In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.
What should be the Phillies main focus heading into free agency - bullpen, offense, or more starting pitching?
The Bullpen. The Phillies have Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge -- that's it. Danys Baez will return, but I'd rather keep the ball as far away from him as possible. Chad Durbin, Jose Contreras, and J.C Romero are all free agents. Durbin's average. Bringing him back at a decent price would be solid, but losing him isn't going to be the end of the world. Contreras had a good year, but he's old. J.C Romero is too erratic and probably will demand a lot of money.
After Madson and Lidge, there is nobody. Antonio Bastardo? He hasn't done a thing in the big leagues. Scott Matheison could be a possible option, but he's had trouble getting out big league hitters, and even if he does well he is not going to solve the bullpen issues.
The Phillies wrapped up the regular season yesterday, finishing 97-65. Who was the Phils regular season MVP?
Roy Halladay. Every five days is win day. He gave the Phillies a solid 250 innings. Complete Games. Shutouts. Perfect game. How can he not be the team MVP?
Second: Jayson Werth; Third: Ryan Howard.
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Interview. Show all posts
Mailbag: Phillies/Giants Matchup
In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you to face the Giants (10 being most worried, 1 being least worried)?
I'd give it an 8. Comparing offenses, the Reds are superior to the Giants. However, when it comes to pitching, there is no argument; the Giants have one of the best staffs in the league. They led the majors with a 3.36 team ERA, .236 batting average against, and 1331 strikeouts.
Tim Lincecum had a "down year," but his 14 strikeouts/complete game shutout in the NLDS indicate what he is capable of. He'll remain a top pitchers for several years. It goes beyond Lincecum, though. Actually, Matt Cain was better, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. The pitching doesn't stop there. Jonathan Sanchez, another strikeout pitcher, had a 3.07 ERA this season. The Phillies arguably have the edge with a 1-2-3 punch of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, but the Giants are not too far behind.
The Phillies clearly put up the better offensive numbers. The Giants no longer have Barry Bonds, or anybody that puts up a huge power display, although they do have a good core of players that can hurt opposing pitchers. This year's Giants offense is much improved as opposed to the past few years. Pablo Sandoval didn't live up to his expectations this year, but he is always a threat. Aubrey Huff had a very good year. Rookie Buster Posey has yet to let anybody down. While the Giants may not have the best offensive numbers as a team, they do have guys then can cause some damage.
What one player do you fear the most?
Tim Lincecum is an obvious pick, but I'll go with Jonathan Sanchez who is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in nine career games against the Phillies. He has 40 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. As a whole, the Phillies have collected a batting average of .175 against Sanchez.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how worried are you to face the Giants (10 being most worried, 1 being least worried)?
I'd give it an 8. Comparing offenses, the Reds are superior to the Giants. However, when it comes to pitching, there is no argument; the Giants have one of the best staffs in the league. They led the majors with a 3.36 team ERA, .236 batting average against, and 1331 strikeouts.
Tim Lincecum had a "down year," but his 14 strikeouts/complete game shutout in the NLDS indicate what he is capable of. He'll remain a top pitchers for several years. It goes beyond Lincecum, though. Actually, Matt Cain was better, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. The pitching doesn't stop there. Jonathan Sanchez, another strikeout pitcher, had a 3.07 ERA this season. The Phillies arguably have the edge with a 1-2-3 punch of Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, but the Giants are not too far behind.
The Phillies clearly put up the better offensive numbers. The Giants no longer have Barry Bonds, or anybody that puts up a huge power display, although they do have a good core of players that can hurt opposing pitchers. This year's Giants offense is much improved as opposed to the past few years. Pablo Sandoval didn't live up to his expectations this year, but he is always a threat. Aubrey Huff had a very good year. Rookie Buster Posey has yet to let anybody down. While the Giants may not have the best offensive numbers as a team, they do have guys then can cause some damage.
What one player do you fear the most?
Tim Lincecum is an obvious pick, but I'll go with Jonathan Sanchez who is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in nine career games against the Phillies. He has 40 strikeouts in 34.2 innings. As a whole, the Phillies have collected a batting average of .175 against Sanchez.
Mailbag: Reds Matchup/ Phillies MVP
In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.
The Phillies will face the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS starting on Wednesday. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most favorable to the Phillies, 1 being least favorable) how do you think the Phils match up with the Reds in the opening series?
6.5. I was really hoping that the Padres would win the Wild Card because I think that the Reds are the toughest road to the NLCS. I think the Phillies are the favorites, but I still think the Reds are a tough opponent.
Offensively, I think it's fairly even. As far as collective team stats go, the Reds gained the edge. However, the Phillies were without Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard at parts of the season. Now, they are all back. The Phillies win offensively now, but the Reds are no slouch. Joey Votto scares me.
Pitching-wise, the Phillies get the advantage. The Reds are going to face three aces. On the other hand, the Reds have Bronson Arroyo slated as number two. The Reds have some decent young arms, but they have yet to reach their peak.
Overall, I pick to win the Phillies, but it's not going to be an easy series. The Phillies may have took the season series, 5-2, including a 4-game sweep at home, but the Reds still played the Phillies tough. One of those 4 games featured a miracle late-inning comeback, and two were extra inning wins.
The Phillies wrapped up the regular season yesterday, finishing 97-65. Who was the Phils regular season MVP?
