Hamels and Biden Should Have Just Shut Up

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on May 10, 2012 – 1:13 am -
 

Its not often that I get a chance to compare baseball to the real world.

Cole Hamels plunked know-it-all rookie Bryce Harper in the back the other day. Nobody is sure why Cole hit him, but it doesn't matter. Could have been 'just because,' which in the baseball world is good enough. In baseball, a pitcher can plunk a batter for any of the following reasons:

  • He didn't like the way he looked
  • He spit in his direction
  • He thought he smiled when he shouldn't have
  • He crowded the plate
  • When he stepped out he took too long
  • He grabbed his crotch longer than he should have

Doesn't matter. If a pitcher wants to plunk him, he plunks him. That's the law of the game. What's good about the Hamels plunk is that he didn't try to hurt the kid. He threw a medium-speed fastball and drilled him in the back. Hard enough that the kid couldn't get out of the way, soft enough not to cause injury. Didn't throw at his noodle; didn't try to hurt his legs. In the baseball world, it was a nice-nice hit and the kid knew it and that's why he simply jogged to first.

What's interesting is this: Hamels said, "Yea, I hit him on on purpose." For telling the truth, he get's a five day suspension.

The Washington pitcher then does tit for tat and hits Hamels on the shin. The Washington pitcher, Jordan Zimmerman, says, "No, the pitch just got away," which everybody with half a brain knows is a boldface lie, and therefore the Washington pitcher gets off scot-free.

Charlie says Hamels should have lied. Charlie, a baseball lifer, knows that's what pitchers do when they nail a batter: They Lie about it, of course. 

Baseball genius Ruben Amaro, Jr., was also put out that Hamels told the truth.

You have to laugh and shake your head.

If Amaro's daughter gets sent home from school tomorrow for lying to the teacher about throwing her pencil across the room at Johnny-Romeo making smooching motions with his lips—"it just got away from me"—guess who's going to be in big trouble in the Amaro household?

"You lied to your teacher?"

Hmmm, seems like a double standard for sure.

Then there's Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

The Vice President of the United States opens up and says he's absolutely comfortable with same sex marriages. Almost as shocking as Hamels revelation, right?.

However, Biden's boss, the President of the United States, an astute politician, knows better. With swing states like Ohio in the balance, Obama is too smart to give conservatives an edge, and shuts up faster than Jimmy the Clam after he took out Big Paul Castallano at Broad and Shunk.

Wonder how Charlie feels about same sex marriages?

 

 

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…………………………………….NOW

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on May 1, 2012 – 9:07 pm -
 

It's time to bring him up.

Just like it was time to bring up Richie Allen from Little Rock at the start of the '64 season.

At age 18, Allen, Richie or Dick, take your pick, broke into professional baseball in Elmira, NY, a shot and a beer town on the banks of the Chemung River, the boyhood home of the Elmira Express, the second greatest running back to come out of Syracuse University, Ernie Davis.

The following year he played in Twin Falls, NY, for the Class C Cowboys, before moving on to North Central Pennsylvania to the lumber town of Williamsport. Besides lumber and buck hunting—sissy's hunted doe back then—a city famous for the birthplace of Little League Baseball and once having had per-capita the most millionaires of any city in the world, thus the nickname for  Williamsport High School, the Millionaires.

From there he went deep south to Little Rock, Arkansas—where Jim Crow and Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society were duking it out—to the Phillies AAA team, The Travelers, and called up at the end of the '63 season to the boo-birds of Connie Mack Stadium. Only, the boos would come later.

At Williamsport and Little Rock Allen was a power hitter on the rise. Then in '64, the Rookie of the Year hit 29 home runs, drove in 91, and energized a team to a near miss pennant, a season-ending collaspe that still lives in the DNA of those of us who bleed Phillies red.

Scott Rolen was brought up from Reading in '96 to a Jim Fregosi managed team. Rolen played in 37 games, hitting an unimpressive .254 with 4 home runs. The following year playing more or less full time, Rolen hit 21 home runs and drove in 92 while playing third like a vacuum cleaner and became the the first Rookie of the Year since, well, since Dick Allen.

During Rolen's tenure the Phillies had one season above .500. and he was traded for scrap-iron in his goodbye year.

Am I comparing Domonic Brown to Allen and Rolen? No, not in ability. But when Allen and Rolen surfaced in Philly they played. Nobody kid-gloved them. From third grade to junior high; from high school to college, from college to the Show, how do you find out if a kid can play ball? You play him.

