Hot Stove! 11/12/09

The Phillies have Placido Polanco, Mark DeRosa, and Adrian Beltre on their third base wish list, according to sources speaking to Jim Salisbury of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Salisbury adds that Chone Figgins and Miguel Tejada are also of interest, but to a lesser degree.

Salisbury notes Korean reports suggesting Chan Ho Park wants to start in 2010. Amaro has heard differently from Park's agent. Starting was a big factor in Park's decision to sign with the Phillies a year ago.

The Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in Pedro Feliz. With longtome O Melvin Mora heading out at age 38, the Orange Birds (I just made that up) have their eye on several third basemen (including Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa, and Feliz), but only after the Phillies have had their pick. I would love to see Pete Happy stay in the area where I can watch him on MASN.

The Braves announced Tim Hudson's extension today, according to Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He says it's a three-year deal worth around $9MM per year, with an option for 2013. Hudson's new deal overwrites the $12MM mutual option he had for 2010.

There's word that the Rays could look into Matsui if they move Pat Burrell.

The Cubs and Rays are still discussing a possible Milton Bradley-Pat Burrell swap, but it doesn't sound like the two sides are close on the money issue. One of the report's sources describes talks as "worse than Chinese water torture."

Pat Burrell, Rays. He's been linked to the Cubs in a possible Bradley swap, though the money doesn't match up and the Cubs would have to flip Burrell or else have ghastly outfield corner defense.

It's a possibility that the Yankees could re-sign both Damon and Matsui, since they still trust Damon's ability to play left field. Matsui, on the other hand, would again be relegated to DH duty, although Cashman notes that another team could view him as an outfielder. Based on comments we heard earlier today, that seems unlikely.

The Phillies are "intent on pursuing Chone Figgins hard," while the Mets are also fans of the Seth Levinson client. The Angels still hope to re-sign Figgins. Joel Sherman of the New York Post has more on the Mets' interest, explaining that moving Luis Castillo would make signing Figgins easier. Sherman thought another reasonable addition for the Mets might be Carlos Lee, but his idea was shot down by Ed Wade and a Mets official.

The Mariners have reached an agreement on a one-year deal with Ken Griffey Jr., according to Larry Stone of the Seattle Times. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick says Junior's new contract is similar to last year's. SI's Jon Heyman says it's a $2MM base with incentives that could exceed $1MM.

Get league-wide Hot Stove action at MLB Trade Rumors.

I-Fuckin'-Conic

More from Bobby's increasingly iconic run of Phillies. This edition: Uncle Charlie and my second favorite cheerleader, the Sweet One, Shane Victorino!

WFC

The regular season is officially over and your Philadelphia Phillies have achieved the glorious: *threepeat!* National League East Champions 2007-2009 excelsior. It's a special kind of bittersweet. Gone now are the hot summer days of lazy afternoon games, the illusion that "this will go on forever", a masquerade that baseball plays well, too well say its detractors. That early July feeling when baseball stretches as far as the eye can see in every direction, that chanellable naivate from when the Phils still wore baby blue and maroon. That feeling that every team has a chance and so you'd better get well aquainted with the intricacies of every one, and you have all the time in the world to do it. October baseball is an entirely different animal. It's cinematic. The first world series I can properly rememer is the '89 Series between the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants. I remember alot of games from earlier than that, but all Phillies games, hence no post-season. Anyway, the '89 Series is famous for the earthquake that took place before Game 3 and delayed play for ten days. It also housed such super-stars of the time as Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Will Clark, Ricky Henderson, and Kevin Mitchell. The 1993 season was my favorite until 2008. In 1993, the Phillies went to the World Series and lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, in dramatic fashion. I loved that team so much, and beating the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS was genuinely sublime. In Game 6 of the World Series, Phillies closer Mitch "Wild Thing" Williams gave up a Series ending walk-off home run to Joe Carter. I silently got up from the living room couch, walked down to my basement bedroom and went to bed with tears on my cheeks, though I'd relive it many times through the "Whatever It Takes, Dude!" Yearbook Video. The next year the Phils were back to their losing ways, and the infamous baseball strike disillusioned me right out of the game. Unlike Darren Daulton, I retired from baseball. I was in high school by that point, and I pretty much hated sports in general. It was dumb, but organized sports seemed diametrically opposed to the image I had of myself.

