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Monday notes: Phillies revisit Lowell; Coste a Met

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro has spoken with Boston about the availability of third baseman Mike Lowell, according to SI's Jon Heyman.

Lowell, who turned down a four-year contract from the Phillies two years ago in favor of a three-year, $37 million deal to stay in Boston, is allegedly on the block, with the Red Sox reportedly willing to pick up half of the $12 million owed to him next season. The 35-year-old third baseman missed large portions of the last two seasons, hitting .290/.337/.474 with 17 homers and 75 RBIs in 2009. Heyman described the talks between Amaro and the Sox as "brief."

In other news, 36-year-old catcher Chris Coste has signed a split contract with the Mets and will be added to their 40-man roster. Coste, who hit .224/.301/.317 with a pair of homers in 88 games between Philadelphia and Houston, refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Round Rock yesterday and became a free agent. The Phillies placed Coste on waivers in July and he was picked up by Houston. The Mets, who had been talking with Henry Blanco and could still be seeking additional catching, also resigned infielder Alex Cora today to a 1-year, $2 million deal.

Beerleaguer: Lowell is an interesting option. He fits my first criteria: he can field the position, which makes him at least as attractive as Beltre for a variety of reasons.

Sunday: Arizona Fall League ends; odds and ends

Catching up on minor Phillies news from around the Web.

Every November, Beerleaguer defers to Baseball America and Phuture Phillies to get us through this November lull, especially over the Thanksgiving break. Aside from Jamie Moyer's successful follow-up procedure (he's set to be discharged from Jefferson tomorrow) the two biggest pieces of information recently include the minor signings of DeWayne Wise, Wilson Valdez and other organizational guys like Paul Hoover and Andy Tracy (reported first by BA), and the conclusion of the Arizona Fall League. Phuture Phillies is kind enough to supply stat summaries of all eight Phillies participants, including Domonic Brown and Scott Mathieson. Mathieson's progress would seem to be the best story of the bunch. Read the entire summary here.

Elsewhere, several other pharmhands are staying sharp internationally. The best story might belong to 19-year-old catcher and native Mexican Sebastian Valle, who, despite a handful of whiffs, is connecting for a .270/.313/.591 line with 10 homers in 122 plate appearances in a veteran Mexican League. Valle recently rated as the seventh-best prospect in the Phillies' chain, according to Baseball America. "We like his bat," assistant GM Benny Looper recently told the magazine. "He's got a ways to go behind the plate, but the tools are good."

Triple-A veteran Mike Cervenak is also tearing the cover off the ball in Mexico. In 184 plate appearances, the 33 year old has a 1.007 OPS. Outfielder John Mayberry Jr. is also having a good campaign, posting a .875 OPS and 7 homers in 155 plate appearances. Elsewhere, right-hander Carlos Monestarios is 5-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 8 games (7 starts) in the Venezuelan League. Monestarios was part of the package received in the 2006 Bobby Abreu deal. Converted catcher Jesus Sanchez, another part of that trade, was recently added to the Phillies' 40-man roster as a pitcher following a breakout year in the Sally League. Finally, outfielder Quintin Berry, another addition to the 40-man roster, is hitting .138 in limited action in Puerto Rico.

Notes: ESPN's Buster Olney reported yesterday that Roy Halladay would accept a trade to the Phillies, according to sources.

Thursday: An economic start to Phillies' offseason

By settling on replacement-level infielder Juan Castro, the Phillies are suggesting they're willing to scrimp around the edges. Is it a sign that bigger commitments are ahead for areas like third base?

Ruben Amaro Jr. made the dean's list his freshman year and deserves the benefit of the doubt before identifying the start of a sophomore slump. With that in mind, it's worth taking a walk in Ruben's shoes to understand the rationale behind agreeing on a deal that would reward Castro and his career 57 OPS+ with a Major League contract plus an option year. First, Castro provides 15 years of on-the-job experience, which means he can turn a double play after idling for weeks on a bench. Second, he won't grouse for playing time, which is great, because the last man on the Phillies' bench never, ever plays. So Taguchi and Eric Bruntlett combined for less than 200 at bats in 2008 and 2009. Finally, suitable, reasonably priced options may not be as plentiful as originally thought. As David Murphy points out, Omar Vizquel, who's as poor at the plate as Castro, recently signed a one year deal with the White Sox for a reported $1.375 million.

With that in mind, one can't help but wonder how Amaro will approach another peripheral need: backup catcher. Recall that departed backup, Paul Bako, signed to a minor league deal mid-season and hit a replacement-level .224/.308/.336 in 130 plate appearances with the big club, losing time late to established backstop Carlos Ruiz, who posted a .862 OPS after the break and will head to 2010 riding some good momentum. Despite the low totals one would expect from a journeyman backup, Bako turned out to be just fine for the Phils; a better handler than Chris Coste and able to produce a big hit now and then.

Would the Phillies be so thrifty to consider Paul Hoover, who was resigned to a minor league deal recently after spending September with the club after serving as Lehigh Valley's starting catcher? Maybe. The Phillies need someone in Lehigh Valley regardless, but don't put it past the Phillies to give Ruiz their full endorsement - moreso than ever - and allow the backup battle play out in spring training, possibly between minor league signings like Hoover and someone like Bako.

In theory, this tactic would free up more resources for an everyday third baseman, someone who will step to the plate about 500 more times than either a backup catcher or utility infielder.

Breaking: Jamie Moyer hospitalized in Philadelphia

Jamie Moyer has been admitted to Jefferson Hospital with recurring symptoms stemming from September groin surgery, according to a team news release. Details are limited and no word on the severity. Moyer, who turned 47 last week, tore two groin muscles in a fall from the mound Sept. 29 and missed the rest of the season and entire postseason. He has a year remaining on his contract and figures to be the Phillies’ fifth starter when the season opens in the spring.

Phillies sign OF DeWayne Wise, INF Wilson Valdez

A day after agreeing in principle with backup infielder Juan Castro, the Phillies added more depth and versatility to the outfield and infield.

Outfielder DeWayne Wise, 31, a veteran of seven Major League seasons with the Blue Jays, Braves, Reds and White Sox, has been signed to a minor league deal after hitting .225/.262/.366 in 153 plate appearances from the left side in a bench role with Chicago, splitting time in the minor leagues. Lifetime, he’s a .216/.255/.380 hitter (61 OPS+), settling into a mostly quad-A career playing all three outfield positions, serving as a defensive replacement in the majors. Fans may recognize him as the player who saved Mark Buehrle’s perfect game with a leaping grab against the wall. [Watch it here]. He’s a similar animal to Jason Ellison, the veteran outfielder who was brought in on a minor league deal last offseason and spent the entire season in Lehigh Valley. With the departure of Matt Stairs, there’s an opening for a fifth outfielder, particularly one who bats from the left side, so Wise could be in the mix this spring for a final spot. But with the presence of Ben Francisco as the primary defensive caddy for Raul Ibanez, Wise, who doesn't hit for power, is likely pegged for Allentown.

