Phillies 2014 <yawn> thread

[SunCoastBlueHen]

My dog took a shit in Ryan Howard's yard this evening. That about sums up my expectations for the season.

[grizzaholic]

The collapse has already started in Philly.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

The Phillies certainly haven't done much this spring to bolster any optimism.

Utley, Rollins and Howard (and the team as a whole, for that matter) are all hitting around the mendoza line. I know it's only spring, but I still would like to see some signs that these guys aren't all over the hill.

I think it is going to be a long season.

[bluehenbillk]

Expectations haven't been this low in quite a while. When Ruin Tomorrow Jr gets canned is really the thing fans are looking forward to most. Ticket sales will be down this year. Ryan Howard looks done and is still owed $75M over the next three seasons. Utley still embodies the fire that made the team so immensely popular & successful over the last few years - but the talent is only at 75% of what it was. J-Roll comes off like an aging, selfish ass nowadays that is a cancer for this team. He already is fueding with Sandberg & I wouldn't be surprised to see him traded or benched enough this season for his option year to not kick in. The outfield is overall below average, the bullpen is full of question marks with a closer that has a motivation problem and a fastball 5-8 mph slower than what it used to be. Hamels already is having arm issues, our Cuban import is a bust and our 4 & 5 guys are crapshoots.

If anyone is in Vegas between now & Opening Day, bet the under (76.5) on the Phillies win total for the year.

[93henfan]

E
A
G
L
E
S
EAGLES!!!

[93henfan]

I'm less enthusiastic about the 2014 Phils than McCain supporters were for their man in 2008:

[JoltinJoe]

[Ivytalk]

If anyone is in Vegas between now & Opening Day, bet the under (76.5) on the Phillies win total for the year.

I'm at 58.

But the Phils could beat the Sixers in hoops! Now that's one sorry-azzed franchise right there.

[Ivytalk]

This is our turf. So piss off. Go pick on D1B some more.

[bandl]

This is our turf. So piss off. Go pick on D1B some more.

[bluehenbillk]

If anyone is in Vegas between now & Opening Day, bet the under (76.5) on the Phillies win total for the year.

I'm at 58.

But the Phils could beat the Sixers in hoops! Now that's one sorry-azzed franchise right there.

Yea, but people see what the Sixers plan is & how it can be accomplished in maybe three years. The Phillies three years from now will be a completely overhauled team. Seriously - look at the current roster and who is there three years from now: Asche, Franco, Galvis?, Brown, Ruf?, Hamels, Biddle?. That's all I got.

[Ibanez]

I have the same feeling for the Braves. They are doing slightly better in pre-season than the Phillies. I'm sure they will figure out a way to get everyone's hopes up and then like acne on prom night, destroy the good feelings and send everyone off the deep end.

[GannonFan]

There's always hope for a 1983-style magical run by a bunch of over-the-hill guys. I wouldn't bank on it, and certainly not as much as Amaro has done, but it's always possible.

Even my eternal-optimism will likely be done in by May 1st, but for now, there's still hope.

[GannonFan]

I'm at 58.

But the Phils could beat the Sixers in hoops! Now that's one sorry-azzed franchise right there.

Yea, but people see what the Sixers plan is & how it can be accomplished in maybe three years. The Phillies three years from now will be a completely overhauled team. Seriously - look at the current roster and who is there three years from now: Asche, Franco, Galvis?, Brown, Ruf?, Hamels, Biddle?. That's all I got.

Hey, no dissing the Sixers. They are pulling off what is simply the greatest job of tanking in the history of sports. Don't underestimate how hard it is to be this bad night in and night out. These guys are heroes.

[JoltinJoe]

This is our turf. So piss off. Go pick on D1B some more.

[Grizalltheway]

This is our turf. So piss off. Go get your ass whooped by D1B some more.