Bring Brown up, put him in left, and check on him in August. Then you'll have the answer to the puzzling question of who is the real Domonic Brown?

It is obvious the current Phillies are in a holding pattern until the prodigal sons, Howard and Utley, return. Pitching, even with Lee on the shelf, will keep them around .500 or better. Washington could very well be a flash in the pan and wilt in the dog day heat of summer.

Oh, but wait, the doubters say, Brown struggles in the outfield. Who cared if Allen could play third or first defensively once they saw him hit a rope over the Coca-Cola sign in left? When Hunter Pence misplays line drives, who says "better send him to Lehigh Valley to learn to play defense." Pence has played poorly and he hasn't hit. But he stays in the lineup. Like Charlie says, "he'll play his way out of it."

Amaro was right to add to the bench and stand pat with pitching. What else could he do? I kid about Amaro in these posts but the guy is a baseball genius. I'm confident he will resurrect this team from the dead.

If you haven't noticed, Brown is playing well at Lehigh Valley. He has more hits than most of the Phillies. He's not 18 any more, and with others struggling—J-Roll, Galvis, Pence, Victorino, Mayberry and Polanco—the pressure for on him may be lessened.

Perhaps a platoon situation with Mayberry—Brown hits righties well, Mayberry feasts on lefties. It might be  what Mayberry needs to find himself and start producing. Once Brown gets confident he won't need a platoon situation.

Brown's bat could energize this sluggish offense, and help resurrect it from the barely breathing.

Now is the time.

This could very well be Domonic Brown's song of the day……

 

 

 

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Don’t Worry…Rube’s Got Things Under the Hood…Under Control

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on April 29, 2012 – 1:22 am -
 

I'm thrilled with the news that Washington called up can't miss 19 year old Bryce Harper. He's the youngest player in the major leagues. Harper, a converted catcher, will play left for the Nationals.

Every kid's dream.

Meanwhile, Rube's got his car up on blocks, at least in theory.

The transmission had to be sent out to a factory in Arizona. Something about leaky seals. The drive shaft is getting rebuilt, but I'll tell you, there's no way I'm ever going to a wound doctor. Sounds like something you'd find at Fredricksburg, with Burnside holding down the right flank.

"Hurry the hell up, send that wound doctor over here."

Then, with the transmission and drive shaft not doing the job, one of the valves over heated which caused "a Grade 1 left external oblique strain." Don't know what that is; some kind of mechanical thing. So Rube had to replace the value but it's only temporary, so he says.

"Damn," Rube said, "what's next?"

Well, the carburetor is sticky. It was just rebuilt with a new three year deal and now it's not sucking air the way it should be. Rube put the new kid carburetor in for a game but it didn't seem to help. Thing is, Rube could have had one of  those new, fancy fuel-injector carburetors but he let it go to Miami. Rube said he didn't think it would sit right on top of the engine.

Then, on top of all that, the main piston is off. Even with the other engine problems the main piston started off great, just like its always been. But it sputtered on a drive to  Chicago. Gave up three runs in seven innings, which would have been huge for the Blanton piston but for the main piston it was scary.

Seems like once things start, there is a snowball effect. Now the braking system is acting up. I'm not a mechanic but I do know there are lots of parts in a braking system. Rube says the third brace and the left bracket aren't pulling their weight. Rube went out and got some new tires in the off season but one is pretty old and has a bubble on the side wall, even thought it was a great tire for a lot of road trips and most likely will be in the Goodyear Hall of Fame. Some of the other tires he got are doing okay but let's face it, when the transmission and drive shaft are in bad shape, the valves are burnt and the main piston is off, the new tires can't carry the load. At least the Chooch-er-ator is working fine and has helped out with so many major parts missing.

Rube's manager down at the plant, Charlie, is a good mechanic himself and gives his friend advice but when the working parts are not clicking, advice is like a South Philly pizza. Besides, Charlie, a good man, talks funny like he's from Buena Vista, Virginia, and spent some years selling catalytic converters in Japan, where he was know as Aki-oni (the Red Devil).

Now Rube had a new ignition system that he bought at Pep Boys but when it was installed it didn't live up to the standards it was advertised for and Rube sent it back to the factory. It's still at the factory being restored and if things go right Rube might bring it back up to see if it can live up to the hype, but you never know. It could be a bust or it could energize all the rest of the parts to come together. You know, the sum of all parts could be greater than the whole.