Valdez is your garden variety utility player headed to Triple-A after serving as a band-aid for a battered Mets team, where he hit .256/.326/.337 in 95 plate appearances, starting 23 games at short in place of Jose Reyes. Lifetime, the 31-year-old is a .222/.272/.292 hitter (51 OPS+) in parts of four seasons with the White Sox, Mariners, Padres, Dodgers and Mets. Shortstop has been his primary position throughout his career. I won’t pretend to be the world’s foremost expert on Valdez, but from what I can tell, he’s worse than Castro and was signed to be Lehigh Valley’s shortstop. The IronPigs have virtually no infield.

But wait; there's more: The Phillies resigning minor league right-handers Jason Anderson and Alexander Concepcion, first baseman Andy Tracy and outfielder Rich Thompson, according to Baseball America. Tomorrow might be Turkey Day, but today, Pigs ruled, in the world of the Phillies.

Report: Phillies targeting utility vet Juan Castro

The 37-year-old infielder is a veteran of 15 seasons and hit .277/.311/.399 in 121 plate appearances with the Dodgers last season. The Dodgers are trying to resign him, according to the report on FoxSports.

Beerleaguer: Very marginal, aging bench option from the right side with no speed, no bat and practically no time spent in the outfield. In some ways, Eric Bruntlett offers more versatility. He’s a career .230/.270/.332 hitter between four clubs, his best years coming as a semi-regular player with Cincinnati between 2000 and 2004, then winning a starting shortstop job briefly with Minnesota based on his glove. Not exactly a step forward from an offensive standpoint, even from Bruntlett, and according to Fangraphs, not much to write home about defensively, at any position, these days. The Dodgers inked him to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training last season and he was called up in early April. Considering his age and limited skill set, this needs to be of the minor league variety to make any sense at all; he's seen considerable time in the minors all throughout his career.

I won't pretend to be the foremost expert on Juan Castro, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he's a defensive upgrade over Bruntlett and Cairo, but for the Phillies to truly take a step forward, they need someone who can hold his own with the stick. After all, he will be playing behind Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, so his primary responsibility will be to pinch hit.

Update: Todd Zolecki is reporting that the two sides are close to a deal, possibly of the Major League variety for one year, worth less than $1 million with a 2011 club option. Scott Lauber says Castro's agent, Oscar Suarez, says it's just a matter of passing a physical. If true, congratulations, Oscar Suarez, on becoming the best agent in baseball.

Monday: 29 Phillies become minor free agents

The Phillies are losing the third-highest total of veteran minor leaguers to free agency, according to Baseball America. We also look ahead to possible players exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

Here is the list, courtesy of Baseball America: RHP: Jason Anderson (AAA), Alexander Concepcion (AA), Tristan Crawford (Hi A), John Ennis (AAA), Santos Hernandez (Lo A), Gary Majewski (AAA); LHP: Cedrick Bowers (AAA), Gustavo Chacin(AAA), Jason Mackintosh (AA), Brian Mazone (AAA), Jake Woods (AAA); C: Paul Hoover (AAA), Orlando Guevara (AA), Kevin Nelson (AA); 1B: Andy Tracy (AAA); 2B: Brad Harman (AA), Fidel Hernandez (AA), Carlos Leon (AAA), David Newhan (AAA); 3B: Mike Cervenak (AAA), Terry Tiffee (AAA); SS: J.J. Furmaniak (AAA), Jorge Velandia (AAA); OF: Javis Diaz (Hi A), Jason Ellison (AAA), Kevin Mahar (AA), Mike Spidale (AA), Brian Stavisky (AA), Rich Thompson (AAA).

Beerleaguer:The Phillies continue to be among the oldest farm systems in baseball, and year after year, there is this mass exodus of mercenaries. A number of them are good soldiers who've taken a couple tours of duty and could return. Based on name recognition, the lefty Chacin, still only 29, has experienced the most Major League success and has the best shot at sticking on a 25-man roster, in my estimation.

Meanwhile, Phuture Phillies offers his best guess of possible players exposed to the Rule 5 draft (If it’s good enough for James at Phuture Phillies, it’s good enough for us). Notables include relievers Joe Bisenius, Edgar Garcia and Pat Overholt and catchers Tuff Gosewich, Tim Kennelly and Joel Naughton (catchers, of all levels, seem to be frequent targets). If Garcia is correct, he fits the profile of the type of pitcher a team may try to stash in their 'pen. Click here for the entire list.

In other news, the Phillies released catchers Luis Ramon Arzeno and Tim Gradoville earlier this offseason.

Money isn’t only matter standing in Figgins’ way

Insiders think Chone Figgins will command upwards of five-years, $50 million in free agency. Some believe he’s best suited to remain with the Angels, but one could argue that the Phillies need him most.

Today, David Murphy continued his free agent primer with a look at third base, noting that among Major League third basemen, Pedro Feliz ranked 18th in on-base percentage (.308) and 18th in OPS (.694). He also noted, as others have, too, that the Phils’ 7-hole production placed them 19th in the league in OPS. Meanwhile, here’s Jimmy Rollins’ line from 640 lead-off plate appearances: .242/.292/.413. That ranks 21 out of 22 qualified Major League leadoff men in OPS (.704). His .292 on-base, as you might expect, was the absolute worst by a long shot.

There’s no other way to view Figgins and his .298/.395/.393 than the best possible free agent upgrade the Phillies could make, one who would kill a whole flock of birds with one stone . The problem: many teams, including the Angels, feel the same way.

We’ve read about the Phillies’ budget restrictions, but one can’t help but wonder if other forces are in play. From Jayson Stark, a week ago: “What happens if they (the Phillies) try to install Figgins in the leadoff hole? That has the potential to create a gigantic problem because they’d have to sell it to their current leadoff man, some guy named Jimmy Rollins. And that won’t be easy. So to me Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and Placido Polanco are much better fits for them, depending on the asking price.”

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Feliz fits Orioles’ needs

As of midnight, teams are square to negotiate with free agents. Third baseman Pedro Feliz, considered a fallback for the Phillies, has drawn early interest from Baltimore.

Feliz, along with Adrian Beltre, heads Baltimore’s short list to replace Melvin Mora at third, according to the Baltimore Sun. While Beltre would likely require a longer, more lucrative deal, the Orioles view Feliz as a stopgap measure until prospect Josh Bell is ready, according to the Sun. Meanwhile, the Phillies are hunting for a third baseman of their own, along with bullpen and bench help. Phillies.com scribe Todd Zolecki believes Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre have the best shot at resigning, but believes free agents Brett Myers, Eric Bruntlett, Tyler Walker and Jack Taschner will not be back. He adds Paul Bako, Miguel Cairo and Matt Stairs would only be back if they accept minor league deals.

