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Holiday break: Beerleaguer resumes January 9

Topping my holiday wish list was a setup man and starter. I settled for an iPod instead.

Never fear: Santa left several Phillies-inspired items under the tree, including a 2006 Phillies desk calendar (for me), a Phillies talking bottle opener (stepdad), a ticket for two to the Winter Tour in Reading (stepdad), and an autographed Carlos Ruiz baseball card (stepdad, but I have one as well). Meanwhile, my wife and mother opened less-significant items: jewelry; clothes; things of a non-Phillies nature.

While I'm busy downloading Dio's "Holy Diver" onto my iPod (made famous as Pat Burrell's theme music at Citizen's Bank Park), I invite you to check out some of the other sites featured on the right and left-hand sides of this space.

Until then, time for Beerleaguer to enjoy a well-earned break. I've been non-stop since my honeymoon last August. Time to refill the tank.

I'll have plenty to write about when I return Jan. 9. By then, only 37 days until pitchers and catchers report. Can you believe it?

I look forward to catching up with you then!

Phillies expected to move Triple-A club to Allentown

The Phillies are expected to annouce a new affiliation with Allentown to house their Triple-A team, thus ending their affiliation with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after nearly 20 years, the Philadelphia Daily News has reported. A recently-approved stadium in Allentown is scheduled to be completed by 2007.

Beerleaguer Take
I’ve said for years that a well-run, affiliated baseball team in the Lehigh Valley would be tremendously successful. The new team will draw patrons in Allentown east to Bethlehem, Easton and Phillipsburg, N.J. It will extend south to Quakertown, Downingtown and Landsdale, and north to Lehighton and Jim Thorpe. To the west, it could pluck a few bodies from Kutztown, Topton and Fleetwood. I know one family with high K-Town political clout that will travel the 20 minutes more than once.

The new Allentown team is a shoe-in for success, but the key isn’t the volume of cities and towns in close proximity, but the rich suburban families that glue these areas together. My sense is the most dollars will flow in from patrons of nearby Parkland and Emmaus School Districts, with sports-crazed children, soccer moms, and most importantly, luxury SUVs.

That’s as much business as I want to get into. What I'm hoping for, as a baseball junky, is the cultivation of a better baseball experience than what's offered at Reading or anywhere else in close proximity. Reading is a model business and a community blessing, but not necessarily an ideal place to take in the baseball game. Because of the limitations of FirstEngery Stadium, an old municipal park, it's hard to follow the action if you aren’t seated in a section behind home plate. The bleachers down the first and third-base lines tend to drift off into oblivion. In a three-hour ballgame, some of the best action is when the staff interns whip t-shirts into the crowd with a giant slingshot. It’s easy to get distracted, but the lure of Double-A will always draw me in. This is my favorite level of the minor leagues.

Allentown is owned by Grace Baseball Company, operated by Reading Phillies owner Craig Stein and Trenton Thunder (AA, Yankees) president and managing partner Joe Finley, who entered into a 29-year lease agreement with Lehigh County back in October. Grace also owns Lakewood, the Phillies Low-A affiliate.

In November, Trenton was named the best minor league organization in the nation, earning the John H. Johnson President’s Trophy which is given annually to the most outstanding franchise in Minor League Baseball that best exemplifies the complete Minor League Baseball organization.

Trenton’s stadium is best described as "retro-new," with a wide-open concourse and seats that hug the action. I suspect the new stadium will be similarly engineered. It will be a tremendous upgrade over Lackawanna County Stadium, its unnatural forest-green astroturf and steep, tumble-to-your-death seating.

With Allentown, Reading and Philadelphia, all in a tight, natural circle, Phillies fans definitely have options for their summer nights. On the field, it's a positive change for a minor league system in need of fresh air.

Games, and the games in my mind

Back in May, Rob Neyer of ESPN Insider called 'games' the most underrated statistic in baseball, supplanting on-base percentage as the stat most overlooked by GMs.

Stated simply: "A great number of games tells us a great deal," Neyer wrote, "and a little number of games tells us very little."

It's a simple point, but I’m glad I remembered it because it lends expert credence to the uneasy sensation I had driving home from Allentown two nights ago.

I started thinking about the number of times Ryan Madson and Ugueth Urbina warmed up during the apex of a ballgame and wondered how I would feel seeing Aaron Fultz or Julio Santana warming up instead.

As best as I could, driving home in the dark, I tried looking ahead to next summer. I'll put it in a realistic context using the 2006 schedule: June 11, a Sunday afternoon game at RFK, final game of a four-game series, bottom of the seventh. Jon Lieber is sitting on a 3-2 lead and trying to notch a 'W' for the first time in three-straight, very-good starts.

After watching him for over a year, I’ve seen enough to recognize when Lieber is out of gas. He makes a face. It’s the same face I’m seeing now.

The inning begins with three quick pitches and he's immediately down 3-0 to Nick Johnson. The third pitch cuts high and tight on Johnson's hands, but it's over just enough to allow Johnson to lace it up the middle for a hit. Before Aaron Rowand can toss it back to the infield, Charlie Manuel is walking to the mound. Lieber accepts a soft pat on the back; Manuel will turn it over to the bullpen to preserve the win. Allowing Lieber to pitch this long had been a mistake. He doesn’t need to motion for the lefthander; he’s already in motion.

The lefthander, Fultz, had a surprisingly good season in 2005, easing into some low-pressure duty until supplanting the aging Rheal Cormier as the team’s top left-hander next to Billy Wagner.

Here in 2006, he's already pitched 31 games, most on the team and half of what he pitched all of last season. He was effective for the first two months, but was hit hard his previous two outings, charged with a blown save in Friday night's game.

The newspapers are uneasy. There’s talk of trading to acquire help for the back end of the bullpen and a growing belief the relievers won't hold out the season. Santana had been tested in the late innings but was falling out of favor. Poor control was spreading like a virus throughout the bullpen, snaring Tejeda first, then Rodriguez. Manuel was so desperate to avoid a meltdown that Cormier had been seeing action in tight spots, and was outperforming all of them.

It reminded the press of last June, when Ed Wade had finally traded Placido Polanco, sending him to Detroit for Ugueth Urbina when the same bullpen unease crept over the club.

Counting his time in Detriot, Urbina had pitched in 81 games in '05. Madson, who was now a part of the starting rotation, pitched in 78.

Together with Wagner, who collected 38 saves in 75 games, fans had a very bitter appreciation for what they had lost. Only a few months before, Wagner wasn’t worth the money it would take to resign him. Neither was Urbina, even before Venezuela. Madson’s 4.14 ERA over 78 games was seen as a significant step backward, even though nearly all the damage came in the final month of the season. It was believed he would help the team more as a starter.

