Breaking news: Coste placed on outright waivers

The 36-year-old catcher will write a new chapter in his long career, which will begin in earnest with the Houston Astros, who have already claimed him. [Link].

In four seasons with the Phillies, the veteran catcher hit .282/.339/.440 with 23 homers, making a name for himself as a 33-year-old rookie who defied the odds and exceeded expectations by becoming a solid option for the Phils behind the plate. Recently, his chances had diminished with the addition of veteran catch-and-throw backstop Paul Bako. Coste was hitting .245/.342/.382 with two homers and hadn't started since June 17. The move was made to clear space for Raul Ibanez, who will return from the disabled list tonight. It also represents a show of faith for defense-first newcomer Bako, and to outfielder John Mayberry Jr., who could have been optioned back to Allentown.

Beerleaguer:Just a great story and a nice run for Coste, who contributed to many great moments for the Phils. I'm happy to see him latch on with Ed Wade's club. Although he found himself out of a job with the Phils, and you could see this coming, he still has something more to contribute in the type of situation Houston can provide. Thanks for helping make history, Chris.

Down the road, look for the Phillies to make catcher a priority, or move prospect Lou Marson to the next phase of his career. In the short-term, the Phils are desperate for a right-handed bat off the bench.

Comments

[JBird]

Wow, I'm kinda surprised by this.

[EastFallowfield]

Anyone remember the 1980 Phils? They didn't mind mixing in some kids to play with their established vets?

You telling me we don't have a catcher in the minors who could outperform Bako?

[Jay]

We'll see if he'll stick in Houston. This might be it for him.

Regardless, Chris seriously made a dollar out of 15 cents in red pinstripes. He may never have had a big league skill set, but he earned a ring just the same.

[J.R. King]

Video of Coste getting 4 hits off the bench, including the game winner in the 10th, against the Mets last year

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=3374390

[J.R. King]

the 13th inning, actually

[danger lad]

news of davthom's suicide forthcoming...

[Brian G]

Glad to see Marson has picked up his average at AAA, but I'd feel better about him if he hit for any power whatsoever.

[EastFallowfield]

Bako has power? I've seen him bunt the ball all the way to the pitcher on the fly, I'll give him that.

[Len39]

Thanks for the memories Coste. It was a great story, can provide some inspiration and he got a ring. We'll always have that hit against the Mets in the 13th inning together. That said, this was the right move to make as Coste's time had run its course here. Best of luck in Houston.

[J. Weitzel]

Phillies are all about defense behind the plate, and why not? Five All-Stars for crying out loud. I'd probably take Coste's bat over Bako, but at this point, it's hard to tell, isn't it?

[gm-carson]

Wow, this shocked me. I know Bako was getting the starts at backup, but I still didn't see this coming.

[joe]

JW -

Right, the lineup is ridiculous 1-7 right now, that you can afford an all-glove catcher.

i can't believe that they couldn't get a bag of balls in a trade for a proven MLB catcher.

[Chazbot]

@EastFallowfield: Ooh, burn.

I also have yet to be impressed by Bako. It's a shame that Coste's run is over, but like the above video shows, he'll be remembered fondly by the Phaithful.

[danger lad]

joe-

maybe your 'bag of balls'/coste trade overvalues coste a bit?

[MFiP]

"Five All-Stars for crying out loud."

Ugh... it still burns...

[Dan]

Glad he was here, he is the kind of player I always like to root for. A true one of a kind, and I hope he'll settle in the area after his playing days so he can become part of some broadcast team. Well wishes, Coste.

[loctastic]

Dan - he'd be a step up from T-Mac, that's for sure!

[Run Up The Score]

Nothing but my love and appreciation for Coste. Great story, and I was happy to have him on my favorite team for a number of years.

[R.Billingsly]

I echo all the sentiments expressed for Coste. Seemed like a class guy who worked his butt off to make it to the Show and ultimately win a World Series.

Best of luck to Coste.

[Steve Jeltz]

I, too, am a little surprised they couldn't get even "a player to be named later" for a pretty competent backup C.

