As we all know pitching is the key for success in winning a ball game and the Phillies have had it in the past. For the past 2 years the Phillies have made it to the World Series back to back years. Besides them having one of the most powerful line ups in baseball the pitching is what has got them to both the 2008 and the 2009 World Series appearances. The 2010 rotation is going to be a question for some and not a problem for others. The number one questions that are going to be asked come opening day in D.C. just 67 days away is... will Cole Hamels have a bounce back year? Was it a mistake to get rid of Cliff Lee? How will Roy Halladay fair off in the National League? Who will be their number 5 starter Kyle Kendrick or Jamie Moyer? Also how good will the Phillies bull pen be this year after the nightmare they had last year? With Lidge being hurt, Madson not being on top of his game, and J.C. Romero being hurt as well the pen wasn’t as strong as they once were. Remember in 2008 the bull pen is what won us a World Series and in 2009 Cliff Lee is what got us to the World Series.
1. The Cole Hamels issue is what I think will help us get back to the World Series only because he's our number 2 starter and we need him to be the pitcher he once was and feed off of Roy Halladay. This is all folds on Hamels, if he has a good year with about 15 wins the Phillies will have themselves another World Series title and if he doesn't well things are just going to get a little bit harder and more questions will be asked. With Blanton who just signed a three-year contract worth 24 million and making 8 million per year and the young J.A. Happ behind him he should have no problem. Hamels is playing with one the best teams and best line ups in baseball, but it’s known in the past that when Hamels pitches he doesn't get much run support witch needs to turn around for him this year.
2. Getting rid of Cliff Lee might be a mistake, I only say this because will still have no idea how good Cole Hamels will be this year. Lee was your go to guy last year and he was what we needed at the time and I think we should have held on to him but then again we probably wouldn't have gotten Halladay. But there was more ways of keeping Lee and adding Halladay. The Royals were very interested in Joe Blanton and wanted to take him off our hands but the problem with that was the Royals had no prospects we wanted. So there for Lee went and Halladay came. I still think we should have worked out a deal but the old saying is - Should of, Could of, Would of but it just didn't happen.
3. Halladay in the National League just scares me thinking about it makes me nervous. But it doesn't matter to me because he’s on my team! I think Halladay playing with Phillies and in the National League will fear teams in the NL only because he knows how to pitch and with this team he is almost likely to have a “W” in each start and at least 20-25 wins this year with an ERA of 2.19. So I think Halladay in the NL will be great..... if you’re a Phillies fan that is.
4. Who will be the Phillies number 5 starter come opening day? That's the biggest question of all. With no more Pedro who will fill his spot? Will it be the young Kyle Kendrick who had a pretty good year at the end of last season or will it be the old Jamie Moyer who has been around this game for very very long time? To be honest I really can't tell you who is better. Kendrick yeah he did good last year but he didn't play a full season and has a lot to prove and we still don't know if he's ready. Moyer on the other hand who knows how to pitch and has what it takes to be a starter will he be healthy enough to play a full 162 game season? If you were to ask me I think the Phillies should have gone after Ben Sheets who the A's just signed for 1 year, $8 million. I say this because Ben Sheets is a great pitcher and yes he has had a few problems over the years but being in a rotation with Halladay, Blanton, Hamels and so for could only help him. But we know the Phillies aren't like the Yankees who just buy their team, they like to build upon their team. In the past it has helped them, so will just have to find out what will happen.
5. Will the bull pen be as good as it once was? Considering last year’s nightmare that’s another question I can't answer. With Lidge who was hurt from the start, to Madson not being the same pitcher he was in 2008, to Romero being hurt and not 100%. But people wonder will Lidge be that closer who helped win us a World Series in 2008 or will he be that same bum he was in 2009 that blew 11 blown saves and had an ERA of 7.21? Something to look into in 2010 and that's what the Phillies need to get in line. Madson on the other hand wasn't that good either being a pitcher who would give people the chills when he came in who also did a half way decent job and would have his on and off days. With 6 blown save in his book didn't make him the closer or the set up guy we needed with a 3.26 ERA. Between Lidge and Madson they combine 17 blown save not to mansion other pitchers who had blown saves as well. Then there's J.C. Romero who for the first 50 game was suspended for using steroids and being hurt for most of the year is very questionable how good he will be in 2010. Romero finished the season off with a 2.70 ERA.
So there it is how good will the Phillies 2010 pitching rotation and bull pen will be? I think the Phillies will again win the NL East Division, win the NL Championship Series, and win the World Series? I don't know, I guess will find out next October.
This is Beyond a questionable pitching staff, this is Beyond Baseball.
2010 Philadelphia Phillies Pitching Rotation at the moment.
1. Roy Halladay - 2009
ERA-2.79
W-17
L-10
SO-208
2. Cole Hamels - 2009
ERA-4.32
W-10
L-11
SO-168
3. Joe Blanton - 2009
ERA-4.05
W-12
L-8
SO-163
4. J.A. Happ - 2009
ERA-2.93
W-12
L-4
SO-119
5. Kyle Kendrick - 2009
ERA-3.42
W-3
L-1
SO-15
5. Jamie Moyer - 2009
ERA-4.94
W-12
L-10
SO-94
BEYOND BASEBALL - Where you live, read, and die baseball.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Big "M" admits of Using Steroids
Well this issue comes to no surprise on January 11, 2010 around 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon Mark McGwire came out and told the press and Congress that he used steroids during his career with both the Oakland A's during the late 1980's and the St. Louis Cardinals during the mid and late 1990's. In 1998 Mark McGwire broke one of the biggest baseball records of all time. The single season home run record, that Babe Ruth set back in 1927 by hitting 60 home runs in one season. In 1961 Roger Maris broke that record by hitting 61 home runs and from then on, no other player had came close to breaking this record. In 1998 Mark McGwire and Cubs outfielder Sammy Sosa were in a home run chase to see who would break the record first. The year before McGwire came oh so close by hitting 58 home runs, and people asked how can this really be done? McGwire did in fact break one the hardest records of all time by hitting 70 home runs and so did Sammy Sosa later by hitting 66 home runs in 1998. McGwire would indeed become the new home run king in till Barry Bonds made a name for himself in baseball as one the most feared power hitters in the game. In 2003 Bonds would break and pass McGwire's record by hitting 73 home runs and set the all time single season home run record.