I’m driving past Lehigh Valley Hospital and daydreaming about a set-up man, feeling guilty for under-emphasizing bullpen in my daily posts. Maybe I should check myself in, I thought. I'm not sure what's worse: That I'm contemplating the Phillies bullpen at 11 p.m. in December, or that I've just convinced myself that Bobby Abreu, the team's best player, should be traded for a nondescript reliever.

How do I write it, I wondered, without convincing readers I'm nuts? 

I'll write it this way: Johnson crossed home.

Houston Chronicle: Abreu on Astros' radar

A story in yesterday's Houston Chronicle confirmed the offense-starved Astros have their sights set on acquiring Philadelphia's Bobby Abreu.

The Chronicle also reported teams have inquired about closer Brad Lidge. Also mentioned, but less likely to be involved, are starter Brandon Backe and relievers Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler.

Thanks to Beerleaguer reader Richie of Ashburn for passing this story along.

Beerleaguer take
I’ll assume Abreu is still being shopped. Otherwise, his name wouldn’t have circulated around baseball this way, and it wouldn’t have made sense to tender Jason Michaels and keep Shane Victorino, fourth and fifth outfielders, when they could have filled more pressing holes by dealing them. One possibility could have been a swap with San Diego to obtain the Adam Eaton-headlined package they sent to Texas. We could have used some of that.

But Michaels and Victorino could be effective in Abreu's place. The's no shortage of outfielders in the Phillies system. Outfield isn't a problem. They could even go straight-away with the switch-hitting Vicorino and deal Michaels.

Outfield isn't a problem, but it is for Houston. The names in the Houston paper aren’t sexy, but let’s examine them. They include Wheeler, Qualls, and also Lidge.

Just one of them would be a significant improvement in the Phillies bullpen, almost to the point where they'd have a strong pen instead of a questionable one. Then there's starter Brandon Backe. Not much of a fan. But even if Backe gets thrown in with, say, Wheeler and a legit starting prospect (good GMs always snag one), look what the Phillies are left with:

Wheeler to set up
Backe for 4-5 starter
Starting prospect
Michaels, Victorino or both in RF
Money saved

Phillies give up:
Abreu
Tejeda (just for jags)

The Phillies led the league in OBP last season, thanks in no small part to Abreu. They can spare it. Michaels can reach base and Victorino was good in triple-A.

I like the potential for Victorino's speed at No. 2, because the starting lineup, as it stands, is a lumbering mess. Kenny Lofton was very good in this spot, helping the secondary average (a measure of running between bases).

I've never been as high on Michaels as some, and feel he’s been overvalued this offseason. He's a poor base-runner, but it's fine to allow him the same ABs as last season, about 1/3 of the at bats. I still like the idea of dealing him, possibly to Boston now.

Together, Michaels and Victorino have the potential to be better defenders than Abreu, and will be less likely to wear down. It’s also beneficial that these guys are fighting for a chance. They are hungry, whereas Abreu plays indifferently.

Defensively, right and right-center would be impossible to gap with Rowand patrolling center field. I’m not sure fans are prepared for the significant upgrade Rowand brings defensively. One could make a strong argument he’s a top 3 outfielder in all of baseball. Nothing but rave reviews for Victorino's glove. These are the small things that have not been a part of the Phillies in a long time, but have helped win division titles for the Minnesota Twins.

What would the Phillies do with the money saved from all this? What pitcher could they afford? Just about anyone that became available, I suppose.

I wouldn't rule out a third team like Los Angeles getting involved in a deal this size. Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said on WIP that multiple teams have been trying to hook up since the winter meetings. In this case, we could be looking at an even bigger upgrade for the bullpen or starting rotatoin. Perhaps a pitcher like Duaner Sanchez would come to town along with a reliever from Houston.

The last reason Pat Gillick should move Abreu applies to any trade scenario: It's time to trade Bobby Abreu.

There will be tremendous pressure on Bobby to perform next season, unlike any he’s ever known. He's been involved with so many exciting rumors; any Abreu gaff will make fans question why he wasn’t dealt for pitching. With Jim Thome gone, he is the team’s highest-paid player, their best pure hitter and centerpiece.

I haven't seen anything to indicate he can handle the expectations; actually, just the opposite. The first person that throws his OPS with RISP into the comment thread will have his Beerleaguer subscription revoked. Please look deeper. Please think baseball, game-by-game, inning-by-inning, AB-by-AB. Consider the intangibles instead of numbers this time. Refresh my memory of this town's expectations of star athletes. Refresh my memory on which players the Phans cheer for most.

The question isn't what the Phillies can get in return, it's "Can the Phillies replace his production?" Production can be divided into all aspects of the team. If Abreu can be flipped for a little relief, another starting arm, an open door for better defense and youth, a prospect to be groomed and a little coin saved, would Gillick be willing to trade away his best pure hitter?

It’s happened before.

Berks-native Miller expected to be non-tendered

For the second Christmas in a row, Wade Miller could be getting a pink slip under the tree.

According to the Boston Herald, the Boston Red are not expected to tender the 29-year-old pitcher a contract before tonight’s midnight deadline, effectively releasing the pitcher.

Miller spent one season with the Sox after signing a one-year, $1.5 million contract with performance bonuses. He went 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA, missing the first 30 games while recovering from a strained right shoulder, then landing on the disabled list again Aug. 9 with shoulder stiffness and missed the rest of the season. He underwent shoulder surgery on Sept. 29. There are no reports on a timetable for his return.

This would be the second time in a year the fellow Brandywine Heights grad was non-tendered. With Houston, he frayed his rotator cuff halfway through the 2004 season and missed the remainder of the season. Rather than risk it, the Astros didn’t offer him a contract.

His best seasons were in 2001 and 2002 with the Astros, going 16-8 with a 3.40 ERA in '01 and 15-4 with a 3.28 ERA in '02. Along with Roy Oswalt, they were considered the future of the Astros pitching staff.

But in 2003, he pitched through a pinched nerve and was 14-13 with a 4.13 ERA. Doctors believe the pain is what led to the frayed cuff, causing a change in delivery.

Would the Phillies have interest?
The doctors would know more about Miller’s status than anybody, but his future is indeed murky after multiple problems with his pitching shoulder.

As we know, the Phillies need starting pitching. When healthy, Miller is a good pitcher. If he hopes to land on his feet again, an offer from the Phillies might be the most attractive scenario if the team is willing to chance it. He resides about an hour from Philadephia, where he can rehab close to home.