I got broken back into the sporting world by the Amazing Allen Iverson and the Philadelphia 76er's of the late nineties and especially the 2001 team that lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals. A.I. did things that were eye-popping and inspiring, seeming to tread upon invisible oxygen blocks and win games on his lonesome. From there the next, vital step was easy. The modern era of Phillies baseball started in 2001 with the addition of fan favorite and 1980 World Series Champion Larry Bowa as skipper, Jimmy Rollins first full season as the Phillies shortstop, and Pat Burrell's second year as a Phil and his first in left field. Some would-be crucial Phillies like Mike Lieberthal, Bobby Abreu, and even Randy Wolf had been around for a few years, but the great team we have today sprang up around J-Roll and Pat the Bat over the next half decade. After a disappointing 2002, the Phillies got a tune up with the trade of unpopular third baseman Scotty Rolen to the St. Louis Cardinals for sharp second baseman Placido Polanco, and to replace Rolen's "power" the Phils signed home run superstar free agent Jim Thome, previously of the Cleaveland Indians. This uncharacteristic huge signing, along with the promise of a new ballpark next season, and a particularly terrific series of Topps baseball cards got me fully back into the Great American Passtime. I saw Thome hit one out in person that last season at the Vet. It was awesome, when he'd come up they'd play the theme from the Superman movies. It gave you the idea that we might just be able to win for real, and for extended periods of time, and that we had something special that others did not have. Still, with all the improvement, the 2003 Phillies would finish in third place, well behind the long reigning Atlanta Braves and the second place Florida Marlins. Taking off from Philadelphia airport on my way to Clearwater Florida for spring break, I watched the Vet implode as I ascended above the clouds.

The 2004 lineup looked much the same with a much improved David Bell brooding at third base, and center fielder Marlon Byrd suffering a sophomore slump, but the bullpen, the bane of many a Phillies team, got some significant components. Rookie Ryan Madson pitched 52 games, won 9 and had a 2.34 ERA, and renowned hot-head Billy Wagner was a soild closer. Meanwhile, when Polanco went on the DL, we were introduced to another key offensive and defensive force of nature in young Chase Utley, who had played 43 games the year before and 93 in 2004. Utley performed so well upon his call up that Polanco was relegated to a platoon with the rookie. And Ryan Howard hit 2 home runs in 19 games, but had the big corn fed road block of Jim Thome in his way at first base. The Phils finished ten games above five hundred, same as the year before, but managed to place second behind the Braves.

2005 featured Chase Utley as the full-time second baseman as we traded Polanco to the Detroit Tigers for set-up man Ugueth Urbina, who ended up in jail for attempted murder with a machete and fire, but Chase was great. We added veteran Kenny Lofton in center field who hit .335 and briefly saw rule five aquisition from the San Diego Padres, Shane Victorino, in 24 games. The bullpen was strong and Billy Wagner saved 38, but the biggest renovation by far was the addition of Cleaveland Indians hitting coach Charlie Manuel as skipper, replacing Larry Bowa. While I was pretty heated as I saw the Phils improving every year, Uncle Charlie would become the lynchpin of the modern Phillies, and in 2005 we finished in second place once again, fourteen games above 500 now, and my man Ryan Howard won the National League Rookie of the Year in 88 games for a broke-thumbed Thome.

In 2006 the Phillies traded Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox for the piece that would complete their outfield, hard-nosed dirtball Aaron Rowan. Shane Victorino played 153 games, the majority in right field for Bobby Abreu, and Abraham Nunez was a utility infielder and David Bell's primary platoon mate at third base. Carlos Ruiz caught 27 games as Mike Lieberthal aged poorly, and a young Cole Hamels made a splash with nine wins and 132 innings. Now a pretty good team, the Phillies still struggled to get over the hump, with young players and a shaky pitching staff, they finished in second place behind the now-hated New York Mets and only eight games above five hundred, but Ryan Howard followed up his ROY campaign by winning the NL Most Valuble Player Award.

