Cold Stove League

[Scar]

Well, since The Mets have decided to do nothing this winter, perhaps there are other fans out there that would like to talk about their team.

[Missy_Mouses_Dad]

I don't know what to think this winter. There are rumors running rampant about trading Ryan Braun for pitching, holding on to Prince Fielder until the trade deadline in case the Brewers are in contention and taking the draft picks as compensation, trading Lorenzo Cain for pitching...the only trading rumor I haven't heard is Bernie Brewer or any of the "Sausages"

[Ruprect]

Well the Indians have...

Um...

Hmmmm

[Ian]

<crickets>

That's the sound of the Phillies' off season moves thus far.

Oh no wait we did lose our only right handed power bat to the Nationals. How could I forget?

[Melanie]

Great news here in the Bay area. We are losing Crawford, Pena, probably Bartlett and Soriano too, and get to keep Upton. Yay.

And the Braves said so long to Diaz.

[WDWfanatic742]

Baltimore is Baltimore, that's all I have to say about that

This is kind of off topic, but Mel reminded me about this. What is it with Florida baseball teams? IDK much about Tampa Bay's team other than they play in one of the hardest divisions in any pro league so it might be different for them but they hardly ever keep any of their good players (See Marlins after 1997 and 2003 World Series), and then they complain that nobody ever comes to the games. Yet they are building a new stadium down here for the ten people that actually go to games and using tax payer money to pay for it even when they have millions left over when it was reported a few months ago by ESPN.

There's nothing to be excited about when you are going to trade the good prospects that you have next year to the Yankee's or Red Sox.

[Hammer]

<crickets>

That's the sound of the Phillies' off season moves thus far.

Oh no wait we did lose our only right handed power bat to the Nationals. How could I forget?

I'm not killing the Phillies for not re-signing Werth. The minute he signed Boras as his agent, I knew all he wanted was to go to the highest bidder, not necessarily a team which gave him a chance to win. Think about it; he has a WS ring, so now he just wanted the money and the Nationals obviously overpaid for him (like A-Rod to the Rangers overpaid). I wonder how he is going to handle the pressure of having to be "the man" for the Nationals. He was able to sit back and be a complimentary piece in Philly with a lot less pressure.

Great news here in the Bay area. We are losing Crawford, Pena, probably Bartlett and Soriano too, and get to keep Upton. Yay.

Update- Bartlett has been traded to the Padres for 2 relievers. My mother tells me tonight "Carlitos is gone to the Cubs" (Pena was her favorite Ray). Mel, my Dad felt like you do about Upton. I can't post here what he would call him, as it breaks the Terms of Service !

This is kind of off topic, but Mel reminded me about this. What is it with Florida baseball teams? IDK much about Tampa Bay's team other than they play in one of the hardest divisions in any pro league so it might be different for them but they hardly ever keep any of their good players (See Marlins after 1997 and 2003 World Series), and then they complain that nobody ever comes to the games. Yet they are building a new stadium down here for the ten people that actually go to games and using tax payer money to pay for it even when they have millions left over when it was reported a few months ago by ESPN.

There's nothing to be excited about when you are going to trade the good prospects that you have next year to the Yankee's or Red Sox.

We had a discussion about this awhile back. The Rays have a horrible lease at the Big Orange and the city is not real willing to let them out of it. Every survey taken of locals tells them that if they built a stadium in Tampa, the attendance would increase. Unlike those of us up North who will travel anywhere for our sports teams, Floridians do not believe in traveling over bridges to go to most sporting events.

[WDWfanatic742]

The one thing I do know about the Rays is that the stadium is supposed to be the worst ever. Not to mention when that US Stadium Food report came out a few months ago (If I remember right), it had the most violations of any stadium...

[Ian]

I'm not killing the Phillies for not re-signing Werth.

No, I'm not either actually. First off, I do not think he's "werth" anywhere near what the Nats paid him. I mean really ... who signs a guy who's about to turn 32 to a seven year contract??

However, I will kill them if they don't replace him with someone at least in the neighborhood of comparable. They've got to have a right-handed power bat in their lineup to break things up. And also, let's face it ... standing pat with a team that hasn't been good enough the past two seasons is not what we want from Amaro.

[Melanie]

The one thing I do know about the Rays is that the stadium is supposed to be the worst ever. Not to mention when that US Stadium Food report came out a few months ago (If I remember right), it had the most violations of any stadium...

Exactly! Long before we lived here, we came over to St. Pete from WDW for a game. I remember instantly feeling it was the worst baseball atmosphere we'd ever been in to that point. Now only Miami beats that. Of course, that will no doubtedly change with their new stadium, which looks awesome by the way. I've warmed to the Trop just a bit, but only because I'm now a fan of the team. Thank goodness there is spring training and tons of minor league ball around here to satisfy our need for a true baseball experience. And yes, we only "drink" at the stadium after that report came out.

