View From the Left Coast by a Lefty: Done and Done

    View From the Left Coast by a Lefty:  Done and Done

                I know to many this season can't possibly be over yet. But guess what, it's been six months already and the Eagles are on the verge of a really good month which wasn't really expected. To even more(like me) it's only 4 days until the NHL season begins(go Flyers mofos). Since the beginning of the season so much shit has changed I don't know if it's possible to even cover it in one sitting but I'll try like hell.

Thankfully this season the front office finally embraced the term rebuild. For my mind it took them way too long to start bringing up the kids, but bring them up they did. And also finally they realized Pete was not the answer at manager. Better late than never as the saying goes. So now, Mr. Klentak, the pressure is all squarely directly on you. The second half of this season shows that with a bit of tweaking next year can be *VERY* interesting.

I'll start with manager... go wild with possibilities but to my mind Dusty Wathan at age 44 could be perfect. NO Wriz, he is not Sandberg reincarnated. He has proved he can win with kids at AA and AAA, especially this year. That the Pigs made the playoffs losing their best 6 players is a tribute, besides the fact he is the all time leader in wins in Fighten Phils history. Then go to the coaching staff. If the Phillies don't keep Bowa I may have to root for the Dbacks permanently. McClure is so so, along with Samuel and Morandini. Matt Stairs is the best hitting coach in a long stretch. You can tell he cares. Since the bullpen has come along I'm on board with Rick Kranitz. I think this year is Chooch's last as a player and can't imagine anyone better to make Alfaro into a top tier catcher. If there is any way possible they need to add Utley as a coach somehow, some way next year too.

And now the fun begins... what will the roster be like? Say buh-bye to Kim, Nava, Fien, Perkins,

Blanco and Stassi and probably more. As much as I like Ty Kelly as a person he basically sucks too. Piece by piece we can go this way:

Starters: Nola

2-5 : wide open. What do you think of the Henderson Alvarez project? To me it's intriguing. Rest of the kids play out in spring training.

Pen: big improvement over the season. Love Morgan and Milner. Garcia and Neris need to quit jerking the ball to the LH batter's box. Neris needs to relax.

Catcher: Alfaro is the man, especially if Chooch can make him a real back stop and cure his laziness behind the plate. Gimme Knapp as backup. Will miss Rupp the man and dugout leader. I still love him but this is no time to look back.

Outfield: Altherr, O'Double, and Williams left to right. No need for a FA bat, save the $$$$ for pitching. Bench can be mix and match.

Infield: here is where the fun really is and the shit will fly. I make no bones, I love Galvis. If he doesn't win a gold glove this year a hit needs to be taken out on the voters. That being said he and Hernandez should be given a chance to play 1000 games together like Rollins and Utley.. Hernandez is the best leadoff hitter they've had in years. That being said I'm considering what several people have said during this last month of the season. I am not giving up on Franco. If someone, *ANYONE*, can get through to him to adapt like Adrian Beltre did he'll be the third baseman for years. Don't forget he's only 24. As Schmidt said when he was 24 he was just beginning to figure things out. Then going into the corners... 1B is Hoskins nuff said. 3B dayam... Crawford has shown he's every bit as good at third.. That brings a whole new argument. He's only 22 and for my money can hit better than Franco except for power.

Super utility guy: Pedro Florimon. His health could determine both infield and outfield moves.

X-factors: here we go. Crawford could open at SS next year, with Kingery at 2B. Kingery is ready for the big time.

Trade pieces: this is the whole ball of wax. Phillies could be looking at trading Joseph, Crawford, Galvis, Hernandez, Kingery, Franco, Rupp, Knapp, and who knows what else. Remember this is entirely my opinion even though it is a shitload better than most of the Phillies' writers. For that matter if they had listened to me 4 years ago Howard might still be a force. Yeah well, I'm a legend in my own mind anyway.

There you have it, 2017 summed up At this moment it's 4-3 Mutts in the 7th(make that 4-4). To Jay Wriz, Pres and CEO, if this piece doesn't land on the blog consider it my last you lazy bitch lol. CJ, how the hell do you put up with him? DB29 is nothing but you? Til next year(maybe)...

