Jan. 31 -- COURTING KYLE ... OR KRIS?

So, the Phillies finally got around to introducing Pedro Feliz to the media today at the Bank, which means he passed his physical and signed his two-year, $8.5 million contract. I'll have more on Feliz later today.

But I wanted to pass this along. In response to the Mets trading for Johan Santana (at this point, all that's left is the negotiating), the Phillies don't appear to feel pressure to overpay for another pitcher. Ruben Amaro Jr. said today that hasn't spoken lately with right-hander Kyle Lohse's agent, Scott Boras. And although he wouldn't rule out picking up those conversations again, a deal between the Phillies and Lohse is hardly imminent. Of course, the clock is ticking for Lohse, who I'm certain would love to have a job before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in two weeks. And the Mets, one of Lohse's suitors, would be out of the running if they can finalize their deal with Santana.

Amaro did, however, confirm that the Phillies will send representatives to Atlanta next Tuesday to watch right-hander Kris Benson's latest workout. Benson, who missed all of last season because of shoulder surgery, didn't impress the Phillies when they watched him work out in mid-December. "He really wasn't cutting it loose then," Amaro said. "We'll see how he's improved. We will keep our minds open on him."

So, how important is it for the Phillies to find another pitcher before the season starts?

Jan. 29 -- SANTANA TO METS

What, no thoughts on Jimmy Rollins' comments about Ryan Howard's need to work harder on his defense? C'mon, people. I know you have an opinion.

Well, this should get your attention: The Mets are on the verge of completing a deal for Johan Santana, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Top outfield prospect Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra and Kevin Mulvey would go to Minnesota in exchange for the two-time Cy Young Award-winning lefty. All that remains is the Mets' ability to sign Santana to a six- or seven-year contract for at least $20 million per year, maybe more. They have a 48- to 72-hour window to work out a deal with Santana's agent, Peter Greenberg.

I used to cover the Mets' double-A team in Binghamton, N.Y., but none of those prospects had reached that level before I left in 2005. Still, people I know around the Mets' organization say there are question marks about all three pitchers. And while Gomez is highly regarded, the Mets still have Fernando Martinez, a 19-year-old outfielder they like just as much. They also didn't have to include pitcher Mike Pelfrey in the deal.

So, assuming the Mets get it done, who has the best starting rotation?

METS: Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez
PHILLIES: Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer, Adam Eaton
BRAVES: Tim Hudson, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Chuck James, Mike Hampton

Jan. 29 -- ROLLINS: HOWARD MUST GET DEFENSIVE

Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard are teammates, but they're also friends. Good friends. In 2005, as Howard slugged his way to the NL Rookie of the Year, he lived with Rollins in South Jersey. Trust me, these guys are close.

But, before he was named Pro Athlete of the Year by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association last night in Cherry Hill, Rollins had some strong words for Howard, who wants to be paid like one of the top players in baseball. There's no denying Howard's prodigious power (nobody has hit more home runs or collected more RBIs in the past two years), but Rollins said Howard can be a better defensive player if he's willing to work hard enough to improve. Howard committed 12 errors last year, second-most among first basemen behind only Prince Fielder.

"The man has big hands, so he can catch anything over there," Rollins said of Howard. "It's just about him going over there and putting in the effort he does offensively into his defense, and he'll be a complete player. It's kind of funny saying Ryan Howard [isn't] a complete player with what he does offensively. But baseball has two sides, and everyone knows that."

Not sure about you, but I think Howard needs to take Rollins' words to heart. If he wants to make an eight-figure salary, or earn a long-term contract, he must become a better all-around player.

Thoughts?

*
Wes Helms and Greg Dobbs weighed in last night on the impending signing of Pedro Feliz. Helms, most likely, will be traded during spring training. Dobbs will become the Phillies' primary left-handed pinch-hitter, a role in which he exceled last season by batting .292 (14-for-48) with two home runs and 18 RBIs.

Helms: "I just heard about it. I haven't even talked to the Phillies yet. I'm still positive. I know what I can do. As far as playing third base goes, I have no clue what's going to happen."

Dobbs: "I don't know what their plans are. For me, personally, is it a bit disappointing? Yeah. But I still feel I'm capable of doing a good job at third base."

As usual, love your comments in the previous posts about Feliz. Please keep 'em coming.

Jan. 28 -- MANUEL: "WE GOT BETTER"

Speaking before the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet, Charlie Manuel sounded like a two-year, $8.5 million deal with Pedro Feliz is a certainty. (Apparently, there's also a team option for 2010).

"We got better," Manuel said. "He's a good defensive player. He's got power. He's going to help us. He'll hit probably sixth, seventh, somewhere in there. He'll continue to hit 20 homers or better. I think putting him down in our lineup will help him. He was called on to hit in the middle of the lineup in San Francisco. A couple years ago, he might've been pressing to do too much because they had Barry Bonds there."

