Orangeliners » Cliff Lee

World Series Game 1: Dependab-Lee

Speener — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:12:11 +0000

One of the biggest things in sports is being dependable. Knowing your offense will always put up runs; in football, knowing your team can run; knowing your team plays defense. Being able to count on something in sports is a key to winning. Cliff Lee is exactly that, dependable. Should we be surprised that he shut the vaunted Yankees down when that’s what he’s done in every big game since he’s come to the Phillies?

Let’s also give credit to the Phillies offense – they did what they did against all of the teams prior to the Yankees. The Dodgers (twice), the Rockies, the Rays, and the Brewers – each series the Phillies won game one and in each series the Phillies offense made those teams pay. They outlasted C.C. Sabathia, got to the Yankees’ bullpen (a bullpen that seems to be more of a concern than the Phillies’ bullpen), and exposed them.

Onto Game 2. Wondering what we’ll see from Pedro. The dispassionate observers want a good series – I want the Phillies to destroy the Yankees. Let’s hope this is the beginning.

Happ to the bullpen? Are you kidding me?

Speener — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:18:26 +0000

How do you take J.A. Happ out of the rotation? He hasn’t pitched poorly all year and tonight was just lights out. Charlie Manuel said the only way he could have done better was the throw a no-hitter. Let me state this right now – J.A. Happ needs to stay in the rotation. How do you take Happ who is 8-2 out of the rotation with an ERA of 2.74 and a WHIP of 1.12 and keep in Jamie Moyer (10-8, 5.55, 1.47)?

Add to the mix that Pedro Martinez struck out 11 in 6 innings and while he gave up 3 runs, looked like a guy that could help this team now. I don’t know how you do it, but if there is a 5 man rotation, it should be Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ, and Pedro Martinez.

Another thing – I really think if the Blue Jays had said they’d take either Happ or Kyle Drabek instead of both, that deal could have been made. They must be kicking themselves.

I don’t envy Charlie Manuel, Ruben Amaro Jr., and Rich Dubee – but they better get this right.

Trade: Phillies bolster the rotation with Cliff Lee

Speener — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:26:46 +0000

Let me come out first and say this right off, I love this trade. The Phillies traded Triple-A right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Class A righty Jason Knapp, catcher Lou Marson and shortstop Jason Donald will be sent to Cleveland. Carrasco is behind J.A. Happ and Kyle Drabek, Knapp is a stud, but is 18 and 2-3 years away, Marson is behind Carlos Ruiz, and Donald behind either Chase Utley or Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies didn’t lose any crucial parts for their future. Whereas Drabek could be in the rotation next year and Dominic Brown could be in the outfield in the next year or so.

That said…

There is a little less than 48 hours left in the trade deadline an the Phillies have some major tradable pieces to go out and strengthen the bullpen. Hell, Cito Gaston even joked that the Phillies could still get Halladay – they still have the pieces to get him.

Cliff Lee is the reigning AL Cy Young winner, has been pitching really well, and is half the price of Halladay. Everyone in this city has been going crazy demanding only one player thinking that this was a guarantee of the World Series but remember this – the Brewers got C.C. Sabathia last year and the Cubs got Rich Harden and neither team made it past the first round. Roy Halladay guaranteed nothing.

Outstanding questions:

Who is the odd man out of the rotation? Pedro Martinez or Happ?
The Phillies picked up Ben Francisco, a right handed batting outfielder, so who’s out? John Mayberry Jr or Eric Bruntlett?
Are there other trades in the offing?

It’s a great time to be a Phillies fan. Not only are we buyers, but we’re buying five star properties and have minor league prospects that other teams covet. Gotta love it. Great job Rueben.

Maybe the Phils should let Roy Halladay get away

Speener — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:37:21 +0000

I’ve been rethinking the Philies possible acquisition of Roy Halladay. By all accounts, it will take a lot of good talent to get Halladay. And being one of the best pitchers available, it might be worth the risk. But as J.A. Happ continues to make a case for Rookie of the Year honors, you have to wonder if keeping Happ, and finding another, less expensive option would make more sense. In today’s Inquirer, Phillies beat reporter David Murphy discussed the options of going after Dan Haren of the Diamondbacks or Cliff Lee of the Indians. Either would be less expensive (in terms of prospects), younger, and in contract for longer. The other issue with trading J.A. Happ is that it assumes that Martinez fills the 5th spot well. If he doesn’t, then even with Halladay – we still have a problem at 5.

Of course the Phillies are not thinking of that 5th spot and the rest of the season if they trade for Halladay – they’re thinking of the playoffs and having a Cole Hamels/Roy Halladay one, two punch.

I just keep thinking about the Phillies attempting to trade Ryan Howard in 2004 to add an additional piece for that year’s playoff run. Thank god they didn’t. It’s easy to forget that prospects can become important players in the future. Don’t forget that three fourths of the Phillies infield, plus Cole Hamels, Carlos Ruiz, Shane Victorino, and Ryan Madson all came through the Phillies farm system. I’m glad I’m not Reuben Amaro Jr. This is as big a decision as you can make – and either way it may be a huge mistake.