Charlie Manuel Watch Thread - 2010 Edition

[GannonFan]

Phils now 3-0 with at least 10 hits in each game since they changed hitting coaches - maybe it was all Milt Thompson's fault!!!

But seriously, maybe guys waked up and realized they had just cost somebody a paycheck due to their inability to hit the ball over the past few months? Sure has been nice seeing the Phillies of old over the past 3 days. Would be even nicer if they stayed around for the rest of the year.

Like I said before, the schedule up until late August is very good for the Phils. It sets up perfectly for a team to start stringing together a bunch of W's. Nice to have Happ back and we're just now seeing what the rotation was going to be at the start of the year (well, assuming Kendrick had beaten out Moyer, but it was always a coin flip between those two guys).

I don't see the Phils making a big trade. I see them keeping Werth and just playing the hand they have. Oswalt would look good on paper but I'm not sure he's up for a tough pennant chase in this town and his salary would cause problems down the road. As much as we would like the Phils to spend like the Yankees, this team isn't going to spend much more than $150M a year so the reality is the Phils are going to need to find talent from within. With that said, and with all the OF spots occupied, I'm fine with leaving Brown down until September. He's only 22, and this is his first full year at AA or higher. I'd rather him keep getting AB's down in Lehigh than being a situational player up here and seeing lots of bench time. He'll be a starter here next year so he'll get here soon enough. If they've waited this long now it would be foolish to bring him up and lose a year of control down the road. Ibanez is playing better and he's streaky enough that we should see decent production from him for the next few weeks.

Hopefully we can complete the sweep this afternoon and welcome a very beatable Diamondback team for the next three (a series where we pitch Hamels and Halladay).

[93henfan]

Phils now 3-0 with at least 10 hits in each game since they changed hitting coaches - maybe it was all Milt Thompson's fault!!!

But seriously, maybe guys waked up and realized they had just cost somebody a paycheck due to their inability to hit the ball over the past few months? Sure has been nice seeing the Phillies of old over the past 3 days. Would be even nicer if they stayed around for the rest of the year.

Like I said before, the schedule up until late August is very good for the Phils. It sets up perfectly for a team to start stringing together a bunch of W's. Nice to have Happ back and we're just now seeing what the rotation was going to be at the start of the year (well, assuming Kendrick had beaten out Moyer, but it was always a coin flip between those two guys).

I don't see the Phils making a big trade. I see them keeping Werth and just playing the hand they have. Oswalt would look good on paper but I'm not sure he's up for a tough pennant chase in this town and his salary would cause problems down the road. As much as we would like the Phils to spend like the Yankees, this team isn't going to spend much more than $150M a year so the reality is the Phils are going to need to find talent from within. With that said, and with all the OF spots occupied, I'm fine with leaving Brown down until September. He's only 22, and this is his first full year at AA or higher. I'd rather him keep getting AB's down in Lehigh than being a situational player up here and seeing lots of bench time. He'll be a starter here next year so he'll get here soon enough. If they've waited this long now it would be foolish to bring him up and lose a year of control down the road. Ibanez is playing better and he's streaky enough that we should see decent production from him for the next few weeks.

Hopefully we can complete the sweep this afternoon and welcome a very beatable Diamondback team for the next three (a series where we pitch Hamels and Halladay).

I agree with most points in the post.

I will add that I'd do a Werth+Happ for Oswalt deal if we could get a third team to take Werth (Tampa?) and send prospects to Houston. I heard that one being bandied about yesterday. We just can't afford to give up more prospects after the past season's worth of depletion.

Of course, if Werth keeps trending the way he has the past few games, maybe keeping him ain't so bad.

[GannonFan]

Phils now 3-0 with at least 10 hits in each game since they changed hitting coaches - maybe it was all Milt Thompson's fault!!!

