The Phillies are in a quandary, and it was on full view yesterday.
They got a leadoff home run from Jimmy Rollins, scratched out a couple more runs, and Cole Hamels and the bullpen made it stand up in posting a 3-2 win over the lowly Padres.
It gave them a series win, despite wasting a big-time effort from Roy Halladay Saturday night, when they did almost nothing on offense and lost, 2-1.
This is a team in serious need of some kind of shakeup, but the key cog in any possible deal was probably standing on the mound yesterday.
The Phils were unable to get a long-term deal in place for Hamels in Clearwater, meaning they would have to go into the season under the cloud of Hamels possibly playing out the last year on his contract and then hitting the free agent market.
The Phils have two basic choices here. They either have to sign Hamels to a new pact, or trade him. They can’t allow him to just walk away.
Right now Hamels would bring a king’s ransom. He just might be the best pitcher in a pitching-rich starting rotation.
But regardless of what they get in return, I’m not sure if the Phils can get value for Hamels. Pitchers like him do not come along every day.
The truth is that Lee and Halladay are not what you would consider young pitchers anymore. Lee is susceptible to injury, and questions have arisen about Halladay’s workload and his velocity. The Phils have not won one of their starts in weeks, which probably says more about their lineup than anything they did on the mound.
Hamels is in his prime. He’s a left-handed ace.
I hope Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn’t sacrifice him in a short-sighted shot at saving this season.
I don’t know when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are going to return to the lineup, or what they will be able to contribute once they do.
I do know this. Hamels might be the best left-handed pitcher in the National League.
You don’t just give that away.
This might just be a time for Phillies fans to batten down the hatches. We’ve enjoyed an unvelievable five-year run with this team. Saying this year so far has been a disappointment is an understatement.
Maybe it’s time to rally around the troops.
One thing I know about baseball. It’s a very long season. Being six and a half games out two weeks before Memorial Day is no reason to panic.
Nor to trade a franchise pitcher.
They got a leadoff home run from Jimmy Rollins, scratched out a couple more runs, and Cole Hamels and the bullpen made it stand up in posting a 3-2 win over the lowly Padres.
It gave them a series win, despite wasting a big-time effort from Roy Halladay Saturday night, when they did almost nothing on offense and lost, 2-1.
This is a team in serious need of some kind of shakeup, but the key cog in any possible deal was probably standing on the mound yesterday.
The Phils were unable to get a long-term deal in place for Hamels in Clearwater, meaning they would have to go into the season under the cloud of Hamels possibly playing out the last year on his contract and then hitting the free agent market.
Right now Hamels would bring a king’s ransom. He just might be the best pitcher in a pitching-rich starting rotation.
But regardless of what they get in return, I’m not sure if the Phils can get value for Hamels. Pitchers like him do not come along every day.
The truth is that Lee and Halladay are not what you would consider young pitchers anymore. Lee is susceptible to injury, and questions have arisen about Halladay’s workload and his velocity. The Phils have not won one of their starts in weeks, which probably says more about their lineup than anything they did on the mound.
Hamels is in his prime. He’s a left-handed ace.
I hope Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn’t sacrifice him in a short-sighted shot at saving this season.
I don’t know when Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are going to return to the lineup, or what they will be able to contribute once they do.
I do know this. Hamels might be the best left-handed pitcher in the National League.
You don’t just give that away.
This might just be a time for Phillies fans to batten down the hatches. We’ve enjoyed an unvelievable five-year run with this team. Saying this year so far has been a disappointment is an understatement.
Maybe it’s time to rally around the troops.
One thing I know about baseball. It’s a very long season. Being six and a half games out two weeks before Memorial Day is no reason to panic.
Nor to trade a franchise pitcher.
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