The Scoop - Whiz Wit Sports

Thank You, Chase

8/20/2015

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There's not much more to say than "Thank You" to now-former Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.

Let's be real. He was nicknamed "The Man" for a reason. He was a cornerstone piece for the most successful stretch of baseball in Phillies history. Utley was second in WAR from 2005-09 trailing only Albert Pujols. On the biggest stage, he shined.

The numbers tell a story of a great second baseman who propelled a team to success. But it was much more about the man that made him so loved in Philadelphia. Words you hear when describing Utley are "grit", "heart", "hustle". The attitude he brought on the field made him a fan favorite.

Utley was a special kind of player - one that everyone aspired to play like. He played the game the way coaches want every one of their players to play.

He created special memories for Phillies fans everywhere and his departure, albeit inevitable, still generates bittersweet emotions. The Utley trade is pretty much the last move, save for Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz, to signal a changing of the guard for the Phillies franchise as they head towards the future.

Thank you, Chase. Thank you for everything.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
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Cole Hamels: 'I Just Want to Win... It's Not Going to Happen Here"

2/18/2015

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Cole Hamels is spewing honesty.

USA Today's Bob Nightengale spoke with Hamels about his situation with the Phillies and whether or not he wants a trade out of Philadelphia, something that has been rumored for a large portion of this winter.

He wants to be traded from the Philadelphia Phillies.

This is not a threat.

He is not demanding a trade.

He's not about to insult the Phillies, or say anything derogatory that would alienate himself from the only team that's employed him.

"I just want to win,'' Hamels told USA TODAY Sports in his first interview since the end of the 2014 season. "That's all. That's all any competitor wants.

"And I know it's not going to happen here.

"This isn't what I expected. It's not what the Phillies expected, either.

"But it's reality.''

Hamels, 31, went 9-9 with a career-best 2.46 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP in 30 starts for the Phillies last season. In nine seasons with the Phillies, Hamels is 108-83 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 275 starts for Philadelphia.

Hamels still has four years and $90 million remaining on his contract with a $20 million team option and a $24 million vesting option for 2019.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Pat Gillick to Remain as Phillies President; David Montgomery Becomes Phillies Chairman

1/28/2015

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Big news from the Phillies.

The team announced on Wednesday Pat Gillick will remain as team president while David Montgomery, who took a medical leave of absence, will return to the team as chairman. Bill Giles will move to chairman emeritus status.

Mongtomery, 68, took a medical leave of absence in August following surgery to remove cancer from his jaw. The surgery was performed in May but Montgomery was around the team despite undergoing chemotherapy. He has served as Phillies president since 1997.

Gillick, 77, served as Phillies general manager from 2006 until 2008 when he retired following the Phillies World Series Championship. He remained with the organization as a special advisor to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. Gillick stepped up as interim president in Montgomery's absence.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Report: Brewers in 'Serious Discussions' With Phillies for Jonathan Papelbon

1/22/2015

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This would be a huge win for Ruben Amaro Jr.

Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reports the Milwaukee Brewers are in serious discussions with the Phillies for closer Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon has a no-trade clause which features 17 teams but there is no word whether or not the Brewers are on the list.

The Phillies closer is signed for one more season at $13 million but there is a $13 million vesting option for 2016 and it relies heavily on how much use Papelbon gets this season. The 2016 option vests if A) Papelbon finished 55 games in 2015 or B) finishes 100 games between 2014 and 2015. He finished 52 games total for the Phillies last season.

Papelbon, 34, was 2-3 with 39 saves, a 2.04 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP for the Phillies in 2014. In three seasons in Philadelphia, Papelbon is 12-10 with 106 saves, a 2.45 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP and one All-Star appearance in 2012.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Report: Phillies Have 'No Takers' for Ryan Howard

1/12/2015

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Not much of a surprise here.

ESPN's Jayson Stark reports the Phillies have no takers for Ryan Howard despite selling them on how great of a person Howard is. Howard can block a trade to 20 teams making life more difficult for Ruben Amaro Jr. The teams Amaro can trade Howard to without his permission are the Tigers, Royals, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers, Rays, Orioles and Red Sox.

Howard, 34, batted .223/.310/.380 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs. Howard's .380 slugging percentage is the lowest, by far, of his career. He finished fifth out of the usual starting eight for the Phillies only out slugging Carlos Ruiz (.370), Ben Revere (.361) and Domonic Brown (.349).