But seriously, maybe guys waked up and realized they had just cost somebody a paycheck due to their inability to hit the ball over the past few months? Sure has been nice seeing the Phillies of old over the past 3 days. Would be even nicer if they stayed around for the rest of the year.

Like I said before, the schedule up until late August is very good for the Phils. It sets up perfectly for a team to start stringing together a bunch of W's. Nice to have Happ back and we're just now seeing what the rotation was going to be at the start of the year (well, assuming Kendrick had beaten out Moyer, but it was always a coin flip between those two guys).

I don't see the Phils making a big trade. I see them keeping Werth and just playing the hand they have. Oswalt would look good on paper but I'm not sure he's up for a tough pennant chase in this town and his salary would cause problems down the road. As much as we would like the Phils to spend like the Yankees, this team isn't going to spend much more than $150M a year so the reality is the Phils are going to need to find talent from within. With that said, and with all the OF spots occupied, I'm fine with leaving Brown down until September. He's only 22, and this is his first full year at AA or higher. I'd rather him keep getting AB's down in Lehigh than being a situational player up here and seeing lots of bench time. He'll be a starter here next year so he'll get here soon enough. If they've waited this long now it would be foolish to bring him up and lose a year of control down the road. Ibanez is playing better and he's streaky enough that we should see decent production from him for the next few weeks.

Hopefully we can complete the sweep this afternoon and welcome a very beatable Diamondback team for the next three (a series where we pitch Hamels and Halladay).

I agree with most points in the post.

I will add that I'd do a Werth+Happ for Oswalt deal if we could get a third team to take Werth (Tampa?) and send prospects to Houston. I heard that one being bandied about yesterday. We just can't afford to give up more prospects after the past season's worth of depletion.

Of course, if Werth keeps trending the way he has the past few games, maybe keeping him ain't so bad.

While just on the face of it I'd love to have Oswalt as well, the problem is that even the $16M he's making is going to be too rich for the Phils. The Phils in 2011 already have $134M in contracts lined up, so adding Oswalt would move that to $150M. So that assumes that Kendrick remains as the 5th starter (although he's eligible for arbitration for the first time next year, so he'll make a little more than the $500k he's making this year), and then you still need to replace Contreras and Durbin in the bullpen (they're about $3M total right now) who are FA's next year.

Seeing how Werth is improving right now, I like sticking with our current hand and playing it out. If we do make the playoffs having Halladay and Hamels pitching in the postseason would be one more stud pitcher than we had going last year. If Werth walks at the end of the year so be it - Brown will come up.

[bluehenbillk]

I'd still move Werth if the Rays are seriously talking about putting BJ Upton in the trade.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Just a reminder -

First pitch is at 1:05 today...

I love afternoon games, they create a great distraction from this work stuff.

[GannonFan]

I'd still move Werth if the Rays are seriously talking about putting BJ Upton in the trade.

That could be enticing enough, although Upton's in the midst of a two year slump. Hard to see Tampa really trading him though, unless they're going all in for this year. Considering they're bound to lose Crawford after this year (and would likely lose Werth as well), they'd have to replace two outfielders for next year. Granted, they'd get plenty of compensation picks, but Upton's cheap and his contract keeps him from being a free agent until 2013. But if I'm the Phils I take that if Tampa's willing.

[bluehenbillk]

Take it for what it's "Werth", but Jayson is not in the starting lineup today.

[93henfan]

Ha! Way to go Giambi.

His two errors in the bottom of the second help the Phils rally from 2-0 to take a 3-2 lead. The Rocks centerfielder had a beautiful slide tackle on their left fielder also. Boy are the Rocks playing sloppy.

[GannonFan]

Take it for what it's "Werth", but Jayson is not in the starting lineup today.

Eh, Hammel was pitching today for the Rocks and he's a righty. Couple that with the afternoon game and that the Phils aren't off until next Monday and I just read that as getting Werth a day of rest. Phils haven't had a day off since the All Star Break and like I said, it's another week until they get one.