Anyway, I hope he can get another year or two of time in the big leagues somewhere then start pursuing his managerial career. I thought he was somewhat underappreciated around here (excluding davthom, of course) but he certainly seemed like a well-liked guy in the clubhouse and I hope thinks work out for him.

[CJ]

Good luck, Chris! And thanks for playing your part in our run to a World F-in Championship.

As Lauber tweeted, Coste hadn't started behind the plate in almost a month and was 1-for-14 with 6 K's as a pinch hitter this year. If he's not going to start and he can't pinch hit... there's no place for him here.

Is it possible the pitchers expressed some reservations about him catching them?

[njrossdawg]

Was this really necessary? Is there that drastic a difference between coste and the well worn oft-travelled journeyman in Bako? I really don't see a major + or - either way. I am not angry or a real fan of either, I just don't dig messing with battery chemistry half way through the year unless you get some major production.
It just looks between this sudden thing and the jarromillo to paulino (both of whom have turned it around somewhat since leaving) to trashner fiasco that nobody had any idea what was going to happen at catcher in the front office this year. Do the phils even get anything now that the stros took him off waivers?

[danger lad]

I think the plain fact of the matter (as has been mentioned already) is that with the Phils line-up 1-7 as presently constituted, they can afford to go D only at the catcher spot.

Coste hadn't started in weeks. He can't pinch hit...who should've gone? The young kid that can pinch run if necessary w/ a little pop in his right handed bat? The one who already has more PH homeruns this year than Coste? The one who can play both corner outfield spots in case there's an injury to Vic?

Listen...Bako stinks. The problem is, so does Coste. Why was Bako getting starts when Coste wasn't? That's the question at hand...

[MPN]

Battery chemistry? Coste hasn't caught in nearly a month (17 June).

[Phylan]

I really would've preferred they got rid of Bruntlett but Bako and Coste are about even and I guess it's pointless to carry 3 catchers on a roster.

[Phylan]

Also what on earth are people expecting to "get" for Chris f'ing Coste? Even presuming the Phillies are entitled to anything when designating a player for assignment (they aren't).

[CJ]

Jayson Stark tweets:

"Pedro Update: ESPN's Enrique Rojas reports that Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. flew from Philadelphia to the Dominican to watch Pedro today."

[Rich]

Lou Marson is hitting .292 in AAA, but we're going to have to watch Bako split time with Ruiz. Given my option of watching someone struggle offensively, I much, much prefer Marson to Bako.

Best of luck to Chris Coste, a class act, and forever beloved Phillie for being a part of last year.

[MG]

Phils' buffoonery and ineptness continues with the catcher position. Basically it has been that way since the start of 2006 when the Phils didn't know what to do with Lieby and brought in a guy whose best (and really only) attribute was that he has a cool Fu Manchu.

Bako brings nothing to the table besides his "veteran presence" and his ability "to hit left-handed." That is exactly what Cholly said the other night.

I can understand thinking that Coste was at the end of his rope and that this was almost certainly his last season in a Phils' uniform. I can even understand making this move if the Phils thought that Marson was ready to contribute and would upgrade the position.

Bako is not an upgrade over Coste and it amazes why the Phils continue to value "veteran presence" so damn much over actual skills that can help the team to win.

Arguably Gillick's greatest strength as a GM was to improve the roster during the season. It is still really early but there isn't a single move that Amaro has made since late spring training that has improved this roster. We'll see what the trading deadline brings and if he makes any moves in August but so far it has been head-stratching.

[dick allen-15]

I am confused..I thought Ruiz got injured last night and Duke is going for the Pirates tonight. common sense says Marson should be starting tonight.am I missing something or are they going with one catcher tonight ?????????????

[JBird]

Neyer blasts the Werth selection in his blog based on "appearances".

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sweetspot

[clout]

Bizarrely, a couple posters in the last thread said that Coste's bat was no better than Bako's.

Guess we get to find out, huh?

[MG]

Why do I have the feeling that we are going to watch this bench continue to waffle because Cholly will forget to start Dobbs 1-2/week to keep him productive with Ibanez's return and we will see the likes of Bako, Bruntlett, and Mayberry continue to get overexposed and not used appropriately?

