Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 09, 2003
Set Up to Setup

The Phillies look like they are going to sign Tim Worrell as their new setup man. Worrell did a great job in the role for the Giants in 2001 and 2002, and will return to that role after being the closer for the Giants in 2003. The Phillies were 19th in the majors in save percentage last year, but with the Big W's finishing games, I expect that will improve significantly.

Unlike the Brewers, Tigers and Pirates before them, the Phillies appear to be serious about combining a new ballpark with a winning team. With Atlanta losing two key offensive players in Sheffield and Lopez and with Florida losing one in I-Rod, the Phillies are looking more and more like the favorites in the NL East.

Update: In one of the comments below, John Y. writes:


I think Ed Wade wants to provide a team that Mr. Ed could manage to first place.

Mr. Ed, as it turns out, was a pretty good manager:

081- Leo Durocher Meets Mister Ed

Original Airdate: September 29, 1963

Ed's favorite team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, aren't doing so hot. Ed, being the baseball expert that he is, calls up Leo Durcocher and gives him tips on how to help his players. Leo doesn't pay much attention to him at first, but realizes Ed's tips are right. Thinking it's Wilbur who had called him, Leo invites Wilbur down to the field to give him some more tips. Unfortunatly, Carol and the Addisons want to go to Palm Springs. Ed fixes that, by giving Carol a phony weather report for Palm Springs. Ed and Wilbur travel to Dodger's stadium to give some tips.

Classic Scene:

Ed hits a homerun! He runs the bases and slides into home.. too bad he missed second base.
Worth Mentioning...

This is often concidered to many fans to be the best Mister Ed episode.
This is Addison's final episode. He died soon after of leukemia at age 67.


Maybe Ed Wade should hire Wilbur Wood as his pitching coach. :-)


Posted by David Pinto at 01:20 PM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Weren't the Phillies the favorites to win the division last year? I have all confidence that Bowa will keep this team out of the playoffs again.

Posted by: Mark Bridgers at December 9, 2003 01:47 PM

Is he going to be getting "closer" money? It would seem odd that he would revert to the set-up role with being duely compensated.

Posted by: Luca Brasi at December 9, 2003 01:55 PM

Worrell is getting about $6M total over 2 years. Not terrible.

I'd prefer somebody younger like LaTroy Hawkins or, dare I say it, Armando Benitez, but I'll take Worrell. He's a solid pitcher.

Although frankly I don't know that he's any better than Terry Adams.

At any rate, the Philly bullpen is shaping up as: Wagner, Worrell, Cormier, Plesac, and two kids... if I had to guess from their current 40-man, I'd say Junge (who I thought should've replaced Silva last year) and either Coggin or Madson.

That said, I wouldn't put another free agent or trade past this club right now. I think Ed Wade wants to provide a team that Mr. Ed could manage to first place.

Posted by: John Y. at December 9, 2003 04:09 PM

Noooooooooo, you wouldn't want Benitez- hasn't he set the record for botch-ups with the most major league teams? I can think of four off the top of my head. (I'm a New Yorker, so I've had double the exposure to Benitez. I have yet to figure out why anyone keeps him.)

Anybody but Benitez!

Posted by: Rivki at December 9, 2003 05:28 PM

Benitez had a 1.93 ERA for the Yankees and a 2.96 ERA overall last season.

I think, like LaTroy Hawkins, he just puts too much pressure on himself when he pitches in the 9th inning. But setting up for Billy Wagner, I think he'd be lights out.

Posted by: John Y. at December 9, 2003 09:28 PM

Believe it or not, I think the Phillies' biggest problem this year will be their lineup. Abreu is a sure thing, and Thome is pretty close (but his back makes me nervous). But after that it gets very shaky: Rollins is solid, but still hasn't learned plate discipline; Burrell is a mystery and who knows if he'll recover from last year's debacle; Lieberthal can't stay healthy; Utley is a rookie; Byrd still hasn't developed any power like they wanted to...that's a lot of if's for a team that has to contend with the defending champs, the Braves, and a Mets team that still has money to burn. Their rotation with Wolf, Padilla, Milton, and Myers might be the best thing they have going for them.

Posted by: Daniel at December 10, 2003 12:25 AM

the phils biggest problem(s) will be bell and burrell. they can't have both those guys tanking again this year. lieberthal can't stay healthy? wasn't he healthy all year last year? and byrd doesn't really need to develop power as a lead-off man - see jimmy rollins for this concept (avg and obp should not be almost identical, jimmy).

i like the acquisition of worrell - he's older, but he won't be clammering to be a starter the way adams has.

the phils may sign one more reliever after the 20th, but they already have a bunch of guys on their roster who could fill the remaining sports.

Posted by: gr at December 10, 2003 09:56 AM

I was actually pondering last night how expensive Scott Spiezio would be. Put him at third base and sit Bell.

Posted by: John Y. at December 10, 2003 10:29 AM

Plesac officially announced his retirement this week, so he's out of the mix.

Posted by: Bob Timmermann at December 12, 2003 06:53 PM