Phils up 5-2 heading into the top of the 7th as we speak. Good RBIs by Polanco and Ibanez in the last inning. Blanton ends the day going 5 scoreless innings after giving up 2 in the first - I'll take that.

Oh, and Werth is in now in place of Gload so he only gets so much rest today.

[BlueHen86]

I agree with most points in the post.

I will add that I'd do a Werth+Happ for Oswalt deal if we could get a third team to take Werth (Tampa?) and send prospects to Houston. I heard that one being bandied about yesterday. We just can't afford to give up more prospects after the past season's worth of depletion.

Of course, if Werth keeps trending the way he has the past few games, maybe keeping him ain't so bad.

While just on the face of it I'd love to have Oswalt as well, the problem is that even the $16M he's making is going to be too rich for the Phils. The Phils in 2011 already have $134M in contracts lined up, so adding Oswalt would move that to $150M. So that assumes that Kendrick remains as the 5th starter (although he's eligible for arbitration for the first time next year, so he'll make a little more than the $500k he's making this year), and then you still need to replace Contreras and Durbin in the bullpen (they're about $3M total right now) who are FA's next year.

Seeing how Werth is improving right now, I like sticking with our current hand and playing it out. If we do make the playoffs having Halladay and Hamels pitching in the postseason would be one more stud pitcher than we had going last year. If Werth walks at the end of the year so be it - Brown will come up.

I realize that Oswalt is the more accomplished pitcher, but Happ has pitched well with the Phils. While I would take the trade heads up, I wouldn't want to put more into the deal; I don't think it's that much of an upgrade.

[BlueHen86]

I'd still move Werth if the Rays are seriously talking about putting BJ Upton in the trade.

That could be enticing enough, although Upton's in the midst of a two year slump. Hard to see Tampa really trading him though, unless they're going all in for this year. Considering they're bound to lose Crawford after this year (and would likely lose Werth as well), they'd have to replace two outfielders for next year. Granted, they'd get plenty of compensation picks, but Upton's cheap and his contract keeps him from being a free agent until 2013. But if I'm the Phils I take that if Tampa's willing.

[93henfan]

Phils' current home winning streak (7) is the longest since 1991 (per Graham and Wheeler).

[93henfan]

Regardless of what happens in the next five minutes, for the record I hate fucking Brad Lidge.

[BlueHen86]

Phils' current home winning streak (7) is the longest since 1991 (per Graham and Wheeler).

That is amazing. It is therefore the longest streak in the short history of CBP.

[93henfan]

Charlie, get this piece of shit off the mound. NOW.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Lidge is determined to make this interesting.

[BlueHen86]

Phils enter the top of the 9th with a 5-2 lead. Lidge is trying his best to blow it. He allows a 2 run homer with 2 outs to make it 5-4. He has since issued a walk and allowed a hit, so the Rockies have 2 on with 2 out.

Make that bases loaded.

[93henfan]

OH, FUCK ME. Send this fucker to Lakewood, like yesterday.

[GannonFan]

Didn't Lidge through a heckuva lot of pitches yesterday? With the short time in between games, why is he out there again?

[93henfan]

Bout fucking time.

[BlueHen86]

Didn't Lidge through a heckuva lot of pitches yesterday? With the short time in between games, why is he out there again?

He threw over 30 yesterday and then again today.

[GannonFan]

Phils win.

[BlueHen86]

Bout fucking time.

Charlies 500th win as Phillie manager.

[GannonFan]

Didn't Lidge through a heckuva lot of pitches yesterday? With the short time in between games, why is he out there again?

He threw over 30 yesterday and then again today.

Yup - so now you figure he's out for at least the next two games once you factor in the number of pitches he threw warming up both days. No sense for him to be out there today and they luckily get through it.

[bluehenbillk]

Well on the bright side we get 2 home sweeps despite Lidge's theatrics & we're 4.5 behind the Braves for the division.