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BY SCOTT LAUBER
So, in two days, executives from every team, most player agents and other baseball dignitaries will fly to Las Vegas and converge on the Bellagio for the annual winter meetings, a four-day confab during which countless rumors will fly and a few deals may be struck.
I suppose, given the location, we could call the Phils' contingent "Amaro's Eleven."
Ruben Amaro Jr., the Phillies' new general manager, spent most of last month building his crew. He hired Benny Looper, formerly of the Mariners, to replace assistant GM Mike Arbuckle, who resigned after the World Series. He promoted Chuck LaMar, the pro scouting guru who helped write reports on the Rays before the World Series, to an assistant GM position. And he hired Scott Proefrock away from the Orioles to become an assistant GM in charge of such unenviable -- but utterly essential -- tasks as major-league contract negotiations. For a few hours yesterday, Amaro's new team met with reporters during a luncheon at the Mission Grill in Center City, and you'll be able to read more about their plan for the winter meetings over the next few days in the pages of The News Journal and here at delawareonline.com. For now, though, I wanted to pass along an amusing anecdote from the luncheon.
Retired former GM Pat Gillick is known for his incredibly sharp memory. He's practially a human rolodex, rarely forgetting phone numbers, names, dates, etc. Looper worked with Gillick in Seattle, but his first encounter with him came in 1966. Looper was a high-school baseball player and a 27th-round draft pick of the Houston Colt .45s, and Gillick, then a Houston scout, tried to sign him for $2,000. Looper turned down the offer, went to college and signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968 for $5,000. About 20 years later, Looper ran into Gillick during spring training and introduced himself.
"Pat Gillick, my name is Benny Looper," he said.
"Yeah, from Granite, Oklahoma, right?" Gillick replied.
Uncanny.
Amaro, by the way, admitted that he has spoken to Gillick, now a paid advisor to the Phillies, "probably 15 or 20 times" since talking over as GM. Asked if Gillick charges by the phone call, Amaro laughed. "I hope he doesn't because [team president] David [Montgomery] would be very poor right now."
Anyway, keep it here for more throughout the weekend and live updates from Vegas once the winter meetings start Monday morning.
Photo: Associated Press
BY SCOTT LAUBER
PHILADELPHIA -- Maybe it's because I went to college in Boston. Or, perhaps, it's because I still have many friends who live/work there. Regardless, the Boston Globe is a staple of my daily reading, and in today's edition, well-connected baseball writer and friend Tony Massarotti reported that the Phillies have made a contract offer to Derek Lowe.
So, Ruben Amaro Jr., is this true?
"I can't confirm or deny it, but I'll tell you that we have talked to Derek Lowe's representatives," Amaro said today. "He's not the only free-agent pitcher that we've had discussions with. There have been plenty of them."
Asked if making a deal with Lowe (or any other free-agent pitcher) would preclude the Phillies from also re-signing Jamie Moyer, Amaro said, "It could, but again, the way a deal is done, a lot of it depends on the structure of the deal to see if we can add more. That's one of the challenges we have. There's not just one area that we want to address. It's obvious that we have an outfield situation to deal with, and we'd like to add some more bullpen help if we could. I'd be more than happy to have six starters, or seven, or eight. It's a good problem to have."
Lowe, 35, led the Dodgers' rotation last season, going 14-11 with a 3.24. He's a sinkerball pitcher, which would suit him well in Citizens Bank Park, and he has said he'd like to return to the East Coast after spending the past four years in LA.
But I wouldn't get your hopes up about Lowe just yet. He has multiple suitors, and if the Yankees are unable to lure CC Sabathia to New York, they likely will make an aggressive play for Lowe, too. Lowe is represented by Scott Boras, and if we know anything about Boras, he won't allow his client to sign with anyone until he's certain he can't get a better deal. And Amaro intends to follow the Pat Gillick example and not sign free-agent pitchers to lengthy (more than three-year) contracts. Lowe could command that sort of contract, depending on demand from other teams.
"I would be reluctant to sign pitchers for more than three years," Amaro said, "but under certain circumstances, it has to be considered."
***
In other news, Amaro said Chase Utley is progressing well after having surgery on his right hip last month. Utley has been rehabilitating in Philly and is still on track to return, possibly by mid-April.
Also, the Phillies have hired Craig Colbert as their major-league advance scout and Tim Gradoville as their bullpen catcher. Colbert, 43, spent the previous 11 years in the Padres organization, the last two as the bench coach under manager Bud Black. Gradoville, 28, spent the past seven seasons as a catcher in the Phillies' minor-league system.
More in a bit.
(Photo: Getty Images)
BY SCOTT LAUBER
It was never going to happen. Not in a year when troubled slugger Josh Hamilton put his life back together, big-market teams like the Giants and Celtics won championships, and oh yeah, that Michael Phelps guy captured eight Olympic gold medals.