2007 was the year everything came together. The pitching staff was greatly solidified with the addition of Jamie Moyer and rookie Kyle Kendrick, and Cole Hamels had a break out season, going winning fifteen while losing only five and had a 3.39 ERA. Brett Myers moved to and excelled at the closer role, and was on the mound when the Phillies clinched their first National League East Title since 1993 on the last day of the season, edging out the dispicable New York Mets. Shane Victorino took over full time in right field when we traded long time Phillie Bobby Abreu to the New York Yankees, and Carlos Ruiz became the starting catcher (with Chris Coste and Sal Fasano as the case dictated) after Mike Leiberthal went with Randy Wolf to the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent. The only true offensive deficit on the team was Abraham Nunez at third base, who played above average in the field, but was anemic at the plate. Jayson Werth played 94 games as the all purpose back up outfielder and J.A. Happ pitched and lost one game. We finished twelve games above five hundred and for the first time in fourteen years I felt the electric love that is post season baseball, only to have the Phils cough it up in three to a mutant Colorado Rockies team. The second longest-tunred Phillie Jimmy Rollins had an absolutely unblievable season and won the NL Most Valuble Player and Charlie Manuel's work was recognized with the NL Magaer of the Year Award.

Did somebody say 2008!?! Version 1.0 of the greatest Phils team since 1980 or maybe ever is Jimmy "J-Roll" Rollins at shortstop, Shane "the Flyin' Hawaiian" Victorino in center field, Chase Utley at second base, Ryan "Soul Pole" Howard at first base, Pat "the Bat" Burrell in left field, Jayson Werth in right field, new addition Pedro Feliz at third base, and Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz doing the catching. Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Brett Myers, Kyle Kendrick, and trade deadline aquisition Joe Blanton were the rotation as Adam Eaton was one of the all-time flops. GM Pat Gillick, who along with his prodecessor Ed Wade had crafted this fine baseball machine added the finishing touch by trading speedster Michael Bourn to the Houston Astros for closer Brad "Lights Out" Lidge, who did not blow a single save oppurtunity in 2008 in 41 regular season attempts. Along with notables like Greg Dobbs, Eric Bruntlett, Matt Stairs, and Geoff Jenkins off the bench, Charlie Manuel led these heroes of ours to a 92-70 record and their second straight NL East Title, past the Milwaukee Brewers in the Division Series, past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Championship Series, and past the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, with Cole Hamels winning the NLCS and World Series MVP Award.

Harry Kalas definitely said it best, "The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 Champions of Baseball!" He said it with alot of class, the best voice in the game, he was the epitome of what a Phillies fan could be. But Chase Utley said it in a way we could all understand. "World Fucking Champs!" We Phillies have two World Championships to the New York Yankees twenty-six. They've been the World Champs twenty-six times, but they've never been World Fucking Champs, and anybody's who's been World Fucking Champs knows there ain't nothin' better.

Version 2.0 is very similar, the only dude missing on the field is my mom's favorite Philly, Pat Burrell, who was not resigned after a long term deal ended in 2008. Ruben Amaro made a splash as GM after Pat Gillick's departure by signing veteran left fielder Raul Ibanez. The move was met with many a raised eyebrow, but Pat the Bat absoultely floundered as Tampa Bay's new designated hitter while Ibanez posted carreer numbers, particularly in the first half of the season while J-Roll battled a mega-slump. Off the field, Harry Kalas passed away in our nations capitol early in the season, giving the Phillies all the more motivation to win it again. Brad Lidge was also not "lights out" anymore, leading the league in blown saves (11) and consecutive losses (8), but the team is so good that they managed to win one more game than the previous year, led by Ryan Howard, Ibanez, and Jayson Werth, who posted amazing numbers in his first year alone in right field, as well as Amaro smoothy pick-ups 2008 AL Cy Young Winner Cliff Lee and a man who needs no introduction, simply known as Pedro. To a true-believer like myself, this was no big surprise, but take it for granted I do not. We won our thrid straight NL East Title and once again face the Colorado Rockies in the first round, payback series! With the (metaphorical) guardian angel of Harry the K looking down on us (or out from us in an internalized memory of a great voice and fan), I do nothing but believe. As our boys practice and concentrate and eye up that tiger, I believe. Not in god or heaven or fairness or sports; I believe in the World Fucking Champs.

