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Phillies bullpen primer: With Rhodes, board is set

The Phillies will head into spring training with a diverse collection of veterans and untested talent in the bullpen.

Last week, the Phillies made a trade to bring veteran reliever Arthur Rhodes to town for Jason Michaels. Michaels is expected to challenge for a starting job in Cleveland, while Rhodes will begin the season as the Phillies’ primary setup man.

Any way you slice it, the Phillies benefit – the only question is whether the team stood to benefit more. Several readers found it bothersome that in deals similar to this – a young player for an aging player with big salary – some GMs have been able to wrangle out a prospect or cash. Others thought Rhodes was simply too long of tooth and preferred a younger arm in return.

I haven’t lost sleep because I recite one basic rule: Good pitching doesn’t come cheap. That, and the Phillies really needed a setup man. Michaels, an outfielder who has never been a full-time starter, was not an unreasonable price to pay for Rhodes, a veteran reliever, coming to the Phils from a contending team like the Indians.

Whatever your take, it’s worth acknowledging that GM Pat Gillick has managed to avoid the dreaded long-term, lucrative free agent contract, something the previous GM knew all too well. Rhodes has one year remaining on a contract that will pay him $3.7 million. Tom Gordon, a move the GM had little choice to make after saying no to Billy Wagner’s outrageous demands, represents the only reliever who stands to make good money off the Phillies past 2006. Beside those two - 36 and 38-years old respectively - the Phillies will test a number of younger options with varied experience to fill out the bottom of the bullpen.

With a major push to get Ryan Madson into the starting rotation, the Phillies would have played mix and match with a number of untested arms to begin the season had it not been for the addition of Rhodes. Maybe one or two from a list that includes Aaron Fultz, Julio Santana and Ricardo Rodriguez had a chance to shake into the back end, but there isn't a team in baseball that wants to test unknown pitchers in pressure spots early. In April, managers are still trying to identify strengths and weaknesses and form a clear understanding who can help them and who can’t. In other words, if you think Charlie Manuel can tell after a month of spring training whether Rule 5 selection Chris Booker can handle the seventh inning, think again.

In the meantime, they have Rhodes, a left-hander with proven success to begin 2006 in the setup role. Behind both he and Gordon, Manuel has a cushion to select from number of diverse pitchers to fill out the rest of the bullpen.

Things can change between seasons, but most of the veteran choices are fairly easy. Fultz was an unheralded hero of from last season and earned a well-deserved raise before arbitration. Santana was added via free agency and is likely to earn a spot, though early projections that he could maintain a seventh-inning role seem premature, let alone a spot in the majors. Geoff Geary had a surprise year, posting a 3.74 ERA while used in a similar B-list capacity as Fultz. He stepped up big in several spots. And Rheal Cormier, a hold-over from the Ed Wade era, should improve over 2005 and could be counted on in a situational role, but at this point, he is fighting for his career. It wouldn't surprise me to see his release.

Gordon, Rhodes, Fultz, Santana, Geary and Cormier gives the Phillies three right, three left with an average, crudely-factored ERA of 3.50, pretty good considering Cormier threw up a 5.89. There are better ways to calculate that, but it should give a sense that the pitchers with experience can produce fair results.

Creativity can be used to fill out a final spot or two from a pool of inexperienced talent, with a chance one or two of them can be developed into something more. Chris Booker, a hard-throwing reliever from the Reds organization, must make the 25-man roster or be offered back to the Washington Nationals, who have the rights to the right-hander. Rodriguez could earn a spot, but he’s been used primarily as a starting pitcher during his time in Texas and Cleveland. It seems more likely he will begin the season in Scranton. Robinson Tejeda and Eude Brito, who surprised some fans last season, have decent shots at sticking, but aren’t the sure-bets some think they are to provide capable relief. I give the edge to Tejeda to stick in a mop-up role. In addition, Aquilino Lopez, picked up on waivers last season, figures to get some work, but hasn’t had much consistent success and has only seen limited action with non-contenders. The team may be inclined to take a harder look at Travis Minix, who pitched an entire season of strong relief in the minor leagues. In addition, count hard-throwing closer Yoel Hernandez as a darkhorse to make the club. Right-hander Brian Sanches could also see action this spring.

On tap: Everything you wanted to know about Flash: An audio education from the Phillies’ new closer.

Phillies need pop in a pinch; Hidalgo still available

Mike Piazza signs a 1-year, $2 million contract with San Diego, thus removing one more body off the list of free agent sluggers. In the meantime, outfielder Richard Hidalgo, who is younger and has hit more home runs in fewer at bats than Piazza the past two seasons, remains available.

The Phillies still seek a primary power threat for the bench, and thanks to Piazza’s low asking price, he may have driven down the cost for some of the sluggers who are still available, including Hidalgo, even though reports are Piazza accepted the small deal with the understanding he will become the Padres’ full-time catcher.

Last season with Texas, Hidalgo hit .221 with 16 home runs in 308 at bats, relegated to a reserve role with the slugging Rangers by the end of the season. But as recently as 2003, Hidalgo hit .309 with a whopping .572 slugging and 28 homers with Houston. In nine seasons, the 31-year-old has 171 homers, finding most of his power against right-handed pitching.

Without adding another player, the Phillies will assemble a bench from a list of candidates that could inlcude Tomas Perez, Sal Fasano, Carlos Ruiz, Matt Kata, Shane Victorino, Abraham Nunez and Chris Roberson, none with the same pop as Hidalgo. Other candidates, such as power-hitting minor leaguer Josh Kroeger may benefit from continued development in the minor leagues.

Defensively, Hidalgo has seen most of his action in right field and could be counted on as insurance for fellow Venezuelan Bobby Abreu, the man he beat out in Houston when then-GM Gerry Hunsicker allowed Abreu to go to Tampa Bay, and then on to Philadelphia.

But mostly, the Phils need a power bat to deliver a well-timed home run in a pinch situation, something they haven’t had for several seasons. The Padres got Piazza to sign on the dotted line for $2 million with bonus money and an expensive option for 2007. Hidalgo, a displaced corner outfielder, might be had for less.

Trade possibilities
Another possibility could be a small trade with a number of American League teams holding on to extra outfielders with pop, including Tampa Bay (Aubrey Huff, Damon Hollins) or Oakland (Jay Payton, Bobby Kielty). Huff is versatile enough to play several positions including first base, and is better against left-handed pitching than Ryan Howard. The Oakland pair could be had cheaply. Payton launched 18 homers last season, 11 at home. The A's picked up his $4 million option in October, but with the signing of Frank Thomas, he could be expendable.

Gillick calls Kata darkhorse candidate
Answering questions during an online chat Friday, Phillies GM Pat Gillick said infielder Matt Kata is a darkhorse to break camp out of spring training.

If you’re like me, you’ve spent no less than a half hour mulling over the subtext of this comment. For those of you who don’t remember the name, Kata came over in the deal that sent Tim Worrell to Arizona but saw very limited action with the Phillies.