[clout]

Given where we are today, anyone think Cholly wishes Rube would've kept Jaramillo? Or Paulino?

[MG]

On the positive front - having the starting OF named to the All-Star game is pretty damn impressive even if Werth was an injury replacement.

Sure he's glad because that is likely at least an extra $20 or $25k in his pocket.

[MG]

Bako is arguably the worst backup C in the NL and Bruntlett is arguably the worst bench player in the NL.

Phils are going to win their share of games but it won't be because of these two guys. It will be in spite of them most nights.

[JBird]

Clout: Yes. I was kinda excited when they acquired Paulino. Thought he looked like a young good-hit catcher. Don't know how you trade something like that for a journeyman lefty.

[sneed]

If Marson continues to hit at LV, he might have an outside chance of making it up this season. It would take a special performance for him to replace either of the incumbents, though I would not be surprised to see something odd happen with our catchers.

The overall odds of them putting a rookie catcher into a playoff race are low. Say what you want about Bako's bat, but he's an upgrade defensively over Coste.

[G-Town Dave]

RE: Coste

Typically boneheaded move by the Phils FO in that it fixes absolutely nothing. Bako may well be a better defensive catcher than was Coste, but he's utterly godawful at the plate, which makes this a lateral move at best. Let's not forget that just this past offseason the Phils managed to get rid of not one, but two, catching prospects (Jaramillo & Paulino, both of whom can bat righty).

While they're certainly not tearing up the league, both are better hitters than Bako, & might at least have had some market value down the road -- that is, if they hadn't already both been traded for a net "gain" of Jack Taschner. Yeah, the guy who isn't on the team anymore. I'm giving Rube a total fail on this one, & I wish Chris Coste all the best. In my opinion the Phils never really did give him a fair shake, so I'm glad he'll be getting a chance to play elsewhere.

RE: Werth

Good for Charlie! I originally thought that Werth could have made a decent argument that he should have been on the Final Ballot in place of Victorino. That they're now both getting a chance to go to the All-Star Game, I say all the better! To those who might complain about "fairness" or "favoritism" I say: "Go win a World Series, & then tell me which of your guys you'd like your manager to leave home next season".

By-the-by, my wife & I received a very nice pre-recorded phone message from Shane thanking us for our vote(s), & letting us know how very excited he is to be going to his first All-Star Game. Pretty cool! :-)

[MG]

Yeah, Bako is a "defensive upgrade." Reality is that Bako is a marginal defensive upgrade and the Phils are going to give probably at least 15-20 starts and at least 10-15 PHs appearances down the stretch to a guy who will hit about .200 AVG with a sub .550 OPS or so.

That's stupidity especially when you already have the worst bench player in the NL on your team in Bruntlett. Ugh.

[JBird]

Why don't the Phillies take a look at Damien Easly? he's always been able to play anywhere on the diamond and he hit .269 last year. I know he's old but seems he'd be a much better bench player than Bruntlett. And speaking of old players who'd look good on our bench, LoDuca and Jay Payton are still unsigned.

[Jack]

You know you're on Beerleaguer when people are apopleptic about the backup C spot.

I also find it funny how much people wanted to get rid of Coste, and now that he's being replaced by Paul Bako, how much they want him back. Did they think they were gonna get Joe Mauer as the backup?

[G-Town Dave]

MG: The very likely prospect that Charlie will now put Dobbs back in the vault terrifies me. With no end to the Bruntlett/Bako nightmare in sight, I can't even tell you how much I wish our esteemed manager would get the f*ck over his L/R obsession & give Greg a chance to PH vs. a LH pitcher once in awhile. He's finally getting hot at the plate, & I truly believe he's got the potential to hit any pitcher if he's used regularly enough. Sadly, the chance of this happening are about as likely as the chances the Phillies don't end up signing Pedro ... I swear, I could break down & cry if I dwelt on who constitutes the Phillies "brain trust" too often.

:-(

[JB]

Uh Oh... I was just on the Reading Phillies website and instead of listing Kyle Drabek as tomorrow's starter (it is his turn) the starter is listed as TBA.

Trade in the works????

