Game chat: Phillies reach for the brooms in Miami

Roy Halladay (6-6, 3.80) hopes to add to his club's recent collection of dominant starts when the Phillies try for the sweep against Mark Buehrle and the Marlins today at 12:40. Halladay's last two starts have been terrific, including an eight-inning, two-hit carving of the Cardinals on Aug. 10. Doc's breaking ball, in particular, has been "Perfecto" nasty; his 2010 perfect game happened in South Florida over two years ago, and what I remember most from that game was an unhittable bender he located anywhere he damn well pleased.

Luna in left: Charlie Manuel stacks the right-handed thump in this no-holds barred arrangement: Rollins SS, Frandsen 3B, Utley 2B, Wigginton 1B, Luna LF, Brown RF, Mayberry CF, Kratz C.

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[buy sell]

victorino got to smiling too...

[Brooklyn Phillies]

For some reason I thought the manager was going to try to win games still.

I take back what I said before about the Phils having a long shot chance at the Wild Card. Oh well.

[MG]

Schwimer looked like crap too. Take a little heat off Cholly and will get chalked up to AAA bullpen getting lite up. Due for one of these games. Oh well.

De Fratus has only been 'okay' since he came off the DL and Aumont continues to have consistency issues in throwing strikes.

[Iceman]

I'm actually now intrigued by the possibility of Angel Pagan in CF, if he comes on the cheaper side. He's putting up .280/.332/.414/.746 with a 113 OPS+ in AT&T Park this year. 3 of the last four seasons he's got an OPS over 100. On pace for 25-30 steals which is the norm for him.

Depending on the budget, he might be a good option for CF. Not all that much of a downgrade from Bourn.

[Bill]

Probably a better chance of Melky being a Phillie now that his asking price will be lowered.

[donc]

NO THANK YOU on Melky. Imagine the tension in the clubhouse. He's obviously been hittin Galvis' old lady.

[MG]

Iceman - Depends on what CF they bring in and where they use the money they have. Bigger needs on this team than a 5th OF which is what Mayberry will be next year if Nix/Schierholtz are back, Brown as a starter in LF/RF.

[Cyclic]

Marlins' Announcers: "Let's see if Dobbs can finish the day..... not quite."

[wes covington's ghost]

Doesn't Luna know it's 9-2?

[clout]

Iceman: Mayberry is not a centerfielder and he can't hit RHP. Those are established facts.

He kills LHP, plays above average defense in the corners and can run.

Use him as the former and you hurt the team. Use him as the latter and you help the team.

The way Manuel is using him this season is actively hurting this team.

[buy sell]

What doc is thinking: @*%%@&^&^**!!! BULLPEN!!!

What doc calmly says: It will happens in the course of the season,& we work it thru one game at a time

[clout]

If testosterone causes you to hit .330 why didn't more guys used it back in the day, when Selig winked at drug use? Or is that was Andro was?

[Lake Fred]

MG, "Due for one of these games. Oh well." Reallly??!! Due??!!

This is the new normal. Losing is the new normal, just like the 8.3% unemployment rate. Just get used to it!

[Cyclic]

These hurt most. Cause this felt in reach until the bleeping bullpen. And, as I've said, the third 1st pitch strike to Dobbs. Huge blunder.

[Iceman]

MG- unless they go out and sign 2 full-time OF, Mayberry is lineup up to be the only RH platoon LF/RF (depending on where Brown is) with Nix. How many ABs do you figure he'll get? In that role, probably more than we'd all like him to get.

I know there are more pressing needs but you can't tell me it wouldn't be worth the money to upgrade to a guy that can actually hit. His OBP is an embarrassment (and the list of embarrassments doesn't end there).

[johnnysanz3]

Beerleaguer everyday: "This is the time to play guys from the minors to see what we got because it doesn't matter"

Today: "Why the hell did Charlie use these guys in the pen? Dumb dumb charlie!"

[MG]

Ross won't come cheap either. Not after the season he has with Red Sox.

Imagine he gets a deal slightly less than what Willingham/Kubel got this offseason. Easy see him getting a 2/$17m or 3/$22-23M deal though.

Given the other more pressing needs the Phils have, that's likely a poor use of funds.

[buy sell]

melky is a dumb s*** - thinking he wouldnt get caught..

[lorecore]

This game did not hurt at all, actually. I would argue this is the most painless loss of the year, although the next loss after this will likely top this one, and so on.

