Jimmy Rollins knows fashion. He likes to look good. And he's up on all the latest styles (a few years ago, he was one of the first players to start wearing the new batting helmets with the air vents). So, it was critical that Mr. MVP voiced his approval for the Phillies' new alternate home uniforms, which the team unveiled today at Citizens Bank Park.The new duds, which will be worn at all home day games, are cream-colored, sans pinstripes and styled after Phillies' jerseys from 1946 through 1949. The Phils have featured red pinstripes on their uniforms since 1950. The accompanying caps are blue with a red 'P.'
Of course, the unis are available just in time for Christmas. They're already on sale at the Bank, and after Saturday, at Modell's Sporting Goods.
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For anyone curious about the Phillies' payroll (it's been a hot topic here), Pat Gillick had this to say today: "Our problem is not money. Our problem is talent. If we think the talent is there, we will spend the money. We're pretty flexible that way. But it's easy to spend money now, and then, a year from now, you wish you hadn't spent it. This is not a good free-agent group."
Translation: the Phillies have $40 million to spend on a .500 pitcher like Kyle Lohse, but they don't think that would be the wisest use of their funds. I tend to agree. How about you?
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Gillick wouldn't comment on a published report that the Phils are interested in trading for Orioles third baseman Melvin Mora, but it seems highly unlikely they have enough bait. "I don't know that we have a lot of bullets to trade, really," Gillick said earlier this week.
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Regarding lefty Shane Youman, assistant GM Mike Arbuckle told me today the Phils claimed Youman to add depth. They view him as a starter. If he's used out of the bullpen, Arbuckle said it would be as a middle-inning reliever, not as a lefty specialist.
12 comments:
I don't like hearing Youman is viewed as a starter... maybe he won't make it out of spring training.
Didn't we have some curse or something of the blue hats a few years back during business person specials? And now we're going back to them?
I agree as well. You see teams each year that have money available and spend it just to spend it...and then it comes back to haunt them in the future. Our example of this is Eaton, who we are still stuck with for two more seasons.
Lowell would have been great to spend the money on, but since he's out of the picture, there's no reason to spend money unless it makes sense.
Scott,
What are we going to do then? PG doesnt like the free agents..we dont have bullets to trade...what can we do? This is a team 2 pieces away from a WS ring contender and we are sleepwalking!
Anonymous, 4:52: Gillick isn't saying "what we've got is what you get," and the Phillies aren't going to the winter meetings next week to have a good time. They want to add at least two more pitchers (a back-of-the-rotation starter and a setup reliever), and clearly, they're going to have to address the outfield by either re-signing Rowand or bringing in another outfielder to platoon with Victorino and Werth. That's their agenda.
Andrew: I wouldn't worry about Youman being in the starting rotation in April. Only way he gets there is if there's an injury that opens a spot. ... Not sure about the Curse of the Blue Hats.
Peyton: OK, so how about Rowand? Is he worth $50 million or more (probably more) for five or six years?
Not sure they have enough (for Mora)?
I'm not sure I follow. He's a (soon-to-be) 36-year-old 3B who hits .275 with 15-HR power and strikes out 100 times. And he's owed $17 million for two years.
Mora is worth no more than a mid-level prospect provided the Phils pick up all the contract. Drew Carpenter or Lou Marsdon could get it done.
Scott,
It's a cop-out to say that money isn't the issue, talent is. Rather than accept holes at closer and catcher, the Yankees arguably overpaid for Rivera and Posada. Victorino might be a suitable replacement in center, but Werth hasn't proven anything beyond one very hot month last year. Aaron Rowand is talented, and bringing him back would improve the team. At this point, I don't see the argument there, unless a) they have a very viable backup plan or b) they just don't want to spend the money to win.
Got to agree with Anonymous re: Mora. It seems that, if a deal between the Orioles and Phils were to happen, Baltimore would have little to no leverage considering the remarks Mora's made about being willing to lift his no-trade clause to go to an east coast contender.
Anonymous & Bill M.: Not saying the Phils won't make a trade, for Mora or anyone else. Just saying it'll be difficult. I tend to agree that the Orioles shouldn't be asking for much return for Mora, but logic doesn't always apply when it comes to teams talking trade.
Here's a thought, though: Is Melvin Mora, at age 36, really an offensive upgrade over a Wes Helms/Greg Dobbs platoon? Keep in mind what Mora did last season (.274, 14 HR, 58 RBI, .759 OPS).
King Myno: They think they have a viable replacement for Rowand by moving Victorino to center and putting Werth in right. I tend to disagree. Regardless of whether Rowand ever duplicates his offensive numbers from '07, I think they'll miss his defense and his contributions in the clubhouse.
Thank you, Scott!
Finally, someone involved with the Phillies who thinks Jason Werth as a starter in right is scary.
Alright, he had ONE hot month, let's give him credit for that. And he's got a decent arm. But other than that, what does Jason Werth do well? Is he a vocal leader in the clubhouse, as well as an example both on and off the field? Not really. He answers the easy questions and doesn't really kick the team in the pants when they need it.
Starting Victorino in center isn't what the issue here should be. I fully believe he's capable starting outfielder.
The issue lies with the Phillies dumping a thrift bin pick-up into a starting role in the outfield.
I'm pretty sure that Rowand's hard-nose play and clubhouse mojo will be sorely missed should he sign with another team. Hell, even if he hits .285 with 15 homers and 85 RBI, that's worth a pretty nice chunk of change in this market. He doesn't have to replicate last season to justify his pay. He's simply doing what's best for him and seeing what other teams feel he's worth. Asking a guy to repeat a career year for the length of a 4 to 6-year contract is preposterous. It simply won't happen.
Pay him the money now and get the deal done. Even if he doesn't have an all-star season, he sure as hell beats any realistic alternative. If money isn't the issue, then sign him right now, because he's clearly talented enough offensively and defensively to even be worth talking about.
Rob: I think you're undervaluing Werth. He's a former first-round pick and was on his way to being an everyday outfielder for the Dodgers in '05 when he broke his wrist. He wasn't healthy in '05, missed all of '06 and didn't play much during the first half of '07. But, when he got a chance, he looked good. He's a good athlete, hits for power and plays an above-average outfield.
If you're going to disparage Werth because he had only one great month, what do you say about Pat Burrell, who had two great months (July and August) after three dreadful ones (April, May, June) during which he got far more at-bats than Werth did?
My point, quite simply, is this: Neither Werth nor Victorino have proven they can stay healthy for a full season. And while both may be capable of being productive everyday players, the Phillies can't be sure. So, if they lose Rowand, they'll need to find another outfielder to pick up some at-bats in case either Victorino or Werth go down.
mora is terrible. gillick is just being nice saying they dont' have enough. he wouldn't want him. now tejada, thats someone to shoot for and worth sending a decent prospect over for him.
werth is pretty good. he was a top prospect for a long time until his wrists gave him. he came to philly and they finally got him fixed. he hits for power, has good average and good eye skills. he has speed and is decent in the outfield. i'm not sold on him, yet, so its nice to always have a platoon available if needed. i think snelling can do that if he stays healthy.
Scott,
This little nugget about the Curse of the Blue Caps is from an ESPN story about team unis that went nowhere.
"1994: On Opening Day, the Phillies debut a new blue cap (complete with matching batting helmets), which is intended to be worn for weekday afternoon games. After the team loses its first two games wearing the azure headwear, the caps are deemed bad luck. After a few more games, they're banished forever ..."
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