[Phylan]

Yeah I have no idea why people are so nuts about this. This will literally have zero effect on the team. Going from Coste to Bako is a lateral move at worst. Dear lord people, there are more important things to worry about on this team than old-ass catchers.

[JBird]

And, as long as we are looking at Pedro, I hear Bob Feller's still got some gas left in the tank.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/baseball
/mlb/06/22/feller/index.html

[Jack]

I'm honestly so surprised that MG found time to complain about this move. It's weird, because he usually likes every move the Phillies make. Him and BAP are usually so positive.

Jesus, relax. It's the backup catcher spot. The team will find a RH bench bat upgrade sometime in the coming weeks. I guarantee it.

[bay_area_phan]

The good news: the combined batting average of our two right-handed bench players is .339.

The bad news: that .339 is NOT their combined hits divided by their combined ABs. It's just the number you get when you add their two individual batting averages together.

[CJ]

People ready to jump off the bridge because of the backup catcher and the 25th man on the roster. I mean, we're only the best offense in the NL, scoring a full quarter run more per game than the second best offense (the Rockies).

I know from afar, we're all experts on Bako vs. Coste... but maybe, just maybe, pitchers didn't like throwing to Coste. Maybe, just maybe, the coaches didn't like the game Coste was calling.

I know, I know... Beerleaguer knows better.

[CJ]

bap: Amazing this team is such a dominant offensive force despite that .339 combined average. Perhaps... and I know this is crazy... perhaps people on this list tend to exaggerate the effect of the backup catcher and the 25th man on the roster.

[bathtubhippo]

given the amount of starts bako has seen, the move hardly comes as a surprise. but, really, we're dumping a backup catcher with a .724 ops for the season (career .779) for a marginally better defensive backup catcher who has a disturbingly low .523 ops (career .620)?? throw in our already lefty-heavy roster and this move doesn't make a lot of sense to me. despite his struggles this season, if you had to choose between bako and coste in the 13th inning with the game on the line, i know who i'd rather have up there.

but i digress.

best of luck to coste who i'm sure will always be made to feel welcome in philly.

[ST]

no JB. it's because Drabek is going to pitch in the futures game.

[MG]

Jack - Your right. I am negative on every move the Phils make. They are doomed.

It's a marginal move because Bako likely will only get about 80-100 ABs the rest of the season. Still, it is likely a move that downgrades the team and people will piss and moan as the bench continues to underperform late in games and Bako gives you nothing offensively when he starts.

[clout]

Of course, if the Phils win the World Series again, Jack and CJ will say the Taschner trade was great.

[CJ]

MG: Why do you view this move only through the prism of offense when it's obvious that a catcher's defense and play-calling ability is significantly more important?

[Jack]

MG: People have been pissing and moaning about the bench performance even with Coste on it. Since Ibanez is back in the starting lineup, you're basically subbing in Dobbs on the bench for Coste, since Bako has been the de facto backup C for the last month. I'll take that.

[CJ]

Jayson Stark tweets:

"More Pedro: 3 shutout innings, 3 hits, 3 strikeouts -- all of which came when he struck out the side in the second."

[Klaus]

BAP: could be worse. Via the Betencourt trade I saw that the cumulative average of the Royals shortstops (pre-trade) is .272.

That offense is atrocious.

[G-Town Dave]

CJ: For every game in which this team fields a "dominant force" of an offense there's a corresponding game in which said offense takes a collective giant crap in their hats. There have been & will be far too many late inning ABs of consequence given to the likes of Bruntlett & Bako to be cavalier about the backup catcher & 25th man.

[denny b.]

Salute to Coste, for his Phillie career. He made a lot out of a little and got a ring. Lots of others will much more talent, got a whole lot less out of their careers.

He looks like he is at the end of the road and with Marson coming soon, it was only a matter of time.

I think this says 2 things:

1. Its a vote of confidence for Mayberry. I think he will be used as Stairs is. Stairs only comes up late, against righties and usually when a HR is hoped for. Mayberry has shown in a very limited sample size, that he is exactly what most thought he was. Immense power, but prone to swinging and missing. Just like Stairs. He will make a solid extra outfielder and pinch-runner. He needs to stay and should stay.