In singling out Kata, Gillick has actually picked the bench candidate with the most big-league experience, save for Nunez and Perez. Like those two, he can play the entire infield.

If you subscribe to the idea that Gillick makes public comments to downplay expectations in order to motivate players, then his answer is right up your alley. Several infielders, including minor leaguer Danny Sandoval, will battle with Kata over that spot. Those with an edgier take could read this as a challenge to Tomas Perez’s stranglehold on the super-utility position.

Belly up to the bar with Charlie Manuel

Beerleaguer's conversation with Charlie Manuel is now available for download.

Speaking at Wednesday's Winter Tour stop in Reading, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was the highlight of the night, for me, and for the 650 in attendance. He had the room in stitches after reciting a seldom-read poem, and also broke the ice by telling the crowd to boo as loud as possible to make him feel more at home.

Before the public event, I spoke with the second-year Phillies manager for about 10 minutes. More like a conversation at a bar than an interview, Manuel opened up about a number of issues, including his thoughts on prospects, David Bell and his own handling of the team last season.

My interview starts by asking a question about a veteran set-up man and unfolds into a fun, candid discussion. Another reporter also chimes in for a few questions.

Here is a 9.8 MB mp3 format file, and it lasts about 10 minutes. [link]

Let me know if you have any issues downloading this file and I will provide another format.

Phils, Tribe, reach agreement on Michaels-for-Rhodes

The Associated Press has reported that the Phillies and Cleveland Indians have reached agreement Friday on the infamous Jason Michaels-for-Arthur Rhodes trade. Sources close to the deal told the AP that Rhodes was in Philadelphia today taking a physical. Pending the results, this deal has not been finalized.

A beer on the wall

Observations from Wednesday's Phillies Winter Tour media session in Reading. Guests include Phillies GM Pat Gillick, manager Charlie Manuel, veteran closer Tom Gordon, center fielder Aaron Rowand, homecoming king Ryan Howard, and a dizzy blogger.

It's 4 p.m. Thursday and my head is still spinning.

The media session, my first crack at access to the men I write essays about five times a week, was everything I expected and more, amazing in both scope of the questions being asked by reporters and the incredible depth in the answers provided by players.

About 15 reporters from newspaper, radio and television were in attendance, so access was pretty wide open. My strategy was to stay out of the way of the papers and television crews and try to ask my kinds of questions if time permitted. Making the rounds, I heard very few questions about starting pitching, Arthur Rhodes or Mike Piazza. Instead, these were fundamental baseball questions designed to bring readers closer to what they can actually expect next season.

A fly on the wall for the first few minutes, I eventually found enough guts to start asking questions. Mike Drago from the Reading Eagle and another reporter had Gordon's ear first and I stepped in and turned on my recorder. There was already a quiet, intense discussion about the nuances of relief pitching; Drago was asking all the right questions, and Gordon's answers were honest, clear and confident. Seeing my chance, I piped in with my own question, which rated about a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10 for smoothness.

"What about the other 40 percent, the physical side of pitching. How do you feel?"

To set this up, Gordon had earlier revealed to Drago that the closer position was 65-70 percent mental toughness, the rest physical. For some reason, I quipped "40 percent." Besides being 5-10 percent off, what a stupid question in the first place.

"I feel fine," he responded, and that was basically it.

A true beer leaguer among professionals, I thought. I got the impression the question had been asked before, but I was off in la-la land and had missed it. The next reporter asked his next question, approaching it the way I should have approached it. He asked Flash to explain whether concerns over his age were justified, and Flash gave a long, detailed answer. After that, I didn’t ask another question from Flash.

As the session progressed, I got my confidence back. I moved on to Aaron Rowand next, who was answering questions about defense to a guy in a goatee from KYW-1060 radio. These were the types of questions I wanted to ask – defense – because it’s something off the beaten path. Beerleaguer all the way.

I was impressed at Rowand's technical understanding of outfield, which compliments his more-publicized fearlessness. I got a sense he loves to play outfield and will be a true captain playing alongside Pat and Bobby, which is what he called them. That interview lasted about 5 minutes until I mercifully let one of the best two or three defensive outfielders in the world be to himself. It looked like he’d been at this press parade thing for days. His eyes were red.

About 30 minutes into it, Charlie Manuel opened up to be interviewed. What a blast. By the end, he was patting me on the back. I talked to him one-on-one for about 15 minutes and I could tell we were there for the same reason -- we both loved baseball. He's highly unquotable, however. There’s no filter there; it’s just a stream of baseball and unbridled enthusiasm. But his rapid-fire honestly is infectious. I told him why I thought he deserved more credit for certain things last season and read from a list I prepared earlier. When I finished, he was beaming, as if no one had ever given him a compliment in his life.

(Once we get the software installed, that interview is coming off my borrowed recorder and will be posted on this site. Among issues discussed included David Bell's defense, Chris Roberson and Carlos Ruiz.)

With ten minutes left in the session, Gillick opened up. He was sitting in a dark corner, his face stretched from melting away during too many of these shindigs. I had his ear, one-on-one, for about five minutes and asked whether his approach at evaluating talent had changed this time around. Not really, he said. I asked about Carlos Ruiz and the catcher spot, and both he and Manuel agree the backup job is wide open for him this spring. Manuel indicated they were actually talking about Ruiz on the bus ride to the hotel. I concluded by asking him whether the Thome for Rowand trade was designed to improve defense in any way, and he said he had asked the manager whether he was satisfied with team defense when he first arrived, and Manuel said that he was. I didn’t like that answer. It didn’t give me a good feeling about Manuel’s toughness and need to expect only the best. I also asked if steps were being taken to improve the minor leagues, and Gillick said winning at all levels was important. It was a very standard interview, even for a blogger interviewing a general manager who has won world titles. I was underwhelmed.

Right at the end, I packed my stuff away and prepared to leave. My bag was under a chair right next to the spot Gillick was sitting. I asked him if he thought there was a chance the Phillies could be this year’s White Sox. He said the White Sox had Buehrle, Contreras, Garcia, Hernandez and Garland, and then he just sort of stared at me.

Guess not.

Piazza, minor league rosters, discussed at Winter Tour

The Phillies Winter Tour docked in Reading last night for the event’s largest gathering this winter. The Reading Eagle has the early report from the event that drew 650 fans, the largest among the Winter Tour stops.

• Reading Eagle writers Phil Gianficaro and Mike Drago combine for a breaking news piece that addresses a number of issues, including the Mike Piazza rumors and word on Randy Wolf’s return. Read more about it here.
• Also in that article, Phillies farm director Steve Noworyta delivers word that pitcher Cole Hamels will begin the season in Reading, as will catcher Jason Jaramillo. Outfielder Michael Bourn, projected to return to Double-A, will actually begin the year in Triple-A. Here's an updated link to Drago's R-Phils blog for a feature on Bourn. [link]
• In addition, Gianficaro sat down with National League Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard to discuss his future. Read about it here:
• Mike Drago had Tom Gordon’s ear to ask about the nuances of relief pitching. Flash says his time in New York was a valuable learning experience: Read about it here.
• I’ll have my take on last night’s winter tour later. In a Beerleaguer first, I was provided access to the media session, including a 15-minute face-to-face with manager Charlie Manuel.

