High Heels On The Field

MLB Network To Debut: Heels Will Never Leave The House

I'm going cross eyed. Just the thought of the 24 hour baseball channel making it's debut on Thursday, is enough to make me join the Polar Bear Club and dive into icy waters. That's how flipped out I feel.

For baseball fans, it's a chance to endlessly entertain ourselves and annoy everyone around us. For those who play the game, I wonder if it's not a double-edged sword. More media, but more love being paid to the National Pastime. While football dominates these days, baseball is still America's first love.

Bob Costas has also joined in and so now I'm looking even more forward to it. He has such a love for sports and tremendous humility. I've never seen him as a person who talks down to the viewer/fan.

I ask one thing and one thing only: Please, MLB Network, no replaying of Game Six of the 1993 World Series.

Enough already, huh?

Derek Lowe In "The Haunting"?

Derek Lowe might not figure into the Phillies plans for the future, but he could still figure into their future in a less than enjoyable way. The 36 year old starting pitcher has reportedly gotten an offer from the Mets for three years.

I wonder if Phillies fans are feeling sort of left out of all this big time deal stuff. There's a lot of excitement going around that the Phils just aren't a part of. Then again, the pieces they have in place got them a World Championship and they did bring in a quality guy to replace Pat Burrell.

A quote that made me laugh that I read today. File this one under "Things Rays Fans Would Greatly Appreciate":

"I'm ecstatic to be joining the American League champions," Nelson said. "I'm just hoping I don't screw them up...." - Joe Nelson, after signing a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays

Mitch Williams: Good Job, Phillie

The news that former Phillies closer and post-game analyst Mitch Williams will join the MLB network is an excellent addition and he is so deserving. He's truly made Philadelphia proud. People watching the MLB Net will see a guy who brings tremendous passion, humor and insight to his analysis of the game.

However, I guess this means Philadelphia loses him. I don't know how that works out or if maybe he splits time.

If it turns out that he's just with MLBN, then I wish all the luck in the world to him. It was truly a wonderful sight to see him be a part of the broadcast team when the Phils won the WS. Sometimes I'd get choked up listening to him talk about that team. He was made to feel like a part of the team. I forget what player it was that asked him if he wanted to hold the trophy. To which Mitch, the professional and gentleman that he is declined by saying, "That's yours."

In some way, it really did feel like he had a right to hold it.

Williams will be on the panel of "MLB Tonight" that will air weeknights at 6. The network makes it's debut Thursday, baseball fans.

Eight Years: Teixeira Plants Some Serious Roots

Eight! That was my reaction when I read it...EIGHT?! And to the tune of 180 mil. For that money, Mark Teixeira needs to launch rockets to the moon while in New York Yankees pinstripes.

Deals just keep getting crazier and crazier. Curt Flood whadya think? But while the money gets bigger, these kinds of long-term deals are interesting and almost refreshing. Seeing players in one uniform for a long period is pretty rare anymore.

I don't know if it comes from being a Phillies fan (or just not a Yankees fan first), but short-term always appeals to my senses more. But the Yankees do very little...little.

In Phils news, they gave a minor league contract to right-handed reliever Gary Majewski. Majewski was wtih the Cinncinati Reds in 2008. Hey, buddy. If you want to be part of the best bullpen in the National League, you better work your tail off!

While the Phils haven't done anything particularly exciting this offseason, I think it would be hard to top the way the '08 season ended. It would have to be earth shattering. You know, like, does God pitch?

Countdown to Christmas? Spring Training, I say!

Close your eyes and dig your heels in, baseball fans, the season is 'a gettin' closer.

What's your wish? David Price becomes baseball? Dontrelle Willis returns to the Majors like a ball of fire? Bull's Barbecue "All You Can Eat Day" ?

Phillies fans it's not hard to tell. We wish to continue world domination. Despite Sports Illustrated's desire to not see that happen. Brad Lidge would remain perfect, Chase Utley would be better than ever post-surgery, and Ryan Howard would hit 100 homeruns and each time, the swagger and drop of the bat would get even more delightfully evil.

I almost forgot! Broad Street parades would start to feel inevitable, almost old news, a thing we expect. Oh, wish away. Crazier things have happened. Name one.

My wish? Hmmm...I don't get lost going to the Phillies clubhouse, I don't forgot players names, and I find heels designed by NASA for ultimate comfort that would last sixteen sweet-feet hours.

Forget about Heels on Wheels Mr. Telephone Man. I'll be floating. Because the fun begins again soon.

Presents For Lidge and Utley

Heels on the sleigh! For those who read the dizzy blonde baseball writer blog, I've been super busy with all this Christmas stuff. I have not gone into a catatonic state due to the baseball season being fully buried by the despicable cold.

Obviously, first things first: Phillies fans. Jaimie Moyer getting a two-year deal leaves me feeling secure about the team's chances to be THE team to beat again and, as I've said before, not just because of what he brings to the rotation. His importance to the team's young pitchers is incredibly meaningful and well-documented. I like having him around for another couple of years to guide Cole Hamels. Despite Hamels success, having Moyer around can only help him mature even more.