Readers weigh in: “What's more important: 625 PA from a 3B and their defense or 100 PA from some guy on the bench (not forgetting that the Phils still have Dobbs). It's wild to me that some on here would be willing to put up with 625 PA at .260/.300/.380 (at best!) so the Phils could add a marginally better bench bat. Maybe Figgins is asking too much, but Feliz isn't a deal at almost any reasonable price.” – Sophist

DeRosa would deliver marginal upgrade at best

FOXSports, citing a Major League source, has listed the Phillies as the favorites to land Mark DeRosa. Despite a 23-homer season, expectations should be tempered.

In a nutshell, here’s the problem with Mark DeRosa: we’ve seen him before and didn’t like the results. The Phillies need a third baseman. For various reasons, some good (the existence of Chipper Jones), some not so good (not seen as everyday player), DeRosa has never started more than 100 games at the position, setting a career high with 99 starts in 2009 between St. Louis and Cleveland. That’s 31 less than Wes Helms’ career high, set in 2003 with Milwaukee.

We’ve seen this line of reasoning from the Phillies before: "If only we could sign (blank) and turn him loose for an entire season, he’d hit (blank) home runs at Citizens Bank Park. We won't worry about age, because the short porch always reverses the effects of aging. Just ask Helms, Pedro Feliz, Geoff Jenkins and David Bell." Note: DeRosa will turn 35 in February, which is older than every last one of those guys when they originally signed.

Think of Feliz’s 20 home runs during his final year in San Fran and note the resembalence to DeRosa's 2009 season: 23 homers and a pedestrian .752 OPS. He also hit .237/.299/.421 the second half of the season. Jenkins showed us why second-half declines by aging vets should be seen as a red flag before making long-term commitments.

Defensively, and in very general terms, DeRosa was good enough to “hold his own” at third; many of the advanced numbers, including a – 5.6 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) suggest he’s well below average. That’s going to be a sharp transition for a team accustomed to receiving solidly above average defense, by that same measure, from Feliz the last two seasons.

Then, consider his bat, which Bill James projects as a .250/.319/.433 in 2010, and DeRosa isn’t much better than a warm body. Nevertheless, they'll take it. Right now, the Phillies have the worst third-base situation in baseball: they don't have one. But the commitment, and the impact on other needs this offseason, will determine whether a move like this is ultimately better for the Phillies than Feliz.

Wednesday: Walker considering return; talks set

Ralph Walker, the father of Tyler Walker, told his hometown newspaper that the reliever has not ruled out a return to the Phillies. Meanwhile, the club gets set for the start of shopping season.

If Walker does return to the organization, it would be on a minor league deal. Walker, along with Eric Bruntlett, Andy Tracy, John Ennis and Paul Hoover, were outrighted to the minors Monday. Bruntlett refused the assignment and became a free agent, but according to Walker's father, the right-hander may be willing to accept. "That's possible and I know it's something that's high on his list," Ralph said. "I know he is looking at his options." Beerleaguer: Just wanted to clarify the process by which Bruntlett became a free agent and to follow up on Walker. It would be great to keep the right-hander around as extra bullpen inventory. The Phillies would be well served to start out the season with plenty of at-the-ready bullpen depth in the high minors, just as they did last season.

Notes: Teams can talk dollars and cents with free agents starting Friday, so expect the Phillies' hunt for outside help to heat up shortly. Meanwhile, dozens of new names have been floating around just for the sake of it, including Omar Vizquel, Jamey Carroll, John McDonald, Ronnie Belliard, Brandon Lyon and others. ... Top prospect Michael Taylor is hitting .294/.351/.471 in the Mexican League and is lighting up left-handed pitching, hitting .455/.571/.818. ... The general consensus seems to be that the Phillies have a decent chance of resigning Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre, although Eyre "may have priced himself out of (the Phillies') range," according to Ruben Amaro Jr. in today's reports.

Tuesday: Phillies paying the price of 2008 success

The Phillies hold $107 million in 2010 commitments, many of them made after the World Series, plus $2.25 million already lost in buyouts.

It’s going to be a winter of belt tightening around baseball. Luckily for the Phillies, their belt is strapped around Olympian-sized brawn. After winning the World Series, and perhaps even before, the Phillies’ brass set their monetary diet, increasing their caloric intake to meet the needs of a sustained playoff run. Now we come to 2010. They’ve fattened the roster through a series of big paydays a year ago, and a new set of commitments will force the Phillies to dig deeper into their pockets than ever before. Mix in pending arbitration for Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Carlos Ruiz, Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey and one can understand why it looks as though only a single notch remains on their belt.

Here’s the bad news. The hands of the arbitration clock have wiped away most of the bargains, while some of the long-term free agent contracts are starting to look a little flabby. That would include $12 million to Brad Lidge, $6.5 million in base salary to Jamie Moyer, $4.25 million to J.C. Romero, $1.5 million to Greg Dobbs, and yes, quite possibly that $12.25 million owed to Raul Ibanez next season. Here’s the good news. They’re the second-tallest team on the podium and an early favorite to return to the postseason, and most of the roster is rewarded accordingly.

Transactions: The Phillies added outfielder Quintin Berry, left-hander Yohan Flande and right-hander Jesus Sanchez to the 40-man roster. All three are of similar age and prospect standing and coming off pretty good seasons. The move shields them from escaping via the Rule 5 draft. It's something of a minor detail, however, the Phillies have a tendency to reach for help from the 40-man roster first, so don't be surprised if one of them - Berry and Flande in particular - surfaces in the majors next season, if only for a game or two. The Phillies now have 30 players on the 40-man roster.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Fall League stat updates

A quick peek at some of the stat lines from Scottsdale, where several Phillies prospects are participating in the Arizona Fall League. Numbers are compiled and courtesy of Phuture Phillies.

Hitters: Domonic Brown .250/.314/.426 in 108 AB, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 0 SB; Troy Hanzawa .000 in 18 AB, 2 RBI and 2 SB; Steve Susdorf .216/.333/.392 in 51 AB, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB; Tuffy Gosewisch .275/.293/.275 in 40 ABs, 0 HR and 3 RBI. Pitchers: Mike Cisco 5 games, 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA, 14.2 IP, 13 H 7 ER, 6 BB, 12K, 1.29 WHIP; Edgar Garcia 9 games, 2-2 with a 5.63 ERA, 16 IP, 22 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 1.63 WHIP; Scott Mathieson 10 games, 0-0 with a 3.09 ERA, 11.2 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 7 BB, 17 K, 1.37 WHIP; Michael Schwimer 9 games, 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 11.2 IP, 10H, 5 ER, 8 BB, 8K, 1.54 WHIP.

Breaking news: Coghlan earns top NL rookie honors

An injury-plagued and so-so September may have proved costly for Phillies’ candidate J.A. Happ (12-4, 2.93). Florida outfielder Chris Coghlan (.321/.390/.460), who led baseball with 113 second-half hits, took home the hardware.

