Gagne with a spoon

Last night, Christine was bemused by some Internet commenters who were howling for Ruben Amaro Jr.'s head because he signed Brandon Duckworth to a minor league contract. We couldn't believe that someone would rip a GM for signing a veteran to be organization filler at AAA. It's not like he was being billed as the backup plan in case the Phillies have an encore of the 2009 Brad Lidge.

No one suggested that Mr. Stinkypants has the slightest chance of being a significant part of the Phillies major league pitching staff. But one possible plan B for the Phillies will have me calling for Amaro's head. Here's Scott Lauber's account:

Last week, after the revelation that Brad Lidge had undergone arthroscopic knee surgery and may not be ready for the start of the season, I asked Ruben Amaro Jr. if the Phillies now need to find another veteran reliever for their already injury-riddled bullpen.

"Our needs haven't changed," Amaro told Philled In. "We're still going to try to create some depth if we can."

He indicated that the Phillies would continue to target mostly "low-risk, high-reward" pitchers whose price tag has dropped because they've received fewer offers than they anticipated. Essentially, Amaro is bargain-hunting.

In that spirit, the Phillies will send scouts to watch Eric Gagne throw today in Arizona, according to a sports-radio station in Quebec. (Big assist to Google for translating the report from French into something resembling English.)

Gag me.

Please.

With a spoon.

I can't imagine being more bitter toward a player who ultimately did not cost my team a championship. There's no indication that poor trade in 2007 hurt the eventual World Champions, but Gagne was horrible and his acquisition gave the Red Sox another mention in baseball's steroid scandal.

Don't do it, Ruben. With J.C. Romero, your bullpen has its fill of SoxandPhils with drug baggage.

More bad pitching acquisitions: Fangraphs proclaimed the winter of 2006 the worst ever in terms of contracts given to free agent pitchers. The SoxandPhils helped out with the $24 million wasted on Adam Eaton and Daisuke Matzusaka's $52 million contract. I still have hope the Dice-K gambit will pay off.

Today was so good, my animosity toward Gagne is subsiding

The Phillies and Brewers were knotted in a pitcher's duel for most of the day game, as the Phils tried to pull within one for the Wild Card - and an opportunity to tie in the nightcap - and the Brewers tried to thwart their challenger.

It was a tense affair until the 8th, when the Phillies got a healthy dose of crappy relief pitching, hammering a former Red Sox for three runs on a walk and three hits in one-third of an inning, leading them to a 7-4 victory.

And guess what? That crappy former Red Sox now working from the Brewers bullpen was not the goggled, roided, washed-up Eric Gagne. It was Brian Shouse.

The Brewers saved Gagne, whose awful performances for the Red Sox last year still haunt me even though they won the World Series, for mop-up duty. He got Carlos Ruiz to fly out to right. Corey Hart, who beat out Pat Burrell for the final slot on the All-Star team this year, turned it into a double play because Pedro Feliz ran from first base as if there were two outs. He's lucky that came at a forgettable moment in the game. But SoxandPhils was taking note.

There were two big blows in the game for the Phillies. In the 6th, down 3-1, it seemed like old times when Chase Utley got hit with a pitch to lead off and Ryan Howard knocked him in with a home run. We didn't get a picture of the Phillies two big bats celebrating at home because of another incident with a drunken fan.

Before I could log the play in my scorecard, I was knocked out of my seat to the ground. I didn't know what happened until I saw a drunk guy whose seat was in the row behind me laying in the row in front of me. Apparently he got "too excited" by the home run and fell - mostly on me, but a little on Christine, too. The park ushers neither checked on us nor seemed to care that there was a patron in the park too stinking drunk to stand up.

He kept talking with his friends, who thought his fall was awesome. Our season ticket neighbor leaned over to us and asked, "What's more annoying, having him fall on you or hearing him keep talking about it?"

Back to the game: While the fall kept Christine from snapping a photo after Howard's homer, she got the next big blast, a three-run homer by Shane Victorino in the 8th to put the Phillies ahead 7-4. (Pat Burrell had just driven in the go-ahead run with a single.)

On-field observations: Great start for Joe Blanton, seen to the right battling fellow fattie Prince Fielder. At first Christine was disappointed we were getting Blanton instead of Brett Myers, whom we still haven't seen live. Then she predicted Blanton would win and Myers would get shelled in the nightcap. Thankfully, that prediction didn't hold up. Blanton did his job - three earned on two walks and five hits with four strikeouts. Take out the first and fifth innings when the Brewers scored their runs, and he gave up one walk, hit by pitch and hit in five innings. ... ESPN's No. 2 Web gem today was Corey Hart's 5th inning catch. From the stands, it looked look an easy fly that he seemed to lose in the sun. ... Chase Utley played like an old-time scrappy second baseman. He had a sacrifice bunt and turned a couple of nifty plays in the field, including a double play in the 5th off of Hart. He fielded it, hustled to beat Jason Kendall to the bag and leaped over him to avoid a collision. It seemed like there would be no time to even attempt a throw to first, but he nailed Hart in plenty of time. ... Why is Charlie Manuel intent on blowing out Brad Lidge's arm? For the second time in two days, he brought him in a non-save situation, apparently forgetting he might need him for the night game.

