The Philadelphia Phillies’ Perspective on the Roy Halladay trade

Three days after the initial shell shock of the Roy Halladay trade, and the dust is still settling on one of baseball’s biggest trades of the decade.

You’ve heard about this deal ad nauseum from Toronto sports writers, bloggers, and every Joe Blow sports fan out there, so why not have our friends from the other side of the 44th parallel weigh in on the biggest trade of the year?

Here is what Chris at The Fightins had to say:

Yes, (The Phillies) they did have to give up Clifton Phifer, but this is absolutely not a lateral move. Moving Lee was a baseball decision and we simply could not leave the “cupboard bare” for the future. But people this is Harry Leroy mo’ fuckin Halladay. If you aren’t excited, you don’t have a pulse.

Initially, I myself questioned the move by the Phillies to trade one Cy Young winner for another. At the time, it may not have seemed like much of an upgrade for Philadelphia to go from Cliff Lee to Roy Halladay.

The problem was that Cliff Lee was going to be seeking Roy Halladay-like money after 2010, and he was probably seeking a five or six year deal. Roy Halladay on the other hand just wants a chance to win, so the contract details are secondary to him. Whether it was three our four years, $20 million or $15 million…he didn’t care, so long as he can pitch in the playoffs.

Lots of folks have weighed in on whether the Phillies, Jays, or the Mariners are the winners in the deal. While the Phillies should be stoked about receiving the best pitcher in the game and immediately boosting their roster, to some extent they should also be concerned about losing their best pitching prospect.

Thankfully, Bill from CrashBurn Alley understands the quality of pitcher that the Blue Jays are receiving in return from the Phillies:

Losing one of baseball’s best starting pitchers is tough, no question, but hopefully the Jays acquire a prospect who may become the next Roy Halladay. They may have done that in acquiring Kyle Drabek from the Phillies, but Roy Halladays don’t just show up at the doorstep (or in a basket in the river, like Moses).

For the Phillies, it’s a short to midterm gain by aquiring Halladay, whereas the Blue Jays are looking for long-term results. Two teams who are on opposite ends of the spectrum right now, but don’t forget that up until the year 2000, the Phillies finished below .500 13 out of 14 seasons. It took them a long time to get where they are today.

And just like the Phillies built a championship team from the ground up, so too will the Toronto Blue Jays.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

It’s O-Phil-cial: Roy Halladay Now a Philadelphia Philly

It was a sad day for Toronto Blue Jays fans—for the past five months, we had been expecting this day to come, but I don’t think any of us could have prepared ourselves for the heartache that came along with letting go of Roy Halladay.

After watching today’s press conference, there is reason to believe there is a lot of hope for this franchise moving forward. AA kept a very positive tone this afternoon and did a good job of providing the answers that everyone was looking for.

One phrase that Anthopoulos used quite frequently was “young, controllable players.”

Obviously, this is what the Blue Jays were seeking, and is the reason why they didn’t go for a deal with the Los Angeles Angels involving players like Eric Aybar and Mike Napoli.

While being good players, they could either potentially walk in just a few seasons or command quite hefty contracts.

Also, by trading for players with major league experience, you already have a relatively good idea of what their ceiling is and what to expect from them in the future. Whereas with highly-touted prospects, their potential is nearly unlimited.

It’s refreshing to see a general manager who understands the value in having a player under team control for six seasons, rather than a free agent who can command colossal amounts of money and just walk away at the end of their contract.

Expectations will be undoubtedly high on the players the Blue Jays received in return: Kyle Drabek, Brett Wallace, and Travis D’Arnaud.

I don’t think we should bank on any of these guys being the next Roy Halladay, however there is a great deal of potential and promise in each of them.

Even if just one of them turns out of be a success, the Roy Halladay trade would have been all worth it.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

It’s O-Phil-cial: Roy Halladay Now a Philadelphia Philly

It was a sad day for Toronto Blue Jays fans—for the past five months, we had been expecting this day to come, but I don’t think any of us could have prepared ourselves for the heartache that came along with letting go of Roy Halladay.

After watching today’s press conference, there is reason to believe there is a lot of hope for this franchise moving forward. AA kept a very positive tone this afternoon and did a good job of providing the answers that everyone was looking for.