In 2005 Jose Canseco and other major league baseball players were on a list of using steroids back in the late 80's and 90's. McGwire was one of them and said "that he didn't want to talk about the past and would just like to move on". He said this in front of Congress. It has been 5 years later that McGwire has came out and admitted of using steroids during his playing days. "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize" said McGwire. "The power I have was given to me by God and that steroids did not help me play better. It helped me to recover from injures that I had" said McGwire in a interview with Bob Coasts on MLB Network. McGwire used steroids through 1989 till 2001 and said if he could do it all over again he would never had taken them. In 1998 when he broke the record people all over the United States said that McGwire is one the best players to play the game and he is my role model. Now after hearing this, what do you say about the man? He's a cheater, a liar; he doesn't belong to ever step on a baseball diamond ever again? No really knows what should happen, I guess just move on? McGwire finished his career with 583 home runs that now people question should that really stand? Should his 70 home runs really stand? Should Sosa's 66 home runs really stand? Should Bond's 73 really stand if all these players were taking steroids? Should they bring back Maris *61 home runs back in check? It‘s something that no one really knows.
Over the years and this past baseball season a lot players have been caught using steroids in major league baseball. Manny Ramirez from the Los Angeles Dodgers who used them in 2003 and 2009, Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees who used them in 2003 and J.C. Romero from the Philadelphia Phillies who used them in 2008 were all caught for testing positive of using steroids this past season. But there are so many more names on the list. There is over 102-103 people on the list. It's just something that has ruined the game of baseball.
If you were to ask me "I would say get rid of ever one of his home runs and he shouldn't be allowed to ever walk on a baseball field again". That goes for any player for using steroids. All their stats, numbers, records whatever should be thrown away. If you can cheat in a game they say they "love" than why not throw their stats away that aren't real? Isn't that what happens when you get caught cheating on a test, doesn't the teachers usually throw it away or don't you get an F on the test for cheating? It's a cheat for other teams, the players, the fans who pay to come out to see their favorite players play game the right way and then find out they took steroids just isn't fair to love of the game and the fans. Answer me this, if one of the all time best baseball players Pete Rose can't even be in rolled in the baseball Hall of Fame or ever step on a major league baseball field ever again for betting on the game as a coach that happen years ago shouldn't be allowed to ever be part of the game again than why should McGwire? The man cheated in baseball, he cheated in the game, all because he said he was sorry? Pete Rose has gone out there and been on T/V and said he was sorry a million times and no one cares about what he did on the field just what he did off the field. Probably one of the best players of all time, yeah he made a mistake but it's not like he cheated or bet during his Major League baseball career. McGwire this year will become the Cardinals new batting coach and help them get to a World Series. I still think he shouldn't be allowed in this game ever again and the number *61 should stand forever in baseball and that Pete Rose should to reinstated back into the game of baseball. If McGwire can get away for cheating in the game than the Major League Baseball Committee is wrong for holding Pete Rose out of them game.
This Beyond steroids, this is Beyond Baseball.
In 2005 Jose Canseco and other major league baseball players were on a list of using steroids back in the late 80's and 90's. McGwire was one of them and said "that he didn't want to talk about the past and would just like to move on". He said this in front of Congress. It has been 5 years later that McGwire has came out and admitted of using steroids during his playing days. "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize" said McGwire. "The power I have was given to me by God and that steroids did not help me play better. It helped me to recover from injures that I had" said McGwire in a interview with Bob Coasts on MLB Network. McGwire used steroids through 1989 till 2001 and said if he could do it all over again he would never had taken them. In 1998 when he broke the record people all over the United States said that McGwire is one the best players to play the game and he is my role model. Now after hearing this, what do you say about the man? He's a cheater, a liar; he doesn't belong to ever step on a baseball diamond ever again? No really knows what should happen, I guess just move on? McGwire finished his career with 583 home runs that now people question should that really stand? Should his 70 home runs really stand? Should Sosa's 66 home runs really stand? Should Bond's 73 really stand if all these players were taking steroids? Should they bring back Maris *61 home runs back in check? It‘s something that no one really knows.
Over the years and this past baseball season a lot players have been caught using steroids in major league baseball. Manny Ramirez from the Los Angeles Dodgers who used them in 2003 and 2009, Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees who used them in 2003 and J.C. Romero from the Philadelphia Phillies who used them in 2008 were all caught for testing positive of using steroids this past season. But there are so many more names on the list. There is over 102-103 people on the list. It's just something that has ruined the game of baseball.