The Phillies' 40-man roster is at full capacity, so before they finalize the Feliz deal, they'll have to make a move. Likewise, they'll probably have to find a taker for Wes Helms before the season starts. The Marlins were interested in Helms at the winter meetings, but after acquiring Jorge Cantu, it's not clear if they still want Helms.

Jimmy Rollins hadn't heard about the Feliz deal, but he smiled like a little kid when he was informed. "Really? That's great," Rollins said. "There's not too many ground balls that are getting through that left side of the infield."

More later.

Jan. 28 -- FELIZ AT THIRD?

Just walked into the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, N.J., where Jimmy Rollins will within the hour accept the Pro Athlete of the Year award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. But the big news is that the Phillies are close to signing free-agent third baseman Pedro Feliz a two-year contract.

So, I just spoke to Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the Phils are negotiating with Feliz's representatives, Sam and Seth Levinson, but a deal hasn't been finalized.

MUCH more on this later. For now, here's a small story that's already been posted online, and here are Feliz's career stats. Is this a good move for the Phillies? You tell me.

Jan. 27 -- LIEBERTHAL RETIRES

Wanted to pass along this bit of news from Los Angeles: After a 14-year career with the Phillies and Dodgers, Mike Lieberthal has decided to retire. He said he reached the decision after last season, but he made it public yesterday at a celebrity soccer match he attended with Nomar Garciaparra and Mia Hamm.

I covered Lieberthal for only one season -- 2006, his last with the Phillies -- but I think I got to know him fairly well. He was soft-spoken, and at times, ridiculously laid-back. I'll never forget a Sunday game in Houston in September. The Phils were in the midst of another late-season revival, and Lieby, a veteran of playoff near-misses in 2005 and 2004, sat on a couch with his legs propped up and ice bags taped to both knees (his typical postgame pose) and non-chalantly guaranteed 2006 would end with a playoff berth. It didn't, of course. The Phillies would fall short again before winning the NL East last season, once Lieberthal already had moved on to his hometown Dodgers to back up Russell Martin. As Brett Myers struck out Wily Mo Pena to clinch the division, I remember thinking that Lieberthal should've been the one to catch that pitch.

Lieberthal caught more games than anyone in Phillies history, but sadly, never reached the postseason. While with the Phillies, he had a cameo in the movie "Summer Catch" (some of Jessica Biel's best work), and fans of "The Office" know that Dwight has Lieberthal's bobblehead doll on his desk. Soon, Lieby will undertake a new challenge -- being a dad. His wife, Kelly, is three months pregnant with their first child.

Got any good Lieberthal memories?

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The Phils wrapped their winter promotional tour yesterday, and with several players passing through the region over the past two weeks, I figured there was no point in waiting until spring training to start talking baseball. In the 50-center, we ran stories on Kyle Kendrick's attempt to elude the sophomore jinx, Chris Coste's soon-to-be-released autobiography, the new/old roles for Brett Myers and Shane Victorino, Pat Gillick's thoughts on the Great Ryan Howard Arbitration Debate, Geoff Jenkins' heartfelt departure from Milwaukee, and Brad Lidge's still-healing right knee.

And, in our Sunday baseball notes, I picked up on an idea that Brian floated in the comments section of a previous post: Good relief pitching can be fickle. Just look at J.C. Romero's performance last season. But Romero thinks he can be the best lefty reliever in baseball, and the Phillies are counting on nothing less.

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Quick reminder: Jimmy Rollins (Pro Athlete of the Year) and the Phillies (Team of the Year) will be honored tomorrow night at the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill, and tickets are still available

Enjoy your (Super Bowl bye week) Sunday.

Jan. 25 -- WILL THE 'PEN BE BULLISH?

Everywhere Charlie Manuel went last winter -- even to a fund-raiser at his niece's college in Virginia -- he talked about the Phillies' need to improve their bullpen.

This year, he's singing a different tune.

I took a drive up to Reading last night and caught up with Manuel before the latest banquet on the Phillies' promotional tour. With new closer Brad Lidge sitting across the room, Manuel talked about the bullpen being stronger in 2008. "I'm more confident than I was last year," he said. "We're better now than we were this time last year. If we can keep Flash [Tom Gordon] healthy, with Lidge and Gordon and [J.C.] Romero and [Ryan] Madson, from the seventh inning to the end of the game I think we're pretty good."

Here's the thing about Manuel: He's an eternal optimist. He can see the sunny side of a blackout. And while the late-season success of Gordon and Romero and the addition of Lidge has him thinking even more positively than usual, the Phillies' bullpen is loaded with questions.

