Hola, amigos. Happy (Black) Friday. Not sure about y'all, but my stomach is still full from a feast of this, some of these, lots of this and even this. Each year, I'm reminded of just how much I have to be thankful for, especially being part of a family that can cook. Mine, it turns out, has some serious game in the kitchen.
Mike Koplove can give thanks, too.
A few minutes ago, I spoke to someone with intimate details of Koplove's contract situation, who confirmed a Philadelphia Daily News report today that the 32-year-old side-arming right-hander, formerly of the University of Delaware, has "pretty much agreed" to a minor-league contract with the Phillies. So, I called Koplove, and because the deal isn't signed and sealed yet, he politely declined to discuss the specifics. That's fine. If I was him, I wouldn't want to jinx anything either.
Basically, though, here's what it all means: Koplove, a South Philly native who helped pitch UD to the NCAA tournament in 1998, will NOT be given a spot on the Phils' 40-man roster. He will, however, be a non-roster invitee to major-league spring training in February, and he'll have a chance, though probably not a great one, to make the Phillies' roster. If he doesn't, he'll go to triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he'll pitch out of the bullpen and supply the Phillies with depth in the event of an injury to one of their relievers. At the moment, the Phillies' bullpen is pretty well-stocked. Brad Lidge, J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre have contracts for 2009, and arbitration-eligible Ryan Madson, Clay Condrey and Chad Durbin are all going to be back. That leaves one spot, and the Phillies are still looking to acquire a reliever. Free-agent right-hander Juan Cruz has been mentioned as a possibility.
Koplove has major-league experience. From 2002 through 2005, he went 15-6 with a 3.78 ERA in 206 appearances for the Diamondbacks. Since 2005, though, he has made only seven major-league appearances, and last season, he spent the whole year with the Dodgers' triple-A club in Vegas, going 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA. At UD, Koplove went 5-1 with a 4.60 ERA. So, if he doesn't make the Phillies, I'd say he stands a decent chance of pitching for them at some point in 2009, which would be an absolute dream for a guy who grew up in the shadow of the Vet.
Stay tuned for more info. It sounds like a deal could be completed early next week.
*** Shameless self-promotion alert: My book with Gary Matthews (have I mentioned that we wrote a book?), titled "Phillies Confidential: The Untold Inside Story of the 2008 Championship Season," has arrived in most book stores in the area. If you're out and about, looking to get a headstart on your holiday shopping, please check it out.
*** Finally, it figures to be a fairly light holiday weekend for the Phillies. So, I wanted to take a few moments, on the day after Thanksgiving, to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has visited our little corner of the Internet in the past year. Here at The News Journal's Phillies blog, we strive to keep you informed on what's happening with the team. And while we're aware that you can go to any number of places for your Phillies news, we hope The Blog is somewhere on your list. Special thanks to the folks who offer comments. I think we have built a nice, little community here, and I hope we can continue to grow in the coming year.
Just received this from the Phillies. I'm in the process of having "arthroscopic debridement" and "bony lesion" translated into English, but it sounds like the surgery involved the elements that will make the recovery period closer to six months than four. Stay tuned for further updates throughout the day:
Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had surgery on his right hip yesterday. The surgery was performed by Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. Utley had an arthroscopic debridement of his labrum and a bony lesion that was present. Dr. Kelly reported the surgery went well and the findings yesterday were consistent with the diagnostic studies performed prior to surgery. It is anticipated that he will have a four- to six-month recovery period as previously described.
Also, third baseman Pedro Feliz had a lumbar discectomy performed on Nov. 20 by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles and the procedure went well. The discectomy was performed on the L4-5 disc and Feliz will return home to complete his rehabilitation program, which is expected to require eight to 12 weeks.
(Updated, 4:22 p.m.):Well, clearly, I'm not ready to get my medical degree yet. Just spoke to Dr. Victor Kalman, an orthopedic surgeon at the Morgan-Kalman Clinic and our resident hip specialist. According to the good doctor, a debridement consists of little more than "trimming" the labrum, the best-case scenario for Utley. Based on the Phillies' description of the procedure, and without knowing Utley's speed of recovery (we're guessing it's pretty good), Kalman said it sounds "pretty reasonable" that Utley could be ready by Opening Day.
After watching yesterday's, uh, debacle in Baltimore, you're probably eager to change the subject to something more uplifting than Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb and those Eagles, right?
So, let's talk about Chase Utley's hip.
Utley, as you know, will undergo surgery this week in New York, and depending on the extent of the procedure, he'll be sidelined for four to six months. The other day, I spoke with Dr. Victor Kalman, an orthopedic surgeon and the hip specialist at the Morgan-Kalman Clinic in Wilmington (Morgan has operated on several well-known athletes, including Curt Schilling and Elton Brand; Kalman worked for the Phillies during his fellowship in 1993-94). Anyway, Dr. Kalman explained the ins and outs of Utley's surgery, which will last about 90 minutes, less time than it will take you to watch the 2008 World Series DVD that is due to be released tomorrow.
A few other things that I learned from talking to Dr. Kalman:
1. Hip injuries like Utley's are often diagnosed initially as groin strains. It's a common mistake, Kalman said, because groin injuries are far more prevalent than hip problems. But when the symptoms linger for two or three months, Kalman said it's more likely the hip or back than the groin.
2. This type of injury can occur when an athlete plants and twists his body. It is seen most often in hockey goalies and soccer players, although Kalman said shortstops and second basemen are vulnerable because of the way they pivot their bodies to turn double plays.
3. The best-case scenario is that Utley has only a "flap tear" of his labrum, the ring of dense tissue and cartilage that attaches to the hip socket and serves as a suction cup or a shock absorber for the joint. In that case, Dr. Bryan Kelly would only have to trim the cartilage, and Utley could conceivably be playing by opening day, April 5 at the Bank. Worst-case scenario is that there is a "bony impingement" that requires the repair of spurs around the hip socket. In that case, Utley could be sidelined until June.
*** Within the Sunday MLB notes, we examine the Phillies' contingency plans for left field in case Pat Burrell doesn't return. Also, we get a glimpse into Jamie Moyer's thought process behind wanting a multiyear contract, and we put a wrap, once and for all, on the 2008 NL MVP voting.
*** Read an interesting story in the New York Times the other day: During their meetings last week, baseball owners were briefed about the crumbling U.S. economy by former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, an advisor to President-elect Barack Obama. Evidently, Volcker’s assessment of the where the economy may be headed was not positive. Makes you wonder if it may cause some teams to curb their offseason spending. Something to keep an eye on as the offseason progresses.
Not to disrupt the Chase Utley comments below, but I wanted to pass this along: The Phillies have completed their coaching staff by hiring Pete Mackanin as their bench coach.
Mackanin, 57, has been an interim manager for the Pirates (26 games in 2005) and the Reds (80 games in 2007). In 2008, he was a pro scout for the Yankees. He also has been a coach with the Expos (1997-2000) and Pirates (2003-05). As a player, Mackanin appeared in 18 games for the Phillies in 1978 and '79.
So, Charlie Manuel's coaching staff now looks like this: Rich Dubee (pitching), Milt Thompson (hitting), Mackanin (bench), Davey Lopes (first base), Sam Perlozzo (third base), Mick Billmeyer (bullpen).
OK, everyone, you may now resume your Utley discussion. I'll weigh in soon with more about his impending hip surgery.
Just in: Chase Utley (hip) and Pedro Feliz (lower back) will undergo surgery. Utley, it appears, will miss four to six months, which could delay his start of the 2009 season. Here's the press release, straight from the Phillies, and we'll have more later today from Ruben Amaro Jr. and athletic trainer Scott Sheridan.
