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2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

gounhwildcats

gounhwildcats

Go Cats!! Beat Maine!!!
Well until last night I had no intention of starting this thread. In light of the Cliff Lee signing I figure why not. We may as well have a place to start talking about our next moves and how we feel this team shapes up everywhere but the rotation :D. Plus we have some guys here who are in the Philly area and can keep us fans up to to date on all the rumours and scuttlebutt who are a little further away from the land of the eternal cheesesteak.

Obviously in light of Cliff Lee returning there will be some players moved. The rumour mill has Joe Blanton being dealt ( I heard the Red Sox are a possibility), and potentially Ibanez.

As for the lineup, obviously there's issues there with Werth going to the Nats and no right handed power bat to sign, it may be a question of promoting from within. Some potentials would be to deal Ibanez, promote Brown and Mayberry Jr. and platoon those two with Ross Gload. I had a thought yesterday and it's probably a stupid one, but what about moving Chooch up to the five spot behind Howard? I mean he was the only one of the regulars to hit over .300, with Polanco hitting .298. He became a much more disciplined hitter last year and would face a whole lot better pitches than he does in the 8 hole. Plus he's really the only right handed bat with any kind of power in the lineup.

I know offense was a brutal let down for us last year, but we did have a lot of injuries that kept all of our infield out for long stretches last year. If they can stay healthy there's no reason this team can't still produce a lot of runs. And besides, they won't need to score 5 runs a game with this rotation.

Anyways, I'll leave it at that. Thanks Reuben and Merry Christmas :)

Dean :)
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

Why are you still using batting average? Chooch is a solid player to hit fifth, not because of his BA, but he gets on base at a very nice clip and slugs well.

Those are better reasons for him to hit 5th. The issue is whether or not he can give a full season's worth of at bats a go.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

Terrierbyassociation said:
Why are you still using batting average? Chooch is a solid player to hit fifth, not because of his BA, but he gets on base at a very nice clip and slugs well.

Those are better reasons for him to hit 5th. The issue is whether or not he can give a full season's worth of at bats a go.
Click to expand...

No true enough, his stats all around were some of the best on the team, minus the pure power numbers. I do think it would be interesting to see how he does higher in the order. He won't give you the power numbers that Jayson Werth will give you regardless of where he hits, but consdering their options I think he looks pretty good in the five spot.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

A friend sent me this today. Had to post it.

T’was the week before Christmas, and at Citizens Bank Park
Not a baseball was flying through the night’s cold and dark.
The caps, bats, and mitts were stored safely away,
Awaiting the promise of next Opening Day.

And there I was, settled in my comfortable chair,
with naught on the widescreen but at football to stare.
So I drank some cold brewskies and flipped through the news,
Then I slipped from my boredom into a long winter’s snooze.

When out in the darkness came such a loud shout
That I woke with a start, jumped up, and looked about.
I rushed to the door and threw it open wide,
Grabbed my baseball bat for protection, and stepped carefully outside.

The glow of the street lamps cast a flickering light
On the pavement of Broad Street in the deep of the night,
When who should appear as though in a dream
But Charlie Manuel and the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team!

They were clad in their uniforms, bright red and white,
In championship form. What a wonderful sight!
They marched with great purpose, heading straight toward
Citizens Bank Park, Charlie urging them forward:

“On, Raul! Let’s go, Shane! Hey, both Roys and Ryan!
I’ve got Phantastic news, Cole and Chooch, I ain’t lyin’.
So get to the field, Brad, we gotta make haste.
Now c’mon, Placido! Move it, Jimmy and Chase!”

As the team rushed by me like an angelic band,
Charlie beckoned me to follow with a wave of his hand.
So with baseball bat still snug in my grip,
I raced with the team to the Phils’ great Mothership.

The field was lit by the overhead lights,
The stands decked out for Christmas, even the top flights.
Then the team and I gathered at the pitcher’s mound,
Where a jeweled tree stood, with presents all around.

Suddenly Santa Claus appeared at the Phillies’ bullpen
(He resembled a bit a certain guy named Reuben).
On his back Santa lugged a red sack of large size.
He walked up to the tree where he set down this prize.

He looked at the Fightin’s with a twinkle in his eye;
Then he crossed his arms and let out a sigh.
“This past season you men have done very good things.
It’s time that you earned some more World Series rings!

“So I’ve brought you a gift sure to bring you good cheer,
And help you along to a championship year.
You’ll find it familiar, you’ve seen it before.
But it sure will help make you contenders once more!”

As Santa was speaking, the sack trembled and shook,
And all the Phils happily gathered ‘round for a look.
Then the sack opened up to shouts of great glee,
For who should step out but the pitcher CLIFF LEE!

Then the ballpark was packed with a sellout crowd,
With 45,000 fans cheering. It was really loud!
The speakers blared the ballpark organ’s familiar riffs,
And the fans all sang as one, “Welcome back, Cliff!”

Then Santa with a wave bid his farewell,
Saying, “Will ’11 be our year? Only time will tell.
Look forward to baseball with all of its thrills.
“Merry Christmas to all! Happy New Year! GO PHILS!”
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

On the rumor front, WIP tried to stir the pot a bit last week, with Amaro saying Brown needed a little more seasoning in triple-A, while Manuel said he'd definitely like to have him on the roster if he did well at spring training. The concern (at least on Amaro's part) was that they probably brought Brown up too early last year and he didn't get enough at-bats in the bigs.