[Iceman]

MG- Ross isn't the only option.

[MG]

Iceman - I would rather seen them upgrade at 3B, CF, and the bullpen instead than Mayberry.

It is a 'nice to have' upgrade but the Phils are likely better off spending their money elsewhere.

[donc]

How much did it cost Melky to pee in that cup? Wow.

[MG]

Iceman - No but he is the only guy who is a clear upgrade offensively. Johnson is a nice player but he'll be 36/37 next year. Been a nice player the last 2 years but a bit of a risky signing due to his age.

Hairston(s) would depend on the price tag. Mayberry's value will be that he is cheap next year. Real cheap at $700-$800k. Hard to bring in a veteran upgrade for even $1M.

[ramsey]

A Mayberry/Nix platoon in left wouldn't be a bad option, honestly. Save some money to spend on CF/3B/SP/RP.

[MG]

johnnysanz - Fair criticism. Just a question on why Rosenberg came out today in that spot. That's all instead of Lindblom or Schwimmer.

[Jr.]

That's the Swim we know from Reading. Posted several times he is not MLB material.Sure he'll look good for stretches,but it's always followed by bad stretches. Head case.
Think we have enough to pry Stanton from the fish? No i didn't think so either but...

[Iceman]

clout- will Manuel be managing the team next year? Do you think he'll be using Mayberry him any differently?

I thought Mayberry could 'run' too, but his 1 SB this year, in his only full year as an MLB starter, has me now believing otherwise.

I'd just rather have a player that can do more than just one thing really well (mashes soft-tossing LHP), and basically everything else poorly. It isn't enough to make up for his deficiencies. And I hate to keep pointing out his OBP against LHP (.264), but it's an embarrassment. His OPS would have to be through the freaking roof to make up for the fact that he only gets on base 26% of the time against the type of pitcher he's supposed to 'mash.'

[Iceman]

MG- Johnson would be more of a risk than bringing a guy back who has been god awful this year (and has had about 2 and a half really good months at the ML level in his career) because he's cheap? He's going to get ~300 ABs next year. That is a significant role.

And sorry, I'm not buying that spending on a RH platoon bat would bust the budget and preclude spending elsewhere. I'm not talking about signing Josh Hamilton.

[Scott]

I strongly disliked Melky when he was a Yankee. Probably unable to dislike him any stronger, but this keeps it at the same level. No way would I want him in Philadelphia.

[Willard Preacher]

Jr., I do have to say that this series has me wishing lustily that Stanton was some sort of an option. Sadly, the only way Miami will part with him is if/when he costs too much for their frugal business model and he's part of a fire sale. Unfortunately, he's making just $480K this year and is pre-arb eligible next year. He'll be in Miami for a couple more years yet.

[jbird]

Don't like melky, but I do respect that he stood up and said he did it rather than trying to deny it. Of course, I don't respect that he did it in the first place, so maybe it's an offsetting level of respect.

[Willard Preacher]

I'm not in Melky's camp, either, but I'd rather have him than Cody Ross, mostly because I'd rather have adult onset chicken pox than have to cheer for Cody Ross.

And it does say SOMETHING about Melky taking testosterone. Apparently he actually gives a little bit more of a sh8t than people give him credit for (albeit in a contract year)...

[Fatalotti]

jbird, no offsetting, but mitigating for sure.

[MG]

Phils are 17-13 and have won 7 of the 10 series since the ASB. They have played notably better.

Just aren't capable though of sweeping teams let alone a dominant sustained run because of the limitations on this team (bench, middle relief, and KK/Worley in the rotation).

[Scott]

Don't give Melky any credit at all. See tweets below:

Ryan Lawrence ‏@ryanlawrence21

RT @joelsherman1: ...lied to writer when asked about it. #sfgiants
‏@ryanlawrence21

RT @joelsherman1: For those honoring Melky for accepting responsibility remember he fought like hell last month to avoid suspension ...

[Scott]

Tyler Kepner ‏@TylerKepner

Melky was something else at his All-Star MVP press conference, talking about hard work and the Lord and all that. Pathetic.
Retweeted by Ryan Lawrence

[buy sell]

Think we have enough to pry Stanton from the fish? No i didn't think so either but...

Posted by: Jr. | Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 03:35 PM

----

Maybe the Marlins will... You know, they may pull the switch, if we throw in Polanco, Mayberry, AND Wiggy and a player like Anthony Hewitt :) /s

[Joe D]

Poor Melky. He's such a nice guy too. Riiiiighhhht.