Beerleaguer: This figured to be a tight race and I respect the voters’ decision; Coghlan, who earned 17 of 32 first-place votes, looks like a good one and caught fire after the All-Star break. Tommy Hanson wouldn’t have bothered me, either. Take nothing away from Happ, who earned 10 first-place votes and was the Phillies’ best and most consistent pitcher in a World Series year, opening eyes with a 12-win season and a pair of complete-game shutouts against the Jays and Rockies. Still, he seems to attract a fair share of skeptics, a group that quite possibly includes the Phillies. I know the national stat guys don’t buy into him. At worst, he's a Major League starting pitcher, and I'm quite content with that.

Breaking news: Eric Bruntlett, four others, set free

The Phillies have non-tendered Eric Bruntlett, who hit just .171/.224/.238 in 118 plate appearances in 2009. In addition, right-handers John Ennis and Tyler Walker, catcher Paul Hoover and infielder Andy Tracy were granted free agency, according to the Daily News. [Link]

Beerleaguer: It would have been hard to produce less if he tried. Bruntlett’s lone highlight was an unassisted, walk-off triple play Aug. 23 at Citi Field. Otherwise, his season was actually worse than rarely seen outfielder So Taguchi the season before. There’s no sugar coating it: It was the worst, full-season offensive showing I’ve ever seen. Bruntlett actually produced considerably less than Taguchi, a 22 OPS+ compared to Taguchi’s Ruthian 55.

Some of it wasn’t his fault. After an encouraging spring, E-Brunt struggled to get on the field after serving as Pat Burrell’s defensive caddy the season earlier. The additions of Ben Francisco and John Mayberry at various points in the season also hurt, and Charlie Manuel was reluctant to compromise run production in his middle infield, so Bruntlett basically gathered dustmites in his beard.

Nevertheless, you can’t deny the absurd highlights. The triple play. All the others occurred in the 2008 postseason: a ninth-inning home run off hot-shot rookie David Price in a Game 2 loss to the Rays; the walk-off run on “The Little Squib that Did” in Game 3; and the eventual winning run in Game 5 of the World Series. Then in 2009, he scored the first run on Jimmy Rollins' game-winning hit in Game 4 of the NLCS. For all his faults, it’s quite a distinction to be involved in so many big moments in Phillies history. Lord knows there haven't been many.

From here, the Phillies will be seeking better depth and versatility, something they've really needed for a couple of seasons. They’re very thin in the minors. It’s possible Jason Donald would have been the guy to replace Bruntlett in 2010 prior to his trade to Cleveland, but now the Phillies will be forced to make ends meet via trade or free agency. I'm sure the Phillies have been preparing for this.

Bruntlett is arbitration eligible, but he's likely to receive only a minor league deal, at best. Vaya con dios, Gnome.

As for the others, only Tyler Walker is worth mentioning; he actually played a bigger role than Bruntlett this season. There was some thought that Walker could possibly handle the ninth inning, but as soon as that chatter started in early September, he immediately fell off a cliff and never factored into the Phillies' postseason plans. He'll land on his feet somewhere, possibly on a major league deal, but more likely a minor league one. 

Saturday thread: Links to the Phillies' rumor mill

Aside from a few early reports on the Phillies' pursuit for a third baseman, there's been no new hot stove information since midweek. In the meantime, I've got nothing to add and will be taking a break from the blog for the rest of the weekend. If something comes up, chances are it will pop up on these two threads from FoxSports and ESPN. And if you see anything, be sure to share it with the group in the thread below. Have an awesome weekend.

Need for bullpen, spare closer, can’t be taken lightly

Brad Lidge, who had a dreadful season, underwent flexor tendon surgery and his recovery could set him behind schedule. Meanwhile, J.C. Romero could also miss the early going. Bottom line: bullpen is a major issue for the Phillies.

While the third base debate continues, here’s the dire situation in back of the Phillies’ bullpen. Brad Lidge was the worst closer in baseball last season. He just had elbow surgery. Ryan Madson again demonstrated his limitations as strictly an eighth-inning option and pitched 1 million innings. J.C. Romero is breaking down. Chan Ho Park and Scott Eyre are probably gone. The Phillies are in a lot of trouble if they can’t get help. A lot of trouble. According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Phillies “will be aggressive in signing a set-up man/closer safety net.” They must.

The good news is it’s a relatively saturated market for decent relievers, and there appear to be a disproportionate number of buyers and sellers. A report surfaced yesterday that the Phillies are kicking Fernando Rodney’s tires. More reports like these are likely to surface. Expect the Phils to add at least one, or possibly two, late-inning options.

Here’s another issue worth tracking down the road: do the Phillies make J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Antonio Bastardo permanent additions to the bullpen? Bastardo already seems like a given, Kendrick could find his way back to the majors through the middle innings, and Happ could be doomed for the 'pen depending on how the offseason unfolds.

Thursday morning: Phillies dropping hot corner hints

Baseball sources cited by Inquirer scribe Jim Salisbury believe Ruben Amaro has turned his attention toward the free agent trifecta of Placido Polanco, Mark DeRosa and Adrian Beltre. Chone Figgins and Miguel Tejada are expected to command too much for the Phillies to cover. [Link]

Beerleaguer: Polanco, at the center of this report, would not be my first choice, and I'm uncertain that a move to third, after winning the Gold Glove at second, would be the best move for Polanco. There's no question that the Polanco of two seasons ago - the one who hit .344/.388/.458 - is exactly the type of contact, situational hitter this lineup needs, but his numbers have been in decline the last two seasons, posting a mediocre .285/.331/.396 in 2009, raising a red flag, in a contract year, at age 34. Plus, it's unknown whether he has enough arm to withstand the rigors of third base; he hasn't been a regular third baseman in ages. I'm also concerned about the "you can't come home again" syndrome that seems to infect past players who tried to come back.

As much as the Phillies think they can improve the lineup by upgrading third base, I'm skeptical of all three of the aging options topping the Phillies' free agent list. Nevertheless, the Phillies have little choice but to commit to one of them, unless they can work out a trade. San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff, Colorado's Garrett Atkins and Pittsburgh's Andy LaRoche have been speculated upon in reports. According to the Denver Post, the Rockies may actually release Atkins if they can't find a trade partner.

Rollins, Victorino repeat as Gold Glove winners

For Jimmy Rollins, it's his third-straight award at shortstop. Shane Victorino picks up his second in a row in the outfield. Former Phillie Michael Bourn was also honored for his work in center field with Houston. Beerleaguer: No argument here. As much as J-Roll struggled at the dish, it didn't affect his play in the field. Honestly, I thought it was his best defensive effort yet.

Report: Phillies taking a look at Fernando Rodney

The 32-year-old reliever saved 37 games in 38 chances for the Tigers last season. The report, filed by FoxSports from the GM meetings in Chicago, marks the first reported Phillies free agent inquiry.