And how about the new cars speeding up and down the block, like the Dodge Hemi V-8 in Washington, the balanced but loud twin-cam engine minus a muffler down in Miami, and the hybrids that are popping up in Atlanta and New York. Who knows how long Rube's twin-turbo supercharged 4.0-liter V-8 will stay on top. Right now, with the transmission and drive shaft missing, Rube's car is in the basement.

Then there's the neighbors.

What with the neighbors 100 percent behind Rube and Charlie and thus packing the house game after game, sucking up the suds and the dollar dogs and jam-packing standing room only, Ashburn Alley and the Bulls barbecue, one never knows how long the neighbors will stay loyal through all this unpleasantness.

Maybe the wound doctor knows.

 This could be the Phillies' fans theme song for 2012……

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Phillies GM Says Its All Right To Be Little Bitty

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on April 21, 2012 – 7:39 pm -
 

It was last Thursday when Ruben Amaro, Jr, first heard Alan Jackson singing Little Bitty at 5:04 AM, eastern standard time. It was the clock radio, of course. He rolled over and pulled the pillow up over his head. Then came the dreaded buzzer, sounding like the end of the period at the Flyers game. (Let's hope its not.)

All right, all right, he thought, I'm gettin up, already.

Ruben Amaro, Jr, swung his legs over the bed and put his feet on the floor. He straightened his jamies, the ones with the Stanford Cardinal over the crotch that were due for the hamper two days ago. Hey, they're his favorites.

He brought his hands up and ran them through his jet black hair, still half asleep listening to Jackson's Little Bitty.

 

Might as well be little bitty

a little hometown or a big old city

Might as well share, might as well smile

Life goes on for a little bitty while…

 

Suddenly, Amaro's eyes widened, like the Angels just traded Pujols to the Nationals.

"Oh, no," Amaro screamed, "little bitty offense…"

You mean, Ruben Amaro, Jr, just woke up one morning and discovered  the team had no offense?

No, of course not. Like Jonah, Rube had signs.

He had signs last year, when Utley's knees had him playing second on a stool. Not bad if Charlie was lookin' to take care of the rally squirrel; Utley down low for a shot at that runnin' rat if it showed up in spring training.

Then, the big piece goes down taking his ribbies and yard shots with him. Ibanez takes the offense to the Yankees. Don't laugh: in his three years with the Phillies Ibanez averaged 23.3 home runs and 86.6 RBIs, a season.

Who's going to make that up? Juan Pierre?

And there was Polanco, whose bat terrorized pitchers over a 14 year career, but whose constant visits to the DL helped shape Obambacare and redefined medicaid. Now, Polanco "ain't in no slump, he just ain't hittin." That terroristic bat is hitting a buck eighty-eight. Of course, Polly could just be in one of his patented 'funks,' as Wheels would say. Like going oh for 17 for the Tigers in the 2006  World Series.

Or, the 36 year old engine that could has run out of gas. (37 in October).

Left field. With the departure of Raaaaaauuuuuulllll, Rube had choices. John Mayberry, JR; can he hit playing every day? And Domonic Brown; can he be the five tool major league player the company men predicted? Rube's thinking, "Got to find out."

And of course, the return of the lost souls of the '08 parade: Utley and Howard. They're not paying Howard $20 million a year to play cheerleader on the top dugout step. He's on the mend, but how long will the mend take and it it takes that long, will the Fightins' still be close enough?

Utley's another story. Right now he's somewhere in Arizona "getting stronger." Question is, why wasn't he "getting stronger" all winter? Why did he show up to spring training doing 'The Stool, The Sequel.' Answer me that. If Utley is so "head strong and determined," what was he doing about his knees October through February? Just asking.

Lookit, Amaro had signs, and he didn't panic. He went out and got players who could fill in and produce—maybe not in the same way an Utley or Howard can—but are steady, good players: Wigginton, Nix, and Pierre. And he got Jim Thome, who, in case you haven't noticed, has no home runs, no RBIs and has one hit in 13 at bats. We have Jim Thome at the end of his career; I'm not complaining. It's just great seeing the Hall of Famer in Phillies pin stripes. We may not have him the whole season, you realize that, don't you?

