PHILLIES STARTING ROTATION - PART 2

So at least for the present, the rotation starts with Hamels, Myers, Moyer and Blanton. As noted last time, there are legitimate questions surrounding the reliability and/or durability of Myers, Moyer and Blanton but right now they have each earned first dibs on a regular starting spot. So the big question is the fifth starter. The internal options are Kyle Kendrick, J.A. Happ, taking Brad Durbin out of the bullpen, and prospects Carlos Carrasco and Drew Carpenter.

If Kendrick could return to form, he would seem to be the best of this group. He has had a full year of starting in the majors and has shown the ability to go deep into games. But as he unraveled last season, he was a control pitcher without control, a bad combination. Happ would likely be the second choice. He exhibited poise in his few outings in '08 and in terms of style, he is something of a left-handed Kendrick. Durbin raises two concerns. One is that he faltered late in the season. The other is his important spot in the bullpen would have to be filled. Carrasco and Carpenter are raw and untested.

Will the front office go outside of the organization? Management has implied that they will not go after a high-profile pitcher such as Sabbathia. But it would be shocking if they did not make a move for a second tier free agent pitcher or trade for one or more. Based on their experience with Adam Eaton and Freddy Garcia, and other notorious examples like Barry Zito, they should and likely will tread carefully.

The Phils will likely begin the '09 campaign with the four starters who get them through the post-season plus Kendrick/Happ or an outsider. But given the fragility of pitchers in general, and the baggage that most of the Phillies' starters have in particular, they had better have options 2,3 and 4 at the ready.

MVP DEBATE - A QUANTUM OF NONSENSE

Albert Pujols has won the National League MVP award for 2008. Ryan Howard has not. Let the debate begin. The arbitrariness of the MVP award has been commented on here previously. The only real reason to even have an MVP award, as opposed to simply a Best Player award, is that it generates endless discussion in the Hot Stove League. So depending on your criteria, you can make a reasonable case for Pujols or Howard.

But now a new dimension has been added to the mix. At least one observer (sportswriter Phil Sheridan) argues that the baseball writers who vote on the MVP have not just made the wrong choice, they have sandbagged Ryan Howard's contract negotiations. Poor Ryan's agent may have to go into an arbitration hearing with the albatross of Howard being merely the runner-up to Pujols. This is real "give me liberty or give me death" material. Ryan Howard made $10 million last season and will be in line for a fat increase with or without arbitration. The possibility of his losing a couple million is truly horrifying. But perhaps there is a way to avert this impending catastrophe. In addition to his athletic prowess, Albert Pujols is admired for his community service - he won the Roberto Clemente Award this year for his charitable endeavors. When he learns of Howard's plight, Albert would surely abdicate his MVP throne in favor of Ryan. Pujols' contract is up in a couple of years and perhaps Howard can return the favor.

Phillies' Starting Rotation: Review and Preview

Baseball watchers around the country might be excused for thinking the Phillies' starting rotation in 2008 was in the tradition of the formidable pitchers of the great Yankee or Oakland Athletic dynasties. After all, the Phils steamrolled their way through the post-season with only three losses which included only two weak starting efforts, one by Myers and another by Moyer. Hamels, Blanton, Myers and Moyer were imposing if not necessarily overpowering. However, for the Delaware Valley fans who saw the first 162 games, the reality was not so simple.

Overall, the starters were in fact effective and a major part of the Philadelphia story. But there was a lot of addition and subtraction. Eaton was now you see him, now you don't. Kendrick was for a while a major producer, then he was a nonproducer and gone. Myers performed his usual high-wire act. Hamels anchored the staff and was outstanding. Moyer overachieved, again. Blanton made a major contribution. But for a team that just won the World Series, this cast of characters presents far more questions than answers going into 2009.

Start with Cole Hamels. He performed brilliantly in the playoffs and Series to go along with a solid regular season which was marred by poor run support. Barring any health issues, you should be able to pencil in at least 15 wins for Hamels. So far so good.