One phrase that Anthopoulos used quite frequently was “young, controllable players.”

Obviously, this is what the Blue Jays were seeking, and is the reason why they didn’t go for a deal with the Los Angeles Angels involving players like Eric Aybar and Mike Napoli.

While being good players, they could either potentially walk in just a few seasons or command quite hefty contracts.

Also, by trading for players with major league experience, you already have a relatively good idea of what their ceiling is and what to expect from them in the future. Whereas with highly-touted prospects, their potential is nearly unlimited.

It’s refreshing to see a general manager who understands the value in having a player under team control for six seasons, rather than a free agent who can command colossal amounts of money and just walk away at the end of their contract.

Expectations will be undoubtedly high on the players the Blue Jays received in return: Kyle Drabek, Brett Wallace, and Travis D’Arnaud.

I don’t think we should bank on any of these guys being the next Roy Halladay, however there is a great deal of potential and promise in each of them.

Even if just one of them turns out of be a success, the Roy Halladay trade would have been all worth it.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

World Series Observations

After having the pleasure of watching five relatively exciting World Series games, there are a few things that have stood out in my mind as noteworthy. The following is a list of some observations from this year’s series thus far:

With his half-dozen mound visits per inning, Jorge Posada is the sole reason these World Series games take four hours to complete . It is my hope that Baseball Reference starts keeping track of this statistic next season, which will be called MVI (mound visits per inning).

Ryan Howard strikes out a lot . And when he does, he always mutters something under his breath in disbelief…even when it’s a swinging strike three.

Kate Hudson just might be the most famous baseball groupie since Alyssa Milano .

Among many other things, Joba Chamberlain needs to wash his hat .

It appears as though Chase Utley has starting using the John Stamos/Jesse Katsopolis line of hair products . Have mercy!

There is so much loose jersey hanging off CC Sabathia , that the spare materials could be used as a tarp to cover the entire country of Cambodia.

Cliff Lee is non-chalant about everything , so would he even get excited if the Phillies won the World Series?

There is no stopping Mariano Rivera. If this World Series goes to a Game Seven, Joe Girardi might be best served to let Mo pitch the entire game himself.

After seeing all the camera time that the Philly Phanatic has been getting , I realized the Yankees don’t even have an official team mascot. How sad is that?

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Bring on the Fall Classic

After what has seemed like an eternity since the end of the ALCS, the World Series is finally ready to get underway later tonight.

On paper, I can’t say that a Yankees–Phillies matchup is one that will go down in history as one of the greatest playoff rivalries, but I’m sure some people probably thought the very same thing about the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees.

If there’s one team in the National League that’s built to take down the New York Yankees, it’s the Philadelphia Phillies. With their combination of stellar starting pitching and an insurmountable lineup, the Yanks will have their hands full with Ryan Howard and company.

As a side note, other bloggers and media outlets have picked up this story, but did you know that this is the third straight World Series appearance for Eric Hinske?

Since being dumped by the Blue Jays, whether or not he was actually on the playoff roster, Hinske has made trips to the past three World Series. Just in case you were curious, he’s made a grand total of three plate appearances and is 1-for-3 in those appearances with one home run.

Although Eric Hinske might not have any World Series rings, at least he has three different “American League Champions” sweatshirts to keep him warm through the cold, long offseason.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Which World Series Matchup Do You Want To See?

Last year, some of us got all googly-eyed at the potential of seeing a World Series where Manny Ramirez would go against the very same team that traded him just a few months prior. It had all the makings of the perfect media circus.

But then it never even happened.

This year’s World Series might not live up to those lofty expectations, but here are some possible scenarios that could provide the most drama.

Yankees vs. Dodgers

Naturally, this World Series matchup would draw the most media attention. Joe Torre facing off against his former team, hoping to stick it to the empire that built him up and tore him down.

It would be a series that the media would love to get their hands on. It would also feature the two best teams in their respective leagues competing for the Commissioner’s Trophy. Manny Ramirez would also draw lots of attention in New York thanks to his many years in Boston as a Yankee killer.