Rube brought up the youngster and moved him to second for some 'show experience.' Good move, especially if Utley comes back and continues his loss of power and productivity that's plagued him for the past three seasons. We could be looking at the future in Freddy Galvis and who knows, the future may be September.

I hope I'm wrong.

Rube says it's too early to answer any of these questions. He says we need more time…so be cool and relax. With the great pitching, it won't get late early. It may get a little bumpy early, which, of course, it is. You know, getting bumpy.

Don't you think? Even with Cliff Lee going on the DL and Kyle Kendrick filling in, it's bumpy.

But I think we are in for a hell of a ride to October.

Life goes on for a littly bitty while. Listen to Alan Jackson's Little Bitty…

Send comments to : cost1@fastmail.fm

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Might Be Time To Move Chooch Up

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on April 6, 2012 – 8:27 pm -
 

For years my brother Tom has been an advocate of moving Chooch up in the Phillies lineup.

I'd say, "No, keep him in the eight hole. Hitting eighth is a key spot in the lineup because the eighth hitter can turn the lineup over to keep the pitcher from leading off the next inning. For that very reason—having the pitcher lead off the next inning—the eighth hitter will see better pitches.

My brother would counter: "No, he won't see better pitches and why should he? They will pitch around him to get to the pitcher. Why give Chooch something to hit with the pitcher in the on-deck circle?"

I'd say, "He's (Chooch) got a lot on his shoulders—handling great pitchers, throwing out runners, running the infield—now you want to put him into an offensive position where he's got to drive in runs?"

He'd say: "Berra never worried about his defensive responsibilities when he went to the plate. Where did Piazza hit, eighth? And I suppose you would have had Johnny Bench hitting eighth because he had to throw out base stealers."

I'd say: "Chooch is no Bench or Piazza with the bat."

He'd say: "That's cause you and Charlie have him so far down in the lineup they simply pitch around him."

I'd say: "You are under estimating the importance of the eighth slot and over estimating Chooch's bat. Besides, Chooch can't run. You want him running the bases with the game on the line?

He'd say: "How many .300 hitters did the Phillies have in 2010? I'm not over estimating anything." (only Chooch hit .300-plus in 2010)

I'd say: "That's even more reason to keep him where he is; he's comfortable there and he's getting good pitches to hit."

And you think I only argue baseball with the in-laws?

Now, maybe bro has a point. Yesterday in Pittsburgh Chooch was in the seven hole. When he's hot, he can swing the bat with anyone, and yesterday he was hot. Here's Charlie's lineup yesterday:

Victornio

Polanco

Rolllins

Pence

Wigginton

Mayberry

Ruiz

Galvis

Statistics show that Chooch hits better when he hits higher in the lineup. But my brother might be right when he says Chooch's role as the catcher, in Charlie's mind, keeps him down in the lineup.

“To me, he kind of fits (at No. 8), and it’s also not as hard on him,” Charlie said. “But I don’t mind hitting him sixth or seventh or something like that.”

"Definitely, when you hit eighth," Chooch said, "you are going to see different pitches because the pitcher is behind you. In the six-hole, seventh, you can see better pitches to hit. I’m a catcher, and that’s the way I call the game.”

"We have to have some guys who can run and things like that,” Charlie said. “We have to have guys who are going to be able to handle the bat, and execute, and also move on the bases. We aren’t going to be able to go station-to-station unless we get Utley and Howard back.”

Charlie's got a point.

 

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Phillies in Line to Win Sixth Division Title

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on April 4, 2012 – 10:18 pm -
 

Don't break out the champagne yet, but the Phillies are still the team to beat. This will be one of the most exciting seasons in Phillies history with four teams coming down the stretch in late September.

The rotation is one of the best if not the best in baseball. I'm not an expert but I doubt most teams have three pitchers like Roy, Cliff, and Cole. The other two spots will be filled by Vance Worley and Joe Blanton. The Phillies also have Kyle Kendrick who could be a number four or five on most major league clubs.

The bullpen, led by Jonathan Papelbon, the closer, is solid as well. Each pitcher in the rotation has a good shot at getting to the sixth or seventh every time out, which will help the Phillies pen.

The offense, of course, is missing Chase and Ryan, two key run producers. I think the Phillies will start out well, but if Chase doesn't get back in the lineup by mid-May, the club's lock on another Eastern Division title could be in trouble. Ryan had a solid season last year and the Phillies won't get his run production from 41 year old Jim Thome or newbies Ty Wigginton and Laynce Nix. Not that Thome couldn't carry the load, but his past back problems will push Charlie to start him sparingly.