*** Since the end of the World Series, Utley, 29, has had several diagnostic studies in regards to right hip symptoms that he had during the 2008 season. He has been evaluated by Phillies team physician Dr. Michael Ciccotti at the Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Dr. Bryan Kelly at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
Based on the diagnostic studies and examinations, it has been recommended that Utley have surgery on his right hip, which is scheduled for next week. The procedure will be an arthroscopic evaluation with treatment of any labral or bony injury. The recovery will allow for the initiation of baseball activities between three and four months, however, the total recovery time may require four to six months.
Feliz, 33, will have low back surgery today. He was on the disabled list during the 2008 season for 26 days in relation to a low back injury and had intermittent symptoms at the end of the season that deemed off-season follow-up necessary. Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles will perform the surgery, which is scheduled to be a lumbar discectomy. After surgery, Feliz will complete an eight-to-12 week rehabilitation program.
(Updated, 2:27 p.m.): Just got through with a teleconference with Amaro, Sheridan and Ciccotti. Here are a few details:
1. Sheridan said there's no way to pinpoint exactly when the injury occurred, and both Sheridan and Ciccotti said that Utley didn't exacerbate the problem by playing through it. Ciccotti described Utley as "highly functional" and said the symptoms were "intermittent" and "manageable." Sheridan said, "We managed the symptoms, and we don't think we were putting him at risk."
2. The timetable for Utley's return depends on what happens when Dr. Kelly looks at his hip. But Amaro said the Phillies expect him to be "fairly close to ready, if not ready, by opening day."
3. In the event that Utley isn't ready, Amaro said the Phillies won't pursue another second baseman during the offseason. Eric Bruntlett and Jason Donald would be candidates to open the season at second base. Bringing back Tadahito Iguchi doesn't seem to be an option. "If we had to open the season without Chase, I think we're covered fairly well," Amaro said. Donald, by the way, has won the 2008 Arizona Fall League Dernell Stenson Award for unselfishness, hard work, and leadership.
4. Dr. Kelly will perform the surgery next week in New York. A definite day hasn't been set. Kelly, who examined Utley earlier in the offseason, operated on Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell, who had a similar condition that prevented him from playing in the ALCS.
Much more later.
*** In other news, right-handed pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Drew Naylor, lefty Sergio Escalona and catcher Joel Naughton have been added to the 40-man roster.
*** (Update, 5:52 p.m.): Ordinarily, I'd do a separate entry about this, but I don't want to distract from the Utley conversation. So, here goes: In a swap of former first-round picks, the Phillies have dealt outfield prospect Greg Golson to the Rangers for outfield prospect John Mayberry. Mayberry, 24, split the 2008 season between double-A Frisco and triple-A Oklahoma and hit a combined .264 with 38 doubles, 20 home runs, 71 RBIs and 10 steals in 135 games. Golson, 23, batted .282 with 13 home runs, 60 RBIs and 23 steals at double-A Reading. According to Amaro, the Phillies preferred Mayberry's power to Golson's speed.
More on Golson, and Utley, and Feliz, and everything else in tomorrow's News Journal.
Over the past few weeks, Ruben Amaro Jr. and his Mets counterpart, Omar Minaya, have said that they're prioritizing pitching over everything else this winter. Yet there's a report in Newsday indicating that both the Phils and Mets have interest in left fielder Raul Ibanez.
Makes sense.
There's a good chance the Phillies will have to replace Pat Burrell, who, as we've talked about before, likely will get a three- or four-year offer from an AL team looking to make him a DH. The Phils aren't expected to guarantee more than two years for Burrell, so it seems he'll have to take a hometown discount if he wants to stay with the only team he's ever known. The Mets, meanwhile, are facing the possibility of a Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis platoon in left field unless they make a trade or sign a free agent. So, clearly, left field is an area that both teams would like to address.
We'll leave the discussion of how Ibanez might fit the Mets' lineup to the folks in New York. Ibanez, 36, is a left-handed hitter, so it would appear that he's not a fit for the Phillies. Charlie Manuel wants another right-handed bat to balance a lineup that already features heavy-hitting lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard and switch-hitting Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. Ibanez did hit .305 against lefties last season, but that likely was an aberration. Throughout his career, he's a .268 hitter against left-handed pitchers, compared to .293 against righties.
Regardless, the Phillies undoubtedly have intimate knowledge of Ibanez's ability. Although he played only one season for Pat Gillick in Seattle (2000), he has spent 10 of his 13 major-league seasons with the Mariners, giving him a long history with new assistant GM Benny Looper. Of course, he is a Type A free agent, which means the Phillies would forfeit a first-round draft pick if they sign Ibanez, who has batted .291 and averaged 25 homers and 112 RBIs over the past three seasons. But, assuming they offer arbitration to Burrell, they will receive a first-round pick from whichever team signs him. Burrell, also a Type A free agent, has averaged .262, 31 homers and 98 RBIs over the past four seasons.
Ibanez made $5.5 million last season, so he's both older and less expensive than the 31-year-old Burrell. He doesn't walk as often as Burrell (thus, his on-base percentage usually is lower than Burrell's), but he strikes out far less. And in a lineup that piles up the whiffs, it would be nice to have a player who has fanned 100 times in a season only twice. But Ibanez wouldn't be much of an upgrade over Burrell defensively or on the bases, and if the Phillies are trying to get younger and faster in left field, he probably isn't the answer.
It has been three weeks since the Phillies won the World Series, and judging from the e-mails I have received and the conversations I've had, everyone is still as euphoric as they were when Brad Lidge hurled that last hellacious slider past Eric Hinske. I suspect the feeling won't subside any time soon, and it shouldn't. Around here, championships are like comets, appearing once every 25 years or so. But, when it comes to the NL MVP balloting, let's not allow the World Series afterglow to cloud our judgment.
Ryan Howard never deserved to win.
Once again, I didn't have an MVP ballot this season. If I did, though, I wouldn't have cast my first-place vote for Howard. I may even have strained to pick him better than third. It's nothing personal. I have covered Ryan for the past three seasons, and most of the time, I find him to be one of the more accessible, if not likeable, players in the clubhouse. And, once again this season, his majors-leading power numbers (48 home runs, 146 RBIs) were undeniable. Few players can affect greater change in a game with one mighty swing.
But the MVP should be awarded for season-long excellence, and Howard, quite frankly, had only six MVP-worthy weeks. Think back to May 7 when he was batting .163 with 50 strikeouts in only 123 at-bats. Howard was batting only .234 at the All-Star break, and for the new-age Moneyball folks who don't put stock in batting average, his overall on-base (.339) and slugging percentages (.543) were the lowest of his career. He struck out 199 times, equaling his total from 2007, and we all know about his defense. He led all first basemen with 19 errors, and in August, his confidence ebbed so low that he stopped trying to make the throw to second base, prompting Jimmy Rollins and Charlie Manuel to have separate discussions with him about it. Also in August, I had a conversation with Baseball Prospectus writer (and election projectionist) Nate Silver, who described Howard thusly: "I don't think anybody expected Ryan Howard to go from 'MVP' to 'average first baseman' overnight."
Howard's MVP candidacy took shape in mid-September. To be precise, it was Sept. 16 when, after a four-hit, three-RBI game against the Braves at Turner Field, we in the media began floating the MVP possibility. Over the season's final 31 games, while the Phillies were surging to a second straight NL East crown, Howard batted .354 (40-for-113) with 14 homers, 38 RBIs and a 1.273 OPS. Suddenly, he was being discussed as an MVP favorite, alongside Albert Pujols, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Braun and mid-season NL insurgent Manny Ramirez.
