the pinjockey

Especially given Fabio Castro has been acquired and since made two appearances in a month. Who did he piss off exactly? The only thing I can thing I think you can hope for is that they plan on trading at least one reliever (please move Cormier given the ridiculous price middle relief is fetching) and will then bring up a position player.

Wanted to get your thoughts on two other guys: JA Happ Matt Maloney Happ has made the transition to AA well, so far, alleviating some concerns I had about him (age, being "deceptive" in low minors). Maloney is having a Cy Young of Sally league season and seems like there is no reason for him to not be promoted, unless he goes right to Reading next year.

It appears Jerry Crasnick would like to answer that question The only "pressure" that appears to be involved here is reportedly trying to create some salary relief. But given Gillick's views on FA pitchers (no big money deals, so no Zito) and the lack of quality position FAs coming this offseason, I don't really see the point of having to dump money for this winter.

My prediction is that King panics and goes for the Denver "any two players but Carmelo" trade, thus defeating the whole purpose of trading AI. I think he will get scared and think he won't be able to sell a rebuilding trade to the fanbase (even though every sane fan is pleading for this route). So he will reshuffle some deck chairs, add a couple of veterans he thinks will catch the casual eye and stay in the tail end lottery/8th seed playoff dead zone.

What are your midseason thoughts on the farm? Pitching still seems to be solid. Gio has hit a couple bumps (HR prone), but his K rate is still holding up showing promise. Carrasco is still holding his own which is good to see (T-4th in Ks, 4th youngest pitcher in Sally league). Still not much hitting to be seen. Bourn has gotten off to a hot start in Scranton and might be the good Juan Pierre as opposed to a Tavares/bad Juan Pierre level player. Slayden has shown something, but being 24 (in 2 weeks) in A ball he needs to be fast tracked if he is going to really be worth watching. Would I be wrong in not putting Baez, Constanzo and Golson in my future Phillies jerseys wish list at this point? Also, I did not realize how much younger Edgar Garcia was compared to his league. He is currently the youngest pitcher in the league and only two guys are within a year of his birthdate. If he holds his own that is a real good sign.

Is there a reason that they don't just put Lamb at 1B and Berkman in the OF (injuries?)? Otherwise it really seems like a lateral move at best taking Lamb or Ensberg out and putting Huff in. Why would Ensberg and his .890 OPS be in question?

I agree with you in that I don't see Rowand getting traded, pretty much for the PR + "attitude" (every rumor seems to be that they want to bring in more Rowand type players). But if Gillick doesn't at least explore the option he is a fool. If Chicago wants him back badly, as rumored, and the Phils can get Josh Fields for him it needs to happen (even if they have to throw back a lesser prospect, of which the Phils have many). They are not a team that can afford to eliminate any option. Fans will respond to a winning team. A Rowand/Utley/Howard led team that goes nowhere for 5 years if they botch this transition season will end up treated no different than the Burrell/Abreu/Lieberthal core (losers, infecting next generation blah blah blah). Playing hard or not.

Today's Billy King stroke of genius What has Willie Green done to deserve a five year deal other than blow out his knee? Don't get me wrong, I am a Willie Green fan. To steal a Bill Simmonsism he can be a homeless man's Ben Gordon, come off the bench and score in small bunches. But this 5 year deal, along with Dalembert and Korver's five year deals last year and all of a sudden you are tying up a more than nominal portion of your future cap on mediocre players. Sign him for two years with a couple options in case he works out, not 5 guaranteed.

Didn't Rick Peterson believe he could fix Victor Zambrano, so they (it was expert ESPN GM analyst Steve Phillips IIRC) took a leap of faith based off that?

Wow, the Wild signed Kim Jonsson to a 5 mil per deal. Kim F'ing Jonsson?!? Decent player, had some real upside going into the year, regressed severly this year and oh yeah hasn't played in 5 months due to a severe concussion. Dear owners, next time you want to whine about escalating player salaries, kindly go to hell. See you guys at the next lockout in three years.

I see Gillick's master plan now. In an attempt to get out of Ryan Franklin's contract he is going to push him into murdering someone by throwing Fultz out there. Matthews>Crisp>>>>>Rowand, mostly due to my irrational hatred for that play by this point.

Remember though, there were rumors a couple of weeks ago to Atlanta built around I believe the #5 and either Smith or Childress. I don't know how far along that was, but it might qualify as the first real rumor. I don't know if you trade him for Baron Davis+. IMO, if you move AI you do it for young guys and just rebuild. Otherwise you might as well just keep Iverson. Of course it depends on what you mean by the +.

