Pitchers and Catchers

by WholeCamels on Feb 14, 2009 8:11 AM EST

At the risk of being a maudlin grandmother, today is my favorite day of the year (no, not Valentine's Day you silly geese!): Pitchers and Catchers report. And it's fairly novel for those of us in Philadelphia to have enjoyed such a short offseason. (Because the Phillies won the by God World Series last year. Just keep saying it to yourself. It never gets old).

Here's a quick li'l roundup of some stories outta Clearwater:

Brett Myers and Ryan Howard have lost a first grader between the two of them. I feel like every spring there are stories about Myers dropping lots of weight over the winter, only to see him pack it all back on as the season progresses. Myers will be a free agent after this season, and I'm fairly comfortable with the idea of his departure.

Adam Eaton, with the faintest glimmer of shame and self-awareness, is seeking his release.

John Gonzalez sends another truckload of craptalk up the Turnpike toward Flushing.

Harry Kalas on the shelf for most of Spring Training due to a medical procedure. Get well, Harry.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Hey Whole

A little perplexed about your Myers comment where you say you’d be comfortable with his departure. Just wonedering if you’d elaborate? Thanks.

by Steve-O- on Feb 14, 2009 9:58 AM EST reply actions

myers

A lot of it involves character issues (I’ve had a hard time rooting for him since the whole Boston thing), I kind of think he’s a putz. He’s good but not an irreplaceable talent. If he comes back I won’t be annoyed but I won’t be crushed if he leaves, either.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Feb 14, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Gonzalez

Anybody getting tired of this guy’s reporting? I find that all he does is spout useless crap. His recent column on elton Brand is a prime example—bashing the guy for trying to play with a dislocated shoulder. I find him more of a gossip columnist than a sports reporter.

In any event, should be an interesting year. Perhaps this is the Philadelphia in me, but I still hold doubts about this pitching staff. I know how well the performed in the postseason last year, but I wonder if they can repeat at that level. Of course, Hamels is a stud but I have questions about Myers, Blanton and Miyer. It is a solid group, don’t get me wrong, but Myers is always a question mark, Blanton is inconsistent and at some point age HAS to catch up with Moyer.

They could be fine, but for me, the pitching staff remains the biggest question mark.

Chris Iafolla http://heardinthecheapseats.com/

by Chris Iafolla on Feb 14, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

health

Like most Champions, the Phillies got pretty damn lucky health-wise, particularly with the pitching staff. I think it’s eminently reasonable to be concerned about a pitching staff that outperformed pretty much all expectations, but I also don’t think it’s far-fetched to expect some key offensive performers to improve. Will it be a wash? Let’s play 162!

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Feb 14, 2009 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

The pitching

Let’s look at the pitching:

Hamels — It really looks like this guy is an ace. That’s a fairly rare thing in MLB. Yet, he pitched in a lot of bad luck last season — he was only 14-10. He could pitch a little worse in ’09 but the Phils might win more of his starts. Big concern is the number of innings he pitched last season. I am not a slavish devotee of PAP or the Verducci Effect or the rule of 1500 but it is still something to be concerned about.

Myers — He was awful for the first part of the year. He didn’t go on the DL but he missed a lot of time while getting starightened out in the minors. He was 10-13. I really expect him to have a good year. He should have that whole closer crap well behind him by now. I think he is a bonehead though. He has the ability to be an ace but his head ain’t quite right.

Blanton — I like his chances for being good in ‘09. He hides the ball well and he moves it around pretty well. He doesn’t walk guys and he keeps the ball in the park when he’s right. His arm wasn’t quite right for much of last season but he seemed to not have that problem by the end of the seaon. He’s the kind of pitcher that can win a lot of games for a team like the Phils. He doesn’t strike very many guys out and that’s not a good thing. If he doesn’t have command and control, he’ll get lit up.

Moyer — his career has been declared over for decades now. Yet he still keeps going and he had a fabulous season last year. Still, he’s nearly as old as I am and guys in their latter 40s can certainly have it all end very suddenly in pro sports.

5th starter — I’m rooting for Happ. He strikes guys out and that is a good thing. He’s been mostly good in the minors and he’s already had good success in a very short big league career so far. Regardless of who wins this job, it’s almost certain the guy will be better than Eaton.

The Phils starters are certainly capable of meeting or even exceeding last years’ performance. They had lots of problems in their rotation lasst season despite their overallsuccess. Eaton was awful last year and Kendrick was even worse in the second half. Myers spent half a year being bad and a few more weeks down on the farm. The Phils look like they have some depth with Happ; Park; Kendrick; Carrasco and maybe even Carpenter or someone.

Let’s play 162!!!!!

by smitty99 on Feb 14, 2009 6:50 PM EST reply actions

This Gonzalez dude is really starting to grate. I thought he was witty at times last year, but he apparently decided somewhere along the way that he wants to be the print media version of Cataldi, i.e. cynical manipulator/demagogue-in-chief. He’s the scummy little kid on the playground who’s always whispering in everyone else’s ear: “Ooh, did you hear what he said about you? Ooh, are you going to take that?”

by taco pal on Feb 16, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions