MLB Playoffs 2009

[Hammer]

Christine ... Ibanez only makes $6.5 million this year. CC Sabathia will make $25 million. A-Rod will make like $27 million.

Comparatively speaking, I don't think Ibanez is that highly paid. Also consider this ... did the Phillies prevent any other team from signing him by paying him what they paid him? Doubtful.

Well, if you are going to compare every free agent salary to what the Yankees pay, no one would be seen as high paid, and I do think other teams pay very high salaries.

[JerseyMouse]

Just about 4 hours until first pitch tonight, in case anyone's interested in what is going on between the white lines, as opposed to the ledger books...

I think Charlie Manual has a HUGE bit of baseball fan in him..like everyone else, he wants to see how Pedro fares at Yankee Stadium. While it makes perfect sense to go lefty-righty-lefty from a pure stratigic standpoint..I think there's a part of Cholly that's just plain old curious.

[Hammer]

Um....indivdual yearly salaries for the 2009 Phillies.
~ Joe Blanton - $5.475 million
~ Shane Victorino - $3.125 million
~ Jayson Werth - $3 million, includes a $1 million signing bonus

Just highlighting these 3 as they are arbitration eligible players and these contracts are 1 year deals. Had any of these players had the arbitrator determine their salary, it would have probably been higher. This was Werth's last year of arbitration, so he is a free agent after the World Series.

[Ian]

Um....indivdual yearly salaries for the 2009 Phillies.

~ Raul Ibanez - $8.5 million, includes a $2 million signing bonus
~ Brett Myers - $12 million
~ Joe Blanton - $5.475 million
~ Jamie Moyer - $6.5 million
~ Pedro Feliz - $5 million
~ Shane Victorino - $3.125 million
~ Jayson Werth - $3 million, includes a $1 million signing bonus

Oh, and let's not forget a RESERVE OF, Geoff Jenkins, at $6.75 million

And by the way, Ibanez's salary jumps to 11.5 million next year, Victorino's jumps to 5.5 million, and Blanton and Werth's to 7 million.

And before you start posting Yankee salaries, don't bother. I know they're high. I'm just proving you wrong by saying you didn't sign any high priced free agents.

Keep spinning though, and keep trying to make it seem like you got all your players from the Phillies Pharm somewhere.

Compared to average major league salaries for players of this quality, I don't feel like any of these contracts are particularly large.

[Ian]

I think Charlie Manual has a HUGE bit of baseball fan in him..like everyone else, he wants to see how Pedro fares at Yankee Stadium. While it makes perfect sense to go lefty-righty-lefty from a pure stratigic standpoint..I think there's a part of Cholly that's just plain old curious.

Plus, I think he feels like he's playing with house money right now ... worst case he goes home with a split) which is what every road team wants) and doesn't burn up one of his routine starters.

Best case he goes home up 2-0.

[Pagan]

Compared to average major league salaries for players of this quality, I don't feel like any of these contracts are particularly large.

Of course you don't.

Almost 7 mil for a reserve outfielder is chump change. LOL

[PirateLover]

OK can we PLEASE stop with the salary/financial talk??? Everyone keeps saying it's done but then it starts right back up. This bickering is really making the thread not so fun.

We did not "hit" CC and chase him off like last year, but he was not as good as he needed to be nor was the Yankees hitting. You do have to like your chances with 2 runs.. he got no support thanks to Lee's performance.

Howard's numbers against lefties this year haven't been as good as previous years. Let's see what happens tonight.

[Nascfan]

RIvera only comes in the game in save situations.

Since his career postseason stats are 35 saves, a .079 ERA, 100 strikeouts and only 17 walks, I'd say he's more than earned his keep.

So you're saying he wasn't out there last night, and that's the only reference I was making to him earning his keep. IF he gives up 4 runs in 2 innings, I don't think even you can say he would earn his keep in that situation. Or maybe you would. Once again, I don't care one iota to what he or any other Yankee may or may not do in other situations. Wow, I'm beginning to understand Ian's frustration with you, you don't seem to read other people's posts. Whatever though, I'm done with this conversation. As I said, I don't care who wins or loses this Series. My team screwed it up in the final month of the season, and after that, it really didn't matter to me.

Have fun with the banter folks, and Ian, thank you for clarifying your post that I referenced awhile back. I appreciate the calm discussion my friend.

[Pagan]

So you're saying he wasn't out there last night, and that's the only reference I was making to him earning his keep. IF he gives up 4 runs in 2 innings, I don't think even you can say he would earn his keep in that situation. Or maybe you would. Once again, I don't care one iota to what he or any other Yankee may or may not do in other situations. Wow, I'm beginning to understand Ian's frustration with you, you don't seem to read other people's posts. Whatever though, I'm done with this conversation. As I said, I don't care who wins or loses this Series. My team screwed it up in the final month of the season, and after that, it really didn't matter to me.

Have fun with the banter folks, and Ian, thank you for clarifying your post that I referenced awhile back. I appreciate the calm discussion my friend.

Wow dude...chill out. You understand what frustration?

