So the new year starts with bad news, as J.C. Romero has been suspended for 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance. From what I read in the paper this morning I would've thought that Romero might be taking this to court (the way the NFL players did recently and got an injunction barring the league from enforcing their suspensions) but the ESPN article says that neither Romero nor the players' union are appealing it further.

Meanwhile, the Chan Ho Park signing has been made official, and the Phils have signed Marcus Giles to a minor league deal as insurance in case Chase Utley isn't ready to start the season.

Nomar to the Phillies?



I guess as a part-time player he'd be worth a shot. Clearly he can't stay healthy to play full-time. Presumably he'd take the spot of either Stairs or Jenkins.

The defending world champs have taken care of two possible arbitration cases, signing Greg Dobbs yesterday and reportedly signing World Series MVP Cole Hamels to a 3-year deal worth $20.5 million. They still have Victorino and Howard, among others, to either sign or go to arbitration with.

In my opinion the 20 million 3 year deal for Cole is a steal. Just look at the 24 million the Phillies spent on woeful Adam Eaton for 3 years. Considering that Cole would have gone to arbitration the next 3 years he may have gotten alot more. #1 pitchers are getting 10 miilion or more a year. When I see the Santana and Sabbathia getting over $140 million dollar contracts, I am very happy with this deal. I just hope Cole does not regret it.

Howard on the other hand, is still going to take big money to sign and I have a feeling he will just go to arbitration again.

The comparison they were making is Hamels vs. Chien-Ming Wang based on what Wang made in his first year of arbitration, $4 million. The report is Hamels will get $4.35 million this year and increasing amounts the following two. Santana and Sabathia were free agents, so Hamels will have to wait to get that kind of deal.

Unless the Phillies open the vaults, Howard will go to arbitration every year until he's a free agent.

major league service.

he'll get his 20-25 mill/year when he becomes a free agent.

I realize Cole has years left before free agency, but just because Chien-Ming Wang only got 4 million doesn't mean the arbitor has to stick with that benchmark. Remember the Phillies tried to use the Pujols benchmark of 7 million for Ryan Howard and he got 10 million. Even if Cole only got 4 million in arbitration for 2009 that could conceivably double for 2010 with a Cy Young year. Both player and organization take a chance with arbitration so the fact the the Phillies signed him to fair value in today's market protects them from the possibilty of an outrageous arbitration number. He is also protected if he gets injured so it's a win win in my mind.

By the way in Cole's three seasons he has had decreasing ERA numbers from 4.08, to 3.39 to 3.09. Chien-Ming Wang in 4 seasons had 4.02, 3.63, 3.70 and 4.07. Plus Cole was 4-0 in the postseason this year with 1.80 era something Chien can't put on his resume.

The Phils have now come to terms with Ryan Madson on a 3-year deal, taking him off the arbitration list.

Meanwhile, Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino are on the Team USA provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic. Mike Schmidt will be a bench coach for the team. Other players on teams' rosters: Matt Stairs (Canada), J.C. Romero (Puerto Rico; he's still eligible despite his suspension), Carlos Ruiz (Panama), Carlos Carrasco (Venezuela), and some minor leaguers.

Cole Hamels' agent says he's not going to play in the World Baseball Classic even though he's currently on the roster.

Shane Victorino has agreed to a 1-year contract, avoiding arbitration.

Ryan Howard is asking for $18 million in arbitration (the third-highest figure ever submitted), while the Phils offered $14 million. He was paid $10 mil last year so even if he were to lose, he'll get a $4 mil raise.

Edit to add: Joe Blanton has also agreed to a 1-year deal. Jayson Werth and Chad Durbin are the only arbitration-eligibles besides Howard, who presumably won't settle this time. Last year they were $3 million apart, and didn't settle, and this year they're $4 million apart.

And now both Werth and Durbin are signed. Only Ryan Howard is still slated to go to arbitration.

The paper today had a list projecting the Phils' opening day payroll in the range of $135 million for 2009, which includes a final payment to the White Sox for the Jim Thome contract and Adam Eaton's final $8.5 million. There's virtually no chance Eaton will be on the roster. Whether he sits out or another team takes him, he'll still be getting paid by the Phils.

This is a pleasant surprise: the Phils and Ryan Howard agreed to a 3-year, $54 million contract. So there will be no more potentially ugly arbitrations. He's a free agent after this deal is done.

From Philly.com come the numbers: $15 million in 2009, $19 million in 2010 and $20 million in 2011. He'd get a $1 million raise in his base pay in 2010 and 2011 if he wins the MVP in the preceding year. If he wins MVP in 2011 he'd get a $1 million bonus. Other bonuses: World Series MVP ($100,000), LCS MVP ($50,000), Gold Glove ($50,000 -- I predict this will NEVER be paid), Silver Slugger ($100,000), and All-Star selection ($50,000). Also, if the Phillies trade him before November 1, 2010 they have to pay him $1 million.

Pitchers and catchers report at the end of the week!

