I was once hosting an event featuring Bob Costas and Royals owner David Glass, and I asked what was the reason for the massive increase in home runs in baseball. And someone in the crowd yelled: "Ricky Botallico," who was the Royals closer at the time.

Hey, is Kyle Kendrick firmly established as the luckiest major leaguer of all time at this point? Every year he seems to wind up in the Phillies rotation, and every year I wonder how.
Asked by: Mike C.
Answered: June 15, 2011

Mike Torrez. Strikeout rate was bad, walk rate was bad, ERAs were never good, but he was in the rotation for competitive teams for ten years and won fifteen games seven times.

I do wish most announcers would talk less. I grew up with Harry Kalas, one of the Scully school, but less talkative, and Richie Ashburn and both of them had a wonderful feel for when to talk or not to. They talked plenty, but did not fill the air with words and when the Phils had McCarver for a few years, you really noticed the change. Same with Chris Wheeler. I like Timmy Mac and Wheeler and Costas and the high-energy types, but given a choice, much prefer the Kalas/Jon Miller/Ashburn types who let you hear the game as well. During the Kalas/Ashburn years, while looking for a game, you had to be listening to tune into background noise as well as the game, since whitey and harry would let 5 seconds or more go by of fans rooting, the organ playing, etc. Always liked that. The new crew are fine and I like Larry Anderson a lot as an announcer and Wheeler is fun because he loves calling the games so much and brings so much info. but having had Kalas and Ashburn was special.
Asked by: Pete D
Answered: June 15, 2011

Kalashburn.

The B1G Piece wrote:Quick little update on the four pitchers:

29-14, 2.79 ERA, 1.077 WHIP, 4.932 K/BB, 8.594 K/9, 6.855 IP per start.

lethal wrote:

The B1G Piece wrote:Quick little update on the four pitchers:

29-14, 2.79 ERA, 1.077 WHIP, 4.932 K/BB, 8.594 K/9, 6.855 IP per start.

Prorate the wins and losses and that's top 3 in the Cy Young voting type numbers most years.

The B1G Piece wrote:Quick little update on the four pitchers:

29-14, 2.79 ERA, 1.077 WHIP, 4.932 K/BB, 8.594 K/9, 6.855 IP per start.

mozartpc27 wrote:Phils' recent success has dampened somewhat the "We need a right handed bat" talk, and if we assume that John Mayberry isn't the answer (though I'd still give him at least a platoon shot with Ibanez, but frankly I am beginning to wonder if Ibanez could even hold up his end of a platoon), any interest in Torii Hunter? I didn't realize he was a FA at the end of the season. This article suggests the Angels are in a holding pattern this year, and are perhaps even willing to sell. Hunter has a FNTC, but if he suspects he won't be back with the Angels, I don't think he'd veto a trade to the Phils. He's been having a down year this season, but in the previous three seasons with the Angels put up a 121 OPS+.

Think he could be had? And at what price?

mcare89 wrote:

mozartpc27 wrote:Phils' recent success has dampened somewhat the "We need a right handed bat" talk, and if we assume that John Mayberry isn't the answer (though I'd still give him at least a platoon shot with Ibanez, but frankly I am beginning to wonder if Ibanez could even hold up his end of a platoon), any interest in Torii Hunter? I didn't realize he was a FA at the end of the season. This article suggests the Angels are in a holding pattern this year, and are perhaps even willing to sell. Hunter has a FNTC, but if he suspects he won't be back with the Angels, I don't think he'd veto a trade to the Phils. He's been having a down year this season, but in the previous three seasons with the Angels put up a 121 OPS+.

Think he could be had? And at what price?

He's not a FA at the end of the season. Next season. No way.

mozartpc27 wrote:

mcare89 wrote:

mozartpc27 wrote:Phils' recent success has dampened somewhat the "We need a right handed bat" talk, and if we assume that John Mayberry isn't the answer (though I'd still give him at least a platoon shot with Ibanez, but frankly I am beginning to wonder if Ibanez could even hold up his end of a platoon), any interest in Torii Hunter? I didn't realize he was a FA at the end of the season. This article suggests the Angels are in a holding pattern this year, and are perhaps even willing to sell. Hunter has a FNTC, but if he suspects he won't be back with the Angels, I don't think he'd veto a trade to the Phils. He's been having a down year this season, but in the previous three seasons with the Angels put up a 121 OPS+.

Think he could be had? And at what price?

He's not a FA at the end of the season. Next season. No way.

Reading skills FAIL.

Although, with Ibanez coming off the books, and Oswalt too, in 2012...

mozartpc27 wrote:

mcare89 wrote:

mozartpc27 wrote:Phils' recent success has dampened somewhat the "We need a right handed bat" talk, and if we assume that John Mayberry isn't the answer (though I'd still give him at least a platoon shot with Ibanez, but frankly I am beginning to wonder if Ibanez could even hold up his end of a platoon), any interest in Torii Hunter? I didn't realize he was a FA at the end of the season. This article suggests the Angels are in a holding pattern this year, and are perhaps even willing to sell. Hunter has a FNTC, but if he suspects he won't be back with the Angels, I don't think he'd veto a trade to the Phils. He's been having a down year this season, but in the previous three seasons with the Angels put up a 121 OPS+.

Think he could be had? And at what price?

He's not a FA at the end of the season. Next season. No way.

Reading skills FAIL.

Although, with Ibanez coming off the books, and Oswalt too, in 2012...

•The Phillies "are making inquiries on established and pricey veterans" as they search for a right-handed hitting outfielder, reports ESPN's Buster Olney. We covered this topic on Monday, under the impression that pricey players were not a fit. If the Phillies do have these types on the radar, players like Michael Cuddyer and Ryan Ludwick could enter the mix in my opinion.