Miami, Washington and Atlanta are hungry and will be on the Phillies heels all summer. All three clubs are much improved, but under new manager Ozzie Guillen, the Marlins, always a nemesis, will be fired up to beat the Fightins'. Washington won 80 games last year with a lot of key injuries and Atlanta chased the Phillies all season but ran out of gas in late September.

I look for Domonic Brown to join in the club in mid season and take over left field. Until then, John Mayberry will get an opportunity to win the job full time. Brown has too much talent to give up on and some players blossom later than others. Look at Mayberry. The 27 year old outfield is in his fourth year in the Show (296 games) and still hasn't proven to be an everyday player. With Brown, we are talking two years and 91 games. .

By September, I think either Mayberry or Brown will take over left. That is, if Amaro and his lieutenants don't give up on Brown and trade him, first. If Utley can't make it back and Howard sputters, the Phillies could package Brown and Kendrick in a deal near the deadline to bolster their offense. I hope not.

Remember it wasn't that long ago when Brown was the only 'untouchable' in a deal for the best pitcher in baseball up in Toronto. And, he's only 23. Once he learns how to play left–maybe by the All-Star break–he'll be back in town.

It will be an interesting season. If the Phillies can stay healthy, get Utley back, then Howard, call up Brown, and sign Cole, baseball in South Philly will be rockin' again.

The Phillies will win their sixth straight division title and face Detroit in the World Series.

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The Nightmares…They Never Go Away: They’re in our DNA

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on March 25, 2012 – 3:45 pm -
 

Come gather 'round people
 Wherever you roam
 And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone  

The nightmares have begun:  1964. 1993. 1915 through 1949 World Series drought. Then four straight in the 1950 World Series. 

Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Freddy Garcia. Adam Eaton. Danny Tartabull. Poncho Herrera. Ferguson Jenkins. Ryan Sandberg. J.D. Drew. Scott Rolen. Curt Shilling.

You toss and turn, wiping sweat from your forehead. The nightmares, make them go away. "Oh no, no, say it's not true. You didn't trade Jenkins and Sandberg, did you? No, no…please, no."

23 game losing streak in 1961 

The Rally Squirrel.

For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Two AM. Then 2:46. Then 3:05…tossing and turning and the nightmares keep coming…"no, no, don't trade Dom…"

Domonic Brown. Jeff Stone. Pat Combs. Scott Munninghoff. Reggie Taylor. Eric Valent. Jeff Jackson. 

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall

Rod Barajas. Chipper Jones. Ugueth Urbina. Wes Helms. Nick Johnson. Barry Bonds.

Black Friday: "There's a drive to deep left field Luzinski going back, going back…it's…..oh no it's off the Bull's glove…"

"Oh brother, oh brother…Harry I don't believe it…."

There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

 Billy Wagner. Wilson Valdez. Aaron Rowand. David Bell. Rick Wise. Bobby Abreu. Jayson Werth.

Adolfo Phillips. Bob Buhl. Larry Jackson. 

It's 3:12. Then 3:26. 3:31. "No, no, don't do it, don't make that trade…"

"Mahaffey looks over at third and goes into the wind-up…and here comes Ruiz breaking for the plate, Darlymple's tag is too late Ruiz is safe and here comes Mauch from the dugout. Well how about that…." 

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand

"Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, you stinkin' bum, boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..you stink Ennis, go back to Olney….boooooooooo you're a bum Allennnnnnnnnnnn."

Del Ennis. Lance Parrish. Richie Allen. Pat Burrell. Barry Bonds. J.D. Drew. Jayson Werth. Mike Schmidt. Rod Barajas. Adam Eaton. Stephen Drew.

"Honey, roll over…you're having a nightmare…you're, you're….booing somebody for crying out loud…"

The order is
Rapidly fadin'
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.

Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to begin this afternoon's press conference and at this time I will turn the podium over to Chase Utley…

"No, no, say it's not so Chase…say it's not so…."
   
For the times they are a-changin'.

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Charlie Don’t Need No Calculator Late in the Game

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on February 29, 2012 – 4:38 pm -
 

One thing about Charlie Manuel, he can add things up.

Don't be fooled by the folksy down-home way he talks. His teachers back in Buena Vista, Virginia, say Charlie was an ace in math. That is, when he wasn't skipping school, out hustling the locals and visitors on the Vista Links or drowning worms in the nearby Maury River.

