Dear Ruben Amaro Jr. (AKA The Smug One,)

First, let me start by saying that I had a great time meeting you and talking baseball, scouting and random behind-the-scenes stories during Baseball 101 this past summer. Oh, you don’t remember.  Well, here’s a write-up from that encounter.

My friend Maria Jones with the Ruben Amaro Jr.

Today, however, I am writing this letter to you, but I am not sure if it will fall under a love letter, or hate mail.  I mean, I really don’t know.

Ok, let me explain.

I have this love/hate thing going on with you.  There are many times over your career that I have loved the moves you made:

• Trading for Cliff Lee
• Trading for Roy Halladay
• Trading for Roy Oswalt
• Signing Cliff Lee.

I even liked the Hunter Pence trade. Mainly because I like Pence, but I still believe that you overpaid for him.  But that has to happen sometimes, and Pence is one of the most entertaining players to watch.  I mean, even his warm-up swings are awesome.

However, just as often, you do things that drive me nuts and I hate them.

• Trading away Cliff Lee
• Signing Ryan Howard 2 seasons early, and for a ton of money
• Signing Jonathan Papelbon for way more than he is worth

But worst of all is the LIES.  All the lies, everyday.  I’m at the point that whatever you say, I’m going along with the opposite, since that tends to be the safe path.

And you do it with such a level of Smugness that insane.  The good people over at The Good Phight have a Smugness Alert to let us know where you are.

Then things happen that make you look like a genius, but you could have never known.  Including the news that Ryan Madson needs Tommy John, which came out while I was writing this letter.  There is no possible way that you could have known that he was going to get injured.  He might lose fights to chairs, but there has never been an issue with his elbow.

I know you like to work in secret.  I know you don’t want the media to leak what you are doing, but there is no need for this constant double-speak that you do.

When Chase Utley was out for as long as he was, we knew it wasn’t anything good.  Just tell us that, and not after the reporters noticed that he didn’t show up.  With the world of Twitter, everyone knows everything (or at least thinks they do,) as soon as the news happens.

The Phillies’ fan-base may be loud, obnoxious and annoying, but they are not idiots.  We know when something is up.  Just be HONEST!

This morning Ruben, I hated you.  I hated you for your lies, secrecy and deceit.   This afternoon, I loved the fact that you passed on Madson because of the news that he will have Tommy John.  And tomorrow, I’ll probably hate you again for some other random reason.  This is how I view you.  This is how a lot of Philly views you.

I can’t seem to stay with just one emotion when it comes to you, which might be why you work so well in Philadelphia.

With Love,

A Devout Phillies Fan

Karilee Jeantet is lead contributor to A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @viewfromsec116.  Email her Aviewfromsection116@gmail.com. 

This past week was full of workouts, spring training photos (both good and bad) and press conferences.  Lots and lots of press conferences.

And the Phillies were no exception. They set up times for their top players to speak and for some, it may be the only time they speak all year (yes, I’m looking at you Chase Utley!)

Jonathan Papelbon

The Phillies newest high paid closer spent his first day in a Phillies uniform, talking about the Red Sox.

Asked if he still thought about that pitch, he said, “Every day. All day.”

He paused again.

“I mean, I don’t think about it at all, man,” he said. “It’s something that, when I was a rookie and I made my first All-Star Game, I had to talk with Mo [Yankees closer Marian Rivera] about the biggest thing that’s going to make me successful in this game. His first answer was [have] a short term memory. You’ve got to be able to learn from [blown saves] still and learn from those situations. But I don’t sit there and think about it all spring. You go over things and try to learn from them, but you’ve got to be able to turn the page.” Todd Zolecki of Phillies.com

It’s a good thing Papelbon has short term, because Philadelphia,  like Boston, does not.  But unlike Boston, Philadelphia doesn’t really have a reason to love him and most haven’t gotten over the loss of Ryan Madson yet.

» Continue reading “Phillies Press Conference Roundup Pt 1: The Closer and the Original Ace”

But is it a good one?  That is the question.

A little while ago something popped up in my Facebook newsfeed from CSNPhilly.com.  And it made me do a serious double-take.

It appears the Phillies have traded infielder Wilson Valdez to the Cincinnati Reds for left-handed pitcher Jeremy Horst.

And I’m shaking my head at this trade because for one I didn’t think the Phillies needed another pitcher and second,  Valdez, a respectable utility player, COULD pitch if needed.  All joking aside, those who aren’t aware, Valdez did in fact pitch in a game.  On May 25, 2011 against the Reds (ironically), he pitched in the 19th inning and collected the win.  (Phillies won 5-4).

Last season, Valdez did a decent job filling in for injured starters such as Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Placido Polanco.  This alone makes me question what Ruben Amaro, Jr. and company were thinking on this.  I’m truly disappointed to see a player like Valdez go, because unfortunately those three mentioned players, are injury prone and finding good temporary replacements isn’t always the easiest thing to do.  Valdez was both reliable and an asset to the team.