Dichotomy

When it comes to relief pitching, and life, athletes and writers offer contrasting interpretations.

Ever notice how writers, columnists and academics embrace the mental part of baseball, while players and coaches gravitate toward the physical side of the game?

Today’s column by Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer is a stunning example of this process at work. Writing today about Flash Gordon’s insertion into the closer role, Sheridan draws this conclusion:

"At this point in his career, Gordon still can bring some heat. But his success or failure this year will have more to do with his mental toughness and his ability to focus when the game is on the line."

Sheridan interviews Gordon, Charlie Manuel and center fielder Aaron Rowand for his piece. Rowand offered this take of Flash.

"I played with him in Chicago and against him when he was in New York," new Phillies centerfielder Aaron Rowand said. "He's still got electric stuff. Other than maybe Bobby Jenks, who throws 100 m.p.h., he's hands-down the most effective closer I've ever been around."

Sheridan must have been keenly aware of the dynamic between author and subject when assembling the parts for this piece, an excellent study of how to draw contrasting interpretations from your quotes.

Columnists, and probably some bloggers, too, are speculative, theoretical and hyper-analytical. As a reader, whether one believes mental toughness or electric stuff is priority one for the closer position (a little of both probably), there is a preordained staging that puts Flash in a wooden maze chasing cheese, and Sheridan in a white lab coat holding the clipboard. He is the scientist; Flash is his subject.

As writers, we love to assign players with labels like "student of the game," as if we are dressing them up for private school. We say "There. Isn't that better? You don't want to stand of the sideline in a dirty uniform with the rest of the lowlifes, scraping by on physical gifts alone. It's positively awful! Have fun at school, Peyton."

Ever notice how self-aware columnists get on shows like Daily News Live whenever they venture too far into the playing field? For example, Dick Jerardi may talk about Donovan McNabb's leadership only to a certain point before sheepishly giving way to guest commentator Jon Runyan.

Strangely, Runyan's take goes unwanted, though his information is coming directly from the horse’s mouth. Perhaps it's all a matter of context. Other ex-athletes, like Ron Jaworski, have made a smooth transition to punditry, while others, like Runyan and Post-Game Live's Vaughn Hebron, are still years away from full nerdification. Not Jaws. Jaws is one of us.

Lines are carved into the sand in sports writing, too, and heaven forbid a player physically crosses that line. Then we really get pissed.

In writing, tough, foreign-sounding phrases, like "lights-out" or "slam-the-door closer" must always give way to a softer cushion, which was sort of the premise behind today's Sheridan column: It takes more than just lights-out stuff to win the mental battle of baseball.

Here’s another line from Sheridan piece that must have felt awkward to write. Notice how it sucks the fun out of baseball:

"Wagner's radar gunplay is gone, transplanted up to Shea Stadium. Although there was entertainment value in watching for that magic 100 m.p.h. to appear on the scoreboard, there is more to success in this role than sheer velocity."

Sometimes there’s not. Bobby Jenks, who Rowand previously considered one of the best closers he'd ever been around, spent half of the season in Double-A before arriving with the White Sox in July to unleash his cannon. Gordon has always had one of the best curveballs in baseball.

It's an age-old debate that transcends sports: What's more important, to be physically or mentally tough.

Perhaps it goes back to the dawn of time. Long ago, a caveman created fire. He "brought the heat." Ever since then, man has studied it and harnessed it, but it will never be as pure as it was to that caveman.

Mota reportedly flunks exam: Cleveland deal pending

610 WIP radio is now reporting that Red Sox reliever Guillermo Mota has flunked his physical and will not be dealt to Cleveland, a deal that would have reportedly paved the way for the Phillies to trade outfielder Jason Michaels to the Indians for reliever Arthur Rhodes.

Yo, Pat! You're in the National League!

ESPN’s Jayson Stark is reporting the Phillies are in preliminary talks with free agent Mike Piazza.

Beerleaguer take
The Phillies are reportedly interested in providing a compliment to Mike Lieberthal behind the plate, a right-handed bat to spot Ryan Howard at first, and added power off the bench to help guide the Phillies past the rest of the AL West, er, NL East.

It’s striking what little faith the Phillies appear to have in Ryan Howard’s ability to hit left-handed pitching, almost like they’d rather not attempt to develop it. They shielded him against bad match-ups last season and he never fell into a slump.

Also striking is that the Phillies would rather see Lieberthal catch four days a week, which is another way of saying 'part-time,' which is another way of saying the sun is setting on Lieby's career.

Pie Man longevity a thing of national wonder

Tomas Perez must be well liked. There’s no other way to explain his amazing longevity with the Phillies and insertion on the Venezuelan provisional roster in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

No matter how poorly Perez hits (.233 BA, .277 SLG last season) he keeps going and going. He doesn’t even hit in Venezuelan winter ball, where he’s steadily outdone by minor leaguers. This winter, he hit .261 with one homer and a .316 on-base percentage in 197 at bats. Comparatively, Danny Sandoval, a minor leaguer with the Phillies, hit .317 with three homers and a .505 slugging percentage in 100 at bats.

As the provisional rosters were announced last Wednesday, it’s no surprise to see Pie Man’s inclusion on Venezuela, where he is apparently quite popular. Not unlike his status with the Phillies, he’s arguably the worst hitter on the roster. His role projects as a similar one with the Phils: Eating seeds, gazing at fans and cheering on Bobby Abreu.

With or without him, Venezuela will be mighty tough, perhaps a favorite based on their starting trio alone: Johan Santana, Freddy Garcia and Carlos Zambrano. Playing for the pride of their country, there isn’t a team that will want to face that. In addition, they will field an arsenal of talent, led by Abreu, Omar Vizquel, Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera.

Statistically, it’s hard to understand why Perez is still nursing a two-year contract with the Phillies that will pay him $700,000 next season, unless you accept the fact that he’s been on the right team at the right time.

A versatile defender for sure, his career has certainly benefited from playing in the National League. Having no DH creates more chances for defensive specialists who wouldn’t have the same opportunity in the American League. Some teams will carry players specifically because they’re good at bunting (Pete Orr, Atlanta). Others, like the Phils, carry two or more utility infielders, like Perez and Ramon Martinez.

Having Perez, a switch-hitter who can man all four infield positions, has made life easier for more than one manager. Plus, it’s not a roster spot teams will use in order to groom young talent. The steady playing time earned in Triple-A is worth more than an inning or two in the majors.

