What??

I had a busy day at work and was constantly running around.

At one point I quickly checked my e-mail and saw Christine sent me a message with the subject of "What??"

For some reason, I thought it was something personal. You know by now it wasn't, or I wouldn't be mentioning it here. It was:

Burrell traded to Mets

By: Tom Haines
phillyBurbs.com

Former Phillies outfielder Pat Burrell has reportedly been swapped twice this morning, eventually landing with Phils division rival the New York Mets. The Tampa Bay Rays traded the slugging left fielder to the Chicago Cubs then the Cubs dealt Burrell to the Mets. Names of other players involved in the deals were not immediately available.

I repeated Christine's "What??" out loud. Fortunately, none of my cubicle neighbors questioned what had disturbed me.

A few minutes later I bumped into a Mets fan who hadn't heard that the Mets were getting Pat the Bat. ESPN.com didn't have a story, and a quick Google search yielded Mets deny reported Burrell trade:

A club official shot down the report, saying that the report was uncategorically false.

Ouch.

Phillyburbs.com has removed its story.

Red Sox: SS/P prospect Casey Kelly will no longer be bipolar and will focus solely on pitching. ... We signed a Texan, Scott Atchison, who had been pitching in Japan. ... And Terry Francona is confident he will have a left fielder by spring training:

I'm sure when we head down to Fort Myers we'll have a left fielder. We always do. They're really good about that. We're amazingly consistent in that every year we always have a left fielder and I'm guessing we're going to have one this year, too.

Phillies suck

For once I can use this title without complaint from Christine, although she will point out that it is because the Phillies don't stink that we have a beef with the organization right now.

For more than a decade, way back since we were in college, Christine and I have always seen the Red Sox at least once every year they have had a series scheduled in Philadelphia. Similarly, we've always made it a point to attend Fan Appreciation Day - the last Sunday home game of the year. Christine thinks we may have skipped one in the few years between graduation and marriage, but I'm pretty sure we've had perfect attendance.

But now, the Phillies have pitted two of our family's oldest traditions against each other. Their new rules for six-pack tickets include either a Red Sox game or Fan Appreciation Day, but you can't get a six-pack with both a Red Sox game and Fan Appreciation Day.

What a crock.

Yes, I know that winning sometimes has negative consequences such as price hikes, fewer available seats and even **gasp** a new breed of pink-hat-wearing fans, but this is ridonkulous.

As a consequence, Christine and I are in serious negotiations deciding whether to succumb to the Phillies' marketing trap and just buy the entire Sunday plan like we did in 2008. Hey, maybe doing so will jinx another World Series, and maybe we'll jinx something else even better.

Today: I hung out with my buddy Joe Wolf's Vertical Jump while Christine attended his wife's baby shower. Along with the usual baby gifts, we bought a set of Washington Nationals baby garb for the baby. Poor kid - he's going to inherit my name and possibly his father's love of a hapless team. But at least he'll have a lot more character than a brainless Yankees fan.

I underestimated Harry

Growing up in the suburbs of New York in the 1980s, I never really understood the fascination with Phil Rizzuto. He was a character, but one who shirked his responsibilities to call the baseball game. He was more interested in beating the traffic across the George Washington Bridge than the on-field action. He didn't even know yet that he was one of the most overrated players of all-time.

So when I transplanted to the Philly suburbs, I guess that context helps explain why it took a while for Harry Kalas to grow on me. Now I know I was wrong.

I couple weeks ago, I asked Christine whether the Phillies would put up a statue outside Citizens Bank Park for Harry. She didn't think they would because they dedicated the plaque outside the broadcasting booth and named the booth after him, and the restaurant in the ballpark bares his name. All the statues are of players, she noted.

This morning, I told her that because it was a slow news day, I was going to write about a story that popped up yesterday about how a rogue group is proceeding on a Harry statue. She dismissed this group, saying if the Phillies choose to do a statue, they will handle the details. She also repeated that all the other statues are for players.