[Joe D]

God I hope someone asks Chipper for a comment about the Melky suspension. Please ATL beat writers get on that.

[jbird]

buy sell: I think we'd have to add a high upside throw-in too, like Utley's Lawnchair.

[clout]

Ice: I hate to sound like the board Mayberry fan, especially because I agree with your larger point: We need to upgrade and relegate him to the bench.

But stealing bases and running well as two different things. Mayberry has above average speed, both on the base paths and in the outfield. He's not much of a base stealer at the big league level, though, and I'm not sure why. He stole 20 bases and was caught only 3 times at LV in 2010.

[Iceman]

"Just aren't capable though of sweeping teams let alone a dominant sustained run because of the limitations on this team( bench, middle relief, and KK/Worley in the rotation)"

None of those things had anything to do with this loss, or even the last two losses.

It's the offense, period, that's going to hold this team back from making a huge run. Selling off Pence and Vic made that kind of a no-brainer. It's where they need to add in the off-season, along with another bullpen arm or two.

I do enjoy your obsession with 'the bench' though, MG. Our only two runs today were driven in by a guy that has been riding the bench for weeks.

[Fatalotti]

Ice, the bullpen turning it from a 3-2 game to an 8-2 game had NOTHING to do with the loss?

I get that the offense needs improvements, and they are absolutely part of the blame today, but acting like a bullpen that gave up 5 ER is completely exculpated is just naive.

[Joe D]

Are there any arms that they could get through waivers that could come in here and throw on a tryout basis until the end of the year? I've seen enough of BJ Rosenberg for one season.

[jbird]

Mayberry is a good 4th outfielder who can start in a pinch and sometimes gets on a hot streak. There's no reason to dump him, he has value in a certain role.

[Joe D]

Aumont should be a Sept. 1 callup right? Has to be?

[buy sell]

Seriously, I wonder if Doc is coming to the realization that winning a WFC is just not in the cards for him, @ least not on his watch with the Phillies

[buy sell]

and wonder if that would trigger a trade with a possible current WFC or a team in the hunt in 2013... just askin'

[buy sell]

do see you the LV express headed north today with one passenger? BJR

[MG]

Schwimer has struggled again lately including his outing today.

Lindblom/Schwimer give them the RHP middle relievers they need for next year but this team still needs a setup-caliber RHP reliever.

Neither Lindblom/Schwimer are that guy.

[Joe D]

It's a call to arms for one Phillipe Aumont. Sink or swim time big boy.

[MG]

Iceman - It is the offense but the bench plays a huge roll because when they need to rest Utley/Howard/JRoll or even Kratz they don't have a MLB-caliber player to put in his place. Utley/Howard aren't guys who can every game down the stretch either.

Wigginton isn't going to be in MLB baseball next year. Bet the same of Schneider. Mini-Mart shouldn't be here but somehow he keeps making it back. Luna's a AAA player too.

[MG]

I bet Rosenberg sticks even with the crap outing he had today. Aumont has struggled with his command and Dubee just doesn't seem to think much of him.

Really nobody at Lehigh right now who has pitched well over the last few weeks recalling to replace Rosenberg.

If the last Sept callups were any indication, the Phils will only make a few moves largely with guys already on 40-man roster. De Fratus & Aumont will get called up. Ditto Diekman.

Only position player right now I see as a lock is Luna. Doubt Valle or Hernandez gets called up with the way they have hit a Lehigh.

Sept callups:
-De Fratus
-Aumont
-Diekman
-Luna

Cloyd might get added to the 40-man roster and called up to take a spot in the rotation if Worley gets shut down or KK really implodes his next 2-3 starts..

[Sil Campusano]

Quick, let's sell high on Wiggy in a waiver deal today.

[Joe D]

I like the way you think Sil. Never liked the way you played though.

[EastFallowfield]

Yo, new thread

[Sink or Schwimer]

Damn, another tough outing. I thought if KK could pitch like Cy Young yesterday, today would be my turn. Unfair!!!

[abercrombie france]

Pour ne pas être à l'intérieur du comprendre le plus souvent, je suis enclin à n'aimez pas les messages concernant ce sujet progressivement supplémentaires considérez que vous êtes à l'écrire à la mode outre vos moyens personnels, nous avons obtenu de dire, c'est vraiment, vraiment une belle publier de ceux à retenir.