Phillies Clinch NL East

[sjwaste]

4th year in a row, and this is the best team yet.

Halladay, CG, 97 pitches, 2 hits, 0 R.

Can't wait for October.

 

[evident]

i AM PUMPED. GO PHILLIES!!!!! show the eagles who owns this city!

 

[JS80]

I just pooped.

 

[sjwaste]

The Phillies already own this city. 4 NL East pennants in a row, 2 NL, 1 WS and we're not into the 2010 postseason yet.

It really puts it into perspective when you realize Roy Oswalt is this team's #3 starter. And Victorino/Ruiz hit 6/7.

 

[Perknose]

I just pooped.

Eat it, you dickless, dimwitted thread crapper.

Go Phillies!

 

[LTC8K6]

Woot!!

 

[evident]

The Phillies already own this city. 4 NL East pennants in a row, 2 NL, 1 WS and we're not into the 2010 postseason yet.

It really puts it into perspective when you realize Roy Oswalt is this team's #3 starter. And Victorino/Ruiz hit 6/7.

chooch is an animal, end of story!!!!!!! he's been the backbone of this team the past years. hell, the entire phillies are dominating right now. gonna be a hell of a postseason, hopefully!

 

[BeauJangles]

The Phillies already own this city. 4 NL East pennants in a row, 2 NL, 1 WS and we're not into the 2010 postseason yet.

It really puts it into perspective when you realize Roy Oswalt is this team's #3 starter. And Victorino/Ruiz hit 6/7.

It puts it in perspective when you realize that they could have had Halladay + Cliff Lee.

The Phillies are a good team, but their personnel decisions are perplexing at best.

 

[sjwaste]

chooch is an animal, end of story!!!!!!! he's been the backbone of this team the past years. hell, the entire phillies are dominating right now. gonna be a hell of a postseason, hopefully!

Chooch is the most underrated player in baseball right now. During the last sweep of the Braves, I watched them pitch to Ruiz with runners in scoring position and first base open - and Valdez was waiting on deck. It's like nobody has even heard of that guy.

 

[evident]

It puts it in perspective when you realize that they could have had Halladay + Cliff Lee.

The Phillies are a good team, but their personnel decisions are perplexing at best.

i know right. i have a feeling the rangers are gonna go to the WS, and we're gonna have to face him

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

It puts it in perspective when you realize that they could have had Halladay + Cliff Lee.

The Phillies are a good team, but their personnel decisions are perplexing at best.

IIRC, Lee didn't want to sign a contract?

 

[sjwaste]

It puts it in perspective when you realize that they could have had Halladay + Cliff Lee.

The Phillies are a good team, but their personnel decisions are perplexing at best.

How did Cliff Lee look during the stretch run with Texas? To some extent, Amaro has been vindicated for that move. Lee has been hurt a lot this season. For sure, I'd rather have Oswalt than Lee in the rotation right now. He has been ridiculously good for us. Cliff Lee is gone, fine. Oswalt has been a great acquisition. Polanco is great. Valdez started 100 games and did well. The personnel moves have been good.

Also, how on earth can you actually bitch about this team right now?

 

[classy]

They are some kind of roll.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Yea boy!

H2O will mow the competition down. Keep the champagne on order!

lol @ Wheeler getting soaked and making funny noises during the locker room interviews.

 

[evident]

How did Cliff Lee look during the stretch run with Texas? To some extent, Amaro has been vindicated for that move. Lee has been hurt a lot this season. For sure, I'd rather have Oswalt than Lee in the rotation right now. He has been ridiculously good for us. Cliff Lee is gone, fine. Oswalt has been a great acquisition. Polanco is great. Valdez started 100 games and did well. The personnel moves have been good.

Also, how on earth can you actually bitch about this team right now?

i bitched about brad lidge this entire season, but i'm so glad he shut me up towards the end of it.
remember when you'd crap your pants every time he comes out in the 9th at the beginning of the year? so glad he turned it around!:thumbsup:

 

[Perknose]

Chooch is the most underrated player in baseball right now.

Yup. Thing is, he's stood and delivered the last two post seasons as well, with almost nobody noticing.

Charlie has always believed in Chooch. Charlie, that magnificent, mumble-mouthed good ol' boy, damn well knows his baseball.

My hat is off to Charlie. My hat is off to this team. They play. :thumbsup:

 

[Inspector Jihad]

phils gotta be the faves going into the playoffs.