Addition and subtraction. Not algebra and calculus, mind you, which Ruben Amaro, JR, handles quite nicely, being an alumnus of the Cardinal. Biology major to boot.

But for Charlie, just when Mr. Papelbon begins to stretch out those hammies and massage those tender quadriceps; and just when the beer guy—the one dressed as a pirate with a parrot on his head—begins to lose that bellowing voice:

"Millllllllllllllleeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…."

And right about the time the New Jersey folks with South Philly roots head for the exits to beat the bridge traffic, Charlie's mathematical mindset kicks in.

It's the seventh and Roy has the 1-1 game in control against the Nationals, while Stevie Strasburg has the Phillies offense in check, save a couple of Juan Pierre infield singles and a left field lasor shot by J-Roll to tie the game in the fifth.

Now if you remember last year, the season that was suppose to be magical? But it fell short and left everybody from Old City to Souderton as empty as a plastic Bud cup in an Eagles fourth quarter.** The NLCS, where Cliff coughed up a four run lead and Tony La Russa was planning his retirement cruise on the Princess Star—Fightin's were done-in with an offense as thin as Saturday's Daily News.

Thin, because there is no more Saturday Daily News.

Thin, because Charlie didn't have nothin' to add up after the sixth, exactly where, his teachers say, he's hot to trot and better than most calculators on their good days.

Lookit. Last season, if Charlie looked around after the sixth, who did he see? He might have seen either Raul, or John Mayberry, JR, depending on which one wasn't holding court in left. He saw Ross Gload with a bum hip. He saw Michael Martinez and Wilson Valdez, good players no doubt, but not giving late inning relief pitchers the hives ** thinking about having to face them in the eighth up by two. Know what I'm saying?

He saw Brian Schneider or Pete Orr. He saw Ben Francisco, who did put the Redbirds away with a three run poke in game three. Couple of times he had Dane Sardinha when Schneider or Chooch or both were licking their wounds. And, oh yea, I almost forgot. He had John Bowker, acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline, a sure-fire left handed threat, only problem was he went oh for 13.

Minus Mayberry and Ibanez, if you take that bench and add up their home runs for 2011? Here's what you got: Schneider (2); Francisco (6); Vadez (1); Martinez (3); Orr (0); Sardinha (0); and from the left, Gload (0). Didn't take Charlie long to scratch his head and figure he's got 12 home runs sitting on the hard wood.

Twelve. That's it. Over 162 games from April to October with a few days off for the All-Star break, where the boys can get some work done on the links.

Twelve.

But now Charlie will have that mathematical mind in motion after the sixth: Thinking 15 + 15 + 16. Jim Thome, 15 home runs last season; Ty Wigginton, 15, and Laynce Nix, 16.

And God knows Charlie likes the 46 a whole lot better than the 12.

*(Beer sales at Eagles games stop at the end of the third quarter).

**(The hives can be caused by too much anxiety or stress, or thinking about a change up hit into the upper deck in front of Harry the K's, see right).

 

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Phillies Need Another ‘Five For One’ Deal (You Listening Rube?)

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on January 2, 2012 – 7:59 pm -
 

History repeats itself in love, war, and Phillies baseball.

 Two years after winning the World Series against the Kansas City Royals, the Phillies traded for Von Hayes, whom Pete Rose dubbed ole 'five for one.'

 Five for one because the Phillies traded five players to get Hayes. Whether it was the right trade doesn't matter. The point is, Ruben Amaro, Jr., must once again pull the trigger on another five for one trade.

The one being 97 miles up the Jersey Turnpike in New York Mets third baseman, David Wright. This team needs another solid right-handed bat in the lineup and it needs to start adding younger players. Granted, they are not exactly robbing the cradle, but Wright is 29 years old, light years away from Utley, Howard, and Rollins, in baseball years.

 J-Roll got the contract he deserves: Three years and $33 million with a vesting option that could keep him on the team in 2015. Not bad for a 33 year old shortstop whose numbers have been diving faster than a nuclear submarine. But with J-Roll as the team leader the Phillies have won five straight NL East titles and a World Series Crown.

 So the contract is nice for both sides.

With the exception of some new bench players–Jim Thome, Laynce Nix, and Ty Wigginton, the Phillies will have basically the same line-up they had in 2011. Don't get me wrong, the bench players are a nice addition and will give Charlie some breathing room, especially if Nix platoons with Mayberry in left.