You asked:

Was he in there in the eighth or ninth innings last night? If he gave up the four runs by the Phils, then he didn't earn his keep.

I explained to you who Rivera was and what he did, and you understand Ian's frustration? You asked if he was in there, I told you he only comes in the game in save situations. Why ask a question if you don't want it answered???

Where was I not calm with you, or where did I show you any hostility?

MAN, there's THIN skin on this message board.

PS - He just earned his keep tonight.

[PirateLover]

I said I'd be happy with a split, so I can't really complain. I'm happy with Pedro's performance, but he shouldn't have come out for the 7th, if only to spare the spectacle. The 1st base ump was brutal- two key missed calls on both ends. I thought home plate was fairly consistent, except for that 9th inning called 3rd strike on Howard. With the game on the line and emotions so high, it's no wonder he got upset, although I think he went a bit over the top.

This is really turning out to be a pitcher's series. Amazing since these are basically the two best hitting lineups and many were calling for a high scoring game tonight. Can't wait for Saturday night in Philly!

[Pagan]

Amazing game tonight. Nail biter to the end. This series is going to be one for the ages...you can sense it.

You're right though...the umps have been brutal. If this keeps up instant replay might have to be considered.

[PirateLover]

You're right though...the umps have been brutal. If this keeps up instant replay might have to be considered.

Game 1 was fine, but today was unacceptable. And of course we know how terrible it's been in other series... I don't know that I'd want to see it year long, but I think that maybe next post season they could initiate it for everything but home plate, and just to keep the game from slowing down they could do it in a similar way to the NFL challenge system so it's not abused.

[Pagan]

Game 1 was fine, but today was unacceptable. And of course we know how terrible it's been in other series... I don't know that I'd want to see it year long, but I think that maybe next post season they could initiate it for everything but home plate, and just to keep the game from slowing down they could do it in a similar way to the NFL challenge system so it's not abused.

That's what I was thinking. Home plate is fine, but we need replay for calls at bases and fair and foul calls sometimes.

The challenge system would probably work.

[DAKustodial]

Tough game tonight for the Phils...Burnett pitched really well and you've gotta give credit where credit is due.

I will agree with you guys though that the umpires were bad again tonight...I can't remember a playoff where they were this bad...it was equally bad for both teams.

Anyway, a split is what we were all hoping for so I can't complain too much...big momentum game on Saturday night...Go Phils!

[Ian]

Umps were brutal, but it was evenly brutal so I don't really think it affected the outcome of the game.

What did affect the outcome of the game was AJ Burnett! I didn't think he had a gem like that in him against a left-handed heavy lineup. He brought it last night!

It's funny ... I couldn't help but compare game 2 to game 1. Two great pitching performances, but one guy doing just enough above and beyond to get the team the win. I will admit the difference between Burnett and Martinez was a little more significant than Lee vs. Sabathia, but still ... it had the same feel.

Anyway I agree with Pagan ... this has all the makings of a really, really great series. I am glad, though, to see it shifting back to CBP where the Phillies are 11-1 in their last 12 post season games. I'm also happy they did what they were supposed to do and came away with a split in NY.

[JerseyMouse]

Awesome performance by Burnett, he was $$$ big time!!! Series on!!!! Pedro also showed up big...just not big enough last night, almost a carbon copy of Sabathia's effort.

Phils highlight for me was Ibanez's diving grab..I turned to my wife after that and said...that's what this series is about...a guy with an abdominal tear laying it on the line like that.

Which Cole Hamels shows up for game 3?? He has dazzled at times this year, he'll need to again in this one.

[Ian]

Which Cole Hamels shows up for game 3?? He has dazzled at times this year, he'll need to again in this one.

See ... this is why I was really hoping to steal game two and come home up 2-0, because I don't like the Hamels/Pettite pitching match-up at all.

Hamels has been terrible in the post-season and I see no reason to believe that's going to change.

[Pagan]

See ... this is why I was really hoping to steal game two and come home up 2-0, because I don't like the Hamels/Pettite pitching match-up at all.

Hamels has been terrible in the post-season and I see no reason to believe that's going to change.

Why not? I saw no reason to think Burnett was going to change but look what happened.

You can NEVER predict baseball. I've come to that conclusion.

[PirateLover]

Why not? I saw no reason to think Burnett was going to change but look what happened.

You can NEVER predict baseball. I've come to that conclusion.

To steal a line from a friend of mine: "Hi. I'm Cole Hamels. I will be pitching in Game 3 of the 2009 World Series on October 31st. To celebrate Halloween, I will be disguised as my 2008 World Series MVP self."

I really hope Hamels can come up big. However, I don't have too much confidence in that. If you can't get it together when you could've made history as the clinching pitcher in back to back NLCS... I dunno. The bats are gonna need to come alive, methinks.

[JerseyMouse]

If nothing else, Cole's been quite the pitch man for Comcast Triple Play...I'm stoked to know he can speak to his grandmom in San Diego anytime he wishes...maybe Granny can remind him of what he was in '08.