But now that the Phillies have signed Abraham Nunez, who can play third base and also hit, Perez appears to be sinking in the depth charts. For his sake, he better hope those pies of his can float.

Local favorite Wade Miller signs with Cubs

Berks County native and fellow Brandywine Heights graduate Wade Miller signed a $1 million deal with $1 million in incentives to pitch next season for the Chicago Cubs.

Many fans, including this one, believed Miller would have made a nice, low-cost addition to the Phillies if a deal was worked out with incentives. Miller is being viewed as a potential fifth starter and insurance policy in case Kerry Wood needs more time to recover from shoulder surgery. Miller is also on the road back from shoulder surgery and is penciled in for a May return.

Before a frayed rotator cuff ended his season in 2004, Miller was considered one of the up-and-coming right-handers in the National League. His best seasons were in 2001 and 2002 with the Astros, when he went 16-8 with a 3.40 ERA in '01 and 15-4 with a 3.28 ERA in '02.

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

The right-hander spent much of the 2005 season on the disabled list because of problems with his shoulder and was non-tendered for the second time in two years by the Red Sox in December. Seeing limited action, Miller went 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA last season.

This is a smaller deal than the one offered to him last season, which was a one-year, $1.5 million contract, including $3 million in performance bonuses based on innings and roster time.

Before today’s signing, ESPN.com had reported that the Phillies, Astros and Red Sox, among others, had expressed interest in him.

Compelling arguments lobby against Rhodes deal

Age, inconsistency are making the reported Jason Michael for Arthur Rhodes deal unpopular across the blogosphere. Two choice cuts from today's unrest:

Tom Goodman, commenting at Swing and a Miss:
Gillick cannot decide whether or not to blow off this season altogether and the acquisition of an Arthur Rhodes would simply put off the decision. Michaels is worth more than Rhodes, who may or may not have a year or two left in his legs. My guess is Gillick still thinks he is one starter away from being a serious contender for the wide open NL East, the Mets notwithstanding. He may be right, but Arthur Rhodes doesn't get him closer if it means giving up Michaels. The better decision would be to move Michaels for a propsect, be he a starter or closer. I'd rather take a chance on a prospect than bring in a place-holder.

Chris, commenting at Balls, Sticks and Stuff:
I liked the role Michaels filled last year, too, but that role no longer exists. They didn't trade Thome for Rowand to be a platoon guy. JMike's production was best when he was playing more consistently, and that's not going to happen now. A quality bullpen is a more essential commodity than a 4th outfielder. Arthur Rhodes, however, does not constitute a building block for a quality bullpen. Michaels may be the only tradeable commodity since no one wants Abreu, so Gillick has to make this trade worthwhile and bring home a good, young arm.

Phillies close to dealing Michaels to Cleveland

Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer has reported the Phillies are close to making a deal that would send outfielder Jason Michaels to Cleveland for veteran reliever Arthur Rhodes.

Sources say the deal is contingent on the Indians completing a trade that would send outfielder Coco Crisp to the Boston Red Sox for reliever Guillermo Mota and infielder Andy Marte.

Beerleaguer take
This story was first reported a few days ago by the Boston Herald, and in that report, the Phillies were looking at either the left-hander Rhodes, 36, or right-hander Rafael Betancourt, 30. Rhodes is the more expensive of the two, with one year remaining on a $3.7 million contract. He went 3-1 last season with a 2.08 ERA, missing some time with knee problems.

While Betancourt appeared to be the more attractive option, this deal still pleases me because it addresses the single biggest, most realistically attainable roster hole, and that was setup man. The residual effect is it allows a young pitcher, Ryan Madson, to enter camp with a wide open shot at making the starting rotation.

It’s tough to imagine just how important this move will be for the Phillies sitting here in January. Decimated by free agency, the Phillies have essentially replaced the troika - Billy Wagner, Ugueth Urbina and Ryan Madson - with Gordon, Rhodes and Julio Santana or Aaron Fultz, while inserting a young pitcher into the rotation. Teams could do much worse than that, considering the rest of the bullpen has some upside.

While Rhodes is almost as long of tooth as our 38-year-old closer, Rhodes will throw a lot of unfamiliarity at National League hitters. This will be his first season in the NL.

This addition will create a massive domino effect through spring training. The Phillies will be looking at close to a dozen pitchers with varying experience to fill out bottom of the bullpen. I'd wager a guess that this signing isn’t good news for Rheal Cormier. It will be interesting to see where some of the young pitchers wind up as well, including Eude Brito, Robinson Tejeda and Yoel Hernandez. The non-roster invitees, such as Travis Minix and Brian Sanches, remain long-shots.

Rhodes will be reuniting with his old boss, Pat Gillick, for a third time. Gillick saw time as general manager in Baltimore, Seattle and now the Phillies (that must be a record).

The Phillies will benefit from having some options, and I like that Gillick has essembled these choices not just through spending. Gordon, and now Rhodes, are moves Gillick had to make.

With this deal, I strongly believe the pieces are now in place as the opening day roster is now beginning to take shape, with Madson in the rotation, Rhodes in the bullpen and Bobby Abreu, the subject of many rumors, back in right field.

Update: Brian Peoples has more details on the Michaels to Cleveland situation this morning at the Philling Station, including word that the deal could actually be for Guillermo Mota or David Riske. Check it out here.

Fighting for survival, Cormier hoping for comeback

Can Rheal Cormier resurrect the arm that made him one of the game’s best relievers two seasons ago?

Under any other GM besides Ed Wade, Rheal Cormier might have been given his unconditional release in 2005. Over the course of a season, the veteran left-hander worked his way out of the back end of the bullpen and into a mop-up role where he was thrown a few biscuits here and there.

Fans argued his demotion happened much too late. His 5.89 ERA was the highest of his career not counting an injury-shortened 1997, and opponents hit .296 against him, also a career-worst. For the Phillies, it meant that yet another aging veteran, a list that included Tim Worrell and Terry Adams, had melted down all at once, leaving an area considered the pre-season strength in shambles.

Back for his sixth season with the Phils, the soon-to-be 39-year-old is just one of five left-handers with a real shot at breaking camp, four if you discount Cole Hamels, who GM Mike Arbuckle says will not be competing for a spot. The others are Aaron Fultz, Eude Brito and minor league pitcher Daniel Haigwood, who was acquired in the deal that sent Jim Thome to Chicago.

While free agent scrap-heap signing Fultz supplied the surprise boost in Cormier’s place and will enter 2006 as the Phillies top left-handed reliever, there are some who believe Brito or even Haigwood will leapfrog Cormier as well, competing for a pressure job in the bullpen or even a place in the starting rotation.

If the Wade veterans – Worrell, Cormier, Adams – hadn’t been such a failure, and had the Dominicans – Robinson Tejeda, Brito – not been such a surprise, it might be easier to remember that Cormier overcame this type of season once before and has a shot to bounce back once again.

