Phillies want to avoid paying a Luxury Tax this Season.
- MJL

Make it "Hatfield's Franks $2 Dog Night".

They don't necessarily need a big bat IMO. They need a consistant bat like Bourne who could leadoff. They need to fix the pen big time.
- jstross

In my opinion they absolutely need a big bat, preferably at 3rd base.

The problem is that I don't care how good your pitiching is, you still need the bats. They are too heavy on the starting pitching side. They need to balance out the team. Strengthen the bullpen, and get another big bat. I start by trading Lee in the Off Season.
- MJL

Thats an option. I was talking more at the deadline right now. The Phillies said they wouldnt trade Lee because it defeats the purpose of signing Hamels. Thats their word not mine.

In my opinion they absolutely need a big bat, preferably at 3rd base.
- MJL

I'd settle for a third baseman who could stay on the field and catch a pop-up.

I'd settle for a third baseman who could stay on the field and catch a pop-up.
- 77rams

Look no other than Section 110 Row 12 Seat 6.

know i won't get my way but i'd prefer

hartnell-g-briere
simmonds-schenn-jake
talbot-coots-read
feds-holmstrom?-wellwood
- OrangeBlack27

I like that lineup too. But Claude is really going to have to step up his d-zone coverage (probs needs to do that regardless), otherwise you have a line where Hartnell is your best defensive player.

Let's just hope they get tons of offensive zone starts. lol

Tobias Enstrom said it didn't take long to realize Winnipeg was the perfect place for him.

The 27-year-old defenseman signed a five-year contract extension with the Jets on Friday. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

In my opinion they absolutely need a big bat, preferably at 3rd base.
- MJL

Howard and Pence are pretty big bats. You'd be hard pressed to name 5 teams with more HR potential than those 2. The biggest hole is no leadoff hitter. You're not going to win with a leadoff hitting with a .311 OBP. Phils are scoring plenty of runs, but the pitching has been awful.

need to trade Charlie to the pigs for Sandberg
- Crimsoninja

yes. hell i would take Andy Reid over Charlie at this point.

I'd settle for a third baseman who could stay on the field and catch a pop-up.
- 77rams

None available. That's the problem.

Thats an option. I was talking more at the deadline right now. The Phillies said they wouldnt trade Lee because it defeats the purpose of signing Hamels. Thats their word not mine.
- stveshdy

Not sure what sense that makes.....their would choose to retain a home grown guy 5 years younger at the same salary to have as a starter for years to come, and deal the older guy for young assets, thats the purpose.

Again if they have concerns about Halladay, or there is no SP in the pipeline, then I can see why they keep Lee.

Im not a believer in the lineup as it is, and how do they improve it?

Tobias Enstrom said it didn't take long to realize Winnipeg was the perfect place for him.

The 27-year-old defenseman signed a five-year contract extension with the Jets on Friday. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

- bgratch

I'm glad he signed. Anyone that wants to call that hell hole as home - I don't want them.

I'm glad he signed. Anyone that wants to call that hell hole as home - I don't want them.
- Daman

As a fellow Flyer fan....I too have issues with home grown players not joining the dark side

Howard and Pence are pretty big bats. You'd be hard pressed to name 5 teams with more HR potential than those 2. The biggest hole is no leadoff hitter. You're not going to win with a leadoff hitting with a .311 OBP. Phils are scoring plenty of runs, but the pitching has been awful.
- jstross

I don't disagree at all that a true leadoff hitter won't make a big difference. I'll take that. But I want a bat at 3rd base.

I don't disagree at all that a true leadoff hitter won't make a big difference. I'll take that. But I want a bat at 3rd base.
- MJL

I hope RAJ haas something up his sleave, but he already said they're keep Wigs and I fear they'll resign Polly to a cheap contract.

I sure hope Doan's reported contract demands have scared the Flyers away.

Let's go to war with this group Homer! Keep that cap space! Keep those assets!

I hope RAJ haas something up his sleave, but he already said they're keep Wigs and I fear they'll resign Polly to a cheap contract.
- jstross

Polly has been done for two seasons now. The Phillies need to blow up their batting order, keep the starters, and rebuild the bullpen.

Utley is done. Rollins is done. Howard is still a season away from being healthy. Blow up the offense. Start over.

He's had bad luck this year for sure. Would you consider dumping Lincecum if you were SF?
- 77rams

The thing that makes you wonder about Lincecum is that everything from his delivery and mechanics to his training and preparation is non-standard and pretty different from what is typically done by other pitchers/other teams. There have always been folks who wondered if he could maintain top performance pitching and training the way he does. Now it's starting to look like they might have been right.

Although one could argue (and many already have) that the "established" mechanics and training methods of pitchers do no better at protecting them from injury or poor performance than anything Lincecum does or doesn't do. Pitchers in general have a terrible injury record. Have been at least a few articles written documenting the fact that modern pitching theory and training is doing a horrible job of keeping pitchers healthy.

Tobias Enstrom said it didn't take long to realize Winnipeg was the perfect place for him.

The 27-year-old defenseman signed a five-year contract extension with the Jets on Friday. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

- bgratch

The Winnipeg Jets announced Friday that the club has they have agreed to terms on a multi-year extension with defenceman Tobias Enstrom. It is a five-year contract worth $28.75 million.

Not sure what sense that makes.....their would choose to retain a home grown guy 5 years younger at the same salary to have as a starter for years to come, and deal the older guy for young assets, thats the purpose.

Again if they have concerns about Halladay, or there is no SP in the pipeline, then I can see why they keep Lee.

Im not a believer in the lineup as it is, and how do they improve it?
- Just5

Not sure but bullpen is the biggest need.

The Winnipeg Jets announced Friday that the club has they have agreed to terms on a multi-year extension with defenceman Tobias Enstrom. It is a five-year contract worth $28.75 million.
- nastyflyergirl

5.75 per. That's a good deal for both sides. Toby thanks you Matt Carle.

I don't disagree at all that a true leadoff hitter won't make a big difference. I'll take that. But I want a bat at 3rd base.
- MJL

Phils should have made a play for Hanley before he went to SoCal. They got him dirt cheap too.

Phils should have made a play for Hanley before he went to SoCal. They got him dirt cheap too.
- canadianpenfan

They got him dirt cheap because LAD is paying a good chunk of Hanley's contract, I believe.

Phils should have made a play for Hanley before he went to SoCal. They got him dirt cheap too.
- canadianpenfan

chase headley jumps to mind, but he might be overpriced when trading.

They got him dirt cheap because LAD is paying a good chunk of Hanley's contract, I believe.
- Giroux_Is_God

Yea, but that's something I'm sure the Phillies brass wouldn't have a problem doing either.