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Reason No. 589 to Watch the MLB Network

Jimmy channels Rickey:

What Lowe to the Braves Might Mean for the NL East

Not sure how we should feel about the Atlanta Braves landing Derek Lowe (4 years, $60 million).

Even with Lowe and even if Kenshin Kawakami* turns out to be a good major league pitcher, it's still probably not enough of an improvement to make up the 20-game difference in the standings between the Phillies and Braves in 2008.

Now, you can say that with the additions the Phillies will have a tougher time accumulating wins against the Braves, which is true.  But then again, don't forget the Mets will too.

The one way that the signing could hurt the Phillies is that the Mets are now likely forced to go to Plan B (or is it C at this point? D?) and re-sign Oliver Perez.  After all, who do you think will be a better pitcher over the next few years, Lowe at the ages of 36 through 39 or Perez in his late-20's/early-30's?

In the short-term, it's a pretty safe bet that Lowe will be the better pitcher and by choosing the Braves over the Mets, Lowe has indirectly helped the Phillies.  But three or four years from now, there's a good chance Perez will be the better pitcher.

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*  Not a safe bet.  Kawakami's best pitch is a slower-than-slow curveball, and, little-known-fact:  American baseballs are larger than the Japanese versions.  It's possible that with the difference in size, Kawakami might have a harder time imparting spin on the ball.

A Geography Lesson

You may have seen it already, but if not, take a look at the last few sentences of yesterday's Beerleaguer.com post and the accompanying photo.  Makes you wonder what's next, far-flung Phillies fans posing for pictures outside the Welsh Farming Center?

Until next time, WFC.

Phils Eyeing Outfield Depth

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies are interested in right-handed outfielder Gabe Kapler.

When I first read the report, my first thought was that it was merely a PR move, aimed at softening the blow to all of the female fans who like to sit in left field and enjoy ogling the departed Pat Burrell.  After all, what does Kapler have left in the tank?

As it turns out, after taking a look at his numbers with the Brewers last year, he demolished left-handed pitching and compiled an over .600 slugging percentage against lefties.  Plus, defensive metrics suggest he still plays better-than-average defense in the corner outfield positions (below average in centerfield however).

Kapler, 33, had actually retired from playing baseball after the 2006 season and then managed in the minor leagues.  He returned to play in 2008 and looks as if he still wants another go-around.

Romero's Real Crime: Failure to Use Common Sense [Updated]

In getting hit with a 50-game suspension for use of a banned substance, there's no doubt, J.C. Romero has gotten the shaft by the powers-that-be in Major League Baseball, his own union, and even the Phillies.  He followed all of the steps he should have in vetting a "dietary supplement" before he ingested it -- consulting nutritionists, the Phillies strength and conditioning coach as well as reading memorandums issued by the players' union.

But there's one thing he forgot to do:  Use some common sense.  Take a look at the label of the supplment he took, 6-OXO Extreme by ErgoPharm [click image to enlarge].

Free J.C.

Peter Gammons does an excellent job of reporting the details on J.C. Romero's suspension.

Romero has been suspended 50 games and fined $1.25 million for "negligence" in regards to an over-the-counter supplement he took after -- repeat after -- the supplement was cleared by the players' union, two nutritionists and the Phillies' strength and conditioning coach.

According to Gammons, Romero failed several drug tests in August and September, appealed the findings, and actually had an arbitration hearing during the playoffs and World Series.  It's amazing to think how well he pitched given everything that was going on around him.

Romero maintains his innocence and to be frank, so do I.  Free J.C.

Things I've Learned Watching Don Larsen's Perfect Game

The newly minted MLB Network has been re-airing Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series and here's just a few of the things I've picked up on after watching it:

MLB Network Off to a Great Start

We still have a month and a half to go before pitchers and catchers report, and three months to go before meaningful baseball games, but the MLB Network is going to make it easier to pass the time.

Base Knocks & Linkology

With apologies to Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, here's a whole lotta links...

Eagles Displayed a Sixth Sense: Urgency

One of the most over-used, cliched phrase used in the analysis of a ball game goes something like this: "Team X played/didn't play with a sense of urgency."

It's at the point now where just about any team that loses a game is accused of lacking a sense of urgency.  How do we know this?  Was the team late in coming out on the field?  Did they not drive fast enough on the way to the stadium?