Phillies Offseason

Since their isn't any more baseball until pitchers and catchers report in February 2009, dudes like me who deify baseballers can only partake in the modern luxury of the Hot Stove Report on mlb.com. Imagine, prior to like 1996 young Dan getting up every day of the summer and unfurling the newest edition of the News Journal and huffin' newsprint and staring for hours upon end at the box scores and standings comprised of only four divisions. Then all winter long, daily one inch by one inch transaction reports buried on page six of "Sports." Now it is better, but worse too, colder... you can't really sniff a monitor like you can a paper. That's the only problem with scanned, downloadable comics. My Green Lantern: Emerald Dawn #1 from 1989 actually is better for sniffin' then for readin'! BUT, you can get up-to-the-second trade rumors and facts. The Hot Stove has the good writing, but prosportsdaily.com has juicer, sometimes less apt to happen reports. Now, I have the privilege of being a life-long Phillies fan, so as you know, we rule, and won't be doing too much off-season shuffling, but here's my analysis of what we're gonna look like come April.

Starting Pitching - Despite being snubbed at the All-Star game, Cole Hamels is the class of the National League, NLCS and World Series MVP, a true Iceman, callin' 20 game winner, and our Ace. Plus some old lady called me "Cole Hamels" at the Concord Mall. Brett Myers could suck again, but I am an optimist. He is a headie pitcher, and World Series success could translate into a good full season for the oft woe begotten fireballer. League leader in strikeouts? Callin' it. Jamie Moyer will resign with his hometown team, pitch until he's 50, and probably end up as the Phil's pitching coach eventually. Professor Moyer can play baseball forever, because he doesn't use his arm, he uses his brain. Joe Blanton was a bit of a groaner when we heard the trade went through, but Fat Joey pitched great in the postseason and is a really decent #4 starter. That's a one through four who can all eat innings. Now as for the fifth starter, we got with us now Kyle "KK" Kendrick who lost his groove near the end of this year and may or may not ever be good again. J.A. Happ is a Kendrick clone without the unprecedented success or giant fall, so his blank slate can be seen as positive. I do not want to see Adam Eaton on this team next year. With all this in mind, signing a fifth starter would be a great idea. A hot shot lefty would be ideal, but we may need that money later when we get to the outfield. So that rules out dudes like A.J. Burnett, John Garland, etc... and of course those top tiers as well. I don't want some oldster review with Randy Johnson pitching the first half the year and frickin' Curt Schilling the second half. Call me nuts, but I would like to get Randy Wolf and the Wolf Pack back in Philly, but he somehow has a bidding war going, so he might be out. Who knows, maybe we'll try and conserve in the outfield and go for the big market second Ace, but you know what I wanna do? Give it to Carlos Carassco! Bring 'im up! A homegrown fifth starter.

Relief Pitching - The Phillies bullpen was the best in the majors, and very little is going to change. Keep long relievers Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey, 7-8-9 men J.C. Romero, Ryan Madson, and Brad Lidge right where they are. Combined they could be the National League MVP, with notable contributions from Madson and Lidge, 2009 All-Stars callin' it. Scott Eyre was a classic ex-GM Pat Gillick under-the-radar pick-up that worked out great. He resigned with us already. We will be rid of Tom "Trash" Gordon and Rudy Seanez. That leaves Happ or Kendrick or (god-forbid) Eaton to round out the 'pen, and new GM Amaro Junior could always find a nice low-risk, high-reward type guy to insert.

