BAP: "I am extremely dubious that a hitting coach even makes any difference when it comes to major league hitters." Just wait til Brown is raking to start Spring Training and Gross is hailed as a savior. After all, surely it can't be a coincidence that the Phils started winning the VERY SAME DAY that they dumped Milt as hitting coach. (tongue firmly in cheek)

Um, great discourse fellas... Anyone read that Lidge article? Perhaps it's that overwhelming pessimism that I just never seem to be able to shake but a couple of things stood out to me: - Do we think it's a great idea that Lidge has been throwing every other day in the off season, just because he can since he didn't have to undergo surgery? Should we expect a dead arm in May or June? If he didn't have previous elbow issues maybe I wouldn't be as concerned. - His comments about BenFran were interesting. Not that he'd know any more than the rest of us, but he seems to indicate that Bennie is the guy and that "We’ll need Domonic Brown at some point." Interesting.

Surprised no real discussion about Pujols' contract deadline.

So we're more than 300 posts into an antiquated thread with no "jump to newest comments" link to speak of. Maybe if we can convince AOL to drop a few bucks to JW we can get another thread, or at least a link to recent activity?

Ok, so, no Michael Young. What's everyone think on maybe taking a flier on Sarge Jr.?

Cliff Lee, as a pitcher every 5th day, with his caliber, is such a wild upgrade that the spend and resulting "too many pitchers" is outweighed. Michael Young provides no sizable upgrade and the roster is limited to 25 men and 8 regular starters on the field. To use the Lee signing/duplicity to justify a Young trade is comparing apples to oranges.

A 162 game schedule, with only a night off/week or so, is damn grueling on anyone. But, take a body that's got some miles on it, with some previous injury history, and the odds of injury, serious, or just "wear and tear" are almost impossible to overcome. It's for this reason that catchers get the day game after a night game off, and 5 man rotations exist, etc. At any rate, we've historically bemoaned/feared injuries to Hamels and Werth, both because they've had injuries early in their careers and were feared as "injury-proned." If we can justify those concerns on 20-somethings (the Phils FO did, by hedging their bets with capable contingecy plans which thankfully weren't been needed), it's probably naive for us to assume that we can't and shouldn't expect that 2011 may harbor some time on the shelf for one or more of the 3 IF, as NEPP postures above. That's not pessimism, that's anatomy.

I know you were, Andy. I was being facetious. ANY discussion about Michael Young to the Phils is a waste of time and typing energy. I'd rather sit through yet another expose on the Winklevoss twins.

BTW, not that we can EVER be expected to stay consistent with JW's header, but any thoughts on a new thread? Maybe we can give up DeFratus and Mathieson for a new header about JRoll's yoga workout or somethin'?

Andy, are you saying that it's unlikely that Polanco, Rollins, Utley and Ibanez stay healthy for the entire season? What about 30+ (mid 30+, excluding Uts), players with a rash of recent injury history would lead you to believe that they wouldn't be able to play 162 each?

Jbird, not debating that the Phils will score some runs. What I want and need out of this lineup, however, is consistency. The best 4 pitchers of all time will still lose if we see the likes of that swoon of scoreless innings/games of the likes we saw mid last season. I still wake up in a panicked sweat some nights, with visions of that 000 graphic that JW posted last season. Yeah, the Phils scored runs. But when you score them in bunches after a game is already won, you can have Kyle Kendrick pitching left handed and be okay. It's those team-wide swoons that get nauseating.

In regards to the Gammons article, clearly he's lost touch. I mean, who the hell eats Spam for their Super Bowl party? Anyone? If so, I'd like to meet you so I can punch you in the neck.

If Michael Young were to come to Philly, and I pray that he doesn't, I can't help but get shades of David Bell and the vitriol/hatred directed his way. You'd be surprised the expectations with that kind of salary. Just ask Howard and his albatross of a contract, even though he hasn't yet laced up his cleats under its terms.

clout, I think you're right. If smart front office moves are the precursor to sustained success, I think it's a certainty. Although give Alderson a handful of years. The Mets will be back, but probably long after the pundits have long forgotten whatever clever nickname finally sticks for this Phils rotation.

CJ - "I'd love to see a comparison of ticket prices to attendance. The laws of supply and demand often dictate that the commodity in demand costs more. With consecutive sell-outs like the Phils have, why wouldn't ticket prices go up?" I'm pretty sure we're saying the exact same thing here. It's a certainty that ticket prices will go up. To take it a step even further, those who don't invest in season tix and rely on the secondary market (StubHub, etc.) are really going to be pinched due to the excess demand. Basically, right now, it can be pretty profitable if you're a ticket holder looking to make a few bucks. It says something when my 56 year old mother, who had to ask me what position I was playing after watching one of my HS games, knows who Cliff Lee is and has already penciled the Phils into the playoffs next season.

sifl, I'm right there with you on the offensive optimism, at least up until the point we see the first string of 3 straight left handed starters and show the rest of the league how valuable a semi-decent LOOGY is against this lineup. I'm all for the optimism, health pending, as long as we face a steady diet of RH pitchers. Sadly, I don't think the rest of the NL is that dumb.