Roy Halladay. Every five days is win day. He gave the Phillies a solid 250 innings. Complete Games. Shutouts. Perfect game. How can he not be the team MVP?
Second: Jayson Werth; Third: Ryan Howard
The Phillies will face the Cincinnati Reds in the NLDS starting on Wednesday. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most favorable to the Phillies, 1 being least favorable) how do you think the Phils match up with the Reds in the opening series?
6.5. I was really hoping that the Padres would win the Wild Card because I think that the Reds are the toughest road to the NLCS. I think the Phillies are the favorites, but I still think the Reds are a tough opponent.
Offensively, I think it's fairly even. As far as collective team stats go, the Reds gained the edge. However, the Phillies were without Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard at parts of the season. Now, they are all back. The Phillies win offensively now, but the Reds are no slouch. Joey Votto scares me.
Pitching-wise, the Phillies get the advantage. The Reds are going to face three aces. On the other hand, the Reds have Bronson Arroyo slated as number two. The Reds have some decent young arms, but they have yet to reach their peak.
Overall, I pick to win the Phillies, but it's not going to be an easy series. The Phillies may have took the season series, 5-2, including a 4-game sweep at home, but the Reds still played the Phillies tough. One of those 4 games featured a miracle late-inning comeback, and two were extra inning wins.
The Phillies wrapped up the regular season yesterday, finishing 97-65. Who was the Phils regular season MVP?
Roy Halladay. Every five days is win day. He gave the Phillies a solid 250 innings. Complete Games. Shutouts. Perfect game. How can he not be the team MVP?
Second: Jayson Werth; Third: Ryan Howard
Mailbag: Cy Young?
In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.
If the season ended right now, would Roy Halladay get your vote for the NL Cy Young award?
If the season ended today, no, I would not vote for Halladay, although it is very close. I would probably put him second behind Josh Johnson, who has had an incredible year. For a while, Ubaldo Jiminez was first or second, but he has really struggled over his past couple of starts, and has fallen to around the 4-5 range.
Johnson may have the better ERA, but there is still enough time for Halladay to gain ground on Johnson for a Cy Young vote. They are both very close in WHIP. Halladay has the most innings, and will likelycontinue to lead the league. Halladay also has the best strikeout/walk ratio in the National League. There’s still a very good chance Halladay could surpass Johnson, at least in my book.
If the season ended right now, would Roy Halladay get your vote for the NL Cy Young award?
If the season ended today, no, I would not vote for Halladay, although it is very close. I would probably put him second behind Josh Johnson, who has had an incredible year. For a while, Ubaldo Jiminez was first or second, but he has really struggled over his past couple of starts, and has fallen to around the 4-5 range.
Johnson may have the better ERA, but there is still enough time for Halladay to gain ground on Johnson for a Cy Young vote. They are both very close in WHIP. Halladay has the most innings, and will likelycontinue to lead the league. Halladay also has the best strikeout/walk ratio in the National League. There’s still a very good chance Halladay could surpass Johnson, at least in my book.
Mailbag: Second Half
In this post, I answered questions presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation. Click the link to see answers from other bloggers. If you have a question, please e-mail me at amanda@swingandalongdrive.com.
The hottest trade rumor is now Jayson Werth and his possible departure. Do you believe the Phillies can win if they were to trade him?
With Dom Brown in the waiting, I think they can win without Werth, but they are a better team with him.
The starting rotation has been the strongest part of the Phillies team this year. Led by Roy Halladay, they have thrown the most innings in the National League. They also have the most complete games in baseball. Can the Phillies starters keep up this pace in the second half?
Yes. There are no signs Halladay is slowing down. Hamels (3.94 ERA first half, 3.27 ERA second half) and Blanton (4.33 ERA first half, 3.99 second half) have been second half pitchers throughout their career. The only thing to worry about would be an injury.
Injuries have certainly taken their toll on the team, most notably the offense. In years past, this lineup was considered a juggernaut. Are those days over or can they regain that status in the 2nd half?
Absolutely. Over the past few years this team has really been a second half team, especially offensively. I'm not too worried about the offense. They'll come around.
The bullpen was good, then bad, but basically it's been all over the place. Will they go with what they have, or is a trade or move of some sort inevitable?
Any trade that can help the pitching staff would be nice. I would say they need at least one more decent reliever.
Dom Brown. Bring him up or keep him down?
In September. Unless Werth is traded and he'll be playing everyday, keep him in the minors where he can get some ABs.
The hottest trade rumor is now Jayson Werth and his possible departure. Do you believe the Phillies can win if they were to trade him?
With Dom Brown in the waiting, I think they can win without Werth, but they are a better team with him.
The starting rotation has been the strongest part of the Phillies team this year. Led by Roy Halladay, they have thrown the most innings in the National League. They also have the most complete games in baseball. Can the Phillies starters keep up this pace in the second half?
Yes. There are no signs Halladay is slowing down. Hamels (3.94 ERA first half, 3.27 ERA second half) and Blanton (4.33 ERA first half, 3.99 second half) have been second half pitchers throughout their career. The only thing to worry about would be an injury.
Injuries have certainly taken their toll on the team, most notably the offense. In years past, this lineup was considered a juggernaut. Are those days over or can they regain that status in the 2nd half?