But Pujols was the best (and, really, the only) choice. This time, the writers got it right.
Pujols batted .357, second in the league behind Chipper Jones. He hit 37 homers, drove in 116 runs and led the NL with a 1.115 OPS, all with a torn ligament in his right elbow that required surgery last month. Yes, the Cardinals faded down the stretch, finishing fourth in the NL Central and four games off the wild-card pace. But, thanks in part to Pujols' mind-numbing consistency, they exceeded expectations for most of the season, staying in contention until September despite a slew of injuries to pitchers Chris Carpenter, Mark Mulder and Jason Isringhausen and slugger Chris Duncan, among others. They finished a respectable 86-76. Without Pujols, who knows?
Howard received 12 first-place votes, and although I don't agree, I'm not about to criticize the decisions of my colleagues in the Baseball Writers Association of America, including Rich Campbell of the Fredericksburg (Va.) Free Lance-Star, who left Howard off his ballot entirely for reasons that he has detailed here. Agree or disagree, most of the writers that I know spend weeks deliberating before casting their ballots. Those ballots were due on the final day of the regular season, and with Howard's torrid finish and the Phillies' NL East title fresh in everyone's mind, I can understand how he would garner support from the voters. I can also see how out-of-division voters who gauged Howard's season more according to his stats and less by their eyewitness account would've thrown their support toward Howard. But those of us who saw the Phillies every day, or even on a semi-regular basis, knew that Chase Utley's first 31 games (.369, 13 homers, 26 RBIs) may have been even more valuable than Howard's last 31, especially considering that Rollins was injured and Howard was scuffling in April and early May. Utley and certainly Lidge were equally valuable, if not more so, to the Phillies' success than Howard, an opinion expressed even by Ruben Amaro Jr. when I spoke to him Monday night.
"The voters probably view how players impact their team," Amaro said, "and we had several players on our team who were impactful. When you think of our team MVP, there were a lot of guys who could've probably shared the award."
That can't be said of the Cardinals. Their MVP, undoubtedly, was Pujols. The choice for league MVP, at least to me, was equally decisive.
Scouts, by and large, do their work in anonymity. They aren't known by fans. They aren't hailed in newspaper headlines. They are nameless, faceless nomads who travel from one town to the next, pointing radar guns and scribbling notes and doing the grunt work that often goes unrewarded.
So, when the Phillies won the World Series, Pat Gillick quickly credited the scouts.
Gillick noted that Chuck LaMar, recently promoted to assistant GM, led a five-man team that scouted the Rays and Red Sox in the AL Championship Series. LaMar, Charley Kerfeld, Gordon Lakey, Hank King and Jim Fregosi Jr. compiled reports that detailed the strengths and weaknesses of every hitter and pitcher that the Phils would face. Sure enough, the Rays' top hitters, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria, went a combined 3-for-37 with 15 strikeouts in the World Series.
Today, Fregosi and King were rewarded.
King, the Phillies' major-league advance scout since 1985, has moved to the pro scouting staff. Fregosi, the team's amateur scouting coordinator and son of former manager Jim Fregosi, also has been added to the pro scouting staff and will cover major-league clubs. They will be joined on the pro staff by former amateur scouts Jerry Lafferty and Roy Tanner, who will cover the minors.
Also, the Phillies have hired Howie Freiling away from the New York Mets. Freiling, a Philly native who played baseball at Northeast High while Ruben Amaro Jr. was at Penn Charter, will be a special-assignment scout. On a personal level, I know Howie very well. He managed the Double-A Binghamton Mets in 2001 and 2002, when I was the beat writer who covered the team.
*** Had a chance to chat with new Phillies assistant GM Scott Proefrock last night. He's an interesting guy. He has worked in baseball operations for the Pirates (1989-90), Braves (1991-95), Devil Rays (1995-2005) and Orioles (2005-08). He has a master's degree in sports management degree from UMass, and he's a certified public accountant.
And his wife's family loves the Phillies.
Proefrock is married to the former K.K. Keegan of Wilmington, and her family has a long athletic history at Salesianum and Ursuline. "They're all Phillies fans from growing up back in the '80s," Proefrock told me. He'll begin working for the Phillies next week, and he has his work cut out for him. The Phils have 10 arbitration-eligible players, and Proefrock will be handling the negotiations with many of those players.
Very telling, I think, that Howard got fewer first-place votes among NL East voters than Pujols. Also, Howard was batting .163 on May 7 when the Phils were in Arizona. They went to San Francisco from there. I'll bet he didn't get first-place votes in those precincts.
After edging Pujols to take the honor in 2006, Howard received 12 first-place votes to Pujols' 18. Pujols got 10 second-place votes, two third-place votes, one fourth-place vote and one seventh-place vote for 369 total points. Howard got eight second-place votes, six third-place votes, one fifth-place vote, one sixth-place vote, two seventh-place votes and one 10th-place vote for 308 total points.
Pujols, 28, had arguably the best all-around season in the league, batting .357 with 37 homers, 116 RBIs and a 1.115 on-base/slugging percentage -- all with a torn elbow ligament that required surgery last month. But the Cardinals faded in September, finishing fourth in the NL Central and four games out of the wild-card lead.
Howard, who turns 29 Wednesday, led the majors with 48 home runs and 146 RBIs. But he won the award with his late-season performance. In his final 31 games, Howard batted .354 with 14 homers and 38 RBIs and carried the Phillies to a second consecutive NL East championship.
Votes were cast by two writers from each of the 16 NL markets, and the ballots were due by the final day of the regular season. The result seemingly was a referendum on how voters interpret the award, giving it to a player who had a superior statistical season over a player on a successful team.
Or it may have been payback for 2006 when Pujols finished second to Howard. The Cardinals made the playoffs that season, while the Phillies were edged out for the wild-card berth. Howard batted only .251. The lowest average for an MVP is .267 by St. Louis shortstop Marty Marion in 1944.
Phillies closer Brad Lidge finished eighth in the voting.
1. The Phillies have hired Scott Proefrock for their other assistant GM position. Proefrock, who had been working with the Orioles, will be responsible for negotiating major-league contracts, handling arbitration cases, etc., the duties that belonged to Ruben Amaro Jr. when he was assistant GM. Proefrock also has Delaware ties (more on that in The Paper tomorrow).
2. Minor-league field coordinator Bill Dancy, better known as the Phillies' third-base coach from 2005-06,has been let go. Mike Compton, the field coordinator in 2005 and 2006, will reassume that job.
Good morning, all. So, I've returned from a weekend in Boston, where I saw some friends, tasted the best Chowdah on the planet here, sat in the upper deck at the Garden for the Celtics' loss to the Nuggets (who needs Allen Iverson, anyway?) and gloated about the No. 1-ranked Boston University hockey team. Good times, folks. Good times.
Now, though, it's back to work, just in time for the announcement of the 2008 NL MVP in a few hours (2 p.m., to be exact).
And, to me, it will be a fascinating vote.
Regardless of whether Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Manny Ramirez or someone else wins the MVP, it will reveal how several of my fellow beat writers from across the country interpret the award. If the voters believe the MVP should be awarded to the player who had the best all-around season, Pujols will win in a landslide. He batted .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs and led the NL with a 1.115 on-base/slugging percentage -- all with a torn ligament in his right elbow that required surgery last month. It was, indisputably, the finest season of any player in the league.