Beerleaguer: Seems like yesterday when red-hot Pete Orr rumors kicked off the post-World Series hot stove one year ago. Rodney’s peripherals aren’t strong; he finished with a 4.40 ERA and 61/41 K/BB ratio in 75 2-3 innings in his first full season as Detroit’s closer, ending the year on a down note. He was suspended three games for throwing a ball into the Tropicana Field press box on September 4 and was erratic down the stretch, saving all of his games nonetheless. In Rodney, the Phils would be hoping to land a pitcher with late-inning experience, but not necessarily an opening-day replacement for Brad Lidge. MLBTR seems to think a ballbark one-year, $6 million deal would be in order.

Interestingly, the FoxSports piece made mention of the Phillies’ budget limitations, which seems to be a running theme among the early reports from Phillies' camp. According to Cot’s Contracts, the Phils already have close to $110 million in salary commitments to the Major League team, with several players due for raises through arbitration, along with a wide-open hole at third base. Rodney is a Type B free agent and this report suggests the club would be satisfied with second-tier relief help.

Tuesday: Free agents file, Phillies formulate plans

Less than a week removed from the World Series and the Phillies' hot stove is heating up. Chan Ho Park, Matt Stairs and Paul Bako joined Pedro Martinez, Miguel Cairo, Pedro Feliz and Brett Myers in filing for free agency.

Free agents have been assigned Type A and B designation and now the stage is set for teams to talk turkey. Only Park and Eyre will garner extra picks for the Phils. Aside from a few reported discussions about Pedro Martinez, the Phillies reportedly had little interest in retaining the rest of their eligible free agents. Now, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. and his team will begin to lay the groundwork this week at the GM meetings, happening through Nov. 11 in Chicago, a prelude to baseball’s winter meetings, set for Dec. 7-10 in Indianapolis.

By most accounts, the saturated market and bad economy figure to bog down the wheeling and dealing. The Phillies have addressed their needs early the last few seasons, and as a team with means, may attempt to do the same this winter. By letting Feliz go, the biggest priority is at third.  Early frontrunners include Penn product Mark DeRosa, slick-fielding Mariner Adrian Beltre and slashing leadoff man Chone Figgins, who rocked a .395 on-base percentage with Anaheim, but would cost the Phillies a draft pick. The list includes several other possibilities, including Type A player Placido Polanco. Polly, who’s 34 and coming off a ho-hum season with Detroit, hasn’t been a regular third baseman in ages, and never saw regular action there while in Philadelphia. The Phillies could be hesitant to make something out nothing, as they tried to do with Wes Helms two seasons ago.

Once again, the Phillies will hunt for a backup catcher; the list is deep with veterans who could be trusted behind the dish in the event Carlos Ruiz would go down with injury. The Phils are dry at catcher in the high minors, so they could be in the market for two. It’s a buyer’s market for relievers as well, with many good-not-great possibilities equipped to handle the eighth and ninth innings. Other areas of need include middle infield depth and more pop off the bench. Eric Bruntlett seems likely to be non-tendered. Meanwhile, the Phillies are reportedly hot after Roy Halladay. We'll obviously keep our eyes on that.

Resources: Type A and B; Team-by-team free agents; Cot's Contracts; MLBTR Top Free Agents.

Brown retains top spot among Phillies prospects

Typically a winter treat, Baseball America pulled the Phillies’ name early this season, announcing their Top 10 prospects and best tools in the organization today. [Link]

Outfielder Domonic Brown repeats as the top player in the Phillies' farm, followed by Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, Travis d'Arnaud, Trevor May, Anthony Gose, Sebastian Valle, Jarred Cosart, Antonio Bastardo and Domingo Santana. Click here for more details and the best tools winners (biggest surprise is that Gose - who stole 76 bases for Lakewood, is not considered the fastest player in their system). Only subscribers can access the full scouting reports.

Beerleaguer: Put Michael Taylor second and Kyle Drabek third and this was close to the list I presented to Reading Phillies beat writer Mike Drago back when he polled 15 writers for his top prospect piece. So I’m feeling pretty good about that. My list also included defensive whiz Freddy Galvis, who did not make the BA cut, although I did include darkhorses Antonio Bastardo and Domingo Santana in my group. So hurray for me I guess, but a bigger hurray for the Phillies, who appear to have some very good depth - including a couple of future big leaguers - down on the farm.

One one hand, it's always a great day when Baseball America announces their rankings. Bummer we were given this meaty topic only days removed from the World Series. This will be a long offseason indeed.

Beerleaguer for breakfast: Phils decline Feliz's option

The Phillies will pay 34-year-old third baseman Pedro Feliz a $500,000 buyout and upgrade the hot corner via trade or free agency. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has not ruled out bringing him back on a lesser free agent deal.

Beerleaguer: No argument here; Feliz would have been owed $5.5 million in 2010 and the hot corner is one area the Phillies can secure an upgrade. Feliz hit .266/.308/.386 with 12 home runs and an 80 OPS+ out of the No. 7 hole, earning 625 plate appearances on the season. He came through with a clutch, game-tying home run in Game 4 of the World Series, and also homered in the Championship Series, otherwise, he had a poor showing this postseason, hitting just .167.

Still, whenever a team achieves a certain level of success, as the Phillies have these last two seasons, disrupting the nucleus should never be taken lightly. The Phillies have been sacrificing offense for defense at third for many seasons, a formula that's worked to some extent. Feliz proved to be a very solid defender, exhibiting pinpoint accuracy on his throws and converting most of the plays he needed to make, but the Phillies had been hoping for more pop. When you get past the decline in home runs, Feliz turned in nearly identical run production he had given San Francisco the previous two seasons, with an OPS+ hovering around 80. The Phillies lived with it since they received above-average run production from atypical areas like second base, but as his power vanished, so did their patience for all the bad at bats and low on-base percentage.

Nevertheless, Feliz, who battled through a back injury in 2008 and underwent offseason surgery, played an important role in last season's march to the World Series, knocking in the eventual winning run against the Rays and making a key stab off the turf in Tampa. Signed as something of a last resort, fortifying what has become the organization's thinnest position, the Phillies will feel no regrets in the $9 million he was given over the life of his deal.

The club has already made inquiries and has received trade offers regarding third base, according to the Inquirer.

Breaking news: Phillies bid farewell to Brett Myers

The Phillies have informed Brett Myers they intend to go in another direction. Myers, in turn, thanked them "for putting up with my (stuff)," according to the Inquirer's Jim Salisbury. [Link]

Beerleaguer: My eulogy to Myers was written May 30, two days after it was announced he would require season-ending hip surgery. Turned out, he was able to pitch again, but he was a non-factor, instead of an X-factor, as many of us hoped. Here's part of my piece from May:

“Even Bill Lyon would struggle to extract meaning from Myers' career. In five years of blogging about the Phillies, Myers has been the toughest player to write. Eight seasons have simultaneously felt like too much and not enough content. For a pitcher who constantly looked uncomfortable in his own body, he's still regarded as something of a work in progress, just two shocking years older than J.A. Happ. Still considered a front line starter by some, mounting evidence suggests otherwise. He never won more than 14 games, setting his career high six years ago.

