Utley To SF Deal "Advancing"

[northeastphillyguy]

i spent a year or so straight up bitching about how they need to rebuild and play the younger players. i've bitched about contracts like howard, not trading lee when the time was right, etc. i bitched when they just handed over domingo santana as a PTBL. every organization does stupid and smart shit. but you don't waste time hanging on every tiny flaw. the only big, huge, painful mistake was hanging on to the vets for another run. they realized the screwup and smartly traded hamels and they are on their way.

byrd easily could have done nothing, which is why i mentioned him. he turns 38 in a few weeks. point being, they signed him to a cheap/small deal, something they need to keep doing while they rebuild. why? because it's common sense that if they play well, you can obviously flip them for a young prospect. if they don't, they're just cheap deals for the time being.

why would you ever want the alternative of them just sitting on money?? byrd worked, harang didn't. regardless, it's not setting the team back in any way or holding back others.

Pitching is the most difficult area to improve. We took a shot with Harang and it did not work.
I do not have a problem with the bitching whenever he implodes and causes the Phillies to lose. But the reality is that other teams are adding retread pitchers all the time. Sometimes as inning eaters and sometimes they hope for improvement in their form. At least one of the pitchers obtained in the Hamels trade will be called up next week. Maybe he will be Harangs replacement. Here is hoping!

 

[Retroram52]

Which star pitcher would that be Northeast?

 

[jvett77]

Yeah, what's the source for that?

 

[_phiLLies_]

I wouldn't want them sitting on money but it seems for $5 million, they could have bought a younger arm with more value and more of a future. Harang did give the Phils 10 QSs in April and May but nothing since because he's had it. So I'll watch Harang the rest of the year hoping he can toss one more QS just for the heck of it. I'm not for "cheap" deals that bring in old pitching temps because their value declines in the second half when trade value is more important.

pretty much what cedrique and northeast wound up saying. you're not finding any type of real, young pitching for a year or two at 5 million per. that's just not happening. the best alternative to back of the rotation vets like harang are guys like santana from a couple years ago. a guy who didn't get the big time offer he wanted, so he decided to sign a 1 year deal to further prove himself.

there's no legit basis for implying vets decline in the second half. that's just not true. and under no circumstances should the phils be benching him. this guy turned down the braves, a team he just spent a decent season with, to come to a weaker phils team in a more hitter friendly park. you don't turn around and say "well, you had a few bad starts, and you're old, so.. cya." players would quickly stop looking to sign here. and that's another positive of the "front office." players do enjoy their time here. that can't be underestimated.

 

[jvett77]

The way MLB is set up I don't think many opportunities like that exist, except in the international market and they did take a shot on that Gonzalez kid. If you want to spend 5 million for a younger arm you get someone like the Rockies got this off season. I think his name was Kendrick or something....

I was going to say I'll take 30 year old KK over Harang until I checked his stats. 4-12, 6.49, 26 HRs. No more brilliant 10-13 seasons for KK, I guess.

 

[jvett77]

It seems if there's any lusting for Utley at this point, Ruben must be holding out for someone's #13 prospect. Panik will be back soon so SF might exit the conversation.

 

[jvett77]

No decision for Hamels tonight. 7 innings, 3 ER, 4 BB, 8 Ks. Still adjusting to the AL.

 

[northeastphillyguy]

Which star pitcher would that be Northeast?

I heard it through the grapevine. Jerad Eickhoff. However he was hit hard in his most recent outing so that may cast some doubt. Either way the Phillies need to release Harang. We are in poor shape for starting pitchers at the triple A level, Also the MLB level too. During the offseason the Phillies will need to add pitching through the free agent market. But of course we still have Frenchy, maybe he will ask for a tryout!

 

[Retroram52]

Have not we heard from genius boy how the FO has done amazing things in these recent trades obtaining quality, top 100 players to fill out the farm clubs as well as players that can get some seasoning and be ready to contribute with the Phillies? Didn't genius boy post a whole series of statements about the FO doing so many wonderful things for this franchise? So where are these star players that genius boy keeps referring to every time he decides to make a grand entrance?

 

[dredinis21]

your GM reportedly made an offer, then said the pursuit continues over the weekend. but na, that's just "kicking the tires." fuck out of here. panik can be the best thing since sliced bread, it still won't change the fact he's out with a back issue and is taking it extremely slow. last i caught, he's going to see a specialist and bochy doesn't think he'll be back any time before september. when he does come back, there's certainly no guarantee he'll just pick it right up and be pain free. also, utley's terms of playing time and such did not arise until after the giants were trying to acquire him. and rightfully so, as they're not going to hammer out all these details and then try to trade him.

a healthy utley looks like one that says "i feel good" and then comes out swinging 13-26 with 5 doubles and a homer. when he's like that, not overworked, not feeling any pain.. he has no problems being the guy who hit .293 with a .794 ops in the first half last year. that's a huge boost for a playoff team. and again, it's why a handful of top teams have interest in him now, including yours. if the giants cannot move people around to give him consistent playing time, then that's what it is. don't act like they're not trying and just offered a bag of cheetos to the phils, to do them a favor. that's garbage.

