Jody Mac
08-30-2010, 12:22 PM
To say the hometown baseball team is a little Jekyll and Hyde-ish would be a gross understatement. Do you need any more proof than the week we just witnessed? How do you lose four straight at HOME to a team like the Houston Astros, in full rebuild mode, having traded their two best veteran players Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman? Then go out to the west coast and sweep the team with the best record in your league, the San Diego Padres, on the ROAD three straight?? Don't try and explain it or understand it, just accept it. If nothing else, it makes the final 32 games quite compelling and must-see action. Chances are the peaks will outdo the valleys and that will be good enough to get them into post-season play. What they do when they get there is anybody's guess. This season has been one long roller coaster ride, why should October be any different??
When I warned you a while back, just getting your stars back from injury does not assure you that they return at top flight form, I didn't in-vision Ryan Howard struggling quite as much as he has. Howard like several Phillies teammates is a streaky hitter. This is what Charlie Manuel gets paid for. Juggle, cajole, move in and out, rest or play, Uncle Chuck needs to push the right buttons to get Howard hot and rolling at just the right time.
Much like this entire team, Jason Werth has had a maddeningly inconsistent season both at the bat, in the field and on the bases. His home run reduction is probably going to cost him some millions of dollars in his next contract, which most people assume will be somewhere else in 2011. I will agree that Werth will not get a multiple year offer from the Phil’s in the upcoming off-season. However, the Phillies, who are always "replenishing" the minor leagues conscious, will most likely offer Werth arbitration so they can recoup the two draft pick compensation they would receive for losing Werth as a type A free agent. What's the possibility that Werth would accept? Probably pretty small. But it might not be a zero percentage. He’s going to be looking for something in the 15 million dollar range per season. Jason Bay's 4 year 66 million dollar deal with the Mets is probably comparable. (And look what the Mets are getting for their money there!!) The question is who's going to pay that. Think of the teams with big budgets. Yanks may not be in the market for a right fielder with Nick Swisher having a career year and one year to run on his deal. The Red Sox have one more year of JD Drew to go through at 14 million. The Mets are still smarting from the Bay deal and Carlos Beltran has a year to go at 18+ million in their outfield. The Dodgers are out from under Manny's deal, but they've got to realize they'd be better served spending their free agent money on pitching. Another ex-Phil's deal that of Aaron Rowand may keep the Giants from jumping into the big ticket outfield market. See where I'm going?? The free agent outfield buyers market may be much better in 2012. If he and his agent are reading the tea leaves the same as me, he may take the Phil’s up on a one year arbitration offer and then jump into a friendlier free agent pool 12 months later. He'll probably be able to get into the 15 million dollar range via arbitration. If the Phil’s offer and he accepts, yes it's only a one year deal but their budget is going north of 150 million for 2011.That could make the call on the offer a little dicey. If you asked Ruben Amaro what he would do in the situation today, he'd tell you he's not even thinking about the off-season right now. He'd probably be telling the truth. But soon enough it will become a bridge he has to cross in his mind!!
The Eagles continue to play uninspiring football in the pre-season, lead or lack thereof by their growing pains QB, Mr. Kolb. Don't look for Andy Reid to change his philosophy for the final pre-season game. Key players are DNP coach’s decision. There are several who will be watching from the sidelines versus the Jets that I'd like to see out on the field to bolster the confidence the Eagles may need for their opener....One Bird who will play and I think should be playing when the season starts for real is 4th round draft pick out of Kentucky, Trevard Lindley. This rookie corner has opened my eyes with his speed, willingness to hit and nose for the football. Don't be shocked if he's across from Asante Samuel more often than not by the time October rolls around!!
After not making it to the theater (movie that is) for close to a year, I went to see my second feature film in less than two weeks. Sylvester Stallone's star studded action thriller, "The Expendables" was worth the $7:50 I paid. The action was loud and high-tech. Yes it was a who's who of the action stars of the last 2+ decades. If you’re waiting for a story line to develop while you’re watching it, you'll still be waiting after you've left the theater. Take it like the Phil’s season, don't try and figure it out, just sit back and enjoy the ride!!!
When I warned you a while back, just getting your stars back from injury does not assure you that they return at top flight form, I didn't in-vision Ryan Howard struggling quite as much as he has. Howard like several Phillies teammates is a streaky hitter. This is what Charlie Manuel gets paid for. Juggle, cajole, move in and out, rest or play, Uncle Chuck needs to push the right buttons to get Howard hot and rolling at just the right time.
Much like this entire team, Jason Werth has had a maddeningly inconsistent season both at the bat, in the field and on the bases. His home run reduction is probably going to cost him some millions of dollars in his next contract, which most people assume will be somewhere else in 2011. I will agree that Werth will not get a multiple year offer from the Phil’s in the upcoming off-season. However, the Phillies, who are always "replenishing" the minor leagues conscious, will most likely offer Werth arbitration so they can recoup the two draft pick compensation they would receive for losing Werth as a type A free agent. What's the possibility that Werth would accept? Probably pretty small. But it might not be a zero percentage. He’s going to be looking for something in the 15 million dollar range per season. Jason Bay's 4 year 66 million dollar deal with the Mets is probably comparable. (And look what the Mets are getting for their money there!!) The question is who's going to pay that. Think of the teams with big budgets. Yanks may not be in the market for a right fielder with Nick Swisher having a career year and one year to run on his deal. The Red Sox have one more year of JD Drew to go through at 14 million. The Mets are still smarting from the Bay deal and Carlos Beltran has a year to go at 18+ million in their outfield. The Dodgers are out from under Manny's deal, but they've got to realize they'd be better served spending their free agent money on pitching. Another ex-Phil's deal that of Aaron Rowand may keep the Giants from jumping into the big ticket outfield market. See where I'm going?? The free agent outfield buyers market may be much better in 2012. If he and his agent are reading the tea leaves the same as me, he may take the Phil’s up on a one year arbitration offer and then jump into a friendlier free agent pool 12 months later. He'll probably be able to get into the 15 million dollar range via arbitration. If the Phil’s offer and he accepts, yes it's only a one year deal but their budget is going north of 150 million for 2011.That could make the call on the offer a little dicey. If you asked Ruben Amaro what he would do in the situation today, he'd tell you he's not even thinking about the off-season right now. He'd probably be telling the truth. But soon enough it will become a bridge he has to cross in his mind!!
The Eagles continue to play uninspiring football in the pre-season, lead or lack thereof by their growing pains QB, Mr. Kolb. Don't look for Andy Reid to change his philosophy for the final pre-season game. Key players are DNP coach’s decision. There are several who will be watching from the sidelines versus the Jets that I'd like to see out on the field to bolster the confidence the Eagles may need for their opener....One Bird who will play and I think should be playing when the season starts for real is 4th round draft pick out of Kentucky, Trevard Lindley. This rookie corner has opened my eyes with his speed, willingness to hit and nose for the football. Don't be shocked if he's across from Asante Samuel more often than not by the time October rolls around!!
After not making it to the theater (movie that is) for close to a year, I went to see my second feature film in less than two weeks. Sylvester Stallone's star studded action thriller, "The Expendables" was worth the $7:50 I paid. The action was loud and high-tech. Yes it was a who's who of the action stars of the last 2+ decades. If you’re waiting for a story line to develop while you’re watching it, you'll still be waiting after you've left the theater. Take it like the Phil’s season, don't try and figure it out, just sit back and enjoy the ride!!!