Absolutely. Over the past few years this team has really been a second half team, especially offensively. I'm not too worried about the offense. They'll come around.
The bullpen was good, then bad, but basically it's been all over the place. Will they go with what they have, or is a trade or move of some sort inevitable?
Any trade that can help the pitching staff would be nice. I would say they need at least one more decent reliever.
Dom Brown. Bring him up or keep him down?
In September. Unless Werth is traded and he'll be playing everyday, keep him in the minors where he can get some ABs.
Mailbag: Who's the Phillies Biggest Threat?
In this post, I answered a question that was presented by Pat Gallen of Phillies Nation.
The Phillies play the Mets, Marlins, and Braves this week. The Braves were looked at as the 2nd best team in the NL East before the season started but haven't quite lived up to that hype. The Marlins are who they are. The Mets are the bottom feeder right now, but have had an up and down season. Who of these three teams do you believe will give the Phillies the closest race in the NL East and why?
This is a tough question. So far, the Phillies have been superior in most categories, but you can never count any team out. They can all be a threat.
Entering Sunday, the Marlins were 11th in baseball in overall ERA. However, they have a better rotation than the Mets and Braves. From Josh Johnson to Anibal Sanchez, all five guys in their rotation can get the job done. However, their bullpen is a little worrisome. Leo Nunez has been a solid closer, but they don't really have anybody other than him.
Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla can get the job done offensively. Even Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu have done well. Chris Coghlan hit a sophomore slump, and Cameron Maybin has yet to play to his potential, but you have to like the Florida offense. However, I think the Mets have more offensive potential than the Marlins.
The Mets are last of the four teams in runs scored, but with players like Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Jason Bay, you'd have to imagine that they will snap out of the funk.
The thing that will hold the Mets back is their pitching. Entering Sunday, the Mets were 8th in the majors in ERA, but they've had all kinds of problems, from injuries to moving Oliver Perez to the bullpen. Johan Santana hasn't been "the best pitcher in the NL East" as he proclaimed, but you'd have to figure he'll come around. Francisco Rodriguez can close the doors, but they have to get to him. Pitching is not something the Mets can rely on right now.
The Braves have yet to play to their expectations, but they still can't be counted out. Every pitcher hates facing Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, and Jason Heyward is finding his way onto that list.
The Braves have the better bullpen of all the teams in the National League, but other than Tommy Hanson, they haven't gotten much from their starting rotation.
Of course, there are the Nationals, who can't be counted out. They've been streaky, but I don't see them contending this year. Much improved? Absolutely. Stephen Strasburg is going to make his debut soon, but I still give them two more years, maybe when Bryce Harper is on the team.
So, after all this, I have yet to answer the question, but I really had to think it out, and break it down. I think I'm going to have to go with the Marlins, but it is very close. They have the NL East's best rotation, plus a solid offense.
Blog of Note: WhatIfSports put together an all budget team, comprised of the biggest bargains and revenue risks. They also interviewed general manager Jim Bowden about his thoughts on small market baseball.
The Phillies play the Mets, Marlins, and Braves this week. The Braves were looked at as the 2nd best team in the NL East before the season started but haven't quite lived up to that hype. The Marlins are who they are. The Mets are the bottom feeder right now, but have had an up and down season. Who of these three teams do you believe will give the Phillies the closest race in the NL East and why?
This is a tough question. So far, the Phillies have been superior in most categories, but you can never count any team out. They can all be a threat.
Entering Sunday, the Marlins were 11th in baseball in overall ERA. However, they have a better rotation than the Mets and Braves. From Josh Johnson to Anibal Sanchez, all five guys in their rotation can get the job done. However, their bullpen is a little worrisome. Leo Nunez has been a solid closer, but they don't really have anybody other than him.
Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla can get the job done offensively. Even Cody Ross and Jorge Cantu have done well. Chris Coghlan hit a sophomore slump, and Cameron Maybin has yet to play to his potential, but you have to like the Florida offense. However, I think the Mets have more offensive potential than the Marlins.
The Mets are last of the four teams in runs scored, but with players like Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Jason Bay, you'd have to imagine that they will snap out of the funk.
The thing that will hold the Mets back is their pitching. Entering Sunday, the Mets were 8th in the majors in ERA, but they've had all kinds of problems, from injuries to moving Oliver Perez to the bullpen. Johan Santana hasn't been "the best pitcher in the NL East" as he proclaimed, but you'd have to figure he'll come around. Francisco Rodriguez can close the doors, but they have to get to him. Pitching is not something the Mets can rely on right now.
The Braves have yet to play to their expectations, but they still can't be counted out. Every pitcher hates facing Chipper Jones and Brian McCann, and Jason Heyward is finding his way onto that list.
The Braves have the better bullpen of all the teams in the National League, but other than Tommy Hanson, they haven't gotten much from their starting rotation.
Of course, there are the Nationals, who can't be counted out. They've been streaky, but I don't see them contending this year. Much improved? Absolutely. Stephen Strasburg is going to make his debut soon, but I still give them two more years, maybe when Bryce Harper is on the team.
So, after all this, I have yet to answer the question, but I really had to think it out, and break it down. I think I'm going to have to go with the Marlins, but it is very close. They have the NL East's best rotation, plus a solid offense.
