Comments on: Phils start tough week against Reds http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:41:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2 By: bski http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16622 bski Fri, 22 May 2009 14:40:10 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16622 Since we're on this topic, I found another article on dugoutcentral.com:  <a href="http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=2485" title="The Way I See It" rel="nofollow">The Way I See It</a> by Desi Relaford.  There is nothing particularly revelatory about it, but it's worth a read.  Plus, Desi is an ex-Phil and I loved how HK said his name......DES---EE in a staccato emphasizing both syllables. Coming on the heels of Ibanez' name being brought up here, this part of the article caught my eye: <em>"Based on history and what I’ve seen in my 17 years of pro ball, there is a natural progression that a player makes. You start at a level then gradually increase to a peak. Sometimes the increase is a bit more moderate. After the peak hopefully you have a plateau for a spell and then it’s back down you go. Not these days! Man we’re talking about the steroid era. You see guys go from a .280 12 homer guys that jump to .300 with 30 homers. What happened? Oh I see, I guess it all just came together for ya huh? I mean, I’ve seen guys who hit like they were swinging a USA Today and return in one off-season and be considered a legitimate power threat. <strong>Or what about the guys that are hitting growth spurts in their mid thirties and reinventing themselves? That is some bull$%^#!" </strong></em>I'm not saying that Ibanez falls into this category.  I mean, he has been a productive player over the last few years.  It's just that any time you see a guy's numbers take this kind of a jump, especially when he is in his late 30s, you start to wonder, don't you? <em> </em> Since we’re on this topic, I found another article on dugoutcentral.com:  The Way I See It by Desi Relaford.  There is nothing particularly revelatory about it, but it’s worth a read.  Plus, Desi is an ex-Phil and I loved how HK said his name……DES—EE in a staccato emphasizing both syllables.

Coming on the heels of Ibanez’ name being brought up here, this part of the article caught my eye:

“Based on history and what I’ve seen in my 17 years of pro ball, there is a natural progression that a player makes. You start at a level then gradually increase to a peak. Sometimes the increase is a bit more moderate. After the peak hopefully you have a plateau for a spell and then it’s back down you go. Not these days! Man we’re talking about the steroid era. You see guys go from a .280 12 homer guys that jump to .300 with 30 homers. What happened? Oh I see, I guess it all just came together for ya huh? I mean, I’ve seen guys who hit like they were swinging a USA Today and return in one off-season and be considered a legitimate power threat. Or what about the guys that are hitting growth spurts in their mid thirties and reinventing themselves? That is some bull$%^#!”

I’m not saying that Ibanez falls into this category.  I mean, he has been a productive player over the last few years.  It’s just that any time you see a guy’s numbers take this kind of a jump, especially when he is in his late 30s, you start to wonder, don’t you?

]]> By: Pete http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16608 Pete Fri, 22 May 2009 12:50:22 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16608 don't really get why blood testing is such a big deal for players if they aren't doing anything. false positives maybe? I obviously don't get the science of it and what the people would be looking for in the blood. either way - I think all fans are in support of blood testing. (until everyone starts hitting 20 HRs again and they get bored) don’t really get why blood testing is such a big deal for players if they aren’t doing anything.

false positives maybe? I obviously don’t get the science of it and what the people would be looking for in the blood.

either way – I think all fans are in support of blood testing. (until everyone starts hitting 20 HRs again and they get bored)

]]> By: jjg http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16604 jjg Fri, 22 May 2009 04:01:02 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16604 Following Manny blow, when Dodgers were in town recently, Bowa said that taint and suspicion cloud won't go away until blood testing is instituted.  I agree, and would add "uniformly and regularly." Following Manny blow, when Dodgers were in town recently, Bowa said that taint and suspicion cloud won’t go away until blood testing is instituted.  I agree, and would add “uniformly and regularly.”