But one Sports Illustrated senior writer, esteemed baseball scribe Tom Verducci, cast a Sportsman of the Year vote for Charlie Manuel, a decision he explained here. Phelps, predictably and deservingly, won the award, which was announced yesterday.
So, who would be your Sportsman of the Year?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
OK, imagine you're Dustin Pedroia. In two seasons in the majors, you've won a Rookie of the Year award, a Silver Slugger, a Gold Glove, and last month, you were crowned AL MVP. You worked for $457,000 this year, a shade more than the major-league minimum salary, and you're not eligible for arbitration until after next season.
So, financially speaking, what do you do?
Well, Pedroia decided today to sign a six-year contract extension with the Red Sox for a guaranteed $40.5 million, and across baseball, the deal is being met with three words:
What a bargain.
But this, folks, is only another example of why players and teams agree on long-term deals. The Sox secured Pedroia's services at a relatively fixed rate in a baseball economy that historically has escalated every year. Chase Utley, widely regarded as baseball's best second baseman, signed a seven-year, $85 million contract with the Phillies in 2007, when he had one more year of service time than Pedroia and was on the verge of salary arbitration. Pedroia, the majors' next-best second baseman (sorry Dan Uggla, but it's true), could've held out for that much cash, if not more. But with another year until arbitration and four more until free agency, Pedroia, already 25, opted for the security of a multiyear contract. Now, if he gets injured or his performance slips, he still will be financially solvent, likely for the rest of his life.
Everybody wins.
We'll have plenty of time over the next few months to discuss the merits of giving long-term deals to Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and the Phillies' other arbitration-eligible players. (Readers of this blog know how I feel about giving Howard a long-term deal, or at least the kind of long-term deal that he desires.) For now, though, I'll leave you with this: Unless Howard, Hamels and the others are willing to make like Pedroia, himself a highly accomplished player, and sacrifice some dollars for the privilege of long-term security, it doesn't behoove the Phillies to get involved.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Don't mean to distract from the arbitration conversation in the posts below, but wanted to mention that the Astros have re-signed Doug Brocail, one of the relievers who has drawn some interest from the Phils. Brocail, 41, has agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract after posting a 3.93 ERA in 72 games last season.
The Phillies remain interested in relievers Russ Springer (10-2, 2.24 ERA in 146 games over the past two years for the Cardinals), David Weathers (sub-4.00 ERA in each of the past four seasons for the Reds) and Juan Cruz (4-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 57 appearances last season for the Diamondbacks). Cruz, 30, is the youngest and most impressive of the group. But he also has been offered salary arbitration, so the Phillies would forfeit their 2009 first-round pick if they sign him. Springer, 41 and a 10-game loser with the Phillies way back in '96, wasn't offered arbitration. Weathers, 39, was, but as a Type B free agent, he wouldn't cost a first-round pick.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Talked to Ruben Amaro Jr. for a few minutes last night, and while you can read the full story in today's News Journal, I'd like to pass along some highlights of our conversation.
Among other things, I asked him to explain why the Phillies didn't offer salary arbitration to Jamie Moyer and Pat Burrell. And, as we hypothesized in this space late Monday night, it had to do with payroll flexibility and making sure the Phillies have enough cash in reserve to deal with their 10 arbitration-eligible players in 2009 and perhaps even dole out a few long-term contracts along the way.
"It's cost control but also it's flexibility as far as the timing is concerned," Amaro said. "If they happened to accept [arbitration], we would have to wait until February for an arbitrator to decide what kind of money they'd get. Having those dollars tied up would preclude us from doing what we need to do to improve the club in other areas. This allows us to continue to engage both players in negotiations without any restriction, and the way the rules are now, we can continue to negotiate with both players. We're continuing to negotiate with Jamie. We haven't had as many discussions with Burrell, but that doesn't mean we won't. But now, we can do it without the caveat that an arbitrator will put a dollar amount on these guys for us."
***
Just because reliever Juan Cruz, outfielder Raul Ibanez and a few other Type A free agents that have drawn the Phillies' interest were offered arbitration, don't think the Phils will shy away from signing them, even though doing so would cost them their 2009 first-round draft pick.
"If we think the right thing to do is to sign someone or try to sign someone who we might have to lose a draft pick for, we have to do what's right," Amaro said.
***
Pitching remains Amaro's top priority, and within that realm, re-signing Moyer is still atop his to-do list. Amaro declined to characterize the negotiations by saying whether he's more or less optimistic that a deal will get done than he was two weeks ago. The sides are at odds, apparently, over the length of the contract. At 46, Moyer is the oldest player in the majors. So, although he led the Phils with 16 wins last season, I think they're worried about committing more than one year. Moyer wants to pitch for more than one more year, and he'd rather not have to go through the free-agent process again. Could the sides agree on an incentive-laden, one-year contract with an option for 2010? Time will tell.
