who will the Flyers back up be next year?
who do you want it to be?
- wilsonecho91

Heeter.
I want it to be a veteran backup

who will the Flyers back up be next year?
who do you want it to be?
- wilsonecho91

Brian Elliot or Al Montoya at a guess.

I'd be OK with Emery, if he took close to the same money

who will the Flyers back up be next year?
who do you want it to be?
- wilsonecho91

I want it to be Emery.

I think it's going to be Cal Heeter.

Basically, they're counting on older, injury prone players to play at levels they haven't approached in two or three years.

The rotation should be decent, if Hamels can return early in the season. The bullpen could be decent, if the kids pitch well and Papelbon doesn't go on vacation because the team's not dominant...but the offense...whew boy...the offense could be brutal.

Most of the analysts I read or have listened to give them a puncher's chance at .500. If they can manage to do that and stay in the wild card hunt until the trade deadline, I'd call it a huge success.
- Jsaquella

remember when this team could just pop in 5 or 6 runs an inning? and it would routinely happen twice a series?

remember when this team could just pop in 5 or 6 runs an inning? and it would routinely happen twice a series?
- stayinthefnnet

This team is going to be so boring to watch.

Hamels is hurt and the bottom 3 in the rotation are not very good. Roberto Hernandez? Kyle Kendrick is alright. Who is 5th starter?

Bullpen was atrocious last year with no additions. I don't see how they will suddenly get better.
- PhillySportsGuy

They have some young guys with live arms that should do better with more experience. Guys like DeFratus, Rosenberg & Diekman. Not saying they'll be great, but they could be a decent, middle of the road 'pen, rather than a weakness, if all goes right.

Hamels is the key. if he's hurt and out for awhile, they will be hurting badly.

Hamels is hurt and the bottom 3 in the rotation are not very good. Roberto Hernandez? Kyle Kendrick is alright. Who is 5th starter?

Bullpen was atrocious last year with no additions. I don't see how they will suddenly get better.
- PhillySportsGuy

They're losing in Spring training, and not scoring runs or hitting well in Spring training. Can they flip the switch in two weeks?

Heeter.
I want it to be a veteran backup
- PhillySportsGuy

do you think the organization believes Heeter can be the guy? I think they bring in a vet backup. I want it to be someone with a bit better than Emery if possible.

They're losing in Spring training, and not scoring runs or hitting well in Spring training. Can they flip the switch in two weeks?
- MJL

Maybe, with a coaching change

Brian Elliot or Al Montoya at a guess.

I'd be OK with Emery, if he took close to the same money
- Jsaquella

I would be happy with Elliot.

remember when this team could just pop in 5 or 6 runs an inning? and it would routinely happen twice a series?
- stayinthefnnet

Yep. One good thing about not trading the veterans yet is that when they finally do start dealing guys, it won't be Amaro doing the deals.

Ed Wade turns Hunter Pence & Roy OSwalt into several really good prospects. Amaro turned Cliff Lee into a guy who throws hard and has no control, a guy who can't get out of AAA ball and a A pitcher that couldn't get anyone out

Basically, they're counting on older, injury prone players to play at levels they haven't approached in two or three years.

The rotation should be decent, if Hamels can return early in the season. The bullpen could be decent, if the kids pitch well and Papelbon doesn't go on vacation because the team's not dominant...but the offense...whew boy...the offense could be brutal.

Most of the analysts I read or have listened to give them a puncher's chance at .500. If they can manage to do that and stay in the wild card hunt until the trade deadline, I'd call it a huge success.
- Jsaquella

This -- the Old Man was correct. Every single thing that team does with the position players has to break exactly right. Every single thing.

Baseball's just too long of a season for that to happen -- 162 games is meant to grind down an old team like this. I don't believe in miracles in sports, but if the Phillies sniff 85 wins...that's a borderline miracle, with the roster.

But: Heck yes, the core of that team gets a pass for 2008. How could anybody not give them that?