If you were to ask me "I would say get rid of ever one of his home runs and he shouldn't be allowed to ever walk on a baseball field again". That goes for any player for using steroids. All their stats, numbers, records whatever should be thrown away. If you can cheat in a game they say they "love" than why not throw their stats away that aren't real? Isn't that what happens when you get caught cheating on a test, doesn't the teachers usually throw it away or don't you get an F on the test for cheating? It's a cheat for other teams, the players, the fans who pay to come out to see their favorite players play game the right way and then find out they took steroids just isn't fair to love of the game and the fans. Answer me this, if one of the all time best baseball players Pete Rose can't even be in rolled in the baseball Hall of Fame or ever step on a major league baseball field ever again for betting on the game as a coach that happen years ago shouldn't be allowed to ever be part of the game again than why should McGwire? The man cheated in baseball, he cheated in the game, all because he said he was sorry? Pete Rose has gone out there and been on T/V and said he was sorry a million times and no one cares about what he did on the field just what he did off the field. Probably one of the best players of all time, yeah he made a mistake but it's not like he cheated or bet during his Major League baseball career. McGwire this year will become the Cardinals new batting coach and help them get to a World Series. I still think he shouldn't be allowed in this game ever again and the number *61 should stand forever in baseball and that Pete Rose should to reinstated back into the game of baseball. If McGwire can get away for cheating in the game than the Major League Baseball Committee is wrong for holding Pete Rose out of them game.
This Beyond steroids, this is Beyond Baseball.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Mets get their MEN! Giants get a good break.
Tuesday afternoon the New York Mets signed the big power man from the Boston Red Sox, Jason Bay. Bay in 2009 had a good year batting .267, 36 homeruns, and 119 RBI's. Bay signed a 4 year deal worth $66 million dollars. Also last week the New York Mets rapped up starting pitching/relief pitcher Kelvim Escobar from the Angels. In 09 Escobar wasn't that good, his ERA was 3.60, 0 wins, 1 lose, and 5 strikeouts. He signed a 1 year deal. How will both this guys pen out for the Mets?
Well I think Jason Bay going to Mets is a great move. After the Mets having a horrible season last year, he is what they need in the outfield and he knows how to win. Also batting in the 3 or 4 hole before or after Beltran in the line-up will help the Met outs with power. Also it’s a big time threat in the NL. After being in the NL than moving over to the AL and now coming back to the NL and playing for a pretty good team, that just makes its harder for opposing pitchers in the national league. So this is a great move. As for Escobar, well it depends what player shows up. Will it be the Escobar that was so good 2 years ago or will it be the pitcher who doesn’t have it? Plus the Mets have to see if he will be a starter or relief pitcher. These are just questions that will have to be answered during spring training or during the 2010 season.
Today around 4:00 p.m. the San Francisco Giants signed free agent third basemen Mark DeRosa for 2 years worth 12 million dollars. DeRosa who came over from the Cardinals in 2009 batted .250, 23 homeruns, and 78 RBI's. Was this a good move for the Giants? This move was indeed a good one. Mark DeRosa is probably the most underrated third basemen in the league. He may not be the best but he knows how to play the game the right way. He also could be the guy they could use in the Giants line-up along with Pablo Sandoval, Freddy Sanchez, and Aaron Rowand. I also think this year the Giants with win the NL West Division only if the pitching holds up and everyone stays healthy for the most part of the year.
This is beyond big news, this is Beyond Baseball.
Well I think Jason Bay going to Mets is a great move. After the Mets having a horrible season last year, he is what they need in the outfield and he knows how to win. Also batting in the 3 or 4 hole before or after Beltran in the line-up will help the Met outs with power. Also it’s a big time threat in the NL. After being in the NL than moving over to the AL and now coming back to the NL and playing for a pretty good team, that just makes its harder for opposing pitchers in the national league. So this is a great move. As for Escobar, well it depends what player shows up. Will it be the Escobar that was so good 2 years ago or will it be the pitcher who doesn’t have it? Plus the Mets have to see if he will be a starter or relief pitcher. These are just questions that will have to be answered during spring training or during the 2010 season.
Today around 4:00 p.m. the San Francisco Giants signed free agent third basemen Mark DeRosa for 2 years worth 12 million dollars. DeRosa who came over from the Cardinals in 2009 batted .250, 23 homeruns, and 78 RBI's. Was this a good move for the Giants? This move was indeed a good one. Mark DeRosa is probably the most underrated third basemen in the league. He may not be the best but he knows how to play the game the right way. He also could be the guy they could use in the Giants line-up along with Pablo Sandoval, Freddy Sanchez, and Aaron Rowand. I also think this year the Giants with win the NL West Division only if the pitching holds up and everyone stays healthy for the most part of the year.
This is beyond big news, this is Beyond Baseball.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Doc Is In. The Lee Is Out.
Today the Philadelphia Phillies signed the hard former CY Young Award winner right hander Roy "Doc" Halladay. But this deal wasn't gonna come cheap and it wasn't like any other signing. The Phillies would have to give up their ace Cliff Lee and three Phillies prospects to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Seattle Mariners and some how the Oakland A's got on in this deal as well. This was probably one of the biggest trades ever in the 130 years in this game and was defiantly a blockbuster deal in hand. The Phillies would send Cliff Lee to the Mariners for three prospects. In return the Phillies got pitching prospects Phillippe Anmont, J.C. Ramirez and outfielder prospect Tyson Gillies. Now to get Halladay the Phillies would have to give up outfield prospect Michael Taylor who got traded to the Oakland A's for prospect Brett Wallace, catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud, and the number one pitching prospect for the Phillies Kyle Drabek to Toronto. In return the Phillies would get the ace they have wanted since last July Roy Halladay and $6 million dollars from Toronto.