Depending on the time-table for his return, a small, one-year deal in the $1 million range, loaded with performance bonuses, wouldn’t hurt. Realistically, coming off shoulder surgery just three months ago, it’s a gamble that would hinge entirely on the advice of specialists.

Obviously, I’m cheering for him, but I'm also cheering for the Phillies to make some kind of move for a veteran pitcher. A signing like this isn't entirely out of the question. Would the Phillies bring the local boy aboard?

Phillies acquire Rodriguez to finalize Padilla swap

In a deal that’s being called "addition by subtraction," the Phillies have subtracted a 3.95 career ERA and filthy fastball in the form of Vicente Padilla and added a 5.18 career ERA in Ricardo Rodriguez, officially becoming the player to me named later in last week’s trade between the Phils and Rangers.

Rodriguez will likely compete for a spot in the growing mass of humanity known as the 2006 Phillies bullpen, with an outside shot at the starting rotation.

The 27-year-old Dominican went 2-3 with a 5.53 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) last season for the pitching-poor Rangers. In 13 games (12 starts) for triple-A Oklahoma, he went 7-3 with a 2.91 ERA.

The last time he pitched in the majors was Aug. 8 at Boston, getting the start and going 0.2 innings, walking two, allowing a homer and surrendering four earned before hitting the showers on his less-than-Texas-sized season. He was placed on the disabled list the next day with a right shoulder contusion and missed the remainder of the major league season.

In four big-league seasons with Cleveland and Texas, he's 10-15 in 36 starts (38 games), starting a career-high 15 games for the Tribe in 2003 before a torn labrium in his right hip finished his season.

The following year, he found misfortune again. After being traded along with Shane Spencer to Texas for Ryan Ludwig, he began 2004 with Oklahoma before missing two months with appendicitis. He returned and made four starts before he was recalled to Texas, where he managed a 2.02 ERA, amazingly doing so while posting a career-high 1.50 WHIP. Then in July, he suffered a nasty injury from a line drive that broke his elbow. His season was over.

Walks, hits, history of injury and surprisingly few strikeouts for a pitcher with a dynamic name like Ricardo. If there’s anything to be said, it's that Rodriguez, when healthy, appears fit enough to eat innings, and, perhaps, carry bags of baseballs or light grounds crew apparatus.

Projection
Scranton starter, trade chip or mop-up reliever following an early blowout, with an outside shot at earning an emergency start or two. Optimistically, think Jorge Sosa. Every season has a resurrection.

Ex-Phillie found, potential Phillie missing

The publication of the Baseball America Almanac is an exciting time for baseball addicts seeking information on forgotten Phillies.

Back in August, Beerleaguer challenged readers to seek the whereabouts of former Phillie infielder Lou Collier, who spent one year with the organization in 2004, mostly with Scranton, before disappearing from the face of the earth.

A friend of the family with connections to the front office received word the 31-year-old Collier was playing somewhere in Asia, either Korea or Taiwan. Later, frequent contributor George S. confirmed that Collier was indeed playing in Korea for the Lucky Goldstar Twins (LG Twins).

In seeking players like Collier, the Internet is an incredible resource, but doesn’t always yield solid answers, or even clues that can be read in English. I'm learning a good bit of Spanish actually just by checking the Leones Website because it's the easiest way to check in on Tomas Perez.

That’s why the publication the Baseball America Almanac is a momentous occasion for those who want solid answers, and can spend hours browsing stats and box scores. Here are some highlights, compiled by Beerleaguer senior correspondent Martin Smith:

-- Lou Collier did indeed play out the season with the Lucky Goldstar Twins, hitting .303 with 15 homers. It’s funny he can’t get work on a major-league bench. Two seasons ago in Scranton, Collier hit .326 with 14 homers and a .517 slugging percentage. In their 2005 annual, Baseball Prospectus called him "a defacto 27th or 28th man," and questioned, based on his late-career offensive surge, why he "hasn’t been a 23rd or 24th man instead."

Good question. Collier is just as good with the stick as Marlon Anderson, who signed a two-year deal with Washington to be their pinch hitter.

-- According to the Inquirer, the player to be named later in the Vicente Padilla trade will be either veteran pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez or 17-year-old Dominican infielder Julio Gonzalez. Rodriguez’s history is well-documented, but an extensive search for Gonzalez produced nothing, including no mention in the Almanac.

The Dominican summer league has 32 teams and about 1000 players. The Almanac lists only players who hit at least .250 with 150 ABs. Gonzalez must be one hell of a hidden gem, or else the Phillies are looking at the wrong guy.

-- Speaking of the Dominican League, check out this line: Pitcher Jorge Perez (Diamonbacks) pitched 25 games, 32 innings, fanned 64 batters, for an ERA of 0.00 era and 21 saves. Impressive. Like, Jedi Knight impressive.

-- Need to salvage a reliever from the junk pile? How about Mets 1991 second-round draft choice Marc Kroon? Pitching with Yokohama in Japan, the 32-year-old went 3-2 with 26 saves and a 2.72 ERA last season.

This quote: "Kroon set a Japanese baseball record for throwing the fastest pitch recorded in a game in Japan, clocked at 161 kilometers per hour (100.625 mph)."

Kroon became the team’s closer after former Mariner Kaz Sasaki went on the DL. Players can make pretty good coin in Japan, so no word on whether Kroon would consider a stateside return. The last time he pitched here was 2004 in the thin air of Colorado Springs (Rockies, AAA), where he went 2-3 2,72 ERA with 20 saves. He also led the Mexican Pacific League in saves last winter. It's not a bad idea having at least one fireballer in a bullpen. Perhaps the Phillies can look into it.

-- The "have bat will travel award” for 2005 goes to Darryl Brinkley, who hit .376 in Mexico, .323 in Taiwan and .444 in a brief stay with New Jersey in the Can-Am League. His resume from previous seasons includes Korea, Italy and the Netherlands. Brinkley keeps a passport in his back pocket and suitcase packed at all times.

-- As for other North Americans of note, Tony Batista hit.263 with 27 HRs. He’s back in the states, signing a one-year deal with Minnesota. As for former Red Sox outfielder Gabe Kapler, well, I guess he didn’t like the sushi, hitting .153 with 3 homers.

Hosting service fails on Fultz's big day

My apologies to readers who experienced difficulty logging on and posting comments on Friday. Beerleaguer's hosting service is performing server maintenance and will be fully operational shortly.