2. Marson's day is coming soon. He has looked like the top prospect everyone hoped he was, in the past month and a half. He doesn't hit for power, but he HITS. With the Phils, the catcher doesn't have to hit for power. The other 7 guys can do that. But, if he can hit in the .270's to .280's (which Ruiz has proven he cannot) and just be average defensively, he will have a place here. Ruiz and Marson can share the duties, with Ruiz providing the defense and Marson the offense. Then eventually Marson will take over full-time and Ruiz will likely be moved.

Bako stays because pitchers love him. Whether you agree with it or not, if it comes down to a choice between Coste and Bako, you go with the guy the pitchers prefer. And, Bako has always been popular with pitchers.

[CJ]

clout: "Of course, if the Phils win the World Series again, Jack and CJ will say the Taschner trade was great."

So, clout, you believe Taschner will be on the Phils postseason roster this year?

Interesting.

[Jack]

G-Town Dave: Especially because the other teams in the league have the equivalent of Mantle and Maris as their backup catcher and 25th man.

[CJ]

G-Town Dave: And Coste's 1-for-14 with 6 K's in pinch hitting situations makes you feel better?

[Jack]

Clout: Why are you lumping me in as a trade apologist? I was the one who agreed with you about Blanton and Taguchi and whatnot and saying you can't judge them solely in hindsight.

I disagree with you about using context to view trades, but I still say you have to use the context AT THE TIME. At the time of the Thome trade, it was clear Ryan Howard was an impact slugger we had to get in the lineup. At the time of the Blanton trade, it was not clear we'd be WFC and thus could afford to overpay in prospects.

There's a difference.

[bay_area_phan]

CJ/Jack: The Phillies may have a dominant offense, but they are far from a dominant team. The bench has been a significant contributing factor to quite a few losses this year. So, yeah, I'd say it's more than fair to be dismayed about that area of the team.

[G-Town Dave]

Jack: Are the other teams trying to repeat as World Series Champs? I haven't yet looked it up, but I'll bet the other major contending teams don't have to rely on players as piss poor as Gnome & Bako in their late inning, high leverage ABs.

CJ: I would have had no problem whatsoever replacing Coste ... if it had been for someone better. As I said above, Bako's bat renders this a pointless move & doesn't help the bench one bit.

[clout]

The problem isn't Bako as backup catcher. It's Bako as starting catcher.

[Jack]

Clout: Do you think Bako will start the majority of games going forward?

[danger lad]

I wonder when they turn Coste's book into a movie if he'll get the 'hollywood' treatment and suddenly be a guy originally from South Philly instead of South Dakota, ala that crumb bum Vince Papale...

Who mentioned that Drabek's turn in the R-Phil's rotation has been moved to 'TBA?'...

That merits some investigation, no? Who cares about Coste. The argument that he is/was better than Bako simply doesn't wash with me.

There's no room for nostalgia in the upper echelons of MLB...

[bay_area_phan]

Also, it's not exactly accurate to accuse people of complaining about the "25th player" on the roster. What exactly is the "25th player?" Are the players listed in some kind of numerical order on the roster? If you think guys like Bako & Bruntlett aren't important, just ask yourself how many times, in the last week alone, have one or both of these guys come to the plate in critical late-inning situations? Given the ease with which we could find an upgrade over Bruntlett, I DO think this is an area where fans have a right to be outraged.

[Jack]

The Drabek thing is because he's going to St. Louis to pitch in the Futures Game on Sunday. Everyone take a breath.

[MG]

CJ - Bako actually did a very nice job I thought of catching Lopez's first game but this perceived gap between Bako and Coste is largely perceived.

The reality is that Bako has floated around a ton lately because MLB clubs know he isn't that great defensively and that is just is close to an automatic out offensively.

Pinella had positive things to say about Hill this spring and not much about Bako. Cubs made zero effort to resign him this spring even for minor league depth at AAA where they don't have much and the Reds cut him loose soon after signing him too.

Reality is that Coste has performed quite well as a spot starter 1-2 twice week this year and last year. Plus, Moyer's numbers are much better this year with Coste catching him than Ruiz.