But, of course, it isn't that simple.
With or without Pujols, the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs. In fact, they finished fourth in the NL Central and four games off the wild-card pace. Howard, meanwhile, powered the Phillies to a second straight division title with 14 homers and 38 RBIs in the last 31 games. And the Dodgers were 54-54 on July 31 when they traded for Manny and finished 30-24 and won the NL West. For true "value," the voters may turn to Howard or Manny and snub Pujols.
Personally, I'd have voted for Pujols (I had an NL Rookie of the Year vote, not an MVP vote, this season). Howard led the league in homers and RBIs, but to me, he wasn't the MVP of his own team. (Brad Lidge, anyone?). And Manny put the Dodgers on his shoulders, but it was only two months. If an MVP award was based on carrying a team for two months, Chase Utley should be considered for what he did for the Phillies in April and May.
So, who's your MVP?
*** Mick Billmeyer, the Phillies' catching instructor since 2004, was promoted Saturday to bullpen coach. He'll replace Ramon Henderson, who left the team last season for personal reasons. Henderson was reassigned to a minor-league coaching position. I'm guessing that few of you are familiar with Billmeyer, so I'll say this by way of introduction: In addition to working with the Phillies' catchers, he's a funny dude. Always quick with a joke (few can be retold here), he keeps the mood light in the bullpen. During the playoffs, in fact, Chad Durbin told me that Billmeyer deserved as much credit for the success of the Phillies' relievers as anyone.
Now that they've hired Sam Perlozzo and promoted Billmeyer, the Phils have one more coaching vacancy. Former major-league managers Jim Tracy and Terry Collins will interview this week for the bench coach position vacated last week by Jimy Williams.
*** Finally, I spoke to an old friend who is privy to the New York Mets' inner workings. Everyone knows the Mets need a closer, and they're planning to make an offer to free agents Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes (they have concerns about Kerry Wood's health). But they're also exploring trade options. Seattle's J.J. Putz and the White Sox's Bobby Jenks may be available. Their second priority is finding a starting pitcher. So, while the Phils likely will re-sign 46-year-old Jamie Moyer and turn their attention to the bullpen and left field, the Mets intend to make offers to Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett and others who could serve as a No. 2 starter behind Johan Santana (a.k.a., The Johan) and ahead of John Maine.
OK, you play the part of Ruben Amaro Jr.: Should the Phillies feel satisfied with a rotation of Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Moyer, Joe Blanton and either J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick or Carlos Carrasco? Or should they throw some cash at a free-agent starter?
Yeah, I know. You've still got plenty of time. It's not even Thanksgiving, and if you're like me, you wait until the last possible minute anyway. But, for baseball general managers, the holiday shopping begins today. After two weeks of being able to negotiate only with their last team, free agents can start talking dollars and cents (if not sense) with other clubs. So, Pat Burrell, Jamie Moyer and nearly 180 other players are officially on the open market.
OK, before you start to panic, don't worry about Moyer. He may be able to negotiate with other teams, but he doesn't really want to. I'd be surprised if Moyer doesn't stay with the Phillies. In fact, I'd be surprised if they don't have a deal done next week. Ruben Amaro Jr. has been talking to Moyer's agent, Jim Bronner, for the past two weeks, and I think they'll come to an agreement shortly. Burrell is going to take a bit longer, if it happens at all. As we've mentioned in this space and in The Paper, he's bound to get generous offers from American League teams. If Burrell wants a three- or four-year contract, he'll have to go elsewhere. If he's willing to take a one- or two-year deal, he may stay right where he is. That's what the next few weeks will be about.
Here's a list of free agents, updated through Thursday night. Anyone on this list catch your eye?
Starting pitchers: Tony Armas Jr., A.J. Burnett, Paul Byrd, Bartolo Colon, Ryan Dempster, Scott Elarton, Josh Fogg, Casey Fossum, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Mark Hendrickson, Livan Hernandez, Orlando Hernandez, Jason Jennings, Randy Johnson, Jon Lieber, Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Jamie Moyer, Mark Mulder, Mike Mussina, Darren Oliver, John Parrish, Carl Pavano, Brad Penny, Odalis Perez, Oliver Perez, Andy Pettitte, Sidney Ponson, Mark Prior, Horacio Ramirez, Kenny Rogers, Glendon Rusch, CC Sabathia, Curt Schilling, Ben Sheets, John Smoltz, Randy Wolf, Jamey Wright. Relief pitchers: Jeremy Affeldt, Luis Ayala, Joe Beimel, Doug Brocail, Juan Cruz, Elmer Dessens, Brendan Donnelly, Alan Embree, Kyle Farnsworth, Keith Foulke, Chad Fox, Brian Fuentes, Eric Gagne, Tom Gordon, Eddie Guardado, Matt Herges, Trevor Hoffman, Bobby Howry, Jason Isringhausen, Jason Johnson, Todd Jones, Jorge Julio, Mike Lincoln, Braden Looper, Brandon Lyon, Kent Mercker, Trever Miller, Guillermo Mota, Will Ohman, Chan Ho Park, Dennys Reyes, Arthur Rhodes, Juan Rincon, Ricardo Rincon, Francisco Rodriguez, Rudy Seanez, Brian Shouse, Russ Springer, Julian Tavarez, Mike Timlin, Ron Villone, David Weathers, Matt Wise, Kerry Wood. Catchers: Brad Ausmus, Paul Bako, Gary Bennett, Henry Blanco, Sal Fasano, Toby Hall, Paul Lo Duca, Adam Melhuse, Chad Moeller, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Varitek, Javier Valentin, Vance Wilson, Gregg Zaun. Infielders: Rich Aurilia, Casey Blake, Aaron Boone, Russell Branyan, Orlando Cabrera, Miguel Cairo, Sean Casey, Juan Castro, Alex Cintron, Tony Clark, Alex Cora, Craig Counsell, Joe Crede, Ray Durham, Damion Easley, David Eckstein, Adam Everett, Rafael Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Chris Gomez, Mark Grudzielanek, Jerry Hairston Jr., Eric Hinske, Orlando Hudson, Cesar Izturis, Jeff Kent, Mike Lamb, Felipe Lopez, Mark Loretta, Ramon Martinez, Doug Mientkiewicz, Kevin Millar, Greg Norton, Pablo Ozuna, Nick Punto, Edgar Renteria, Luis Rivas, Mark Sweeney, Mark Teixeira, Juan Uribe, Ramon Vazquez, Omar Vizquel, Daryle Ward. Outfielders: Bobby Abreu, Moises Alou, Garret Anderson, Rocco Baldelli, Willie Bloomquist, Milton Bradley, Emil Brown, Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, Jim Edmonds, Juan Encarnacion, Luis Gonzalez, Ken Griffey Jr., Raul Ibanez, Gabe Kapler, Mark Kotsay, Jason Michaels, Trot Nixon, Corey Patterson, Jay Payton, Scott Podsednik, Manny Ramirez, Juan Rivera, David Ross, Brad Wilkerson. Designated hitters: Cliff Floyd, Frank Thomas.
*** I'm visiting friends in Boston, and the big news up here (aside from the Patriots' loss to the Jets last night) is that the Red Sox have decided not to raise ticket prices for next season. It marks the first time since 1995, my freshman year of college, that the Sox haven't hiked the price of some or all tickets at Fenway. According to team CEO Larry Lucchino, the Sox made the decision because of the poor economy.
That isn't stopping the Phillies, though. Fresh off their 2008 World Series win, the Phils say they'll boost the price of most tickets by $2 or $3 in 2009. The really premium seats, the 100-level infield seats, will cost $6 to $50 more.