1. Can Gordon, who is pitching with a partially torn labrum in his right shoulder, stay healthy?
2. How will Madson recover from a shoulder strain that ended his season in July?
3. Will Romero be the tough lefty who finished the 2007 regular season with 15-2/3 scoreless innings or the erratic lefty who was designated for assignment by the Red Sox in June?
4. Who will fill the final three spots in the bullpen? Is Scott Mathieson ready? Are Chad Durbin, Clay Condrey, Francisco Rosario, Travis Blackley, Fabio Castro or Mike Zagurski?
5. And what about Lidge's surgically repaired right knee?

Lidge told me last night that he'll be ready to pitch when spring training begins, although he said he'll be cautious during agility drills. It's possible, he said, that he initially won't be able to do as much running as some other pitchers.

How confident are you in the Phillies' bullpen? Do they need more help in this area?

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A few days ago, Pat Gillick was talking about how the Phillies will miss Abraham Nunez's defense at third base in the late innings. Well, Nunez has signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers. Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin said Nunez hadn't received other offers and is willing to open 2008 in triple-A, if necessary.

*
Ironically, Rod Barajas has signed with the Blue Jays. It's ironic because Barajas backed out of a deal with Toronto last winter before signing with the Phillies. Somewhere in North Dakota, Chris Coste is breathing a sigh of relief.

Jan. 24 -- IS JENKINS THE NEW ROWAND?

Before he became the Phillies' farm director, Steve Noworyta worked in scouting and player development for the White Sox. Among the thousands of players he came across, he remembers a young outfielder with an uppercut swing in the Brewers' organization and the words he used to describe him.

Aggressive.

Hard-nosed.

So, after last season ended and the Phillies began talking about signing free-agent Geoff Jenkins, Noworyta piped up. "He's kind of in the mold of Rowand," he said, echoing what Charlie Manuel and Pat Gillick had been thinking. And while it's unfair to expect Jenkins, a strikeout-prone but proven run-producer, to duplicate the 2007 All-Star numbers (.309/27 HR/89 RBI/.889 OPS) and vocal clubhouse presence that Aaron Rowand took with him to San Francisco, the Phillies fully believe he can form a successful right-field platoon with Jayson Werth. That, plus Shane Victorino's return to center field, Pat Burrell's bat in left and So Taguchi coming off the bench, has Gillick believing the 2008 Phillies have a better outfield than when Rowand was crashing into walls in center.

"Rowand had one of those years. He did a great job," Gillick told me last night at the Phillies' promotional tour event in Center Valley, Pa. "But depth-wise, we're in better shape. I like our outfield right now better than last year."

Agree? Disagree?

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Jenkins spent a decade with the Brewers, and before he left, he did something pretty cool (not to mention unique), taking out an ad in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to thank fans for their support. Very classy.

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Apparently, some folks think Jenkins looks like a certain Wisconsin sports icon. After meeting him last night, I concur 100 percent.



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Gillick said Ryan Howard's arbitration hearing has been set for Feb. 20 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Eric Bruntlett's case will be heard Feb. 12.

Jan. 22 -- GILLICK ON HOWARD

"We're open to anything, a one-year deal, a three-year deal. We're going

to make every attempt to get something done prior to the hearing.

Hopefully, we can get a meeting of the minds."
-Phillies' GM Pat Gillick

So, I spent part of my day at The Bank, where Brett Myers, Shane Victorino, J.C. Romero and Charlie Manuel hopped aboard the Phillies' promotional tour. Even center-field prospect Greg Golson and newly acquired outfielder Chris Snelling dropped by. So did Pat Gillick, and for a few minutes, I had a chance to talk to him about the "Great Ryan Howard Arbitration Debate."

As the clock ticks toward an arbitration hearing next month, Gillick said assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. continues the unenviable (that's my word, not Gillick's) job of negotiating with Casey Close, Howard's rep at the powerhouse Beverly Hills-based Creative Artists Agency. Although the sides are $3 million apart (Howard wants $10 million; the Phillies are offering $7 million, matching the highest offer for a first-year arbitration-eligible player), Gillick is optimistic that the sides will be able to reach an agreement before a hearing. But he also said the Phillies aren't afraid of the arbitration table and said the perception that these hearings are often contentious is inaccurate. (Still, if it's such a pleasant experience, why have 88 percent of players who filed for arbitration from 1974 through 2006 settled their cases without going to a hearing?).

"It's not anything that difficult," Gillick insisted. "All it is, is a difference of opinion on numbers. The club thinks its number is appropriate, and the player thinks his number is appropriate. It's not about bashing anybody. It's just about talking about what number is more appropriate. I don't see it as a problem."