I don't think that should preclude an honor for Harry because he is more important to the Phillies brand, franchise and fans than anyone who has actually worn the uniform, from Mike Schmidt to Jimmy Rollins.

Christine then reminded me of one of our first blog posts in which we ranked the Red Sox, Phillies and SoxandPhils in the Hall of Fame. I wouldn't let her rank Harry:

When Greg asked for my favorites, I immediately asked if I could include Harry Kalas. He doesn't have a plaque in the main hall, he's just in the broadcaster's section, but if he did count, I think he would be battling for the No. 1 spot.

I don't know if I would change my mind because we were ranking on-field talent, but I would be would be more understanding of her argument.

Sufferin' succotash! Sox sign shortstop Scutaro

Last night, I kind of dismissed reports that the Red Sox had Marco Scutaro work out for them. I thought it was just due diligence. I was shocked - and disappointed - this morning to see he is now our shortstop for the next two years, keeping the position warm until 19-year-old Jose Iglesis is ready for the major leagues.

Statheads are split on this one: Rob Neyer approves; FanGraphs, however, suggests that the Fenway faithful won't be pleased when Scutaro plays like he can, not as if he is the starting shortstop of one for one of the game's premier franchises.

Count me guilty as charged, although I'll give him credit for chasing a trophy instead of the dollar:

"There was a team that was making a real good offer, but I can say this, I took a little less money just to come here, to have a chance to win a ring," he said.

I also hadn't considered what this deal means for Jed Lowrie, once considered a solid prospect:

Where does this leave Lowie?

It's up to him at this point. He can win a bench job in spring training and push for playing time. Theo Epstein chose his words carefully, saying the Sox still believe in Lowie. But actions speak loudly in this case.

Christine will take delight in calling my new shortstop Scooter.

One more Placido Polanco note: I love the anecdote about how his son still wore his Phillies jerseys throughout his tenure on the Tigers, but I'm not buying it. The kid is 6 years old, how would a jersey from four years ago still fit?

PP phones home

When I woke up to headlines that the Phillies may soon sign Placido Polanco to replace Pedro Feliz at third, I immediately thought of last offseason when I ripped the Phillies for signing Raul Ibanez to replace Pat Burrell. They were similar players, except Ibanez was older. I didn't like it.

Polanco and Feliz are essentially the same age, and Polanco, whom Christine dubbed PP in his first stint as a Phillie, is the better player. There is no doubt PP is the much superior hitter, but he was adequate at second base and will be expected to replace Feliz, an exceptional third baseman who may be one of the best ever. (I wouldn't go that far, but someone who knows more about the subject, Michael Jack Schmidt, said so on WIP this morning.)

Perhaps Polanco will play an adequate third base and no one will miss Pete Happy, but again, I just don't understand how one year for Feliz at $5 million was deemed extravagant while three years and $18 million for PP is considered a bargain.

Oh, and back to the Ibanez comparisons, of course I didn't know that Raul recruited his neighbor to Philadelphia:

During his press conference today at the Bank, Polanco said he resides two blocks from Raul Ibanez in South Florida. About two weeks ago, Ruben Amaro Jr. paid a visit to Polanco, letting him know the Phillies were interested in reacquiring him to play third base. From there, Ibanez became the club's chief recruiter, encouraging Polanco to rejoin the Phillies.

"We work out together," Polanco said, "and he said [Philadelphia] was better than what I told him."

So don't count me thrilled that PP has joined the ranks of Doug Glanville, Jose Mesa and Ricky Bottalico as players with more than one stint with the Phillies.

Christine was upset they got rid of Feliz, but she liked Polanco when he was a Phillie and will reserve judgment until she sees PP take some balls at third.

Rob Neyer and Beerleaguer.com approve of the signing.