Reality is that Bako is going to catch Moyer and to a lesser degree Happ/5th starter. Maybe the Phils value having a veteran catcher like Bako for Happ and their 5th starter if he is a rookie or a guy like Lopez but you are giving up an awful lot to do it offensively and not much defensively either.

[clout]

Jack: If Ruiz were to be injured, as he was last night.

[clout]

BAP: Good point. Bruntlett has been at bat in the 9th inning several times in the past week.

[justphantastic]

I'm just sorry they did not keep Jaramillo or Paulino

Jaramillo is playing pretty good with the Buc-os..
Guess we will see that tonight.

[king myno]

clout makes a good point - Gillick had a knack for plugging holes like backup catcher or bench. So far, not Rube.

And we can't blame a self-imposed cap, since they're looking to give Pedro a couple mil. Of course, if the reason they could give a crap about backup catcher is because all available bucks are going to go to Pedro AND Halladay, I guess I can live with Mr. Bako.

But granted, the logic behind an argument like that is fairly tenuous.

[NEPP]

Good Luck Chris.

I'm completely okay with this move and I think Bako could very well help Ruiz on his handling of the staff as well. We don't need offense out of the catcher anyway.

On Werth: Sabean must have had an aneurysm when it was announced. He was fairly pissed off on XM yesterday about Vic winning out (a "travesty" was the word he used) and the point was made repeatedly that UC should select Sandoval as it was the only "fair" thing to do. Fvck that...the Giants can pick their own guys when they win a WS. Go Phillies and woohoo on 5 All-stars.

[Jack]

Bako sucks, but let's be real, so does Coste at this point. And Bako is better defensively. So that's fine.

Agreed I'd rather have Paulino or Jaramillo.

I believe we will trade for a solid RH bench bat sometime soon.

[MG]

Personally, I was hoping the Phils would be willing to give some of their younger players a chance this season if they demonstrated that they were potentially ready to contribute.

Marson has hit very well the past month and half and it would have been a good time to see if could contribute as a backup catcher starting 1-2/week.

Maybe Marson wouldn't have shown what was needed and then you could have brought up Bako sometime again in August. I am not also opposed to calling up a guy like Bako if you have an injury. That's is why you stash a guy like him at AAA to be a stopgap solution for a couple of weeks if necessary.

[bay_area_phan]

"Especially because the other teams in the league have the equivalent of Mantle and Maris as their backup catcher and 25th man."

Jack: This is, at best, a highly spurious argument and, at worst, completely disingenuous. The two worst offensive players on an NL East roster both play for your Philadelphia Phillies. In the case of Bruntlett, he's also the single worst offensive player in the National League, if not all of baseball. Do you think perhaps there might be some small room for middle ground between Mickey Mantle & Eric Bruntlett?

[MG]

Jack - I see your point and NEPP's. Still, Bako looks cooked and I would rather the Phils roll the dice with Marson to see what they get. He may stick and it is highly likely he gets called up anyways when the rosters expand on Sept. 1. Why not roll the dice with him instead and go for the potential hot hand vs. the old, bald retread with "veteran presence" That's my point.

[MG]

As for potentially signing Pedro - that is potentially very different especially if the Phils make another move for a starter.

The Phils don't have a great option for the No. 5 starter and it frankly never hurts to have more starting pitching options.

[NEPP]

I'd like to see Marson get another shot but I doubt the pitching staff wants to learn a new catcher in the midst of a pennant race. I'd personally hope they bring him up before Aug 31 so he'd be eligible for the playoff roster but barring an injury to Bako or Ruiz, I don't see him up before Sept. He's really taken off since he's been getting regular playing time at Lehigh and we saw how the up and down at the beginning of the year screwed up his season. Barring a trade, I think he's our catcher of the future (until D'Arnaud pans out...if he pans out).

[NEPP]

I think Pedro will be a Phillie by the end of the weekend. Figure he's flown up for a physical tomorrow and signed Sunday. It didn't sound like he hurt his chances in his 3 innings today.

