Promote your business or product on 700level.com. For
more information about advertising with us CLICK HERE!

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/16022653.htm


Gillick said Phillies scouts liked the progress that Helms has made as a hitter. It showed in the second half of 2006, when he hit .385 in 130 at-bats after the all-star break.



But can he play 3rd base???

this is a solid, if unspectacular pick-up for the phils.

don't know much about his defensive ability, but what little i've seen him, he seems at least competent. i imagine they'll bring in nunez as a defensive replacement in the late innings anyway for games he starts.

So at this point the bench consists of Conine, Helms, and Ruiz. All right-handed bats. I'm assuming Delucci is gone and Randall Simon won't return. Need a couple lefties to round it out, but it's pretty nice so far.

And I guess if they sign Soriano (which won't happen) and can't deal Burrell, Victorino would be on the bench as well, although you'd hope they'd trade Rowand for some pitching to make some room.

With the seeming dearth of lefty bats in the league, I am pondering coming out of retirement.

maybe they can pick up marlon anderson. seriously.

I'll stash some money away for World Series tickets if that happens.

i see you're point - marlon anderson's name was a silly one to bring up in a discussion of left-handed bats off the bench that could help the phillies.

Forgot about Michael Bourne. He's definitely in the picture for next year. Need one more lefty.

i see you're point - marlon anderson's name was a silly one to bring up in a discussion of left-handed bats off the bench that could help the phillies.

It was my way of saying that he would be the most perfect addition they could possibly make for their needs. No blue.

ah - normally, i wouldn't equate marlon anderson = WS with anything other than sarcasm.

also in the bench mix is roberson (switch hitter). though i would assume there is only spot for either him or bourne, and i would guess bourne would get it.

Can I ask why there is almost no talk about Carlos Lee? Maybe I'm missing something, but I'd rather have him than Soriano.

not sure, but i think there is no interest from lee to come here, whereas the phillies fit soriano's criteria (NL, east cost).

also, soriano, because of his speed, has more dimensions as a player from the phillies standpoint.

Lee is a worse outfielder than Burrell. He's got an arm like Dykstra.

KB would say something about Lee's OPS not being that high, either...

I don't know how good or bad Lee is in the field, but he can't be worse than Soriano, can he?

- As far as stolen bases, Lee can swipe bags (not on Soriano's level)...stole 19 last year. also, he was only caught twice while Soriano was caught 17 times.

- The OPS over their careers is identical...835.

- Lee has a better career average and batted .300 last season.

- Lee doesn't strike out. He struck out 65 times last year to Soriano's 160.

- He's a better fit in the Phillies lineup (he's a natural 3/4 hitter) where Soriano wants to bat leadoff.

- Slugging % is slguhtly in Soriano's favor and OBP is slightly in Lee's favor.

- Lee is actually a few months younger than Soriano and will likely be considerably cheaper (shorter deal for slightly less money based on what I'm reading).


I don't know if he'd want to come to Philly, but he seems lik a much better fit than Soriano.

"- Lee doesn't strike out. He struck out 65 times last year to Soriano's 160."


95 more HIDP's, eh?

I know...Soriano had almost 100 more DPA's last year.

Has anyone noticed-- aside from stolen bases-- how similar Soriano's career numebrs are to Burrell's? I think Burrell's advantage in OBP makes up for the discrepancy in batting average...

Atlanta and San Diego are said to be close to a deal:

ATL gets Jake Peavy

SD gets Marcus Giles, Horacio Ramirez and catching prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Talk on ESPN Radio... Jerry Crasnick was the reporter.

Good trade for Atlanta if it goes down. They have depth at 2B and C and Ramirez is a scrub with injury problems.

Saltamacchia is supposed to be the best hitting C prospect in the minors. I was wondering if Atlanta would look to trade him with McCann's emergence. I was kinda hoping a team more to the north might make a play for him....


San Diego is having an interesting offseason. I was shocked they traded Barfield's kid.

I actually don't really like the deal for Atlanta that much. Peavy has issues and he did what he did playing in the best pitcher's park in the league. Now he goes to Atlanta. Could work out though.


SZR who do you consider to be the depth for Atlanta at C and 2B?

Giles blew donkey last year..he was flat awful. Ramirez is chewed up junk. I don't know anything about that catching prospect, but he sounds like the prize piece there in the deal for Peavy.

I like the trade if I'm a Braves fan.

seems like an good trade for atlanta - giles (like his brother) is clearly on the downside, and as has been noted, ramirez is a scrub. now, saltamacchia is of the hottest prospects in baseball at a need position, but the braves already have one of the best up-an-coming young catchers in mccann.

peavy has had problems, but he is still one of the top 10 young pitchers in the majors. if you cant get that kind of a pitcher for a prospect (admittedly an uber-prospect), i think you have to go for it.

i dont think petco played much like a pitcher's park last year, anyway, and its not like turner field is exactly CBP.

The rolling acerage in CBP is where power numbers go to die.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7  8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22