Valdez, 33, played in 99 games in 2011, had a .249 average and 30 RBIs. Valdez had been with the Phillies since 2010. – CSNPhilly.com

That being said, I’m sure there are other players out there who could fill that role.  And from Horst’s statistics, he appears to have pretty good stuff.

Horst appeared in 12 games last season, pitched 15.1 innings and had a 2.93 ERA. The 26-year-old pitcher was a 21st-round selection by the Reds in the 2007 MLB draft. Horst also appeared in 36 games at Triple-A last season, posting a 2.81 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 51 innings. - CSNPhilly.com

According to Comcast Sportsnet’s Daily News Live, Horst has been invited to Spring Training, which means he’s gonna have to earn his spot on the roster.

Wilson Valdez - Photo credit: Steve Trapani

Funny snippet:  My mom used to confuse Juan Castro (when he was with the Phillies) and Valdez by mixing up their first names.  Wilson ended up being referred to as the coffee dude “Juan Valdez“.  Even after Castro left, my mom still called Wilson “Juan Valdez” so it will be sad not to hear that anymore.

I do wish Valdez good luck with the Reds.  And hey at least he will be reunited with Ryan Madson (another one of Ruben’s questionable moves).

For more info on the Reds, check out Aerys Sports Cincinnati Reds site: C-ing Red

Photo courtesy of Steve Trapani – Flickr Follow him on twitter: @Trap_33

According to The700Level.com, the field at Citizens Bank Park is looking quite disheveled after the Winter Classic.  Click on the image below and take a gander at how the field looks sans ice rink.

CLICK IMAGE to view video - CSNPhilly.com

Here are a few links of some of our other favorite Phillies blogs (other than ours of course):

Click ZooWithRoy.com to view a very funny take on the Ryan Madson’s signing with the Red.

The GoodPhight.com posted a few ‘headlines’ that they expect and don’t expect to see.

Check out TheBallsOuttaHere.com to read Florida State Once Again Set to be Phillies’ Season-Opening Victim:

As usual, they will open the season against the Florida State Seminoles, who are still okay with the humiliation of playing us each spring because it’s balanced out by their childlike awe of getting to see a professional ball team go to work. – TheBallsOuttaHere.com

Ryan Madson & Carlos Ruiz - MyPHL17.com

We are two weeks into 2012, to which I find the new year is already going by way too fast. However, the faster it goes the closer to Spring Training we get.  So gotta take the good with the bad.

Which leads me to the bad.  Ryan Madson signing with the Cincinnati Reds.  I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I hate that the Phillies didn’t re-sign him. And though we got Jonathan Papelbon, I still feel the Phillies dropped the ball on the Madson situation.  Just yesterday I heard rumblings that Madson had no intention of leaving Philly but when negotiations soured and the Phillies went after Papelbon, that all changed…obviously.

Madson agreed to a one-year contract with the Reds. Multiple published reports said the contract was for $8.5 million, while a source told MLB.com he was guaranteed $10 million, which could include a buyout. – Phillies.com

The Phillies released John Bowker so he can pursue a baseball career in Japan. For his sake and Japan’s hope he actually hits.

Spring Training game tickets went on sale yesterday.  Tickets can be purchased at either phillies.com/spring or by calling Phillies Ticket Services 215-463-1000.  Their first exhibition game will be played February 29th at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida.  Below is the Phillies’ Spring Training home game schedule:

Phillies.com

And according to Philly.com, GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. has little interest in acquiring Chicago Cub pitcher Kerry Wood.  Which contradicts previous reports stating he was.

Before getting to the bullpen, Amaro envisions Vance Worley and Joe Blanton’s occupying the two starting spots behind the big three of Roy Halladay, Lee, and Cole Hamels. He said that Kyle Kendrick could be a swing-type pitcher who can start if someone is injured. (On that note, Amaro said he is pleased with Blanton’s progress from right-elbow problems last season.) – Philly.com

The current bullpen consists of Michael Stutes, David Herndon, Jose Contreras, Kendrick, and Papelbon.  If Amaro adds to it, he will more than likely look into minor league guys and deals.

Amaro listed other candidates, including righthanders Brian Sanches, Justin De Fratus, Phillippe Aumont, and Michael Schwimer; and lefties Jake Diekman and Joe Savery. In this group, all but Sanches have little to no major-league experience. The 33-year-old Sanches was 4-1 with a 3.94 ERA in 39 appearances for the Florida – now Miami – Marlins last season.

“We expect them all to be vying for spots,” Amaro said. “It’s all about competition.” – Philly.com

Have a great weekend everyone!

Image Source:  MyPHL17.com

Heather Carnassale is the Senior Phillies Writer for Aerys Sports. You can email her at viewfromsection116@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter @heatherc531 and @viewfromsec116.