The shift is certainly taking away hits from Howard which might be the difference between a .223 average and a .253 average but it does not really account for such a major drop in slugging percentage to where he was out-slugged by Cody Asche.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Report: Ryan Howard Can Block Trade to 20 Teams

1/6/2015

(Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty)

The Big Piece on the move? Not so fast.

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard can block a trade to 20 teams making life more difficult for Ruben Amaro Jr. The teams Amaro can trade Howard to without his permission are the Tigers, Royals, Angels, Mariners, Yankees, Rangers, Rays, Orioles and Red Sox.

Howard, 34, batted .223/.310/.380 with 23 home runs and 95 RBIs. Howard's .380 slugging percentage is the lowest, by far, of his career. He finished fifth out of the usual starting eight for the Phillies only out slugging Carlos Ruiz (.370), Ben Revere (.361) and Domonic Brown (.349).

The shift is certainly taking away hits from Howard which might be the difference between a .223 average and a .253 average but it does not really account for such a major drop in slugging percentage to where he was out-slugged by Cody Asche.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Phillies Sign Aaron Harang to One-Year Deal

1/5/2015

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Pitching depth.

The Phillies announced they have signed right handed pitcher Aaron Harang to a one-year contract worth $5 million. Harang is expected to earn a spot in the Phillies starting rotation behind Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.

Harang, 36, went 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 204.1 innings of work over 33 starts for the Atlanta Braves. In 13 Major League seasons, Harang is 122-128 with a 4.21 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP while averaging 206 innings pitched per season.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Report: Phillies Trade Marlon Byrd to Reds

12/31/2014

(Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty)

And another veteran is out the door.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports the Phillies have traded right fielder Marlon Byrd to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league pitcher Ben Lively.

Byrd is guaranteed $8 million next season as a 37-year-old with an $8 million vesting option for 2016. If the 2016 option doesn't vest with 600 plate appearances in 2015 then it becomes a team option. Byrd batted .264/.312/.445 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs in 154 games for the Phillies in 2014. He provided valuable right-handed power batting behind Ryan Howard in the Phillies lineup.

Lively, 22, went 13-7 with a 3.04 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 26 starts between Single-A and Double-A in 2014. He was a fourth round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University of Central Florida and MLB.com rated Lively as the Reds' eighth-best prospect.

Lively's average stuff combined with plus deception have some thinking of him as the right-handed version of Tony Cingrani. The Reds can only hope this Central Florida product can follow the same quick path to Cincinnati.

None of Lively's pitches jump off the page, but he does have four of them that he can throw for strikes. His fastball can touch 93-94 mph, and his slider shows signs of being a potential above-average pitch, as well. Lively mixes in his curve and changeup well to keep hitters guessing. All of his stuff plays up because of his unusual delivery in which his arm stays hidden, making it tough for hitters to pick up the ball.

It only took Cingrani a year to make an impact in Cincy. Lively could be on a similar fast track.

The Phillies are also expected to send some money to Cincinnati in the deal.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports

Top Ten Philadelphia Sports Moments of 2014: Nos. 10 Thru 6

12/30/2014

(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty)

The Eagles season is officially over which caps off an incredibly underwhelming 2014 in the Philadelphia sports world. Despite the overall lack of success, there were still some great moments in Philadelphia sports over the last 12 months.

Over the next two days, we will count down the top 10 moments of the year. Today we will reveal Nos. 10-6. Tomorrow we will reveal the top five.

No. 10 will kick us off...

Report: Marlon Byrd Deal to Reds Fell Apart But Could Be Reworked

12/29/2014

(Photo: Scott Cunningham/Getty)

Move him, please.

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi reports the Phillies were working on a deal with the Cincinnati Reds that would've sent outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Reds but the deal fell apart. Despite the deal falling apart, Morosi notes a trade can still be reworked between the two teams.

Byrd is guaranteed $8 million next season as a 37-year-old with an $8 million vesting option for 2016. If the 2016 option doesn't vest with 600 plate appearances in 2015 then it becomes a team option.

Byrd batted .264/.312/.445 with 25 home runs and 85 RBIs in 154 games for the Phillies in 2014. He provided valuable right-handed power batting behind Ryan Howard in the Phillies lineup. The $8 million guaranteed for an outfielder in his late-30s might be a turn off but consensus believes Byrd could be good for an American League team who could potentially utilize him as a designated hitter from time to time. Maybe the Reds still think he is good enough for the outfield.

-Steve Dolan
Follow Steve on Twitter @SDolan3
Follow Whiz Wit on Twitter @WhizWitSports