But then there is Myers. It seems there are many who believe that he has exorcised all his demons, both mechanical and otherwise, and from here on it's clear sailing. That seems a bit premature. He pitched well in the second half of the season, but he was bombed in two outings late in the season to go along with that bad start in the post-season. All that you can pencil in here is a question mark, although with Myers' newfound hitting prowess, he may be the solution to the left fielder issues.

Jamie Moyer continues to defy numerous rules of physics as well as the normal aging process. It seems fruitless to bet against him but every time out he seems to be engaging in his own high-wire act without a net - there's just no margin for error. Joe Blanton was solid if not flashy but he only pitched in 13 games and struggled with his control frequently so the jury is still deliberating here. Also, Moyer and Blanton rarely went more than 5-6 innings so there was usually pressure on the middle relievers.

So how should the Phils structure their staff going into next season? Wholesale changes or minor tweaking?

Larry Brown Watch

The Charlotte Bobcats are off to a 2-5 start. Off course, it's far too early to draw any conclusions from this. But it will be interesting to chart the team's progress because of the arrival of Larry Brown as head coach. It has been noted here before that while Brown has left at least four NBA franchises - New Jersey, Indiana, Philadelphia, and New York - in shambles, not to mention one olympic team, his name is at or near the top of every list when a coaching vacancy surfaces whether it be the pros, the collegiate ranks, or the 3rd graders at P.S. 189. Brown is the ultimate "teacher" we're told, the guru of the hardwood. One pictures Coach Brown sitting in the lotus position on a Himalayan peak where general managers come calling. The GM's are accompanied by sherpas carrying sacks of money to entice the coach to come down from the mountain just once more to lead their struggling teams to the promised land. Making the playoffs in the mediocre Eastern Conference should not be an impossible dream for a Hall of Fame coach. But whether he succeeds, or presides over another implosion, count on Brown's reputation to remain unsullied.

Elton Brand and the Sixers - A Cautionary Tale for the Phillies

The early struggles of the Sixers may offer some lessons for the Phillies as they consider roster changes over the next few months. First a few caveats. Basketball is very different from baseball - integrating a new player is certainly not as complicated in the latter. Furthermore, the difficulties the Sixers are having incorporating Elton Brand into the offense may well be ironed out over time. But there are still issues worth considering.

Elton Brand is a blue chip player with impeccable credentials - scorer, rebounder, intelligent, good attitude, defender. The only question might be his multiple injuries in recent years although he seems fine at the present. However, his arrival in Philadelphia has required the home team to move Andre Iguodala, probably their highest profile player, to another position in which he is obviously uncomfortable. Brand's presence has slowed down the Sixers' running game which was so important in last year's playoff run. Brand plays with his back to the basket and requires the ball a lot which is causing stagnation and confusion among the other players. Even the team defense seems to be tentative. Again, this could just be normal growing pains and the Sixers could be a stronger team in a couple of months, better equipped to make a deep playoff run. But one wonders of Philadelphia's management considered all of the implications of the deal.

How does this relate to the Phillies? They have a number of personnel decisions to make. Some of these will be determined by the business of baseball, free agency, etc. But there's always that pressure to not just stand there but do something. The left field situation is the most obvious example. Whether Pat Burrell stays or not may be out of the Phils' hands if he gets a large offer from an American League team. But to contemplate replacing him with Manny Ramirez, which reportedly Charlie Manuel favors, is extremely risky. Burrell is loaded with liabilities. He is a mediocre to poor fielder, poor baserunner, strikes out too much. He has two assets. He has power at the plate which can only be realized if the pitcher makes a mistake. Ramirez can do things with the bat that Burrell, and most others, can only dream about. But Burrell's second asset is he is a team-oriented guy, and that is something Manny can only dream about. It should also be added that Ramirez is the only left fielder who makes Pat Burrell look like a Gold Glover.

This is not to argue that the Phils should make a full court press to resign Burrell. Adding a competent right-handed batter to platoon with their lefty swingers in left field might well be an upgrade. But one of the Phillies' unsung heroes in their championship run was chemistry which could be destabilized by a volatile entity like Manny Ramirez.