It occured to me that Chase Utley receiving the TYIB award for "Post Season Moment Of The Year, will still not be hailed quite as much as the famous Derek Jeter play at the plate. But the players are very similar in that they deserve the attention they receive.  It's important to have guys like that in the game for aspiring baseball players who need role models: hard workers who don't put themselves above the team.

Brad Lidge gets the "Closer of the Year" award? Well, what's better than perfect? You bet. Both Utley and Lidge are important to Phils fans because of their ability, but between them and Moyer, we have what's got to be the most positive bunch in years. The connection the fans have with the players on this team is more important than the players can probably understand.

Note: MIght 35-year-old first baseman Andy Tracy, who got a Spring Training invite be the new Coste? Tracy's story is a bit different, but he's spent most of his career competing for jobs (the Montreal Expos drafted him in 2000) and in 2006 he broke his hand playing for the Phils. It'd be great to see him do well this ST. He's a gamer who's kept at it for a long time.

Can-Am Note: Righty Walker Whitely was traded to the New Jersey Jackals by the Surf for a PTBNL. I'm going to assume it's for more pitching....

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Holidays, whatever you celebrate. Festivus included.

Gillick's Royal Treatment

While Phils fans hold their heads high with success, there are the requisite endings. The longest goodbye may have been GM Pat Gillick's who retired from his post, and baseball, after a 51 year career.

Gillick received the highest honor of the Winter meetings: King of Baseball.

Gillick is a man who never wavered from his approach in his career. He had the confidence to make tough decisions and do what he believed would be best for his team in the long and short term. It takes a savvy and astute person to be able to walk that line.

He was the man behind the 1992 and 1993 World Series winning Toronto Blue Jays. And, finally, he redeemed himself before Phillies fans. I'm sure he was sorry for that 1993 one.

Mr. Gillick, Sir (sire?), Phillies fans forgive you.

Enjoy the rest because you deserve it.

The Goodbye Burrell

I have whiplash because I didn't see that one coming.

Raul Ibanez has been signed by the Phils to a three-year deal to replace free agent Pat Burrell. And so ends any speculation that somehow the Phils would find a way to come to terms with Burrell.

What's not shocking is that Burrell will not return. No Phillies fan or baseball analyst thought that he would, though it may have been in Burrell's best interest to stick with the Fightins. What is the market for him right now? Who is interested enough to give him what he wants? There are certainly options, but the Phillies didn't feel that a compromise was in order.

It's a new era. Burrell was part of a batch of farm raised Phillies, along with Jimmy Rollins and Brett Myers who had grown into men and top players. Randy Wolf was part of that pack as well. But Burrell's role seemed essentially to be a kind of team captain. Maybe not the guy who would kick everyone's butt into shape, but someone who by way of sheer magnetism and his strong silent nature, was the unofficial leader of the team. It belonged to him. And until he left it would remain that way.

Say what you will about him defensively and complain about his habit of falling into bad patterns for periods of time (and, for the guys, be jealous of all the salacious tales of his romantic life), but you could never question Pat Burrell's heart or dedication. You could not say he saw himself as above the team. When Larry Bowa benched him he publicly stated, "I hated putting him in that position." He never made a big deal about himself and tried to do his job to the best of his ability. That's a Philly guy.

It's hard to believe that, by way of uniform, he's not anymore.

Rox Pitcher Hernandez Rocks the Phillies

The press release was sent to me this afternoon regarding another Indy league player making his mark on the Major Leagues. Brockton Rox pitcher Santo Hernandez (who I vaguely remember from my Can-Am League coverage this past season. Hey, it's a lot of guys to remember!) contract was purchased by the Phillies, making the Phils another participant in the "We Love Indy Baseball" club that's getting bigger every season.

Hernandez was previously with the Colorado Rockies in 2000 where he played for two years. He finished last season with the Rox with a 3.55 ERA in 132 IP.

His assignment out of ST, I would guess, would be high A, but it's certainly possible he could be assigned to Double A. Hernandez was the top pitcher in the Unites League before joining the Rox.

With Independent baseball becoming more and more legitimate, MLB is seriously cutting costs! Jeez. Are they in a recession? Oh...Hmm....

I would also guess that Indy baseball could also attract more media interest as they get bigger. Which could mean more chicks at that level.

Good thing the AWSM and I fought for equal treatment in the clubhouse. Heels everywhere, oh my!

Hold onto your hats, boys.

Amaro Trades Another Prospect

So far Ruben Amaro is proving unafraid to pull from the farm to improve the club. With today's trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates sending C Jason Jaramillo to the Bucs for Ronny Paulino, it makes Amaro's second trade since taking over from Pat Gillick. And that trade also included a prospect - Greg Golson to the Texas Rangers with the Phils getting John Mayberry. Amaro is quoted as saying he thought the Paulino addition would give the team more depth at the catching position.

It may be too soon to start the job review, but with every move a GM makes it's going to be under microscope. Especially a new guy and especially when it involves the team that just won the World Series. That's enormous pressure.

What kind of a GM will Amaro be? Will he be steely like Gillick? Or a risk-spender like Ed Wade? Wade is of course now more known for what he actually did well with the Phillies. He was adamant that certain players remain in the Phils stable and that there was no deal good enough to change his mind. And so you have Cole Hamels, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard still in Phils pinstripes.

While the players are proving something of their own, each step Amaro takes he's proving himself to the fans as well.