Phillies season 6

[PhillyGirl]

i LOVE hearing the Cubs lost. 

Then you'll love hearing that Prior was toasted.

[Mad-Lad]

i LOVE hearing the Cubs lost. 

Then you'll love hearing that Prior was toasted.

Prior toasted just adds to my happiness with that ball club.

- kerry wood (overrated as hell) is heading for a bullpen assignment
- nomar hasn't been a good hitter since his days in Boston and is coming off a nasty injury.

[MDS]

I watched the last 1.5 innings of the game. Looked okay. Now if only Houston could lose, we'd get somewhere.....

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

What a crazy start to the game:

J Rollins singled to center.
J Michaels singled to right, J Rollins to third.
C Utley walked, J Michaels to second.
B Abreu homered to center, J Rollins, J Michaels and C Utley scored.
P Burrell walked.
R Howard struck out swinging.
D Bell struck out swinging.
T Pratt struck out swinging.

So, Prior gets the first 3 guys on base, gives up a salami, walks Burrell, then K's the side.

The Phillies lost the rest of the game 4-2.  Ha.

[BigEd76]

2nd time in CBP history that an opposing team didn't hit a home run the entire series... 

[Don Ho]

I believe!, well, kind of.

[BigEd76]

Kevin Cooney, PhillyBurbs

It's August in Philadelphia and that generally means two things:

-- A couple hundred thousand people will cut out of work, travel to God's Country, to watch the Eagles sweat all over each other.

-- The city will avoid the baseball team like Bobby Abreu with a right field wall.

But why has this happened? A pet theory here is that there is no real connection with the organization on a personal level.

The Eagles, Sixers and Flyers are all filled with millionaires like the Phils. But for some reason, you can feel like you relate on a personal level to the other three.

The Phillies organization comes across at times like guys who resemble the late Ted Knight's Judge Smails character in Caddyshack. People who find time to christen sloops at the yacht club while sipping fine wines.

Are there some mysterious world championships stored in a closet somewhere? Some people in this organization certainly act like they are the Yankees. They don't act like a team that's won one title in 123 years.

The ownership group - aka "The Invisibles" - is composed of people who seem totally tone deaf to the wants and needs of its fan base. Just the idea that a contract extension with Ed Wade was leaked out there last week gives you all the indication about how the group is considering what its fans have to say.

Ironically, if there were one squad that never fit this city, it is this group. The players are - as a group - not all that accessible or friendly. (It should be noted that there are a few good guys in that clubhouse. Just not enough.)

And except for Chase Utley, who gets dirty? The catcher? The third baseman? The outfielders? Uh, no. Remember, Philly fans love dirtballs. With the exception of Utley, this group doesn't have any.

You can't slap street signs and a big neon bell around the park and try to sell yourself as Philadelphia. (Heck, you can't even see the skyline because of that goofy white sign in the parking lot.)

Fans here know a phony when they see it. And every August, they turn it off to watch the Eagles hit one another in 100-degree heat.

[BigEd76]

Randarino

A team source said the Phillies offered a two-year, $16-million deal with a club option last week while Wagner countered with a three-year, $24-million proposal that includes a no-trade clause.

"I don't want to get into what's on the table, but I expect the Phillies and my agent [Bean Stringfellow] to work out a deal," said Wagner...
.
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Wade asked Wagner to take a "hometown discount" while the team visited Houston last week and the pitcher agreed ... to a point.

By Wagner's views, accepting a extension for three years and $24 million would be a discount. Not only would he be accepting a $1 million per season cut from his current three-year, $27-million deal, but it's believed his market value on the open market would be significantly higher, probably in the $10-million per season range.

"I'm not going to shoot myself in the foot and take a whole lot less, but I'll give them a discount as long as it's done by September," Wagner said. "I think they'd be stupid not to realize that what I want isn't overpaying for what they say I am, a premier closer."

The no-trade clause is a must for any deal, Wagner said.

"I don't want to keep hearing my name in trade rumors every year," he said.
.
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It's believed the Phillies' initial proposal was for $6.5 million in 2006, $7.5 million in 2007 and either a $8 million club option or $2 million buyout in 2008.

[PhillyGirl]

Wow, I never in a million years thought they were going to sign him to a new deal. I actually LIKE this. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

Sign Wagner, Wade. Quit fiddling with you balls and sign the man to a contract. Give him a FNTC and get the deal done.

I still get a good laugh at Billy's agents name - Bean Stringfellow?

[Wingspan]

Bean Stringfellow

'

[rjs246]

I think you can probably add Wagner to the one-man list of 'dirtballs' on the phils that fans want to relate to.

[PhillyGirl]

I think you can probably add Wagner to the one-man list of 'dirtballs' on the phils that fans want to relate to.

Nah, Todd Pratt goes on that list.

[Wingspan]

Wow, I never in a million years thought they were going to sign him to a new deal. I actually LIKE this. 

not me...not 3 years. and absolutley NO no trade clauses.

it's is obvious that wagner is losing ever teenie so much on his fastball. last year he was lights out...this season, not so much (at times, recently he seems back on it). he's still for right now very good, but he's 34 right now. you put a 3 year no trade on him, you really think his fastball will be the same when he's 37 years old?

this will be another mike leiberthal if you put a 3 year no trade.

oh, and espn radio reported yesterday that Ed Wade's contract (by process of a clause in his existing contract) was just renewed for 2 more years.

(apparently the clause was he needed to be notified 60 days before the end of the season that his contract would not be renewed, he wasnt notified, therefor ed wade will be around for another 2 years at least)

[MURP]

I agree Wingspan.