Blog of Note: WhatIfSports put together an all budget team, comprised of the biggest bargains and revenue risks. They also interviewed general manager Jim Bowden about his thoughts on small market baseball.
Dutch, Upton Talk Game 6
Our friend Kirk Reynolds from PlayMaker Mobile was kind enough to send over another interview. Once again, Darren Daulton and BJ Upton chime in.Dutch Says: "Alright, so Rocky knocked the Bronx Bombers down last night. Secret is to keep them down. There is a rumor that Curt Schilling is going to pitch game 7 for the Phils, so we sent out to get the sock--it should be here soon and if not, some nice fellows from the deli down the street offered to bring us a couple red socks, if it will help the Phightins down the Bronx Bullies.
So, we’ll see Pedro for game six. I mentioned earlier in the series that the Phightins owe Pedro…we still do. How great will it be if Pedro throws another gem in New York? Also J.A. Happ is still available and rested. I am sure Charlie has him slated somewhere down the road.
Total city effort [Monday] night--the crowd was outrageous--I love Philadelphia fans, and now it’s time to put up or go home. I think we'll be in New York for a couple more days…
So game 6 we start Pedro--game 7 Schill (haha), but both Yankee killers… what is that old saying… the enemy of my enemy is my friend… I love Boston… Let the Yankee curse begin…..
Phils in seven….MVP Chase Utley with seven home runs… that’s right tough guys from New York he ain’t done yet…and he loves playing in your yard…. with that nice short porch… ouch …now you will see the Phils bats come to life…. "
BJ Upton also talked to Reynolds about the rest of the series.
Upton Says: "When I faced Pedro he still had his 93/94 speed, and I still think he's as good now, and he knows how to pitch in big games, just like Andy Pettitte. They've both been in this situation a number of times, and probably against each other, on the biggest stage in America, with the biggest rivalry in baseball with the Red Sox and Yankees. I think it's gonna be a great matchup with two veteran pitchers who know what they're doing and who know what they want to do, so I think it's going to be a pitcher's duel the whole game.
If I had to face one of them with the game on the line, I'd go with Andy Pettitte, but only because he's a lefty and also I haven't seen Pedro in a number of years, but Pettitte I've obviously faced recently.
Keep an eye out for A-Rod and Teixeira in Game 6. Teixeira has been kinda quiet the whole series, and it's time for him to break out a bit these last couple games. And on the other side of the field I'm gonna stick with Jayson Werth. He hasn't really fully shown up yet but he's helped out that team, and he's the guy I'm watching in Games 6 and maybe Game 7.
And also watch the BULLPENS! That's what let the Yankees get back into it the other night. Enjoy Game 6."
Thanks again to Kirk Reynolds!
Interview with Upton
Kirk Reynolds of PlayMaker Mobile was kind enough to send over a couple interviews regarding the World Series. In yesterday's addition, Darren Daulton was interviewed. B.J Upton provided his commentary about the World Series.What is your advice to first timers?
Don't change a thing. Don't put any extra pressure on yourself. It may be a bigger stage, but it's still about going out there and having fun playing the same game you've been playing since you were a kid. We all dream about playing in the World Series so just go out there and play. Once you get through that first inning it's really just like any other playoff game. It's the World Series, it's big, but you just have to settle down and get back to playing normal baseball."
Does Philly have an edge due to experience last year?
Maybe a little. A-Rod, Texeira, some of those guys have never done it so you don't know how they're going to respond. The Phillies know what to expect and that can play a little role in it, but it won't be the deciding factor. Whoever plays the most fundamental baseball and doesn't make mistakes will win it. Mistakes are magnified at this level so you have to limit your mistakes.
How do you prepare to face a pitcher?
Watching tape helps a little, but it doesn't really show what a pitcher is going to do to you in the World Series. The game changes. Pitchers don't want to put anybody on in the playoffs because those walks and errors always seem to come back to bite you. So the pitching philosophy can be a little different in the World Series.
*Another big thank you to Kirk Reynolds for sending this over.
T-Shirt Note: Unrelated to the interview above, Vintage-Blue.com was kind enough to send over a promo code for Swing and a Long Drive readers only. Get your "There's no crying in baseball!" t-shirt today! There are many to chose from!
Promo Code: gophillies*
Blog of Note: We Should be GMs has a hilarious Halloween video of Chase Utley, Charlie Manuel, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, and Ryan Howard doing the Monster Mash.
Interview with "Dutch"
Kirk Reynolds of PlayMaker Mobile was kind enough to send over a couple interviews regarding the World Series. Check back tomorrow for B.J Upton's thoughts, but former Phillie Darren Daulton joins Reynolds in this interview. Who has the advantage between Philadelphia's pitchers and the Yankee bats?
These teams are pretty equally matched, so the team with the least amount of walks and the least amount of errors and mistakes is going to win.
What about between New York's arms and Philly's bats?
I have said throughout the post season that Chase Utley is the key to the Phils winning the World Series. As evidence, you can see what an impact he made on game one with two home runs. The team seems to feed off of Chase so my answer is the Phils, based on the success of Chase. Also, the short porch at Yankee stadium will benefit the Phils left handed hitters; again Chase is the lead but Howard and Ibanez both are going to have big series in my opinion, again advantage Phils.
Who are the unsung heroes (i.e. underrated players to watch) on each team?
