Barber apparently gets some credit for Aaron Judge, so that's encouraging:

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/05/02 ... eny-murti/

Curious move on his part. Lateral move, former player who at his age wouldn’t be analytics driven in his evaluations. I could be wrong tho. I am about bringing in quality people regardless of what side of the aisle they are on, as long as there is mutual respect and a strong organizational hierarchy with defined roles.

Scouting director is a step up from cross-checker in any MLB org, no? Doesn’t seem lateral.

Yeah, definitely not lateral. He'll be in charge of the entire amateur scouting department replacing Johnny Almaraz instead of being responsible for just the East Coast as a cross-checker like he was with the Yankees.

My bad, didn’t read scouting director. I have Calvin on ignore. Game day decision.

CalvinBall wrote:Looks like we are going to hire Brian Barber for amateur scouting director according to Jim. Barber is the national cross-checker for the Yankees.

Yankees are good so I'm into it.

This is good news. I was hoping for anyone from Yankees, Dodgers or Astros.

azrider wrote:Curious move on his part. Lateral move, former player who at his age wouldn’t be analytics driven in his evaluations.

I'm curious as to what age would indicate he would be analytics driven in his evaluations. He's just two years older than Kapler, for instance.

I’m not sure being analytics driven is all that important for that position anyway.

ReadingPhilly wrote:I’m not sure being analytics driven is all that important for that position anyway.

I am 99% sure you’re being sarcastic here.

On Salisbury's podcast today, he said that the Phillies will go after Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg (if he opts out), but he thinks Cole ends up with the Angels.

Also mentioned Zach Wheeler, Rick Porcello, and Cole Hamels as guys the Phillies will be after and he thinks signing Wheeler and Hamels is realistic.

With regard to Hamels specifically: "I think there's a likelihood in my opinion -- and this is just my opinion -- I think they're gonna get Cole Hamels because I think he wants to finish here, I think ownership would love him to finish here, and I still think he has a lot to offer as a back-end starter... If you can bring him in as a #5 starter, I would take that and I think there's mutual interest there."

Really comes down to cost for Hamels.

if you brought back hamels he would likely be your #3 starter and Wheeler your #2

nola
wheeler
hamels
arrieta
eflin

obviously want to aim higher than those two..........

Hamels is such a no-brainer signing but he can't be their best pitching addition

MFP wrote:On Salisbury's podcast today, he said that the Phillies will go after Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg (if he opts out), but he thinks Cole ends up with the Angels.

Has anyone told Cole about our proximity to Hazelton though?

Bill McNeal wrote:

MFP wrote:On Salisbury's podcast today, he said that the Phillies will go after Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg (if he opts out), but he thinks Cole ends up with the Angels.

Has anyone told Cole about our proximity to Hazelton though?

Plus, he can hang out with Trout at Eagles games so there is no need to go to California to see him.

Eem wrote:Hamels is such a no-brainer signing but he can't be their best pitching addition

That was one point Salisbury kept driving home, that they need *at least* two additions to the staff. Seemed to be saying though that someone like a Zack Wheeler is the realistic level of what the best pitching addition will be with Hamels as the likely second guy.

Really don’t want to see Hamels end his Phillies career like Lee and Halladay did...

Hamels is aging better than both.

MFP wrote:

Eem wrote:Hamels is such a no-brainer signing but he can't be their best pitching addition

That was one point Salisbury kept driving home, that they need *at least* two additions to the staff. Seemed to be saying though that someone like a Zack Wheeler is the realistic level of what the best pitching addition will be with Hamels as the likely second guy.

Wheeler, theoretically, is great but he is hurt a good amount.

MFP wrote:With regard to Hamels specifically: "I think there's a likelihood in my opinion -- and this is just my opinion -- I think they're gonna get Cole Hamels because I think he wants to finish here, I think ownership would love him to finish here, and I still think he has a lot to offer as a back-end starter... If you can bring him in as a #5 starter, I would take that and I think there's mutual interest there."

The problem is, we already have two #5 starters in our rotation. We really don't have a place for Hamels. We need a legit #1 and a #3 (and Im not sure Wheeler qualifies as a #3).

Cole or Stras would be a nice #1 though. Get um.