The Phillies have almost nothing in the farm system, over inflated contracts that even if they eat money will get low level prospects in return. It looks to be a very bleak next 5 years. In recent history, they weren't exactly in a hurry to fire Wade when the fans were clamoring for his dismissal.

The Comcast TV contract is done, Montgomery just might let RAJ survive. It makes you wonder if the organization would have been different if Arbuckle was named GM after Gillick left.

He can't walk. Pitchers won't let him. If he takes pitches, he'll fall behind in every at bat. His home run rate is epically bad. One of the worst in the history of the game for a position player.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think you have a good point. Why nibble on the edges? Throw heat at him and what's the worst that can happen? A bloop single? Doesn't hit for extra bases either. But the Phillies have zero outfield depth right now.

We'll see. It depends on how they handle him. Hopefully they don't yoyo him back and forth and destroy any and all confidence in him like they did Brown. He does seem promising tho
- JonnyHammerstix

For years, the Phillies always took the natural ability player over the guy with baseball instinct. Their farm system was built entirely of "raw players with great potential." That's pretty much what Brown was/is.

Rollins will probably have another year here when he hits his vesting option. That would give Crawford next season to stay in the minors. I wouldn't want to see much of him until 2016 anyway.

There's another guy I read about in an article, I can't remember where. That was a part of the deal. I think his name was Santiago or something like that.
- MJL

Wouldn't surprise me. Astros have the #1 farm system in baseball. They have the #1 pick in the draft too.

They are handling their prospects in a way thats never been seen before.

For years, the Phillies always took the natural ability player over the guy with baseball instinct. Their farm system was built entirely of "raw players with great potential." That's pretty much what Brown was/is.

Rollins will probably have another year here when he hits his vesting option. That would give Crawford next season to stay in the minors. I wouldn't want to see much of him until 2016 anyway.
- PhillySportsGuy

All we read about Brown was how he was this can't miss 5 tool player, who was an untouchable.

He can't walk. Pitchers won't let him. If he takes pitches, he'll fall behind in every at bat. His home run rate is epically bad. One of the worst in the history of the game for a position player.
- PhillySportsGuy

Its not even about his home run rate. Juan Pierre couldnt hit home runs either but he was able to work a count pretty well. It's that he doesnt even have the power to drive the ball into the outfield half the time so they just throw him "go ahead and hit me" fastballs all the time knowing he likely wont do crap with it.

Wouldn't surprise me. Astros have the #1 farm system in baseball. They have the #1 pick in the draft too.

They are handling their prospects in a way thats never been seen before.
- PhillySportsGuy

Domingo Santana is his name.

ah the phils.

Personally, I think he has done a lousy job for the most part. But he was put into a tough spot. First of all, he had to follow a Hall of Fame GM, who pretty much performed miracles, and could do no wrong. Amaro had to try and keep what Ed Wade started, and what Gillick topped off, going. That ownership wanted the sell outs to continue. And wouldn't accept what really should have happened. And that was a rebuild. Walking away from Howard, trading players such as Utley, and Lee. They wanted to keep winning. It's clearly not working.

With that being said, there were clear mistakes made by Amaro. He didn't make a good deal in trading Lee before bringing him back. Ben Revere stinks. What kind of leadoff hitter has 4 walks and a inept OBP? And on and on.

Good article on Comcast Sportsnet about Darrin Ruff. He's hurt now, but why can't he get a shot.

Ruf got hurt again? Crap he just got back 2 weeks ago.

And what happened to Domonic Brown? I thought he was a 5 tool player?
- MJL

The Phillies have almost nothing in the farm system, over inflated contracts that even if they eat money will get low level prospects in return. It looks to be a very bleak next 5 years. In recent history, they weren't exactly in a hurry to fire Wade when the fans were clamoring for his dismissal.

The Comcast TV contract is done, Montgomery just might let RAJ survive. It makes you wonder if the organization would have been different if Arbuckle was named GM after Gillick left.
- ravishingone

I don't see how they could be any worse right now.

I bet Billy Beane could make this team a playoff contender with one offseason. He's a (frank)ing magic man. If I were an owner, I would write him a blank check to be my GM.

Domingo Santana is his name.
- MJL

Ironically, Houston with their payroll in the range of $40 million is closer to relevancy then the Phillies.

ah the phils.
- stayinthefnnet

I've pretty much become complacent with them. Not worth my time getting worked up anymore.

I don't see how they could be any worse right now.

I bet Billy Beane could make this team a playoff contender with one offseason. He's a (frank)ing magic man. If I were an owner, I would write him a blank check to be my GM.
- PhillySportsGuy

Considering the franchise was the first to get to 10,000 loses, there is a long history of ineptness. I don't have a lot of confidence in Montgomery to do the right thing. I hope he proves me wrong.