Ibanez has had a terrific year so I can’t say he’s underrated but is a candidate for unsung hero. Also J. A. Happ may play a significant role if the series goes six or seven games. The Yanks unsung hero needs to come from the bullpen. Their starters are not going to sneak up on you--each of them are stars and are the best starting line up in the American League.
These teams are pretty equally matched, so the team with the least amount of walks and the least amount of errors and mistakes is going to win.
What about between New York's arms and Philly's bats?
I have said throughout the post season that Chase Utley is the key to the Phils winning the World Series. As evidence, you can see what an impact he made on game one with two home runs. The team seems to feed off of Chase so my answer is the Phils, based on the success of Chase. Also, the short porch at Yankee stadium will benefit the Phils left handed hitters; again Chase is the lead but Howard and Ibanez both are going to have big series in my opinion, again advantage Phils.
Who are the unsung heroes (i.e. underrated players to watch) on each team?
Ibanez has had a terrific year so I can’t say he’s underrated but is a candidate for unsung hero. Also J. A. Happ may play a significant role if the series goes six or seven games. The Yanks unsung hero needs to come from the bullpen. Their starters are not going to sneak up on you--each of them are stars and are the best starting line up in the American League.
What do the Yankees have to do to win?
Play their game--they were dominant and have the best hitting line up in the American League. The starting pitchers have to throw strikes. The Phils are not going to help them by swinging at bad pitches. Evidence of this was the other night against CC--I think he threw over 100 pitches by the 6th inning. So, the starting pitchers need to get ahead in the count and throw strikes. Again the bullpen is where the question mark gets an exclamation point. We all know what Mariano can do. It will be interesting to see who, if anyone else, picks up the pill in middle relief.
What does Philly have to do to win?
Continue to take pitches, get runners on base, and I think they can steal more bases. I think Charlie is the best manager in baseball and has made all the right calls up to this point. Remember Charlie's forte is his ability to make hitters better so don’t expect for Charlie to have them start bunting now. Again getting 100 plus pitches in the 6th inning shows the great discipline of the entire line up. This was the key to the '93 ball club when we won the NLCS. Dude was the best leadoff hitter that year and each teammate sacrificed to get the starters in to high pitch count situations in the middle innings.
Which team do you think will win?
Come on are you serious?… Phils in 5, maybe 6.
Once again, a big thanks to Kirk Reynolds for sending this over.
Interview with Shay Roddy: Part II
I talked to Shay Roddy, writer for the blog Phillie Phanatics, about his thoughts on the 2009 Phillies. Here is Part II of the interivew:
Who do you think will win the 5th spot in the starting rotation?
Shay: I’d cross Carlos Carrasco off the list, he looks like he definitely has potential in the future, but just isn’t ready yet. [Kyle] Kendrick doesn’t seem to have it anymore. He might be the next Gavin Floyd, one of those guys that just needs a change of scenery. Chan Ho Park looks strong, but would best fit into the bullpen. That leaves J.A. Happ, who’s looked very good this spring. He looks, to me, like a guy who could be a good pitcher for quite a while.
Who is the Phillies player to watch in 2009?
Shay: Raul Ibanez. He’s replacing someone who evolved into a fan favorite. Raul needs to win the fans over early. I think he can, too. He’s a hard worker, and someone who wants to win. He’s the player to watch only because he’s the only player we haven’t really seen much of before… Ruben Amaro, Jr. did a terrific job resigning everyone.
Who do you think is the best Phillies prospect?
Shay: Jason Donald and Carlos Carrasco both look strong. John Mayberry, Jr. and Gary Majewski have also looked sharp this spring. I doubt we’ll see much of Mayberry or Donald this year, but watch their names in the future. Carlos Carrasco is a guy who I could see coming in sometime around the all-star break, due to injury or poor performance by someone in the rotation. I could also see Majewski having some sort of role in the bullpen this year.
What is the Phillies biggest concern for '09?
Shay: There aren’t many. Maybe the starting pitching… You have Hamels, who’s complaining about this am problem, Myers, who was demoted to the minor-leagues as recently as last season, Blanton, who’s ok, but nothing special, Moyer, who’s bound to break down someday, and whoever your fifth starter may be. There’s a few question marks in there, but I think they’ll be ok.
How will the Phillies finish in 2009?
Shay: I’m tired of hearing people pick them to finish behind the Mets. I don’t care who the Mets’ new closer is, he wasn’t perfect. Anyone who has the world champs out of the playoffs, especially when they brought back every player on their World Series roster (except [Pat] Burrell and [So]Taguchi) just lost some of my respect. Phillies will win the East, beyond that, you never know… I don’t think it’s fair to anyone to pick a world champion before the season starts.
What do you think of the Phillies/Mets rivalry?
Shay: It’s great for the cities and great for baseball. Does it have the potential to turn into a Yankees/ Red Sox type rivalry? No, but what we have is pretty great.
The only real downside to it is the player involvement. When J-Roll first said we were the team to beat he meant it. Now it’s starting to turn into a joke. Let the rivalry be between the fans. The players should just go out and play.
