87 thoughts on “Open Discussion, Week of 7 May”

  1. I’m sure this was covered somewhere;

    OF Michael Spidale has been assigned to Lehigh Valley IronPigs from Reading Phillies. Lou Montanez was released late last week

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  2. Dugan (ankle) is likely sidelined until mid-June, CSNPhilly.com reports. Dugan rolled the ankle last month. He has been hitting off a tee and hopes to return quicker than the four-to-six-week estimate given by team doctors.

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  3. Werth’s injury was pretty grody to see. They replayed that about 9 more times than I wanted them to.

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  4. I was thinking Susdorf would be a better option to bring up to Lehigh Valley. He could see time in the OF plus 1B there.

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    1. I don’t think Spidale will see a lot of playing time. He’s a better person to have on the roster as a reserve outfielder, due to his defense.

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    1. I hear you. When I was pitching, my coach would tell me to intimidate but don’t plunk some guy. The only exceptions: to protect your own guys and on a suicide squeeze. In the squeeze situation you throw at the hitters head. It always made me nervous but the hitter has to drop out of the way and the catcher’s on the same page as you so he catches it an applies the tag. I had one hitter actually fall into the 3rd basepath.. The runner slide into his own guy and my catcher had to step over the batter to put a tag on. We laughed about that for the rest of the season.

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  6. So is any one else slightly concerned about Valle’s power outage?

    Iso/Slugging
    2010: .174/.427
    2011: .109/.394
    2012: .078/.338

    2012 is a small sample, and his walk rate is up a little, but his prospect status as I understand it is predicated on being a good defensive catcher with some power. His on-base skills look below-average, even if he walks a bit more, so it seems like the power potential is his main skill with the bat. Of course, he’s probably focused on defense, and the power tool often takes longest to show, so maybe we should not worry too much.

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    1. Not worried at all. My expectations for Valle are that he will be a solid MLB catcher one day and not relied upon to be a Posey type offensive player. Not to mention he is somewhat young for AA so he still has time to develop more strength.

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    2. I’m concerned about Valle’s offense this year. Besides the power trending down, his K% is up to 29% from 23% last year and 21% from 2010. Can he turn it around? Sure, he’s in an advanced league for his age and even if he doesn’t he could still be a back-up catcher, which has value.

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      1. More then likely, based on his youth, he will repeat AA at Reading to start 2013, no matter what he does this year. Similar to Galvis.

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  7. Alright all you armchair GM’s dig in. This is a likely scenario given what the Phillies payroll budget seems to max out. You have the choice of either re-signing Cole Hamels at his asking price of 20 mill or so per year which doesn’t allow you to re-sign Victorino, Blanton (not sure he’s a guy they’ll re-sign anyway) or fill Polanco’s spot at 3rd (which is sorely needed at this time).

    OR

    You trade a top player like a Victorino or Halladay or maybe even Hamels if you can get a good enough offer. But you would need to get an MLB ready or ready by 2013 Starting Pitcher and 3rd Baseman or Outfielder depending on if you feel there’s a need for an MLB ready Starting Pitcher.

    What says you?

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    1. As for me, I keep Hamels if remotely possible – he’ll contribute a lot to future winning and being a home grown product would make it very hard to see him playing for another team. While Vic is very underrated by most, I can’t see him being worth the kind of money he’ll likely command in the free agent market – losing him will be a blow but hopefully there are a couple of young ‘uns who can replace him to some extent.

      I’ll almost always ask if you have the choice between 2 players (really boils down to Hamels vs. Vic) which one is better and likely to be better going forward? Hamels is the pretty clear winner of that debate, I think. It’s far easier to get another CF’er than another ace pitcher.

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      1. But supposedly the trade-off is a #1 (A, B or C) Starter vs. a CF, 3B AND #5 Starter (who’s currently pitching like a #3).

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      2. I’d take Cole over Vic and Blanton any day. This dilemma was caused by horrendous financial planning; not to mention a very weak farm system fueled, in part, by an unwillingness to pay a bit more for some polished prospects.