"We're hopeful that we'll bring [Moyer] back," Amaro said. "If we cannot, then we'll have to go down a different road. It's part of the process. Jamie and his agent see him at a certain value, and we see Jamie at a certain value. It's trying to get them together."
I know the Phillies have kicked the tires on A.J. Burnett and/or Derek Lowe as possible Moyer replacements, but I don't think either of those pitchers will be in their price range. If the Phils lose Moyer, I think it's more realistic that they replace him with a lower-tier pitcher, someone like Jon Garland.
***
If Burrell bolts (the well-sourced John Perrotto of Baseball Prospectus has floated a rumor that the Angels may want him as a first-base replacement for Mark Teixeira), the Phillies will need reinforcements in the outfield. Amaro said they'd prefer to add a right-handed hitter, unless they can find a lefty-hitting outfielder capable of playing every day (among free agents, only Ibanez and switch-hitting Milton Bradley fit that description). Two right-handed hitters to continue keeping an eye on: Rocco Baldelli and Juan Rivera. Neither was offered arbitration, and both could conceivably form one-half of a platoon with lefty-swinging Greg Dobbs, Matt Stairs or Geoff Jenkins.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Their attempts to trade for Jake Peavy having stalled, the Braves have come up with another pitcher, acquiring Javier Vazquez from the White Sox, pending a physical exam. The deal, according to this report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, includes Vazquez and lefty reliever Boone Logan (Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are going to see A LOT of him) going to the Braves for top catching prospect Tyler Flowers, infielder Brent Lillibridge, minor-league third baseman Jon Gilmore and rookie-league left-hander Santos Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, the Braves have lost Mike Hampton, who signed a one-year contract with a $2 million base salary with the Astros.
What do you think? Did the Braves get better?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Over the past few weeks, I've gotten a few e-mails from folks who wondered how much money the Phillies earned for winning the World Series.
Well, now we know.
According to Bloomberg News, the Phils will share $18.4 million, about 2.6 percent less than the bonus given to the Red Sox in 2007. That's what happens, I suppose, when you win a World Series during a global recession. Although, the pool of money is determined by ticket sales in the playoffs and World Series, and fewer tickets were sold this year because none of the teams play in a ballpark that seats as many people as Colorado's Coors Field.
Anyway, each player still takes home a nice loot. The Phillies players awarded 45 full shares, partial shares totaling just over seven full payments and 15 cash bonuses. Club employees, including trainers and scouts, usually are awarded a share. The full share is worth $351,504.48, more than enough pocket change to buy a few nice Christmas gifts, don't you think?
BY SCOTT LAUBERSo much for that arbitration talk.The midnight deadline has come and gone, and although the Phillies aren't commenting yet, we have reason to believe at this hour, based on a conversation with a trusted source, that the Phillies didn't offer arbitration to Type A free agents Pat Burrell and Jamie Moyer.Surprise.So, what does this mean? Well, if Burrell and Moyer sign with another team, the Phillies won't receive draft-pick compensation. Evidently, though, they didn't want to risk that Burrell or Moyer would accept an arbitration offer, which would've been tantamount to a one-year contract at a higher salary than their 2008 figure. Burrell made $14 million this year, while Moyer made $7 million, including performance bonuses. The Phillies can still re-sign both players, and they remain hopeful of bringing back Moyer. But, obviously, they aren't interested in keeping either free agent for the same salary. They also didn't offer arbitration to relievers Tom Gordon or Rudy Seanez, but nobody expected that they would.To me, the decisions on Moyer and Burrell reveal a greater willingness by the Phillies to talk about long-term deals with many of their 10 arbitration-eligible players, including Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard and Shane Victorino. Ryan Madson and Jayson Werth may be even bigger priorities, since both will be free agents after next season. If the Phillies lose Burrell, they'll seemingly need to lock up Werth and Victorino. Madson became a critical piece of the bullpen, and everyone knows how critical Howard and Hamels are to the nucleus of the World Series champs.Stay tuned for more.(Updated, 11:57 a.m.): Still surprised by the non-offers to Moyer and Burrell, and judging by your comments, you are, too. That said, across baseball, only 24 free agents were offered arbitration, although that was up from 17 last year, according to the Associated Press.