Observations from the stands: We heard some singer outside the ballpark doing Sweet Caroline before the game. Christine wished harm on those who were singing along with him; I said he's just getting people in the mood for October. ... The Annville Cleonia High School marching band played some jazz standards on the field before the game - it wasn't explained why they were there. Joe Blanton was almost hit by a flag. ... The Phillies, with Burrell's help, handed out trophies for some kids' home run derby contest. The award was bigger than some of the kids and one poor soul (not pictured) got a broken trophy. Jamie Moyer and one of the ball girls also won this contest in their younger days. ... The Malvern Troop 7 Boy Scouts of America presented the colors. ... The Westminster Youth Choir sang the anthem with some bugle accompaniment. It got me in the mood for a fox hunt. ... "They're just torturing me right now," Christine said when the scoreboard featured Myers as one of the stars of the game. At this point, the Brewers still had the lead off of Blanton. ... Great name for the folk singer doing God Bless America - Ace Enders.

The other half of the 2008 World Series: The Red Sox head to Tampa just one game out after a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. The Rays lost to the Yankees 8-4. Jon Lester pitched really well; Jonathan Papelbon didn't. Papelbon's on our fantasy team; Lester's on our opponent's. His performance may knock us out of the playoffs. We'll find out tomorrow.

Phillies game 2: Great game by Brett Myers, a complete game 6-1 win on short rest. I'd wax poetic and probably remember writing him off with harsh words throughout the season, but tonight's post is long enough. Unbelievable. The Phillies, who control their own destiny, are tied with the Brewers for the Wild Card and trail the Mets - who blew it against the Braves in the 9th today - by just one with two full weeks to go. Can't wait to read the headlines in the New York tabloids tomorrow.

Fool me once ...

I don't think Theo Epstein read the Mitchell Report, which included this e-mail to Theo from one of his own scouts.

Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff ... Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the change-up to play as it once did ... Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne

After that e-mail, Theo still gave up three good prospects for a washed-up roider whose appearances down the stretch were downright frightening last year. Today, Epstein traded for another druggie, Paul Byrd. Usually this blog is happy when there's a new induction to the SoxandPhils fraternity, but I remember Paul Byrd standing in Fenway right before Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS answering to a report that he took HGH.

This deal won't blow up like Gagne did, but you'd think Theo would want to avoid players in the Mitchell Report. It sort of took some of the juice (bad pun, I know) from the excitement of 28-year-old knuckleballer Charlie Zink's major league debut.

Tonight's game: I'm sure that Zink won't forget his debut against the Rangers, although he will want to. There have been some who attribute his success this year to the fact that minor leaguers aren't exposed to knuckle balls; they say his stuff won't cut it in the majors. He started off with a perfect 1st, then watched his mates score 10 runs in the bottom of the inning, including two homers by David Ortiz.

The fun stopped there. This in-game musing on the Boston Globe's blog sums it up: "Has a team ever scored 10 runs in the first inning and lost?"

Answer: I don't know, but the Red Sox came too close for my comfort. They actually had to come back to win, 19-17.

Competitors: White Sox won, Rays losing and the Yankees are beating the Twins.

NL: The Phillies lead the Dodgers 3-1 in the 5th. Mets won; Marlins winning.

Williams, Yaz, Rice, Manny ... Jason Bay?

I'm nervous.

I can remember watching the television in shock at the 2004 trading deadline and seeing that Nomar Garciaparra was traded - not for Matt Clement, as was rumored - but for Orlando Cabrera and Doug Mientkiewicz. I knew Nomar had to go, but I thought he'd fetch more than an inferior shortstop and a no-hit first baseman.

Last year, I thought the Sox cinched the World Series by getting Eric Gagne.

Point is, I'm not the best at judging deadline deals when they happen. Turns out a lot of professionals aren't either.

It's looking like a three-way trade is possible, if not already done, by some reports, that Manny will be a Marlin, and we'll have Jason Bay, the pride of Canada, playing left field in front of the Green Monster - a spot largely tended by Hall of Famers for the past half-century.

If this is it, I thank Manny. I'm upset at some of the grief he caused, but I can't forget that he was a vital cog to two World Championships - including MVP of the great 2004 World Series.

But I also can't forget that these championships were as much a result of the complete organization, not just the star players. The front office has done some unconventional moves (see: Nomar, July 2004), but they've brought respect and winning to an organization that was pretty much patronized until 2003. The Red Sox survived losing Nomar, Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon. It will survive without Manny.

