors RIGHT NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope I cleared that up for all the vulnerable beerleaguer's who have not seen him play and base their decisions on other peoples scouting reports..

[JMARR]

DA-15 -

Aren't you asking us to trust your scouting report?

[G-Town Dave]

J-Hole's arrival at Saturday's game in "the tricked-out Red Bull MXT" will be the greatest baseball spectacle since Willie Mays Hayes showed up to camp, uninvited, in a stretch limo. Speaking of which, maybe Charlie should make Jimmy do push-ups every time he pops up or swings at the first pitch ... Hell, that Red Bull stuff ought to give Rollins enough "Wiiiiings" to do that AND manage to not get thrown out on almost 33% of his steal attempts! Damn, this deal is looking better by the minute! :-D

[Brian G]

trade proposal...
Michael Taylor for Clay Buchholz. Who blinks first?

[clout]

sneed: So far, yes, if you ignore the dollars. Here's the numbers:

Rivera: .304/.344/.515 14 HR 46 RBI
Ibanez: .312/.371/.656 22 HR 59 RBI

Let's see where we are at season's end. And at the end of 2010. And at the end of 2011.

Then let's talk about whether the Phillies got more for their $31.5M than the Angels got for their $12.75M.

[J.R. King]

For some reason, I'm beginning to worry more about Lidge/Romero more than the starting pitching on this team. I don't want to see a back end of the bullpen consisting of Durbin, Park, and Madson.

[JMARR]

G-Town - Hayes showed up uninvited in a Volkswagon with the RR grill .... he showed up in a limo the following season (and actually wasn't the same guy (actor)) ...

Perfect comparison however as Jimmy should be keeping a profile lower than his BA and OBP right now ...

[clout]

I dunno, maybe the Red Bull breaks his slump.

[G-Town Dave]

JMARR - Right you are. And the different actor scenario fits, too, as Jimmy couldn't be much different of a player this year than he was last year. That said (& I hate to admit it), but I think the thing that bothers me most about this circus is that it's gonna take place on a day the Phils are playing NY ... you know, as if the traveling scourge of Mets "fans" from N. Jersey needed any more ammo to fuel their road game obnoxiousness. :-S

[dick allen-15]

jmarr: I think I have a bit more credability after watching baseball since 1963..This is not Russia and you can believe whoever you choose to believe..Just understand the kind of talent and work ethic this kid has and dont you DARE try to ruin his credability before he ever steps foot in CBP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bob]

MG,

If he shows up in that Red Bull mobile and makes a mistake in the field and/or goes hitless that night, the boo birds will go nuts.

However, a good play or two and a couple of key hits, and they will forget all about it.

If I were playing the way he is, I wouldn't want to take that risk. I think he would be much wiser right now to keep a low profile with the Reb Bull mobile and the pop culture music label stuff rather than setting a high one.

[JMARR]

DA - you have about 4 years on me - so I'm not impressed.

That said, I'm not taking the position that Taylor will or won't be a tremendous player at the ML level - fact remains, you don't have a clue either.

Lastly, I'll "dare" to do whatever the heck I want. Ironic that you misspelled credibility, but that is another topic for another time.

[EastFallowfield]

Pirates take 3-0 lead on the Mets and Tim Redding in the 2nd inning.

Should have arranged their rotation for Redding to go against us.

[Jim]

From ESPN.com

"Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban considered by many scouts to be the best left-handed pitching prospect in the world, has defected from the national team, several sources have confirmed to ESPN The Magazine.

Chapman, 21, walked out of his hotel in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, where Cuba was participating in a tournament, and never returned, according to the Spanish-language Web site cubaencuentro.com, which first reported Chapman's defection."

Mr. Amaro, please pick up the white courtesy phone...

[EastFallowfield]

4-0 Pirates.

[Bedrosian's Beard]

He's rumored to want a deal in the 30-50million dollar range. I don't see Amaro picking up the phone.

[EastFallowfield]

5-0 Pirates.

[JMARR]

That kid has Yankees/Red Sox written all over him.

[The Truth Injection]

clout: Remember last year that right before carson started his condescending "Campaign Cheer," he was proclaiming that the Phillies were ahead of the Mets becasue of luck.

Not the 7 game lead they had staked themselves too. Pure luck

[DanTheMan]

DA-15... I'm not claiming to be an expert or an authority on anything. I'm just an average fan reporting something I noticed last night that I hadn't seen before.

You having watched baseball since you were a fetus doesn't change what I, and several other people in the stands observed last night

Like I said before, I'm encouraged that others here have seen just the opposite and would be delighted to be wrong.

[doubleh]

We all need a good laugh today.

Saw over at the Good Phight that the Mets hotel in Pitt was hosting Anthrocon last night/this week...the world's largest convention for people who like to dress in animal costumes...you cannot make this stuff up, folks. Apparently, it has the Mets and their staff somewhat freaked out.

Hilarious.

[EastFallowfield]

5-2 Pirates. Mets going to the 3rd pitcher for the bottom of the 4th.

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread