Written by Mike Mariano | 28 July 2010

It's official, Domonic Brown has been called up to the Phillies and Shane Victorino has been sent to the DL.  Heard the news on Twitter from the Phillies beat writers.  This puts a damper on the Phillies potentially trading Jayson Werth (for better or for worse).

If he gets in the lineup tonight, I'm feeling a big debut.  Maybe a walk-off hit or a couple RBI's.  I don't know how he'll do over a stretch, but I think we're going to get some excitement on day one.

To read more about Domonic Brown feel free to read what I wrote about him 4 hours ago.  He's got the talent, he's got the hype, now finally we can see him in the show.  I can't wait to see the kid play.

Written by Mike Mariano | 28 July 2010

Domonic Brown may see the show sooner than later for the Phillies and it might not come via a trade of Jayson Werth like so many have expected.  With Shane Victorino's injury last night, Domonic Brown might see some time in the show this week.  The future will be on display in the present, right in the middle of a Phillies hot streak that has finally given the season some life.

Currently ranked the top prospect in the MLB (by Keith Law), Domonic Brown posses all the tools for stardom in the show.  6'5" 200 lbs, with plus speed and power to come down the road.  His work ethic touted as being exceptional and his athleticism has shown to be top of the line despite his massive size.  Five-tool potential is brought up whenever you pull his file: Speed, Power, Average, Defense, Throwing - the kid has the ability to do it all.

In 2010, DoBro has displayed it all down in the minors.  Spread over AA and AAA, Brown has hit .327 with 20 home runs and 17 stolen bases.  He has struck out nearly twice as much as he's walked, however his plate discipline is much improved than at the beginning of his career.  The kid is sporting an OPS of .980 which is exceptional.

Not everyone thinks that DoBro should be promoted just yet, because despite his obvious talents he is only 22 years old.  Not only that, the Phillies Phaithful aren't exactly the patient type.  Around here, we're used to our best players being prospects who came up and saw success nearly right away (Howard, Utley, Hamels, Victorino).  Also, the Phillies are going to be in a pennant race, is that really the time for the young guy to take his bumps and bruises in the majors?

If not in 2010, then next season Domonic will almost assuredly be roaming the outfield for the Phillies, but I can't pretend I'm not hoping for a glimpse of him this season.  Even if it's only for 15 days while Victorino is on the DL, I want to see the kid in action.  I was to see a vision of the Phillies future now.

Written by Mike Mariano | 28 July 2010

3.5 games back and coming in fast.  Last night saw another Phillies win and another Braves loss.  Chase Utley has been out hurt, Jimmy Rollins is day-to-day hurt, Shane Victorino left the game hurt, none of that mattered last night.  Three home runs, one by Ryan Howard, others by Jayson Werth and Cody Ransom, were just a part of the Phillies offensive showing last night.

Cole Hamels started and was just okay, going five innings, eight K's, three runs, but it ended up being enough.  David Herndon got the win which was the first of his Major League career.  He got it in the classiest way possible for a relief pitcher.  Come in and blow the lead, only to have the offense get it back for you in the bottom half of the inning.  A truly stolen win, you've to admire his effort.

Talk about production in the middle: Polanco, Ibanez, Howard, and Werth all have two hits on the day.  Rodrigo Lopez, the former Phillies, had no answer for the Phillies offense and got battered around in his five innings of work.

Tonight the Phillies have Roy Halladay facing off against the ever-inconsistent Edwin Jackson.  You know Roy's going to be strong, but Edwin is a wild card.  No-hitter? Maybe.  10 runs in three innings?  Maybe.  We'll just have to see. Seven in a row is on the line tonight and trades are on the horizon, stay tuned.

Written by Mike Mariano | 27 July 2010

Currently the Phillies are one of many suitors in the Roy Oswalt sweepstakes.  Not only would the Phillies have to fight other teams to make the best offer, but there are many reasons why Roy Oswalt wouldn't be a great fit in Philadelphia.  For one, he's indicated that he would prefer a smaller, more tame city than say a New York or Philadelphia.  Let's just say that the Phillie Phaithful aren't exactly a jolly bunch, we're not afraid to let the boo birds fly and I don't know how that would sit from Oswalt.  Secondly, his 2011 option presents a large financial obligation that the Phillies don't appear content to make.  Simply adding up the package demanded and the money owed, the price may not be right for Oswalt.

It must also be considered that if the Phillies offense truly is coming back to form, then consistency, not dominance is what the Phillies need from their pitching staff.  The price tag for consistency is considerably lower than dominance.  However, it remains to be seen what Ruben Amaro will value when if/when he pulls the trigger

With Moyer out, the current staff consists of Halladay, Hamels, Happ, Blanton, Kendrick.  Namely, Kendrick should be replaced, but regardless you can never have enough pitching.  So if Roy's not the guy (and don't get me wrong I hope that he is), who will/should be donning the red pinstripes for the stretch run and what characteristic they can bring to the table for the Phillies?

Ben Sheets

Dominance.  There was a time when Ben Sheets was on track to be one of the best pitchers in baseball with his back-breaking curveball.  Fast-forward to 2010 and Sheets has battled through inconsistency and injuries to find himself on a no-win team out in Oakland.  However during the wild pennant race of '08, Sheets pitched great before having elbow surgery in '09.  Getting trade to a contender could be exactly what Sheets needs to channel his inner dominance.  Better yet, the Phillies don't have to depend on him staying healthy for years to come because he's going to be a free agent after the season.  Love having guys playing for a contract year.  Also the cost of Sheets is at least a tier below that of Lee, Haren, Oswalt -- nearer to the Phillies comfort zone.

Ted Lilly

Consistency.  Ted may be 3-8 for the lowly Cubbies, however his 1.12 WHIP is encouraging.  Ted is a young man's Jamie Moyer and a two-time all-star (once being last season, no less).  He's another with a lower price tag, but no commitments after 2010.  Lilly may not go out and match Doc Halladay shut-out for shut-out, but he's going to keep you in the game until the end, which is exactly what an offense like this one in Philadelphia needs.

Fausto Carmona

Potential.  After winning 19 games in 2007, Carmona fell off the face of the earth.  Him and Sabathia were supposed to make the Indians contenders again, but his sky-rocketing ERA had other plans.  In 2010, Carmona has gotten back on the winning track, albeit not the dominant one of old.  However a move to the NL and another shot at a pennant race always helps.  After this season, Carmona's $6 million price tag is manageable and from there he has three years of club options.  The Phillies and Indians have had success doing deals in the past, there's no reason that can't continue with Carmona here.

Shaun Marcum

Controllable.  Two seasons removed from Tommy John surgery, the Blue Jays Opening Day starter should be getting better as time progresses.  His price tag will be higher compared to some guys, but the ability to control him in '11 and '12 (via arbitration) would be a great evaluation time to see if Marcum, who's only 26, is a viable option for the future.  With Moyer likely dead soon and little immediate help from the minors, this could be exactly the avenue the Phillies explore.

Written by Nikki DeMaio | 27 July 2010

This weekend, a bunch of my friends and I got together for a group brunch.  There are a few Mets fans in the group, and we usually get into some pretty spirited discussions regarding the Mets, their chances, or how frustrated we are with the team (unfortunately, this last topic has been coming up far too much).  Anyway, one of my friends sat down across from me on Sunday and, with a look of complete desolation, said, "Nikki...the Mets are done."  And this was the New York kind of done, where the word is almost spit out at the end of the sentence.  As I struggled to think of one good reason why we weren't done, at least not yet, someone else chimed in:  "I'm just glad I get to hate the Braves again."

This is where Mets fans find themselves this week.  We have no hope that anything will be done by the trade deadline, because there are not even rumors that anything is in the works.  We're focusing on the fact that the once hated Braves can be legitimately hated again.  Personally, I never stopped hating the Braves, so this is not exactly consolation for a season that seems to be going nowhere.  As fans continue to question the competence of management at all levels - GM, manager, coaching staff - the Mets continue to release statements claiming that all of those jobs are safe.

The scary thing for me is that I'm not even sure what the Mets need anymore.  I want to see them something, because it's clear that changes need to be made.  For whatever reason, the Mets are not playing the same kind of baseball in the second half.  They seem to have lost some of their grit and fight, and I have no idea how to fix that.  Recently, the speculation has drifted away from the stability of the starting rotation and has made its way to the anemic offense and a bullpen that can either be spectacular or implode at the slightest provocation.  At the end of the day, the Mets are reactive - not proactive - and that's the reason it seems like the team is falling apart.  These holes have always been there, it's just that rather than attempting to construct the best possible roster, the Mets adopt Napoleon's battle plan:  Show up and see what happens.  Napoleon died in exile, and that seems to be where Omar, Jerry & Co. are headed.  I don't think many Mets fans would complain if that were the case at the end of the season.

Written by Mike Mariano | 27 July 2010

Brad Lidge has a specifc plan in mind when he takes the mound.  Step one, get the first guy out.  Step two, load the bases.  Step three, work from there.  And some how in 2010, that hasn't blown up in his face... yet.  Hitters are 0-4 in four plate appearances when hitting against Lidge with the bases loaded.  In any other scenario, hitters fare significantly better, if not significantly well against Lights Out Lidge.  Just look at this mess of a table.

Written by Mike Mariano | 26 July 2010

It's no secret that Ryan Howard is the best hitter on the Phillies right now.  Granted, the stats show that overall he isn't the best player on the squad at most times and was drastically overpaid, however you can't take away the cold-hard fact that when Ryan Howard get hot, he's one of the top players in the game.  Once a year, the switch flips and Ryan Howard literally puts the team on his back for a month or two and carries the team.  Right now, we're in the middle of one of those stretches.

So why then does Charlie Manuel have a carousel of players rotating in the third spot of the batting order?  Chase Utley is out injured and the Jayson Werth/Raul Ibanez combo is struggling.  Ryan Howard has hit fourth in every single game this season and for the large majority of his career.  The reason I ask now is because moving him up that one spot will afford Ryan Howard of more at-bats over the duration of weeks, months, a season and he's the only guy hitting the ball.  Make that, killing the ball.  Doesn't having him at-bat more help the team?

Instead of putting Polanco or Ibanez in the role and creating an addition spot ahead of him in the lineup, let him bat third and take advantage of the fact that he's an extra base hit and RBI machine right now.  How often have we scored lately without his direct contribution?  So I'll take the potentially extra guy off base once or twice to try and get the big man an extra at-bat late in the game.  Game on the line, two outs and two on in the ninth -- our three hitters coming up.   Do we want Ryan Howard hitting?  Or Placido Polanco? Obviously you can spin that fnial scenario however you'd like, but I don't like the possibility Polanco or Ibanez making the final out with Ryan Howard on deck, when we should be maximizing his at-bats within all realistic boundaries (for example, he should never bat lead-off)

Just a thinking point while you're watching the Phillies/Rockies today.  It's 3-2 Phillies in the third as of now and Joe Blanton's got some settling in to do before I can get comfortable.  You've got to love the bottom of the order stepping up and plating some runs though.  Stay tuned, five straight is on the line today and Atlanta doesn't play.  Let's gain that half game.

Written by Justin "Tito" Dellow | 26 July 2010

Justin “Tito” Dellow is the Founder/Editor of the fantasy baseball website, Fantasy 40/40. Be sure to visit his site for great fantasy insight and the ever-important music, women, and pop culture thrown in to keep you in good spirits, even if your fantasy team is garbage.

In a fantasy world, you’d wake up every morning next to Megan Fox and Emmanuelle Chirqui in a California king on Maui in a beach mansion.

 

In a fantasy world, public water fountains would pour Yoo-Hoo, Sunkist and Bud Light instead of rust-flavored, chlorinated city water.

 

In a fantasy world, Omar Minaya would learn how to play the role of General Manager and complete trades that only Brian Cashman could swing.

 

Mets’ fans only wish for the type of blockbuster, game changing trades the Yankee G.M. pulls off annually near the trade deadline. He manages to scout the league and acquire talented pieces for their playoff push and championship run. Big names. Kenny Williams of the White Sox also comes to mind.

 

Moving on, I’m sure many of you out there in the baseball blogasphere play fantasy baseball. General managers in your own right, you are currently either doing one of two things: chasing a league championship, eternal glory and bragging rights over friends and work colleagues OR you’re trading early round super star assets for unknown, sexy names and keeper potential. Sound familiar? In the fantasy world and in real life. Lee, Haren…

 

The Mets have always been the little brother to the cross town Yankees. Like the Clippers to the Lakers. Or the Jets to the Giants. They talk a big game, pursue possible trade targets, but in the end, they end up with names like Westbrook or Millwood instead names like Lee or Haren. With Mets ownership potentially struggling financially and reluctant to add payroll, although told otherwise, the Mets will not make any major moves before the deadline. But this lifeless team needs an injection of life, fight and desire. Big trades help. However, the Wilpon's aren’t the Steinbrenner’s. But what if they were?

Lets role-play for a minute. Fantasy baseball and baseball speaking, of course.

 

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Fantasy Example #1:

You’re looking for a power bat with a decent average that can provide HR and RBI for your lineup. After some research, phone calls and emails to the bottom teams, you narrow your options down and finalize offers.

 

You trade prospects Matt LaPorta, Desmond Jennings and Christian Friedrich for Ryan Howard. You gave up a keeper in LaPorta and two possibles for next year - guys that haven’t been called up yet. Eventually their time will come, but they are still unproven talent on the Major League level. Fantasy Advice: when chasing a league championship, make the trade, you’ll replace your keepers later, there’s no price to winning.

 

Real Life Answer If Wilpon's Were Steinbrenner’s: Trade for Adrian Gonzalez and David Eckstein.

 

NEW LINEUP

1. SS Reyes S

2. RF Pagan S

3. 3B Wright R

4. 1B Gonzalez L

5. CF Beltran S

6. LF Bay R

7. C Barajas/Thole R/L

8. 2B Eckstein R

 

Gonzalez and David Eckstein for Ike Davis, Luis Castillo, Fernando Martinez, Ruben Tejada and Jeurys Familia.

 

The Mets offense has been stagnant and non-existent on their recent road trip (2-9). They’re striking out way too much and can’t seem to buy a hit with runners in scoring position. Gonzalez, who is signed to a nice contract for another year, solidifies your lineup while batting cleanup. He has a great eye, provides protection to David Wright and Carlos Beltran and will get pitched to for the first time in his young career batting between them. He also adds Gold-Glove defense to the Mets infield.

Eckstein replaces Castillo at second base and adds the necessary hustle, grit and fire the current Mets lack (Minaya attempted to sign Eckstein back in 2007 to play second before he decided to sign with Toronto and play shortstop, subsequently signing Castillo $24/4 yrs). You give up Davis, but I hear his replacement is not too shabby. Regarding Castillo, you take on as much of that contract as you have too. Martinez, Tejada and Familia, although highly touted in the Mets system, are still unproven talent. Remember Alex Escobar, Jay Payton, Lastings Milledge, Philip Humber, and Kevin Mulvey? If that’s not enough, add some filler, Dillon Gee or Jefry Marte.

 

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Fantasy Example #2:

You still need some pitching and look to acquire help in ERA, WHIP and K - wins will follow. You trade JA Happ, Brian Matusz and Jesus Montero for Adam Wainwright. All three guys you gave up, again, are nice pieces, but Wainwright adds a true ace to your staff to help balance your weaknesses. He will hopefully pitch his way to your fantasy flag.

 

Real Life Answer if Wilpon's Were Steinbrenner’s: Trade for Roy Oswalt.