Shay: I’d cross Carlos Carrasco off the list, he looks like he definitely has potential in the future, but just isn’t ready yet. [Kyle] Kendrick doesn’t seem to have it anymore. He might be the next Gavin Floyd, one of those guys that just needs a change of scenery. Chan Ho Park looks strong, but would best fit into the bullpen. That leaves J.A. Happ, who’s looked very good this spring. He looks, to me, like a guy who could be a good pitcher for quite a while.
Who is the Phillies player to watch in 2009?
Shay: Raul Ibanez. He’s replacing someone who evolved into a fan favorite. Raul needs to win the fans over early. I think he can, too. He’s a hard worker, and someone who wants to win. He’s the player to watch only because he’s the only player we haven’t really seen much of before… Ruben Amaro, Jr. did a terrific job resigning everyone.
Who do you think is the best Phillies prospect?
Shay: Jason Donald and Carlos Carrasco both look strong. John Mayberry, Jr. and Gary Majewski have also looked sharp this spring. I doubt we’ll see much of Mayberry or Donald this year, but watch their names in the future. Carlos Carrasco is a guy who I could see coming in sometime around the all-star break, due to injury or poor performance by someone in the rotation. I could also see Majewski having some sort of role in the bullpen this year.
What is the Phillies biggest concern for '09?
Shay: There aren’t many. Maybe the starting pitching… You have Hamels, who’s complaining about this am problem, Myers, who was demoted to the minor-leagues as recently as last season, Blanton, who’s ok, but nothing special, Moyer, who’s bound to break down someday, and whoever your fifth starter may be. There’s a few question marks in there, but I think they’ll be ok.
How will the Phillies finish in 2009?
Shay: I’m tired of hearing people pick them to finish behind the Mets. I don’t care who the Mets’ new closer is, he wasn’t perfect. Anyone who has the world champs out of the playoffs, especially when they brought back every player on their World Series roster (except [Pat] Burrell and [So]Taguchi) just lost some of my respect. Phillies will win the East, beyond that, you never know… I don’t think it’s fair to anyone to pick a world champion before the season starts.
What do you think of the Phillies/Mets rivalry?
Shay: It’s great for the cities and great for baseball. Does it have the potential to turn into a Yankees/ Red Sox type rivalry? No, but what we have is pretty great.
The only real downside to it is the player involvement. When J-Roll first said we were the team to beat he meant it. Now it’s starting to turn into a joke. Let the rivalry be between the fans. The players should just go out and play.
Thanks Shay! I appreciate you taking the time to answering my questions!
Interview with Shay Roddy: Part I
I caught up with Shay Roddy from the blog Phillies Phanatics. Here is the interview:What is your favorite Phillies memory of the 2008 season?
Shay: Wow! So many of them! There were so many things that really, really stood out. On the field the obvious choices would be Stairs’ home run or Lidge’s final pitch. But what really best demonstrates the joy, care, and even suffering of the Philly fans was the parade. That parade was magical. An entire city was united by a sports franchise. I never imagined it quite like that—the outpouring of support was just incredible. It was a day I’ll always remember!
Why did you decide to start your blog?
Shay: In early 2008, I started writing for BleacherReport.com, which is managed by CBS Sports. It went well, but I wanted a little more freedom and no affiliation. I opened the site in December, and haven’t looked back since. The blog has given me a platform to interact with Phillies fans and hopefully make an impact on them. There’s too many people to thank for making this all possible—Laura Nachman, Michael Barkann, Jason Weitzel, and many more local bloggers, sportscasters, writers, and friends.
What do you think of today's “blogosphere” and is it good for the sports community?
Shay: To be honest, before I started blogging I didn’t read blogs. Even now, I read the Daily News and Inquirer, and watch Comcast SportsNet for most of my news. There’s few blogs that are really well done, and I’ll read them—Beerleaguer, The 700 Level, The Zo Zone, and of course Swing and A Long Drive.
Thank you, Shay! Same goes to your site.
Shay: Blogging has a lot of pros and a lot of cons. One that fits on both lists is that it’s open to anyone. That works out well because you get passionate fans, who care just as much as the readers, writing. On the flip side, anyone can post anything. I could go out tonight and write that Charlie Manuel was fired and every member of the Phillies was killed in a bus crash. Anyone can make anything up and publish it… that’s a scary concept.
You interview a lot of people. Which interview was your favorite?
Shay: Wow, so many great ones—[Scott] Franzke, [Glen] Macnow, [Joe] Conklin, [John] Finger, [Jason] Stark, [Scott] Lauber, [Mike] Sielski, [Ray] Didinger, [Andy] Martino! The two that really stand out to me are Michael Barkann and Pat Gillick. Michael Barkann is probably the only reason I’m doing this thing. He was my biggest inspiration to get into covering sports. He’s also one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. He’s helped me better my work in innumerable ways. He’s smart, funny, and hosts, for my money, the best sports show on the air, Daily News Live. He was a thrill!
Pat Gillick was also just amazing! To answer the phone and hear Pat Gillick, the man who brought a championship back to Philly, on the other line was surreal. He was sharp, and insightful. I was thrilled how that one turned out!
Do you have any special plans for your site during the 2009 season?
