Q: On Watching the Phillies in
Southern California, from Jaclyn Mestichelli,
Los Angeles, CA
Hey! CD, I am a die-hard Phil’s
fan living in Los Angeles. I was
wondering if you knew anywhere to watch Phil’s games with other phans who love
the Phillies?
CD says...
Welcome to So.
Cal, Jackie, if you have just moved here. Actually, we do have a place where
Phillie fanatics can come and feel right at home, almost as if they were back in
the City of Brotherly Love! It’s called Philly Grill, and its located on Chapman
Ave. in the Anaheim-Irvine area.
They specialize in Philly Steaks, and
have Philadelphia sports memorabilia all over the place. They not only have 4
screens showing Phillie, 76’er, Eagles or Flyers games, but the crowd is almost
totally a Philly fanatic crowd. It’s one place in Southern California where you
can fully relax while watching your favorite team, never having to worry about
offending Dodgers or Angels fans, there won’t be any!!
Hope this helps,
and if any of my other Southern California readers know of another great Philly
hangout, please send me an email and I will be happy to pass it along.
Thanks for joining the Pulse, Jackie, and it’s a great way to feel close
to Phillie action, from either side of the coasts.
Q. On Signing Placido Polanco to a long-term contract, from Dominick Patrone, Richmond, Virginia
Hey! CD, I know that
the Phils have said that they intend to offer Polanco a one-year deal. How would
you read it if the Phils suddenly announced that they had signed him to a two or
three-year deal? Any thoughts on this?
CD
says…
Dominick, my friend, I suspect I understand where this question is
headed, and I agree with you! I think you feel that if the Phils give Polanco a
multi-year deal, they intend to keep him at second base, and in the
process, make Chase Utley a prime candidate to be traded.
This is very
perceptive on your part, and it would be very revealing on the part of the
Phils. Giving Polanco a multi-year deal insures that he will be
their second baseman for the duration of his contract, and would make Utley
a very talented player with no position to play.
If you have read a few
of my articles, you are aware that I believe Utley is already being quietly
shopped for a third baseman or young catcher. The Chase Utley saga is both
a very fascinating and bewildering one.
Nearly everyone in the Phil’s
organization fully acknowledge that Utley is the best young hitter in the
system. He is a .300 hitter waiting to happen. Unfortunately, his defense is
average at best, and he now plays on a Phillie team with a defensive-minded
manager.
One can only speculate on how a more offensive minded manager
like Danny Ozark or Jim Fregosi would have used Utley. Chances are, second
base would be his to lose, and instead of wondering what uniform he will be
wearing in April.
Personally, I think that unless the Phils obtain a top
notch, young third sacker or catcher, I would be remiss to trade Utley.
Although certainly not in the Ryne Sandberg-Julio Franco class, he will someday
make the Phils regret they gave up on him so easily unless they are
careful.
Nevertheless, back to your question… as transparent as the Phils
generally are, and this is no criticism, a multi-year deal for Polanco would be
a not-so-subtle admission that Utley’s days as a Phil are numbered. If Polonco
receives the anticipated one year offer, then this may indicate that the Phils
still view Chase as their second baseman of the future.
Great
question, Dom, and I hope this sets the stage for what may happen soon with
Polanco and Utley.
Q. On the Future Destination of Ryan Howard and a
Possible Trade for Adrian Beltre, from Nilesh Seshadri
Hey! CD, in your
recent article, “Penny for My Thoughts,” you mentioned that young slugger Ryan
Howard would probably be traded.
You also indicated the Phils might trade for Adrian Beltre. Could you
elaborate on both potential moves?
CD
says...
Appreciate your return visit,
Nilesh, and I would be happy to answer both questions. As far as Ryan Howard is
concerned, his dilemma is quite simple. He plays first base in an
organization with a first baseman signed for five more years.
Clearly,
the Phils intend to play Jim Thome for as long as his achy back allows, and it
is assumed that they hope to get at least four more productive years out of his
services. Howard, on the other hand, plays only first base, and should be
ready for the major leagues sometime in 2005.
This presents a potential
problem for both Howard and the Phils. Though they have more than one possible
solution, the most logical one is to trade Howard for a top young player, and
preferably someone who can eventually play everyday.