*** Got an e-mail from the Baseball Hall of Fame announcing the opening of their annual World Series exhibit on Monday. Included in the display will be Ryan Howard's bat used during Game 4 of the World Series, Carlos Ruiz's batting helmet from his game-winning hit in Game 3, the bat Joe Blanton used to hit his home run in Game 4, and the cap Brad Lidge wore during Game 5.
By the way, if you've never been to Cooperstown, you definitely should plan a trip. I used to live an hour away, and I can tell you, visiting the Hall of Fame never got old.
*** Mike Arbuckle will be a senior advisor with the Kansas City Royals, according to Jerry Crasnick over at ESPN.com. No surprise there. Arbuckle has a long relationship with Royals GM Dayton Moore and lives in Liberty, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City.
Been driving all day (spending the weekend out of town), but I wanted to pass along a few bits of news from the Phillies:
1. Sam Perlozzo has been named to the Phils' coaching staff, although the club hasn't given him a position yet. (My guess: He will be the third-base coach if the Phillies are able to hire a qualified bench coach; otherwise, Perlozzo will be the bench coach). Perlozzo, 57, will definitely handle infield instruction, a responsibility that belonged to Steve Smith for the past two seasons. Perlozzo was Seattle's third-base coach last season, and prior to that, he spent 12 years with the Orioles as a third-base coach (1996-2000), bench coach (2001-05) and manager (2005-07). He also has coached third base for the Mets (1987-89), Reds (1990-92) and Mariners (1993-95, 2008). Interesting tidbit: Perlozzo played in Japan in 1980, the same season Charlie Manuel hit 48 home runs for an opposing Japanese team.
2. Chase Utley has won his third straight Silver Slugger Award, given to the top offensive player at each position. Utley led all NL second basemen in hits (177), RBIs (104), on-base percentage (.383), slugging percentage (.583) and extra-base hits (78).
3. The Phillies have announced their 2009 spring-training schedule. Yes, already! Click here to check it out. Also, the Phillise will host the Tampa Bay Rays in the annual on-deck series on April 3 at 7:05 p.m. and April 4 at 1:05 p.m.
4. Free-agency season opens tomorrow. Players will be able to negotiate with teams other than their own. I don't expect much activity on Day 1 since negotiations supposedly are just beginning. Of course, we could see the Phillies re-sign Jamie Moyer by this weekend or early next week. Negotiations with Moyer's agent, Jim Bronner, have been ongoing.
Two weeks ago, after the Phillies paraded through Center City, Charlie Manuel told an amusing story, as only he can. He recalled a meeting with team president David Montgomery, presumably after the 2006 season when the Phillies finished second (again) in the NL East and wild-card races.
"Charlie, you've got a whole lot of seconds," Montgomery said with a smile.
"Well," Manuel said on Oct. 31, the World Series trophy at his side, "I ain't second no more."
Today, though, he finished second again.
For a second consecutive year, Manuel was runner-up in the NL Manager of the Year balloting. This time, he came in behind Cubs manager Lou Piniella, who got 15 first-place votes, eight second-place votes and four third-place votes for 103 points. Manuel received eight first-place votes, six second-place votes and nine third-place votes for 67 points. Last year, you'll recall, Manuel finished second to Arizona's Bob Melvin. (Keep in mind, the voting is conducted before the postseason, so at the time that ballots were due, the Cubs were a 97-win favorite to reach the World Series, not a first-round choke job). For the full voting, click here.
But, sometime soon, Manuel will have something that neither Piniella nor Melvin will -- a 2008 World Series ring on his finger. He may also have a contract extension. Manuel has one more year, plus a club option for 2010, on his contract. Last week, Ruben Amaro Jr. said the Phils may begin to explore an extension that will keep Manuel in the dugout for a while longer.
"We're very, very pleased with Charlie," Amaro said. "He's proven to everybody that he's the right person for this group of players."
So, Brad Lidge just completed the best season of his life, arguably as good a season as any closer has ever had. And he finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
Fourth.
Actually, it's not really a surprise. As we wrote yesterday in this space and in The Paper today, closers very rarely win the Cy. Since 1989, only one closer (Eric Gagne in 2003) has won the NL Cy Young Award. In the AL, a closer hasn't won since Dennis Eckersley in 1992.
So, even though Lidge, (completely shameless plug alert: he's pictured on the cover of my book with Gary Matthews, "Phillies Confidential: The Untold Inside Story of the 2008 Championship Season," which will be in stores next week), went 41-for-41 in save chances during the regular season and was the major difference between the Phillies and Mets, it wasn't enough for him to win the Cy Young Award. Tim Linecum, the Giants' terrific right-hander, is the 2008 Cy winner, followed by Diamondbacks' 22-game winner Brandon Webb and Mets ace Johan Santana. Lidge got one second-place vote and seven third-place votes. Interestingly, Cole Hamels didn't receive any votes, not even a token third-place vote. Keep in mind, of course, that the voting takes place before the postseason. (Full disclosure: I did not have a Cy Young vote this year; I voted for the NL Rookie of the Year award).
*** Interesting trade in the NL East last night, with the Marlins sending lefty Scott Olsen and left fielder Josh Willingham to the Nationals for young second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and prospects. Makes you wonder about Dan Uggla's future in South Florida, doesn't it? Uggla, like Olsen and Willingham and recently traded first baseman Mike Jacobs, is arbitration-eligible and may be out of the penny-pinching Marlins' price range. Of course, getting Bonifacio may also signal only that the Fish are going to move Uggla to third base and Jorge Cantu to first to replace Jacobs. Regardless, on the surface, at least, the latest trade appears to have weakened the Marlins and strengthened the Nats.
More news from the Phils: Lefty reliever Scott Eyre has re-signed with the Phillies. He agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $2 million, plus performance bonuses.
Eyre, 36, went 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 19 appearances after coming over Aug. 7 in a trade with the Cubs and gave the Phillies a strong second lefty reliever in front of J.C. Romero.
More in a bit.
(Updated, 9:05 p.m.): Couple of interesting points: Eyre could've signed with the Phils in 2006. He even had a recruiting luncheon with pitching coach Rich Dubee. Instead, he opted for a three-year, $11 million contract from the Cubs. But Eyre fell in love with Philly after being traded here in August (winning a World Series will have that effect), and the negotiation between agent Tommy Tanzer and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. couldn't have gone more smoothly.
"We got him at the right time when our bullpen was going through a rough time and probably was overworked, and he did a good job against righties and lefties," Charlie Manuel told me tonight. "He played a big role down there."
Jimy Williams, Manuel's bench coach for the past two seasons, has opted not to accept an invitation to return to the Phillies' coaching staff in 2009. No further details were provided by the club (working on getting more info). Williams is 65 years old. He has not been mentioned as a candidate for the Mariners' managerial vacancy.
Hitting coach Milt Thompson, pitching coach Rich Dubee and first-base coach Davey Lopes have agreed to terms on contracts for 2009.
(Updated, 7:27 p.m.): Just talked to Manuel, and he said he's surprised that Williams isn't returning. As far as he knows, Williams doesn't have any serious health problems and doesn't believe he is thinking of retiring.
"I talked to him right at the end of the year, and I told him how good a job he did and that I was looking forward to having him back," Manuel said. "He wasn't upset or nothing. It was one of those things that I think he wants to see what he wants to do. As far as I know, it's not like that he left on a bad note. He was pretty happy. I guess there's things he wants to think about. He had a bad hip, and his knees bothered him at times. I don't know if he's looking to retire. I think he's definitely thinking about some things. He's at the stage of his career where he thinks about what he wants to do. I plan on talking to him in the next couple days and kind of feeling him out and find out what's going on."