 They have a solid bullpen with the addition of Jonathan Papelbon and the D-Train and who knows, maybe Ryan Madson will come back for a year and stick his big toe into the free agent river in 2013.

The bridge to Papelbon, who cares if it doesn't rhyme.

But Rube knows he ain't done yet, don't you Rube.

We both know you  need one more bat, maybe not a super star, but a number three or five right-handed hitter who has pop and can drive in runs. David Wright has those numbers.

Here's what the deal might look like: The Phillies get Wright. They give up:

1. Kyle Kendrick, pitcher: (made $2.5 million in 2011 and he should get a decent raise)

2. Freddy Galvis, shortstop: (major league minimum)

3. Matt Rizzotti, first base (major league minimum)

4. Michael Martinez, infield/outfield: (2011: $414K) 

5. Delwyn Young, outfield: (minor league contract)

The key here for the money strapped Mets is they will shed Wright's contract—he's signed through 2012 ($15 million), with an option for 2013 of $16 million (option year includes a $1 million buyout). Facing possible law suits over the Bernie Madoff financial scandal, the Mets should be happy to unload Wright and his salary.

 Moreover, Mets ace Johan Santana, coming off major shoulder surgery, hasn't pitched in a year-and-a-half and may not be ready until June or July. Besides, the Mets might unload him and the $55 million they owe him over the next two seasons. Kendrick and his low salary would fit in their rotation nicely. Besides, perhaps Kendrick, given the ball for the whole season, could find himself and be exactly what the Mets need.

The Mets also get two promising minor leaguers in Galvis and Rizzotti. The Phillies keep Polanco, using him off the bench, extending his playing career by several years. The little hit machine could play until he's 40 if handled right.

And in Wright the Phillies get a bat that has produced good numbers over the past five years. Wright could relax in the Phillies lineup and become a super-star, hitting between Utley and Howard.

Note: I had Domonic Brown in the list of five but after thinking about it, I pulled him. It's too soon to give up on the youngster who has not impressed in his few major league stints.  I'm not giving up on him and I hope Ruben doesn't  either.

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Phils Now Need J-Roll in a Lineup Full of Question Marks

Written by Ron the Facebook Columnist on December 16, 2011 – 10:39 pm -
 

Let's get real here.

Where would the Phillies be without the bat and leadership of Jimmy Rollins, known by Phillies fans as J-Roll? He told the New York Mets the Phillies were the team to beat, then backed it up with his bat. He hit for average, stole bases, drove in runs, and went yard more times than most shortstops in modern times.

And he roamed the rug at the Vet and the dirt at Citizens Bank with his glove and arm, a cannon arm that could nail base runners from deep in the hole. He's been consistently one of the best fielding shortstops in baseball. Bar none.

I won't bore you with statistics but J-Roll's has em.' In 2007, his best year, he had 200-plus hits, 30 home runs, 20 triples and he hit .296. The next season, 2008, the Phillies Broad Street parade year, wasn't shabby either.

In an earlier blog, I wrote that the Phillies should sign the best shortstop out there: Jose Reyes. He's what J-Roll was in 2007 or 2008, with more speed, less glove, and fewer home runs. However, Reyes came with a huge price tag and some questions about his mental approach to the game. And…some questions about his hamstrings. Ruben Amaro, Jr., passed.

Nothing wrong with that. Rube's track record speaks for itself. But this is a game that moves on and yesterday's contributions don't mean a hill of beans tomorrow, especially when father age is creeping-up. Except in fund raising, youth is generally better than old in the grand old game.

This Phillies team has too many question marks: Utley's knees, Howard's durability and consistency, Mayberry's playing time, and Polanco's body. Can Halladay, Lee, and Hamels continue the torrid pace they set last season? Can Blanton get back to form and is Worley for real? Will Kendrick or newly acquired Dontrelle Willis step up?

Not to mention whether or not  if J-Roll—if he's signed, and he will be—can play an entire season. If J-Roll goes down in June, is Wilson Valdez the Phillies shortstop? Are we real yet?

I'm not happy going to war with this lineup. Rube's got to get another solid bat in there. I told him to sign Aramis Ramirez but he's not listening. Looks like the Brewers will get him.

Right now, J-Roll is the best shortstop out there. Let's hope we can say that in July.

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