In the meantime, comments have been restored for those wishing to discuss the Aaron Fultz resigning. The two sides avoided arbitration and came to terms on a $1.2 million deal to keep the left-hander in Philadelphia for another season. Fultz was the unsung hero of the Phillies bullpen in 2005, holding hitters to a .186 batting average. After posting a career-best 2.24 ERA in 62 games, the 32-year-old avid reader of Tom Clancy paperbacks could be shuffled into a more significant role.

Please note: Fultz is the team's only reliable left-hander. Consider this an important, below-the-fold resigning.

If only my hosting service was as dependable. 

Looper chase had Phillies running in circles

Free agent reliever Braden Looper comes to terms with the St. Louis Cardinals. The Phillies can scratch him off their Christmas list.

For Braden Looper’s sake, it’s good he settled with a pleasant mid-west town like St. Louis. If he selected Philadelphia, his neck would already be on the chopping block, right next to Flash Gordon. Thursday night, he came to terms on a deal that will pay him between $13.5 and $15.5 million over three years.

Nothing personal, Braden, but most of us don't care. We’ve seen enough to know you’re not a sure bet, so anything longer than a year would have been insane. Philadelphia doesn’t take kindly to free agents that don’t meet expectations, or even exceed them. Please understand that history is part of it, too. The Phils are snow-deep in the hot stove and a reliever hasn’t been uncovered like some fans think it should. And as always, our angst has dual purpose. There’s always a reserve tank for the front office.

Free agency reaches the cutoff point
The truth is, new GM Pat Gillick shouldn’t pursue free agents like Looper anymore. The desperate situation comes not for lack of trying. The Phils made an aggressive play at Billy Wagner but lost him to the Mets. They were prepared to make an offer to B.J. Ryan but he quickly signed with Toronto.

Besides those two, there was no relief pitching of comparable quality to be had, at least not through free agency. Gillick did what he could with free agency, signing Gordon out of necessity and developing a bullpen collection agency to round out the rest.

The virtues of a bullpen collection
A while back, we talked about the idea of getting creative in the bullpen instead of spending on free agents. The springboard is the belief that pitching, both starting rotation and bullpen, cannot be solved entirely through spending.

A.J. Burnett, the prize of the free agent market, signed a deal with Toronto worth $55 million. For all the hype, his career looks awfully similar to that of Vicente Padilla, who was just dumped for a player to be named, either a relief pitcher with a plus-5 career ERA or a 17-year-old Dominican infielder. (The deal will be finalized shortly).

What a crazy game. For all their spending, Toronto will probably finish third.

If the player to be named is indeed reliever Ricardo Rodriguez, Gillick will have added three arms, besides Gordon, to the bullpen fray by different means: Julio Santana was a free agent; Chris Booker was a Rule 5 pick; Rodriguez was acquired in a trade (if he’s the one).

The projected relief corps is growing fast. Here are some possibilities:

R. Tejeda (possible rotation)
E. Brito (second season)
G. Geary (fourth season)
B. Sanches (3.69 ERA, AAA)
T. Minix (1.53 ERA, AAA)
G. Floyd (possible rotation)
Y. Hernandez (Venezuelan Winter League, 28 IP, 30 K, 1.61 ERA, 11 SV)
J. Santana (free agent)
C. Booker (rule 5)
A. Lopez (second season with Phils)
A. Fultz (second season with Phils)
R. Cormier (sixth season with Phils)
R, Rodriguez (trade)
R. Madson (possible rotation)
T. Gordon (free agent)

It’s not impossible to believe that a prospect like Travis Minix or the hard-throwing Yoel Hernandez could dazzle. Frankly, it’s just as easy to believe that Looper would find his stuff again in a setup role, or Miguel Batista, or Danys Baez, or some other potential veteran patch-up.

In addition, it would be especially hard for a free agent like Looper to fit in here. I can’t remember the last outsider who didn't eventually storm out in a huff. Meanwhile, homegrown talent like Chase Utley and Ryan Howard can cruise for years before hearing a single boo. Even Ryan Madson, who looked dismal late in the season, could ride the positive wave of support.

It’s just another reason to develop more talent internally instead of paying for it.

Exploring trades
The door is still open to pull off a trade to add depth to the unsettled back end. Make no mistake, the back end is still shaky and must be upgraded. Reports indicate Gillick is working at it, and his pursuit of Looper indicates it remains a top priority. The Phils can float players like Jason Michaels, David Bell, or even young players like Robinson Tejeda.

As a fan, the uncertainty is the hardest part of this bullpen collection, but something tells me one or two of these unknowns will surprise us, just as Aaron Fultz did last year.

Gillick and company bring Winter Tour to Reading

The Philadelphia Phillies Winter Tour, formerly known as the Phillies Caravan, will be returning to Reading in its traditional form for the first time since 1996.

Guests will include General Manager Pat Gillick, manager Charlie Manuel and a slate of players, including center fielder Aaron Rowand, new closer Tom Gordon and Rookie of the Year winner Ryan Howard, among others.

The event will be held Wednesday, Jan. 25 at the Sheraton in Reading. Tickets are $50. For ticket information, click here.

The event will have a dual purpose, also serving as Baseballtown Charities annual fund raiser and King of Baseballtown banquet. This year, Baseballtown Charities honors Rocky Santilli, local fast-pitch softball manager and owner of more than 2,000 career wins.

Beerleaguer take
Not only am I excited to rub elbows with the people I obsess over every morning, it's noteworthy for another reason.

The Phillies have two goals this winter, not one. The first is what we discuss most often: ways to improve the club and win a championship. The second may be just as important, and that’s reconnecting with fans.

Having grown up in the Reading area, I can tell you there’s no bigger pound-for-pound concentration of Phillies fans than here in Berks County. The Reading Phillies have been a tremendous success, setting attendance marks year after year. By virtue of having such talent as Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins pass through town, fans here have a special connection to these players. They're like our children in a way, and we're very proud. We’re well informed, too. Mike Drago, the Reading Eagle beat writer for the R-Phils, does a tremendous job, as do the R-Phils themselves, considered the standard by which other minor league teams are measured.

Dang it. I should be getting a check for this stuff.

Anyway, the revival of the Winter Tour / Caravan is a positive step, and it’s great to finally see some Phillies out and about somewhere other than Old City at 2 a.m. It's part of the duty of being a ballplayer. Otherwise, they should compete in a less dignified sport, like NASCAR.

With Bengie off his leash, Phillies could bite

Pat Gillick and the Phillies should take a long, hard look at free agent catcher Bengie Molina. Signing him may not be as impossible as it seems.