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          1. It’s cool that we were able to pull off those trades for mostly low minor league guys that were still unproven as most are in A ball. But, ultimately, there has to be a constant flow of major league talent coming through the system on all levels for a team to stay at or near the top. The bottom line is that the last 2 position players the farm system produced, Bourn and Ruiz, was in 2006.

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    2. Love the game but its difficult to play without knowing the facts. If Hamels wants Lee Money I sign him. If he wants Sabathia type money or wants to test free agency I look to maximize his value. The tough part is the emotional tie Cole is home grown and a WS MVP that is difficult to part with.

      ….but if the package is good enough to include a Brett Lawrie type prospect, a Hosmer type prospect, Mike Trout type prospect I’m going to make the deal and put my eggs in the Trevor May basket.

      Your trade partners are limited. It will be a team that thinks they can sign him long term and will probably want that worked out before a deal goes down. And of course they will be a team that feels they are deep enough to part with a top tier prospect. That severely limits your partners because you cannot miss on a deal of that magnitude.

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      1. There’s no way you’d get that much for Hamels, as good as he is, for half a season. It’d be in the same ballpark as the various Lee trades. I’d like them to keep Hamels if they can. Blanton I don’t care about. Halladay/Lee/Hamels/Worley/May is an impressive rotation, even if it takes May a while to adjust to the bigs.

        Replacing Polanco doesn’t seem that tough to me because Polanco isn’t producing very much anymore anyway. Victorino is a lot tougher. I don’t know how they’re going to keep both him and Hamels, but maybe Victorino’s age will keep the market on him down a little.

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        1. Rental players can and do Yield top tier prospects Beltran=Zach Wheeler; The Indians thought Laporta was top tier when they dealt CC however mistaken they were. Again we don’t know all the facts but I think you can make the assumption that if Cole doesn’t sign here he would like to be in SoCal that means the Angels and Dodgers are in play.

          It only takes one of those teams to believe they have a shot at the WS this year. It is a unique circumstance that would probably make Cole more than just a rental to either of those two teams thus the makings of a solid package of players could come back in that deal.

          Shawn Marcum landed Lawrie and the Greinke deal returned a decent package so let’s not so quickly dismiss we wouldn’t get that much for Hamels. And I’m not advocating a trade but at the end of the day if you sense you can’t sign him you must maximize his value.

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      2. With Elvis already cemented at ss, Rangers would give up Profar or maybe Olt(3rd) for Hamels for half-year rental. Personally, I would try a deal with the Angels…Trout is out of the question, but Mark Trumbo/K.Morales and a pitching prospect could be done.

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        1. I’d shoot for Nolan Arenado from Colorado. Projects to have All Star capability and is near major league ready. Olt is nothing special.

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          1. Arenado will cost a lot IF he is available. And, the Rockies, at this time, don’t seem to be close to challenging for the playoffs this year .

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  8. I am new to following the Phils minor league system, but I am thoroughly enjoying this blog…

    What are the chances that Trevor May is pushed up to AAA this year? And could he possibly be the 5th starter next year?

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    1. The Phillies rarely ever rush arms, more than likely they’d give him the full year in AA then to rush him up to AAA. If he does go to AAA it’s only because he’s so much better than the rest of the league that they just want to see how he does against veteran hitters before sending him to the Majors. How long did Worley or Happ really spend in AAA before being called up? Neither lasted the full season before being called up and granted they spent most of their 1st season in AAA yo-yoing between AAA and Philly but neither really spent a good amount of time in AAA.

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      1. Difference being I’m not sure Happ/Worley possesed the upside of May. I could see a scenario where it happens.

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    2. The Phillies generally do not rush starters with control issues. The guys who don’t walk anybody are usually the guys that get to jump levels. Coming into the year I would have guessed Pettibone had the better chance of sneaking into the rotation early.

