The Phillies

2 of 3 from the Mucking Fets. Now St Louis and Albert If Howard gets 25 a year Pujols is worth 35

 

Howard is a tremendous slugger but the Phillies gave him too much. He still strikes out a lot and you have to admit his power numbers are a bit skewed by that little ballpark in Philly. Pujols is worth more than anyone in the game. Cards hope he will take a discount to stay but even at cut rate, he's going to make more than AROD.

 

Halladay has been the real deal since he joined the Phillies. He is 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA. He has thrown three complete games, including two shutouts. He leads the Majors in wins, shutouts, complete games, innings (49) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.75). He is fourth in strikeouts (39).

 

Jamie Moyer makes history. Oldest player to throw complete game shutout. Thanks Atlanta

 

PERFECTION​

 

Keep first place clean for us. We'll be back in it.

 

Guess I`ll use this.

 

Chase utley out until late august is another player (ruiz, rollins, polanco
) going down for an extended time
period. 3 for 2010

 

From ESPN Insider:



Roy Oswalt has wanted a chance to play for a winner, and he mused to a friend earlier this year that he wants what Roy Halladay got in the offseason -- a chance to land with a team capable of winning the World Series. And so today or tomorrow, assuming the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros work out a tentative agreement for the right-hander, Oswalt will have a chance to accept or reject the exact opportunity that Halladay had -- to pitch for the Phillies.



In order to make this happen, and to balance out their budget numbers, the Phillies are in simultaneous talks with the Tampa Bay Rays about outfielder Jayson Werth.



But talent evaluators with other teams asked an interesting question Tuesday night, as ESPN reported the on-going talks: If the Phillies land Oswalt, are they good enough to contend for the World Series?




"They've got real holes over there, and I know they need a starting pitcher," one executive said. "But I think their lineup is as much of a problem now [as the pitching questions]. If they got two Roy Oswalts, I'm not sure it would make a difference."



Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has been pushing like crazy to trade Werth, and he has told others that he'd really like to call up Domonic Brown, who is hitting .346 in Triple-A. Would the rookie be able to jump-start the offense? It's hard to say. A lineup that already leans to the left would get even more left-handed, and Brown would probably go through the inevitable growing pains, as Jason Heyward and others have experienced this season. He is known to be an aggressive hitter -- he's got 33 walks and 66 strikeouts in 314 at-bats this season with AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley -- and that could work against him during his break-in period.



This is what the Phillies' lineup with Domonic Brown and Chase Utley (when the second baseman comes back) and without Werth would look like:



SS Jimmy Rollins: Switch-hitter
3B Placido Polanco: Right-handed
2B Chase Utley: Left-handed
1B Ryan Howard: Left-handed
CF Shane Victorino: Switch-hitter
RF Domonic Brown: Left-handed
LF Raul Ibanez: Left-handed
C Carlos Ruiz: Right-handed



But what the Oswalt/Brown/Werth movement could be about, at its heart, is an effort to start positioning the Phillies for 2011. Oswalt is under contract for 2011; Werth is going to depart as a free agent after this season; and Brown would be better in 2011 for the experience he would gain this year.



These conversations might have a greater impact on American League pennant race, if Werth lands with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays have been seeking an upgrade in the middle of their lineup. They tried Pat Burrell and Hank Blalock and others, and consistency from the 5-6-7 spots in their lineup continues to be a problem, because of the high strikeout rates and low batting averages of Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton and others.



Werth is a good defensive outfielder, he can run, he can hit with power and he draws walks. But the Rays would be getting him when he's mired in a deep, deep slump. His OPS has dropped from month to month as he heads to free agency and is under .600 for July. He has four homers in 142 at-bats in June and July (all of which came in June), and he is on his way to a season of about 160 strikeouts. It's possible that Werth would represent more of the same for the Rays in the middle of their lineup.



The talks are advanced, reports the Houston Chronicle. Amaro hinted that he's ready to deal, and that was before Jamie Moyer strained his elbow.