***Official 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Thread***

[Homer]

Someone please explain why Manuel takes Lieber out of a 1-0 game in which he's given up 1 hit, with 2 outs and a man on 3rd in the bottom of the 6th.

[Bremen]

Better question is why Manuel even lets Gordon try to close. I dropped him from my fantasy team after the second game, it wasn't even close.

[Bremen]

Well we're off to a dismal start, but I feel that this is still the team to beat...

1. Our bullpen rocks!

1a. Myers. We all know he can pitch, but something most people miss is that he can lose focus during long games (his last two starts were horrible). This is a guy who lives on adrenaline, coming out as the setup/closer he will almost always be in tough spots where the pressure is at its greatest.

1b. Gordon will improve. He had an injury during spring training and the cold weather didn't help. With Myers to rest him expect Gordon to last the whole year.

1c. Alfonseca. George Steinbrenner would sell his soul for these three pitchers.

2. Our starting pitching. Only complaint is that they can't all be named Cole Hamels.

3. Utley/Howard. Seriously does anyone here think they'll be unproductive all year?

My only critique of this team would be Barajas. Why the heck was he even signed? He's a career .239 hitter. Even if you thought Coste was a flash in the pan he'd still be better than Barajas.

[Homer]

Yay, they're starting to hit. Man, that one Chase just hit was nuts...off the top of the brick wall in center. I'm guessing 450 feet.

[PokerFink]

Howard is swinging at every unhittable breaking ball down-and-in. Ahead or behind in the count. It's basically why he sucks right now.

[Sluss]

[ QUOTE ]
Howard is swinging at every unhittable breaking ball down-and-in. Ahead or behind in the count. It's basically why he sucks right now.

[/ QUOTE ]I thought he sucked because it was April? You're right though when he is cold he has the patience of a 16 year-old with a porn star.

[DemonDeac]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Howard is swinging at every unhittable breaking ball down-and-in. Ahead or behind in the count. It's basically why he sucks right now.

[/ QUOTE ]I thought he sucked because it was April? You're right though when he is cold he has the patience of a 16 year-old with a porn star.

[/ QUOTE ]

he also pulling his front shoulder out like whoa
no way he can hit a breaking ball swinging like that

[boc4life]

[ QUOTE ]
My only critique of this team would be Barajas. Why the heck was he even signed? He's a career .239 hitter. Even if you thought Coste was a flash in the pan he'd still be better than Barajas.

[/ QUOTE ]

There were a number of reasons for the Barajas signing. First off, after losing Lieberthal, we were left without an experienced catcher. At the very least, Barajas serves as a very good mentor for Ruiz, who's beginning to step up as the #1 catcher anyway.

As far as Coste goes...The facts are facts. He was never a major league caliber player until last season, and he had a very good half season in Philadelphia. I can make a pretty long list of Phillies who had very good half-seasons and never amounted to anything (Kevin Stocker, Mike Grace, Marlon Byrd immediately come to mind). Although Coste hit well, hitting is a secondary tool for a catcher. Defense and game calling are much more important, and neither of those are strengths of Coste

[PokerFink]

So, you all remember the movie Space Jam? I think Ryan Howard transfered his powers into a baseball, and then Rollins, Burrell and Rowand split them amongst themselves.

Nice win tonight. Good to see Madson get through an inning, even if he was helped by Utley being positioned perfectly for that DP. Rowand is absolutely on fire. Let's just hope Howard figures things out by the time Rowand cools off.

[Scary_Tiger]

Tied with the Yankeeees.