Looking ahead for the Phillies

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The first thing I like to do is to create an organizational depth chart, of what the team would have if they made NO moves over the offseason. This allows me to see where the biggest gaps are on the team. Here is what the Phillies look like right now.

 

C: MIKE LIEBERTHAL, Michel Hernandez

1B: JIM THOME, Ryan Howard

2B: CHASE UTLEY, Tomas Perez

SS: JIMMY ROLLINS

3B: DAVID BELL, Shawn Wooten

OF: BOBBY ABREU, PAT BURRELL, JASON MICHAELS, Marlon Byrd, Lou Collier

SP: RANDY WOLF, VICENTE PADILLA, BRETT MYERS, RYAN MADSON, GAVIN FLOYD

RP: BILLY WAGNER, Tim Worrell, Felix Rodriguez, Amaury Telemaco, Geoff Geary, Aaron Fultz

 

Second, I glance at the team statistics, to see where the offense and defense ranked. The Phillies finished third in runs scored, and thirteenth in runs allowed. Contrary to popular opinion, most of that was NOT due to the new ballpark. The pitching last season was abysmal, and that should be the Phillies first priority.

 

The Phillies front five are not bad at all, but there is a catch. That group leaves little room for error. The Phillies first priority should be to hire front-line pitching. A rough estimate gives the Phillies a starting payroll of $81.33 Million, based on the above 25. That gives them about $8-$12 Million to work with, which is not alot.

 

Some pitchers the Phillies could go after include Brad Radke, Odalis Perez, Jamey Wright, Paul Byrd, and Matt Clement. For those wondering, I left out Derek Lowe for a reason. Any of those guys could fall within a reasonable range. However, I would watch out for overpaying these guys, especially Paul Byrd. The Phillies have shown a troubling tendency recently to overpay for starting pitching. If the free agency market proves fruitless, the Phillies do hold a strong trading chip in Ryan Howard. With the weak market at first base this season, Howard might look like an attractive option. I could see the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, or Pittsburgh Pirates showing interest.

 

The bullpen looks good. The addition of a lefty would solidify things, and local product Steve Kline could fit well, depending on his salary. His demeanor would fit well with the Philly crowd. AAA pitchers Geoff Geary and Jim Crowell could easily slide in to the back end of the bullpen.

 

The offense simply needs a bench player or two. A solid backup catcher is a must. Perhaps Sandy Alomar Jr. or Dan Wilson could do the trick. There are plenty of backups available. Philly sportswriters would like a catcher of the future to prevent Lieberthal from reaching his option kickin for 2006, but I don't see it happening. Center field could use an upgrade, but it is a little down on the priority list. I think Jason Michaels can handle the job, and I do not think Marlon Byrd is finished quite yet.

 

The Phillies farm system is bare at the higher levels, so they need to reload there. Hopefully we will see some prospects emerge this season. I am very high on Michael Bourn, who hit .315, drew 84 walks, and stole 58 bases in 64 tries in A ball. Jake Blalock (Hank's brother) also looks like a solid prospect.

 

Next season, the performance of the top players is critical. Randy Wolf must have a terrific season for the Phillies to compete. This team does not have alot of depth, so they cannot afford a rash of injuries. This team can win the East, but they are not getting it on a platter.

[therealworldschampion 0]

Al, what do you think of the Phils hiring Jim Leyland as the manager since he's interviewing Monday? I wouldn't mind since he's won before and the players will respect him unlike Bowa.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Leyland's a highly respected figure who has experienced prior success. I would love to see him manage the Phillies.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

can we do this for every team or is AL just using his authority to have an excuse to worship Abreu and bitch about the Philies more?

 

Because that's the case, then we can have 30 of these "Looking Aheads". Can't you just send this thread into the other "off-season" thread?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Because that's the case, then we can have 30 of these "Looking Aheads". Can't you just send this thread into the other "off-season" thread?

 

No. The last thing we need is a single thread where six conversations go at the same time. It kills good discussion. If anyone wants to start a thread about a specific team, they are more than welcome to do so. I can do this for other teams as time allows (though I can't do all 30, obviously).

[therealworldschampion 0]

About the starting pitching, I would love for the Phils to get Carl Pavano, but I feel he's going to get $100 million from some team willing to overpay him. I could live with Matt Clement being the FA acquisition. Radke sounds good as well.

 

Then again, I remember that Ed Wade is the GM, so expect him to give Paul Byrd a 50 million dollar contract.

[1234-5678 0]

I'm still pissed off they decided they'd rather have Kevin fuckin Millwood then Curt Schilling. Man that looks really good in hindsight, huh?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'm still pissed off they decided they'd rather have Kevin fuckin Millwood then Curt Schilling. Man that looks really good in hindsight, huh?

