As you already know the Phils have signed J-Roll to a three-year deal worth around $33 million. There is a four-year option also in there. So who is happy? Some might be and some maybe not. The Phils 
talked about a change of philosophy in their approach. Is this it? I mean, I love Jimmy for what he brings to the Phils on the field and in the clubhouse.
If you talk about changing your approach at hitting this is not it. The Phils would have to be kidding themselves if they think Jimmy is going to change his approach after all this time. Let me get this straight, I like the deal for the Phils especially for three years. That is what they wanted from the beginning.
I have to give major kudos to Amaro for not budging. He stared down J-Roll’s camp with that Clint Eastwood stare. I was not crazy about giving Jimmy a five- year deal. I guess you could call me a “homer’, I thinks it’s cool that he has a chance to end his career in Phillies pin-stripes.
So what were the other options out there? Aramis Ramirez? Were they ever that serious about him? To me it seemed more like smoke screen to me. Cuddyer? Cuddyer seemed to fit their style of play and they seemed very interested in him. They brought him to Philly for a visit and I think that is why it took so long for Cuddyer to sign somewhere else because it seemed as if he was waiting to se what happen with Jimmy’s situation.
Did Amaro or as I like to call him Ruben Amaro Jr. have something up his sleeve at any point? You never really know with Amaro. He is always looking for the home run. Say Pujols? You can guarantee that he made contact with him at least once. Are they really any different than they were in the past two seasons? One thing is the fact that they are stronger on their bench with the additions of Thome, Nix, and Wigginton.
Ruben, my bad RAJ talked about getting younger. Well, they definitely did not get any younger that’s for sure this off-season. So now in the different philosophy Amaro Jr. talked about what it means to move Jimmy out of the lead-off spot.
So who leads off then? Victorino? He brings almost the same approach as Jimmy does. He is more of free-swinger. Polly? I mean the guy can not stay healthy anymore. That is why they brought in Wigginton. I would say that Polly really does not take enough pitches to be a lead-off man though he hardly punches out.
Utley is the only one on this team that works the count. Do you really want Utley to lead off? Maybe that is what Utley has become. They say when a player loses his bottom half he loses his power. Does a full season of Pence and Mayberry in lineup everyday change their style?
When it comes down to it, with Jimmy being back it only makes sense to put him back in the lead-off position. Well, at least to me it does. He still will bring that great defense with him and is still a solid hitter. I am cool with the three-year deal, not with a five-year deal. Like I said before some people might not be.
Cuddyer was simply asking for too much $$$.. He is not worth $10 + Million per Season.. People forget that though he’s veratile and can play 3-4 Positons, he is not very good defensively at any postion.. HE’s a solid Players better off in the AL where he can spot start in the field and also DH. but not a $10 Million per year player
As far a Hitting Lead-Off for the Phillies for 2012
You have S Victorino and possibly Lance Nix, when he plays and not much else choice..
Victo
Utley
Pence
Howard (when he is back)
Mayberry
Rollins
Polly
Ruiz
P
Or swap Utley with Rollins. As long as he is not the #3 hitter anymore.
not bad bugsy- thats what i was thinking too. Id like 1 more bat in there tho. wonder what they will do.
See too many strike outs and double plays with this line-up..This everyday line-up is not strong enough to win a World Series and the same core of the team are weaker hitters than they were 2-3 years ago (J Ro/Utley/Howard/Olanco/Ruiz)
There are definitely a lot of question marks. They will have to get some serious production out of Mayberry and/or Brown this season which could happen. The problem as always will be manufacturing runs. I would like to see these guys with a whole new approach at the plate. Rollins seems to get it for about 20 games and then he goes back to popping up the first pitch. With the veteran hitters in this lineup, they should be a hassle for other staffs to deal with like the Yanks/Sox, but every year they seem to get worse.
Do you think D Brown wins a Spot for the Starting LF for the Phils in Spring Training while Mayberry holds the fort down at 1B until Howard returns..
Bugsy, Brown will not be on this team! He is another over-hyped bum! He is horrid in the outfield, with a terrible swing & approach at the plate. He also doesn’t listen to make adjustments at the plate. F^#@ him. He’s irrelevant.
OF Beltran to the CArdinals on a 2 year Deal worth $26 Million.. (Isn’t that Crazy) the Cards will move Berkmann and Craig to play 1B With Puljos Gone
and will stillhave Holliday,Jay, Beltran in the OF which is not a big drop-off
The Cards go in the 2012 Season as favorites in the NL and yes, this includes over the Phils too.. Cards get RHP Wainwright back into the Rotation too (and will be with Carpenter, Garcia, Loshe and E Jackson which is a deeper Rotation than the Phils from Top to bottom)
Jury still out for me on Brown DCar. Not sure where your adjustments at the plate comment comes from, because much of the conversation that was had while he was struggling was that he was trying to make too many adjustments. And he wouldn’t be a Phil unless he had a terrible approach at the plate.
Pman, You are expecting a lot from the Cardinals lineup with injury prone Holiday and Beltran, plus Wainright coming off of major surgery last season. Plus, no Albert. They probably are the favorites to finish with the most wins because their division got worse, whereas the NL East only got stronger. Astros, Cubs and Pitt stink. The Brewers got worse losing Prince and having Braun potentially miss 50 games. The Phils are gonna have a battle this year with the Braves, Marlins and the Nats. With the addition of Gio and if Strassburg comes back, Wash has a solid rotation. .
The Courthouse is closed on D Brown, He is not even close to being an everyday MLB OF at this stage of his development .. Defensively he’s a real liability and can’t seem to pick the ball up off the bat, he’s throws are very erratic at best and we haven’t even talked about his Batting issues.. Phils should Trade Brown (while he still has some Value & Hype) and package him with a Polanco or Blanton and maybe a young Pitcher to get a more productive everyday 3B who can supply some power and has a few years of playing ball still left..
To Bugsy, The Cardinals are the class of the NL going into this Season and the Brewers did pick-up 3bA Ramirez to help take the sting out of potentially losing Fielder which is still not a given.. I would not be surprised to see Fielder re-sign with the Brewers on a short 3 year Deal where he can still put up big #’s and get that Big Contract in a few years since he’s only 27 Years old.. Cubs/Dodgers would love to get Fielder but can’t afford him..Rangers have a ton of bats and need Pitching HElp.. Who else needs Fielder .. (Nats have up and coming 1B in Morse.. Orioles don’t have the $$$) and I can’t see Fielder going to play for a bad team just for big $$$)