The Phillies got Halladay on a three year deal till 2011 through 2013 for $20 million a year, plus a $20 million vesting option for 2014. But some people in this city did not agree with this move at all. A lot of people wanna know why the Phillies couldn't have kept Lee and added Halladay on the team? Well here it is, the Phillies have to stick to their $140 million dollar budget that was already getting tight at the moment and could afford to keep both Lee and Halladay on the same team. Another reason is that, Cliff Lee was going to walk after the 2010 season to test the free agency market, plus Lee wanted a C.C. Sabathia deal of $160 million dollars for 3 years that was never going to happen. Another reason is that, the Phillies didn't know if Lee was going to do a contract extension if he was going to walk, where in Halladay case he was willing to do that and the Phillies raped him up for three long years. But now people are saying why couldn't we keep Lee and Hallaway on the same team for one year and see what happens? Well the reason for that is prospects, is whole deal was about prospects in witch the Phillies have a lot of as you know in the past. Since they were giving away 3 of their best prospects they needed to fill in those lost prospects. Also Cliff Lee was already going to make 9 million dollars this year, so they took Halladay and got rid of Lee. But here's something I didn't understand is why didn't the Phillies get rid of Joe Blanton who will be a free agent after the 2010 season and keep Lee? Also Blanton was only making 2-3 million dollars less than what Cliff Lee was going to make, so if they would gotten rid of Blanton that would have made some room on the Phillies payroll and could have kept Lee with Halladay for 1 year. But the Phillies had a different view on this deal, they didn't wanna have just one good year with both Lee and Halladay. They wanted to have 3 good long years with just Halladay and if they could have kept Lee that would of been just extra points for the Phils. Instead of not shooting themselves in the foot by not signing Halladay at all they did just in case this opportunity would have never came around again. Instead Joe Blanton stayed and Cliff Lee was shipped out and Roy Halladay arrived on time.
Just the question is now now how will this move pen out for the Phillies? Well I think this move was ok, I mean the Phillies gave up 4 prospect in July for Cliff Lee and now just gave up 3 prospect for Halladay in total that's 7 prospect to get a CY Young for a CY Young. Also what makes no scenes is why didn't the Phillies do this move earlier when Toronto wanted both Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek when now they just gave up both guys for Halladay? Now the big question comes in now, how good will Cole Hamels be this year? We saw in 2009 he didn't live up to the hype "Hamels" he was in the 2008 World Series. Basically this all folds on him, cause I'll tell you something if he doesn't get back to the pitcher he was 2 years ago the Phillies will wish they would have held on to Cliff Lee just for one year. But the talk is said, what would you rather have Cliff Lee stay for 1 year than walk and not get Halladay after he's gone? Or have Roy Halladay for 3 plus years and have a chance to win another World Series and fill that ace spot in the rotation? Or have both on the same team for just 1 year and have one of the most dangerous pitching staff in all of baseball? That's just something we will never find out.
Cliff Lee in 2009 had a really good season with the Phillies after coming over from the Cleveland Indians with a 3.39 ERA, 7 wins and 4 losses as a Phillie. Also Lee was 4-0 in the postseason with a 1.56 ERA. But overall Lee finished with 14 wins, 13 loses and an ERA of 3.22. As for Roy Halladay in 2009 was one if not one of his better years. Halladay finished with 17 wins, 10 losses, and an ERA of 2.79, yet Halladay has never made the playoffs in fact he doesn't know what the word playoff means nor does he know what the feeling is like pitching in the playoffs, neither did Lee but he sure looked like he knew what he was doing. Don't get me wrong Halladay is defiantly by far one of the best pitchers in our time besides Tim Linecum from the San Fransisco Giants. Also Halladay is a big time pitcher and is a very smart pitcher. He knows how get ahead in the count and put down big time hitters such as Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees. Just know this, I think the Phillies did an alright move, but could have saved all this drama if they would have just gotten Halladay to begin with where they wouldn't of have the trouble of giving up a big FAN favorite in Cliff Lee. So the table is set, Lee is a Mariners, Halladay is Phillie and the Phillies lost probably all their best prospects to the Indians and the Blue Jays for two of the best pitchers in the game. One who stayed for not even a half a year and the other who will be here for the next 3-4 years. It’s funny how so much can change in one deal. Cliff Lee you will be missed in Philadelphia. Roy Halladay welcome to the City of Brotherly Love. P.S. don't forget to have a Philly Cheese Steak! This is Beyond a big time trade, this is Beyond Baseball.
The Phillies got Halladay on a three year deal till 2011 through 2013 for $20 million a year, plus a $20 million vesting option for 2014. But some people in this city did not agree with this move at all. A lot of people wanna know why the Phillies couldn't have kept Lee and added Halladay on the team? Well here it is, the Phillies have to stick to their $140 million dollar budget that was already getting tight at the moment and could afford to keep both Lee and Halladay on the same team. Another reason is that, Cliff Lee was going to walk after the 2010 season to test the free agency market, plus Lee wanted a C.C. Sabathia deal of $160 million dollars for 3 years that was never going to happen. Another reason is that, the Phillies didn't know if Lee was going to do a contract extension if he was going to walk, where in Halladay case he was willing to do that and the Phillies raped him up for three long years. But now people are saying why couldn't we keep Lee and Hallaway on the same team for one year and see what happens? Well the reason for that is prospects, is whole deal was about prospects in witch the Phillies have a lot of as you know in the past. Since they were giving away 3 of their best prospects they needed to fill in those lost prospects. Also Cliff Lee was already going to make 9 million dollars this year, so they took Halladay and got rid of Lee. But here's something I didn't understand is why didn't the Phillies get rid of Joe Blanton who will be a free agent after the 2010 season and keep Lee? Also Blanton was only making 2-3 million dollars less than what Cliff Lee was going to make, so if they would gotten rid of Blanton that would have made some room on the Phillies payroll and could have kept Lee with Halladay for 1 year. But the Phillies had a different view on this deal, they didn't wanna have just one good year with both Lee and Halladay. They wanted to have 3 good long years with just Halladay and if they could have kept Lee that would of been just extra points for the Phils. Instead of not shooting themselves in the foot by not signing Halladay at all they did just in case this opportunity would have never came around again. Instead Joe Blanton stayed and Cliff Lee was shipped out and Roy Halladay arrived on time.
