Yeah, the Achilles' heel of this decade's Phillies teams have been the starting rotation. This is why we reached on guys like Adam Eaton and Freddy Garcia. Cole is the only "legitimate" starter we really have, although I have high hopes for Happ.

The real reason we won last year is because we had a team built to hit on our ballpark and a solid bullpen. Also, our defense is pretty underrated, but even that has hit the shits lately.

But not even the craziest Philly fan can tell you that our starting rotation is or even was legit before the season started or even during last year's post season. Cole just pulled it together at the right time, Blanton got hot at the right time, and Myers/Moyer were just plain lucky.

I still think the Marlins are going to win the division, to tell you the truth.

Florida always seems to play really well in July and August.

Can't wait to see Bumgarner and Alderson.

Also glad that Schierholtz is finally getting a chance to play everyday and he seems to be making the most of it.

Okay, so now I'm hearing the Braves might package Escobar and Vazquez in a deal. Who could we get that would make that worthwhile?

Vazquez being included would make me think it would have to be to another contender, or with a third party involved.

Been reading Buster Olney have we? ;)

Would have to be something earthshaking (to the Braves) I'd think, unless they're simply going to tank the season.

Here's a wild idea: Vazquez & Escobar to Washington for Nick Johnson & Adam Dunn, with Kotchman & Francouer going somewhere else in return for prospect that cycle through to Washington from that third team? Yeah, I'm just making shit up now.

Boston is the most likely place, but I don't see them letting Bay go (if they've theoretically given up on signing him next year) for even both of those guys no matter how much they may like Escobar. And an Ellsbury/Lugo (plus cash) package doesn't seem like enough to make it work. Only way I could figure is that Boston brings a third team into the deal to put more outfield help than they can provide.

Meanwhile, the Braves blow a great performance from Hanson.

I can't believe FOX is cutting away from their broadcast game to show Manny's ABs. Get suspended for PEDs? We'll show everyone your ABs! That's deterence!

They are certainly desperate. SI's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Phillies offered the Yankees a propect for Chien Mien Wang. The prospect wasn't good enough for the Yankees apparently. Wang was pitching well today until the 6th inning where he left the game with shoulder strain so that probably puts the end to the Wang trade rumors.

Chisox go down :( good streak, time to start a new one!

Did Fox really cut out of Mets-Phils to show the at bats of a guy coming off a fucking steroid suspension?

I mean, I know it was Mets-Phils, but still...

Lemme see here biggest name on the team with the best record in baseball vs teams that are a combined 2 games over .500 and are 7-13 between them in the last 10 games each.

Yeah, I'd have cut away too.

Lincecum has been lights out as of late. Hopefully he gets the nod to start the all-star game.

Sorry, but the audience who would be watching the Phils-Mets game on television (Saturday afternoon @ 4:00 = mainly those who follow the team and not the casual fan) does not give two shits about Manny either which way.

This ain't the Super Bowl. The Phils-Mets game was only available in the Northeastern market and if people were really focused on what Manny was going to do, they could watch it on teh internets.

I don't buy that argument at all, not even close. If the game was the northeast feed, you've got Boston in there & we both know damned well they're curious. And then there's the reality that we're talking about the most recognizable player in the game today not playing for the Yankees.

I hate to be so blunt about it (okay, not much, but still) Manny taking a dump or even trying to take a dump & failing is as of as much interest to people nationally than the Mets vs the Phils right now. Or for that matter any pairing of teams not named Yankees or Red Sox.

He's coming back from a suspension, not from getting shot. Nor was he hitting for some kind of record. Nothing at all made that at bat special.

You really think people were watching that game for the sole purpose of hoping that Fox would cut away to show his at bats?

Team with the second best record in the NL only gets two players into the All-Star Game.

How Sandoval doesn't get in especially when comparing his stats to Wright is questionable. Yea yea I know Wright was voted in, but still.

I think those AB's are of greater general interest than the game they were showing.

So, Jon, the Braves are desperate for anything resembling a moderately competent OF; the Giants would love a 2b. In a swap of things that teams don't want but are better than their options, what say you on a Fred Lewis for Kelly Johnson swap?

Lewis would only have the 4th best OPS among current Braves OF. And Kelly is on the DL anyways.

How about we send you Johnson & you just send over a couple of bags of batting practice balls & a half a bucket of sunflower seeds?

Yeah, but it's better than Francouer's, who's the starter (for inexplicable reasons).

Well, I'm hoping that Cox comes to his senses and puts Diaz in right.

LOL... Cox coming to his senses on Francouer? ;)

Deal. Good talking with you. And if Cox gets sick of Escobar, we'd gladly take him. :D

LOL, well he's done it in the last couple games, not that it helped us tonight. We could only manage 1 run against a guy with a 6.56 ERA.

I'd rather send you Cox if Escobar gets sick of him.

All Star rosters announced for both clubs this afternoon. Biggest surprises for me were the inclusion of Curtis Granderson and Tim Wakefield for the AL. Hoping Greinke gets the starting nod for the AL.

Very disappointed to see a vet tribute All Star nod handed to an undeserving player (Wakefield) over a deserving up and comer (Weaver).

Ryan Howard was obviously going to make it because Manuel is the NL Manager, but Berkman was a more deserving 1B (actually 3 1B reserves is a bit silly).

Except that the game was only really shown in the Philadelphia/New York markets. I feel pretty confident in saying that people who would watch that game in that time slot could care less about Manny's at-bats.

