Unexpectedly, the Phillies and Cole Hamels stole a little bit of the sports page from the Eagles' big game today by agreeing to a three-year $20.5 million contract. The deal seems about right for each side. The real benefit is avoiding what could have been an ugly arbitration process, although Hamels will be eligible for one year of arbitration after this contract expires.
All in all, it's real good news for the Phillies, who still have unresolved contract situations with several players, including Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, Ryan Madson and Shane Victorino. Scott Lauber has a good recap of the Phillies' finances after the Cole Hamels deal. He thinks the defending champions will carry a payroll of $125 million - which could be $5 million more than the Red Sox. I think it was just yesterday that Christine said the Sox were as bad as the Yankees with payroll. {You're forgetting that you still haven't paid Jonathan Papelbon.}
Nick Cafardo: Another good Sunday read in the Globe with the rhetorical question of why certain teams (SoxandPhils) excel in the postseason while others (MetsandYanks) don't. He also thinks the Phillies want to get Ben Sheets (but he also had them in on Derek Lowe) and that Julio Lugo put on 20 pounds of muscle. I hope he didn't use J.C. Romero's frequent buyer card at the Vitamin Shoppe.
Football: I'm going with the Eagles and Steelers today. I don't want the Eagles to win, although the Phillies are rooting for them. Be careful what you wish for.
Showing posts with label Ben Sheets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ben Sheets. Show all posts
Jan 18, 2009
Sep 11, 2008
Final stretch
The Phillies took the first game against the Wild Card-leading Brewers tonight, 6-3. For the optimists out there, the win means the Phils still somehow control their own destiny for the final two weeks of the season. If they win their last 15 games, at worst, they will tie for a Wild Card slot.
Back to reality: The win places them three games behind the Mets for the division and three games behind the Brewers for the bonus slot - Ed Wade's Astros are also three games out. It's a tough slog, and they'll need to dip into their 2007 moxie to pull this out, something they've hardly done in 2008.
The one exception has been Jamie Moyer. Not his best performance tonight, but what do you expect from a gutsy 45-year-old who took the ball on three days rest. He gave up three earned on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Hopefully, young Cole Hamels took some notes on what it means to be a championship-caliber pitcher.
The offense - including a suicide squeeze by Carlos Ruiz - clicked tonight, which was a good thing for the playoff chances of the Phils and the SoxandPhils fantasy team. In our first playoff match-up, we're killing on offense but struggling on pitching. Our opponent had Ben Sheets, who was roughed up tonight.
Red Sox: They got a blow after being schooled by the first-place Rays this week.
Back to reality: The win places them three games behind the Mets for the division and three games behind the Brewers for the bonus slot - Ed Wade's Astros are also three games out. It's a tough slog, and they'll need to dip into their 2007 moxie to pull this out, something they've hardly done in 2008.
The one exception has been Jamie Moyer. Not his best performance tonight, but what do you expect from a gutsy 45-year-old who took the ball on three days rest. He gave up three earned on four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Hopefully, young Cole Hamels took some notes on what it means to be a championship-caliber pitcher.
The offense - including a suicide squeeze by Carlos Ruiz - clicked tonight, which was a good thing for the playoff chances of the Phils and the SoxandPhils fantasy team. In our first playoff match-up, we're killing on offense but struggling on pitching. Our opponent had Ben Sheets, who was roughed up tonight.
Red Sox: They got a blow after being schooled by the first-place Rays this week.
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