A Note from Ruben...

Dear Philadelphia,

It is I, your once beloved, and often talked about, General Manager Ruben Amaro Junior. I have been with all of you for a while now, from highly touted prospect to major league stud to assistant GM and protégé of the Legend Pat Gillick. And here we are now. Where are we now you may ask? That’s a good question.

Up until about 2 weeks ago, I thought I was the toast of the city. I am the man who brought you almost everything that you people could have ever wanted.

You wanted the surgeon from Canada, and I brought you the man they call “Doc”.

You wanted the fun loving Cleveland kid with an attitude of gold, and I gave you Clifton Phifer.

“Oh no! We need more offense!” Boom, I give you the kid who loves post game eats, Hunter Pence.

The gap between Jimmy and I was not only between his teeth, but also between money and years of a contract. Yet, I closed the gap not only between his teeth (Liquid concrete did the trick), but also got the deal done.

Fast forward about 6 months, and we have our current state. You all look at me like some high school boy who wouldn’t know the difference between a 5 year, $40 million deal, and one of those damn Algebra problems about which train is going to get to some fictional stop before the other one does.

Well, I have some news for you. Not only do I know how to make the big deal, but I know how to answer that idiotic Algebra problem too. The answer: I don’t give a shit which train gets their first, because they are both going to Philadelphia and they both have some high price talent that I bring in while staying under the luxury tax.

You can all be mad at me as much as you want, but quite frankly, I don’t care. All I have done is what you ask and now, I can’t foresee lingering injuries to our major stars, and I am a pariah? I know I should be Ms. Cleo, but because I refuse to wear that awful psychic wrap on my head, I can’t see into the future. I mean with this hair would you wear anything on your head?

I put together an amazing bench behind our cast of talent that included some major power and some good matchup type hitters. Also, I brought in some good competition, which Charlie and I always believe drives performance. Injuries are one of those things that no one can predict, and even if I could, I have no more minor league pieces to trade. If you want to know why, see above. Also, because Big Bill Giles is riding me to make sure I don’t go over the luxury tax, I couldn’t sign anybody worthwhile in free agency anyway.

All I have to say to all of you Philadelphia is take a pill or start watching the Sixers, the bar is set much lower there. I have done all I can to help improve this club and it is just Spring Training, we haven’t even given this team a chance yet. We still have 3 starting pitchers who are capable of compiling 60+ wins, and then add in the solid 15 wins Joe Blanton is going to get us, and we are already right there (I know what you are thinking and yes, I am kidding about the Blanton total, I actually expect 20 wins from him also). The offense may not be the dynamo it has been in the past, but if Jimmy and Shane stay healthy, there is no reason we can’t produce enough runs to get the wins we need. And don’t forget, I am the magic man at the trade deadline so it is completely possible I can add one more piece at the end depending on what we need.

Before you start throwing beer on my car and calling for my head, remember I still have done more than any other GM has done for this team in years (unless you count Ed Wade as a member of the Astros). Be a fan, don’t be a critic, and trust in the lineup that we have. In time, all wounds will heal and if we can stay competitive until everyone comes back, we will be fine for the playoffs. We have a target on our back for a reason, we are still number ones in everyone’s’ minds.

If you don’t like what I am saying, go to CBP South and stay there.

Love always,

Ruben Amaro Jr.

A Vote of Confidence for Jimmy Rollins

Most Valuable "Playa"

Since the 2011 season has come and gone with the disappointment of the Phillies weighing heavily on the City of Brotherly Love, there is only one thing left for fans to do: Focus on the 2012 season. This, of course, is not new to Philadelphia fans because the day after the glorious parade down Broad Street in 2008, the Phillies’ faithful were already talking about improvements to be made so that there could be back-to-back championships in 2009. With that in mind, the most important decision for the Phillies this upcoming offseason (besides whether or not they have a closer next year) is what to do with 32, soon to be 33, year old shortstop, James Calvin Rollins. In order to make an informed decision, let’s learn from the past and see what another recent shortstop over 30 has done.

The most recent example of this scenario was for the illustrious Derek Jeter. Now Derek is definitely older than Jimmy when requesting a big pay day, but then again it is “The Captain” we are talking about here so he can make those demands. In 2006, at 32 years old, Jeter felt like a boy growing up in the Bronx again with his split looking a little bit like this: .343/.417/.483 14 HR, 97 RBI, 34 SB. We are willing to bet that if Rollins put numbers even close to this over the next 3 seasons, it would be well worth the money to give him the 5 yr deal right now. Some of the naysayers out there may say, “big deal he must have fell off after that”, and to that we reply, look at his splits the next 3 seasons: .322/.388/.452, .300/.363/.408, .334/.406/.465, respectively. We aren’t saying Jimmy is going to put up this type of numbers over the next 4 or 5 seasons, but it shows that a shortstop over the age of 32 can continue to thrive and succeed even as his age progresses.

Then there is also fielding to consider, because this is one of the most important parts of the SS position. Jeter has always had more errors than Rollins, but since he turned 32 in 2006, he has 53 errors in a five year period, which is an average of 10.6/yr. If you look at that over his life as a Yankee, that’s actually a bit lower than his career average of 13.6/yr. We know a lot of that can be argued by his possible decrease in range, but as long as errors continue to be counted as a stat, we will continue to use them in the argument. Plus, watch game film of Jeter and Rollins, you can see using the “eye test” that these guys are still quality defensive shortstops.

This past year, Jimmy showed that he can continue to be as productive as any point in his career. His splits this year were .268/.338/.399 which is extremely close to his splits in his entire career .272/.329/.432. His BA and SLG are a little bit down, but possibly the most important stat for a leadoff hitter, on-base percentage, was actually higher than his career average. When we compare these numbers to every other SS in MLB, Rollins finished 13^th in the league in AVG, 9^th in OBP, 10^th in SLG and, oh yeah, 5^th among all SS for homeruns. Jimmy has always been a catalyst and the Phillies have been able to score runs because of his table setting at the top of the lineup. If his OBP continues to stay at that rate, the offense has a fighting chance to score some runs going forward. The other factor here is Jimmy’s defense, which has always been stellar. In 2011, with 138 games, Rollins only had 7 errors…wow. Throughout his entire life as a Phillie, he has averaged 8.62 errors per season. Again, this season appears to be an improvement for his career average. If you look throughout the league, Rollins sits 4^th in the league in fielding percentage (.988) and tied for third in Major League Baseball with only those 7 errors. The argument for his range declining can be made, but again use the “eye test” and you can see that he is still a gold glove caliber type of player.

After those valuable insights, even Ben is running to tell Amaro how to handle it.

Our final argument for Jimmy Rollins is a sentimental one. Jimmy has been with the club since he was drafted, and he has gone through the good and bad of being a Philadelphia sports star. He dealt with the team when we were perennial losers (80-81 in his second full year with the club in 2002) and the ultimate joy in 2008 with a World Series trophy. He deserves to finish out his career here in Philadelphia whether it ends on a high or on a low. The low would be if he got injured and couldn’t complete his contract, wasting the team’s money on a yearly basis, but players are routinely playing much later now-a-days, even Raul Ibanez can contribute at 39. Age is not what it used to be and injury is something that can happen just as easily to a 22 year old as it can to a 33 year old. The high would be a record that Jimmy Rollins is close to reaching. The all-time Phillies career hits leader, Michael Jack Schmidt, is at 2,234 and Jimmy is a measly 368 hits behind him at 1,866. Even if we have to give Jimmy the 5 year deal (4 with an option), it would help the Philadelphia area retain a leader and all-time great for the club. With three decent years in those five years, James Calvin Rollins can easily reserve his rightful place in Phillies history as one of the best ever to wear the red pinstripes. Give him the chance to be one of the greatest players in Phillies’ history.