Other news: The Red Sox may also sign an infielder similar to Polanco - similar in that I won't be happy with the acquisition and Christine will like his name: Marco Scutaro. ... And a day after the Braves signed former Red Sox reliever Billy Wagner (also a SoxandPhil), they locked up Takashi Saito. No word when the "Former NL Closers Who Briefly Pitched for the Red Sox Caucus" will have its first meeting in Atlanta.

B-Wags returns

Billy Wagner isn't returning to the Red Sox, but to the NL East, where he will get at least $7 million over one year from the Braves.

Despite an excellent - albeit very small sample size - return from injury this year and statistical projections for a solid 2010, I can't believe B-Wags was able to secure such a decent offer. I was convinced that he wouldn't be able to get a deal like this and would reluctantly accept the Red Sox arbitration offer.

Oh well, we got a nice month out of the SoxandPhil and will get two draft picks in exchange for Chris Carter.

I'm sure the Red Sox aren't upset that Wagner signed elsewhere. As Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald notes:

It worked out well for both sides. While the Sox get their picks, Wagner gets a team he can close with. The 38-year-old has made it clear that he hopes to earn 40 more saves to pass John Franco as the all-time save leader among left-handed pitchers. He was sharp with the Sox in the 13 games in which he appeared, compiling a 1.98 ERA in a setup role. The performance, coming off Tommy John surgery, helped Wagner land the deal with the Braves.

I'm not so sure, however, that the Braves won't regret keeping Mike Gonzalez or Rafael Soriano instead.

Remind me: Next year, I'm not getting out of bed on Dec. 2.

J-Roll may no longer be top SoxandPhils shortstop

It's no secret that the Red Sox have struggled to find a permanent shortstop since trading Nomar Garciappara for an elusive World Series Championship in 2004.

They've been through Orlando Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Julio Lugo, Jed Lowrie and Alex Gonzalez twice. But now, a new name has surfaced: Dustin Pedroia.

While he's clearly the best second baseman in the league (American, I know Chase Utley is better), he is gung-ho about the possibility of shifting to short and intent on mastering the position.

In the true spirit of SoxandPhils, he isn't focused on Jimmy Rollins, but the overrated Derek Jeter:

"When the idea of moving back to shortstop was floated to me, I welcomed it," Pedroia says. "I'm excited. Tell Derek [Jeter] to enjoy the gold glove and silver slugger awards while he can. Obviously, I'm not serious about the fun I have with Derek, but I'm never stopping believing in the goal. I believe I can play shortstop and help get the Red Sox back where they belong."

I'm psyched. To quote one of our favorite movie titles: Bring it on. {Favorite movie title, not movie. Promise.}

Although, a Red Sox source told Nick Cafardo that this move would be a last resort:

While there has been internal discussions about Dustin Pedroia moving to shortstop it would not happen unless the Red Sox exhausted every avenue to acquire a shortstop through free-agency or trade, a team source said this afternoon.

The team is hesitant to give up draft picks for Type-A or Type-B free-agents like Marco Scutaro. And they do have Jed Lowrie to go to to if his wrist stays healthy. While Pedroia to short is an option, there's always great pause in moving such a tremendous second baseman to a different position. Suffice to say, a final decision on this subject is still in the distance.

Other news: A Philly sports icon is coming home. No, not yet Allen Iverson, but former Northampton High star Brian Schneider. I don't understand spending $1.5 million a year on a backup catcher when $5 million was considered too much for a starting third baseman.

Chris Wheeler should be happy. He's always had an admiration of Schneider that borders on creepy obsession. I hate Wheels. I miss being able to say I hate Wheels - well, not really because I really hate Wheels.

And it sounds like he won't be the only veteran coming to the Phillies. Ruben Amaro won't discuss specific players, but said John Smoltz fits the description of a player he would sign. Wink, wink.

Phinally: At last we know why the Phanatic doesn't do road games. It's not out of fear of entering enemy territory, nor respecting another team's house. He just doesn't want to pay the extra taxes.