Questions for Al

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

As the Phillies yet again manage to piss away their season, I thought I'd pose some questions to you.

 

1) IIRC, you were OK with the hiring of Charlie Manuel. You still think that was a good idea, especially since Jim Leyland was out there?

 

2) How much longer do they stick w/ Thome? He's just plain not getting the job done. Should they bring up Ryan Howard and give him significant time at 1B? Move Thome down in the lineup?

 

3) Are they going to get another (quality) starting pitcher this season? Wolf is out, Padilla has fallen apart, if they have any hope of doing anything this season, they need another starter.

 

4) Do you think the team is going to turn it around? Aside from that 12-1 homestand, they've been mediocre, at best. You said sooner or later the talent would kick in, but time is running out.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

1) IIRC, you were OK with the hiring of Charlie Manuel. You still think that was a good idea, especially since Jim Leyland was out there?

 

I still don't think Leyland was the answer. Given what I have seen from Manuel however, I actually prefered the way Larry Bowa ran strategies. I do think the manager is the least of the Phillies' problems right now.

 

2) How much longer do they stick w/ Thome? He's just plain not getting the job done. Should they bring up Ryan Howard and give him significant time at 1B? Move Thome down in the lineup?

 

This is an extremely difficult question for the Phillies to deal with. On one hand, Howard is hitting the crap out of the ball at AAA (I've seen it personally). On the other hand, Thome has three years left, and is contract is unmoveable. Neither can change positions. In addition, considering Thome's background, you do not want to give up too early.

 

I will say that it was extremely frustrating to see Ryan Howard left in AAA during the Phillies' west coast interleague trip. After just 28 big league at bats, Charlie Manuel seemed hesitant to use Howard in any meaningful situations. That's a shame especially considering when the Phillies have given talented but unproven players a chance (Geoff Geary, Robinson Tejeda, Ryan Madson) they have come through.

 

3) Are they going to get another (quality) starting pitcher this season? Wolf is out, Padilla has fallen apart, if they have any hope of doing anything this season, they need another starter.

 

Ryan Madson has struck out nearly a batter an inning. I do not care how good a middle reliever is. It does the team no bloody good when the team is constantly down three runs in the late innings, and you have no bench depth because you thought Endy Chavez was a good idea. They need to give Madson the first crack at a rotation job.

 

Otherwise, there is just not much on the market available without mortgaging the farm. Barry Zito is a name, but a fly-ball pitcher in Citizens Bank Park could be disasterous.

 

Hope is on the horizon however. Gavin Floyd went eight innings his last start in Scranton, giving up only two runs, walking none and striking out six. Cole Hamels has finally returned to the mound, striking out 13 in 11 innings in Clearwater. Hamels has the talent, no question.

 

4) Do you think the team is going to turn it around? Aside from that 12-1 homestand, they've been mediocre, at best. You said sooner or later the talent would kick in, but time is running out.

 

Remember, this team is still just 3.5 games out of a wild card berth. Two weeks ago this team looked like a pennant contender. We have a long way to go yet.

[NoCalMike 0]

Q: If the A's can come out of the next six games with the WhiteSox with a .500 record at the break, can they make another magical 2nd half run and dare to bid for the WildCard spot?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Q: If the A's can come out of the next six games with the WhiteSox with a .500 record at the break, can they make another magical 2nd half run and dare to bid for the WildCard spot?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It's possible, but I don't think it is likely. The Athletics need to jump ahead of six teams to do it.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

And I doubt the A's would do more than split the series with the White Sox.

[Bored 0]

Especially considering one game would have to end in a tie for that to happen....

 

Anyways if the A's sweep the White Sox the will finish the first half (81 games) with a winning record which just seemed impossible five weeks ago. I'm not thinking postseason by any stretch but even 85 wins this year would be remarkable after where they were.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Ah I thought it was a 6 game series. My mistake. A's won't sweep Sox, is all I will say.

[NoCalMike 0]

After witnessing the A's during May, I would be estatic if they can finish this season over .500 and carry that momentum into next year. I am still waiting to see if their young pitchers have truly turned the corner, or if they are just on a streak right now, as I doubt the offense will keep scoring 6+ runs per game for much longer, although ever since Crosby returned to the lineup they have been on a tear, not to mention Dan Johnson adding a big bat to the lineup.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Besides Cleveland none of the other teams ahead of Oakland are playing very well at this point.

[CanadianGuitarist 0]

Hey Al, will the Jays make the playoffs? Will they be around in September?

 

They seem so streaky in all facets, but I say yes to both, but a perhaps to the first.

 

Why/Why not? if you wouldnt mind.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I think they'll be on the fringe of contention in September. They'll try their damnedest to pull the wild card, but there will be too many teams to pass. That's my prediction, at least.