Phillies injury list - # 1. Brad Lidge

In a not so surprising opening to the baseball season, the Philadelphia Philles have suffered their first semi-major (could potentially be major, but who knows?) injury. What position, or whom will be effected you ask?

Well.

Brad Lidge, the newly acquired closer whom the Phillies got from the Houston Astros for (mainly) Geoff Geary and Michael Bourn, suffered a slight tear in his meniscus while throwing his first pitch in batting practice.

Yeah, first pitch. Embarrassing, we know.

Apparently, during his windup, one of Lidge's spikes became wedged into the dirt of the pitchers mound, slightly tearing his meniscus in his right knee. Lidge had surgery on the same knee back in October 2007 when he tore some cartilage.

This could have some potential drastic effects, while at the same time be a great chance for former everyday players, such as Tom (flash) Gordon, to prove their reemergence as quality everyday players for the Phillies and become possible trade bait for teams (hopefully not us) who find themselves injury plagued as the season begins.

The drastic effects?

Well, there's always the possibility of rehab becoming a set back and Lidge never getting back to 100 percent. Now, is that a likely scenario? Not really. But, still, it's happened before in a case such as Brett Myers' arm injury last season. Rehab took forever but granted, it worked out well for everyone in the end. Everyone is wondering if Brett Myers would eventually be put back into the closing position in Lidge's absence but, the Phillies maintain that in a certain case such as this, Flash Gordon will replace Lidge and Myers will stay in the number two starting slot in the Phils' rotation.

So, chalk this up on the ole' injury board as injury number one for the Phillies this season. Hopefully the Phillies stay at least moderately healthy this season, and don't become the league leader (again) in the overall worst and most despised stat in the stat books for any sport, injuries.

Knee Surgery to shelve Phillies closer for 3 - 6 weeks - ESPN

Wad Up 450 Million Dollar Sail Boat.

Procrastination = some intense blogging. So, I'm currently studying for an exam of mine but, cannot concentrate for the life of me. I got two girls around the corner bitchin' about some dude and how he's messing with some other girl (... hahaha.), as well as some other bitch playing Gospel music. Don't get me wrong, I'm semi-religious but, come on, fuck.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays seem to making quite the splash (Ehhh? Ehhh?) in the news today with their new stadium proposal. The sail boat looking, Pirate ship wannabe is causing some debate down in St. Petersburg, FL. The whole project is speculated to cost 450 million +, yet, the Devil Rays have no way to pay for this.

Ah, it's different. If they actually do build it, it'd be enough to get me to go down there and check it out for a game ... and then spend the rest of my time down there on the beach and at the bars. But, yeah, maybe go fishin' from INSIDE the stadium?

Wow!

What an idea but, who knows.

Check it: Tampa Bay Rays' Stadium to Feature Retractable, Fabric Roof

Howard sets yet another record.

Well, Ryan Howard left his arbitration hearing today (Feb. 21st) a rich ... wait, excuse me, richer man than he was a day ago. After hearing both sides of this needless argument for five hours, arbitrators Robert Bailey, Jack Clarke and Goldberg sided with Howard and awarded him 10 million dollars for this upcoming season. Consequently, the loss still gave the Phillies a hell of a bargain for one of the best sluggers in baseball.

Considering both sides, you can't blame the Phillies organization for at least trying to save a few measley (3 million) bucks. Ruben Amaro Jr. is reported as saying they constantly tried to work on a mutual number "even on the way up the stairs to the hearing." So, no, you can't blame the organization when such a mediocre amount of cash can sometimes determine having enough in the bank to bring in a quality player or pitcher. But, regardless, Howard losing this arbitration hearing would probably have little to no effect on his overall performance or attitude.

Ironically enough, Howard makes history even when he's not playing ball on the diamond. Howard is the first baseball player with only a bit more than two years of experience to be paid 10 million for one season. Not only that, but in the 35 year history of arbitration hearings, there had never been a player to WIN that much money at any stage of his career. I say win in capital letters only because in 2006, Alfonso Soriano, who was seeking 12 million from the Nationals lost the arbitration hearing and had to settle for 10 million. (cry me a fucking river, cubbie.) So, yes, Howard and Soriano tie with most dollars awarded at arbitration, BUT, Howard won and Soriano lost his hearing.

Andruw (does the spelling of his name even need a snide remark?) Jones, with four years under his jock strap at that time, was the first player to win the most amount of dollars at 8.2 million in 2001. And, as I previously mentioned, Soriano ties Howard with most dollars awarded at arbitration at 10 million.