No less an
authyority than Phil’s top hitting coach, Charlie Manuel, compares Howard to a
young Willie Stargell. This is high praise indeed, and not without merit. Howard
generates great power from the left side of the plate and will someday be a 30
home run hitter in the big leagues.
In an ideal world, Howard would be
given an outfielder’s glove and learn how to play left field. Unfortunately,
this is not an ideal world, and Howard remains a one-position player. So, watch
for the Phils to let him play daily at Reading this year, and then if he has an
outstanding season as expected, watch for the Phils to begin soliciting bids for
his services next fall.
Now, as far as the Beltre situation is concerned,
this is what I know. I know the Phils have begun quietly suggesting that with
the signing of Doug Glanville, they may be reluctantly inclined to trade either
outfielder Jason Michaels or infielder Chase Utley. They have also quietly
suggested they might be open to moving both players in the right deal.
I
also know that despite comments to the contrary, David Bell is still a major
question mark to be ready to play this spring. After having previously announced
that he would be cleared to hit in January, that timetable has now been moved to
February.
Not so coincidentally, Spring Training opens in February, and
the Phils must be nervous about Bell’s future availability. If Bell can’t play,
the Phils can platoon Shawn Wooten and Chase Utley, or they can look to trade
for a third baseman.
Since they are beginning to float the rumor of
possibly trading Michaels and Utley, one can easily assume they would be
interested in a young third baseman at a reasonable cost. Out here in Southern
California, the Dodgers have financial problems, an arbitration case with
reliever Eric Gagne that will cost millions, and a potential arbitration problem
in Beltre.
The Phils have long been interested in him, and its possible
that the interest may soon become mutual. The Dodgers are badly in need of some
young and relatively inexpensive talent. It would not take much imagination to
suggest that a Beltre for Utley and Michael’s deal might make sense for both
parties.
Please note that this is my suggestion, and I have not
specifically heard Beltre’s name mentioned. However, let’s assume that the Phils
might be interested in a young third sacker. Some interesting names besides
Beltre would include Cory Koskie of Minnesota, Joe Crede of the White Sox or
even Aaron Boone of the Yankees.
The David Bell story will be the most
closely watched situation this spring. How it plays out, and what the Phils do
to make sure it plays out well, could be a major factor in the eventual finish
of the Phillies in 2004.
Thank you for the question, Nilesh, and stay
with the Pulse throughout the 2004 baseball season!
Q. On Tony Curry and
His Election into the Bahamas National Hall of Fame, by Scott Lusby,
Oregon
Hey! CD, I know that
you are a big Tony Curry fan, and I was wondering if you know that he was
recently inducted into the Bahamas’ National Hall of Fame? His election took
place on November 22, 2003 and is quite an accomplishment for this former
Phillie. Any comments on this?
CD says…
Ah, Tony Curry!! We all have our childhood memories, and
mine would not be complete without memories of my love for a young and
relatively obscure outfielder named Tony Curry. By the time I really knew who he
was, his candle had already flickered out with Manager Gene Mauch, a victim of
poor defense and sub par baseball instincts.
I have every Tony Curry
baseball card ever made (there were 3!) and I still think his rookie card was
among the most colorful I ever saw. For those fans unaware of Curry, he was a
rookie outfielder in 1960, one of four outfield rookies on the team.
He
joined Johnny Callison, Tony Gonzalez and Ken Walters in a platoon system that
eventually eliminated both Curry and Walters. Yet, for one brief shining moment,
a moment that last about three months, Curry was a star, with a batting average
well above .300. Mauch even talked
in glowing terms about his young left fielder.
In fact, he made the
Topps All-Rookie Team, though his .261 average was a drop of nearly 70 points
from his high-water mark of over .330.
By the following spring, the spring of 1961, when I first discovered
Curry, he was reduced to a pinch-hitting role. He is still mentioned as one of
the worst fielding outfielders in Phil’s history.
He was gone by June of
1961, and briefly resurfaced in Cleveland. Out of baseball for good in 1968, he
returned home to the Bahamas, where he still lives. His story has been a sad
one… of illness, and neglect. He is one of baseball’s forgotten players, the
one’s that the Major League Player’s Union doesn’t want to talk about.