 

NEW ROTATION

1. Santana LHP

2. Oswalt RHP

3. Pelfrey RHP

4. Niese LHP

5. Dickey RHP

 

Oswalt for Jenrry Mejia, Brad Holt and Reese Havens.

 

With Drayton McClane looking to shed salary and bring back “A-type” prospects, you give up two potential front-end starters with Mejia and Holt while offering middle infield depth with Havens. The Mets would take on Oswalt’s contract and the $30 some million dollars coming his way. They missed the boat on Lee and Haren, but land an excellent pitcher who can still dominate an opposing lineup on any given night. He is currently 6-12 on a poor Astros team, but has 120 K in 129 INN while posting a respectable 3.41 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. Now, he moves to spacious Citifield. And given Mike Pelfrey’s current rollercoaster season, Oswalt would ease Santana’s and Pelfrey’s burden and give the Mets a legitimate number two starter to follow Santana and compete against the likes of Halladay and Hamels, Wainwright and Carpenter, Lincecum and Cain.

 

It would also allow Hisanori Takahashi to fall back into the bullpen and give manager Jerry Manuel a second lefty to join over-used Pedro Feliciano. It lengthens the bullpen and would help with match-ups later in the season against guys like Utley, Howard, Ibanez, Dunn and McCann. Once again, if the players are not enough, add some filler.

 

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Summing up, these trades are not likely to happen, this year or ever. The Padres are currently riding a magical carpet ride and have no intention on moving Gonzalez, at least they say publicly. Oswalt, although available, will not be donning the blue and orange anytime soon. Houston wants a ton in return as well as payroll relief. The Mets will not part with Davis or Mejia. The Wilpon's will also not take on more salary, unlike the team in the other borough. The Steinbrenner’s would to win. But what if the Wilpon’s did? For the rest of this season and next year too: Reyes, Pagan, Wright, Gonzalez, Beltran, Bay. Santana, Oswalt, Pelfrey, Niese. Mets fans, could you imagine? Yes, I can. In a fantasy world.

Written by Mike Mariano | 26 July 2010

Yesterday morning I joined Rich over at FightinPhillies in his podcast about the Phillies going into the Trade Dealine.  I have yet to hear it, but I'm hoping I came out of it sounded fairly intelligent.  The host and Jen, from Phillies Phollowers, had experience on their side and did a nice job on their end.  Check it out if you've got some time.  Follow the link to Rich's site above to hear the Podcast.  Enjoy (I hope).

Written by Mike Mariano | 26 July 2010

Despite rain, rain, and more rain, the Phillies perservered to steal a win yesterday. Last night's game was not one that the Phillies would've won earlier this month.  The bullpen would've collapsed or the offense wouldn't have been able to scratch the winning runs across.  Instead they got it done and managed to win their fourth straight.  Even better the Braves and Mets both lost bringing the Phils to within five of the division's top spot and two and a half above the Mets who're only a half game out of fourth.

J.A. Happ made his first start since April.  Trade suitors from all over the league were at the game to judge his recovery.  The young starter didn't disappoint going five innings and looking strong in his work.  He did allow three runs and walk four, but he only let up four hits in his five innings.  From there Durbin, Contreras, Romero & Lidge combined to close out the game with shut-out effort out of the bullpen.  In typical Lidge fashion it wasn't easy - he loaded the bases with two walks a hit - but in the end he got K's for all three outs and the save.

It took a nice break for the Phillies to come out on top.  After Jimmy Rollins plated Wilson Valdez with a single to left (and taking second base on an misplay by Carlos Gonzalez), he stole third, then scored on a wild pitch with Jayson Werth at the bat.  You've got to take the luck where you can get it.  The other offense came from a Ben Francisco bomb early in the second inning.

If the Phillies are truly back, we shall see with Joe Blanton on the mound.  He's in the middle of easily his worst season to date and the Phillies will continue to struggle if guys like him can't turn it around.  The team has momentum and should be riding high after four straight, the pieces are all in place for Joe to get it back in gear.