I asked if it's possible that Williams may change his mind.
"To me, it doesn't seem that way," Manuel said. "But I'll call him in a couple days and see where he's at. I think Jimy will stay in the game. It's not one of those deals where a guy was upset. That's not the case at all."
Manuel said he and Amaro will move quickly to replace Williams and third-base coach Steve Smith, who was fired last week.
To the victor go the spoils -- and the privilege of opening your season on national television.
This just in from ESPN: ESPN2's 2009 Sunday Night Baseball Opening Night telecast will feature the defending World Champion Philadelphia Phillies hosting the Atlanta Braves on April 5 at 8 p.m. ET. Additionally, the game will be available in high definition on ESPN2 HD and via ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile TV. The complete Sunday Night Baseball schedule will be announced at a later date.
Over the next week, while players continue to file for free agency and Cole Hamels makes even more guest appearances on television, the Baseball Writers Association of America will unveil its annual postseason awards. Just today, in fact, the announcements began with the AL and NL Rookie of Year (no surprises: Rays third baseman Evan Longoria and Cubs catcher Geovanny Soto won in landslides that rivaled Barack Obama's).
Anyway, a few of the Phillies may pick up even more hardware.
On Tuesday, perfect closer Brad Lidge could cop the NL Cy Young Award, and on Wednesday, Charlie Manuel could be crowned NL Manager of the Year. And although neither is favored to win those awards, Ryan Howard has emerged as a leading candidate to be named NL MVP next Monday. If he wins the award, it'll be his second MVP trophy in the past three years and the third straight for a Phillies player.
Here's a quick look at the top competition for each award:
CY YOUNG Leading candidates:Tim Linecum (Giants), Lidge, Johan Santana (Mets), CC Sabathia (Brewers), Brandon Webb (Diamondbacks). Why Lidge will win: He went 41-for-41 in save opportunities during the regular season and was the only full-time closer in either league without a blown save (the Yankees' Mariano Rivera was the next-best at 39-for-40). If Lidge was with the Mets, they would've won the NL East. Why Lidge won't win: Since 1989, only one closer (Eric Gagne in 2003) has won the NL Cy Young Award. In the AL, a closer hasn't won the Cy since Dennis Eckersley in 1992.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR Leading candidates:Lou Piniella (Cubs), Joe Torre (Dodgers), Fredi Gonzalez (Marlins), Manuel. Why Manuel will win: The ballots were due on the final day of the regular season, one day after the Phillies clinched the NL East. At the time, no team in the NL was hotter. Why Manuel won't win: The ballots were due on the final day of the regular season, so the Cubs' playoff implosion hadn't occurred yet. At the time, the Cubs had the NL's best record (97-64) and were favored to go to the World Series.
MVP Leading candidates:Albert Pujols (Cardinals), Howard, Manny Ramirez (Dodgers), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Carlos Delgado (Mets). Why Howard will win: Few players finished stronger. In the final 31 games, Howard batted .354 with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs. Why Howard won't win: Few players started slower. Through May 7, Howard batted .163 with six home runs and 16 RBIs in 35 games. The lowest batting average for a non-pitching NL MVP was Marty Marion's .267 in 1944. Howard batted .251. Pujols batted .357 with 37 homers and 116 RBIs, likely the best all-around year for an NL player.
So, the other day, I spoke to a scout from an NL team (not the Phillies) who has been watching Arizona Fall League games for the past few weeks. He was kind enough to offer this scouting report on Jason Donald, the Phils' 24-year-old shortstop prospect who has been playing third base in Arizona.
"He's a decent hitter. Decent power, but probably not enough power to say this guy is a starting third baseman. I think he goes to Triple-A [next year], comes up for part of the year, and they see where they are with [Pedro] Feliz. Maybe this guy could play third if you don't want to spend a lot of money on a third baseman. He's got a nice swing. I think he'll hit. Do I think he'll hit .280 or .300 with 20 or 25 homers? No, I don't think that. I think he could hit .260 or .270 and hit 10 or 12 homers. Then, the case is he's probably not a slick-enough-fielding shortstop. He's a nice player, but he's kind of caught in the middle."
In 2008, Donald batted .307 with 14 homers and 54 RBIs for Double-A Reading. He was the best hitter on the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing, and he has been raking in Arizona (.400, three homers, 13 RBIs in 21 games through yesterday). Most people I've talked to, including the aforementioned scout, project Donald will be a utility infielder in the majors. But, because the Phillies get above-average offense from their second baseman (Chase Utley) and shortstop (Jimmy Rollins), they believe Donald may hit well enough to handle third base when Feliz's contract runs out after next season. Donald undoubtedly will get a good look during spring training, although he'll probably start the season at Lehigh Valley.
*** Talked to a scout from a rival NL East team who had this unsolicited advice for Ruben Amaro Jr.: "If I was him, I'd take the $14 million [Pat Burrell's 2008 salary] and sign a Derek Lowe or a Ryan Dempster. They need to get a frontline pitcher. [Brett] Myers, for me, is a No. 3. They need a guy to go with [Cole] Hamels and give them a combination like [Boston's Josh] Beckett and Dice-K [Daisuke Matsuzaka]."
So, what do you think? Should the Phils concentrate on bolstering their pitching staff, or should they be more concerned about re-signing Burrell or replacing him with a right-handed-hitting outfielder?
*** Want to know what it was like to cover the Phillies' month-long postseason run? News Journal colleague Martin Frank compares it to running in the New York City marathon. I'll take his word for it, although surviving four weeks of crazy travel itineraries only makes me feel slightly better about being woefully out of shape.
Depressed about the Eagles' loss to the Giants? This ought to cheer you up. Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels were guests last week on The Best Damn Sports Show. They discuss, among other things, Chase Utley's choice of words during the Phillies' parade, Victorino's double-ear-flap helmet, their childhood athletic exploits, and Clay Condrey's golf skills.
So, Barack Obama is making appointments to his Cabinet, and in a way, Ruben Amaro Jr. did the same thing this week at the GM meetings. Amaro set the Phillies' front-office staff today by hiring Benny Looper and promoting Chuck LaMar to assistant GM positions.
Looper, 60, will oversee the scouting and player development areas, responsibilities previously held by Mike Arbuckle, who resigned last weekend after Amaro was named GM. Looper has worked for the past 23 years with the Mariners, so he has a history with Pat Gillick. For the past three seasons, Looper has been the Mariners' VP of player personnel. For the previous three years, he was the Mariners' VP of player development and scouting. And, if his name sounds familiar, it's probably because he's the uncle of Cardinals pitcher Braden Looper.
Lamar, 52, will manage the player development department and will work with the pro and amateur scouts. He joined the Phillies last October and spent the past season as director of pro scouting. Gillick has given LaMar great credit for his advanced scouting of the Rays before the World Series. He spent 10 seasons as Tampa Bay's GM, so he has significant experience in this area.
In other moves: Mike Ondo has been promoted to pro scouting coordinator. Ondo, 33, is kind of a rising star in front-office ranks, and he has spent the past two years as the Phillies' assistant minor-league director. He also has assisted the major-league staff on scouting reports and statisitcal analysis. Dallas Green (senior advisor), Charley Kerfeld (special assistant), Gordon Lakey (major-league scouting director), Steve Noworyta (minor-league director) and Marti Wolever (scouting director) will remain in their positions.