I think it is safe to assume if AI goes to Boston, either Rondo or Telfair would come back to Philly. They would need someone who can play the 1. The Sixers were retarded for not pulling the trigger before the draft and getting the no.7 pick. From there they could have gotten Roy/Foye and the haul could have looked much better.

So at what point does the Bowa/Abreu talk become tampering? Last week it was the whole "change of scenery" discussion, now he is chiming in on Abreu's clutchness http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/14908657.htm Don't get me wrong, I'm all for Bowa talking him up as maybe a.) Abreu bashers (often in the same class as Bowa supporters) will realize what they've got and b.) convincing the Yankees to offer a nice deal for him. But how far can a coach for another team go before tampering issues arise?

They look stupid for walking Mark god damn Loretta to even raise the issue. I don't care if you have to put it on a tee for him. If Loretta beats you so be it, but to give him a free pass is inexcusable in that situation. And the Phils are now closer to the Pirates than the Mets, yippee.

Count me in again

At what point do you look past this season in regards to moving players? There is little reason to believe they will make a miracle run at the division and they currently sit 8th in the WC (5 games back not undoable, but it is compounded having to pass all those teams). They have a legit trading chip in Tom Gordon (hello Dodgers choice farm system, Detroit might be interested in a closer). Victorino and/or Delluci might bring something back. Even Lidle might be seen by some team. And of course the ever hovering Abreu/Burrell debates. Abreu for Phillip Hughes. Do you do it?

The fullback situation has me hesitant about buying Reid's commitment to running talk. Brian Westbrook was at his best as a runner when he was running behind Ritchie and neither Tapeh or Parry are a blocking FB. While the pure blocking FB doesn't really fit into his scheme (having limited versatility, HAVING to be able to catch the ball), it does give me enough concern to make me take a show me before I believe it approach. The WR thing has been beaten to death. No they don't have a TO, but I see no reason that the following can't realistically happen: Westbrook: 75 catches Brown: 70 catches LJ Smith: 60 catches Gaffney: 50 catches Spare parts chip in another 50 and they'll be fine I am much more concerned about the fact they will be relying on a rookie (Bunkley) plus Barber/McCoy and Jones/Gocong battles at the OLB slots. They desperately need at least one OLB to step up this year against the TEs or they are in trouble. And without Bunkley creating pressure the secondary is screwed same as last season. I like Patterson, but he doesn't have the size to fight double teams which would happen if Bunkley doesn't step in right away.

Updated account of the Myers incident from the Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_regi...ies_pitche.html If that account holds up, I don't see this one blowing over anytime soon.

Can we just fast forward to 2007? I can't see how they can run Myers out there tomorrow. You really don't need to have this incident be the focus of a nationally televised game. Sit him tomorrow, do the damage control and go from there. Hey Scott Mathieson, how would you like to have your second start be a nationally televised game at Fenway.

How can they just decide they aren't paying him the rest of his deal? A buyout is one thing, but I don't get how you can just say "oh we aren't going to pay him his contract". I hope Stern rules to stick them with the whole deal.

Is it true that they are booing Abreu at every AB now? On a related note, in your opinion, is Burrell-Rowand-Abreu a legitimate outfield crew to run out there. Burrell is a one legged man at this point and Abreu seems to have regressed this year (and was never a really good fielder to begin with). Rowand looks to be a good defensive CF, but I don't know that he is good enough to cover between two bad corners. Looking at ZR, RF, and defensive win shares on HBT, all three are middle of the pack or worse.

Sign me up. Ridiculous that because they want to air yet another national Yankees game, our area gets screwed out of today's Phillies game. How can you have a contract that lets the network dump coverage three days before the game, doing it late enough to screw up any chance to make new arrangements?

A quick yahoo search shows 100,000, so if I am wrong let me know and this note will be ignorable. Indy holds 400,000 people, Bristol motor speedway hold 160,000, most tracks I believe hold over 100,000. Don't get me wrong, I won't argue that soccer isn't the most watched. It matters everywhere but America, no arguing that. But if what your boss found was what I narrowly outlined it to, then NASCAR could be an answer.

It's possible depending on how the "most watched" bit is phrased. "Highest average of spectators attending an event" - may very well be NASCAR. And put me on the NASCAR side. Me and Marvinisalunatic at least, IIRC.