I would be happy with Elliot.
- wilsonecho91

He'd have to take a substantial pay cut.

They have some young guys with live arms that should do better with more experience. Guys like DeFratus, Rosenberg & Diekman. Not saying they'll be great, but they could be a decent, middle of the road 'pen, rather than a weakness, if all goes right.

Hamels is the key. if he's hurt and out for awhile, they will be hurting badly.
- Jsaquella

Once again, we go into the season with more question marks. We need young arms to develop and do things they've never done before.

Deikman and Bastardo have both had stretches where they pitched well, but I wouldn't call either of them reliable. Not to mention Papelbon had one of the worst save rates in the league.

He'd have to take a substantial pay cut.
- MJL

yes he would.

I would be happy with Elliot.
- wilsonecho91

There's several good candidates who are UFA.

Elliot, Greiss, MacElhinney, Clemmenson, Jonas Gustavsson, Dubnyk

do you think the organization believes Heeter can be the guy? I think they bring in a vet backup. I want it to be someone with a bit better than Emery if possible.
- wilsonecho91

I would have loved if the team was much better off and could have given Heeter a game or two.

The reason I think they'll choose Heeter is because they never value the backup goalie spot. They will always look for the cheapest option so they can use as much money as possible on top of the market talent.

Once again, we go into the season with more question marks. We need young arms to develop and do things they've never done before.

Deikman and Bastardo have both had stretches where they pitched well, but I wouldn't call either of them reliable. Not to mention Papelbon had one of the worst save rates in the league.
- PhillySportsGuy

Note, I said if everything went well. There's tons of question marks. Papelbon could take another mental vacation if the team struggles, like he did last season. But there's some cause for optimism in the younger guys.

If they do rebuild, that's what they'll need. youngsters with good arms.

Yep. One good thing about not trading the veterans yet is that when they finally do start dealing guys, it won't be Amaro doing the deals.

Ed Wade turns Hunter Pence & Roy OSwalt into several really good prospects. Amaro turned Cliff Lee into a guy who throws hard and has no control, a guy who can't get out of AAA ball and a A pitcher that couldn't get anyone out
- Jsaquella

They didn't get much for him.

The Pence trade was a good one for him.

Note, I said if everything went well. There's tons of question marks. Papelbon could take another mental vacation if the team struggles, like he did last season. But there's some cause for optimism in the younger guys.

If they do rebuild, that's what they'll need. youngsters with good arms.
- Jsaquella

I really think this team is going to suck. Not play .500. I think they will lose 90+ games

There are multiple MLB scouts who think the Phillies will finish below the Marlins

They didn't get much for him.

The Pence trade was a good one for him.
- PhillySportsGuy

Pence deal was better, but Gose and Villar were decent prospects.

Pence deal was better, but Gose and Villar were decent prospects.
- Jsaquella

They flipped Gose for Brett Wallace who is next to useless.

There's several good candidates who are UFA.

Elliot, Greiss, MacElhinney, Clemmenson, Jonas Gustavsson, Dubnyk
- Jsaquella

I don't want anything to do with the last four names. Greiss would be solid, but he's a bit young. pretty slim pickings with UFA goalies.

Yep. One good thing about not trading the veterans yet is that when they finally do start dealing guys, it won't be Amaro doing the deals.

Ed Wade turns Hunter Pence & Roy OSwalt into several really good prospects. Amaro turned Cliff Lee into a guy who throws hard and has no control, a guy who can't get out of AAA ball and a A pitcher that couldn't get anyone out
- Jsaquella

damn he got three guys for one? maybe i shouldnt be so hard on him.

I really think this team is going to suck. Not play .500. I think they will lose 90+ games
- PhillySportsGuy

I do as well.

Like I said, they have a puncher's chance to be around .500. Meaning if they get some luck and a few breaks, they could be in the wild card race until September.

My gut though...my gut says this team could be a 100 loss team just as easily as an 81 win team.