More on this in tomorrow's News Journal.
(Updated, 4:38 p.m.): Just spoke with Amaro and got a better sense for the division of responsibilities in the new front office. Looper essentially will replace Arbuckle, while LaMar will, in Amaro's words, "run our minor-league department," with assistance from Noworyta. Amaro plans to hire another assistant GM, likely from outside the organization, within the next 10 days. That person will be responsible for handling Amaro's old responsibilities, namely negotiating contracts and preparing arbitration cases.
Even before Ruben Amaro Jr. took over as general manager, it was the policy of the Phillies' front office not to comment on rumors. To a reporter, like myself, that's disappointing. But, of course, it's also rather understandable, especially at this time of year when the rumor mill churns faster than usual.
To wit: The GM meetings ended yesterday in Dana Point, Calif., and in reality, not much happened. The Dodgers made a two-year, $45 million offer that Manny Ramirez, at the advice of Scott Boras, surely will turn down. There was some procedural discussion of instant replay and maple bats, but that was about it. But any time 30 major-league general managers gather at a resort hotel, the rumors are bound to fly. Sprinkle in a bunch of agents and a few reporters, and the rumor mill cranks into overdrive.
SI.com floated a doozy of a rumor yesterday involving the Phillies and Matt Holliday, and it has caught on like wild fire. Basically, though, here's what we know: Yes, the Phillies and Rockies had discussions in July about Holliday, and any talks always began with Shane Victorino and included a few prospects, namely Carlos Carrasco and Lou Marson. At that time, the Phillies weren't compelled to trade Victorino, and the flat-out refused to move Marson. To my knowledge, those feelings haven't changed. But, if they aren't inclined to re-sign Pat Burrell (and they haven't been exhibiting much urgency in that area), would they consider packaging Jayson Werth and a prospect or two (not Marson) for Holliday, who would give them a scary right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup to go with lefties Chase Utley and Ryan Howard?
Sure, it's possible. If I was Amaro, I'd certainly consider it. But here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. For as great as he is, Holliday has undoubtedly benefited from hitting in Coors Field. He's a .357 career hitter with 84 homers and 307 RBIs at home. On the road, he's a .280 career hitter with 44 homers and 176 RBIs. Of course, Citizens Bank Park is a pretty darned good ballpark for hitting, and in his career, Holliday has four homers and 12 RBIs in 14 games at the South Philly Bandbox.
2. Holliday will make $13.5 million next season (Burrell made $14 million in 2008), so for one year, he'd seemingly fit into the Phillies' salary structure. But he'll become a free agent after 2009. Should the Phillies package Werth and two prospects (Carrasco and J.A. Happ, perhaps) for a player they may not be able to re-sign a year from now?
3. Though he's far from a Gold Glove outfielder, Holliday would be an upgrade over Burrell. What, though, would the Phillies do in right field? It's rather obvious that Geoff Jenkins is no longer an everyday player. Neither, it seems, is Matt Stairs. And while the Phillies believe Greg Dobbs may be able to handle the defensive responsibilities of left field, their opinion of him in right field is much different.
So, clearly, the Holliday possibility sparks as many questions as it does answers. OK, put yourself in Amaro's new GM shoes: Would you trade for Holliday? If so, what would you be willing to give up?
*** Burrell and Jamie Moyer filed for free agency yesterday. No shock there. Strictly a procedural move, and quite frankly, I'm surprised they waited as long as they did.
Throughout the season, Jimmy Rollins never concealed how he was planning to vote in the presidential election. Rollins was a staunch backer of Barack Obama, and on Monday night, mere hours before the election, he even campaigned in South Philly with Joe Biden.
"We took the curse off by winning the championship," Rollins told the crowd at the rally. "Now it's time to take the curse off America. Go out there and vote Obama. Go out there and vote so that we can have the next vice president -- Mr. Joe Biden, who happens to be a great Phillies fan."
Looks like Rollins' winning streak continued.
*** Mark your calendars: The Baseball Writers' Association of America will begin unveiling its annual awards next week. Keep in mind, the awards were voted on before the postseason. I think Charlie Manuel has an outside shot at Manager of the Year, but Ryan Howard has a legitimate chance to cop the NL MVP award. We'll handicap the awards within the next few days. All awards will be announced at 2 p.m. on the following days:
Monday- AL and NL Rookie of the Year Tuesday- NL Cy Young Wednesday- AL and NL Manager of the Year Thursday- AL Cy Young Monday, Nov. 17- NL MVP Tuesday, Nov. 18- AL MVP
Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino have won Gold Glove awards.
Rollins led all shortstops with a .988 fielding percentage in 132 starts and made only seven errors, fewest among NL shortstops. It marks his second straight Gold Glove, and he's the second Phillies player to win back-to-back Gold Gloves since Scott Rolen (2000-01).
Victorino returned to his natural center field this season, replacing 2007 Gold Glove-winner Aaron Rowand, and won his first career Gold Glove. He made a career-high 138 starts and led the team's outfielders with a .994 fielding percentage. Victorino committed only two errors in 337 total chances.
"Winning a Gold Glove is a tremendous honor for me in what was already an amazing season with us winning the World Series," Victorino said in a statement released by the team. "I take a lot of pride in playing defense and to get the recognition of the managers and coaches around the league is a great compliment."
"It is an honor anytime you are recognized as one of the best defensive players in the league,” Rollins said in the statement. "It's something I work very hard at and I understand the importance of playing on both sides of the ball. I would like to thank all the managers and coaches for believing that I am one of the best."
You could've made a compelling case for third baseman Pedro Feliz (.974 fielding percentage, 8 errors), but the Mets' David Wright won the award despite having only a .962 fielding percentage and making 16 errors.
Here's the full list of Phillies' Gold Glove winners: SS- Bobby Wine (1963); SS- Ruben Amaro (1964); 1B- Bill White (1966); SS- Larry Bowa (1972, 1978); OF- Garry Maddox (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982); P- Jim Kaat (1976, 1977); 3B- Mike Schmidt (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986); C- Bob Boone (1978, 1979); 2B- Manny Trillo (1979, 1981, 1982); P- Steve Carlton (1981); 3B- Scott Rolen (1998, 2000, 2001); C- Mike Lieberthal (1999); OF- Bobby Abreu (2005); SS- Jimmy Rollins (2007, 2008); OF- Aaron Rowand (2007); OF- Shane Victorino (2008).
So, if the Phils don't re-sign Pat Burrell, how will they replace him?
Burrell has not yet filed for free agency (he will), and the Phillies haven't opened negotiations with his agents (they will). But, already, this has become the question of the offseason, sort of the way Aaron Rowand's impending free agency occupied our hot-stove talk last year. The Phillies have three in-house options (Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs, Geoff Jenkins), but they're all left-handed hitters. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley make the Phillies' lineup lefty-dominant, and although righty-swinging Jayson Werth will be more of a fixture in the offense next season, Charlie Manuel and GM Ruben Amaro Jr. will want to replace Burrell with a right-handed hitter in order to maintain middle-of-the-order balance.