Following a disastrous season in 2002 (60.1 IP, 5.25 ERA, 1.55 WHIP), he became one of the game’s most effective relievers the following season, posting a lights-out 1.70 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. In 2004, he slipped back toward his career average, but was still quite effective transitioning out of Veteran’s Stadium and into to Citizen’s Bank Park (3.56 ERA, 1.19 WHIP).

At his age, returning to his 2003 form may be a stretch, but a season closer to his career average is certainly within reach. Encouraging signs are that his fielding-independent ERA, or FIP ERA, was actually .72 points lower, and that he ended the season on a high note, pitching five-consecutive scoreless outings.

If no other moves are made, the Phillies will head toward 2006 with uncertainty in their bullpen. There is speculation the Phillies may be trying to deal Jason Michaels to Cleveland for a veteran reliever, either Arthur Rhodes or Rafael Betancourt. Either way, Cormier hasn’t factored into much of the discussion here, on the message boards or in the papers, but the fact is, he’s still the team’s most experienced, most proven left-handed reliever. While Fultz has earned the respect he’s been given, Brito is still a mystery, and was never a good reliever in the minor leagues. Haigwood has never pitched above Double-A.

Count Cormier among those entering camp below the radar, but also as one fighting for his baseball survival.

Schneider extension among winter's unheralded deals

The Washington Nationals should consider themselves fortunate for having secured the NL East's best catcher through 2009. The Nats agreed on a 4-year, $16 million contract extension with Northampton, Pa.-native Brian Schneider Tuesday.

The deal buys out his final two option years and his first two years of free agency. He gets $2.7 million this year, $3.5 million in 2007 and $4.9 million in each of the final two years.

His extension comes at a time when catchers are at a premium. The Phillies will need to address their own catcher position next season as Mike Lieberthal’s guaranteed contract mercifully expires.

Every GM in baseball, including Pat Gillick, is probably turning red with jealousy over this one, especially since one of the worst GMs in the game, Jim Bowden, pulled it off. It’s about $10 million cheaper than what lesser-commodity Ramon Hernandez cost Baltimore.

If the Nats’ offense wasn’t such a mess, fans might be in a better mood to celebrate. Schneider is an average offensive catcher but a fantastic defender and smooth handler of the pitching staff. Surprisingly, Bowden had considered signing free agent Bengie Molina, according to a Q&A on the team’s official Web site.

Then again, this is the same GM that locked in shortstop Cristian Guzman to a crippling four-year, $16.8 million deal, one that is almost single-handedly preventing the team from constructing a competitive offense. Playing in pitcher-friendly RFK, the Nationals were dead last in baseball in nearly all offensive categories last season, including runs scored, home runs and hits. Still, they managed to hold the NL East lead for a fair chunk of the season, almost exclusively because of Chad Cordero and their outstanding bullpen.

The team’s other deficiency is in center field, the second of two positions most likely to produce a good leadoff hitter, which is what their lineup needs most. No team could have used Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre more. Instead, they will be picking from three center field choices, including Ryan Church, Brandon Watson and former Phillie Marlon Byrd, and also give Guzman a second chance to earn his keep.

Bowden is hoping his trade for Alfonso Soriano will help in some way, shape or form. He would, if the two sides would ever come to terms in arbitration. The sides are reportedly $2 million away, and rumors persist that he will be flipped elsewhere.

Bowden is also reportedly interested in free agent Sammy Sosa, if only to batter the former slugger into retirement by teasing him inside vast RFK. It would be similar to watching a tomato shrivel up in the sun.

I would enjoy that.

Phillies have not been snowed under this winter

As the Winter Tour rolls through Philadelphia and heads toward Reading, the Phillies are making themselves visible, and accessible, this offseason.

With football, basketball and hockey in full swing, the Phillies have not faded into the Philadelphia sports landscape. Two Jan. 18 baseball columns from Phil Sheridan and Bill Conlin and two coverage articles of the Winter Tour stop yesterday are a good indication the Philadelphia papers have a surpluss of ink since the Eagles season went in the tank.

Labeled a team that does a poor job connecting with fans, the Phillies find themselves in a comparable situation as the pre-Andy Reid Eagles. Remember when they were a team without identity and direction? Now, a Super Bowl appearance later, even mediocre center Hank Fraley is on soup commercials.

That bubble appears to have burst a little, while the Phillies are only beginning to inflate theirs. Usually a forum to blow hot air, yesterday GM Pat Gillick did something completely different as the Winter Tour stopped at Citizen’s Bank Park. He was honest about his team’s situation and admitted the Phils, in their present state, are not contenders.

The honesty was contagious. Pitcher Ryan Madson was candid about his desire to start, not set-up. Brett Myers concurred, telling Comcast he’d rather see his friend in a starting role. One gets the sense the decision makers – Gillick and manager Charlie Manuel – would rather see it too, but they’re stuck.

If nothing else, it shows why set-up man, like starting pitcher, are the two big question marks this offseason. The difference is, a battle-tested set-up man could have been acquired through free agency. A number one starter, the kind that can stop a losing streak, could not, not even for $55 million, which is what the Blue Jays paid A.J. Burrett, a statistical equal to Vicente Padilla.

The Phillies may not be closer to a championship, but at the very least, they cultivated more captivating, young talent in 2005 to interest fans.

Breakout star and future face of the franchise Chase Utley was a guest on Angelo Cataldi’s show this morning. In fact, nearly all the young, dynamic players you’d want to hear from – Utley, Myers, Ryan Howard and new center fielder Aaron Rowand -- have made themselves available. Tonight, Madson and infielder Abraham Nunez will be guest bartending at McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon.

Meanwhile, the left-coast contingency of Cory Lidle, Randy Wolf and Mike Lieberthal participated in a highly publicized charity poker tournament. As for the suits, Gillick, along with assistant GM Ruben Amaro, Jr., have checked in with WIP to update the hot stove. Manuel made himself available as a guest on Comcast Daily News Live to endure the bullets immediately following the season.

If the problem is a lack of connection, you can’t fault the Phillies for not trying. The stars are aligning the right way, it seems, for the Phillies to make some kind of splash. Eyes have shifted off the Birds and are looking for the next big thing.

In the meantime, it's a good thing the papers have some ink in reserve.

Phillies in position to sign and trade Michaels

The Phillies avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million contract Monday with outfielder Jason Michaels. Now that he's signed, he could become more attractive in a trade.

The 29-year-old Michaels is expected to be the fourth outfielder for a Phillies team that is steadily getting deeper and younger in the outfield. Michaels hit .304 with four home runs and 31 RBIs in 289 at-bats while scoring a career-high 54 runs last season in a platoon role with Kenny Lofton.

Most impressive was Michael’s eye-opening .399 on-base percentage, career-best 44 walks and steady defense. According to Hardball Times fielding win shares, Michaels was the 12th-most effective defensive outfielder in the NL last season.