Shay: You can expect a lot of changes in the next few weeks. We’re currently designing a TV studio and are planning on having video of some interviews and other opinion and news based shows. Preliminarily it seems like a good idea, but we’re hitting obstacles rapidly. Another thing we plan on doing is having a call in radio show weekly. The show will air live over the Internet and will give readers another way to express their opinion to us. Our first radio show is set for April 3, on BlogTalkRadio.com. We’re also looking into a few things about the blog itself, I’d rather not discuss exactly what we’re planning, since none of it’s final. I can promise that changes will be made for the better!
Your bio says you did a postgame show with FOX during the playoffs. What did you do for the post game show?
Shay: I did a five-minute segment for them during the NLCS. It was live, so it was a get on make your point and get off type deal. That was before the blog was even started, while I was writing for CBS. It was neat and television is definitely something I’d like to explore in the future.
Check back for Part II of Shay's interview.
Questions With IRONPIGPEN: Part IV
Every day, we will ask the IRONPIGPEN questions about the IronPigs or other Phillies prospects. You may already be familiar with him from our counter point series. For more on the IRONPIGPEN himself, please visit his blog, IRONPIGPEN: The Pork Stops Here!What do you think of the name "IronPigs," the colors and the logo?
IRONPIGPEN: Some people actually think it’s a silly name, but I am very proud of the IronPigs’ name because the steel industry has a prominent place in local history. My brother and I have no direct connection to the local steel industry, which was really headquartered in Bethlehem (Allentown’s twin city), but tons of people in the Lehigh Valley do either directly or indirectly. It’s an excellent choice for the team name because it represents the area so well, its cultural heritage. Plus, we don’t know about you, but we think a pig made out of iron sounds tough. We like the sound of how an IronPig matches up against say, a Mud Hen.
As for the colors, my personal favorite was always a darker / royal blue so I really love the team choices. Furnace Blue, Brick Red, and Cool Grey are the official terms. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are the very first professional sports team to use this combination of colors.
I think our logo is outstanding! The IronPig looks pretty fierce in our estimation, wouldn’t you agree? Plus, the pig is made of iron. We tend to think a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankee would rather not run into the IronPig in dimly-lit back alley.
I think the regular hat the IronPigs wear at home is the bomb, the Furnace Blue with our fierce IronPig logo! The IronPigs wear a red hat with the letters “LV” on the road. On Saturdays at home, the IronPigs wear a certain all-red hat with a pig’s nose and eyes. On Sunday’s at Coca-Cola Park, they wear a red hat with a blue bill that has a big “I” with a pig’s tail.
I like our regular home jersey best as well. White with “IRONPIGS” across the front. The IronPigs wear gray on the road with “LEHIGH VALLEY” and also have a separate jersey each for Saturday and Sunday home games, too. That doesn’t include the special shirts they often wear for promotional nights, but that’s another story…
Didn't fans vote on the name?
IRONPIGPEN: Yes. I believe the team originally asked fans to submit names. The team management then chose eight finalists and put them up for a month-long vote of the general population in the Lehigh Valley. The “IronPigs” name received more than 10,000 votes and was thus declared the winner an new name of the fledgling AAA Lehigh Valley team!
Questions With IRONPIGPEN: Part III
Every day, we will ask the IRONPIGPEN questions about the IronPigs or other Phillies prospects. You may already be familiar with him from our counter point series. For more on the IRONPIGPEN himself, please visit his blog, IRONPIGPEN: The Pork Stops Here!What do you think of Jason Donald being ranked a higher prospect than Carlos Carrasco?
IRONPIGPEN: I think Donald is closer to being ready right now for the Philadelphia Phillies at the Major League level. I think the record clearly shows Donald has been able to master and graduate the minor league levels at a faster rate than Carrasco. Carrasco has been pitching in the Phillies system since he was seventeen. He is 22 this spring and is basically just arriving at AAA after five seasons of professional ball. Donald, who played college ball at the University of Arizona, will reach the AAA level after just three pro seasons. I also think that Donald has enjoyed success in the minors whereas Carrasco has had his share of ups and downs along his way. As you know, Donald did well in the Arizona Fall League and I think he is on a real fast track to the Major Leagues, not that I think Carrasco won’t also get there.
IRONPIGPEN: I think Donald is closer to being ready right now for the Philadelphia Phillies at the Major League level. I think the record clearly shows Donald has been able to master and graduate the minor league levels at a faster rate than Carrasco. Carrasco has been pitching in the Phillies system since he was seventeen. He is 22 this spring and is basically just arriving at AAA after five seasons of professional ball. Donald, who played college ball at the University of Arizona, will reach the AAA level after just three pro seasons. I also think that Donald has enjoyed success in the minors whereas Carrasco has had his share of ups and downs along his way. As you know, Donald did well in the Arizona Fall League and I think he is on a real fast track to the Major Leagues, not that I think Carrasco won’t also get there.
Who do you think is the best prospect in the entire Phillies farm system?
IRONPIGPEN: It depends what you mean by prospect. I think the young player in the Philadelphia farm system most ready to be called up would probably be shortstop Jason Donald. Carlos Carrasco and Lou Marson aren’t too far behind him. If you mean below the IronPigs who is the best future player for the Philadelphia Phillies I would say outfielder Michael Taylor is certainly one to watch. He romped last year for both the A Lakewood BlueClaws (67 G, 10 HR 50 RBI, .361 AVG) and the A+ Clearwater Threshers (65 G, 9 HR 38 RBI, .329 AVG). I thoroughly believe if he brings his 2008 form to spring training he will end up with AA Reading Phillies to start the season. I even saw one optimistic article which has Taylor rocking in Reading and playing for the IronPigs by the end of the year. That would be interesting since both Michael Taylor and John Mayberry are products of Stanford University. We could have the smartest outfield in the International League!