Just the question is now now how will this move pen out for the Phillies? Well I think this move was ok, I mean the Phillies gave up 4 prospect in July for Cliff Lee and now just gave up 3 prospect for Halladay in total that's 7 prospect to get a CY Young for a CY Young. Also what makes no scenes is why didn't the Phillies do this move earlier when Toronto wanted both Michael Taylor and Kyle Drabek when now they just gave up both guys for Halladay? Now the big question comes in now, how good will Cole Hamels be this year? We saw in 2009 he didn't live up to the hype "Hamels" he was in the 2008 World Series. Basically this all folds on him, cause I'll tell you something if he doesn't get back to the pitcher he was 2 years ago the Phillies will wish they would have held on to Cliff Lee just for one year. But the talk is said, what would you rather have Cliff Lee stay for 1 year than walk and not get Halladay after he's gone? Or have Roy Halladay for 3 plus years and have a chance to win another World Series and fill that ace spot in the rotation? Or have both on the same team for just 1 year and have one of the most dangerous pitching staff in all of baseball? That's just something we will never find out.
Cliff Lee in 2009 had a really good season with the Phillies after coming over from the Cleveland Indians with a 3.39 ERA, 7 wins and 4 losses as a Phillie. Also Lee was 4-0 in the postseason with a 1.56 ERA. But overall Lee finished with 14 wins, 13 loses and an ERA of 3.22. As for Roy Halladay in 2009 was one if not one of his better years. Halladay finished with 17 wins, 10 losses, and an ERA of 2.79, yet Halladay has never made the playoffs in fact he doesn't know what the word playoff means nor does he know what the feeling is like pitching in the playoffs, neither did Lee but he sure looked like he knew what he was doing. Don't get me wrong Halladay is defiantly by far one of the best pitchers in our time besides Tim Linecum from the San Fransisco Giants. Also Halladay is a big time pitcher and is a very smart pitcher. He knows how get ahead in the count and put down big time hitters such as Alex Rodriguez from the New York Yankees. Just know this, I think the Phillies did an alright move, but could have saved all this drama if they would have just gotten Halladay to begin with where they wouldn't of have the trouble of giving up a big FAN favorite in Cliff Lee. So the table is set, Lee is a Mariners, Halladay is Phillie and the Phillies lost probably all their best prospects to the Indians and the Blue Jays for two of the best pitchers in the game. One who stayed for not even a half a year and the other who will be here for the next 3-4 years. It’s funny how so much can change in one deal. Cliff Lee you will be missed in Philadelphia. Roy Halladay welcome to the City of Brotherly Love. P.S. don't forget to have a Philly Cheese Steak! This is Beyond a big time trade, this is Beyond Baseball.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Philadelphia Phillie Outstanding star in 2009 - Cliff Lee
We all remember how the Phillies won the World Series in 2008 and it had to do with the pitching staff and outstanding young left hander Cole Hamels. So this year how would the Phillies be able to maybe win BACK TO BACK titles in Philly. Well pitching was a big key for the Phillies this year and in the beginning of the year the pitching wasn't there at all.
For Cliff Lee the 2009 season was one to remember. He would start opening day and his 4 1/2 months with the team he has been with since 2002 the Cleveland Indians. Cliff Lee in 2008 won his first ever CY Young award with 22 win and 3 loses and American League best ERA with a 2.54. If you were to ask Cleveland fans, who was this guy 2 years before they would have probably said "Cliff Lee"? "That guy's a bum" Lee who 2006 had an ERA of 4.40, 14 wins and 11 loses and was still looking for that magic in his arm, but in 2007 things only got worse for the left hander. Lee would suffer a groin strain during spring training and would be put on the DL for the beginning of the season. On July 26, 2007 Lee would give up 7 runs in 4 innings and would be booed off the field. The next day Lee was sent down to triple-A ball where he would play most of the season there. September 1, 2007 he was called back up but only pitched in 4 games, the Indians won the Central Division Championship and would head for the playoff but without Cliff Lee as he would yet be on the DL. For those who don't remember the postseason in 2007 the Indians got past the Yankees in the ALDS but would fall into a hole against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS with a 3-1 game lead and blew it. Maybe if they had the extra healthy pitcher in Cliff Lee, who knows what would have happened in 2007.
In 2009 Cliff Lee clearly won the ace spot with the Indians with the big dog C.C. Sabathia now with the New York Yankees, Lee would start off with a losing record 4 wins and 6 loses, but a really good ERA of 2.88. But on July, 29, 2009 just two days before the trade dead-line, Lee and teammate Ben Francisco were traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball writers and fans never saw this coming because the Phillies were talking to Roy Halladay for the longest time. This move came out of nowhere. Cliff Lee would leave the town and team that he had been with for his whole life with an EAR of 3.14 and losing record with 7 wins and 9 loses in 2009 with the Indians. Phillies fans had their ups and downs about this move. Some said "well Lee is a guy who can definitely help the Phillies repeat as World Champs". Other said "I still think we should have gotten Halladay". Lee would make his first Phillies day-few on July 31, 2009 against the San Francisco Giants. He would win his first game as a Phillie by having a complete game win by a score of 5-1 with 6 strikeouts. Lee would than win his next 4 games in row and his ERA was 0.68. Cliff Lee would finish the season with 7 win, 4 loses and a ERA of 3.39 as a Philadelphia Phillie. But overall with both Cleveland and Philadelphia he had an ERA of 3.22, 14 wins, 13 loses.