Infield - We are in the glory days of Philadelphia. We have the best infield we have ever had. People will hate, of course, but let it be known, the "Big Man" Ryan Howard is here to stay and will probably be the N.L. MVP later this week, if not, it's a fix! Chase Utley was ice cold during the World Series, but like all Phils, he was why we were there in the first place. Utley is actually the best second baseman in baseball, and will be the all-time second base home run king. Jimmy Rollins. J-Roll. My favorite Phil and the most sabermetrically sound shortstop in the bigs. He's like Snoopy to the Peanuts team in every way. Pedro Feliz aka Pete Happy is a World Series hero and a vacuum at third. He is capable of doing more with the bat than he did this year, but if he doesn't, a more evenly-split platoon with pinch-hittah extraordinaire Greg Dobbs will be ideal. We'll probably retain Eric Bruntlett, who can play almost any position and seems to be able to come up with big hits. "Rad" Tad Iguchi won't be back. Behind the plate, Carlos "Hamster Pie" Ruiz was the sometimes unsung hero of the year. His dismal plate performance was well overshadowed by his superb skills while calling a game. He is probably the second smartest Phil, behind only Moyer. Now, as far as an offensive counterpart goes, Chris Coste is a great back up guy, but with Lou Marson seemingly ready to make the move to the majors, Coste may end up as trade bait. What's more, if Marson delivers on his hype, Ruiz may become a defensive specialist behind Marson's bat.

Outfield - This is the trickiest area for the Phils this offseason, due solely to the fact that Super-Phillie Pat "the Bat" Burrell is up for free agency. I desperately want Pat to stay. Through all the boos he kept at it and I always cheered. Pat Burrell is for baseball fans with heart, and he should stay with us. But, he will probably be hotly sought after. The known chink in his game is his speed and defense, so American League squads may see a custom built designated hitter. But, it is well known that Burrell hates to DH and would always prefer to pay left field (though first base would suit him too). I hear it will come down to a matter of time. The Phils want to give him two years and he wants three, so we wait for Friday for the games to begin. If he stays, we're pretty solid. Center fielder Shane Victorino is another future All-Star who should be sought after but untouchable. Jayson Werth is the same thing to a lesser degree, and if top-tier pitching could be swung, I think they'd deal Werth. Backing the boys up is Geoff Jenkins, whose horror-story 2008 was wiped clean by that big 'ol World Series double. He's still a question mark, but not to trade valuable. Matt Stairs is another post season hero who is really best suited for trying and hit a home run every couple games then playing the field. So "So" Taguchi will probably retire, but definitely won't be back with the Phils. If Burrell does go, they've discussed a Jenkins/Dobbs right field platoon with Werth in left, but they'll almost certainly go after some kind of big name bat. Not Manny, not Holliday, not Adam Dunn, not Bobby Abreu. The name I keep seeing is Rocco Baldelli, Tampa Bay feel-good story and home run hitter. Seattle's Raul Ibanez would also bring the pop. None are "the Bat" but we'll have to see what offers are made.

Overall, the slickest thing would be to trade Adam Eaton and Geoff Jenkins for top notch relief to super-bolster the bullpen, resign Pat Burell, bring up Carlos Carassco, and get ready for the next parade.

All-Time MLB Franchise Players - NL East

As promised, here is the big list, the top franchise player for each current team throughout their history. Said player must have nearly career-long personal success and have participated in their team's success. Staying on one team throughout their career will be a plus. I will also throw in some honorable mentions and current, newer players who may well achieve that ultimate franchise status. I'll go in order of the standings as of today. In the interest of brevity (ha ha), I'll break it down to a division per post over the next couple days.

National League East

New York Mets - It's hard to give the all-time franchise seal to any of the "bad guys who won" from the '86-'88 teams because their stars, Darryl Strawberry, Doc Gooden, Kevin Mitchell's, careers all kinda went awry due to drugs and ego. And Mike Piazza couldn't carry the team to World Series victory in 2001. The best Met ever has to be Tom Seaver. Actually nicknamed "the Franchise," Seaver is the Mets all time winner with 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts and a 2.86 ERA. In 1969, Seaver had 25 wins and the first of his three Cy Young Awards en route to leading the Mets to their first ever World Series win.