“But before his career is painted in a broad brush of disappointment, recall the highlight, including two of the loudest Citizens Bank Park moments in history: the 2007 division clincher against Washington, and his amazing at bat against C.C. Sabathia in the NLDS. Ironically, neither had anything to do with starting pitching, yet he earned his World Series ring based on the two postseason wins and a stretch-run surge that guided the Phils to October.”

Back in May, there might have been some thought to bringing him back, but according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, that won’t be the case. I cannot blame them. Ruben Amaro Jr. met with the right-hander and said they won’t engage in negotiations.

Myers, a first-round pick in 1999, was 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA (99 ERA+) in eight seasons as a starter and reliever. He did right by the Phillies, too, earning a generous extension before the 2007 season that took him one-year past free agency.

Considering how slowly free agency moved last offseason, I bet Myers, with all his baggage, becomes one of the last free agent pitchers signed this offseason. On a good team, he’ll become a back-of-the-rotation starter, and as much as he likes touching the ball every day as a reliever, financially, it would be wise to market himself as a capable starter to a lesser National League squad like the Nationals, where he’d be a No. 2 at worst and could end up giving them some decent innings.

Friday: No rest, a couple of tests, for the weary

In addition to Raul Ibanez (groin/abdomen) and Scott Eyre (elbow), who will be reexamined for previously known ailments, 2009 bust Brad Lidge will also have his elbow tested for loose bodies, the Phillies announced.

In other news, the Phillies have picked up Cliff Lee’s option for 2010. No surprise there. Meanwhile, they have until Monday to decide whether they exercise Pedro Feliz’s $5 million option. Beerleaguer: You know, that really chaps my ass about Lidge, and I wish I knew where to point my finger. It’s one thing to shrug off a knee injury and spend eight months pretending it’s not bothering him. Now we get news of an elbow injury? So let me get this straight: healthy pitchers stay home; we’re bringing the guy with 11 blown saves, a 7.21 ERA and two injuries along for the postseason?

On Feliz, that's a definite pass on the $5 million option. Pocket the money and bring him back on a lesser free agent deal if the Phillies can't make a trade or lure an upgrade. There were absolutely no takers for Feliz two years and 4,000 more points on the Dow ago, coming off a year in which he had 20 homers, not 12.

Yankees dethrone Phillies as champions of baseball

The Philadelphia Phillies' bid for back-to-back world titles fell short Wednesday night in a 7-3 defeat at the hands of the New York Yankees. 

Beerleaguer: Tonight concludes a historic run by a proud Philadelphia franchise, beginning with last season's title capture, continuing with their successful 162-game and division-clinching march through the regular season and ending with their second-consecutive National League pennant. While 2008 became the year Philadelphia was given reprieve from a long title drought, 2009 carried a different meaning for this individual, one that mattered less about winning and more about the bonds the Phillies have created among us. Step back. Look around. What great pleasure, excitement and brotherhood the Phillies have stirred, at a time when unity and goodwill are in such short supply.

I'll issue my final thoughts on the Phillies in the days ahead. Meanwhile, I extend my sincere thanks to the peanut gallery for spending another season with Beerleaguer. It's been a pleasure to serve you.

Game 6: The stage they deserve

A word for Pedro Martinez vs. Andy Pettitte in Game 6 of the World Series: spectacular. And knowing the Phillies are the ones holding the magnanimous Pedro, recognizing his history in New York: unbelievable.

Tonight is just another chapter in a growing list of “pinch me” moments for Phillies fans. It's getting hard to remember what it was like to watch alternate prime time programming. Believe it or not, this is the first meeting between Pedro and Pettitte in 11 years and their first in the postseason, according to the Associated Press. Both pitchers are 3-3 in six meetings, and according to Stats Inc., the visitor has won each of them. But these are very different times. Many moons have passed. Pettitte will be taking the ball on short rest, while Pedro gets by on guile more than he did a decade ago. As much as I’d like to see a pitcher’s duel go into the books, signs point to a pair of short outings, with the game decided by the team that brings the better offense to the ballpark, and also the bullpen. So far, the Yankees have featured the better table-setters in Derek Jeter and Johnny Damon; I'd go so far as to say they've been the difference in the series, particularly Damon. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino haven't compared. Rivera has bested Madson and Lidge, but the Yankees' middle relief has been questionable. Both squads are lacking thunder from their first basemen. Ryan Howard is a strikeout away from breaking Willie Wilson’s 1980 World Series strikeout mark with 13, and if you're like me, you've been anticipating Mark Teixeira to break out at the most inopportune time.

For better or worse, something big is going to happen tonight.

If the Phillies force Game 7, hand it to Hamels

Reliable scribe Todd Zolecki writes Charlie Manuel “sounded like a man who is leaning toward Cole Hamels in Game 7” when he spoke with the media yesterday. It’s the right move.

After the Phillies lost Game 4, Manuel took heat for starting Joe Blanton instead of playing the Yankees’ game by shortening the rotation and starting Cliff Lee on three-days rest. Now, after watching A.J. Burnett fail to make it out of the third inning, the focus has shifted toward Joe Girardi and his decision to start 37-year-old Andy Pettitte on short rest following a good, but not great, start in Game 3. Meanwhile, it sets up the standard second guess of Manuel, only to watch it work out in the end. This happened as recently as the Division Series. Believing the skipper pushed the panic button prematurely in Game 2 by using J.A. Happ and Joe Blanton from the pen, critics raged that Cholly had backed himself into a corner, forced to use Pedro Martinez in sub-freezing conditions in Game 3. Magically – or maybe not – it all worked out; Game 3 was postponed, J.A. Happ pitched Game 3 and Cliff Lee made his second of four quality starts in Game 4, setting up the epic, ninth-inning comeback.
 
Speaking of Happ, the rookie of the year candidate may be in the mix for Game 7 along with Hamels. Here’s a case where everything that’s gone wrong with Hamels, mentally, may actually help detract from the magnitude of a Game 7 in the Bronx. Hamels’ last quality start came Sept. 17 (although it isn’t necessary to go that deep with all hands on deck in a Game 7), but compare that with Happ, whose last quality start came eons ago on Aug. 27 and had a worse game in the postseason (3 IP, 5 H, 2 BB) than any of Hamels’ clunkers. In Happ’s defense, conditions were severe, but on Thursday, they may not be that much better.

But I digress. Gotta go one game at a time, which has been Manuel’s successful mantra all postseason.

What's happened to Howard in the World Series?

Beerleaguer hands over the morning post to a long-time reader, who offers his insights into Ryan Howard’s slump.