The best part about this whole hearing was the one simple fact that has been brought to light. The Philadelphia Phillies, until today, were the ONLY team left in Major League history to NEVER lose an arbitration hearing. So, HA, suck on that one Mets.


Howard's $10M win in arbitration sets new high-water mark

The Major League of Fantasy Baseball

I was recently asked by a good friend of mine if I would be kind enough to post some info about a fantasy baseball league that he is running. A few days ago, I was asked if I would like to be apart of this league, and at the time I had to decline mainly because of the other fantasy baseball leagues I am already slated to be apart of (I like to focus on my involvement in a small amount of fantasy leagues, say ... oh ... I don't know, 10?) So, in a not so surprising reply to my decline of his offer, he replied "Oh, I see, so you'd like to stay in the Minors instead of move up to the Big Leagues." What more can I say, most of my friends are sarcastic assholes and, staying with a normal trend, he didn't dissappoint.

So let me get to it.
Here's the information about this fantasy baseball league before you decide to join up:
- a 7 x 7 Keeper League
- 12 teams
- Each team has 2 participants
- $100 per team (50 per participant)
- 25 man roster
- Live draft (most likely to be held in Kutztown, PA.)
- BYOB (in my opinion, the most vital piece of information.)
- 6 team playoff
- 1st place - $900
- 2nd place - $200
- Top seed going INTO the playoffs gets an automatic $100

There ya go. Any questions or comments, please post a comment ASAP or e-mail us. Giddiup.

To Carlos Beltran: It's already been said and done by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Leave it to the Mets to try and redeem themselves after one of the most embarrasing finishes to a season in the history of baseball.

It's time to get excited, it's officially spring training. The baseball season is preparing to get underway with all the MLB teams retreating to the warmer climates for intensive 6-week baseball workouts. Now, for the Fightin' Phils anyway, they don't have to offically report until tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 19). But hey, what better way to start off the new baseball season than with some brand spanking new NL East drama.

While reporting to the New York Mets camp site at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, FL, Mets center fielder Carlos Beltran opened his traditionally quite mouth, "To Jimmy Rollins: We're the team to beat."

A very bold statement. But, will it hold true? Will the Mets prove themselves worthy of such an accusation that the Phillies themselves deemed true in the season of '07?

Beltran, being one of the best all-round baseball players in the Major League today and the Mets bettering their team this off-season with a few key acquisitions, most namely Johan Santana, have ultimately found themselves in unchartered waters. They (and yes, I said they because Beltran spoke for his team) have stated words that cannot be taken back, so, as of now the pressure is on in full force, and as a result, the Phillies - Mets rivalry has been taken to an all time high.

So, how were the Phillies able to clinch the NL East in '07? Many of you will say due to the Mets' collapse. No, you're giving the Mets way too much credit. Instead, you have to look deeper.


1. The Phillies have an on-going winning streak against the Mets right now at 8 games. Such a win streak, especially against a division rival, is very hard to come by. It's impossible and flat out incorrect to attribute this to "luck".

2. The Mets were over confident and went into every game with a mindset of, "We're so good that sometimes we get bored." - Carlos Delgado, Mets first baseman. Whatever happend to being humble? Don't ask the Mets, they don't know what that word means (nor could they speak it in perfect English ... burn).

3. The Phillies' incredible resilience and "never give up" mindset, despite being plagued with the most injuries for any MLB team in the '07 season.


So, the one thing that I don't believe Carlos Beltran thought of before he made such a statement was the actual work that has to be put in to accomplish such a goal. Unlike the Mets' 2006 season, things don't always go your way fellas. The Mets cannot afford to mislead themselves yet again and think that the Phillies feel as if they are the "top dogs" in the NL East solely because they are the returning '07 NL East Champs. They know they are right back where they started at the beginning of last season, and they are completley fine with that.

In a typical classy fashion that tends to suit Phillies second baseman Chase Utley, he refused to give into the excitement created by the comment made by Beltran, "You're going to get boring stuff from me." Utley stated. The one thing he did promise us was that is going to be a fun season with all of these comments being thrown back and forth, and the overall sour taste left in the mouths of Willie Randolph and the Mets after they expected to be sippin' on some champagne in October, and didn't (haha).

Overall, the 2008 season is shaping up to be a very competitive and exciting one. Any one of the top 3 teams in the NL East: the Phillies, Mets, or the Braves has the potential to take the division and go far in October. But, I can't say it any better than Utley, "The goal for a World Series ring is 2008."


Nice rebuttle, Utley. Nice.






"To Jimmy Rollins: We are the team to beat."