Often seen as a player that could become a solid full-time contributor, the team added center fielder Aaron Rowand this offseason in a trade that sent Jim Thome to the White Sox. Rowand, considered one of the top defensive center fielders in the game, is expected to start every game for the Phillies.

Blocked once again, the Phils currently have eight outfielders on the 40-man roster, two more than teams typically carry. Others include 24-year-old switch-hitter and International League MVP Shane Victorino, slugging prospect Josh Kroeger and Reading all-time single-season hits leader Chris Roberson, all younger than Michaels. The team also has several young infielders with a legitimate shot at breaking camp as help off the bench.

Beerleaguer take
A trade may be the best thing for Michaels’ career, and from the Phillies standpoint, he's a very attractive chip because of 2005 and the small size of this contract. One team that may have interest is Boston, who is without a proven center fielder since the departure of Johnny Damon. Michaels’ name has surfaced in several rumors this winter, including a deal with Baltimore and one with San Diego, but those teams have since addressed their outfield needs.

Paired with an experienced left-handed hitter in a platoon like last season, teams can do pretty well for themselves with Michaels in center field or at a corner. I have doubts on Michaels as a full-time player. I don't believe he generates the kind of offense teams need from an outfielder through a 162-game season.

Keep your eye on J-Mike and the rest of the Phillies' outfield come trade deadline time. We could be seeing less, or more, of him.

Miller scheduled for early May return

According to his agent, free agent pitcher and Berks County native Wade Miller is expected to be offered a major league contract this week.

The Phillies are still listed by ESPN Insider as a potential suitor for the 29-year-old right-hander, though there has been no reported interest from GM Pat Gillick and company. The Astros, who non-tendered him two seasons ago, are considered a front-runner to sign him, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

Tigres del Licey @ Azucareros del Este

LA ROMANA, DR -- Though most of the box seats were empty in Francisco A. Micheli stadium, home of the La Romana Toros/Azucareros, nearly all fans in attendance had traveled the two hours from Santo Domingo to see Licey, the Dominican equivalent of the Yankees. They had packed the cheap seats down the left and right side, $1 compared to the $10 box seats.

Dressed in striking royal blue uniforms with classic baseball script, there’s no doubt, even from an outsider’s standpoint, which hat bears the most tradition. Licey rolled to town with an assortment of recognizable talent, including former Phillie Jose Offerman, Indians infielder Ronnie Belliard, Braves pitcher Jorge Sosa, Dodger reliever Yhency Brazoban and catcher Carlos Ruiz, who will be in camp this spring with the Phillies. On the other side, the Toros fielded Scranton veteran Jim Rushford, along with Red Sox prospect Andy Marte.

There were no programs and no names on back of uniforms, so one had to guess who was who. From his short, squat stature and lighter skin, Ruiz was easy to spot. It had been a nice surprise that Licey was in town; I was holding out hope of seeing Ruiz in action. I knew he was having a great winter with Licey, batting .315. An announcement from the Spanish-speaking public address announcer, the volume amped twice as high as it would be in the United States, confirmed that it was, in fact, Ruiz.

Licey fans to the left, Toros fans to the right, our section was occupied by twenty indifferent but steadily-drinking college students, my wife and several other faculty from Philadelphia University. This was the destination I was looking forward to most during my 10-day stay in the Dominican. My wife was there to teach an exchange program. I was there to relax and watch baseball.

What started as an exercise in cultural observation quickly turned into one of the best pure baseball games I’ve ever witnessed live, and the students came alive. The game unfolded as a pitcher’s dual through the first few innings. A tall, powerful Dominican had cruised through the early going for the Toros. Only later, after checking the box score the following day, did it occur to me that it was Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera. For the Tigers, a white, bean-shaped submarine pitcher, who would later be revealed as Royals minor-leaguer Danny Tamayo, held the Toros off balance through the first few frames.

Both pitchers melted down in the sixth. After striking out six, Cabrera lost control, walking four and allowing two earned after six innings. Tamayo, a flyball pitcher all the way, was eventually burned, touched for a homer by Anderson Hernandez and a run-scoring play that featured the best home-plate collision I’ve ever seen.

Through it all, I studied Ruiz. Visiting the mound, taking signals from the dugout, he was striking in his management of the game. I had to say hello. I had to let him know I was there.

Strapping the camera around my neck and turning my hat backwards, I sliced toward the Licey dugout and hung my head inside. I looked like an American reporter. I got the attention of the first player I saw. It was Offerman, perhaps the most recognized player on Licey.

"Carlos Ruiz," I said. "I’m from Philadelphia."

Curiously, Offerman turned, summoning him from the bench. "Carlos!"

He emerged. It occurred to me that moment how small the world was, how I could be standing there, face-to-face, with this player I studied and cheered for. Here we were, a chance meeting in La Romana.

"I’m from Reading. I’m from Philadelphia," I said. He nodded and stood. With nothing more to say, I snapped his picture.

I wanted to say more, "Screw Sal Fasano," is what I was thinking. Instead, I said "I want to see you in Philadelphia this season." He nodded, turned and he was gone.

Perhaps it was a jinx. Ruiz had a terrible game with the stick, going 0-4 and getting picked off first base. But the rest of the game was a joy. The difference between the American game and the Dominican game couldn’t have been more apparent, on the field and off. In the stands, there was dancing, machismo and joy. On the field, it was no different. Replacing the graceless Tamayo was a pitcher named Chavez. His style most resembled the merengue, the national dance of the Dominican. His flair was all hips and a snap-dragon release that caused his entire body to twist. Wild as hell, but entertaining.

Symbolic of the entire experience, it was artful, foreign and beautiful. The fans had been nonstop to the very last moment, when Brazoban notched the save for Licey in the 11th, securing the 6-5 win.

Closest to ace, Myers agrees to 1-year deal

Now that he's being paid like a serious starter, will Brett Myers get serious about treating every start preciously? The Phillies and the 25-year-old right-hander avoided arbitration and came to terms on a 1-year, $3.3 million deal yesterday.

Myers has the best chance to become the Phillies best starter next season. Improving upon an inconsistent 2004, 2005 was his best in his budding three-year career, posting a 3.74 ERA and 208 strikeouts, which led the club and was tied for third-most in the National League.

No pitcher on the Phillies’ staff excelled away from Citizen’s Bank Park more than Myers. On the road, his ERA was more than a point lower, allowing almost half the earned runs he gave up at CBP (32 to 57).

The best Myers is the one who jams hitters with his newly-fashioned cutter, molded from the same cast as the one Jon Lieber throws, or locks up opponents with his curveball, which may be the best pitch in the entire organization. It’s usually a home where he tends to throw more fastballs, strikes out more batters, but also gets into the most trouble.

His best game might have been one I missed, a 6-1 complete game against the Pirates on Aug. 20. The best one I saw was on July 2, when he took a shutout into the ninth against the Braves before tiring. He struck out nine that game, and his curveball never looked sharper. That day, he was an ‘ace.’