With the focus of hot stove discussion centering around pitching, here's a friendly reminder that the future of the Phillies' catcher position is even more bleak.

Mike Lieberthal’s contract runs out after the season. He won’t be back. Sal Fasano, the current No. 2, is a career Triple-A catcher. Carlos Ruiz has never played in a big-league game. Indications are the team does not view him as the next starting catcher.

If the Phillies are to secure this position beyond Lieberthal, the answer must come from the outside. The best available catcher is Bengie Molina, and man, he’s rock solid.

Hardball Times Win Shares has Molina as the 9th-best catcher in baseball, and the 7th-best defender. Already a two-time Gold Glove winner, the bonus is that he can hit. Molina batted .295/.336/.446 with 15 homers and 17 doubles. He’s 31, and his numbers are on the rise.

But for some reason, Molina has dropped off the map of free agent discussions. According to the Angels' Web site, he's entertained one offer from the Yankees, but nothing more. His name has been bantered around at length among the Beerleaguer inner-email circle (comment guru George S. is commander of the Bengie brigade).

But on the ESPN Insider big board, he’s not even listed. Even a stiff like Rich Aurilia is listed. What gives?

Mmm. Here’s a thought. Pat Gillick gave Molina’s agent an early ring and said “Stick around. I’m trying to free some salary. I want Bengie. We need a catcher.”

What about the competition, you ask? What competition? Which teams are in the market for veteran catchers? Not the Mets; they traded for Paul LoDuca. Not the Orioles; they signed Ramon Hernandez for four years. The rest of the division doesn’t need one, or can’t afford one. Among the bigger spenders around baseball, there appears to be only a few teams in the running, including the Phillies, maybe the Yankees and perhaps the Dodgers.

There are other clues. What’s this Padilla non-tender all about? What’s this cost cutting, in general, all about? It can't be pitching, not this season, not when the free agent well has run dry.

Call me crazy, but Molina could be a bright, red blip on Pat Gillick’s radar ... and Gillick's radar alone.

Vaya con dios, Vicente: Padilla dealt to Texas

ESPN.com is reporting the Phillies have traded Vicente Padilla to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later.

Sources told ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that the deal is contingent on Padilla passing a physical exam with the Rangers. A later report on Comcast Daily News Live indicated the exam was scheduled for today.

Beerleaguer take
For all his faults, Vicente was one of my favorites. Dreams that his electric fastball could one day save the bullpen are out the door as the Phillies have decided to part ways with the enigmatic pitcher.

During his stay, Padilla had shown flashes of brilliance and beligerence. There's no denying his stuff; when it clicked, his fastball might have been the best pitch in the entire organization. In the post-Schilling era, no pitcher had looked more dominant at times than Padilla.

For all the talent, there was lots of baggage. Obviously, it became too much to take, otherwise the Phillies wouldn't subtract from an area of need. Padilla was facing arbitration and was expected to command around $4 million.

It would have been a tough process to be sure. The introverted right-hander didn't talk to the press, rarely communicated with teammates and frequently bumped heads with the manager. He even cut ties with La Prensa, the national newspaper of Nicaragua, where they proudly hail him as the nation's best ball player since Dennis Martinez.

Many of his problems came in the offseason. Returning home to Nicaragua in October, he was reportedly involved in two off-season automobile accidents in past three years, one resulting in a fatality. Allegations of alcohol abuse stem as far back as his days with Arizona, allegations he hasn't personally denied.

On the mound, he's a pitcher with all the right tools but wrong head, known to blast through 2 2-3 innings, walk the pitcher and give up a home run to the next batter.

At the plate, he was pure comedy. He has no approach to hitting whatsoever, so he'll be happy to see the DH rule in effect.

Meanwhile, the Rangers are getting quite a weapon for a player to be named. Get this: The Rangers' staff is so bad, Padilla could be their No. 2 starter. In this day and age, when the Esteban Loaizas of the world are getting $21 million for 3 years, how does this happen? Fans are quick to forget that Padilla was the team's best pitcher for about a month just this past season. He was hurt all through spring training, missed time at the beginning and stank early, but turned it around midseason to give them a significant boost.

Granted, he's not Cy Young, but the team doesn't have a proven arm to replace him as yet, and free agent options are running out. No word yet on the PTBNL, so I'm eagerly awaiting the other shoe to drop, because at the moment, it's difficult to agree with this call.

Vaya con dios, Vicente. What a long, strange trip it's been.

Six points to brighten up your Monday

Beerleaguer hates Mondays, but loves the Phillies and the rest of his teams. Here are six thoughts to chase away your Monday morning blues.

No. 1: No sport is seeing a greater boost from the Internet and technology than Major League Baseball.

The Web sites associated with Major League Baseball, including Phillies.com, are very well done, organized and accessible. Buying tickets is a snap, especially using the e-ticket feature which allows users purchase and print tickets from their home computer.

Besides the company sites, ESPN.com has done a remarkable job baiting readers to subscribe to their pay product, getting the largest push (I’m sure) from exclusive trade rumors and the hot stove. With a staff that includes some of the best writers in the business, baseball is ESPN’s forte (excluding Joe Morgan) and has certainly helped revive the game.

In addition, baseball has capitalized on the satellite radio boom, selling exclusive rights to XM Radio for $650 million.

Here’s the dilemma: For all this exposure and renewed interest, including the explosion of sites like this one, I don’t see any evidence to indicate it’s driving more people to fill seats down at the ballpark.

In this information age, does a capacity crowd matter as much as we think it should when the baseball experience is being achieved through other avenues?

No. 2: Close your eyes and think: Which area of the Phillies roster scares you the most? If you said "bullpen," you’re not alone.

The latest rumor should calm your anxiety. According the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phils are discussing a deal that would send David Bell to the Dodgers for 26-year-old reliever Duaner Sanchez. Happy Holidays if it happens; Sanchez is exactly what the bullpen needs. (Trivia: Name the last Phillies player who wore glasses.)

No. 3: If Philadelphia is a football town, it sure doesn’t feel like it this morning after the Eagles’ 26-23 overtime loss to New York. Suddenly, tonight’s game between the Timberwolves and Sixers (7 p.m. at the Wachovia Center) could blaze a new trail where sports interest is headed.

No. 4: Now that Washington has traded for Alfonso Soriano, where does he play? The displaced second-baseman said he refuses to play in the outfield. Standing in his way is veteran Expo/National Jose Vidro, who could be on the market.

Soriano is an awful second baseman, always has been, always will be. The best move for Alfonso would be to move to the outfield while he’s still relatively young.

