As I said, I'm going to try to keep an organizational depth chart and payroll analysis updated whenever the Phillies make a big move. This is probably the last until the winter. The point of this is to try to think more like a GM. Not just look at a trade or a signing from a now perspective, but from every perspective, and have data to guide that perspective. The depth chart does have some rules, which I laid out in the first one, which you can read here. The payroll stuff is pretty … [Read more...]

I haven't done a series preview in awhile, partially because of the trade deadline, and partially because I've been travelling. But the Phillies are done trading (probably), I'm done visiting stadiums (for now) and this is really, really interesting series we have coming up. Here are some of the plot lines as I see them... This is a potential preview of a first round playoff match-up if the Giants were to win the Wild Card, as I believe they will. Added the this that it is a 4-game … [Read more...]

Well - the Phillies have made their move, and it wasn't for Roy Halladay, as many had hoped, but it's hard to be upset when you get the reigning Cy Young Award winner (and RH bench bat) without giving up your 3-4 top prospects. So now that Lee is here, what can we expect from him? Let's start with a couple basic numbers. 3.14 : Lee's 2009 ERA, 7th in the AL 2.82 : Lee's ERA if you exclude his 1st start of the season (5 IP, 7 ER) 2.48: Lee's ERA in 4 starts against the NL this … [Read more...]

According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal: The Phillies have reached agreement with the Indians on a trade that would bring them left-hander Cliff Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco for Class A right-hander Jason Knapp, Class AAA right-hander Carlos Carrasco, shortstop Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson, according to major-league sources. If true, this means the Phillies just got the 2008 AL Cy Young award winner without giving up Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown, Michael Taylor or JA Happ. They also … [Read more...]

Update (Wednesday, 12:34pm): As mentioned by BSki, Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Lee deal could include another player for the Phillies and that the players going to Cleveland would be Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. Update (Wednesday, 11:39am): Todd Zolecki is reporting that Donald and Marson were scheduled to have the day off. Update (Wednesday, 11:30am): Jayson Stark says that a deal for Lee (which a Indians rep said is "news to me") might include Carlos … [Read more...]

Jim Johnson, the Eagles Defensive Coordinator for the last 10 years, has passed away from his bout with cancer at age 68. This is a tough one for the Philadelphia community as Johnson has been arguably the most popular Coordinator in Eagles history. His blitzing schemes and aggressive mindset not only made the Eagles defense consistently one of the best in the league over his tenure, it also made them one of the most exciting units. He fit the Philly mold perfectly. His defenses were … [Read more...]

Update (Tuesday, 5:52pm): Buster Olney of ESPN is reporting that the Indians are scouting a bunch of Phillies pitchers, including Jason Knapp, to try to figure out who they would want in a deal that isn't named Kyle Drabek. Knapp is probably the best pure arm in our system, but at 19, is 3-4 years away from the big club. The possibility of getting Lee for '09 and 2010 while keeping Drabek, Brown and Carrasco, is certainly intriguing. With the Roy Halladay trade talks at a standstill, the … [Read more...]

All the trade rumor talk has focused on Roy Halladay, and rightly so, but the Phillies are also unconvinced that John Mayberry Jr. can be an effective bat off the bench and are looking at both the Nationals Josh Willingham and the Rockies Ryan Spilborghs, according to several media outlets. Either would be a great pick-up in my opinion. They could spell both Werth and Ibanez, and if we get to the World Series, could provide a real solid right-handed DH option, which we do not currently … [Read more...]

So I'm back from my Kansas City / St. Louis trip, and considered staying there until the Phillies lost, because they clearly play better when I don't have access to TV or radio broadcast. And what am I arriving back to? A team that just 2 1/2 weeks ago was at 39-37 and in real danger of dropping out of the division lead and seemed like it would have to make a big move to turn things around. Now? The Phils are 13-1 in their last 14, while the rest of the division has struggled, and they now … [Read more...]