Most people expect that Brown will get platooned in right. Blanton is clearly on the trade block, but the Phil's will likely have to eat some of his salary since he is overpaid for a #4 pitcher. Ibanez is also rumored to be trade bait, especially since he's in the last year of his contract, but he's also pretty old. Not sure what you'd get for him.

Chooch had a career year last year. If he can maintain it, I can see him batting 5th or 6th, with Ibanez being the other 5 or 6. Really, it's a pretty good problem to have when Dustin Brown is your 8 hitter :p

BTW, I hadn't heard R2C2 before. Around here, they're calling them "The Phantastic Phour."
 
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Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

Hopkinja said:
On the rumor front, WIP tried to stir the pot a bit last week, with Amaro saying Brown needed a little more seasoning in triple-A, while Manuel said he'd definitely like to have him on the roster if he did well at spring training. The concern (at least on Amaro's part) was that they probably brought Brown up too early last year and he didn't get enough at-bats in the bigs.

Most people expect that Brown will get platooned in right. Blanton is clearly on the trade block, but the Phil's will likely have to eat some of his salary since he is overpaid for a #4 pitcher. Ibanez is also rumored to be trade bait, especially since he's in the last year of his contract, but he's also pretty old. Not sure what you'd get for him.

Chooch had a career year last year. If he can maintain it, I can see him batting 5th or 6th, with Ibanez being the other 5 or 6. Really, it's a pretty good problem to have when Dustin Brown is your 8 hitter :p

BTW, I hadn't heard R2C2 before. Around here, they're calling them "The Phantastic Phour."
Click to expand...

The night that Lee was signed I went to philly.com to read the story and some of the reader comments. Someone on the message board had posted it and I thought it was a very cool name for them. I do like Phantastic Phour though as well.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

Hopkinja said:
Most people expect that Brown will get platooned in right. Blanton is clearly on the trade block, but the Phil's will likely have to eat some of his salary since he is overpaid for a #4 pitcher. Ibanez is also rumored to be trade bait, especially since he's in the last year of his contract, but he's also pretty old. Not sure what you'd get for him.

Chooch had a career year last year. If he can maintain it, I can see him batting 5th or 6th, with Ibanez being the other 5 or 6. Really, it's a pretty good problem to have when Dustin Brown is your 8 hitter :p
Click to expand...

Victorino should be the leadoff hitter, and Rollins could be the 5 to start the season. Ruiz could fit there too because of the way he hammers left-handed pitching and is able to handle a fastball even from righties, but I wouldn't want to depend on him right from the get go. Let him focus on handling the pitching staff and getting them off to good starts.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

The 1997 Atlanta Braves would like to remind you all to temper your expectations...
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing said:
The 1997 Atlanta Braves would like to remind you all to temper your expectations...
Click to expand...

1997 Braves were a great team. I'd be thrilled if we were in the same position they were at the end of the regular season.

Besides, we don't have high expectations.

We got High Hopes.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

You're another MLB team and you look on your schedule to see you are playing the Phillies in a 3/4 game set. No matter who pitched in the last game you will be facing 2 or possibly 3 (in a three game series) or 3 of 4 or possibly 4 of 4 of the following:

Halladay
Lee
Oswalt
Hamels

That is just stunning to see Cole Hamels who at the very worst would be a number 2 in any other rotation as the number 4 guy. Not to mention, Vance Worley who came up at the end of last year and put up amazing numbers in limited action may be the five guy, if he beats out Kendrick (assuming Joey B gets traded). If the offense can put up even average numbers 100 wins should be the benchmark for this team.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

UMDBulldogHockeyIsKing said:
The 1997 Atlanta Braves would like to remind you all to temper your expectations...
Click to expand...

As would the 1971 Baltimore Orioles. Funny thing about the '97 Braves team, none of the "Big Three" of Maddux, Smoltz or Glavine won 20. But Denny Neagle did. With the Braves, that team was good enough to win the World Series nearly every year for nearly 15 years running. For some reason they only had the stones to do it once. Winning once you get there is a matter of being hot for the right 3 weeks. But getting there you have to be at least warm for 6 months straight. I like our chances at getting to the post season with R2C2 (or the Phantastic Phour, I'm an old comic book geek). We'll see if we get there if these guys can deliver for 3 more weeks.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

From an article on philly.com

Jay Kornegay, who runs one of the largest casino bookmaking operations in Nevada at the Las Vegas Hilton, recalled how he found out about the Phillies reacquiring pitcher Cliff Lee on Monday night.

"We got a text message telling us that the Phillies had just signed 'C. Lee,' and I'm thinking, 'Why in the world would they want to sign Carlos Lee?"



:D
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

Terrierbyassociation said:
That series was a joke. ****ing Livan Hernandez. (And I hate the Braves.)
Click to expand...

It helps when the umpire (God rest his soul) has a strike zone twice as wide as his rear-end. And his rear-end was already wider than the plate. The called strike to end that game may have been the single worst ball/strike call I have ever seen.
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

WeAreNDHockey said:
It helps when the umpire (God rest his soul) has a strike zone twice as wide as his rear-end. And his rear-end was already wider than the plate. The called strike to end that game may have been the single worst ball/strike call I have ever seen.
Click to expand...

Try competing against Maddux and Glavine for 15 years.

(Actually, Philly fans know this.)
 
Re: 2011 Philadelphia Phillies - If you liked H2O, you're gonna love R2C2

Phils resigned JC Romero to a one year deal. Sounds like this may be the end of the FA signings which would leave Chad Durbin on the outside looking in. I guess the Phils either don't think they will need a whole lot of middle relief with R2C2 or they are going to go in house for a middle reliever. Probably a little from column A and a little from column B.
 
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