Interestingly, Gillick said the Phillies haven't ruled out a long-term contract for Howard. But he also indicated that Howard's major-league service time (only 2 years, 145 days, which qualifies him as a "Super Two" player with four years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent) may mean that he has to wait another year for an extension. Asked if Howard's $10 million demand is excessive, Gillick said, "I wouldn't say it's out of whack. Would you say $7 million is out of whack? You have to look at service and the industry and what's appropriate for a player who's a Super Two, and then, you can make your own determination of what's appropriate. Really, at this point, our feeling is the $7 [million] is the more appropriate number. But again, if you don’t have confidence in yourself, who’s going to have confidence in you? I’m glad to see Ryan has confidence in himself, and they put out a number that he thinks is indicative of his ability."

Finally, I asked Gillick how he'd evaluate Howard's somewhat complex 2007 season. On one hand, Howard hit 47 homers and drove in 136 runs. On the other, he set a major-league record with 199 strikeouts, saw his batting average fall 45 points from 2006 and committed 12 errors, second-most by a first baseman. "Starting out, he didn't think and we didn't think the injury he had was that significant," Gillick said, referring to the strained left quad that hobbled Howard in April and early May. "But I think it impacted him and how much work he could actually do in spring training. Up until the time he went on the disabled list [in May], he was having some trouble. Had he been healthy, I think he would've put up more offensive numbers and defensively he would've played better."

*

The Phillies wouldn't have minded keeping Myers in the closer role and Victorino in right field. But, out of necessity, they have made some compromises that they believe actually will make them a better team. Time will tell.

Jan. 20 -- PAPERBACK WRITER

So, let's take a momentary break from the Great Ryan Howard Arbitration Debate (it'll only be momentary, I promise) to discuss Chris Coste, everyone's favorite feel-good story who trekked from Philadelphia to Williamsport to Lakewood to Harrisburg last week for Part I of the Phillies' annual winter promotional tour.

By now, you know what Coste went through in 2007. After being sent back to the minors in April, and falling as far as double-A Reading in May, he returned to the majors in June to hit five home runs and collect 22 RBIs in 129 at-bats and cement the Phillies' backup catcher job. But, along the way, he also wrote an 80,000-word autobiography, "The 33-Year-Old Rookie," which will be released March 18 by Random House.

The other day, I had a chance to talk to Coste and his editor, Phillies fan Tim Bartlett, about how a self-taught writer lands a book deal with a major publishing house. (For the record, this will be Coste's second book, which is two more than I've written.) Before March 18, I'm planning to review the book for the 50-cent edition. For now, if you haven't already seen the Sunday paper (a.k.a., the $1.50-center), here's a link to my feature on Coste.

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Back to Howard (told you it would only be momentary): It seems to me the Phillies' $7 million offer is both fair and generous. In baseball, salaries are determined by major-league service time, and Howard just doesn't have enough yet to merit a $10 million contract. Alfonso Soriano didn't get eight figures until his third arbitration year. If Howard and the Phils reach a compromise, he almost certainly will make more than the $7.4 million given to Miguel Cabrera last year, and that would be a record for a first-year arbitration-eligible player.

Meanwhile, please keep weighing in on whether the Phillies should give Howard a long-term contract. My take: I agree with Blog regulars Jamie and Bananafish. The Phillies shouldn't rush into anything. Howard can't be a free agent until 2011, and if he doesn't cut his strikeouts and improve his defense, a long-term deal may not look so good in 2012 or 2013.

In its 2007 yearbook, Baseball Prospectus suggested as much: "Historically, players like Howard, big-bodied guys with limited defensive skills such as Mo Vaughn and Boog Powell, tended to have high but brief peak periods. Their legs just couldn’t carry that much mass for very long, and around 30 their defense plummeted, their playing time dropped due to nagging injuries, and their singles dried up and disappeared. The Phillies should have a three-year window in which they can expect this kind of production from Howard, but should not plan beyond that."

*
Talked to Ruben Amaro Jr. the other day, and he said the Phils probably won't make any more moves before spring training begins Feb. 14. That means no Pedro Feliz at third base or Kyle Lohse on the mound.

Your thoughts? Enjoy the rest of your long weekend.

Jan. 18 -- LET'S MAKE A DEAL

Ryan Howard and the Phillies met today's deadline for exchanging 2008 salary figures for arbitration.

They have a $3 million difference of opinion.

Howard, who made $900,000 last year, filed a request to be paid $10 million, a record for a first-time arbitration-eligible player (Miguel Cabrera got $7.4 million last year in his first arbitration go-around). The Phillies submitted a $7 million offer, which matches the record offer made to Albert Pujols when he was a first-time eligible player in 2003. The overall record for an arbitration award is $10 million given to Alfonso Soriano in 2006, his third (and final) year of eligibility.

So, what's next?