Allen Iverson, Always A Lightning Rod

Controversy has always shadowed Allen Iverson. During his tenure with the Sixers, it seemed he was either loved or hated, with no middle ground. For his fans, he employed his considerable offensive skills and maximum intensity every night in pursuit of wins. For his detractors, he shot too much, dribbled too much, and took too many chances on defense. The reality, of course, is more complicated. Iverson is hugely gifted. He is one of the fastest and quickest, with and without the ball, to play the game. He is one of the best finishers, maybe THE best, among little men and his effort is never in question. But he is not easy to coach or play with because he needs the ball so much and because his small stature creates match-up issues on defense in the NBA. Iverson has also been portrayed, justly or unjustly, as a complicated personality which brings a soap opera element wherever he goes. When joined with the equally complicated personna of coach Larry Brown for several years, the Sigmund Freud Society couldn't believe its good fortune.

So the surprising, fascinating trade of Iverson to the Detroit Pistons for Chauncey Billups last week invites us to revisit some of these issues. Supporters of the trade emphasize the practical, longer term benefits of the deal for the Pistons. Iverson is in the last year of a big money deal. Billups had a few years to run on his contract, also for big money. So after this season, Iverson can test the free agent market, and Detroit has a windfall to splurge on one or more free agents, if it chooses not to make a serious move to resign Iverson. In the meantime, they have rented one of the most exciting players in the game not far past his prime.

But strictly in a basketball sense, the transaction seems rather puzzling for the Pistons. They have been one of the most consistent teams in the East for almost a decade with a solid, if aging, nucleus and a couple of impressive young players. Their offense has been notable for its balance with the high scorer changing from night to night. And until the recent ascendance of the Celtics, Detroit's team defense was probably unsurpassed in the East. It's hard to see how Iverson can upgrade any of these areas. At the age of 33, he certainly doesn't bring youth to the equation. And in a word association exercise, neither "team offense" nor "team defense" spring immediately to mind after "Iverson, Allen".

Yet the one constant about Iverson has been his unpredictability. His stats last year with Denver were pretty much in line with his career numbers but with Wallace, Prince, and Hamilton, Detroit is probably not looking for 27-30 ppg from Iverson. But he has said time and again that he can and will do anything it takes to win so this will be his opportunity to prove it. But the window of opportunity for the Georgetown graduate is closing fast; this may be the last chance to make his case. It will be an interesting experiment.

Utley's Gaffe

Chase Utley has been known for his reticence during his tenure with the Phillies. Now we begin to know why. Apparently the UCLA curriculum does not emphasize vocabulary development because Utley seems to be limited to articles, pronouns and a familiar Anglo-Saxon expletive. Utley's remark was boorish, tasteless, offensive, insulting, and demeaning. What on earth was he thinking?

Professional athletes are among the most favored in our society. They are compensated obscenely to play games the rest of us would engage in for nothing. They are feted and fawned over. Jason Werth recently remarked it was a long time since he had to pick up a tab in Philadelphia. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates would surely trade places with Chase Utley or Pat Burrell in a heartbeat. What do we ask in return? Not Albert Schweitzer or Mother Theresa, just a modicum of propriety. Instead we get crudity in the afternoon in front of adoring millions. Does a 30 year-old college educated multimillionaire need a crash course in etiquette - Amy Vanderbilt for Second Basemen 101?

You will remember that over the summer Jimmy Rollins was raked over the coals for making a fairly innocuous remark on late-night television about Philly fans being "front-runners". It was clear that Rollins didn't mean it to come out the way it did. But he was taken to task and was booed for weeks. Now comes the Chase Utley embroglio and Utley's backers are rushing to his defense as if he were a Christian martyr. Utley's remark was "cool" and "genuine" and "real". Or that this was Utley's way of coming out of his protective shell, assertiveness training on the fly. Oh now I get it. So this all about Chase's path of personal development. No doubt he will get a standing ovation in his next plate appearance to reward the courage it must have taken to overcome his shy, introverted personality. We can eagerly anticipate the next milestone in Utley's journey of personal discovery.

The only thing uglier than Utley's remark are these feeble, pathetic attempts to justify, even celebrate it. Is this the price we have to pay for a world championhip?