I'm Back!

After one of the longest 4 week stretches of my life things may or may not be returning to "normal" now. Although it was a long 4 weeks, it was a great 4 weeks and the only way I could've been happier was if I had been able to watch the Phils.

The last game I saw before my job started was a loss to the Braves right before we swept the Mets. The next game I was able to watch was last Friday night against the Cardinals... a loss. In between these 2 games the Phillies played 17 others and won 15 of them. After watching bits and pieces of 2 losses on Wednesday and Thursday night I started to get worried that this was my fault. But after last night I'm not so worried.

First, my thoughts on the trade before seeing Clifton Phifer Lee strut his stuff last night:

Fantastic. Carlos Carrasco and Jason Donald were 2 players I was ready to get rid of. I hadn't heard really anything too good about either one of them this year specifically in terms of their attitude about playing baseball. Although I know both of them should be solid players, I didn't feel the need to keep them at all if there was an opportunity for a big trade like this one. Jason Knapp is supposed to be the real deal, but he's also only playing in Single A right now and who knows what can happen over the next 3 years or so. Lou Marson is the only person I am truly upset about losing. Many of you know that I liked Lou, and I'm sure everyone hates Paul Bako. I just wish we could've traded someone else instead of him. Maybe Brad Harman or someone. From what I've read the Indians did not really need a catching prospect, and from what I observe we do. Carlos Ruiz is great but not getting any younger at the age of 30. We just lost Coste who wasn't getting any younger either, and please don't make me comment on Paul Bako.

Overall a great trade because Cliff Lee is an amazing pitcher. On a team that was 81-81 last season, he was 22-3. I don't understand Ben Francisco being thrown in there. Do we not have enough outfielders in Triple A that could hit .250 and play shaky defense? No big deal I guess, I just prefer to see more of John Mayberry and possibly Michael Taylor.

Some would say we should have gone for broke and gotten Roy Halladay. I almost cried just looking at the offer we turned down from the Blue Jays. Happ, Kyle Drabek, Taylor, and Dominic Brown. Arguably our 3 best prospects as well as arguably our best current starting pitcher. As much as Roy Halladay would've been unbelievable to have, no one is worth that price. I welcome Cliff Lee with open arms and look forward to some serious success over the next year and a half.

Of course after last night it's easy to say that it was a great trade because he completely dominated in his Phillies debut. He pitched a complete game and gave up just 4 hits. Lee himself had 2 hits for us. Over the past week I feel like we've been losing some games, and I keep looking at the standings expecting our lead to be down to 3 or 4 games. But no, it is still at 6 games over the Marlins and 8 over the Braves. And I think with Lee joining the team and showing what he could do last night, this should spark the team in a way that I wasn't even sure we needed until last night.

If you weren't thinking World Series before, look at our top 4 pitchers right now (people who will be pitching in the playoffs). From where we sit today, our 4th best pitcher is Cole Hamels. Let that one sink in.