So, which free agents got offers? Mostly, it was the usual suspects: Casey Blake (Dodgers), Milton Bradley (Rangers), A.J. Burnett (Blue Jays), Paul Byrd (Red Sox), Orlando Cabrera (White Sox), Juan Cruz (Diamondbacks), Brian Fuentes (Rockies), Jon Garland (Angels), Mark Grudzielanek (Royals), Orlando Hudson (Diamondbacks), Raul Ibanez (Mariners), Derek Lowe (Dodgers), Brandon Lyon (Diamondbacks), Darren Oliver (Angels), Oliver Perez (Mets), Manny Ramirez (Dodgers), Dennys Reyes (Twins), Francisco Rodriguez (Angels), CC Sabathia (Brewers), Ben Sheets (Brewers), Brian Shouse (Brewers), Mark Teixiera (Angels), Jason Varitek (Red Sox), David Weathers (Reds).
Who wasn't offered arbitration? Well, the Yankees didn't offer to any of their free agents (Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi). Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine didn't get offers either. And, of potential interest to the Phillies, relievers Russ Springer and Doug Brocail didn't get arbitration offers.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
Good morning, all. We're back after a long, and relaxing, holiday weekend. But it's time to get back to business, especially since the hot stove figures to get a bit warmer this week. Without further ado, then, a few things to keep an eye on this week and beyond:
1. By midnight tonight, teams must decide whether to offer binding arbitration to their free agents. Here's how it works: If a Type A free agent (Jamie Moyer or Pat Burrell) is offered arbitration and signs with another team, his former team receives two compensatory draft picks, including the first-rounder of the team that signs him. For example, the Yankees offered arbitration to Tom Gordon in 2005. He signed with the Phillies, and with their compensatory picks, the Yankees drafted Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain in 2006.
Great, right?
Well, it isn't that simple. If a free agent accepts arbitration before the Dec. 7 deadline, he's suddenly under contract for 2009 at a slightly higher salary than in 2008. So, arbitration is tantamount to a one-year contract offer, and a team must be willing to risk that the player who is unhappy with the interest he has generated on the open market actually will forego free agency to return for one year.
Now you see why it behooves a GM to have a degree from Stanford.
But Ruben Amaro Jr.'s decisions really aren't tough. I think, from people I've talked to, that the Phils wouldn't mind having Moyer or Burrell back for one more season. In fact, Moyer's desire for a multiyear contract, at age 46, is one of the things that has prolonged his negotiations with the Phillies. It seems the Phils wouldn't mind keeping Burrell, but only on their terms, which appear to be no more than a two-year contract. So, my guess (strictly a guess) is that the Phils will offer arbitration to both Moyer and Burrell.
2. Once the arbitration deadline passes, the free-agent market will become more active. Most teams, as you might imagine, wait until after the arbitration deadline before making offers to free agents. Pretend you're Athletics GM Billy Beane. If, just for the sake of conversation, you're interested in Burrell, why would you engage in serious contract talks until you know if the Phillies offer him arbitration? If they do, you may not be willing to forfeit a first-round pick. If they don't, your interest in Burrell may increase. For the Phillies, keep an eye on some of the Type A free-agent relievers (Juan Cruz, Russ Springer, Doug Brocail). If they aren't offered arbitration, the Phillies may pursue them more aggressively.
3. Spent a few days at my parents' house in Jersey during the holiday weekend, so I read plenty about the Yankees and Mets in the New York papers. The Mets, according to reports, are interested in signing a free-agent closer (Francisco Rodriguez, Brian Fuentes), but they also have talked with the Rockies about trading for Huston Street. It seems the Mets believe they need two high-quality relievers, one to pitch the eighth inning and one to pitch the ninth.
4. Other key dates to circle on your calendar:
Dec. 7: Deadline for free agents to accept arbitration.
Dec. 8-11: Winter meetings in Las Vegas (we'll be there)
Dec. 11: Rule 5 draft
Dec. 12: Deadline to tender contracts for 2009 (the Phillies were able to acquire Jayson Werth in 2005 and Chad Durbin last year only because their previous teams didn't tender contracts to them.)
I'll have more throughout the day/week, but for now, I'd like to hear from you. Should the Phils offer arbitration to Burrell, even if it means that he may actually accept?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
BY SCOTT LAUBERJust 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.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
So, what do you think?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
OK, that's my opinion. What's yours?
BY SCOTT LAUBER
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.
BY SCOTT LAUBERIf you're curious, here's the breakdown of first-place votes by division.NL East: Pujols-6, Howard-4NL Central: Howard-6, Pujols-5, Lidge-1NL West: Pujols-7, Howard-2, Lidge-1Very 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.
By SCOTT LAUBER This time, a late-season surge wasn't enough to make Ryan Howard an MVP.Howard, the Phillies' slugging first baseman, finished second to St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols for the National League MVP award, announced today by the Baseball Writers Association of America. 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.For the full voting, click here. Much more on this later.***Two other matters today: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.
BY SCOTT LAUBER