IRONPIGPEN: It depends what you mean by prospect. I think the young player in the Philadelphia farm system most ready to be called up would probably be shortstop Jason Donald. Carlos Carrasco and Lou Marson aren’t too far behind him. If you mean below the IronPigs who is the best future player for the Philadelphia Phillies I would say outfielder Michael Taylor is certainly one to watch. He romped last year for both the A Lakewood BlueClaws (67 G, 10 HR 50 RBI, .361 AVG) and the A+ Clearwater Threshers (65 G, 9 HR 38 RBI, .329 AVG). I thoroughly believe if he brings his 2008 form to spring training he will end up with AA Reading Phillies to start the season. I even saw one optimistic article which has Taylor rocking in Reading and playing for the IronPigs by the end of the year. That would be interesting since both Michael Taylor and John Mayberry are products of Stanford University. We could have the smartest outfield in the International League!
Questions With IRONPIGPEN: Part II
Every day, we will ask the IRONPIGPEN questions about the IronPigs or other Phillies prospects. You may already be familiar with him from our counter point series. For more on the IRONPIGPEN himself, please visit his blog, IRONPIGPEN: The Pork Stops Here!Who is the IronPig to watch?
IRONPIGPEN: When I go to Coca-Cola Park, the one I like to watch is Andy Tracy. He is a veteran player and not a ‘prospect’ but Tracy is our clean-up hitter and the IronPigs 2008 Most Valuable Player. Not only was Tracy among the International League leaders in HR, RBI, and average, his glove operates at .997 pct efficiency. In our league, Tracy is a bona-fide difference-maker and worthy of attention. He is also a hustle-at-all-times type player and sets a great example for young players of all ages. Tracy actually got in four games for the Phillies this season so he is a part of the World Series championship season in the history books forever.
What IronPigs do you expect to be called up?
IRONPIGPEN: If [J.A] Happ doesn’t make the Phillies as a starter or reliever, he is the IronPig most ready right now to play in the Majors. Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson are the best “prospects”, but I believe the Phillies would rather see these guys play everyday at the AAA level. All three are guaranteed to go to Citizens Bank Park in September at the very least, if they are not needed earlier.
If Pablo Ozuna doesn’t make the Phillies, he will be an experienced Major Leaguer down on the farm. The same could be said about Marcus Giles and I believe Terry Tiffee would be serviceable if Philadelphia had some kind of injury epidemic.
Dave Borkowski and Gary Majewski each pitched a fair amount in the Majors last season and they are in the serviceable category as well. Either pitcher or perhaps even veteran Delaware Blue Hen Mike Koplove might grab a place on the Philadelphia pitching staff this spring. Jake Woods is a left-handed reliever and Joe Bisenius is still a 40-man roster member and looking to rebound from a disappointing 2008.
At some point, I also believe, the Phillies will want to have outfielder John Mayberry exposed to Major League pitching, if only in September.
Questions With IRONPIGPEN: Part I
Every day, we will ask the IRONPIGPEN questions about the IronPigs or other Phillies prospects. You may already be familiar with him from our counter point series. For more on the IRONPIGPEN himself, please visit his blog, IRONPIGPEN: The Pork Stops Here!What do you think of the IronPigs' chances in 2009?
IRONPIGPEN: I think it’s too early to tell for the IronPigs. Teams are not done signing players and, as you know, teams will start wheeling and dealing again once the Grapefruit League gets into full gear. So we’re going to hold off on our formal predictions until late March, when we have a clearer idea of everybody’s Major League and AAA rosters will look like. Right now, I can say I was encouraged by the players signed in December by Philadelphia. The signing momentum has stalled in January and February, though, and I think some other teams have started to pile up some more minor league guys than the Phillies so we’ll see. We were dead last a year ago though so, technically, all we need to do is move up one place in the standings and we can say we have improved!
The Phillies were named the 11th best farm system in MLB, after being closer to the bottom of the list the past few years. Does this seem accurate?
IRONPIGPEN: We don’t pay a whole lot of attention to these type of rankings. And, yeah, we question how accurate such a ranking is. We didn’t see such a radical infusion of talent on the minor league free agent market. Sure, players like [Jason] Donald and [Lou] Marson are moving up levels in the organization, but so are the other players from other teams. We look at individual prospect rankings just like everybody else, but we look at things from the perspective of a team, as well. Both the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Reading Phillies finished dead last in their league. The Clearwater Threshers had a losing record as well. We are of the opinion, that if the Philadelphia Phillies truly have the eleventh best minor league talent available in their organization, these three ball clubs’ records for 2009 will reflect that. We’ll see. We are still working on our predictions for where the IronPigs will rank in the International League. That’s what our ‘Organization In Focus’ features are for. We are trying to figure out who will be playing for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and all the other teams in our league. We will comment when we are done with that. The other thing is, we know who the Phillies have at the A level, but we don’t scrutinize it anywhere near as closely as we do AA and up. We would say right now that # 11 from AA up is a mighty leap from where the Phillies’ teams were at last year.