I’m praying for some sort of translation mistake in the whole ‘starting’ issue…so what’s next?

Look, I don’t have a problem with adding Park as long as they aren’t serious about putting him in the rotation. While LHB did kill him, as I mentioned above, his fastball was up to an average of 92.6 mph last year (from 88.4 the year before) and he induced 50.9% grounders, which should play just fine in front of our infield defense. Tom Verducci even had this to say about him back in October:

Chan Ho Park — yes, Chan Ho Park — has somehow revived his career at age 35 and is throwing as well as he did eight years ago. His fastball is regularly clocked at 96 mph. “What’s his contract situation? He’s a sleeper starter for somebody next year,” said one club pitching expert. The Dodgers signed Park last December to a one-year, $500,000 deal.

I like everything there except for the “starter” part. I’m sure the incentives in the deal are tied to innings, so let’s just hope the Phils add a starter and Happ pitches well enough in spring training to take the fifth spot in the rotation.

No you wouldn’t believe me. He hasn’t adjusted his mechanics at all since the string of arm injuries, and his mechanics are the source of all of his arm troubles. He will be on and off the DL for the rest of his career.

I hope we tricked him. I can understand the move honestly. Rube is thinkin the 5th starter will be a young guy, who has to be out park. If park loses, its his own damn fault and he goes in the bullpen. I personally think its a brilliant move. If someone gets hurt, you have more than 1 person to backfill as well.

Question is, there is now one spot left in the rotation. Do the phils sign moyer or lowe?

Do you think Amaro knows what they are?

On second thought, maybe I am being too premature in my judgment. It is only December, after all. I just don’t like where things are going.

Remains to be seen what’s really left of Fred Wilpon’s fortune. It will be interesting to see if the Mets clamp down or start to change their FA strategy. Interesting that this happens http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/sports/baseball/14wilpon.html?scp=2&sq=Fred%20Wilpon&st=cse just after the FRod signing — the Mets closer position is truly cursed. May it ever be thus.

We all have to realize that every baseball ownership interest (including our silent blueblooded cabal)has seen portfolio dips of 30-50% on average that will put tremendous pressure on cash flow—-Mets aside, the small-market teams must be swallowing very hard. Good Lord—what must the Tigers be thinking these days? Thus I don’t see any reason to instruct GMs to move quickly. I see a ST bargain rack galore. Hard enough hitting a regular season game with the family on the cheap. Take away my job and there’s no way I go—Blue Rocks and R-Phils only, and even then I’ll have to think about it.