SF offered a bag of cheetos and throws in a ham sandwich, much the reason why they are "fading" according to reports in the "Utley sweepstakes". The thing is that there isn't really a big need for a guy that hasn't shown any production since the All-Star break....last year. At 36 years old.

If he was wanting to play the good soldier and be a potential power threat off the bench in the playoffs, then sure, I'd offer the above mentioned ham sandwich. But reports say he wants to play every day and the Giants already have a guy they called up who is younger, faster, better defensively, and has shown production in his brief playing time while Panik is out. They are taking things extremely slow with Panik and rightfully so...and it helps to have young help filling the position well in his absence. So the NEED is not there for the Giants. Good luck getting more then a ham sandwich from some other organization. I hope you fleece someone else, just not the Giants.

 

[_phiLLies_]

Have not we heard from genius boy how the FO has done amazing things in these recent trades obtaining quality, top 100 players to fill out the farm clubs as well as players that can get some seasoning and be ready to contribute with the Phillies? Didn't genius boy post a whole series of statements about the FO doing so many wonderful things for this franchise? So where are these star players that genius boy keeps referring to every time he decides to make a grand entrance?

my god, just shut the fuck up already.

 

[_phiLLies_]

I heard it through the grapevine. Jerad Eickhoff. However he was hit hard in his most recent outing so that may cast some doubt. Either way the Phillies need to release Harang. We are in poor shape for starting pitchers at the triple A level, Also the MLB level too. During the offseason the Phillies will need to add pitching through the free agent market. But of course we still have Frenchy, maybe he will ask for a tryout!

he was great in his last outing, until the very end. i believe he had 8 strikeouts, 0 walks and 2 runs through 7.2 innings. i think he was over 100 pitches at that time. then he gave up a walk and a couple of hits. he was pulled and a reliever gave up the next 2 (tagged to eickhoff.) just couldn't get that last out.. but he was great until then.

 

[jvett77]

my god, just shut the fuck up already.

lol.

 

[jvett77]

I heard it through the grapevine. Jerad Eickhoff. However he was hit hard in his most recent outing so that may cast some doubt. Either way the Phillies need to release Harang. We are in poor shape for starting pitchers at the triple A level, Also the MLB level too. During the offseason the Phillies will need to add pitching through the free agent market. But of course we still have Frenchy, maybe he will ask for a tryout!

I'd like to see Eickhoff called up. He's 25 and done well in AAA this year, 11-5, averaging about 3.50.

 

[jvett77]

SF offered a bag of cheetos and throws in a ham sandwich, much the reason why they are "fading" according to reports in the "Utley sweepstakes". The thing is that there isn't really a big need for a guy that hasn't shown any production since the All-Star break....last year. At 36 years old.

If he was wanting to play the good soldier and be a potential power threat off the bench in the playoffs, then sure, I'd offer the above mentioned ham sandwich. But reports say he wants to play every day and the Giants already have a guy they called up who is younger, faster, better defensively, and has shown production in his brief playing time while Panik is out. They are taking things extremely slow with Panik and rightfully so...and it helps to have young help filling the position well in his absence. So the NEED is not there for the Giants. Good luck getting more then a ham sandwich from some other organization. I hope you fleece someone else, just not the Giants.

You need to cut the bathroom humor in your signature.



OK, Adriana. See you Saturday.

 

[northeastphillyguy]

he was great in his last outing, until the very end. i believe he had 8 strikeouts, 0 walks and 2 runs through 7.2 innings. i think he was over 100 pitches at that time. then he gave up a walk and a couple of hits. he was pulled and a reliever gave up the next 2 (tagged to eickhoff.) just couldn't get that last out.. but he was great until then.

He will probably get the call for a Phillies start. He seems capable of giving us 6 decent innings and that is all we can ask at this point. I would rather see a guy like him get at least 4 or 5 starts in the majors now. Then come next season we can decide if he is ready to be on the roster.

 

[jvett77]

THE LATEST. Utley will be staying according to Amaro. No one would even give us a 30th ranked prospect. Actually the whole idea of him demanding regular playing time was absurd.

 

[_phiLLies_]

throw-ins like asher and eickhoff are what make good deals turn into amazing deals. having back end guys slide into the 5 spot where they can eat innings and produce an era around 4 is so underrated. as is, we obviously cannot find one. morgan has done a nice job, but he's hittable. severino or buchanan couldn't do it. pettibone has his injuries. kendrick's low pay scale expired and we had to move on. hopefully one of those two, if not both, can eat innings and be a solid, cheap, reliable option for years to come.

 

[northeastphillyguy]

THE LATEST. Utley will be staying according to Amaro. No one would even give us a 30th ranked prospect. Actually the whole idea of him demanding regular playing time was absurd.

The amazing thing is that the Phillies were ready to pay all of Utleys salary except for one million dollars.
All they wanted in return was a B type prospect. I think Utley would rather stay with the Phillies for the rest of the season. Maybe it will be easier to make a change next year. Besides, the way he is hitting can't hurt us!

 

[dredinis21]

You need to cut the bathroom humor in your signature.

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OK, Adriana. See you Saturday.

Not a Billy Madison fan I see? Sorry to hear that. And color me green with envy. Remind Adrianna to brush her teeth before kissing you Saturday, I don't think you will want to taste me.