 

[sjwaste]

i bitched about brad lidge this entire season, but i'm so glad he shut me up towards the end of it.
remember when you'd crap your pants every time he comes out in the 9th at the beginning of the year? so glad he turned it around!:thumbsup:

Load 'em up Lidge? Yeah, that was bad. Hopefully he's gotten the cobwebs out for good. He and Madson are the only two guys I want to see out of the bullpen come October.

Contreras still has some gas left in the tank, but we don't really see relievers in the 7th much.

 

[BeauJangles]

How did Cliff Lee look during the stretch run with Texas? To some extent, Amaro has been vindicated for that move. Lee has been hurt a lot this season. For sure, I'd rather have Oswalt than Lee in the rotation right now. He has been ridiculously good for us. Cliff Lee is gone, fine. Oswalt has been a great acquisition. Polanco is great. Valdez started 100 games and did well. The personnel moves have been good.

Also, how on earth can you actually bitch about this team right now?

On the field there's nothing to complain about.


Off the field, it's pretty easy.

After acquiring Cliff Lee, they could have easily acquired Roy Halladay, which would have put them over the top against the Yankees, but instead decided against it... only to acquire him in the off-season for essentially the same asking price.

They signed a guy who has been on the decline for the last few seasons to a massive contract two years before they needed to. Howard's skills not only are declining, but they're highly replaceable -- bad defenders who hit for power are easy to find (and cheap). Not only that, but there's absolutely no way that Howard can make his contract worthwhile and he's going to hamstring the team for years to come.

By signing Howard, they're going to be unable to retain a far more valuable part of their team (Werth) and, if they had acquired Lee, they could have used that money to extend him.

Yes, they're a good team, but that is despite a lot of poor decisions by their front office.

 

[BrokenVisage]

IIRC, Lee didn't want to sign a contract?

Lee wanted more than 3 years.

The Phillies never ever ever sign a pitcher for more than 3 years. Plus they may have had some inside info about his back issues.

I loved Cliff for what he did with the Phils in that playoff run (especially beating the Yankees twice) and was PISSED when he was traded. It didn't have to happen and Amaro basically admitted the mistake by getting Oswalt. Now I'm at least satisfied with the rotation but I imagine dispatching Lee will never be completely forgiven.... unless the WSC's come pouring in like the Red Sea! *knock on wood*

 

[sjwaste]

I'm willing to give Amaro a pass on trading Cliff Lee based on what this team is currently doing. I'd rather have Oswalt in the rotation now, even if we essentially sold more pieces to get him after the fact, than Lee. And Oswalt is under contract beyond this season. Lee isn't, won't be here, and will probably look for (and get) something like CC Sabathia's deal.

Keeping Howard also works for me. I think they overpaid him, but as a "typical" fan, I still want to see him a Phillie. This contract basically does that for his remaining useful years. It sends the wrong message to the fans to not keep him around.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

I'm willing to give Amaro a pass on trading Cliff Lee based on what this team is currently doing. I'd rather have Oswalt in the rotation now, even if we essentially sold more pieces to get him after the fact, than Lee. And Oswalt is under contract beyond this season. Lee isn't, won't be here, and will probably look for (and get) something like CC Sabathia's deal.

Keeping Howard also works for me. I think they overpaid him, but as a "typical" fan, I still want to see him a Phillie. This contract basically does that for his remaining useful years. It sends the wrong message to the fans to not keep him around.

I agree with everything you said... except I think the Phillies could have paid Howard a lot less and still have kept him. But, from everything I've heard, Howard's a real good guy on and off the field.

 

[sjwaste]

I agree with everything you said... except I think the Phillies could have paid Howard a lot less and still have kept him. But, from everything I've heard, Howard's a real good guy on and off the field.

Character has a lot to do with everything this team has been able to accomplish. It's not like it's been a smooth ride. Injuries have been awful, there have been slumps, etc. If Howard's one of those character guys, he deserves his money even more. It's an off year for him, but he still put up 100+ RBI and significantly cut down his strikeouts. I'm sure he'll be back to the 140 range next year.

Howard probably would've taken anything north of 20M per season. They gave him 25. From season to season, that difference is not going to break the payroll. Howard is a big reason those seats get filled. I'd estimate this team can support a 150-160M payroll and still be fine.

Going to be interesting to see who overpays Werth next year though.

 

[OCGuy]

Uh Oh, Perk is a Philly fan? Explains a lot! In fact, didn't you make the papers there recently?

http://www.newser.com/story/86248/cops-phillies-fan-purposely-puked-on-young-girl.html

(i kid )

 

[mwtgg]

Cliff Lee who? Don't get me wrong, dude's a beast, but so are these stats:

7-1, 1.76ERA, .186BAA in 11 games

So I'll say once again, Cliff Lee who?