Its not even about his home run rate. Juan Pierre couldnt hit home runs either but he was able to work a count pretty well. It's that he doesnt even have the power to drive the ball into the outfield half the time so they just throw him "go ahead and hit me" fastballs all the time knowing he likely wont do crap with it.
- JonnyHammerstix

Juan Pierre was very savvy. He was a great bunter and one of the best base runners in baseball. He had an awful arm like Revere, but he could really play the outfield.

Revere has no baseball instincts. He mis-reads fly balls and doesn't run the bases that well for a guy with his speed.

Utley has half of Reveres speed and runs the bases 10x better than him.

Domingo Santana is his name.
- MJL

He was the PTBNL. Frigging just a horrible deal for a guy you traded for a bag of balls the following year.

Cosart, Singleton, Santana and Zeid for

1 year of Pence, Joseph, Simon and 1/2 year of Scheirholtz.

Ironically, Houston with their payroll in the range of $40 million is closer to relevancy then the Phillies.
- ravishingone

They're taking moneyball to the next level.

He was the PTBNL. Frigging just a horrible deal for a guy you traded for a bag of balls the following year.

Cosart, Singleton, Santana and Zeid for

1 year of Pence, Joseph, Simon and 1/2 year of Scheirholtz.
- jstross

I know. Their talent evaluation at every level is horrible. They are so anti-sabermetrics. It's just sad.

Ironically, Houston with their payroll in the range of $40 million is closer to relevancy then the Phillies.
- ravishingone

Historically, being this far down at this time of the year, means they're pretty much out of it. Lost their 6th straight today. It's over. Pull the plug on it. Do we want Amaro making those moves?

They're taking moneyball to the next level.
- PhillySportsGuy

Agreed, the Singleton contract is either going to be sheer brilliance or be a disaster. I admire the organization for outlining plan and being horrible for a few years to get the pieces in place to be a competing small market team for a long time.

Juan Pierre was very savvy. He was a great bunter and one of the best base runners in baseball. He had an awful arm like Revere, but he could really play the outfield.

Revere has no baseball instincts. He mis-reads fly balls and doesn't run the bases that well for a guy with his speed.

Utley has half of Reveres speed and runs the bases 10x better than him.
- PhillySportsGuy

I agree, I really enjoyed watching Pierre play when he was here. Hated him when he was with the Marlins because he was such a pest. He's your prototypical leadoff hitter

Historically, being this far down at this time of the year, means they're pretty much out of it. Lost their 6th straight today. It's over. Pull the plug on it. Do we want Amaro making those moves?
- MJL

Who will they move though? The only desirable players are Utley, Hamels and Lee. I don't want them to move Utley or Hamels and Lee is on the DL.

I guess they can move Papelbon and Adams, but they will need to eat money in any deal for Papelbon.

Agreed, the Singleton contract is either going to be sheer brilliance or be a disaster. I admire the organization for outlining plan and being horrible for a few years to get the pieces in place to be a competing small market team for a long time.
- ravishingone

They do weird things with their minor league pitchers too.

They also keep their minor leaguers in the minors until they're 24. It allows them to keep the players under team control until they're 30.

They do weird things with their minor league pitchers too.

They also keep their minor leaguers in the minors until they're 24. It allows them to keep the players under team control until they're 30.
- PhillySportsGuy

Interesting, the Phillies do the same thing, but I think it is because their pitchers just aren't good.

In their history, the ability to develop outfielders and starting pitchers has been abysmal. Also, I guess they still don't believe trying to cultivate talent in Latin America can be beneficial.

I've pretty much become complacent with them. Not worth my time getting worked up anymore.
- JonnyHammerstix

you know the Phils are bad when you would rather watch the Marlins

The Phillies have almost nothing in the farm system, over inflated contracts that even if they eat money will get low level prospects in return. It looks to be a very bleak next 5 years. In recent history, they weren't exactly in a hurry to fire Wade when the fans were clamoring for his dismissal.

The Comcast TV contract is done, Montgomery just might let RAJ survive. It makes you wonder if the organization would have been different if Arbuckle was named GM after Gillick left.
- ravishingone

At this point ownership is just as much at fault as Ruben. I cannot believe he wasn't canned over two years ago. CBP is going to be a ghost town all summer.

Heard a real interesting thing on the radio. The Phils head of scouting is a guy that was a ticket taker, then clocked pitches, then a secretary for Gillick. That movement all happend in 5 years. They just handed this guy the Head of F'n Scouting job. No wonder why this team is in shambles.