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      1. I would think Kendrick is the 5 next year and then May in 2014. Even if Hamels walks, I would think they’d let May get another year in the minors unless he is lights out second half of this year.

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    1. Too bad Callis has no sway over RAJ.

      At least those ridiculous calls for trading Brown even up to Cleveland for Jason Donald have finally died down. I guess a .184/ .195/ .184 line with zero defensive value will do that….

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        1. Fair enough. I was wondering if it was one person’s jaded opinion or if that was an actual widely-held thought. B/c it was one of the dumber things I’ve ever heard.

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  10. imo worley isnt in the fifth starter or spot stater that kyle is, he is more a three imo,lot bettter than kendrick.

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  11. Former Phillies prospect Adrian Cardenas has been called up to the majors for the first time with the Cubs.

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  12. Am I the only one who found Mike Rizzo’s comments to be hysterical? “He doesn’t know who he’s messing with.”

    “If Cole Hamels is looking for a dog fight, he’s just found a junk yard dog in Mike Rizzo…”

    … and that rant about bounties in the NFL… wow.

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    1. Didn’t he make some ridiculous comments with his chest puffed out about the Phillies fans coming down to Nats Park and how it was going to come to an end because it was THEIR TURF? Guy is just making noise for attention.

      I don’t think there was anything ‘fake’ about what Hamels did. If he was an AL pitcher and did it to another AL team I’d call it fake bravado. He’s an NL pitcher and did it to an NL team knowing he himself had to go up their and bat. He did. He got hit himself and he said he had no problem with it.

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      1. I think Hamels was trying to spark this team as in reality he misses one day and Halladay will pitch on normal rest. I believe that Utley did that a couple years back against Washington where he ran the catcher over.

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    2. What does Rizzo think about his Jordan Zimmerman throwing and hitting Hamels! I suppose courageous versus ‘gutless’, (tic)

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      1. This guy should know gutless considering he had Nyger Morgan on his team for a season…

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    3. totally hysterical. that guy needs to shut it. taking offense at what cole did is one thing, but these “threats” are a joke.

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  13. didnt even know cardenas was traded to cubs.always had a hard time trying to figure out why, with his average he didnt get a lot of love.

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  17. simple question, would mayberrry be in pro ball if his name was anything other than mayberry P.U. release him put him and us out of missery.

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  18. Let’s keep our eyes on Hewitt. Could the light have come on?

    He’s given us precious little to believe that he’d ever make the show. BUT now…..

    It IS fun to hope he has it together more at the plate. Despite his horror of a track record for the last 4 seasons, his recent “strokes” could start to get us excited. A temporary success or the start of something big.

    Visualize, if you will, a righty RFer who smacks 25-35 HRs w a .275 BA and .340 OBA plus some stolen bases thrown in.

    A time to dream.

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    2. No, they couldn’t have. A .257/.313/.405 line in A-Ball in your 5th minor league season does not in any way translate to potential success. Add to that he’s struck out 5X’s more than he’s walked – in fact he still has more Ks than he has hits.

      I’ll visualize all of those things, until I realize you mentioned them in the same breath as Anthony Hewitt – and then I start laughing uncontrollably. He’s 23 and treading water in A Ball, nothing more.

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  20. If the Phils had anyone to replace him I think they’d release Mayberry. As it is, he looks to be the odd man out when Howard comes back. That means he has about 3-4 weeks to show he’s worth keeping. He’s the definition of a 4A player…. When the major league team can’t get a big hit for their lives and we look to the minor leagues and there we see two out of the 3 teams playing get shut out with 4 hits between them, things aren’t good…
    And why did Charlie bunt with two on and no out in the 8th in a tie game with Polanco up and only Galvis and Kratz (after the obvious moves) up next? It was a terrible managing decision giving up an out with a man already on 2nd in a tie game. Frustrating times…

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    1. actually his mistake was not having Mayberry bunt the previous inning with 1&2 nobody out with Victorino and Pence to follow.