[Melanie]

I'd say things are HOT for Phillies fans this morning. What a rotation!

[Hammer]

OMG, he came back !!!!

Ian, if you complain now about the Phillies front office, I'm personally going over the bridge and slapping you !! We are going to have to deal with Dom Brown (and some guy off the scrap heap to platoon) in right field, but I think I'll live with it!

[Ian]

OMG, he came back !!!!

Ian, if you complain now about the Phillies front office, I'm personally going over the bridge and slapping you !! We are going to have to deal with Dom Brown (and some guy off the scrap heap to platoon) in right field, but I think I'll live with it!

Okay, but in fairness ... WHO SAW THIS COMING???!!!

Wow ... There aren't enough guys allowed in a single post to show how thrilled I am that Cliff's back!!!

Take THAT Yankees!!

[Scar]

Take THAT Yankees!!

I hate The Yankees as much as the next guy, but I wouldn't be suprised if some of The Yankees front office are actaully relieved they didn't land him. Don't get me wrong; he's a very good pitcher and I would take him on my team, but I don't think he's worth the $20M x 5 the Phils are going to pay him let alone the $22M x 7 years the Yanks were offering. I actually think The Yankees dodged a bullet here. Now that being said, The Phillies are certainly a better team with him.

ETA: Hold on... now I'm reading $24M X 5 years. I'm sure Halladay isn't too happy about that. At least he would be worth it.

[Hammer]

ETA: Hold on... now I'm reading $24M X 5 years. I'm sure Halladay isn't too happy about that. At least he would be worth it.

Halladay does not strike me as an egomaniac, so I think all should be good in the clubhouse (or at least I hope so).

I don't think the mood in the Yankees organization is relieved. They have lost out on every player they had targeted (Werth, Crawford, and Lee). George is most definitely rolling over in his grave.

[Pagan]

Hey wait a minute...I thought only the Yankees tried to "buy" championships.

[Melanie]

Hey wait a minute...I thought only the Yankees tried to "buy" championships.

Love it!

[Hammer]

Hey wait a minute...I thought only the Yankees tried to "buy" championships.

Love it!

For the record, the Phillies payroll is going to be about $160 million, which is $10 million over the limit that was self imposed by the ownership group and at least $40 million less than the Yankees team salary. Rumor has it that Ruben Amaro had the okay to go over for a "very special player" and get the ownership approval beforehand. Werth does not fall under that heading (at least not in my book). They are trying to trade Joe Blanton (odd man out) and Ibanez to get rid of their salaries (about $17 million). If the Phillies were the Yankees, we wouldn't be trying to shed salary.

Mel, you wish the Rays would have done this for Crawford .

[Melanie]

Oh, and with all respect to our Phillie faithful, you won't be changing my mind on this. I was beginning to think as much last season. In the grand scheme of things with pro sports, $40 million isn't really that much. And truthfully, I don't see anything wrong with it, but don't be calling others out on it. And yes, I dislike the Yankees as much as the next guy.

Not really seeing how the Crawford situation equates.

[barnaby]

For the record, the Phillies payroll is going to be about $160 million, which is $10 million over the limit that was self imposed by the ownership group and at least $40 million less than the Yankees team salary. Rumor has it that Ruben Amaro had the okay to go over for a "very special player" and get the ownership approval beforehand. Werth does not fall under that heading (at least not in my book). They are trying to trade Joe Blanton (odd man out) and Ibanez to get rid of their salaries (about $17 million). If the Phillies were the Yankees, we wouldn't be trying to shed salary.

Mel, you wish the Rays would have done this for Crawford .

No, the Phillies are no different then the Yankees or the team I root for, the Red Sox. They are 1 of the 4 or 5 teams in the league who have legit shots at top tier guys like Lee or Crawford.
Yes, the Yankees try to shed salaries for players they don't need like Nick Johnson or not resigning a guy like Berkman this season.

The Phillies payroll with 18 players yesterday before the Lee deal was 148 mill. Add Lee's average of 24 mill and its 172 mill. They may make some moves to shed some salary but they also have to add 7 more players to fill out there contract to 25. The average MLB salary now is 3 mill. Even if they sign guys for less then the average, they will still have a payroll around 175, only around 15% less then the Yankees. Not really a big deal when you consider that the Yankees overpay players due to the NY income taxes and the fact players know the Yankees have a huge coffer of money from their TV contract.

The Phillies are the Evil Empire of the NL. It is as simple as that. And as a fan of another team that spends big bucks to put winning teams on the field to reward their fans - that is not a bad thing.
Phillies fans now have to stop the we aren't like the Yankees talk. The Phillies are not the Pirates or not even a mid-level team like the Marlins. The Phillies are a top tier spending team. And if you wanna say the Yankees are trying to buy a championship, then the Phillies are too.