Change of Plans: Battle of the Bands at CBP tonight

Tonight at the Battle of the Bands:

Chase Utley and the Underdogs

"1, 2 Mic checkkkkkkk."

VS.

The DiamondHacks

We're not clever... 

In case you missed the numerous reports, the lineup for the Phils tonight should be interesting to watch. Howard is out due to what he is calling a "hand strain", Victorino started serving his two game suspension that shouldn't have happened, Ruiz is out due to "bruised testicles", and as usual Polanco is still out due to his sports hernia. All of these injuries at once leaves us three real mainstays Pence, Rollins, and Utley. I had to make Utley the lead man of the band of the three for obvious reasons. Rollins is still good, but not the leader like Chase, and Pence you may ask? Have you seen Pence throw? Have you seen Pence swing? Have you seen Pence run? Exactly, he gets the job done, but look at those three examples as to how awkward he is. Plus, he just makes us laugh way too much to make him the cover band. This motley crew will be facing a 15-3 pitcher Ian Kennedy who last time out versus the Phightins threw a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts. Soooo.... obviously it should be an adventure. Without any further blabbering... heres the lineup for tonight:

1. Jimmy Rollins, SS

2. John Mayberry Jr, CF

3. Chase Utley, 2B

4. Hunter Pence, RF

5. Raul Ibanez, LF

6. Ross Gload, 1B

7. Brian Schneider, C

8. Wilson Valdez, 3B

9. Vance Worley, P Complete Animal

ENJOY!

Remember When...?

I’m hoping that ‘Remember when…?’ catches on as a new weekly post, but in all fairness it probably won’t, so just enjoy this one.

Remember when about two weeks ago everyone was whining about the Phillies’ offense and crying that they weren’t really good?

-I remember, and it was completely ridiculous. (just being honest…)

OK. First thing is first. Hunter Pence is a great addition to the offense, and yes, the offense went from 4.3 runs/game before his arrival to 5.5 runs/ game since he’s been a Phillie. We’re also 6-0 in that span. None of us are complaining about that. Let’s be fair though – it has literally been only 6 games since we’ve acquired him and this small sample size has made everyone and anyone that was complaining shut their mouths. That doesn’t make any sense.

Does everyone also remember the fact that prior to Pence’s arrival the Phillies were…

Oh yeah, THEY WERE 64-39! I’m not totally sure, but the last time I checked being 25 games over .500 wasn’t a bad thing…?

Ryan Howard was quoted on TV a few weeks ago saying the offense ‘scored enough runs to win games.’ He was completely right. The offense, no matter how bad you want to make it out to be, was still good enough to win 25 more games than it had lost. It all really boils down to the fact that we just enjoy (as a city) picking on a team to try and get perfection. I love the city for being die hard and gritty and it’s a great thought, but perfection is never going to happen.

Another case.

Jimmy Rollins goofs up and doesn’t run out a ball that he misjudged on a game against the Rockies this week. What happens for the next two days on Philadelphia radio shows and TV broadcasts? We all trash-talk him. Jimmy has been with the Phils through good times and especially through bad ones for too many years to count. In fact, let’s count. He has been wearing red pinstripes for 1601 games. He’s not perfect, but the guy has been busting his backside for us for too long. Give him a break. He said he made a mistake. Came Clean. Let’s just get over it.

Now, we’ll be the first to admit that when someone screws up – we love screaming at the TV. Everyone that has ever met us can attest to that. Nothing makes us happier. But with the Phils, we have the Blue-Chip Dream Team. This whole squad is just a good group of guys that have fun, put their heads down, get to work, and love playing the game. Instead of whining about the little inadequacies, sit back and enjoy the show. It’s not going to last forever…

Oh, and don’t forget, baseball is the only job in the world where you can succeed 30% of the time and be a complete rock star...  So, perfection is clearly not everything here.