2018-19 Phillies Off-Season News/Notes/Discussion

[andyb]

We are not doing too well in the Brantley (2/32) vs McCutcheon (3/50) online poll. Most think we overpaid, though I am guessing we preferred the durability for McCutcheon even though he is a year older.

[zambonir]

While one never really knows with these things there was also a lot of chatter about McCutchen's leadership. Also they probably think his walk rate will age better than Brantley's BA. Plus I would assume better (if still declining), defense.

I guess you could also view it as a vote of confidence in Williams.

[zambonir]

“Whatever happens in the off-season is going to be forgotten on May 15...”

Full quote is considerably different.

"Whatever happens in the offseason is going to be forgotten on May 15, and the only thing that is going to matter is wins and losses," MacPhail said. "You can have a great offseason, but if the wins and losses aren't there in May, you're in trouble. You can have what's not perceived to be an exciting offseason, but if the wins and losses are there in May, you're in good shape. That's what we have to keep in mind."

In other words if they sign Manny and play .400 baseball for six weeks fans are going to think Manny is overpaid and overrated and Klentak and Middleton are idiots. Or Kapler is. If they don't sign him and play .400 baseball, they will also think all those guys are idiots. But if they win...

As for the overall article, he's spinning the agents, not the fans, 'cause the fans aren't gonna buy it. But if it's true that the Dodgers only want to offer Harper a short deal and the Yankees don't want to give Machado a record-breaking deal, it's good spin.

[fish]

If they don't sign him and play .400 baseball, they will also think all those guys are idiots..

In that scenario I think they risk exposing themselves to vitriol typically reserved for JD Drew, the kind that really doesn’t start to erode for a decade or so. Whether they like it or not, the fans perceive that a promise was made, to back out on that and not seriously participate would be an insult.

If they win...it’s likely with a team most don’t believe in and we spend some portion of 6 months waiting for them to fail.

[tom81]

If they win...it’s likely with a team most don’t believe in and we spend some portion of 6 months waiting for them to fail.

Just like 2018

[Austinfan]

If they improve the defense, and the young pitchers improve because they're pitching 3 out innings instead of 4 out innings, the current team can probably win 90 games - last year's defense was historically bad, and really hurt the younger pitchers, who aren't as used to dealing with tough situations on a regular basis. The defense also hurt the bullpen, because starters didn't go as deep and the bullpen also had to throw more pitches due to bad defense.

[EDmuch]

You still have to score more runs than your opponent.

[Squire]

Just wanted to say that fish expressed my exact mindset way more eloquently than I could.

[bigegypt0417]

It seems to me that if the media is right and the Yankees aren't willing to bid 300 million or do the years machado asking for, it will be between two teams and how much they're willing to spend "stupidly".

I think it will take 325-350 million and 10 years...

[EDmuch]

Sounds like White Sox are not willing to go near the $350 million mark either. If that is the case, there is only one team left that is willing to do the years and the dollars, the team from the city on the banks of the Delaware. And of course I am referring to ....... Trenton. Just kidding, just kidding.

[bigegypt0417]

Sounds like White Sox are not willing to go near the $350 million mark either. If that is the case, there is only one team left that is willing to do the years and the dollars, the team from the city on the banks of the Delaware. And of course I am referring to ....... Trenton. Just kidding, just kidding.

If middleton wants to keep any semblance of credibility then he's going to have to offer stupid money...money that people may kill him for in 5 years.

[el-pietro]

Aren't they knocking that ballpark down soon?

[saycheese]

While Middleton gave the impression we are all in on Harper and/or Machado, MacPhail made it sound like there is a remote chance we sign either. In other words the Owner and the President of baseball operations are either not on the same page or MacPhail is playing bad cop to Middleton's good cop and MacPhail is guarding against bidding the highest but not getting the player still. Personally I just want transparency on that. If they do offer the highest and the player chooses to go elsewhere there is no blame in this. The Team made a run at the player but ultimately the player doesn't play here nothing you can do about that.

[EDmuch]

EP: They should knock it down soon. "New Comiskey Park" is over 30 years old by now. And it is one of those mid-70's fortress style ball parks. I only saw one game there and that was in the late 1980's. Even then it was not pleasant.

[bigegypt0417]

I don't believe MacPhail said anything about the odds...he did what he should do and publically say it's not the end of the world or the only way to get better.

[saycheese]

I don't think I said he reported odds, he tampered down expectations may be a better way of saying and he did come off as making it sound like its a remote chance they sign him. I think that is just the way MacPhail is. Either way his delivery was much different than Middletons.

[bigegypt0417]

I don't think I said he reported odds, he tampered down expectations may be a better way of saying and he did come off as making it sound like its a remote chance they sign him. I think that is just the way MacPhail is. Either way his delivery was much different than Middletons.

He simply said it wasn't the only path. I don't think the signing one of the two is remote.

I think people read into a comment like that where he doesn't speak in absolutes as whatever way they are thinking at the time.

[zambonir]

The JD Drew comparison is interesting but a lot more would have to go wrong for that to really stick. They'd have to fail to acquire any good alternatives to Machado or Harper, have a non-playoff season, and then do both of those things again in 2019 (i.e. not sign Arenado or Rendon). At that point even Trout wouldn't feel like a prize (and there'd probably be a new GM before then anyway).

There are also plenty of fans who would be against a $400 million contract, or don't even like Machado or Harper (or both). But they won't remember that if the team whiffs, I suppose.

This Rosenthal article almost makes me think the Phillies could still sign both Harper and Machado, but it definitely suggests they need to strike now. Waiting for 2019 not a good plan if it's also the Yankees and Dodgers plan.

Rosenthal: Allure of the 2019-20 free-agent class; Yanks...

[tom81]

Aren't they knocking that ballpark down soon?

I think you might be thinking of the other NJ riverfront city, Camden is knocking down their park not Trenton.

Campbell's Field

[el-pietro]

Yeah, Campbells field is what I meant. Its right across the river so I assumed thats what was being referred to. Didn't realise Trenton was on the Delaware too.