                                    Bill S aka/netfather

Musings Week 1

                                    View From the Left Coast by a Lefty: Musings Week 1

 

Just got done watching the series clinch against the Mutts. While we're 2-4, in my mind, we should be 4-2 at least. We all know the reason. The bullpen sucks(so far). After spring training, I admit to a tad of enthusiasm, even after sucking the last week. This is probably right around where we should be according to the "experts" but the season is young and could swing different ways. Normally, I might be pissed off but the Flyers making the playoffs took a big edge off and so far the weekend is pretty decent.

 

Last week, CJ did a great piece on most of the roster, so now I get to rant on what really is bothering me. We all know the bullpen cost us at least 2 games against Cincy, but are they really all that bad? Our rotation is 100% better than last year, and so far their ERA is under 3.00... *BONUS*. Nola is Nola, and Hellickson has been great. I kind of expected this after seeing him a lot last year in AZ but 2 games isn't a good sample. I'm impressed by Velasquez when I thought I wouldn't be. I'm expecting Eickhoff to bounce back and also expect Morton to as well. Like I said the starter's ERA is outstanding so far and I am willing to go another few weeks before rendering any kind of permanent judgment on them. And then we get to...........................

 

The bullpen.... OMGWTFLOL. One week isn't a good sample once again, but DAMN. I stand by previous statements on trading Giles, it just had to be done. If you want to go by a one week sample Houston is probably wondering *WHY* they traded what they did for him. I love the pieces we got from them and the Rangers. I'm praying Alfaro and Appel improve and advance as quickly as Nola did. But the bullpen... let's start with Hina josa. DFA his ass, he can't throw strikes. Send him to Oakland or as far away from Philly as we can. I am not in love with Russell, shitcan his ass too. I am really waiting on Oberholtzer and Stumpf to do something to earn their keep. Neris is holding his own so far but Gomez is not a closer in any stretch of the imagination. Hernandez has so much potential. He's another one I got to see a lot of here in AZ. A power arm but his mind seems to disappear in tight, important games. Anyway, we got what we got and have to live with it.

 

Before I forget.... who the hell taught base running in spring training? None of those guys could have played for my high school coach, let alone get paid to play.

 

Since I'm on a rant, I need to throw this in. DFA Bourjos. He's failed with 2 teams already, most notably the Cardinals. If they give up on a player he's probably done for. Also send Tyler Goeddel back to wherever he came from. I don't care how young and fast he is, he can't hit. Another guy they should have left on the street is Venable, another loser from more than one team. I say give Nick Williams and Darnell Sweeney decent looks to contribute at the MLB level. I'm not forgetting Alther, but he'd be my starting RF if not for that tragic incident.

 

Anyway I'm now brain dead again. Just had to get rid of some crap in my head. It's now back to switching back and forth between Cubs/Dbacks and Dodgers/Giants for a few hours until my Flyers come on. And... let's get BUNTED.

 

 

                                                Bill S aka/netfather

No Words

View From the Left Coast by a Lefty: Got No Words

 

Bill needs a hug

 

I sit here this Sunday staring at my screen, wondering where the words will come from. While most of you were at the Meet N Greet downing beers, I was doing laundry. While you were busy snapping pics and then going into the game, I was just getting home from the grocery store. I figured at least it was game time, just *MAYBE* it might be worth watching. But then, in 6th inning, the stream broke and I never got it back. No matter, the game ended with us losing 3-2 so I missed nada. Why does this make sense?

 

As this season has worn on it was pretty much the same roller coaster as last year. Win a few, lose a few more, rinse and repeat. 2 weeks ago I had a glimmer of hope, sweep ATL @ ATL then win the first two in STL. I allowed myself to start thinking cool, Cliff will be back soon and Asche is hot. Then reality set in... lose 8 of the next 10 and get swept 4 at home by ATL. This season is just about over in Philly and I can't get by that thought. So this piece may well be my swan song.

