Three Way Blockbuster Goes Down

[mobbdeep1122]

I like this trade for the Phils, but I think the Mariners won overall. Getting Lee without giving up your top prospects can only be viewed as a win.

97.5 is surprisingly anti-this move for the Phils, bemoaning that if they want to play with the big dogs they have to spend the money to keep Lee, even if it's only for a year, and go for a World Series. This city drives me crazy sometimes. Hamels has a bad season and boom, they're ready to kick him out. That's all I hear: "Can you really trust Hamels to be a solid #2 guy!?" I don't know if he will, but my guess is that he'll bounce back. And the bonus is, if you get the guy that showed up 2 years ago, you have 2 aces, for a fraction of the money.

It's amazing. For as big a market and for being a sports crazed city, the sports radio here really blows. Most of the hosts are clueless.

It would've been great to keep Lee as well but I don't think it was possible money wise. Funny that Jamie Moyer's contract could've been what kept us from keeping Lee for this season. Ouch.

 

[SethMode]

It's amazing. For as big a market and for being a sports crazed city, the sports radio here really blows. Most of the hosts are clueless.

It would've been great to keep Lee as well but I don't think it was possible money wise. Funny that Jamie Moyer's contract could've been what kept us from keeping Lee for this season. Ouch.

I agree on all points, especially the Moyer one, although at the time I know why they did it. Although I wish Jamie would have just taken a year contract. Still, with the run support that guy gets, he gets like 9 or 10 wins a year (although no way he's in the starting rotation -- hopefully).

It was definitely money. They'd be what, in 160 million territory with Lee and Halladay? When they normally budget for 140 mil? I love how everyone is calling in to Schwartz and Mays and being like "What's 20 million in a billion dollar sport?" Come on now.

 

[mobbdeep1122]

In a way I see what they're saying.

Halladay isn't much better then Lee. The only difference I see is Halladay being in Philly until 2013, possibly 2014. Lee wanted a big contract. He'll most likely get it at the end of the year and I doubt it's with Seattle.

Seattle is really shaping up to be a fun team to watch.

The Phils chances of re-signing Lee were close to zero, IMO.

He wanted to test free agency and the Yankees called the Phils about him already, so you know they'll blow everyone out of the water with their offer as soon as he hits the market.

Rather than have Lee for one season and lose him, Amaro thought ahead and got the better pitcher and signed him for the next 4 years, plus getting prospects and money back.

I don't see how anyone can't like the deal.

 

[EmpireWF]

A Toronto baseball columnist tweets that someone failed their physical.

http://twitter.com/elliottbaseball

We're hearing someone involved in the trade flunked their physical.

Could be something, most likely it's nothing.

 

[mobbdeep1122]

A Toronto baseball columnist tweets that someone failed their physical.

http://twitter.com/elliottbaseball



Could be something, most likely it's nothing.

One of the Seattle prospects fails the physical, nixing the Lee deal, keeping him on the Phillies for 2010.

/dream

Edit: Heard its Aumont.

Edit # 2: Nevermind on Aumont, read a tweet saying he passed as well.

 

[EmpireWF]

Supposedly the Phils cant afford both Doc and Lee together so keep dreaming.

 

[SethMode]

Supposedly the Phils cant afford both Doc and Lee together so keep dreaming.

It'd be interesting to see some hard numbers on that fact. It's ALL you hear here, but yet, there's nothing really to corroborate it. If they're just sticking to a budge of 140k because that's "what they do" I can see the irritation on the part of the fans. Obviously, if the team would lose money you have to do that, but until something comes out that proves to me that that would be the case, I'll be a little miffed at the ownership for not going all in for a season with both.

I understand that they're trying to bolster their farm, and I get the concept and like the trade if they absolutely will lose money keeping Lee. But if they COULD keep him, I say you go for it, because who the crap knows who will pan out and who won't. Freaking Mike Piazza was like the last guy taken in the draft wasn't he? You never know with these baseball headcases.

 

[SethMode]

Well, as per ESPN, it's done, just as speculated it would be. Honestly, I'm happy with it. Would Halladay/Lee give us a BETTER shot at a title? Yes. But this way we have a shot for the next 3+ years with arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and we made up some of our lost prospects.

I think one of the funniest Philly complaints I've heard about this is that we don't know what Halladay can do in the postseason and we're just the same team as we were before. Not because there isn't some merit to the latter (although very little I think -- lack of timely hitting killed us way more than our pitching staff did in the WS), but because I guarantee that these were the same people pissing and moaning about Amaro getting Lee when they really wanted Halladay. Now they have Halladay and people want Lee.

As a slightly unrelated note: it's AMAZING how huge the Phillies are now in this city. It's a baseball town, officially. The Eagles are on a tear and poised to make the playoffs, and the dominant story EVERYWHERE here has been baseball speculation. When was the last time that happened in Philadelphia during football season?

 

[Obst]

http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?content=20091216_170558_10008

Here is Doc's news conference in Philly if you want to listen.

 

[chazmaniandevil]

 

[leaffan]

That pisses me off.

 

[mobbdeep1122]

Just saw sportscenter they had a poll on which team has the best 1-2 pitching combination. Surprise, surprise, King Felix and Cliff Lee got the most votes.

Too bad they won't sniff the World Series in 2010 and Lee will bolt after the season to the NYY.

 

[Obst]

By June, it'll be Halladay/Happ.

But we can all pray HHH all perform well this year.

 

[Chrispy]

Lee in pinstripes is a given. God damn Sabathia, Lee, Burnett would be fucking overkill. May as well crown them now.

:jizz:

 

[chazmaniandevil]

imo. halladay/hamels aint even top 3

lee/hernandez > lincecum/cain > webb/haren > peavy/buhrle = halladay/hamels

 

[chazmaniandevil]

also, carpenter/wainwright is prob 2nd behind lee and hernandez when carpenter is healthy,

 

[Mogriffjr]

blame Hamels.

Bottom line, someone needs to step up and become that #2/ace. Happ was closer to pitching like one than Hamels was. but we all know what Hamels can do when he's on...there's some question to if he can become that type of pitcher (well from what I hear on the radio up here).

the rotation as a whole is good though...

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Cole is only one year removed from being a pretty damn good pitcher, one of the best in the majors at the time infact. His stuff during the world series run was dominant. If he can regain his form, the Phillies will have one of the best top of the rotations in the whole majors.

 

[mobbdeep1122]

Cole is only one year removed from being a pretty damn good pitcher, one of the best in the majors at the time infact. His stuff during the world series run was dominant. If he can regain his form, the Phillies will have one of the best top of the rotations in the whole majors.

Someone with a clue. Hamels was the NLCS and World Series MVP in 08. He has the stuff to be one of the top 10 pitchers in baseball. The guy just had a down year. Halladay is already in the top 2(I think I give the nod to Linecum as the top pitcher in baseball), so you know what he's going to bring to the table.

I'm interested in seeing if Halladay can help Hamels develop a third pitch and make him become a better pitcher.

When Hamels bounces back and Happ and Blanton do their thing the rotation will be nice.

 

[leaffan]

Bumping this just to add this:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2009/12/22/halladay_paper_ad_thank_you/#

Halladay took out a full page ad to thank the fans in TO. Class thats all I can say. Don't be assholes philly like you normally are.