Don’t be such a pouty-face, Alfonso. Grab your glove and trot out to right, and while you're at it, try working those big hacks into nice, level line drives to the gaps of vast RFK.

No. 5: Phillies radio broadcaster Tom McCarthy has a new gig calling games for New York Mets. T-Mac will be missed for his modern approach, enthusiasm and knowledge of the rest of teams in baseball. He was a refreshing change because he thought outside the Phillies broadcast box. A little peppier, too.

No. 6: Last but not least, congratulations to Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny for winning the Butkus Award for top linebacker in the country. The honor gives "Linebacker U" its second Butkus Award in six years. LaVar Arrington won it in 1999.

No match: Gillick stands pat at winter meetings

Speculating on the intentions of new GM Pat Gillick and the Phillies has been as intriguing as the hot stove itself.

The annual winter meetings have wrapped up without the Phillies making a significant deal. Around the league, a boatload of rapid-fire small trades and signings have occurred, including small pike Jose Mesa heading for the Rocky Mountains, and trophy bass Alfonso Soriano coming to Washington for a handful of chum.

Meanwhile, the Phillies have been all talk, no action, making the rounds and spreading word that no player is off the table. Assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr., interviewed this morning on WIP radio, said he hasn’t slept for days, working non-stop on deals to improve the club.

Amaro Jr. believes a significant trade could still happen in the next week or two, and says a number of clubs have been trying to match up on two, three or four-way deals. He addressed the Bobby Abreu situation, saying they’ve been in contact with his agents. Abreu is considered the Phillies best chance to net a top pitcher in a trade.

It’s no secret the Phillies need pitching, and though Amaro Jr. didn’t address this situation specifically, it’s clear the Phils brass and others have realized free agency is never a good option this or any season.

Besides the deep-pocketed Mets, there isn’t a team that improved their chances all that much this way, including the Blue Jays, who have committed about $100 million to two free agent pitchers. For all that spending, there’s no guarantee Toronto is going anywhere but third in their division.

So far, the Phillies have backed off from spending ridiculous money on free agents. The X-factor of course is free agents must be willing to play in Philadelphia. This is rarely the case. It’s mostly the opposite.

One senses Gillick would rather put an end the Phils' dependency on free agency once and for all, a wise decision for the long haul. All it’s done for the Phillies is lead them down a dark tunnel to nowhere. They came in much lower than the Mets on Billy Wagner, and didn't make offers to any of their other free agents.

In addition, reports in both the Daily News and Inquirer yesterday said the Phils may settle for moving Ryan Madson to the starting rotation, where he hasn’t seen regular time since the minor leagues. The Phils believe he will benefit from having regular work instead of frequent work out of the pen, where he was overused and was consequently burnt by September.

Beerleaguer take
Whether or not Madson works out in this new capacity, the benefit is the team is solving a problem internally. As a fan, I am willing to roll with the punches if this is Gillick’s strategy. Gillick is trying to fix a dirty mess created long before his tenure, and the idea of giving players like Shane Vicorino or Carlos Ruiz a shot is somewhat appealing.

Today, the Phillies are no closer to the playoffs than they were last season; maybe they’re even further from it. However, this is still the same NL East that was a toss-up for much of the 2005 season. Albeit Wagner and Urbina-less, this is the same club that finished two Tim Worrell blown saves from the NL Wild Card.

Yes, the question marks are many, but no more than a middle-of-the-pack White Sox team faced last winter.

Free agent pitching window closing fast

With top free agent prize A.J. Burnett and others signing on the dotted line, a stark reality has set in: The Phillies must cut a deal with another team soon or settle for a less-desirable free agent.

As Jayson Stark reported yesterday on ESPN.com, the Phillies, frustrated by the trade market, are prepared to test free agency, where pickings are slim.

Beerleaguer take
Before free agent pitchers started dropping off the board, I was one of the few people who believed there was OK pitching talent to be had cheaply through free agency, but not a single No. 1 in the entire bunch. Then Paul Byrd and Esteban Loaiza both signed deals for $7-7.5 million a season. So much for economy. I felt it was worth making an offer to Loaiza as a No. 4 or 5, but nothing close to the 3-year, $21 million deal he received from Oakland.

I have a hunch we should get used to the name Matt Morris, one of few remaining arms available who could possibly help the Phillies. The Phillies are reportedly interested. Realistically, what else is left in the free agent market? This would be a similar signing to Jon Lieber last season, a steady arm who, in theory, will come to Citizen’s Bank Park and induce ground balls. The downside of course is Morris is about as sexy as Lieber and not the No. 1 they need. In truth, there isn't a pitcher like that available. The best is Kevin Millwood, who did not work as their No. 1 pitcher two seasons ago.

I’m curious to know: How many of you pictured Matt Morris in a Phillies uniform at one point? I've been thinking about it since September. In the back of my mind, this move has been a long time coming, as has a trade for Ted Lilly of the Blue Jays, which is also not out of the question.

1. Lieber
2. Myers
3. Morris
4. Lilly
5. Lidle

The Phillies still have chips, including David Bell and Jason Michaels. I would move either of them straight-up for a pitching prospect, relief pitcher or in a package for a No. 4 or 5 like Lilly.

The Phillies cannot wait long. A preliminary offer to Morris is a likely next step.

Let's make a deal: Phils have Dodgers' ear

Desperate for pitching, the GM Pat Gillick and the Phillies are making the rounds at Winter Meetings. Here are the latest hot stove discussion points from Todd Zolecki's Wednesday-morning piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

• The Phillies are expected to talk with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a third time to discuss a deal that would send Bobby Abreu and possibly David Bell to the Dodgers for Derek Lowe and Brad Penny. Lowe and Penny are in the second year of expensive multi-year contracts.

• Sources say the Phils are “trying like crazy” to move David Bell. Zolecki sites one agent who said the Phils are willing to eat part of his contract.

• Other pitchers listed as “available” in trades included left-hander Odalis Perez of the Dodgers and former Phillies pitcher Adam Eaton of the San Diego Padres.

• Zolecki also reminds readers of the Blue Jay’s current situation after the signing of free agent A.J. Burnett. The Jays have a number of extra arms, including Ted Lilly, who has been involved in hot stove rumors since the dawn of the hot stove.

Beerleaguer take
The most important idea worth taking away from this piece is the Phillies are desperate to add pitching without taking on more salary. News that third baseman David Bell is being shopped so intensively, in addition to the persistency of rumors involving Abreu, leads one to believe that cutting salary is as much of a priority this offseason as adding the parts needed to win a championship. 

Now that I have your attention ...