Some fans would take this trade - coinciding with the worst stretch of the season - as time to say "wait till next year." Screw that. I've seen this team come back from 0-3 against the Yankees and 1-3 against the Indians in their last two ALCSs. They're still defending champions until/unless they're eliminated. I expect them to regroup, reload and come out swinging.

It would have been nice for Josh Beckett to start the charge tonight, but he was shelled and the Angels beat the Red Sox 9-2, completing the sweep. Hope they're not overconfident when we play them in October.

On the bright side: The Phillies, behind a typically sturdy Jamie Moyer start, beat the Nationals 8-5 to reclaim first place by a half game as the Marlins beat the Mets. Moyer had career win number 240.

Our first tiff of the season

After railing against Carlos Beltran yesterday, Christine saw this nugget from Jonathan Papelbon:

If we're not the team to beat, I'd like to know who is. I think that our No. 1 thing is to stay healthy. If we do that, I don't know who can really compete with us.

Truth be told, I had read that quote before I saw Beltran's and didn't give it a second thought when I wrote:

Carlos Beltran has made a bold prediction: The Mets, with the league's highest payroll and probably the best team on paper, will win the division this year. The team that should win has no right making that pronouncement.

Clearly, the Sox have a higher payroll than any team except the Empire and possibly the Mets. And since the Sox won last year and have suffered no major losses in the off-season, it qualifies as a team that should win it this year.

So the question becomes: should Papelbon be talking like that, and is it hypocritical of me to have glossed over it? My gut reaction is that Papelbon has earned the right to say his team is the best until it's proved otherwise.

I disagree, on two levels.

1. I think Greg is being a hypocrite. He is willing to call out one player for being classless but not willing to do the same when that player is on his own team. What I think it boils down to is, and I have said this before, he is an apologist for his team. That’s not always a bad thing. I make excuses for the Phillies. I try to justify most of the things that they do. But I’m also willing to criticize and be upset with them when they say or do something stupid.

If my team won last year, I know I would be more critical of them and the things they say and do. I would hold them to a higher standard because they would be the standard that everyone else is trying to achieve. There would be no need for them to proclaim themselves the team to beat. Which leads into my next point.

2. What Papelbon said is not necessary. Greg has said that he thinks the Beltran statement is newsworthy because of last year’s choke.

However, if the Mets won last year, that quote would not exist. The Red Sox won last year, and Papelbon still said that. Why? What are you trying to prove? You won last year. You’re expected to win again this year. You can’t play underdog and act like you’re going to upset the frontrunner when you are the frontrunner.

Jimmy Rollins said the Phillies were the team to beat in 2007, and it surprisingly turned out to be true. He has predicted 100 wins for 2008, but is anyone really taking that seriously? I don’t think so. (But I hope he’s psychic, and they cruise to an easy NL East title this year.) The only reason why that is newsworthy is because of what he said last year, and he had to try and top it. But note what he didn’t say: that they are the team to beat this year. He does not have to say that because the first-place finish shows that the title goes through Philadelphia. He has not called out other teams and said they are not competitive, like Papelbon did.

I realize that all of the back-and-forth is mostly to get the fans fired up, and the Phillies-Mets rivalry is going to be ridiculous this year – both on the field and in the stands. It will be scary fun. But come on: Do Red Sox fans need firing up? Everyone loves a ballplayer who gives good copy, but Papelbon just comes off sounding pompous.

While Christine wrote this, I sat downstairs watching the ’07 DVD. One of the first omissions I noticed was all the Manny showboating and lollygagging when it looked like we were going to lose to the Indians. I didn’t blog back then, but I was very critical of him. If the Sox didn’t come back, he would have put us fans in a tough spot of dealing not only with a playoff loss, but also the media rightfully killing Manny for poor sportsmanship. And I was very mad at management when they traded Bronson Arroyo after he took a hometown discount to stay in Boston.

Papelbon is the closer of the reigning champions; he has the right to talk a little smack. He’s not playing an underdog card. He’s basically saying “We proved our mettle last year and until someone proves otherwise, we’re top dog.”

OK, maybe he didn’t have to shoot down the whole league and say no one can even compete with the Sox.

Other pitchers talking: Today was a big day for pitchers on the squawk box. First Curt ends his silence, saying he didn’t say anything for days because he didn’t want to be a distraction. Yeah, it’s less distracting if Curt, who’s been at the center of a firestorm over his medical treatment, keeps his mouth shut.

Nationally, of course, the big story was Andy Pettitte. Give him credit for actually taking questions for an hour instead of issuing a prepared statement. But not too much since we still don’t know if he’s given the whole truth or just what he thinks is provable by others.

And old friend Eric Gagne issued one of those bogus statements, apologizing for distracting his new team and lauding baseball for cleaning up the sport – although we’re told the statement he gave to the French-speaking media may have been stronger. He should have apologized for giving me heartburn during the playoffs last year, although management deserved that tummy ache for knowingly dealing for a roider.

And which pitcher isn’t having issues today? Kyle Kendrick.