As the season wore on however, Myers, who appeared to be gaining weight, got worse. As last reported, I believe it was Marcus Hayes who wrote that Myers has been training this offseason and is in great shape.

When talking about the aces in the National League, Myers isn’t there yet, but at 25, he’s got all the tools. He needs to stop pitching angry and start being cool. With Josh Beckett out of the mix - whom Myers is often compared - he has a great chance to establish himself as the premier, young right-handed starter in the NL East.

I don’t know why he keeps his curveball holstered as much as he does. Perhaps fear of hanging it at CBP. Perhaps fear that the catcher cannot frame it for a strike. That July 2 game, by the way, was caught by Todd Pratt, not Mike Lieberthal, who usually catches him.

But no more excuses, not from me, not from Myers. He seems to come up with enough on his own.

Now, he’s got 3.3 million reasons not to.

Local products projected for a homecoming

Reading Eagle beat writer Mike Drago has a nice story on two Berks County products who could be pitching for the R-Phils this season. Check it out here.

New faces pepper list of spring invitees

Eighteen players, including 10 pitchers, three catchers, three infielders and two outfielders, have been invited to spring training as non-roster players, Assistant General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. announced today.

Here are the faces that are new to the organization, as listed in the news release:

Joe Thurston, INF (pictured) - Thurston, 26, split last season between two triple-A teams, Las Vegas and Columbus. He hit a combined .272 with eight home runs and 42 RBI. At the major league level, Thurston has appeared in 37 games, all with the Dodgers. He is a career .275 hitter in the majors.

Peter Bergeron, OF - Former Expos outfielder Bergeron, 28, spent most of last year with double-A Bowie, where he hit .296 with five home runs and 33 RBI in 91 games, primarily playing center field.

Jeremy Cummings, RHP - Cummings, 29, split the 2005 season between double-A Springfield (5-3, 4.50 ERA) and triple-A Memphis (7-1, 2.77 ERA) in the Cardinals' organization.

Shawn Garrett, OF - As an outfielder/first baseman with triple-A Sacramento in 2005, Garrett hit .295 with 27 doubles, 17 home runs and 82 RBI in 131 games.

Aaron Myette, RHP - Myette pitched in three games for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Pacific League in Japan, where he went 0-0 with a 20.77 ERA.

Bobby Scales, INF - With triple-A Portland last year, Scales, a switch-hitter, hit .274 with 14 home runs and 61 RBI in 120 games, playing second base, third base and left field.

Dusty Wathan, C - A veteran of 12 professional seasons, Wathan has spent the last three seasons in the Cleveland organization, hitting .262 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI for triple-A Buffalo in 2005.

Matt White, LHP - White, 28, went 8-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 35 games (16 starts) for triple-A New Orleans of the Nationals' organization.

Beerleaguer take
In addition, there are several players from last year's Scranton team getting a look, including Chris Coste, Brian Sanches, Travis Minix. Others from the organization include pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Cole Hamels, Ryan Cameron, and catchers Tim Gradoville and Jason Jaramillo.

Plain and simple, there are lots, and I mean LOTS, of players getting a look in Clearwater. It's not out of the question that someone from this group will break camp as a spare part off the bench or 12th reliever.

A word of advice for the Phillies as they head to Clearwater: Bring nametags.

Hall of Fame bottom-feeders earn special place

Forget Bruce Sutter, Jim Rice and Goose Gossage, the leading candidates in this year's HOF balloting. The best action happens at the bottom of the ballot.

Two of those bottom-feeders were former Phillies Gregg Jefferies and Doug Jones. Each earned two votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. For weeks, the Phillies had made their inclusion on the ballot a top story on Phillies.com. As a fan, there was something strangely awkward about seeing it over and over again. I’d almost categorize that feeling as shame.

In addition to Jefferies and Jones, former rookie of the year shortstop Walt Weiss earned a vote, winning the respect of at least one, anti-establishment writer from the BWAA, possibly the baseball writer from Fangoria Magazine.

No such luck for California shortstop Gary DiSarcina, vaguely remembered only from baseball cards. He didn’t get a vote. Pitcher Alex Fernandez, who I do not recall ever playing, was apparently forgotten by voters, too. No chum for Fernandez.

Next season, it's Charlie Hayes' turn to join the ranks of the bottom-feeders. He becomes eligible in 2007. Vegas sets the over/under at half a vote.

Phillies add experienced crop of minor league FAs

The Josh Kroeger signing got the wheels working on what minor league moves the Phils have made this offseason. So far, here is the list of minor league signings, as of Jan. 6:

Signed OFs Tim Auty and Shawn Garrett, RHPs Aaron Myette, Ben Shaffar, Clay Condrey, Steve Lagone and Tim McClaskey, C Chris Coste, 3Bs Nate Grindell and Brennan King, SSs Avelino Asprilla, Juan Sosa and LHPs Matt White, Andy Pratt, Ben King and Brian Mazone.

Beerleaguer minor league guru Martin Smith has passed along his satisfaction with this group and says it’s a better batch than in years past. From this list, the pieces that will become Double and Triple-A are beginning to take shape.

Aaron Myette has been around the block, including a brief stop in Scranton in 2003. The 28-year-old Canadian is a former first-round pick of the White Sox in the June 1997 draft. He pitched most of last season with Louisville (Reds – AAA) going 3-3 in 41 games with a 2.89 ERA. He’s seen time in the bigs with the White Sox, Rangers, Indians and Reds, but has been bombed at each stop.

Shawn Garrett is an interesting name and relates most to the article below on Kroeger and how the Phils will fill out their minor league outfield. The 27-year-old put up comparable numbers to Kroeger last season with Triple-A Sacramento, hitting .295 with 17 homers and 13 stolen bases. A high strikeout total (111) contributed to his lower OPS (.786). I can't find much on Tim Auty, but he did see limited time in Triple-A last season.

Matt White is another ex-American League right-hander with a Gillick connection. He acquired him from Cleveland in a 2003 trade. Since 1998, he’s bounced around the AL, but was signed by Washington last season. He pitched in one game for the Nats on Aug. 27.

Chris Coste is back for another go with the Phils, an organization he enjoys playing for. You can read about him here. Other returning players include Condrey, Grindell and Sosa.

Kroeger addition indicates OF change may be near

Nearly a quarter of the Phillies 40-man roster is filled by outfielders after the team claimed 23-year-old Josh Kroeger off waivers from the Diamondbacks last week. Meanwhile, rumors involving the potential trade of Bobby Abreu continue to swirl.

The 23-year-old Kroeger hit .261 last year with 14 home runs, 62 RBIs and 17 stolen bases for triple-A Tucson. A 6-3, 200 pound left-handed hitter, he was a fourth-round pick of the D-Backs in 2000 and ranked as their 7th-best prospect headed into last season, according to Baseball America.