The Phillies would never admit to cheering on the failures of their next-door neighbors, but somewhere in the front office, an executive is smiling.

Eagles nation bid farewell to the 2005 season last night, among other things. After a 42-0 rout at the hands of the Seahawks, the most lopsided in the history of Monday Night Football and one of the worst in franchise history, all signs point toward the crumbling of Camelot.

The good news is next season will bring a fresh start, less drama and a healthy return for quarterback Donovan McNabb. The bad news is there are too many holes to assume a Super Bowl return, let alone a playoff return. In the time it takes to revamp the Xs and Os this summer at Lehigh, a new class of talented teams, including Seattle, will have emerged younger, hungrier and better. Self-motivation, effort and the desire to win will be critical.

But don’t count on it. Even the best teams don’t stay on top for long.

How does this effect the Phillies, a justifiable second-fiddle to a team that played in the Super Bown just 10 months ago? To start, it's less of a distraction. How much more attention can possibly be paid to a season that is now being regarded as a bump in the road? How much more can be written or discussed on sports radio?

How much more before it all goes out of style?

The Phillies should view this opportunity as chance to rocket back into the spotlight, even if it takes opening their wallet a little wider. The hiring of an experienced GM like Pat Gillick has sparked new interest, and I would even go so far as to say "confidence." An even bigger splash would occur if they deal for a stud pitcher, which is what the team needs most. As reports have indicated, don’t be surprised if it becomes a reality, though time is running out. Nothing puts people in the seats like winning.

Based on this new Eagles development, the Phillies can start their own chapter in December, impossible to do the last few seasons. They already have a solid foundation worth seeing. Players like Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley finished red-hot. They’re young, they’re hungry. They’re just plain exciting.

Wouldn’t it be something to hear a “Phillies” chant instead of an “Eagles” chant in Citizen’s Bank Park this summer, or will fans turn their backs and walk away, just like thousands did last night at halftime?

Either way, your hometown nine is closer to the prize than the team in green, by virtue of their 0-0 record.

Mathieson finishes AFL as top-rated pitcher

Pitcher Scott Mathieson is just one Phillies prospect opening eyes this fall.

It was a long, hot summer for the Phillies’ depleted farm system. Voted dead last in development by Baseball America, the Phils saw a number of prospects head off to instructional leagues and Latin America this fall, hoping to smooth out the rough edges.

With the addition of two renowned pitching prospects, Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood, who came to the Phillies by way of the Jim Thome trade, the Phillies have made notable strides since September as they look toward restocking a bone-dry pond. Gonzalez and Haigwood, both left-handers, are advanced enough to be counted among the five-best prospects in the entire system. It's also possible GM Pat Gillick will deal for more prospects during and after the winter meetings.

After Cole Hamels, named top prospect in the system, the next pitcher on Baseball America’s list is right-hander Scott Mathieson, a native of British Columbia, Canada, ranked fourth-best player in the organization.

In its latest issue, Baseball America features several Phillies including Mathieson. The magazine rated the 21-year-old as the best pitcher from the recently completed Arizona Fall League. He beat out some fairly stiff competition, including Jered Weaver, the Angels first-round pick in the 2004 draft and brother of free agent pitcher Jeff Weaver.

Mathieson, a 17th-round pick in the June 2002 draft, dazzled scouts with his stuff, though his numbers (0-2, 6.92 ERA), don’t indicate it. At 6-3, 205 pounds, the right-hander throws a power fastball in the 92-94 range, topping out at 96, in addition to a retooled slider and change-up. If his line doesn’t sound too impressive, it helps to know more about the league itself. The AFL has a reputation as a hitters league, setting records this past fall for batting average (.296), runs-per-game (12.14) and hits per game (20.83). The average ERA was 5.40.

The most striking detail in editor Chris Kline’s coverage is how the AFL differs from playing winter ball in Latin America.

“While the AFL gets the most attention domestically for its bevy of prospects, the ones that are genuinely ready to make the leap to the big leagues in recent years are often taking the additional step of playing in Latin America.

“One thing the AFL will never be able to duplicate is the atmosphere of winter ball in Latin America. The stands are filled in nearly every park around the winter leagues, where the focus is on winning—development is clearly secondary.

“But that’s where the league presents another challenge ... players have to find different ways to motivate themselves in the AFL, mainly because they’re playing in front of 25 people—most of them scouts and front-office executives—not 25,000 singing, whistle-blowing, flag-waving fans.”

One player who wasn't afraid to take the plunge into Latin America is outfielder Chris Roberson, who’s spending his winter gaining experience with Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League.

Despite his advanced age (26), the slashing MVP of Eastern League is still considered a work in progress. Though he had a strong season in Double-A Reading, hitting .311, with 15 homers and 34 stolen bases, Roberson believes the competitive experience and more looks against better pitching will put him a step ahead for next season. It did the trick for Jorge Cantu and Jonny Gomes of the Devil Rays; both players used the MPL as a springboard toward their breakout seasons in 2005. Roberson's coach, Pat Kelly, coach of Triple-A Richmond in the Braves organization, said he has a chance to become an everyday player someday.

In Venezuela, the Phillies are keeping an eye on a pitcher who could turn into next season’s Robinson Tejeda. Right-hander Yoel Hernandez is burning heat as the closer for Zulia. The 25-year-old, 6-foot-2 right-hander has been groomed as a closer since 2003, had 2004 elbow surgery, and is well on the road to recovery. Hernandez has a 1.25 ERA as a closer this fall, showing marked improvement on control.

As Jim Salisbury writes in his capsule for Baseball America, if he keeps improving, he could be a contributor in Philadelphia in 2006.

“You’re always looking for guys from within,” assistant GM Mike Arbuckle told Salisbury. “The reality is they’re often less expensive and turn out to be just as good as someone that might cost big money to fill the same roll.”

Next season, look for Mathieson to pitch in Reading, Roberson to start in Scranton, and Hernandez to enter spring training as a darkhorse candidate for the Phillies bullpen.

News Flash: Phils reach agreement with Gordon

The Phillies and free agent reliever Tom Gordon reached a preliminary agreement on three-year, $18-million contract Thursday night.

The 38-year-old right-hander was 5-4 with a 2.57 ERA and two saves for the Yankees, serving as setup man for closer Mariano Rivera. According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, GM Pat Gillick and the Phillies settled on this deal by offering a guaranteed third year, a deal that will allow Gordon to return to the closer role.

Gordon's best season as a closer came in 1998 with Boston, when he had 46 saves in 73 games. The last time he had 20 or more saves was in 2001.