 

Before you throw things at me, let me say the Phillies are my team now until I die. They have been since 1958. But after 56 years I've seen the entire gamut with them. My only regret is never seeing them in a World Series game. After today, I have to wonder if I'm going to live long enough to see them in another World Series, because the prospects appear dim at the moment. We are old, slow, and rangeless in the field. At the plate.... BAH HUMBUG! Howard has been up 97 times with runners in scoring position and is batting a cool .232. This inspires greatness NOT. Rollins, since passing Schmidt for the all time lead, has returned to king of the popup. Even Utley, after April he can't be hitting more than .260 because he's barely at .290 now. Don't get me wrong, he should still be the all star 2B and always gives 110%. But people, without these guys in their heyday, and role players like we *USED* to have, we are exactly where we belong... at the bottom of the division. The farm is pretty much bare, with one of the brighter hopes leaving baseball apparently because of his mental state. Seriously where do we go from here? It's getting more difficult to watch them every day, even without streams breaking mid game.

 

Wriz and CJ, I apologize for lack of production this year. It's just that for every slight glimmer we see, it's followed by a deep dark storm of insanity... both on the field and in the front office. Even the most novice fan can see we're fuct with our pants up, the worst possible way. I don't know if or when I may be able to write another piece of substance again this season. It's gonna take a big turn of events for that to happen, and at this moment I have no more words either way.

 

                                               

                                                                Bill S aka/netfather

 

Bet Howard doesn't need Bill to hit that!

Disappointed

  View From the Left Coast by a Lefty: Disappointed          

 

 

Through Sunday, 5/11, Mother's Day, I pretty much still don't know how to take this team. Physically, everyone seems to be ok. I am duly impressed with Rollins and Utley and have no issue with the play of either. While Howard also seems healthy I AM disappointed in his play a bit. The best way to describe him is inconsistent. Maybe that gets you Howard freaks off my ass, but I expect more. I know he's capable of MUCH more... if only the Phillies had a batting coach who was worth a shit. Yes, his hustle yesterday was noteworthy, but that eyelash play at first with E Young Jr could have been averted with 1) Asche not crow hopping and 2) Howard giving a full stretch. The man makes $25Mil/year, he is fair game and I don't care what happened last year. There are too many days in between "good games" and I don't mean 4 hits etc. In 34 games he is hitting .256 with 7HR and 21 rbi. Hardly MVP or $25MIL numbers either. Doesn't even equate to 100rbi/yr.

 

Shhh! Maybe no one will notice my stats

 

That's not all. As stated Utley(.333, way down from .486) and Rollins .274 no issues, performing as well as could be asked to. Same for Chooch at .279. Cody Asche is coming back from the dead, back up to .240 from just over .100 a month ago. Marlon Byrd has been steady all year between .275 and .300, thank god for him. Brown is back to pre 2013 numbers at .234 with 1 HR. Plus,

he is an average fielder with an average arm. I love Revere to death, but there is no defensive position for a spaghetti arm outfielder unless he hits .450 with 70 steals a year. All of this backs up their record at 17-19. Color me disappointed.

 

Gwynn is showing why he didn't play least year. Nix... meh nuff said. Mayberry .143, SMH. At least Nieves is earning his keep. I see nothing to make me excited for warm weather. Even given Howard's history of a slow start, nothing points to a possible 10 game winning streak anywhere in the lineup. I see .500 wherever I look realistically, although the talent level should dictate more and recently there have been signs of progress.

 

Lest we forget pitching.... Cliff has mostly been an ace. Burnett, even with his physical status, has exceeded expectations. Cole has shown signs of possibly being a top of the rotation guy lately, even though he mostly hasn't done shit since he hit the lottery excluding today's game. Kendrick has teased us with both good and bad, just like 2 years ago. Fausto has surprised me, even being up and down. And herein lies the problem... bullpen. Ryno has very few guys he can trust. Adams is a bust, Diekman can't throw strikes. Bastardo same, and when he does he sometimes get lit up. And those are the best. Papelbum gets a pass after coming back strong from his first outing. The rest of the pen is "who dat" and bleh.

 

I so wanted this piece to be positive after my last one. Certain points in the last week or two had me hopeful. Now I can best describe the season as disappointed, and not looking like anything better than last year. I'm getting too old to be looking at what I see and not being happy. If history holds my kids will be my age before we win another World Series unless big changes are made. Who's going to make them is the biggest question, and one I cannot answer.

 

                                                Bill S aka/netfather