Heather, not sure where the WW1/2 history lesson is coming from, but you might tread lightly or some will think that you're diminishing Bob Feller's service to our country. Even your staunchest supporters would think that's pretty classless considering that he just passed away (and served combat duty as a Gun Captain on the USS Alabama - hardly a cushy desk job).

awh, if the Phils are getting the lion's share of the ad revenue, then that's another story, as that is very close to essentially them owning their own broadcast rights. That would be a big revenue stream, whereby essentially the advertisers are supplementing ticket revenues, which should help. Call me somewhat skeptical, but I have been in business all my life. When demand is high (a la Phils tickets), margins are sure to be increased. It's the entire concept of dynamic ticket pricing that the White Sox are employing. I certainly understand and respect CJ's stance about not HAVING to make money year-to-year, but the Phils haven't been sold in years, and I don't think it's a coincidence that the top 7 teams in avg ticket prices last year (BOS, CHC, NYY, STL, NYM, SF, PHI) are also teams with higher payrolls. I know you might be shocked to hear that the lowest avg ticket prices were MIL, TB, KC. To say that ticket prices and payroll are not correlated is a bit misguided. At any rate, I hope you guys are right, but if I'm the Phils FO/ownership, why WOULDN'T I raise ticket prices with demand being so high (just like my payroll)?

So now that we got Cliff Lee, what's being done to lock down Franske, or has that ship sailed already and I missed it?

Whoever made the comment about Brown being in the opening day lineup, unless there's a lefty facing us, unknowingly was speaking about the elephant in the room. Why in the hell WOULDN'T any team find every way imaginable ensure that this lineup saw a steady diet of lefties (starters, LOOGY's, whatever)? If a platoon is counted on in RF, I'd love to be the right handed hitting portion of that platoon, as you'll see a ton of AB's. Realistically, this team is just begging all comers to toss lefties on the hill against this lineup. I love Brown, as much or more, than most on here and I'd love nothing more than to see him starting regularly. However, unless he can learn to handle lefties, it's going to be a long and offensively-challenged season as far as the hitting goes. Starting pitching cures many ailments, but this lineup still has some symptoms that need some medicine. BTW, is it still called a LOOGY, when he can be called on for more than just one out? We'll find out next year...

As far as the tax implications discussed on the last thread, doesn't it matter where Lee calls "home," i.e. his permanent residence, regardless of where he earns his income? Isn't that why so many athletes make their permanent residences in FLA (where there is also no state income tax)? I previously worked for a large corporation in NJ. They wrote my checks, even though I lived in Arkansas. I had to pay Arkansas state income taxes.

Nothing like signing Cliff Lee to rehash the trade of Cliff Lee. Thanks guys.

So, in a way, one of the best things to happen to the Phils was losing the NLCS last season?

I wish mvptommyd were around, just to see his head explode when the Lee signing went down, thereby taking his arbitrary Ownership imposed budget to clean up dog poo with it. One thing is for sure, though. The Phillies will NOT pay a luxury tax, no way, no how. I'm sure that's huge reason that Lee's deal was structured how it's been, with "only" $20M next year before doubling. So, if a Blanton salary dump is necessary, then it is what it is. However, don't discount RAJ trying to move other "abatrosses" (Ibanez?) as well. It's a dollars and cents mindset. We're now extremely spoiled with this rotation, but any other team would love to have a Joe Blanton as their #3, so let's not give him up for pennies on the dollar right away. Also, I can't help but think that upgrading the rotation by this magnitude somewhat diminishes the need for a right handed bat. I think this is Brown's job to lose (then, Gload/BenFran), pending spring training, with this move.

I guess the question that remains is whether or not the Phils can sustain their own TV Network, a la NYY and BOS. That's really the only different revenue stream that they have coming in and both of those teams have had escalating payrolls forever. I don't see any reason why the Phils won't spend where it makes sense to spend. They locked up a power hitting 1B, the most fundamentally sound 2B in the game and two stud pitchers, who have proven to be more than one year wonders (like Zito). What Cameron doesn't seem to be able to get past is the $'s tied up, without regard to the return on the investment. And by all accounts, unless some radical reversion to the old cheapskate mindset, I don't see where there isn't enough money and/or young developing talent to compete for a long time. This isn't like the New York Knicks where everyone is overpaid.