The Philadelphia Phillies would win their third straight National League East Division title from the help of Cliff Lee. It seemed like he gave this team the extra push they needed. On October 7th Cliff Lee would make his first ever postseason start as the ace of the staff against the Colorado Rockies and would win his first ever playoff game by a score of 5-1, and Lee would indeed finish the game off with a complete and 5 strikeouts. His next big start came on October 18th in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and boy did this game send a message to the Dodgers and Dodgers fans. Lee shutout the Dodgers 11-0 with 10 strikeouts in only 8 innings of work. Lee would now have the best an ERA in postseason 0.00. The Phillies would win the National League Championship Series for the second straight time against the Dodgers and would have a date with the 26 time World Series Champions the New York Yankees in the World Series. On October 28th, 2009, Cliff Lee was making his first ever World Series start against his former teammate and good friend C.C. Sabathia who was making his first ever World Series start as well. Two former teammate, two former CY Young award winners, two friends on two different teams going against each other to become World Series Champions and for these two guys it was all that they could have dreamed of.
Cliff Lee would do a little bit better than his friend C.C. in Game 1 game of the World Series by winning 6-1 with 10 strikeouts and having yet again another complete game in the postseason. Lee was then called on to pitch in Game 5 of the World Series with his team trailing three games to one. So on November 2nd, Lee would have to try to help keep his team alive in the World Series. Lee wouldn't despotic, he may have not pitched that well in this game like he did in Game 1 but he got the job done going 7 inning and only having 3 strikeouts and winning the game by a score of 8-6, he would now have 4 wins in the postseason. But as we know the Phillies failed to win the World Series in 2009, it was still one of those years as a pitcher that says let go out there and do this again and that's what Cliff Lee brings to the table. "The goal is winning and staying on top of my game come opening day next year" said Cliff Lee.
So that kid from Benton, Arkansas, who was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1997 and did not sign to attend the Meridian Community College, to was later drafted in 1998 by the Baltimore Orioles who still did not sign to attend the University of Arkansas, who was later drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2000 and signed, who was later traded by the Expos along with stars like Brandon Phillips, Lee Stevens, and Grady Sizemore to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew. Cliff Lee now finds himself with a team that knows how to win and has the heart to win. It’s just a question and a matter of time when will it happen again? For Cliff Lee the sky's the limit in 2010. This beyond a heart of a pitcher, this is beyond baseball.
For Cliff Lee the 2009 season was one to remember. He would start opening day and his 4 1/2 months with the team he has been with since 2002 the Cleveland Indians. Cliff Lee in 2008 won his first ever CY Young award with 22 win and 3 loses and American League best ERA with a 2.54. If you were to ask Cleveland fans, who was this guy 2 years before they would have probably said "Cliff Lee"? "That guy's a bum" Lee who 2006 had an ERA of 4.40, 14 wins and 11 loses and was still looking for that magic in his arm, but in 2007 things only got worse for the left hander. Lee would suffer a groin strain during spring training and would be put on the DL for the beginning of the season. On July 26, 2007 Lee would give up 7 runs in 4 innings and would be booed off the field. The next day Lee was sent down to triple-A ball where he would play most of the season there. September 1, 2007 he was called back up but only pitched in 4 games, the Indians won the Central Division Championship and would head for the playoff but without Cliff Lee as he would yet be on the DL. For those who don't remember the postseason in 2007 the Indians got past the Yankees in the ALDS but would fall into a hole against the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS with a 3-1 game lead and blew it. Maybe if they had the extra healthy pitcher in Cliff Lee, who knows what would have happened in 2007.
In 2009 Cliff Lee clearly won the ace spot with the Indians with the big dog C.C. Sabathia now with the New York Yankees, Lee would start off with a losing record 4 wins and 6 loses, but a really good ERA of 2.88. But on July, 29, 2009 just two days before the trade dead-line, Lee and teammate Ben Francisco were traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Baseball writers and fans never saw this coming because the Phillies were talking to Roy Halladay for the longest time. This move came out of nowhere. Cliff Lee would leave the town and team that he had been with for his whole life with an EAR of 3.14 and losing record with 7 wins and 9 loses in 2009 with the Indians. Phillies fans had their ups and downs about this move. Some said "well Lee is a guy who can definitely help the Phillies repeat as World Champs". Other said "I still think we should have gotten Halladay". Lee would make his first Phillies day-few on July 31, 2009 against the San Francisco Giants. He would win his first game as a Phillie by having a complete game win by a score of 5-1 with 6 strikeouts. Lee would than win his next 4 games in row and his ERA was 0.68. Cliff Lee would finish the season with 7 win, 4 loses and a ERA of 3.39 as a Philadelphia Phillie. But overall with both Cleveland and Philadelphia he had an ERA of 3.22, 14 wins, 13 loses.