[tribe_pride]

Yea, but people see what the Sixers plan is & how it can be accomplished in maybe three years. The Phillies three years from now will be a completely overhauled team. Seriously - look at the current roster and who is there three years from now: Asche, Franco, Galvis?, Brown, Ruf?, Hamels, Biddle?. That's all I got.

Hey, no dissing the Sixers. They are pulling off what is simply the greatest job of tanking in the history of sports. Don't underestimate how hard it is to be this bad night in and night out. These guys are heroes.

According to Silver, there is no tanking in the NBA - just rebuilding.

[JoltinJoe]

Yea, but people see what the Sixers plan is & how it can be accomplished in maybe three years. The Phillies three years from now will be a completely overhauled team. Seriously - look at the current roster and who is there three years from now: Asche, Franco, Galvis?, Brown, Ruf?, Hamels, Biddle?. That's all I got.

Hey, no dissing the Sixers. They are pulling off what is simply the greatest job of tanking in the history of sports. Don't underestimate how hard it is to be this bad night in and night out. These guys are heroes.

Any truth to the rumor that the Sixers are trying to schedule the Globetrotters every night?

[BlueHen86]

If anyone is in Vegas between now & Opening Day, bet the under (76.5) on the Phillies win total for the year.

I'm at 58.

But the Phils could beat the Sixers in hoops! Now that's one sorry-azzed franchise right there.

The Sixers are trying to lose, at least they are good at it.

Seriously though, the Sixers are trying to lose, it's the only way to escape NBA mediocrity. I wouldn't call the franchise "sorry-azzed", they are making the right move and are probably losing money because of it.

[BlueHen86]

There's always hope for a 1983-style magical run by a bunch of over-the-hill guys. I wouldn't bank on it, and certainly not as much as Amaro has done, but it's always possible.

Even my eternal-optimism will likely be done in by May 1st, but for now, there's still hope.

I'd feel a lot more confident if Hamels were healthy.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Perhaps focusing on any Ryne Sandberg-Jimmy Rollins friction is to miss the point. [As] one former Phillies player said, "You could see that coming from a mile away." Maybe, but spring-training stories don't get much juicier than a Hall of Famer-turned-manager trying to exert control over a franchise icon who long ago grew too comfortable. Still, this developing soap opera almost misses the point. The scouts' early reviews on the Phillies are in. And to put it kindly, they are less than glowing. "They're awful," said one. "Painful to watch," said another. "Their window didn't close slowly -- it shut," said a third. Keep in mind, it's only spring. In fact, it's relatively early in spring. But the Phillies needed victories the past two days to improve their record to 4-10.

[Seahawks08]

I'd feel a lot more confident if Hamels were healthy.

This is crucial. I will reserve judgment until June to see where the phils are at. If they can make it until then being in contention with the Braves/Nats, there may be hope yet. But not having Hamels for April may squash their chances. And if they suck, then the trade deadline will be amusing at least with Byrd, Lee, Paps, Rollins, Burnett, and Howard.

[BlueHen86]

I'd feel a lot more confident if Hamels were healthy.

This is crucial. I will reserve judgment until June to see where the phils are at. If they can make it until then being in contention with the Braves/Nats, there may be hope yet. But not having Hamels for April may squash their chances. And if they suck, then the trade deadline will be amusing at least with Byrd, Lee, Paps, Rollins, Burnett, and Howard.

As I see it, the Phillies need everything to go right in order to content. Everyone healthy and have average to above average seasons. Not likely, but it happens on occasion. Hamels really worries me.

I agree with you regarding the wait and see approach. If the team is out of it by June sell, sell, sell.

[tampajag]

My dog took a **** in Ryan Howard's yard this evening. That about sums up my expectations for the season.

I'm getting married not far from his house, maybe I'll piss on his lawn.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

My dog took a **** in Ryan Howard's yard this evening. That about sums up my expectations for the season.

I'm getting married not far from his house, maybe I'll piss on his lawn.

You getting married in Belleair Beach, TJ?