The sides will continue to negotiate until a hearing that will be set for a to-be-determined day in February. If they can't reach an agreement, a three-person panel will listen to arguments from both parties before picking either Howard's demand or the Phillies' offer. The Phillies always prefer to avoid arbitration hearings, which can often be contentious and divisive. They haven't gone to a hearing since beating Travis Lee in 2001.

(Oh, by the way, utility infielder Eric Bruntlett, the Phillies' only other remaining arbitration-eligible player, submitted an $800,000 salary request. The Phillies are offering $550,000. Bruntlett, acquired with closer Brad Lidge in a November trade with Houston, made $525,000 last year.)

OK, how much would you pay Howard this year? And, let's expand the debate: Would you give him a long-term contract extension now, or would you wait a year? (Don't forget: He can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season, when he'll be 32).

Jan. 18 -- DON'T GO CHANGING

So, Kyle Kendrick doesn't want to change a thing from 2007, and why should he? Last year was like a fairy tale for the 23-year-old right-hander, who rose from the obscurity of a non-40-man roster player in double-A to lead NL rookies with 10 wins and become the Phils' first rookie 10-game winner since Pat Combs. You never mess with good juju.

But baseball history is littered with overnight successes whose careers flamed out almost as quickly as they bloomed. Take Combs, for instance. After going 10-10 with a 4.07 ERA in 1990, he won only three more games and was out of the majors by 1993.

Kendrick stopped by the Bank yesterday to kick off the Phillies' winter promotional tour (Chris Coste was there, too. More on him later). And while I wrote plenty about Kendrick in today's 50-center, some interesting stuff didn't make the cut. So, in our first 2008 edition of Newspaper Outtakes, here are some Kendrick leftovers ...

* It took a while for Kendrick to get over Game 2 of the NLDS, and although he says "it's over and done with," it was clear he's still thinking about it. You'll recall that Kendrick lasted only 3-2/3 innings before being lifted by Charlie Manuel with the bases loaded in the fourth. Kyle Lohse, promptly served up a grand slam by Kazuo Matsui, and the Rockies cruised to a 10-5 win en route to their three-game sweep. "Obviously, I didn't do my job, but it's a new season and I hope we get there again," Kendrick said. "It took a while [to get over it]. Any time you lose, it sucks. But you've got to move on. Charlie's a great manager. I respect Charlie a lot. He knows what he's doing. It was the right move [to put in Lohse]. It's over and done with."

* After throwing a career-high 202 innings last season (between the minors and majors), Kendrick said he started throwing later than usual in the offseason. But he has been hanging out with veteran Jamie Moyer, who lives about an hour from his Seattle-area home. They went to a Seahawks game together in October, and they've had dinner and talked about how best to prepare for a new season. As you know, Moyer has been around for a while.



*
Here's more on the one-year contracts signed by Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, and the transcript of Chase Utley's chat with fans on the Phillies' Web site yesterday.

Jan. 17 -- LIDGE, MADSON AVOID ARBITRATION

Whew! That's a relief.

OK, bad pun. Terrible, in fact. But the Phillies have to be relieved today to have avoided salary arbitration with relievers Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson.

Lidge, the closer acquired in a November trade with Houston, agreed to a one-year, $6.35 million contract, a $1 million raise from his 2007 salary. Madson, meanwhile, will make $1.4 million this season, up from $1.1 million in 2007. Both contracts also include performance bonuses.

That leaves only Ryan Howard and Eric Bruntlett as the Phils' remaining arbitration-eligible players. Tomorrow should be interesting. Barring a last-minute settlement, the players will exchange salary figures with the Phillies. It'll be fascinating to see how close (or how far apart) they are. From there, the sides have until a to-be-determined hearing date in February to reach an accord. If they're unable to strike an agreement by that date, a three-person panel will listen to arguments from both sides and decide on a salary. The Phillies haven't gone to a hearing since 2001 with Travis Lee.

Of course, they also could lock up Howard with a long-term deal. Will they? I'm not so sure, considering he can't become a free agent until after the 2011 season. I'm also not so sure they should rush to a long-term deal with Howard.

I expect to have the salary figures sometime on Friday, so check back for those numbers.

Jan. 16 -- PAT THE BAT SPEAKS

Apparently, Pat Burrell couldn't make it here this week for the Phillies' annual promotional tour. But he did take time today to chat with fans at the team's Web site. Some highlights:

On the health of his gimpy foot, which often leads to him being lifted late in games for a defensive replacement: "I consider it a non-issue. There are some days I run real good and some days I can't, but that's the wear and tear of the season. I was never a fast runner, so it's unfortunate that the foot thing keeps coming up."