[CJ]

MG: Why do you believe the gap between Coste and Bako is largely perceived? You have additional insight that the rest of us don't have concerning their relative abilities to call games?

clout: And you're okay with Coste as a starting catcher? Our choice here was Coste vs. Bako. Not Bako vs. imaginary third choice.

[GBrettfan]

RE: Coste news. According to his book, pitchers repeatedly commented positively about throwing to him. I don't know, maybe that's changed or Bako is even better that way. Certainly not better with a bat. The reason for so many comments about it is the affection the fanbase has for Coste as a gritty guy - whereas Bako is unknown to us, really, so all things being equal, we'd rather see Bako go than Coste. Presumably (and I hope it's true) the managers/pitchers have a real reason to favor Bako over Coste.

[GBrettfan]

RE: Werth's selection. This is what the article on mlb.com said about it:

"According to MLB, any injured starter will be replaced by the top vote-getter on the player ballot who's not a starter. The Rockies' Brad Hawpe received 394 votes, more than the D-backs' Justin Upton's 277 and the 156 received by the Astros' Hunter Pence."

So it is unclear to me whether Charlie did in fact pick JW or whether he had the next highest votes among players. Anyone know for a fact??

[NEPP]

So in his own book he praised himself? Well there we have it then.

I'm mostly teasing as I've actually read it myself...its an interesting read.

Coste lived a dream that most will never get...from journeyman career minor-leaguer to World Champion...not too shabby. And it shows something that Ed Wade immediately snatched him up. He very well could be around for another couple seasons if his bat holds up as a backup catcher.

[NEPP]

To GBrettFan, that would have been true had Beltran been the players' selection. Since the fans voted him in, UC was able to pick whoever he wanted...and he picked one of his own. Upside of winning the WS.

[CJ]

GBrettfan: That rule means that Hawpe will start in the game. That rule does not apply to which players are chosen for the roster. I worry about who will play CF in an OF of Ibanez, Hawpe and Braun!!!!

[MG]

CJ - Yeah. Coste has hit with near .800 OPS this season as a starter and been very productive the last 3 years when used as a backup catcher who starts 1-2/week.

Bako is an old retread and was cut loose not by 1 but 2 teams this year and Pinella went out of his way this spring to praise Hill's ability to call a game with very little about Bako.

This crap about Coste not being able to call a game largely came from the front office and guys like Green who wanted to get rid of him at every opportunity for some reason.

[NEPP]

Its done, he's not coming back and he landed on his feet. Since he was rotting on the bench, this is probably a good thing for him.

[JaredK]

All I have to say is BOOOOOOOO!!! to the Phillies front office. I am not going to sugar coat this: Paul Bako sucks. There is a reason the Phils are like his 8th organization. He cant hit, period. This is a bonehead move by a team acting out of desperation, not intelligence.

[CJ]

MG: So your evidence that Bako isn't better defensively or in game-calling is that Lou Pinella praised a different catcher than Hill earlier this year? Well, I'm sold.

[clout]

CJ: Yes, I don't think the difference on defense between Cioste and Bako is large enough to offset the huge offensive gap. Bako is a subpar defensive cathcer who was once a very good defensive catcher. Coste is also subpar defensively. Coste has shown that he can hit when he gets playing time. Bako cannot hit, period.

[G-Town Dave]

"Our choice here was Coste vs. Bako. Not Bako vs. imaginary third choice."

CJ: Lou Marson doesn't really exist? That's a shame, 'cause rumor had it he at least batted RH ...

[CJ]

Ryan Church traded for Jeff Francouer!

Hahahahhahahahahahahaha

[tg082]

Heidi Hamels on DNL. She;s much more attractive with the TV muted.

[NEPP]

Ryan Church traded for Jeff Francouer.

interesting.

[GBrettfan]

To NEPP and CJ, thanks for helping clear it up for me. I also found it on Wikipedia:

"Replacements: After the roster is selected, the All-Star manager and the Commissioner's Office will replace players who are injured or who decline to participate."

For the person who said Charlie was in control of the choices for Final Vote, that is also true, according to Wikipedia:

"Final vote: After the lists of 32 players for each league is announced, fans will vote for one additional player, chosen from a list of 5 players provided by the manager and the Commissioner's Office."