Angels vs. Dodgers

Most baseball purists are praying for this one to come true. While a “Freeway Series” really only appeals to those living in southern California, I think that an Angels-Dodgers World Series would feature the best starting pitching out of all the possible combinations.

Another prevalent storyline would be Mike Scioscia managing against the very team with which he spent his entire playing career. It wouldn’t be a very flashy World Series, but it would still be very entertaining.

Yankees vs. Phillies

This is where as a pseudo baseball writer, you really have to start digging deep to create compelling story lines for a World Series. There isn’t any bad blood between the Yankees and the Phillies, so it’s very difficult to see how these two teams would fare against each other.

My best guess is that the New York Yankees themselves would create drama stemming from the A.J. Burnett-Jorge Posada feud. Either that or another spill-happy fan pours beer on Shane Victorino at Yankee Stadium, and he climbs into the stands to take the law into his own hands.

Angels vs. Phillies

Out of all the potential World Series combinations, this one appears to be the least appealing to the masses. There is so little dirt on the Angels and Phillies that I had to use Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon to connect these two teams.

It turns out that both Mike Scioscia and Charlie Manuel were both on the American League coaching staff for the 2002 All-Star Game. Talk about beef!

Conclusion

Ultimately, it really doesn’t matter what the back story is on any of these teams. Good clubs will prevail and sometimes you don’t even need a huge buildup to create a great story in postseason baseball.

I just hope that the games speak for themselves.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Blue Jays v. Phillies: Caught in the middle

It was a game that could have easily gone either way, but it was a game that should have gone the Blue Jays’ way. Brian Tallet had the game in the palm of his hands, but he let it slip away as the Jays lost the rubber match of their series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

It looked like Brian Tallet had trouble with his location most of the game, as was evident by the six walks he gave up. Even though Tallet had great success with his change up in his last start against the Reds, he struggled to locate it and laid off his change up as the game progressed.

While Tallet had problems with the Phillies, Brandon League had no trouble shutting them down in order in the seventh inning. League was spot-on with his location and fanned two hitters in a successful inning of relief. For the time being, Brandon League is back to his dominant self once again.

One member of the Jays that has quietly put together a great season is Raul Chavez. I didn’t notice this until today, but he has thrown out forty percent of base stealer’s this season. Chavez has actually always been a great defensive catcher. Last year alone he gunned down twelve runners. Often underrated, Chavez has been a very important piece to the puzzle this season for the Blue Jays and should be commended for that.

All of the runs that were put on the board by the Blue Jays came by way of the longball. Aaron Hill knocked in his 18th and 19th home runs of the year and Jose Bautista added a two run shot for good measure in the second inning. Unfortunately, those runs would not be enough to hold off the Philadelphia Phillies.

The sequence of events in the bottom of the ninth really had Blue Jays’ fans on the edge of their seats. Raul Chavez amazed everyone with a bunt to start things off and Scutaro walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. After Aaron Hill flew out, John McDonald was caught in a very strange rundown between second and third.

Even before Brad Lidge had a chance to wind up, Johnny Mac jumped the gun and sped off for third base, but Lidge must have been tipped off as he turned around at the precise time McDonald got a jump. You can’t really blame J-Mac for trying to be aggressive and tie up the game, but the lead runner needs to be aware of what’s going on at all times. Maybe Johnny Mac was taking some base running tips from Alex Rios or something.

Jays v. Phillies: The All Lefty Weekend

It’ll be a surplus of southpaws this weekend at the Rogers Centre; three games and all the starting pitchers will be lefties. Left hands haven’t seen this much work since the inception of porn on the internet.

The Blue Jays will send Romero, Mills and Tallest to the hill, while the Phillies will counter with Hamels, Happ and Moyer.

Since there will be all left-handed starting pitchers this weekend, that means Kevin Millar will likely start most, if not all, three games at first base. Cito has maintained his strategy to play Millar against lefties, but is that really the best option anymore?