On the possibility of a 40-homer season: "I think I'm capable of it. I'd like to finish the games and get more at-bats. I fall about 130 at-bats behind everybody else. I think 40 would be attainable if I completed every game and get the at-bats I used to get. But Charlie [Manuel] is the manager and he does what's best for the club. Not that I disagree him, but I'm a competitor. I want to play."

On his impending free agency after 2008: "I'd love to sign back with the Phillies. Whether or not it works out, I've been very happy with the time I've had here. Like I said, though, I'd love to re-sign."

On the secret to his second-half success last year: "I got a lot more hits."

No idea if this dude, obviously a Burrell fan (or his agent?), participated in the chat.



*
Jon Lieber has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Cubs, who will give him an opportunity to earn a spot in the starting rotation. The contract includes performance bonuses based on games started and innings pitched. There's some symmetry here. Lieber didn't start his career with the Cubs, but he did have his best season with them. In 2001, he went 20-6 with a 3.80 ERA and made the NL All-Star team.

At times last season, I wondered about Lieber's desire to keep pitching. But, back in November, his agent, Rex Gary, told me Lieber was disappointed with the way he finished the season and wanted to prove he could still be a reliable starter. Now, with the Cubs, he'll have his chance.

Jan. 14 -- JOHNNY PODRES (1932-2008)

Johnny Podres, best known as the winning pitcher in the clinching game of the Brooklyn Dodgers' one and only world championship in 1955, died yesterday from heart and kidney problems and a leg infection. He was 75.

Podres had a stellar 15-year major-league career as an unheralded rotation-mate of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. But around here, he was beloved as the Phillies' pitching coach from 1991 through 1996. Curt Schilling often credits Podres with transforming him into an elite major-league pitcher, and even after his retirement from coaching, Podres served as a spring-training instructor in Clearwater each March.

I didn't have the privilege of knowing Podres. But it seemed everyone with the Phillies spoke of him with great reverence. I recall talking to Cole Hamels in spring training 2006 about Podres' influence on the development of his change-up, now one of the best pitches in baseball. Here are other memories of Podres, courtesy of longtime Phillies PR honcho and Wilmington resident Larry Shenk:

Brett Myers: "He was a very positive guy and a great morale booster for all the pitchers. My first big-league camp he was telling people I should have been in the big leagues then, and I didn’t know anything about pitching."

Larry Andersen: "You would be hard pressed to find a more positive person. He made you feel like you were the best player to ever put on a uniform -- truly. I will really miss him."

Mitch Williams: "He was the best pitching coach I ever had. He was the only one that dealt with the mental side of the game, the most positive person and, again, hands down the best pitching coach I ever pitched for."

Larry Bowa: "He was a great pitching coach, got his points across with no pressure. I know I learned a lot from him. He never talked a lot about his career but when you look at the numbers, he was special. Johnny had the knack of being dead serious about baseball and a minute later, having everyone laughing. He was a very funny man."

John Kruk: "Johnny made mound visits very interesting. I came in from first base just to listen. We might have had a pitcher on the mound who was getting lit up, and Johnny would come out and say, ‘You’ve got great stuff. I don’t know how they are hitting you. Just go get them.’ Another time he came out, ‘Jimmy [Fregosi] is getting hissed at me because you aren’t throwing strikes. You know I don’t like it when he gets mad at me. Throw strikes.’"

On his blog, Schilling posted his thoughts. What are your memories of Podres?

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With the Phils' winter promotional tour set to begin, I'm reminded of a conversation I had at the Bank last January. Matt Smith, who had been acquired the previous summer in the Bobby Abreu trade and pitched well down the stretch in 2006, was slated to be the only lefty in the Phillies' bullpen with no other viable candidates in the picture. Still, Smith cautioned that he wasn't taking anything for granted. Having hardly established himself in the majors, he knew he'd still have to pitch well to guarantee a spot. He also said fortunes can change quickly in baseball.

Well ...

A year later, Smith has signed a minor-league contract with the Phillies after being removed from the 40-man roster and placed on waivers 10 days ago. I didn't address this topic last week because, well, it still was unresolved. But Smith, who showed no control before being sent to the minors April 26 and underwent Tommy John elbow surgery in July that will keep him from pitching until at least this summer, didn't find any takers on the open market and wound up back with the Phillies, albeit a long way from where he was a year ago.

Jan. 11 -- MAKING A PITCH

Ruben Amaro Jr. held an online chat today at the Phillies' Web site, and while most of his answers jived with everything he's been telling reporters, there were a few interesting moments. In particular, Amaro opined that the Phillies have the best 1-2 pitching punch in the NL East.

"With all due respect to John Smoltz and Tim Hudson," Amaro said, "I would take Cole Hamels and Brett Myers at the top of a rotation over any others in our division."

