The Good Phight: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Phillies trade for OF Matt Stairs Bar-right-arrows



Help make '07 the year

Ok, so the teams pretty much ready to go in the way that not many changes are expected to be made before the season starts from now. Maybe we'll aquire a bullpen arm for Rowand and get outfield help for Leiber, but the rotations set, as are 7 out of 8 lineup positions and the closers role and likely set-up gig. And it looks good, no wait, GREAT.

Admit it, your'e excited that we've got the divisions strongest rotation and the reigning M.V.P. We've got an all-star closer, a sub-3 era set-up man, not to mention Utley, Rollins and Burrell to help mash whilst Howard gets the Bonds treatment. Now for once, can we please get behind the team for 162 games ? Not the opening week until we jump to the conclusion that we stink, or the last month when we make a late post-season push. I live in England, and I'd quite literally kill to see all 81 home games in person. And it's painful seeing all those empty seats when times are tough. Back the team, let them know the city cares, and that the city knows they're gonna make the playoffs THIS YEAR.

Imagine how much better Burrell could hit if the fans got of his back for once ? Boo the pitcher who struck him out for being an ass hole, not the other way round. If super Cole Hamels is struggling, cheer him on, let him know he's the boss who's gonna win the Cy Young within the next 3 years. I'm not having a crack at Philly fans at all, but look how much of a difference it makes to a team when the fans show up. Remeber the empty seats at Reds games when they were first last year ? You can't measure it, but it was obvious that it affected the team and basically made them think 'Hey, if the fans don't even believe in us, maybe it is too good to be true'. The Reds sucked the rest of the year.

We've got the talent, we've got the mental edge heading into the year (everyone knows the Mets have been looking over their shoulder all winter), now if we all give the team 100% backing,  anything can happen...

Poll
Simple: Where do the Phillies finish this year ?
  • Second
  • Third
  • Fourth
  • Fifth (God help us)
  • First

  20 votes | Results

0 recs | Comment 7 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Display:

"sub-3 era set-up man"
who are you talking about? geary? i think that's a lot to assume, more than the other items you listed, especially since last year, his performance wasn't out of the 8th inning exclusively. i don't want to get into the debate about whether he was lucky last year or not. my point is, i see us with a glaring need at the back-end of the pen, which isn't exactly a revelation, i know.

is now an ill-time spot to say i'm impatiently excited for the start of spring training.

by gr on Feb 7, 2007 2:13 PM EST   0 recs

geary factoids
it was probably standard relief pitcher flukishness, but i was surprised to notice yesterday that geary had a better 2006 vorp than billy wagner.

his bb/ip and hr/ip were noticably better than his career numbers, and the former could well be sustainable.  also, his babip was actually above his career numbers, so a regression in hr easily could be compensated by an improvement in hits-allowed luck.

he's very unlikely to match 2006 ever again, but he looks like a good bet to be solid in the late innings.

by phorever on Feb 8, 2007 2:42 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: geary factoids
don't get me wrong, i like geoff geary - as say the 7th inning guy and workhorse. anecdotally, he seemed to be throwing 1-3 mph harder last year than i remember before (hitting 94 & 95 a few times when i was at games), and as you mention, his control was much better.

but he gave up a lot of baserunners, many on hits, and his ERA seems a bit low at 2.96 for someone hitters hit .287 against. lefties hit .348 against him. that's all i saying. occasionally he gets mentioned as a possible 8th inning guy, but not only do i not think he's suuitable for that role, i see little bit of regression next year, or i see the possibility, something like what happened to Madson in '05. and that would be bad news for the bullpen. i sense its a bit of a foregone conclusion that he'll be the most solid guy and again and i'm nervous abotu how true that is.

by gr on Feb 9, 2007 9:36 AM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Help make '07 the year
Seems the general consencius is that if Geary succeds, or if they bring in a proven 'pen arm, then the season will pan out great...

by fredex1 on Feb 9, 2007 12:48 PM EST   0 recs

Re: Help make '07 the year
if they get madson 04 and geary 06, they are in more than capable shape.

by gr on Feb 9, 2007 3:18 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Re: Help make '07 the year
I don't agree with that at all.  I don't think Geary's success or a proven arm in the bullpen will determine whether the season turns out great or not.  The rotation's success and health, along with the outfield, third base, and catcher position production are going to be much much more important.

by David S. Cohen on Feb 9, 2007 4:35 PM EST to parent up   0 recs

Contradictory!
"I'd quite literally kill to see all 81 home games in person. And it's painful seeing all those empty seats when times are tough."
You wouldn't have to kill to see them all in person.  You could stroll along 5 minutes before gametime and get prime seats! If only you returned to Philly...

by Alon on Feb 11, 2007 7:33 PM EST   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Analysis and features focusing on Philadelphia Phillies baseball.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Untitled_small
The Phillies as a STOCK...
Pat-burrell2_small
The Crazy Descision to Play Ryan Howard Against Lefties
Small
Best Phillies Attendance Year Ever?
Colevatar_small
"WE GON' HIT" accompanying fanpost
Small
The Second Meyers
Meltingface_small
Phils talking with C David Ross
Meltingface_small
Seanez back; Feliz on the way
Small
Campaign Cheer
Img_5482__crop_2__small
Chad Durbin's latest blog...
Small
Jimmy calls fans frontrunners

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini

Next Game

Philadelphia Phillies
@ Chicago Cubs

Saturday, Aug 30, 2008, 3:55 PM EDT
Wrigley Field

Brett Myers vs Ted Lilly

Sunny. Winds blowing out to center field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

Complete Coverage >


Site Meter