The deal is pending on a physical, which is likely to happen Saturday, according to the AP.

Beerleaguer take
The most important issue it seems is fatigue and age.

The Yankees weren't afraid of burdening Flash with a heavy load, logging 80.2 innings last season and 89.2 innings the season before. In 2004, he was gassed, but last season, he worked a little less and didn't seem as drained by October. Comparatively, Wagner logged 77.2 innings.

Contractually, I'm not especially bothered by the price, or the length. I should be, but I'm not. He also hasn't been a closer in a while, and he'll almost be 41 by the end of the contract, but somehow, I'm indifferent. I was more intrigued by the other signing of the day.

For that, keep reading the post below. For now, I'm resigned to the fact that Flash is the closer, and the Phillies haven't put themselves in better shape by developing this position internally.

Signing spree continues; Phils ink catcher Fasano

The Phillies signed free agent backup catcher Sal Fasano to a one-year, $425,000 contract Thursday, a move that ends Todd Pratt’s tenure in Philadelphia and clears a path for rookie Carlos Ruiz.

This isn't about Todd Pratt, his contract or his age.

This isn't about Sal Fasano and his 11 home runs last season.

This have everything to do with clearing room for a young catcher.

Carlos Ruiz, the time has come.

Or at least it should.

In a news release issued by the Phillies, assistant GM Ruben Amaro Jr. spun it this way: "He [Fasano] will be a good complement to Mike Lieberthal. He's a winning player, which is the kind of character we are trying to bring to our club."

All spin. At best, I see Fasano beginning the year with the Phils, and at some point, being designated for assignment and assigned to Scranton. Ruiz comes up, Fasano goes down.

If you've never heard of Sal Fasano, you're not alone. The 34-year-old spent most of his career in the Triple-A circuit before something of a career year as a backup in Baltimore. If all goes as hoped, he can follow up by serving as Ruiz and Lieberthal's second-half insurance policy in Scranton where he'd be more at home. He is a minor league catcher, plain and simple. And as sad as it sounds, the Phillies actually needed Triple-A catching. Tim Gradoville and Trett Pratt, the hold-overs from Double-A Reading, hit .205 and .196 respectively.

Either way, Fasano must feel pretty good about this deal. He's a .222 career hitter in the bigs, and smacked a career-high 11 homers in 160 at-bats with the Orioles last season, batting .250 with a .785 OPS. Like Pratt, the right-hand-hitting journeyman was great against left-handers (1.145 OPS), and got into 64 games, compared to 60 for Tank. Before that, he spent the previous two seasons in Triple-A and has bounced around the Royals, A's, Angels and Rockies organizations since 1993.

Of course, this is all speculation until I wait for tomorrow's early edition, but Fasano's signing and Pratt's apparent departure can't be about age, and really can't be about money. As backup catchers go, what’s the difference between 34 and 39 when they’re playing once or twice a week? Their production was almost identical. I didn’t see anything last season that would indicate Pratt had slowed down.

Financially, this signing saves about $500,000. Some would say Pratt actually outplayed his contract just in the way he handled Jon Lieber and the rest of the staff, but if the intention is to groom talent, why resign him?

It would be nice to keep him if only for sentimental reasons, but now I see the logic in saying goodbye. Earlier, I thought it was a good idea to resign Pratt because of all the intangibles, but good teams know when it's time to let youth prevail.

Pratt was a loyal soldier, a good catcher and a superb handler of the pitching staff. He will be missed.

Choo-Choo! Fasano who?
Carlos Ruiz earned the nickname "Chooch" by teammates in Reading, and I love it, and hope to spread it.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old Ruiz has been on the rise ever since taking over full-time catching duties two seasons ago. With the Barons, he continued the upward trend, batting .300 with 4 homers, 25 doubles and - get this - 9 triples! He did all this after suffering a broken leg in a home-plate collision and missing significant time. He's continued the hot hitting in winter ball, where at last check, he was hitting .323 for Licey of the Dominican League. In addition to offense, he was named best defensive catcher in the International League by Baseball America.

Chooch, who stands about 5-7 (three inches shorter than the media guide 5-10) has developed into a godsend surprise for a team that forgot to develop catching between 2002 and the present.

Offensively, he has a chance to strengthen the weakest part of the Phils offense if he can transition to the bigs. Despite a second-best NL run total (807), the Phillies were extra-base hits and doubles deficient until the final month of the season, when a September surge catapulted them to seventh in the league in extra-base knocks (484). The Phils could use a good young gapper like this.

Exit Pratt.

Enter Fasano.

Ruiz is setting his sites on No. 2 in the company depth charts.

As far as I'm concerned, he's already there.

Manny would sell Phillies short on character

According to the NY Post, talks between the Phillies and Red Sox are heating up.

Beerleaguer take: A straight-up deal involving Bobby Abreu and Manny Ramirez does not get the Phillies any closer to the prize.

Pat Gillick should be in the market for a frontline starter, not offense, so if the team is serious about Manny, it must be with the intention of trading him for pitching.

In addition, how many times have we read that officials from around the league consider the Phillies the least self-motivated bunch in baseball? How does Manny help the Phillies in that regard? Who does Manny play for?

Picking one over the other, ballplayer for ballplayer, I'd rather have Manny than Abreu, but the financial and spiritual cost are just too high.

On paper, the Phils have had a playoff-caliber offense for three years. Lack of motivation cannot be unrelated to their failures. The bats are good enough, but pitching, and drive, needs an overhaul. While Manny will be long on the longball, he will sell the Phils short on self-motivation.

The Phillies have improved three departments with the addition of Aaron Rowand, right-handed pop, defense and heart. They've got dough in their pockets by trading Jim Thome and letting Billy Wagner choke on his $43 million. Do not take a step back by adding, and keeping, Manny.

Update: This morning, Jayson Stark of ESPN wrote that this deal is "highly unlikely."

The primary reason is that the Phillies have been telling teams they are only interested in trading Abreu for top-of-the-rotation starting pitching. The second is that there is a major money imbalance. Ramirez has $57 million coming over the next three years. Abreu has two years, $30 million left on his deal. Both players can veto any trades.

The only way this trade could happen, then, is if the Red Sox were interested in trading a starting pitcher along with Ramirez, AND evening out all the money.

"Manny Ramirez" + "Bobby Abreu" + "Trade"

Dear new reader who came upon Beerleaguer looking for information on an a trade involving Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu and Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez ...

... I've got nothing. Keep looking.

In the meantime, I appreciate the generous spike in hits. Feel free to enjoy our most recent blog discussions, and good luck in your pursuit.