While that may be true (I'm not entirely sold), it seems the Braves have more depth throughout their rotation, even if Mike Hampton isn't healthy. Tom Glavine, Chuck James and touted rookie Jair Jurrjens may be more dependable than Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton.

What do you think?

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In other news, Amaro said the Phillies have had discussions about free-agent third baseman Pedro Feliz. Other people in the organization have told me the Phils have significant reservations about Feliz's .288 career on-base percentage and aren't willing to offer more than a one-year contract. Amaro also said the Phillies are leery about Bartolo Colon's health but continue to speak with agent Scott Boras about re-signing Kyle Lohse. I still think Lohse is going to get a four-year contract (maybe from the Mets?). The Phillies aren't willing to make such a long commitment.

Jan. 10 -- DELGADO: METS WERE THE BEST

So, things have been a little slow lately here at The Blog. Sorry 'bout that. Let's just say it's the dog days of winter (even if it has felt more like spring outside), and there isn't much going on in the baseball world except for the annual Hall of Fame election (congrats to Goose Gossage) and the Roger Clemens reality TV drama. Or is it a comedy?

Anyway, other than avoiding arbitration with Jayson Werth and continuing to talk with their other arbitration-eligible players (Ryan Howard, Brad Lidge, Ryan Madson and Eric Bruntlett), the Phillies have been fairly quiet. That said, Carlos Delgado made some noise last week, alleging the Mets were the best team in the NL East last season. That's funny, I recall the Mets blowing a 7-1/2-game lead with 17 to play and being overtaken by the Phillies for the NL East crown on the season's last day. Doesn't really sound like something that would happen to the best team in the division, does it?

But Delgado's remarks raise an interesting question, one that's bound to be asked of players from the Mets and Phillies as the teams launch their respective winter caravans next week: Did the Phillies win the NL East last season, or did the Mets lose it? And which team is the favorite to win the division this year?

Go ahead. Have at it.

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The Phillies' winter tour schedule is set. Once again, no events are slated for Delaware. No love for the First State, it seems. In a previous post, I listed the dates and attendees for the affiliate banquets in Allentown, Reading, Lakewood and Williamsport. But here's a full list of events.

Jan. 7 -- WERTH AVOIDS ARBITRATION

Not to distract from the Ryan Howard discussion going on below, but wanted to pass this along: Jayson Werth has avoided salary arbitration by agreeing today to a one-year, $1.7 million contract.

Werth, who is expected to platoon in right field with newly acquired Geoff Jenkins, proved last season that his surgically repaired left wrist is healthy by batting .298 with eight home runs and a career-high 49 RBIs in 94 games for the Phillies. He earned $850,000 in 2007 after signing a one-year, free-agent contract. Werth missed all of the 2006 season after having wrist surgery.

Howard, utility infielder Eric Bruntlett, closer Brad Lidge and right-handed reliever Ryan Madson are the Phillies' remaining arbitration-eligible players.

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The Phillies' winter tour is falling into place. Kyle Kendrick and Chris Coste will be at a banquet in Williamsport on Jan. 17. Jenkins, Brett Myers and Charlie Manuel will be in Allentown on Jan. 23. Shane Victorino, J.C. Romero and Brad Lidge will be at a banquet in Reading on Jan. 24.

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Shameless plug: I'll be talking baseball for a few minutes at 9:40 tonight on WIP-610 AM.

Jan. 4 -- LIFE OF RYAN

OK, before we begin, let's get some things straight:

1. Ryan Howard made $900,000 in 2007, and no matter what -- if he reaches a one-year settlement through salary arbitration or if he receives a long-term contract -- he will get a hefty raise in 2008 that will make him a multi-millionaire. He recently built a home near his native St. Louis. He drives a stylish 2007 Escalade. Howard isn't exactly starving.

2. Since his major-league debut in 2004, Howard has amassed 2 years, 145 days of service time, enough to make him arbitration-eligible for the first time. But he's not eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season, when he'll be 32. So, unless the Phillies trade him (hard to see that happening), he'll be their first baseman for at least the next four seasons.

Still, the question will come up this month: Should the Phillies give Howard a long-term contract? There's no easy answer. Let's analyze a few pros and cons.

PRO: A long-term deal for Howard may save the Phillies some money in the long-term. Had Chase Utley gone through the arbitration process for three years and hit the free-agent market after the 2009 season, baseball's escalating market likely would've made him even richer than the seven-year, $85 million deal he signed with the Phils last January.

CON: Howard struck out 199 times last season, setting a major-league record, and his batting average dropped to .268 from .313 in 2006. Can he cut the Ks and hike his average in 2008? And if he can't, do the Phils want to make a long-term commitment?