I am glad the Phillies finally did the right thing this season and signed two of their top abitration guys. The Howard deal did surprise me, a little bit in that the Phillies offered it, but more so in that Howard's camp accepted it. I really thought his agent was going to hold out each year of arbitration. At least now Ryan can be happy and the organization won't have this fight for three years.

From Philly.com:



So far, so good.

Also:

Heavier wallet, lighter load: Ryan Howard says he's lost 20 pounds since the end of the season. Also, they're saying Brett Myers lost 30 pounds. The slacker of the group is Scott Eyre, who's only dropped 10 pounds.

Spring training: it's the most wonderful time of the year....

The Phillies have signed Miguel Cairo to a minor league contract. He'll be 35 in May. He's joining Marcus Giles and the rest to try and win a spot on the bench. Meh.

Important news from the Phila. Inquirer: Shane Victorino is NOT Italian!

So I guess that means there isn't a Portuguese team to request his services.

No, but he may be on Team USA, seeing as how he's the Flyin' Hawaiian.

Our long national nightmare is over.

And Shane Victorino is replacing Grady Sizemore on the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Chase Utley took the field today in a minor league game...



Pedro Feliz played in a game yesterday. Both players feel they'll be ready for Opening Night, 3 weeks from tomorrow.

Cole Hamels leaves Florida to see the team doctor about his left elbow. The Phillies maintain that it's not really a big deal and they're just being cautious. Still...scary. But on the radio today Seth Everett, who may or may not still be writing for MLB.com, says the Phillies are handling Hamels better than the Mets are handling Johan Santana.

REALLY? how INteresting...

Cole should have his elbow "adjusted" in another bar fight.

Bitter, party of one...

Anyway, the Phillies say Hamels has no structural damage in his elbow, just some inflammation, got an anti-inflammatory shot and will resume throwing on Thursday.

That is, if you believe they're telling the truth.

Edit to add: Pitching coach Rich Dubee on Hamels: "Opening Day is a long shot."

The fifth-starter race loses a candidate as Kyle Kendrick has been sent to the minors. It's down to J.A. Happ or Chan Ho Park.

Good news: Cole Hamels reported no problems after throwing 48 pitches in 3 2/3 innings in a minor league game. The plan seems to be for him to pitch once more in Florida, one of the two CBP exhibitions against Tampa Bay, and make his first regular-season start in game 4 at Colorado on 4/10.

I'm ok with Hamels missing the opener, he will have plenty of starts this year and will need that arm to be healthy for the possible postseason. As far as the 5th starter I prefer Happ over Kendrick.
Kendrick is starting to remind me a bit of Gavin Floyd. Not the new Floyd mind you but the one who left the Phillies.

Nice knowin' ya, Ronny Paulino. There was some thought that this was a precursor to letting Chris Coste go, but no. Now they have another lefty reliever while Romero sits out the first 50 games.

Surprising news today. The Phillies released one of their spare lefty-hitting outfielders, but it was Geoff Jenkins instead of Matt Stairs. I would've thought that, if they couldn't trade either of them for anything, they'd have released Stairs because he's older. Reports are that they want to sign the just-released Gary Sheffield and finally get that righthanded bat they want on the bench. Is Sheffield going to be happy being a bench player, or will he be a potential troublemaker in the clubhouse? Not sure I want him.

Jenkins struggled early, got hurt and lost his job to Jayson Werth, but his double leading off WS Game 5, Part 2 will live on, so I wish him well.

And also surprising: the winner of the 5th-starter race is Chan Ho Park, not J.A. Happ. They've been fairly even performance-wise but everyone figured Park would be more versatile out of the bullpen than Happ.

Love Silverman's quote from September...



http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/ra...ticle989648.ece

Just goes to prove that you should be careful what you wish for.

Miguel Cairo has won the final bench job. Let's hope he does better than So Taguchi did last year. Cole Hamels threw 83 pitches today, which is probably more important than the 5 IP, 6 H, 6 ER numbers. He allowed two first-inning homers, the first one to the Rays' leadoff hitter for the day: Pat Burrell. It all starts for real tomorrow.

Touche!

Well, wasn't that special? Brett Myers gave up 3 homers in the first 2 innings and the Phils' attempt to rally in the 9th fell short because of having the lefty hitters (Utley, Howard, Ibanez) bunched together in the lineup.

I'm a little confused. They apparently raised the championship banner tonight -- why did they do it again when they raised it the day of the parade?

ladies and gentlemen...your last place Philadelphia Phillies!

You may recall that last year they lost their first two...at home...to Washington. But things turned out well in the end.

1. Because it was the first game of the season.

2. Because it is a marketing ploy to increase fan interest and ticket sales.

3. It is a morale booster to inspire the Phillies to win.

I guess the third reason did not work out so well!

This is definitely true. And championship banners are always raised at the start of the next year. I just didn't understand why they raised it at the ceremony at the end of the parade, if they were just going to do it again.



Not needed. All of that was there without raising the banner a second time.



See previous post.