Win and They're In

With both the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers losing their games, the Eagles control their destiny.  If they beat the Dallas Cowboys, the Wild Card will be theirs.

Happy Holidays

It goes without saying that this has been the best year this little nook on the net has had since its inception in the summer of 2004. Thank you to all of you who stop by here to analyze and commiserate, and this year, celebrate.

Be safe, and enjoy your holidays.

Pass It On

There might not be anyone in the phlogosphere that posts with more fervor than the folks at We Should be GM's.  Even in the offseason they're bringing it, publishing an email interview with Phillies reliever Chad Durbin:

You did an amazing job in the bullpen...do you remember the exact date your arm fell off?

Thanks, very much. It's a grind, that's for sure. I was thrilled, every single time I came into a game or got up in the bullpen...to be part of such a special team and season. So, if there's a moment in the season when I felt that I ran into a wall...had to be late August. You know what happened, though, and the beauty of baseball? Ryan Madson went on an absolute tear, right as I cooled off. It's amazing how those special seasons consist of story after story of teammates stepping up during the year. MadDog was amazing.

I firmly believe a certain degree of luck goes into the success of a bullpen.  Fortunately for the Phillies and their fans, it went down pretty much exactly the way Durbin describes.

Thanks to Durbin and We Should Be Gm's for the interview on this rainy Christmas Eve.

Hey [What About] Rocco?

Prior to the 2007 season, the Phillies were in search of outfield depth.  Then-general manager Pat Gillick reached into his mental database and a light-bulb went off above his head.  Jayson Werth.

Werth was a very toolsy, athletic draft pick of the Orioles during Gillick's time there as general manager, but his career had been derailed by a hand injury and had been non-tendered by the Dodgers.

The rest is history.  When you think of Werth, you think of long at-bats with ugly but often productive swings, home runs in four consecutive at-bats in 2008 and the big red fist he wore at the World Series parade.

Eagles Too Reliant on McNabb, Westbrook

This missive is approximately the 77th time I've tried to sit down and come up with something intelligent to say about the Philadelphia Eagles.  Unfortunately, I've gone through enough fits and starts at the keyboard to make Lewis Black seem like George Will.  So, here goes...

The loss yesterday to the Redskins was maddening and in all liklihood brought an end to meaningful football in Philadelphia until next September.  In the three-game win-streak that preceded the contest with the Redskins, it appeared as if head coach Andy Reid had become a born-again believer in the run game, having devised a game plan that called more run plays than pass plays.  The balanced approach kept the opponents off-balance and the offense really moved the ball.

But yesterday was the same old same old.  An abandoned running game, a consistently good defense albeit incapable of creating a turnover, indifferent time management and 46 pass plays drawn randomly out of a hat to receivers seemingly acquired the same way.

But wait, that's not it.  Today was the same old same old as well at the Andy Reid presser.

"Gotta get the players in a better position to make plays."

"We should have worked in a few more run plays."

"That one is on me."

As insulting as those answers have become over the years, you have to ask the question, if nothing has changed, then why are the Eagles hovering around .500 rather than going deep into the playoffs?

Because Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook have more wear on them than the tires on your first car.

There was a time when their collective four legs could carry the offense.  Westbrook could catch a ball in the flat, juke a defender or two, and pick up ten easy.  McNabb could get flushed out of the pocket, run around and either gain five with his feet or buy enough time to make a throw.

But those days are gone.  Too many injuries to both players have left them inconsistent.  When they are on, they are on.  But when they're not, there just aren't enough other weapons on the team to pick up the slack.

If you like to bet smart, the safer bet is that both McNabb, Westbrook and Reid will all be back in green next year -- anything else is wishful thinking by talk-show hosts and their callers.  So the next question is, will anyone newer and better be in green with them?

Five Ways Raul Ibanez Can Help the Phillies

Over the last week, there's been a lot of talk regarding how Raul Ibanez is not a good fit for the Phillies and there are certainly many reasons why.

But make no mistake, Ibanez is a good baseball player and there are several ways in which he can help the Phillies, despite the fact that he's not ideal for left field.

In no particular order...

Surprised it Took That Long

With seven minutes and twenty-eight seconds left in the Eagles/Browns game tonight, on Monday Night Football, play-by-play man Mike Tirico referenced the Santa Claus and snowballs incident 40 years ago.

Was it me, or was the theme of tonight's broadcast, "Rip Philly"?