I hope you all remained safe over the holiday weekend. Local police started pulling drivers over as early as 7:00 PM Thursday night. My wife was out Dashing and she saw so many idiots running lights she stopped for the night. That’s Florida for you, no masks, no sense. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of January 3rd
I hope you all enjoyed your holiday. May we all have a happy and healthy new year.
All was quiet on the baseball front. No trades or free agent signings. Not even a waiver claim. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 27th
Happy Holidays everybody! No matter what you celebrate, I hope you all enjoy your seasonal holiday. And, if you don’t celebrate, then Happy Baseball!!! Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 20th
The Professional Baseball Agreement has expired. The 2019 international signing period has closed. Trading between teams has resumed. Qualifying offers have been made and accepted or declined. Free agency has started. Rosters have been set. Contracts for the 2021 season have been tendered. The Rule 5 Draft has been held.
Now, the Hot Stove Season can go into full swing. Continue reading Playing GM in the 2020-21 Off Season (12/16/2020)
It started out as a quiet week. The Winter Meetings were relegated to a bunch of zoom sessions, the Phillies had lost all but one candidate for their vacant front office position, an unexciting Rule 5 Draft was on the horizon, and a former Phillies’ great player(and shoulda-been-hall-of-famer) passed.
Then all heck broke loose.
Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 13th
Monday, the virtual winter meetings begin. I don’t think we can expect a lot of interesting reporting. I do expect that a lot of breaking news will put the owners in a good light. Their waterboys in the national media will probably get all the scoops. Just like during all the drama during the COVID negotiations in March…April…May… Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of December 6th
Wednesday is the last day that teams can offer 2021 contracts to unsigned players, either pre-arbitration or arbitration eligible on their 40-man rosters. A non-tender sends the player to free agency.
Speculation surrounds the Phillies’ Vince Velasquez, Seranthony Dominguez, and David Hale. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 30th
The Phillies announced the signing of 33-year-old Caleb Cotham as their pitching coach. As I mentioned last week Cotham is a Driveline type coach. That would seem to cement Driveline in the organization from top to bottom. There should be no disconnect as pitchers move up levels and eventually pitch for the Phillies. It also appears that the more traditional pitching instructors will continue to be weeded out when their contracts are up or offered buyouts.
“There shall be no Competitive Balance Tax in place following the 2021 championship season, and the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Article XXIII (except those concerning the collection and distribution of the Competitive Balance tax proceeds for the 2021 Contract Year and the assessment of any associated penalties for exceeding the Base Tax or Surcharge Thresholds) shall not survive the expiration of this Agreement.”
It’s always nice to read good reports on our prospects. Or, is it?
Within the past 10 days, two articles have been published about our prospects who attended Instructs. One by Jim Salisbury for NBC Sports on October 29th and one by Jonathan Mayo for MLB Pipeline on November 6th. Continue reading Open Discussion: Week of November 9th
Phuture Phillies 