Philadelphia Phillies - The best team there could ever be, my Phillies have had a cadre of excellent, representative stars. From the greats like Richie Ashburn and Robin Roberts to today's stars Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, et al. I believe that barring any ludicrous trades that Jimmy Rollins is in fact the all-time Phillies franchise player. If you only watched baseball in 1993 then my man Lenny "Nails" Dykstra of John "the Krukker" Kruk could easily fit the bill. But for now, it is clearly the Scmidter, twelve time All-Star, Michael Jack Schmidt. I grew up watching Schmidt club his way towards 548 home runs, and in 1980 he won the MVP (one of three he would win) and led our team, along with Pete Rose, Steve Carlton, Greg Luzinski, and Tug McGraw, to World Series victory. Schmidt was a pro, earning ten Gold Glove Awards and rarely showing emotion or compassion for Philly fans who simultaneously loved and hated him for it, but always realized we were watching possibly the best third baseman in baseball history do his job for us.

Florida Marlins - Another expansion team, like the Rays, it is difficult to pinpoint the Marlin's franchise player. Many great players had sub-par seasons with them, and their two World Series Championships were largely a patchwork quilt of rent-a-players not suitable for the franchise tag. Their 1997 World Series team consisted of great players who you can't even imagine in a Florida uniform, like Bobby Bonilla, Moises Alou, Gary Sheffield, and Darren Daulten. The 2003 squad had future Red Sox stars Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell, Chicage Cub Derek Lee, L.A. Dodger Brad Penny, etc... These were really good teams but without commitment to maintaining the nucleus of players either time, the band broke up. Until last off-season, I would have bet it all that either third baseman Miguel Cabrera or side-arm fire-baller Dontrelle Willi$ would have soon fit into that all-time franchise label, but they are Tigers now, to varying degrees. Currently, the Marlins have some very good young talent that could rise to franchise status like All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla, and the great Hanley Ramirez at short stop, but if Florida repeats its history, this young talent will be traded for much older big names and a quick fix. If there is a Florida Marlin all-time franchise player, it would have to be Jeff Conine. He was an original Marlin, and on the 1997 and 2003 World Series teams. He is a two time All-Star with respectable mid-level numbers, but he is known by some as "Mr. Marlin" due to his quiet, intangible quality that helped Florida become World Champs two times over.

Atlanta Braves - Despite all the talent Atlanta has boasted over the years, offensively Eddie Matthews, David Justice, Terry Pendleton, Ron Gant, Chipper Jones, and pitching Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Greg Maddux, Steve Avery, Warren Spahn, this is an easy one. Despite having played half his career in Milwaukee until the Braves moved to Atlanta in 1966, Hammerin' Hank Aaron achieved his greatest fame and ultimate goal in Atlanta. He wrested the crown from Babe Ruth's head to become the new Home Run King in 1974 with a career total of 755, a title he achieved without performance enhancing drugs. Aaron was a twenty-one time All-Star and holds the record for career RBI's, extra base hits, total bases, and he is in the top five all time for each hits, runs, games played, and at bats. He won a World Series and league MVP with the eventual Atlanta team in Milwaukee in 1957. Each year the Hank Aaron Award is given to the most effective hitter in each league.

Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos - Well, not much has ever gone right for this franchise, no matter what country they play in. Since they moved to Washington, the best National has been Alfonsonso Soriano, who mainly used RFK Park as a place to learn to play left-field before going on to a good team in Chicago. Ryan Zimmerman is a vacuum at third base, but young and not consistently offensively impressive. You have you go back to Montreal and take a look. Greats like Pedro Martinez and Vlad Guererro got their start in Montreal, but the best team was in the late '70's with "Rock" Raines, Gary Carter, and the Montreal all time franchise player, Andre "the Hawk" Dawson. Dawson played the fourth most games as an Expo that anybody ever will, was the Rookie of the Year with them in 1977, and is the only expo ever to hit 200 home runs and steal 200 bases. A five point player, and eight time Gold Glove Award winner, the Hawk could do it all and finished second beind Mike Schmidt in the 1981 MVP voting. Dawson stands with only Willie Mays and Barry Bonds in the 400 home runs/300 stolen bases club.