Edit to add: I managed to get a ticket for Wednesday for the Ring Ceremony. Woo-hoo!!!!

Yeah, it was a little dissapointing to be at the opening day loss, but then it's just like the last two years. Myers' first two innings were like batting practice with bombs flying everywhere. I think he said after the game that he would prefer not to pitch opening day anymore. I am sure he will get his wish next year. Oh well, it wouldn't be the Phillies if they made the season easy.

And the Phils are now 0-2. Just like last year. Just keep repeating: just like last year...just like last year...and just like last year, I'll be at game #3 (tomorrow, for the Ring Ceremony). Last year in game #3 they gave up 5 in the top of the 1st and came back to win 8-7.

On Tuesday, while the defending World Champions (and, hopes Stan Kasten, many of their fans) are in DC, they'll be dropping by the White House for a visit.

Hmmmm...game 3, check. Large early deficit, check. Come-from-behind win, check. Me in attendance, check.

Repeat after me: just...like...last...year...

Read about the rings (from Phillies.com):

Each 14 karat white gold ring contains 103 diamonds, totaling 3.84 karats. The 103 diamonds represent the 92 regular season and 11 postseason wins for the Phillies in 2008. The top of the ring is crowned with a ruby inlay, topped with the Phillies' signature "P" which is inset with diamonds. The title "World Champions" is written along the ring's top and bottom outer rim. The left side of the ring features the player's name and number atop and below the Liberty Bell. The right side of the ring depicts the World Series trophy rising out of Citizens Bank Park signifying the tremendous support of our fans, along with the initials of the two World Series teams and the number of games won by each team.

Or just look at it.




Pat Burrell might have gotten the loudest ovation during the ceremony. He flew in, got his ring, and flew right back to Boston to rejoin the Rays for tonight's game.

Poor Adam Eaton was booed. I actually felt sorry for him. Also a smattering of boos when the names of Tom Gordon and ex-coach Steve Smith, neither of whom were in attendance, were announced.

Edit to add: I just realized...in their 8-run 7th, EIGHT Phils batters in a row came to the plate with the bases loaded! I've never seen such a thing. A hit, HBP and walk loaded the bases. Then a pair of singles each scored one, three straight walks, another single scoring one, and the fourth bases-loaded walk tied the game. Ryan Howard finally unloaded the bases with a grounder so weak the only play was to first base, scoring the go-ahead run.

What a difference an offense makes.

Brett Myers pitched virtually an identical game to the opener that he lost. Just like the first game he gave up 4 runs on 3 homeruns. But this time the Phillies scored 8 on 15 hits and the bullpen did the rest.

Would anyone would have guessed that Ibanez would have 2 homeruns already while Howard, Utley, Rollins and Victorino have none?

Even with another poor starting pitching performance the Phillies managed to pull out another win. Chan Ho Park threw 96 pitches in 3 1/3 innings giving up 5 runs in what was an "Eatonesque" performance. The starters now have an ERA over 10.0 and if it wasn't for the bullpen and timely hitting the Phillies could be 0-6 instead of 3-3. Hopefully the starters will come around in the upcoming Nationals series.

What they're saying about Cole Hamels, who was shelled on Friday, is that (1) his fastball was the same speed as it was at this time last year, and that (2) the cooler/dry/thin/whatever air makes his curve ball break less, so they're not really worried about him. We shall see.

Sad news...Longtime announcer Harry Kalas died today. At least he lived long enough to see the Phillies win the World Series!


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4064793

I was really sad when I heard about Harry passing away today. I have listened to him on both radio and TV since 1974. I met him last year in Spring Training for the first time. He felt like a member of the family. He was much beloved in our city because of his humility and professionalism. He made himself available to the media and public and always signed autographs when asked. Not only did he broadcast baseball games he was the voice of other sports including NFL films. He will be sorely missed.

That was my thought, too...very sad news..

Indeed, I got a tour of CBP when it first opened with a few buddies of mine, and after a while one of the guys was all jacked up. I asked him what's up and he was like "holy crap I just met Harry Kalas!!!"

Mind you we were all Buffalo folk, no real connection to Philly but a guy like that had that kind of sway over sports fans all across the country...

The Voice of the Phillies is silent. Rest in peace, Harry.

The Phillies have postponed their scheduled visit to the White House tomorrow.

It is sad. Anyone who is a sports fan in Philadelphia has fond memories of his voice on the radio or TV on a warm summer night listening to the Phillies. And his reach extended well beyond the Delaware Valley - as he was the voice of NFL Films.

That said, anyone who saw or heard the guy the last few years, knew that he was struggling. His, how do I say this gently, spirited perhaps...singing of "High Hopes" (check out You tube) at various functions - and other unusual behavior - concerned many fans.

Anyway, RIP Harry. And, to quote him...He's outtttttta here...

What a terrible loss.

The Rays had a touching tribute and moment of silence tonight prior to the game. Harry's son Todd is a member of the Rays TV broadcast crew... how great it was that they got to call an inning of the World Series together last season.