]]> By: Drolz http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16602 Drolz Fri, 22 May 2009 03:34:03 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16602 Until MLB implements Olympic testing standards, everyone on the field is a suspect. I honestly believe they're still protecting players by not testing for HGH. Players say its too much of an invasion of privacy... Oh, please. I get my privacy violated in more ways than one at my annual physical (pardon me for the disturbing imagery). Until MLB implements Olympic testing standards, everyone on the field is a suspect. I honestly believe they’re still protecting players by not testing for HGH. Players say its too much of an invasion of privacy… Oh, please. I get my privacy violated in more ways than one at my annual physical (pardon me for the disturbing imagery).

]]> By: jjg http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16587 jjg Thu, 21 May 2009 20:13:45 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16587 I raised the question over the weekend, Pete.  A legitimate one given Ibanez' advanced age, thickly-cabled forearms, spiked numbers and a decade and a half of findings of associates' impure play.  In his case, maybe; maybe not.  The suspicion is real - unfortunately.  I raised the question over the weekend, Pete.  A legitimate one given Ibanez’ advanced age, thickly-cabled forearms, spiked numbers and a decade and a half of findings of associates’ impure play.  In his case, maybe; maybe not.  The suspicion is real – unfortunately. 

]]> By: Pete http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16586 Pete Thu, 21 May 2009 20:06:56 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16586 Escalona threw nothing but fastball in his 1-2-3 9th. Good sign that he can get people out w/o his secondary stuff.  Escalona threw nothing but fastball in his 1-2-3 9th. Good sign that he can get people out w/o his secondary stuff. 

]]> By: Pete http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16584 Pete Thu, 21 May 2009 19:42:59 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16584 so when are the "Ibanez is on steroids" questions going to start? (now, I guess) <div> </div> <div>He's only 8 behind his total last year and is on pace for 62. That's just silly. </div> <div> </div> <div>I don't think he is. But, questions might pop up if he keeps this up. </div> so when are the “Ibanez is on steroids” questions going to start? (now, I guess)

He’s only 8 behind his total last year and is on pace for 62. That’s just silly. 
I don’t think he is. But, questions might pop up if he keeps this up. 
]]> By: bski http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16580 bski Thu, 21 May 2009 19:21:54 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16580 Forgot to mention.......I hate to toot my own horn, but I <strong>really</strong> nailed this game, didn't I?  We wouldn't hit Owings......low scoring.......yeah. Forgot to mention…….I hate to toot my own horn, but I really nailed this game, didn’t I?  We wouldn’t hit Owings……low scoring…….yeah.

]]> By: bski http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16578 bski Thu, 21 May 2009 19:16:29 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16578 If we need two more starters, we have no choice but to start making decisions about who in the minors is expendable (and has trade value obviously), because we will need to make a deal with someone. For example, Feliz has an option for next year.  It sure looks like, with his back issues resolved, we will be able to count on him next year. (Feliz just hit a 2-run pinch-hit double as I'm typing this, btw)  Does this mean that Donald's true value to us lies in what he can bring in a trade? (Rollins just got his 1500th hit with his RBI single in the 7th, again while I'm typing this) If we need two more starters, we have no choice but to start making decisions about who in the minors is expendable (and has trade value obviously), because we will need to make a deal with someone.

For example, Feliz has an option for next year.  It sure looks like, with his back issues resolved, we will be able to count on him next year. (Feliz just hit a 2-run pinch-hit double as I’m typing this, btw)  Does this mean that Donald’s true value to us lies in what he can bring in a trade?

(Rollins just got his 1500th hit with his RBI single in the 7th, again while I’m typing this)

]]> By: Pete http://www.reclinergm.com/phils-start-tough-week-against-reds/#comment-16570 Pete Thu, 21 May 2009 18:38:19 +0000 http://www.reclinergm.com/?p=5892#comment-16570 if we hadn't won the series last year, management would be getting pounded for the Blanton trade. He looks TERRIBLE. He's missing some velocity too.  <div> </div> <div>What on earth are we going to do if we need <span style="font-weight: bold;">TWO </span>more starters?</div> if we hadn’t won the series last year, management would be getting pounded for the Blanton trade. He looks TERRIBLE. He’s missing some velocity too. 

What on earth are we going to do if we need TWO more starters?
]]>