PRO: In his first 1,461 major-league at-bats, Howard has 129 home runs and 353 RBIs. That's more than Albert Pujols (92 home runs, 325 RBIs) or Mark McGwire (103 home runs, 290 RBIs) at this point in their careers.

CON: Howard's 12 errors were second-most among first basemen last season, behind only Prince Fielder. Howard made 14 errors in 2006. Is his future (beyond 2011) as a DH? It'll be up to the Phillies to make that projection, and they may want to see how his defense progresses in 2008.

There's plenty more to this debate, but that's a start. Care to weigh in? Do you think the Phils should lock up Howard long-term now, or should they wait another year? Really, there's no rush.

Fire away.

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Earlier today, the Phillies asked unconditional release waivers on left-hander Matt Smith for the purpose of adding So Taguchi to the 40-man roster. Smith, the only major-league-ready player acquired for Bobby Abreu in July 2006, had Tommy John elbow surgery last season and isn't expected to be ready to pitch until early summer.

Jan. 3 -- RESOLUTIONS

Make any New Year's resolutions this week? I did. Mostly, they involve eating healthier and exercising more. You know, typical stuff. But, this year, I intend to keep those resolutions. Really, I do. Well, at least until a week or two from now, when my usual laziness sets in and I declare, "Resolutions? What resolutions?"

That said, as 2007 flipped to 2008, many Phillies players, coaches and front-office folks were scattered across the country, celebrating with family and friends and setting goals of their own. Here at The Blog that got us thinking: How might they be vowing to improve themselves in 2008? We've enjoyed reading entries like this on other blogs, so strictly in the spirit of fun, here are a few of our own humble recommendations for Phillies' New Year's resolutions. Feel free to chime in with some of yours.

Ryan Howard: Resolves to lay off the January banquet circuit -- and pitches out of the strike zone. Also resolves to heed manager Charlie Manuel's advice from last spring: Concentrate on batting .300, and another 58-homer season is possible.

Chase Utley: Resolves to join Howard and Jimmy Rollins in the Phillies' lineage of NL MVPs.

Jimmy Rollins: Resolves to set his sights higher than winning only the NL East.

Cole Hamels: Resolves to make an appointment with a chiropractor in every NL city.

Brett Myers: Resolves to duplicate the exhilaration of being a closer -- and to celebrate accordingly -- by leading the majors in complete games.

Pat Burrell: Resolves to make every month like Aug. 2007, thereby cashing in Aaron Rowand-style on his long-awaited contract year.

Shane Victorino: Resolves to withhold his tradition of smearing shaving-cream pies in the faces of teammates until after all postgame interviews are completed.

Jamie Moyer: Resolves to forestall acting his age for at least another year.

Brad Lidge: Resolves to forget all about Albert Pujols and that stinkin' home run.

Kyle Kendrick: Resolves to never awaken from the dream that was 2007.

Adam Eaton: Resolves to keep his ERA in check for as long as he continues cashing the Phillies' checks.

Chris Coste: With a new book due in March, resolves to make the New York Times best-seller list.

Rich Dubee: Resolves to not rack up such a huge phone bill on calls to the bullpen.

Charlie Manuel: Resolves to keep his players thinking positively, keep amusing us with tales from his playing days, and once in a while, take batting practice to show everyone how it's done.

Dallas Green: Resolves to keep talking. Period.

Ruben Amaro Jr.: Resolves to make sure retiring GM Pat Gillick's seat stays nice and warm.

Pat Gillick: Resolves to end his heralded career in style by earning another ring.

David Montgomery: Most vocal member of Phillies' ownership group resolves to convince his partners to come out from hiding and finally introduce themselves to everyone.

Jan. 2 -- ROBERSON TRADED

So, the holidays are over, a new year is upon us, and the Phillies have made their first move of 2008, trading spare outfielder Chris Roberson to the Orioles in a cash deal.

No real surprise here. Roberson's future with the Phils already was tenuous when last season ended, and any slim chance he had of earning a roster spot was wiped away once Geoff Jenkins, So Taguchi and Chris Snelling were acquired. Roberson was out of minor-league options, and the Phillies weren't going to carry seven outfielders. They probably won't carry six.

Roberson's athleticism is undeniable, but his baseball acumen remains raw. In parts of two seasons with the Phils, he batted .232 (16-for-69) with two RBIs, five stolen bases, 13 strikeouts and one walk. Last spring, he made so many mental mistakes that he was part of the first batch of players shipped to minor-league camp.

Now, harnessing Roberson's potential is the Orioles' problem.

Also, catcher Pete LaForest was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to triple-A Lehigh Valley. He'll still attend major-league spring training, just as a non-roster player.

Quick programming note: Check back later today or tomorrow for The Blog's suggested New Year's resolutions for various Phillies players, coaches and front-office personnel. Meanwhile, feel free to suggest a few of your own.