Howard regressed in hitting left-handers in 2009, with a drop in OPS from .746 in 2008 to .653 this season. This, despite the fact that he had better protection in Jayson Werth and should have seen better pitches to hit. So a steady diet of lefties from the Yankees will certainly have an impact. Yet in his seven plate appearances vs. righties, he has not put a single ball in play, walking twice and striking out five times. It's not just left-handed pitching that has him stymied right now.

Is he choking? Very doubtful. He's a big-time player and played in last year's World Series. He was extremely clutch in the 2009 postseason up until now. Has he been unlucky, hitting balls at people? No. He's not hitting balls at all.

I can offer a couple of possibilities, aside from those offered by the experts about swing mechanics and weight shift. First, this slump could simply be the law of averages bringing him back to his mean level. He was on fire through the first two rounds of the postseason, so you knew it couldn't continue for much longer. It is poor timing indeed that he could cool off at this time, but it was due to happen sooner or later.

Second, from watching the games, it looks like he has lost track of the strike zone. He is swinging at balls and taking strikes. He has fallen behind on the first pitch 15 times out of 20 PAs, with nine called first strikes. He has never had a 2-0 count. He has been 0-2 six times and 1-2 six times, 2-1 just four times.

Let me suggest that this problem with the strike zone is to some degree the fault of the umpiring. I have never seen such inconsistency in what constitutes a strike. The results work both ways, with pitches that should be strikes being called balls, and vice versa. It has been consistently bad for both teams and for both pitchers and hitters, and it inconsistent from pitch to pitch, not game to game. Players cannot adjust in such a situation. (I specifically recall a crucial at bat where Utley was facing Rivera with two men on and one out. Two consecutive pitches that were clearly out of the strike zone were called strikes, putting Utley in the hole instead of ahead in the count. That is a world of difference. As it was, he was forced to swing at another ball out of the zone and subsequently killed the rally.)

If Howard loses confidence in his ability to work the count, he cannot afford to wait for the pitches he can drive. The problem is compounded because the Yankees continue to throw breaking balls, and in a situation where there is a moving strike zone, he’s forced to swing at unhittable pitches. My guess is Howard will only break out if the pitcher makes a mistake, or tries to overpower him with fastballs (unlikely). Otherwise he will continue to have at-bats that resemble a blindfolded batter trying to break a pinata.

Beerleaguer: An inspired take. I’ll add the Yankees clearly had the Phillies well scouted, reportedly sending 10 scouts to the NLCS. It can be seen in their mindful approach, not only to Howard, but to Werth, knowing he’s taking at least the first pitch. They also refuse to throw Shane Victorino fastballs.

The Bronx is not burning

One wonders why the Yankees, who've watched as Alex Rodriguez has been hit three times, haven’t sent a message to locked-in slugger Chase Utley, who tied Reggie Jackson’s mark yesterday with five homers in the Fall Classic.

Multiple sources are debunking the Cole Hamels and Brett Myers spat, so let’s move back to baseball. After sharing our respective disdain for Nick Swisher and Shane Victorino, a colleague with New York allegiances wondered why the Yankees haven’t so much as brushed Utley off the plate. It’s a good question; if Roger Clemens was still in pinstripes, there would be no hesitation, not that he ever needed a reason. I guess it's not in this group’s Madison Avenue makeup; the Yankees all seem to carry themselves in the same, vanilla, Troy Aikman sort of way. All except A-Rod, who even drives some hardcore Yankees fans nuts for mugging it up for the camera with his staged looks of intensity. (Here’s the best A-Rod article of all time, as it relates to this topic).

Phillies stealing signs? Yesterday on ESPN 97.5 radio, Dodgers third base coach and former Phillies skipper Larry Bowa alluded to rumors that the Phillies are stealing signs via a hidden camera or having teammates tipping signs from the bullpen.
 
Today, Shane Victorino responded. "For Bowa to come out and say something like that if he doesn't know what he's talking about - if he doesn't have cold, hard facts - he shouldn't say something like that. I don't want to use the word I'm going to use, but it's just not something that should be said. That's just weak, I guess.  Obviously, if we're stealing signs, we would be doing better than what we're doing right now."

Report: Hamels, Myers engage in clubhouse spat

According to Yahoo! Sports, Phillies pitchers Brett Myers and Cole Hamels had a "short but tense" confrontation in the team’s clubhouse following Game 5, stemming from Hamels’ recent statement that he was eager for his season to end.

According to the report, as Myers walked past Hamels near Hamels’ locker he said, mocking, “What are you doing here? I thought you quit.” According to the witness, Myers was guided away by a team official before the situation escalated any further.

Beerleaguer: You know, I've often wondered how these two have coexisted in the same clubhouse all these years. Talk about opposite sides of the spectrum. That's Hollywood and ... what's the word for Brett Myers? Nevertheless, I wonder how many teammates were secretly glad Myers called him out. Maybe it's the wake-up call he needed, and I would imagine nobody on the team wants to extend the season more than Myers, after missing much of it with injury.

As for whether this will have any sort of negative impact on the Phillies, heading into Game 6, you would be selling this team well short on toughness if you thought they were this fragile. I'd imagine the majority of Phillies would prefer they just shut up and pitch. I wonder if Pedro Martinez is even aware that Brett Myers is on the roster.

Utley blasts Bombers to send series back to Bronx

Chase Utley added two more homers to his World Series total, tying Reggie Jackson's record with five, while Cliff Lee notched his fourth win of the postseason, as the Phillies staved off elimination, winning 8-6.

Beerleaguer: A victory set in motion by the short-rested A.J. Burnett, who couldn't make any of his pitches and was gone after two-plus innings. But you have to hand it to Utley, who, in addition to the home runs, played a very sharp game overall. And for the second time this series, it's Utley and Lee - competitors cut from the same cloth - who deserve the lion's share of credit for keeping the Phillies on point. These are not players who are anxious for this thing to end and have demonstrated exactly the type of effort it's going to take to win this series. Meanwhile, the relentless Bombers, who had more comeback wins than any team in baseball this season, showed why you cannot let up for a moment; with the score 8-2 in the seventh, they brought the tying run to the plate twice in the ninth. Johnny Damon ... what the hell? Uncle. Ryan Howard could ghost write Damon's memoirs with the amount of time he's spent at first base.

Truthfully, the Yankees, up 3-1, had no real reason to be at the razor's edge, and it showed; Jorge Posada's at bat after the non-time call was a perfect example of that blase attitude. Yet that same, nothing-to-lose approach by the Yankees nearly bit the Phillies in a tense finish.

Moral of the story: Phillies live to fight another day. Fans get more great baseball. Utley, Raul Ibanez and others showed plenty of life in their bats. More tomorrow ...