Your point would have more validity if it was a national game shown in prime-time television. There, the more general baseball fan would have as much, if not more interest, in the Manny at-bats. But that wasn't the case in yesterday's game.

And, of course, Moyer and Blanton pitch very well on the heels of Lopez's outing. Nice to get a sweep over your divisional rival after struggling.

Getting Rollins hitting again is huge. Finally, it appears he's accepted that he can't hit 30 HR a season any more and his approaching his AB a lot more intelligently. A little more "Jimmy" and little less "J-Roll", please.

Except that most Boston fans would not watch the Phillies/Mets games regardless. At 4:00 in the afternoon on 4th of July, they're probably using that time to barbeque or do anything than watch baseball. I certainly doubt that they would be motivated to sit through a Mets/Phillies games just for the hell of it or simply to see Manny's at-bats.


Yeah, I agree. But again you're taking a national perspective instead of Logan's/My regional perspective.

Feel free to talk about every freaking Manny at-bat every three seconds on ESPN or any other nationally broadcast station/game. But don't cut into my local Phillies feed for the hell of it.

Further, it might not have been that annoying if they kept the Phils-Mets on the bigger of the split screens and kept the audio on the Phils-Mets game. I don't really need to hear commentators talk about every crotch-itch from an accused steroid user's first at-bat back, thanks.

I'm happy with the NL selection for the most part, I'm hoping Kung Fu Panda (Sandoval) gets in by vote... I also voted for Adam Lind to get in from the AL.

I think both managers did a good job for the most part, but Manuel should have picked Sandoval over Howard (then Howard probably would have gotten in by fan vote, even though I think Kemp deserves it). Maddon's AL reserves have much more positional flexibility though, and that may end up deciding it.

+1

Unless they made a last second switch, you're wrong.
Here's the coverage listing by market, from Abilene to Yuma. Mets-Phils aired up and down the east coast, including major markets Atlanta, DC, and Miami and as at least as far west as Little Rock.

And no, I have no idea off hand why Bangor, ME and Butte, MT both got the Twins vs Tigers instead of either of the other two games.

Fox Sports plans were pretty clear from looking at that web page, they even promoted their coverage ahead of time FOX Sports Mannywood is back. Catch him on MLB on FOX Saturday at 4 PM ET.

ummm wakefield has 10 wins this year - he's hardly undeserving. you can make an argument for weaver (8-3 with a 3.86) over wake (10-3 with a 4.30) but wake is hardly UNDESERVING compared to weaver

Obviously, DT, in your fervor to go get the back of your guy, you didn't bother to look closely enough at Weaver's stats. Go check them again, and come back here when you're done.

It doesn't have to be Weaver. I'll bet there are 10 pitchers not currently on the team who have as good or better of an argument to be on the team than Wakefield.

You know, I really feel like Chone Figgins deserves to be an All Star, and was all set to see if I could make a case for him. Then I saw Lind's stats...WTH, why isn't that guy on the team? And this is coming from a guy who has Lind on his fantasy team, so not like I am completely unaware of how good he's been doing.

Figgy actually has been having a terrific season, and is in the argument for top leadoff hitter in the game, at least in "leadoff hitter" qualities (Crawford has more power, Ichiro hits for more average, etc.), but looking now, I don't see a compelling reason to put him in over Lind, except perhaps for Figgy plays a very good 3B whereas Lind doesn't really seem to bring much in the OF.

It was also nice to see Jason Marquis make it in as well. I always liked him when he was in St. Louis.

There are always guys who can make a case to be on the roster. I would hardly call Wakefield undeserving as mentioned above. He's having a really good season.

2009 ERA+

Weaver: 144
Wakefield: 108

I don't follow the AL as close as the NL, but I agree with you. I was shocked to see what a year Lind is quietly having.

there's always plenty of guys who you can argue should have made it over other guys...it's a popularity contest, plain and simple

Umm, are you seriously citing wins as a barometer of success? Wakefield belongs on the All-Star team in fantasy land; there are 15-20 SP in the AL alone who have been better than him. Weaver may not be my choice (I'd go with Cliff Lee), but you're dreaming if you think Wake is anything other than an absurd choice.

Wakefield is actually 24th in the AL in ERA+. He basically gets to be an all-star because he was lucky enough to be on a good team, and nothing more.

I have nothing against Wakefield (he's actually from my hometown) or the Sox, but to say he's deserving of an All Star spot is absolutely ridiculous.

Millwood would have been a better option than Wakefield. I can't believe he's using wins to justify Wakefield.

Again, this is why the word "really" was placed before shown in the above quote. Sure it shown in Atlanta, DC, and Miami, but do you really think a significant number of viewers in those areas were even planning to watch any baseball that day?

I understand your point about Manny being the bigger story and agree. However, it's more my frustration with national pre-emptive rights to local markets on the weekends. I want the ability/choice to watch every single Phillies game on Comcast SportsNet if that's what I desire. If I want to watch the Phils on the weekend, I unfortunately have to check in with my Fox affiliate.

I know the reasons why, but it won't prevent my bitching.

Eh, it's good to see a guy like Wakefield who's been through a lot finally get an all star birth. You're talking about a guy who was nothing as a minor league hitter, converts to knuckleballer. Then has an amazing first year, and is cut by the end of his second. Is out of baseball for a year, then rebounds with Boston and is still pitching at 42. So, it's a good story, even if Wakefield is not technically deserving. He probably should have made it some time before in his career. Call it the "scent of a woman" birth.