Here, then, are two suggestions, and an examination of each:
a) Milton Bradley b) Casey Blake
BRADLEY The upside: A switch-hitter, he notched career-highs with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs for the Rangers, and although he struck out 112 times, he also drew 80 walks and had a .436 on-base percentage (Utley led the Phils at .380). He also has been classified as a Type B free agent, which means the Phillies wouldn't forfeit their first-round draft pick for signing him. (Burrell is a Type A, so the Phils will receive a first-rounder if they lose him.) The downside: Bradley wants a multiyear contract and insists he'll sit out the 2009 season if he doesn't get one. He was mostly a DH last season. His fiery temper is well-known, and the perception, at least, is that he's a clubhouse cancer. Keep in mind, though, that Bradley was a high-school teammate of Utley's and played for Manuel in Cleveland in 2001-02. If the Phils trust that Utley and Manuel can keep Bradley in check, it may be worth the risk.
BLAKE The upside: For all the talk of Manny Ramirez at the trade deadline, the Phillies made an equally strong (if not stronger) push to get Blake. Instead, Cleveland dealt him to the Dodgers, for whom he had 10 homers and 23 RBIs in 58 games. Also a Type B free agent, he can play right field (Werth would move to left) and third base, giving the Phils additional versatility. The downside: He's 35, and he hasn't played the outfield full-time since 2006 with the Indians. Then again, for two seasons, the Phils have been replacing Burrell late in games. If they don't trust Blake's defense, they'll still have Eric Bruntlett for the late innings.
Your thoughts?
*** Much is being made of the fact that the Phils haven't opened negotiations with Burrell. Two things: 1. Burrell hasn't filed for free agency yet; 2. When he inevitably does, possibly as early as today, he's going to test the market. Yes, the Phillies enjoy a 15-day window from the end of the World Series to negotiate exclusively with Burrell. But, rest assured, very few free agents actually re-sign during that window. Players must wait at least six years to become free agents. Because he signed a lucrative contract extension in 2003, Burrell waited nine years. And for as much as he may want to stay with the Phillies, I'm sure he also wants to see what kind of offers he can get elsewhere. Can't blame him for that. So, even if the Phillies came to Burrell today with an offer, it's doubtful that he'd accept it.
Never got to this yesterday. Too busy voting, and then, too riveted to the election coverage, I suppose. But there were a few things that struck me from Ruben Amaro Jr.'s press conference Monday. We'll go through them now, point by point, and I'm interested to get your thoughts.
1. Pat Burrell: Asked if the Phillies will aggressively try to re-signing the left fielder, Amaro said, "We haven't made a decision yet." He said negotiations haven't begun with Burrell's agents, Greg Genske and Philly-based Ed Hayes. Burrell has said he'd like to come back, but at this point, he may be best-suited to be a DH. And he figures to get a lucrative contract offer from several teams. Amaro seems to have ruled out Manny Ramirez (too expensive) as a replacement. So, if Burrell bolts, what are the alternatives? Amaro noted two in-house options -- Matt Stairs and Geoff Jenkins -- and several months ago, Charlie Manuel and Davey Lopes expressed their belief that Greg Dobbs' best position may well be left field. Gary Matthews, with whom I have written a book that will be released later this month (have I mentioned that?), is an advocate for free-agent Milton Bradley. Ken Griffey Jr. filed for free agency yesterday. Garret Anderson, Adam Dunn, Raul Ibanez, Emil Brown, Rocco Baldelli and Mark Kotsay are also in the free-agent pool.
Do any of those options interest you?
2. Amaro mentioned that he likely will be interviewing an outside candidate for one of the assistant general manager openings. I'm not sure who it will be, but I know he has a good relationship with former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky, who has been working as a special assistant with the Mets. Chuck LaMar may well step into the other assistant GM spot. Just something to watch for/think about.
3. Jamie Moyer appears to be looking for a multiyear contract ("He wants to pitch until he's 50," Amaro said), and after he led the Phillies with 16 regular-season victories, it would be difficult not to give it to him. That said, I'd be careful about giving Moyer anything more than a two-year contract. When that arm finally goes, it often goes in a hurry. Just ask Greg Maddux.
4. Regardless of what happens with Burrell, Amaro said the Phillies' top priority will continue to be pitching. I think they may look into getting another starter and another reliever to help Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero and Chad Durbin in the setup innings.
Just heard from a source at the GM meetings in Dana Point, Calif.: Ruben Amaro Jr. has announced that Steve Smith has been fired as the Phillies' third-base coach. No word yet on a replacement, although one name to watch may be Juan Samuel, whose two-year contract with the Orioles expired after the season.
Got back a little while ago from the Bank, where it was announced that Ruben Amaro Jr. has signed a three-year contract to be the Phillies' new general manager. Lots to get to, so without further ado ...
1. Amaro dismissed the notion that the Phillies will pursue free-agent slugger Manny Ramirez to play left field. "Manny Ramirez is obviously the finest offensive player out there," Amaro said. "He is going to be extremely costly. I don't want to laugh off the situation, but I think there's other ways to fill the role. We don't know what's going to happen with Pat Burrell yet. We haven't made a decision about whether he'll be our left fielder for next year and beyond. So, I can't really comment on Manny Ramirez at this time because we have to figure out what's going to happen with Pat."
2. Speaking of Burrell, Amaro said he has changed agents from Greg Genske to Philly-based Ed Hayes, and he intends to speak with Hayes within the next few days. Amaro already has contacted the agents for Jamie Moyer and Scott Eyre, and it seems the Phillies are hopeful they'll be able to re-sign both. Amaro said Moyer, who turns 46 in three weeks, seems to be seeking a multiyear contract. "He wants to pitch until he's 50, I think," Amaro said. "We'll have discussions about it, and we'll try to move pretty expeditiously on it."
3. Amaro said Pat Gillick has agreed to stay on as a paid consultant.
4. Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle has, in fact, resigned. Amaro said he expects that most of the other front-office personnel will remain intact. He said pro scouting director Chuck LaMar likely will be promoted (possibly to assistant GM?). LaMar, special assistant Charley Kerfeld, major-league scouting director Gordon Lakey and scouting/player development assistant Mike Ondo will be joining Amaro tonight at the GM meetings in Dana Point, Calif.
5. Gillick said he was extremely confident that the Phillies would beat the Rays in the World Series, mostly because of the job his scouts did during the ALCS. "LaMar, Kerfeld, [Jim] Fregosi [Jr.], Lakey and Hank [King], they did a hell of a job," Gillick said. "I mean, a hell of a job. We shut those two guys [Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena] down in the middle of the lineup. Everyone was like, 'How are you shutting them down?' We shut them down because we had the reports and our guys executed. That's why I felt so good with Moyer and [Cole] Hamels. We knew what we had to do. I figured we'd get three wins out of Hamels and Moyer, and then we've got to find another win from [Brett] Myers or [Joe] Blanton. They pitched great. They didn't get a home run, Longoria and Upton, did they?"
So, the Phillies just confirmed the worst-kept secret in baseball. As just about every newspaper has been writing this week, Ruben Amaro Jr. will be named general manager tomorrow in a 10 a.m. press conference. Amaro, 43, has been an assistant GM since 1998 under Ed Wade and Pat Gillick and was runner-up for the Astros' GM job last year that went to Wade.
Following the announcement, Amaro will leave for the GM meetings in California. Team president David Montgomery and Gillick will attend the press conference. It's believed that assistant GM Mike Arbuckle will be leaving the organization.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Finally, it figures to be a fairly light holiday weekend for the Phillies. So, I wanted to take a few moments, on the day after Thanksgiving, to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has visited our little corner of the Internet in the past year. Here at The News Journal's Phillies blog, we strive to keep you informed on what's happening with the team. And while we're aware that you can go to any number of places for your Phillies news, we hope The Blog is somewhere on your list. Special thanks to the folks who offer comments. I think we have built a nice, little community here, and I hope we can continue to grow in the coming year.