Beerleaguer take: 
The Phillies have no shortage of these types of outfielders: young with some pop and speed, hovering close to the big league level.

The indication is corner outfield is being fortified to prepare for a major change. Even those who’ve spent the last two weeks in the Dominican Republic have read the rumors involving Abreu/Tejada/Ramirez, and even a few involving Jason Michaels, though Baltimore's trade for Corey Patterson may have dried up that well. The latest gossip from the Boston Globe has the Phils still chatting about Manny. My general belief is the Phillies have been trying to get together on a three-team deal since the Winter Meetings in order to get starting pitching in any trade involving Abreu.

The Kroeger signing brings the 40-man roster up to 39, including eight outfielders, two more than teams typically protect. That’s plenty of flexibility in case Abreu, or somebody, is moved and an outfielder isn't acquired in return. My sense is Kroeger would not be the one to replace Abreu or Michaels, and would instead replace the man who replaces them internally.

On a practical level, let’s not forget the Phillies are faced with the potential loss of several minor league free agent outfielders: Jim Deschaine, Ryan Fleming, Jorge Padilla, Mark Budzinski and Jim Rushford among them. In each case, they have been fixtures at AA or AAA for several seasons. Chris Roberson, who would project as Scranton’s best outfielder in 2006, may actually stick with the Phillies as speed off the bench. The system is so poor that the Phils are basically forced into making moves like this just to plug the holes. In other words, they actually needed a triple-A outfielder, and a decent one at that.

The upside is Kroeger could become a pretty good player, though he experienced a slight drop in production last season. He’s young, promising, but there was apparently no room for him among Arizona’s young and talented batch of outfielders. He's a big kid: 6-3, 200 pounds and can hit it hard, according to one comment I read from a fan who follows Tucson.

From the team’s standpoint, it’s better to have guys like Kroeger than Deschaine or Budzinski, both very nice veterans, but fruitless for any type of future plan.

We’ll wait to see what Gillick does with his growing stockpile.

While I was out: Phillies sign SP Ryan Franklin

Hola.

That’s about the extent of the Spanish ingrained in my vernacular and it guided me through 10 days in the sun-drenched Dominican Republic, which is where I’ve been hiding during my Beerleaguer sabbatical. Actually, if you see me today, walking the streets of Reading, I’m easy to spot. I’m the bright pink one.

Part education, part recreation, baseball was part of this trip. On Wednesday night, I attended a round-robin playoff game between La Romana and Licey, which featured none other than Beerleaguer favorite Carlos Ruiz, catching for Licey, former Phillie Jose Offerman and a host of native talent from the majors. More on this experience later. Needless to say, it was a blast.

I checked e-mail twice during the trip. My wife and I lodged at Altos de Chavon, a design school located in the Casa de Campos region of the Dominican, about a 20-square-mile resort area just outside the sugar mill town of La Romana. She was there to instruct a design class as part of an exchange program. I was there to relax and take in the sights.

Internet access was limited, and largely unwanted. I heard about Penn State’s Orange Bowl win two days ago, when I also read about the Phillies signing of pitcher Ryan Franklin.

So let's re-belly up to the bar of public opinion, shall we?

Phillies sign Franklin to 1-year, $2.6 million deal
My first reaction was surprise at the size of this contract. It seems quite reasonable to me, considering the colossus deals others are getting. But that’s about the only reaction it garnered, mild satisfaction that Pat Gillick hadn’t overpaid, and a smidgen of hope that Franklin will flourish in his new setting.

Franklin is regarded as a 32-year-old, right-handed "innings-eater," who, in the past two seasons, regurgitated those innings into a 5.00 ERA with Seattle.

By virtue of being a starting pitcher in a market starved for them, his signing is viewed as more of a significant acquisition than other offseasons. He’s not a lock to make the starting rotation, and he obviously wasn’t coveted enough to up this small asking price.

He’s been a regular since 2001, but is one of those nondescript pitchers, not unlike Cory Lidle, who can get lost even among the home fans. Pitching his entire career with Seattle (he was a 23rd round selection by the Mariners in 1992), few Phans have actually seen him pitch, and I’ll admit to being one of them. His best season came in 2003 (11-13, 3.57 ERA), the year after Vicente Padilla’s all-star campaign (14-11, 3.28 ERA).

It’s only natural to compare Franklin with Padilla. Each was essentially waved by their former team, worked in the same general spot in the rotation, and were said to be in need of new beginnings. The 2005 season was miserable for Franklin, who also served a 10-day suspension for violating baseball's drug policy. The Phillies don't view it as an issue and neither do I. Padilla had a rough go after an injury-delayed start, but settled in to become a steady force for about a month and a half. Even so, the Phillies did not want him back, for their own reasons. Side-by-side, Padilla is the better thrower for his electric fastball, but pitching wins, not throwing.

"I think Ryan pitched better than his numbers dictated," Gillick said at Wednesday’s news conference. "He's an excellent competitor who comes right after the hitter. He doesn't fool around. He's going to pitch a lot better than he has the last couple of seasons. We think he's going to bounce back and take a spot in our rotation."

Scanning the scouting reports, we’re looking at a nice selection of pitches, including average velocity on his two-seam and four-seam fastballs, slider and curve with average movement, and a plus change, according to Stats Inc. Surprisingly, the Phillies don’t have a starting pitcher who matches that description, even though the rotation projects to be entirely right-handers without blazing stuff.

The biggest needs remain front-line starter and set-up man, which cannot be bought anymore, only traded for. In the meantime, I’m perfectly fine with Gillick making an instinctive decision like this.

If I were a GM in the National League, I’d make at least one signing or trade like this every season, to bring someone in from the American League to make a fresh start, or to even make a "sentimental" choice. John Schuerholz, GM of the Braves, has done it with great success. I feel confident Gillick can also do it, and perhaps that pitcher will be Franklin or Ricardo Rodriguez, the pitcher who came over in the Padilla trade with Texas. Frankly, for the entire rotation and bullpen to work, something will need to click. There are no sure bets anywhere, including Franklin.

"From my standpoint, he's going to pitch a heck of a lot better than the 15-loss season [in 2005]," assured Gillick. "He has been one of the unlucky guys on the club to lose 15 games back to back. He had the second-least run support in the American League and I think he's going to get a lot more over here. If he loses 15 games, he's going to win 16 or 17. I'm pretty sure of that."

The home runs are a pain – he surrendered 28 in 2005, 33 in 2004. Citizens Bank Park – pending modifications – could work against him, but playing for the Phillies will not. They’re a better team than Seattle and among the best in the National League. They have a supporting offense that should boost his win column and make the innings easier to handle.

It’s refreshing to see a pitcher sign here by his own free will, even if he was a Gillick disciple. "Innings-eater" isn’t a point to be taken lightly. For a team in the Phillies' situation, with questions in the bullpen, Franklin can bide the Phillies time at the outset until some of those questions are answered.