All Things Baseball

First off, it's official, the Phillies have a new centerfielder. And I guess it's also official: the Phillies are out of the Beltran sweepstakes. Heh, not that they would (or should) go after Beltran... but he's on my fantasy keeper team, so I was hoping he'd be a Phillie someday. But from a real-life baseball perspective, the Phillies are better off without Beltran.

That said, the trade for Lofton leaves me with a monumental shrug of the shoulders. What does he bring? Why were the Phillies so intent on getting him? The only real difference I can see between his stats and Jason Michaels's stats is perhaps the longevity and history. Otherwise, in the short term, they both bring pretty much the same, mediocre levels of production. Lofton may be a better baserunner, and he definitely brings veteran leadership, but overall, this move leaves me a bit indifferent.

I'm wondering now who the Phillies will target for their new SP. Reports had Carl Pavano's agent saying the Phillies are a "serious player"... but really, how much do you believe him? Yet again, no mention of Odalis Perez... and I'm sure a lot of baseball fans are just as confused as I am at the relative lack of interest in this guy.

Now... Barry Bonds. Honestly, I think two things are paramount:

1. I cannot believe that this information was leaked. I'm not so naive that the legal system is perfectly fair (and in any case, as a lawyer-to-be, I've seen my fair share of crap in the system)... but the secrecy surrounding grand jury testimony is just one of those foundational things that's needed for the system to even begin to work. Who now will feel fully comfortable in a high profile case to tell the whole incriminating truth?? After all, in 1 or 2 years, that testimony may just end up all over the front pages and ESPN (or CNN, depending on the circumstances).

2. People need to stop criticizing Barry Bonds. Get off his back. Stop saying there should be an asterisk.
- Steroids are not proven to help with hitting prowess and bat speed and batting eye.
- I'm willing to bet that the majority of our beloved "heroes" of baseball have taken supplements and steroids of some kind. If you want to invalidate Bonds' numbers, well, prepare to have to reach into the books and throw asterisks next to nearly every prominent player. And if they haven't taken steroids, odds are they fought to get whatever advantage they could get in some other way, be it signal stealing, vaseline, whatever.
- This guy was off the steroids after 2003. Well, last I checked, he kept up his mind-boggling numbers in 2003 and 2004.

Let's not blast Bonds and Giambi but give McGwire a pass. Or Sosa. Or Brady Anderson. Or Caminiti. Or Nomar Garciaparra (remember how big he got before his wrist injury?). Or Lenny Dykstra. Or Ron Gant. Or every minor leaguer who tried the stuff to try to make it to the bigs.

I love that the Mets are in the National League East, because that's one less team that will challenge the Phillies... and really, the Atlanta Braves are enough to deal with anyway.

Reason 1: Their offer to Pedro.

3 years, 37.5 million dollars??? Wow. It's like the Mets aspire to be the Baltimore Orioles. Maybe they should go out and trade for Jason Giambi while they're at it. Or maybe they should give a sizable contract to Tom Glavine..... Oh wait, nevermind. Now don't get me wrong, I think Pedro has a lot to offer still (though not nearly as much as he did 3 years ago, of course). And I realize that Pedro might get them some fans to fill that old, decrepit Shea Stadium (games there are a bit depressing, b/c of how empty the place gets). But man, it's not like this team is one key starter away from a World Series. And it's not like they really need to be hampered with one more big contract for an old player. I really hope Pedro goes to the Mets.

Reason 2: Benson's wife.

Did anyone else hear what she said? Basically, if Benson is caught cheating on her, she'll retaliate by sleeping with EVERYONE in the Mets organization. Trainers, management, players, everyone.

What an embarrassment. What a weird way to build team chemistry. What a joke.

Reason 3: Benson.

Oh yeah, let's not forget that the Mets went all out to try to sign Benson (a mediocre 30 year old pitcher) to a long contract. Congratulations!

Reason 4: Sammy Sosa.

It also looks as if the Mets are going after Sammy Sosa (not Magglio Ordonez, which I'm just plain shocked at). Well, again, are they trying to emulate the Orioles or the 90's? Go get him Mets... I look forward to your continued days in the cellar.

Hello all. Up next for this blog: Let's take a look at Pat Burrell - as mysterious a player to me as Brett Myers. What can we learn from his stats thus far? What can the Phillies do with him? We'll see soon.

Sorry about the lack of updates yesterday - I was occupied with lawyerly obligations. But I'll be writing again soon.

From Jason Stark's latest "Rumblings and Grumblings" (thanks to ESPN):

"The Phillies continue to shop for center fielders. But they've actually been telling other teams that a "high-end" starting pitcher is their top priority. That doesn't mean Pedro Martinez or Randy Johnson. But the Phillies are actively chasing starters who figure to land in the $8-million-a-year (or lower) bins. Their biggest free-agent targets, from all indications: Carl Pavano, Brad Radke, Al Leiter, David Wells, Jaret Wright and Derek Lowe."

and

"Teams and agents that have talked to the Padres keep reporting that their first priority is to re-sign David Wells. But Wells' agent, Gregg Clifton, says he and San Diego GM Kevin Towers have "only spoken one time, and I wouldn't call it a negotiating session. David wants to come back," Clifton said. "But they'd be making a mistake if they think he won't leave." Wells has plenty of other options (Phillies, Yankees, Dodgers, Indians), because he'll take a one-year deal. But he'll no doubt want a guarantee a lot closer to the $6 million he totaled with incentives this season than the $1.25-million base salary he signed for after back surgery."


Bleah.

I can't really say I'm excited about any of the free agents that the Phillies are aiming at... and I remain mystified why Perez isn't on that list. Perhaps the Phillies are doing a little Bobby Clarke-esque misdirection? Or maybe there's something about Perez that I as a citizen just do not know? I'd like to think his numbers mean something, however. And I doubt that Pavano will be cheaper than Odalis Perez... perhaps even Lowe would be more expensive.

And, that $6 million figure is a little scary. Cory Lidle at 3.15 mil or whatever he got is one thing. David Wells at 6 mil is a whole 'nother world. Throw in the fact that the Yankees and Dodgers may be bidding for him as well... Yipe.

And thanks to Tom G. for pointing something out with my earlier post about Wells - San Diego's park is definitely a pitcher's park. I was going to mention that, but his away/home splits seemed to cloud the issue... but I think you're right, you'd really have to expect some sort of impact on his stats with a move to the new Vet. (Can't quite call it the Citizen's Bank Park yet). I haven't looked at his game-to-game stats closely, but if he pitched a few away games at LA and SF, those are also pitcher's parks, no? And I noticed that Arizona roughed him up a couple times... I wonder if that was at the hitter-friendly confines of the Bob. Anyway, bottom line, there are some interesting variables that may affect Wells' stats by a move to homerun-friendly park like Philly.