Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
December 09, 2004
Rather Have Lieber

The Phillies are puming up John Lieber's pocketbook, signing him to a three-year, $21 million dollar contract. The Phillies seem to be going with an age movement, bringing in Kenny Lofton and Rheal Cormier in addition to Lieber. They're also talking about Chris Hammond for the bullpen.

I don't believe Lieber is a bad signing. Seven million a year is a reasonable amount of money for a pitcher, and Lieber does one thing extremely well; he doesn't walk batters. He would have pitched the Yankees into the World Series if it hadn't been for one great AB by Jason Varitek.

Still the Phillies seem headed in the wrong direction. They're adding expensive old players, instead of developing young, inexpensive talent that can be signed cheaply for the long term.


Posted by David Pinto at 07:36 AM | Free Agents | TrackBack (0)
Comments

hi david!!!

i can understand how a team might could want a veteran, especially someone who is good with young guys, on a really young team, but i do not understand the

old vets ROOL
rookiez are teh sukc

attitude of so many teams. (like my stros!!!!!!!!!)

ESPECIALLY when there is so much complaining about salaries, etc...

Posted by: lisa gray at December 9, 2004 01:57 PM

The Phils have definitely improved the team both at the plate and on the mound for 2005. I do worry though about 2-3 years from now when Lieber, Lieberthal, Thome, and Abreu are in their late 30's and pulling down around $50 million, collectively. And that doesn't even figure in Burrell.

But, I am certainly optimistic about 2005.

Posted by: Tom G at December 9, 2004 02:36 PM

2005 is where it's at. The Phils have the new stadium, the powerhouse in-its-prime nucleus, the division full of patsies (well, except that Bobby Cox apparently doesn't need good players to win 100 games) and have excised the managerial cancer. They should be going for broke right now.

Posted by: Crank at December 9, 2004 03:55 PM

Kenny Lofton guarantees that you will not win. see '95 Indians, 97 Braves, 2002 Giants, 2004 Yankees. Can't play CF, can't hit anymore, can't run and is a megajerk. Other than that I think he's great.

Posted by: Jack Tanner at December 13, 2004 09:53 AM

Chad Bentz would be a good addition to this team and he's a free agent as of 12/04 left handed pitcher 25, young and still coachable. He still believes in God and baseball. Someone to look up to by children.

Posted by: mary at December 14, 2004 12:41 PM
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