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      1. Agree that Charlie made a mistake with Mayberry not bunting and letting Galvis hit. However; should’nt Mayberry know that he must get the runner over to third as Mayberry is not a rookie like Galvis. I think it is time to bring Mike Fonenout(spelling) up to start at second until Utley comes back and put Pierre in LF to start (making Mayberry a defensive replacement).

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  21. I’m really concerned about plate discipline across the entire organization. The Phillies are 15th in walks in the National League. The Ironpigs are dead last in the IL. The Reading Phillies are last. The Threshers are last. The Blueclaws are our most disciplined team. They’re a lofty 11th in a 14 team league.

    The Phillies have been drafting tools, tools, tools for several years now and it’s not paying off. Even the players they trade away have a low success rate. And I’m concerned that not only are the players unable to hit, the instruction may be poor as well. Formerly selective players like Cesar Hernandez have fallen off the cliff.

    You watch a guy like Hunter Pence at the plate flail away. This is the type of hitter the front office wants to acquire? Juan Pierre isn’t a very good hitter, but at least he knows his limitations and he makes his skills work to his advantage. Hardly anyone else on this team seems to have a clue as to what to do at the plate.

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    1. Indeed, not good. They should have everyone in the organization watch video of the ’93 Phils. 4 starters over .390 OBP, with 3 getting over 100 BB’s. Even a bench guy named Ruben Amaro walked 6 times in 58 PA’s.

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        1. I’ll give you that, but it sure wouldn’t hurt Jimmy Rollins to watch the way the Dude worked a pitcher to lead off a game. That whole season (93) pitchers were at 100 pitches in the 5th inning with how selective Dykstra, Hollins, Daulton, and Stocker were. To a lesser extent, Milt, Eisey, Kruk, and Morandini also were. They ate up middle relievers that season after starters only lasted 5 or 6 innings.

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  22. I’d actually like to see Charlie move Galvis to the 7 spot. Its not easy to hit 8. I’d look to Pierre or Nix someone with good plate disipline to fill that spot now that Ruiz is hitting higher.

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  23. Angels are looking for relief help, what would it take to get Mark Trumbo? Bastardo and who else?

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    1. I’m not crazy about Trumbo. He’s barely a fit at third defensively. He has pop but poor plate discipline. Really not all that far removed from Ty Wigginton, honestly.

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    2. The last thing this line up needs is a free singing LF/1B player who doesn’t know what a walk is.

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    4. I dont see that trading away a bullpen arm is all that great an idea given their current issues in the bullpen.

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      1. Sometimes you just go to make a change to shake things up in a team. Not entirely positive, but think that has been done maybe once or twice before in professional sports.

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  24. See Mathieson is cruising in Japan. Hasn’t given up a run yet. Maybe we could get him back

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  25. I think it is time for me to post some more moves that I think the Phillies should make. Hopefully, they come true. Morillo and Tug need to go. I’d like to see them replaced by Knigge and Alonso and then either Morgado or MAtt Campbell should go up to Clearwater along with a batter from EST. 1 or 2 guyd from EST could go to Lakewood.

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      1. Not much help for the pen…I guess Kendrick will be in there now…Herndon and Stutes not even throwing yet

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      2. Ruben, please bring Jake Diekman and Mike Fontenout up and demote Joe Savery and Pete Orr.

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  27. Any news on Soler? This kid is going to cost himself a lot of money if he doesn’t get this residencey situation resolved before July. And the Phils better be in deep when the bidding begins.

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  28. Terrible sports night in Philadelphia. Phillies blow a 4-0 lead on an ugly rundown play and lose. Their bullpen is completely in tatters right now. Sixers score 26 points in the first half and lose. Flyers score one goal and lose their way out of the playoffs. So I looked for some solace in the minor league box scores and guess what! All four teams lost. Not a whole lot of hitting going on. Things can’t get much worse, can they?

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  30. According to Mike Schwimer on Twitter, Jake Diekman, Raul Valdes AND Hector Luna are heading to the big club.

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