That wasn't an either/or proposition, and they got Millwood two years after they got Schilling. Schilling was traded for Vicente Padilla, who has been fairly good himself, for $10 Million less.

[therealworldschampion 0]

I find myself rooting for the Phils to do absolutely nothing this off-season, so then Citizens Bank Park won't draw flies, the ownership will lose a shitload of money, and they'll finally have to sell the team to Comcast(who's probably been waiting for a while to buy the Phillies, since they already air their games and own the Flyers and Sixers.) Then hopefully, the first thing Comcast would do is can Ed Wade and get a competent GM.

[1234-5678 0]

I'm still pissed off they decided they'd rather have Kevin fuckin Millwood then Curt Schilling. Man that looks really good in hindsight, huh?

That wasn't an either/or proposition, and they got Millwood two years after they got Schilling. Schilling was traded for Vicente Padilla, who has been fairly good himself, for $10 Million less.

I thought the situation was both were free agents at the start of this past season, and the Phils decided on Millwood?

[the max 0]

I'm still pissed off they decided they'd rather have Kevin fuckin Millwood then Curt Schilling. Man that looks really good in hindsight, huh?

That wasn't an either/or proposition, and they got Millwood two years after they got Schilling. Schilling was traded for Vicente Padilla, who has been fairly good himself, for $10 Million less.

I thought the situation was both were free agents at the start of this past season, and the Phils decided on Millwood?

Schilling wasn't a free agent prior to this season, he was under contract with the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Red Sox.

[1234-5678 0]

I'm still pissed off they decided they'd rather have Kevin fuckin Millwood then Curt Schilling. Man that looks really good in hindsight, huh?

That wasn't an either/or proposition, and they got Millwood two years after they got Schilling. Schilling was traded for Vicente Padilla, who has been fairly good himself, for $10 Million less.

I thought the situation was both were free agents at the start of this past season, and the Phils decided on Millwood?

Schilling wasn't a free agent prior to this season, he was under contract with the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Red Sox.

Then it was either resign Millwood or trade for Schill? I definitely remember Schill wanted to come home to Philly before this past season started, but the money given to Millwood prevented that.

[the max 0]

I'm still pissed off they decided they'd rather have Kevin fuckin Millwood then Curt Schilling. Man that looks really good in hindsight, huh?

That wasn't an either/or proposition, and they got Millwood two years after they got Schilling. Schilling was traded for Vicente Padilla, who has been fairly good himself, for $10 Million less.

I thought the situation was both were free agents at the start of this past season, and the Phils decided on Millwood?

Schilling wasn't a free agent prior to this season, he was under contract with the Diamondbacks and was traded to the Red Sox.

Then it was either resign Millwood or trade for Schill? I definitely remember Schill wanted to come home to Philly before this past season started, but the money given to Millwood prevented that.

Philly probably didn't have enough to offer Zona.

 

As it is:

 

Arizona Diamondbacks traded Curt Schilling to the Boston Red Sox for Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon, Jorge De La Rosa and Michael Goss.

[mike546 0]

One thing about the Mariners wanting a first baseman. Don't they have that prospect, I forgot his name. Bucky something. Any why wouldn't the Phillies want Lowe?

[1234-5678 0]

One thing. Lieberthal's definitely gotta go.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

One thing about the Mariners wanting a first baseman. Don't they have that prospect, I forgot his name. Bucky something. Any why wouldn't the Phillies want Lowe?

Bucky Jacobsen.

 

The problem is that he's already 28. He's a nice hitter, but he's as good as he's ever going to get.

 

As for Lowe, his 2002 was a fluke. He was average last year, and bad this year. I don't trust three postseason games, and as a pitcher, he's worth no more than about 15-20 other starters on the market. Some team is going to stupidly pay him $6-$8 Million, and I don't want that team to be the Phillies.

[MrRant 0]

I demand you do the M's.

 

 

*Shakes fist in ANGER~!*

[the pinjockey 0]

Just curious al, no interest in bringing back Pratt or just didn't throw his name out there? I wouldn't mind having him back for another year.

 

First FA I would sign if I were the Phils is Clement. I could live with a rotation of Clement, Wolf, Padilla, Myers, Madson.

 

After that I would like to see Ledee back, as he was a great bench bat before the trade.

 

I like the idea of bringing in Kline, as while I wouldn't mind Cormier back I think he will be too expensive. A bullpen with Wagner, Rodriguez, Worrell, Kline, Teley works for me.

 

Of course they are likely going to end up keeping Milton or Lidle and sticking Madson back in the bullpen.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Just curious al, no interest in bringing back Pratt or just didn't throw his name out there? I wouldn't mind having him back for another year.

 

I have no issue with bringing him back, since they are unlikely to do much better.