The Philadelphia Phillies would win their third straight National League East Division title from the help of Cliff Lee. It seemed like he gave this team the extra push they needed. On October 7th Cliff Lee would make his first ever postseason start as the ace of the staff against the Colorado Rockies and would win his first ever playoff game by a score of 5-1, and Lee would indeed finish the game off with a complete and 5 strikeouts. His next big start came on October 18th in the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and boy did this game send a message to the Dodgers and Dodgers fans. Lee shutout the Dodgers 11-0 with 10 strikeouts in only 8 innings of work. Lee would now have the best an ERA in postseason 0.00. The Phillies would win the National League Championship Series for the second straight time against the Dodgers and would have a date with the 26 time World Series Champions the New York Yankees in the World Series. On October 28th, 2009, Cliff Lee was making his first ever World Series start against his former teammate and good friend C.C. Sabathia who was making his first ever World Series start as well. Two former teammate, two former CY Young award winners, two friends on two different teams going against each other to become World Series Champions and for these two guys it was all that they could have dreamed of.
Cliff Lee would do a little bit better than his friend C.C. in Game 1 game of the World Series by winning 6-1 with 10 strikeouts and having yet again another complete game in the postseason. Lee was then called on to pitch in Game 5 of the World Series with his team trailing three games to one. So on November 2nd, Lee would have to try to help keep his team alive in the World Series. Lee wouldn't despotic, he may have not pitched that well in this game like he did in Game 1 but he got the job done going 7 inning and only having 3 strikeouts and winning the game by a score of 8-6, he would now have 4 wins in the postseason. But as we know the Phillies failed to win the World Series in 2009, it was still one of those years as a pitcher that says let go out there and do this again and that's what Cliff Lee brings to the table. "The goal is winning and staying on top of my game come opening day next year" said Cliff Lee.
So that kid from Benton, Arkansas, who was drafted by the Florida Marlins in 1997 and did not sign to attend the Meridian Community College, to was later drafted in 1998 by the Baltimore Orioles who still did not sign to attend the University of Arkansas, who was later drafted by the Montreal Expos in 2000 and signed, who was later traded by the Expos along with stars like Brandon Phillips, Lee Stevens, and Grady Sizemore to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew. Cliff Lee now finds himself with a team that knows how to win and has the heart to win. It’s just a question and a matter of time when will it happen again? For Cliff Lee the sky's the limit in 2010. This beyond a heart of a pitcher, this is beyond baseball.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Joe Who?....Joe Mauer? AL MVP?
Who would take home the 2009 American League MVP Award? Would it be Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees, Miguel Cabrera from the Detroit Tigers, Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins, Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees? Which one of these fine players would take home this award? It was going to be very interesting to see who would win this award because all these players had such a good year and this pick came down to the wire!
Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins would walk away with his first "EVER" American League MVP Award. In 2009 Mauer already won a gold glove award and a silver slugger award. Also Mauer would have himself his second straight batting title and his third in four years as a catcher. But this pick wasn't going to come easy going against a great player who has really came into his own Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers, a first time World Series winner Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees, and a five time World Series winner Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees as well. Joe Mauer in 2009 had probably one of his best seasons in his young career with a batting AVG of .365, 96 RBI's, 28 HR, and .444 OBP. That is just amazing that a catcher can be that good of a hitter. Being a catcher is probably one the hardest jobs to contribute in baseball. To take shots behind the plate, be on your knees for the most part, catch a 90-95 mph fast ball, and then bat third in the line-up and get on base and run the bases, is just called a "GREAT" all around player that works hard every day! Although it was very hard to choice who would win this award with two great first baseman in Cabrera and Teixeira and the greatest short stops in our time Derek Jeter. Cabrera for the Tigers in 2009 had a really great year with a AVG of .324, 103 RBI's, 34 HR, and .396 OBP. Teixeira who came over from the Braves after being traded away from the Angels in 2008, had a fine season for the Yankees winning his first World Series in 2009 with a batting AVG of .292, 122 RBI's, 39 HR, and .383 OPB. Then there's Jeter who is the best in the game at everything he does and put up another strong output in 2009 batting .334, 66 RBI's, 18 HR, and .406 OBP.
Joe Mauer would become the eighth catcher in history to win the American League MVP Award and the fifth player in Twins history to win the award as well. The last Twin to win the award was teammate Justin Morneau back in 2006, Rod Carew in 1977, Harmon Killebrew in 1969, Zoilo Versalles in 1965, and Now Joe Mauer joins them in Twins history. I think if you have to ask who is the best catcher in AL you would have to say Joe Mauer without a doubt. Here's a 26 year old guy who just loves to play the game and has fun enjoying every moment of it. If you were to ask who was the best catcher before Mauer you would probably say Ivan Rodriguez who played for the Texas Rangers in the late 90's or Jorge Posada who still plays for the New York Yankees who's better years are behind him winning five World Series titles. But before that you would have to go all the way back to the late 70's to find a great catcher in the American League and that was Thurman Munson who played for the New York Yankees. I think Joe Mauer has filled that spot of being the best catcher in our time as we speak and will be for the next four to five year if he stays healthy. The Twins won their division this year by one game, but didn't make it too far in the postseason after hitting a wall against the New York Yankees, the Twins will definitely be back next year to try to go back to the postseason and see if they can win their first World Series since 1991. As for Mauer he's going to do what he does best and try to become the first catcher since Yogi Berra from the Yankees to win back to back MVP Awards in 1954 and in 1955, to do just that and try to win a World Series title. This is Beyond a great catcher, this is Beyond Baseball.
Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins would walk away with his first "EVER" American League MVP Award. In 2009 Mauer already won a gold glove award and a silver slugger award. Also Mauer would have himself his second straight batting title and his third in four years as a catcher. But this pick wasn't going to come easy going against a great player who has really came into his own Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers, a first time World Series winner Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees, and a five time World Series winner Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees as well. Joe Mauer in 2009 had probably one of his best seasons in his young career with a batting AVG of .365, 96 RBI's, 28 HR, and .444 OBP. That is just amazing that a catcher can be that good of a hitter. Being a catcher is probably one the hardest jobs to contribute in baseball. To take shots behind the plate, be on your knees for the most part, catch a 90-95 mph fast ball, and then bat third in the line-up and get on base and run the bases, is just called a "GREAT" all around player that works hard every day! Although it was very hard to choice who would win this award with two great first baseman in Cabrera and Teixeira and the greatest short stops in our time Derek Jeter. Cabrera for the Tigers in 2009 had a really great year with a AVG of .324, 103 RBI's, 34 HR, and .396 OBP. Teixeira who came over from the Braves after being traded away from the Angels in 2008, had a fine season for the Yankees winning his first World Series in 2009 with a batting AVG of .292, 122 RBI's, 39 HR, and .383 OPB. Then there's Jeter who is the best in the game at everything he does and put up another strong output in 2009 batting .334, 66 RBI's, 18 HR, and .406 OBP.
Joe Mauer would become the eighth catcher in history to win the American League MVP Award and the fifth player in Twins history to win the award as well. The last Twin to win the award was teammate Justin Morneau back in 2006, Rod Carew in 1977, Harmon Killebrew in 1969, Zoilo Versalles in 1965, and Now Joe Mauer joins them in Twins history. I think if you have to ask who is the best catcher in AL you would have to say Joe Mauer without a doubt. Here's a 26 year old guy who just loves to play the game and has fun enjoying every moment of it. If you were to ask who was the best catcher before Mauer you would probably say Ivan Rodriguez who played for the Texas Rangers in the late 90's or Jorge Posada who still plays for the New York Yankees who's better years are behind him winning five World Series titles. But before that you would have to go all the way back to the late 70's to find a great catcher in the American League and that was Thurman Munson who played for the New York Yankees. I think Joe Mauer has filled that spot of being the best catcher in our time as we speak and will be for the next four to five year if he stays healthy. The Twins won their division this year by one game, but didn't make it too far in the postseason after hitting a wall against the New York Yankees, the Twins will definitely be back next year to try to go back to the postseason and see if they can win their first World Series since 1991. As for Mauer he's going to do what he does best and try to become the first catcher since Yogi Berra from the Yankees to win back to back MVP Awards in 1954 and in 1955, to do just that and try to win a World Series title. This is Beyond a great catcher, this is Beyond Baseball.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Halladay Will Become a Free Agent in 2010.
Roy Halladay will not stay a Blue Jay in 2010 come trade deadline next year. There have been two teams who have been interest in Halladay and that are the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox, Dodgers, and Phillies have also been mentioned in degrees of interest as well, simply because Hallaway will cost too much money, or teams will have to give up players if a deal comes down to a trade. We saw what happened last year with the Phillies. The Phillies weren't going to give up their top prospects to get Halladay. As we know the Phillies got Cilff Lee and Ben Francisco from the Cleveland Indians and that deal worked out pretty well for the Phillies.
Halladay is the guy you might want on your team in 2010 cause he's hungry to win a World Series and wants to play for a winning team. The Yankees could use him as their number two starter and move A.J. Burnett as their number three guy .The Yankees goal is to win BACK TO BACK World Series titles and Halladay can help them do just that. The Dodgers, well they could defiantly use him in 2010 only because we saw for the past two years the Dodgers could not get past the Phillies in the NLCS and maybe if Halladay came to the Dodgers he could get them past the NLCS and get them to a World Series and possibly win it for them. For the Phillies, well they have been talking to Halladay since the trade deadline last year but came up emptily, but if the Phillies were to get him next year I think they will have another shot of getting back to the World Series for a third straight year and winning it again for second time in three years. If the Phillies added Halladay in the mix with Lee, Hamels, Happ, and Blanton, I think the Phillies would have the best pitching rotation in baseball. As for the Red Sox, well there in need of pitching only because last year we saw them have the biggest lead in the AL East before the All-Star break and then after the break their pitching staff just broke down. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester were the Sox's best pitchers in 2009 and they didn't make it too far in the postseason last year and if they’re going to look for the spark plug to help them get back to the World Series and win another one than Halladay is your guy. Whoever Halladay goes to in 2010 he's going to cost a lot but it will defiantly pay off in the end he will do the best he can to get a team to a World Series and win one for his new ball club in 2010.
Halladay is the guy you might want on your team in 2010 cause he's hungry to win a World Series and wants to play for a winning team. The Yankees could use him as their number two starter and move A.J. Burnett as their number three guy .The Yankees goal is to win BACK TO BACK World Series titles and Halladay can help them do just that. The Dodgers, well they could defiantly use him in 2010 only because we saw for the past two years the Dodgers could not get past the Phillies in the NLCS and maybe if Halladay came to the Dodgers he could get them past the NLCS and get them to a World Series and possibly win it for them. For the Phillies, well they have been talking to Halladay since the trade deadline last year but came up emptily, but if the Phillies were to get him next year I think they will have another shot of getting back to the World Series for a third straight year and winning it again for second time in three years. If the Phillies added Halladay in the mix with Lee, Hamels, Happ, and Blanton, I think the Phillies would have the best pitching rotation in baseball. As for the Red Sox, well there in need of pitching only because last year we saw them have the biggest lead in the AL East before the All-Star break and then after the break their pitching staff just broke down. Josh Beckett and Jon Lester were the Sox's best pitchers in 2009 and they didn't make it too far in the postseason last year and if they’re going to look for the spark plug to help them get back to the World Series and win another one than Halladay is your guy. Whoever Halladay goes to in 2010 he's going to cost a lot but it will defiantly pay off in the end he will do the best he can to get a team to a World Series and win one for his new ball club in 2010.
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