His induction into the Bahamas’ National Hall of Fame, as a baseball
player, is a great tribute to a player who might have been born 20 years too
soon. Blessed with great speed and skills, he was more a victim of poor coaching
than weak baseball skills. Brought up much too soon, after a wonderful year at
Reading in the Eastern League, he is still a link to a period in Phillie history
that produced far too many losses, and far too few success stories.
My
hats off to this selection, and to a player who bridged my early childhood
memories from the miseries of 1961 to the glory that was 1964.
Thank you,
Scott, for your continued remembrance of one of our favorite players. Hope this
is a fitting tribute to a player we both enjoyed following in our
childhood.
Q. On the State of the
National League, from Alan Stager, Tampa FL
Hey!
CD, with
the off-season moves of the National League nearly complete, who do you rate as
the most improved, least improved, and how do you see the divisions stacking
up?
CD says…
Welcome back to the Pulse,
Alan, it has been much too long since we saw you! Your question is a timely one, given the
fact that most teams will report to Spring Training in less than four weeks.
Here is my assessment, with a couple caveats.
I will assume that veteran
right-hander Greg Maddux eventually signs with the Chicago Cubs.
I also
will assume that catcher Pudge Rodgriguez does not sign with a National league
club, and instead signs the four-year deal with Detroit.
Should Rodriguez change
his mind, and either return to Florida, or surprise everyone by signing with the
Cubs or Giants, everything changes.
Even so, I do not see
Pudge returning to the NL, and I do believe the Cubs will sign
Maddux.
Given these assumptions, I would rate the Astros, Phils, Padres
and Cubs as the biggest
off-season winners in the NL. I would also rate the
Braves, Marlins, Giants, Dodgers and Expos as the biggest losers. The D’backs, Cards, Brewers and Pirates
were tiny losers, and the Reds, Rockies and Mets improved slightly.
From
my vantage point, the Astros seem to be the favorite for the World Series in the
NL after their free-agent singings of pitchers Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens.
With those two added to a staff of Roy Oswalt, Wade Miller and Tim Redding, this
team is nearly slump proof.
They will need to be as the Cubs are not too
far behind. Maddux adds so much guile and talent to a young corp of Mark Prior,
Kerry Wood, Matt Clement and Carlos Zambrano. Only the absence of a lefty starter
could derail this group.
As for the Padres, I like what they have done.
With the late season acquisition of Brian Giles, the return to health of Trevor Hoffman and Phil Nevin, and the continued improvement of youngsters, Adam Eaton,
Sean Burroughs and Xavier Nady, this is a very talented team. Add to this, the excitement of a new
stadium, and the ingredients for a first place finish in the NL West are all
there.
As for our Philadelphia Phillies, improvement has been marked and
steady. With the return of righty
Kevin Millwood, and the additions of pitchers Eric Milton, Tim Worrell and
Roberto Hernandez, along with versatile slugger Shawn Wooten, the Phils are
primed for a first place finish in the suddenly depleted NL East.
Here
then, are my early predictions for the standings of the National league in 2004.
Please keep in mind that injuries, trades and rookie surprises make predictions
risky at best.
However, as of today I would rate the four-playoff
contestants in October to be the Astros, Cubs, Padres and Phils. I think the
Cubs come in as the wildcard entrant.
I think the Phils beat the Cubs,
and the Astros defeat the Padres. I then think the Astros advance to the World
Series for the first time with a hard fought 7 game conquest of our beloved
Fightin’s.
Though standings are again
subject to change, here would be my guess this late January evening.
I think the NL West looks
something like this… Padres, Giants, D’backs, Dodgers and Rockies.
The NL Central will be the
strongest division and look something like this… Astros, Cubs, Cards, Reds,
Brewers and Pirates.
In the NL East, it looks to me like the Phils are
the class of the division, with the Braves, Marlins, Mets and Expos following in
that order. If the Phils stay healthy, and Pat Burrell rebounds to form, the
Phils look to be about 10 games better than the Braves.
Take care, Alan,
and write these picks down and let’s see how close I come to the actual finish!
And
to other co-fans, how about sending me your picks…your feel for the
PhilliePulse? I will post some of your predictions just prior to opening day in
early April!
As
usual, thank you for your continued patronage and the undying interest on our
beloved Phillies. Keep the questions coming and I’ll keep responding. Until next
time!
CD from the Left Coast