This season Millar’s splits are better than Overlay’s, but if you look at Millar’s numbers in the month of June they are atrocious:

Millar: .205 AVG, 5 RBI, 1 HR, .618 OPS

Compare those with Lyle Overlay’s stats this month, and it should be a no-brainer for Cito to play Overbuy at first base. (Overbay: .288 AVG, 18 RBI, 4 HR, 1.008 OPS)

Cito prefers to think with his heart instead of his brain sometimes, and this is a perfect example. For some reason he has it ingrained in his managerial mind that Millar hits left-handed pitching better than Overbuy. It’s time for Cito Gaston to throw those preconceived notions out the window.

Now while that may statistically be true this season, shouldn’t you continue to ride a player who’s on a hot streak? Lyle’s numbers in June are far too impressive to warrant him being benched in this series.

I’ll be liveblogging Sunday’s finale over at The Score which features Brian Tallet against Jamie Moyer, so stop by on Sunday afternoon for what looks to be a great game.

 

Toronto Blue Jays’ Defensive Gems

 

Is it any surprise that the Toronto Blue Jays are the best defensive team in the majors this season?

Thanks to those defensive gems that were put on display last night, hitters are lucky if they can even sneak a hit by the Blue Jays’ infielders.

Last week, Marco Scutaro stunned the Philadelphia Phillies with an intuitive play by stealing second base on a walk. This time, he left the Reds dumbfounded by throwing out Johnny Gomes from his back.

As you can see from the photo above, Scoots was flat out on his back and yet somehow managed to lean over and make the one-hop throw to Lyle Overbay in time to get Gomes. That play alone should get Scutaro into the All Star Game.

Earlier in the game, Aaron Hill flashed some leather and made an incredible leaping play to throw out another Red at first base.

Although I didn’t see it, I heard that Scott Rolen robbed Hairston once again with a diving grab along the third base line and followed it up with a throw from his knees.

For an opposing hitter, the only way to be guaranteed that the Blue Jays’ infielders won’t somehow make the out is to hit it at least 10 feet above their heads.

And even then, there’s nothing saying that Scott Rolen won’t pick up Marco Scutaro, put him on his shoulders, and launch him in the air to track down the ball.

 

An Apology to Scott Rolen

Dear Scott,

I feel like there aren’t enough words in the English language to describe how sorry I am, but I assure you that I am extremely remorseful about ever doubting you. To say it simply … I’m sorry.

First off, I’m sorry for ever suggesting earlier this year that the Blue Jays should trade you away simply to dump salary. Who am I kidding? Albeit he’s a great player, Jose Bautista is a mere one-third the third baseman you are. Scott, you deserve every single penny of that $11 million dollars you are owed this season and next.

I’m also sorry if I ever insinuated that the Blue Jays were on the losing end of the trade to bring you to Toronto and send Troy Glaus to St. Louis. Purely based on last year’s statistics, Glaus appears to be the better player. What those stats don’t show is that you played the most part of the 2008 season with a shoulder injury that dated back to 2007. A lesser man would have cowered in pain and begged for mercy, but you stood in the face of adversity and through the pain you managed to play. After whining about playing on turf, Troy Glaus finally received his wish to play on the grass in St. Louis and he still hasn’t suited up for a game this year.

Scott, I’m sorry for expecting you to hit like you did back when you were in your twenties with the Philadelphia Phillies. With the departure of Troy Glaus, I was hoping that you would provide those 30+ home runs and 100 + RBIs that we had come to expect from Glaus. Now I know those power numbers are not important, and your .327 batting average and your 29.6 percent line drive rate more than makes up for it. Not many players can retool their swing like you have, Scott.

Lastly, I apologize that I forgot you are a seven time Gold Glove award winner. Maybe it’s because over the past few years, John McDonald has turned some dazzling defense over at shortstop and has taken the focus off of the third base side. This season, your defense has been flawless and it’s reminded us all why the trophy case in the Rolen household is home to seven Gold Glove awards. I’ll even go as far to say that you might be the best defensive third basemen the Blue Jays have ever had. Frankly, if you don’t win another Gold Glove this year if will be shocked and saddened. I will go as far to say that I will write an angry letter to each coach and manager that doesn’t vote for you.

In closing, I hope you accept my apology for underestimating your wealth of talent. Don’t feel like you’re underappreciated or taken for granted because after seeing your magic glove, your unmistakeable batting stance and your uncanny choice for entrance music.

Sincerely,

-A true believer in Scott Rolen.

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