Not quite '93

Full disclosure: I navigated Baseball Reference today to revisit the 1993 World Series box scores. I sense I wasn't alone. I wanted to study the similarities between last night’s collapse and Game 6, just to see if it invoked the same nausiating feeling. It did. I’m unsure why I did it, why I needed to torture myself in this sick and twisted way, but I did, and I'm uncertain what it accomplished. We could talk about the missed opportunities against CC, their sloppy fifth inning, the bad throws or any number of contributing factors, but if the Phils can’t pull off a miraculous reversal, this World Series will be remembered for Brad Lidge, the way the '93 Fall Classic boiled down to Wild Thing. Nevertheless, there are two significant differences. First: the still-shining existance of 2008, and that iconic photo of Lidge, falling to his knees, after striking out Eric Hinske. Joe Carter has nothing on that. (BTW, there are good photos of Cole Hamels that series, too.) And second, the Phillies are not quite dead ... although the buzzards are beginning to circle.

Killer collapse pushes Phillies to brink of elimination

After Pedro Feliz's homer tied it in the eighth, the Yankees rallied with three, two-out runs off Brad Lidge in the ninth, prevailing 7-4 to move one win away from dethroning the Phillies.

Beerleaguer: Sickening. And fitting. With Mark Teixeira waiting on deck, you could smell it coming with every pitch Johnny Damon swatted away until he got the one he wanted. And judging by the hush that fell over the crowd, everyone knew when Damon reached the Phillies were in trouble. They'd seen this inning before, against lesser teams than the Yankees. They'd spent months bracing for the moment it would burn them in the postseason. Damon made sure they'd experience their worst nightmare with his heads-up base-running, and the second Lidge plunked Teixeira, there was nowhere to hide but the exits. This wasn't a save situation, but it was. He could have preserved the tie, kept Mariano Rivera out of the game and given the Phillies a very real chance to seize it in the home half against Phil Coke. And you know they would have done it.

With their backs to the wall, there's only one inning that matters now: the ninth inning of Game 7. Gotta get there. Only one problem: who's going to pitch it?

Readers: Phillies need better at bats from Victorino

Beerleaguers have more on their minds than Cole Hamels. A sampling.

"Victorino's been my biggest disappointment. Hamels I expected this from, it's just a continuation of the regular season. But Victorino. Here's a guy who excelled the first two rounds, and this series he just swings at everything. Thanks to him and Feliz, Burnett managed to go 7 after throwing 60-plus the first three innings. Then yesterday, he swings and misses at two balls and just hits the sac fly. Could've been a bigger inning. There was also that hanger he popped up." - Tray

"Hamels' collapse has been the most-mentioned event on both the game thread and this one, and rightly so, but this is also worth mentioning: Hamels allowed 5 runs in 4.1 IP. The bullpen allowed 3 runs in the next 3.2 IP. Had those bullpen innings been clean, the score would've been 5-4 heading into the 9th. But Happ, Durbin and Myers each allowed 1 run. That is a recipe for losing." - clout

"Everybody has gone gaga over the Yanks' starting pitching in the series but Burnett was the only guy who really had great stuff and even he struggled a bit in the early going. The only starter the Phils have faced all postseason who I really felt they had no shot against was Padilla in Game 2 of the NLCS. Padilla's stuff was electric that day from a velocity and control standpoint" - MG

"Cholly has always had a penchant for emptying his bench in reverse order of talent. It's like he's constantly saving his best bats for a critical late-game situation, while ignoring the fact that there's a critical moment right before his eyes & that another such moment may never arise. I've always found this to be sort of an ironic mindset from a manager who used to pull Pat Burrell from the game in the 6th inning. If you want to save your best bench player so you'll have him available in the 8th & 9th inning, wouldn't the same be true of one of your best hitters?" - bay_area_phan

Update: According to Twitter reports, Chan Ho Park was ill and unavailable last night and may not be available tonight.

Sunday: Phillies hoping for bounce back performance

Faced with their first series deficit in two postseasons, the Phillies send righthander Joe Blanton to the mound in Game 4 against lefthander CC Sabathia, who will be working on short rest.

Preview: Following last night's 8-5 loss, an unfamiliar, uneasy feeling is creeping in among the Philadelphia faithful. The Yankees used three homers to rip home-field advantage right back from Cole Hamels and the Phillies, while a number of sluggers, including Ryan Howard, continued to look out of sorts against a Yankees lefthander. Afterward, Hamels didn't win much sympathy. “I can’t wait for it to end,” he said. Unfortunately for his teammates, and hundreds of thousands of fans, the Phillies moved one step closer to making his wish come true.

Meanwhile, the Phillies are hoping to continue their postseason success against the ALCS MVP, who took the loss, walked three and surrendered a pair of Chase Utley homers in Game 1. However, the Phillies received their largest boost that game from Cliff Lee, who took a shutout into the ninth inning. Otherwise, Sabathia pitched well enough to give the Yankees ample opportunity to secure victory. Blanton, the winner in last season's World Series Game 4, will be asked to pitch the game of his life, as another loss would push the Phillies to the brink of elimination, with three more games, including two at Yankee Stadium, for the Bombers to play with.

Yankees bust out the lumber as Hamels flops again

The Phillies raced out to a 3-0 lead, but Cole Hamels, who had been getting ahead and commanding his fastball through three innings, unraveled for two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth, taking the loss in an 8-5 defeat.

Beerleaguer: Hamels exhausted every last ounce of 2008 goodwill tonight. It should come as no great shock that it started after a 3-2 pitch to Mark Teixeira didn't go his way in the fourth. We've seen this all season. After that, it's as if everything he'd established through the first three innings got tossed out the window. It's one thing to get burned by the A-Rods of the world. You tread lightly with hitters like him. But a pitcher of Hamels' ability, who had been popping a good fastball to set up his change, needs to pull the string ahead in the count against average hitters like Nick Swisher. Then he goes with a curveball to Andy Pettitte and it's enough to make Chase Utley run to the mound and wring his neck. On a team of true tough guys, Hamels has isolated himself with yet another soft start - this one in the biggest game of his career - and one can't help but wonder what his future holds.

Carlos Ruiz can't escape blame, either. Chooch called for the curve against Swisher and did nothing to keep Hamels on task in the fourth and fifth. Watch the replay; Hamels' curve must look like a gift from god for a right-handed hitter.

Meanwhile, tonight provided front-row seats to the Yankees' Halloween horror show of confident starting pitching and explosive hitting. The night, which was extended 90 minutes due to a rain delay, included a veteran performance by Pettitte and homers by A-Rod, Swisher and Hideki Matsui. Pettitte was terrific after the second inning, as he and the Yankees' bullpen held Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez hitless. (Three of them looked horrible tonight; Vic had a sac fly.) Jayson Werth's right-handed muscle was one of the lone highlights, going deep twice including a bomb off the facing of the second deck in left. Ruiz also went deep in the ninth. Out of the 'pen, J.A. Happ, Chad Durbin and Brett Myers, three pitchers I could give or take at this stage, were unimpressive and allowed a run in each of their innings. For Happ, it's been a forgettable, if somewhat tragic, finish to an otherwise spotless season, considering he's needed to watch his teammate ratchet up a 7.58 ERA in four postseason starts.