Last year's Phillies team comfortably led the Major Leagues in run prevention by allowing just 3.27 runs per game. It's been a different story so far in 2012. Just seven teams surrender more runs than the last-place Phillies, who are averaging 4.46 runs allowed per game. Here's the latest from the NL East…
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney considers some possible fits for Jim Thome, who's being shopped to American League teams.
- There hasn't been any progress in the Phillies' contract talks with Cole Hamels, Olney writes. Hamels' contract expires after the 2012 season.
- GM Ruben Amaro Jr. must address the Phillies' bullpen issues relatively soon, Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. It's "pretty damn difficult" to develop inexperienced pitchers and win simultaneously, manager Charlie Manuel noted.
- Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria told Greg Cote of the Miami Herald that he believes the 35-40 Marlins have a spectacular club. “It’s a playoff-caliber team, absolutely,” Loria said. “We’re going to have our run."
- D.C. is starting to feel like home for Bryce Harper, and he'd like to continue playing for the Nationals for a long time, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post writes. “You look at Cal Ripken. You look at Derek Jeter. You look at all the greats that played for one team their whole career,” Harper has said. “I want to be like that. I’ve always wanted to be like that. I’ve always wanted to play with that same team.”
Bryce Harper comes off as a tad psycho sometimes and he really needs to cool it on the basepaths (how many outfield assists has he been the cause of?) but you gotta admire the kids spunk, desire, hustle and attitude towards the game altogether. I really can’t stand the Nationals but Bryce Harper is a very likeable guy.
LOL, I’d say pretty much the opposite…Harper is an amazing talent but anything but “likable” I’d say, but I think the Nationals as a whole are a really exciting and cool team this year.
I disagree with you both on one count each. I love watching the Nationals (such a fun, interesting team) and Bryce Harper is my new baseball man-crush. As an athlete and entertainer (of sorts), he’s totally likeable.
I’m still a Tigers fan in my heart, though.
Aside from bashing his own face with a bat (oops!), it seems like he is doing everything right. Giving boring quotes, playing the game hard, even requesting the profits from the “clown question, bro” beer be donated to a memorial fund for recently slain police officer in CO. Hate seems to be unfounded… but then again, I admittedly slurped down the kool aid long ago.
I hate the prospect of facing him 18 times per year for the foreseeable future, but he is great for baseball. Also, not to get into religion, but he’s a Mormon, so he’s substance free. Definitely has the makings of a great role model, while our sport has been lacking there.
Just because he is a mormon doesn’t mean he follows the rules. I have had muslim friends that drink. It matters if they are truly devoted.
I think you meant to say ” he seems to be a practicing or strict mormon” which would increase his chances of being substance free. Just being a mormon does not make him squeaky clean. Ask Andy Reids kids – or Ted Bundy.
Just curious, what do the nationals do that u can’t stand them?
The kid’s 19 and killing it at the Major Leagues, he’s got as long a leash to scope out whatever horizon he wants. I’m not interested in holding this kid back in any way, because he really could be that special. And if Harper sentiment is sincere, the Nationals would be silly not to get talks of a team-friendly extension going as soon as possible. As much as Harper wants to be A Franchise Great, he also Grew Up a Yankees Fan.
Harper has a chance to be the greatest Nat (or Nat/Expo) of all time. Not gonna achieve that ultimate recognition playing for the Yankees.
He seems to have a fine career ahead of him, but the Expos maybe have a richer history than you are keeping in mind. He’s got a ways to go to catch the likes of Andre Dawson, Gary Carter, or Vlad Guerrero… let alone Tim Raines.
let’s all remember this when he signs that 15 year, $350 million contract with the Yankees.
Just as long as it’s Harper signing with the Yanks and not Trout.
Shut up, Bryce Harper.
i know. can you believe he keeps showing up at the offices of these sports writers and saying stuff? nobody asked, kid!
nobody followed you around constantly trying to get you to answer the same 5 questions asked 100 different ways so they could publish another useless article for a few extra pageviews, kid!
Give the kid whatever he wants.
Hamels is gone. There’s no way to project the Phillies as contenders 1-5y out. Everyone in the infield will have to be replaced. Also catcher Ruiz, and pitchers Lee and Halladay. It’s better to go to a team with its ducks in a row, not a Keystone Kops team like the Phillies have become under Amaro.
I think they will at least give it a shot before the deadline. Utley, Howard, and Halladay will all be back before then. If healthy utley and Howard is a feared hitting duo. And Hamels, Lee, Halladay, Worley, is a pretty intimidating rotation. If healthy this team could make up the 5 games to snag the wc.
Olney has been getting paid all year by saying, “There hasn’t been any progress in the Phillies’ contract talks with Cole Hamels.”
Harper has to earn my respect but with a quote like that he’ll be gaining it. I hope he does stay with the Nationals. Every team needs that star. We’ll just see what he says when it’s time to hit free agency. His mind frame could be different when he hits his 20’s.
I don’t read to many quotes along the line of….”I can’t wait to put my time in and hit the free agent market where I can sell my talents to the highest bidder….it’s just a matter of time before I’m the greatest in the game…the management of a large Eastern market team know my value currently. I mean…I love visiting with sick children in this city…it’s good for the kids and it build my reputation as a man of character…but just think of how many needy children there are in a much larger city who might be able to bask in my glow for a few hours.”
Phillies need to learn from the White Sox, 4 rookies in the bullpen and first place