Tuesday, March 31, 2009
"New" look Phillies continue to evolve for 2009
Change is a thing that a lot of fans don't like, but with Phillies winning the World Series last year, the fans can put up with these roster changes a bit better than before in years when the Phillies weren't winning very much. Bringing in high paid journeymen to fill positions is the way a lot of teams deal with vacancies that they have. The Phillies now have a lot of players that have been through the Phillies farm system, and are big stars in their own right now on the MLB stage.
Chan Ho Park has been named the Phils 5th starter, and JA Happ is still hanging around so not much is known what his fate will be. A team may be interested in him, if he is offered in trade or the Phillies may keep him again in the minors although he seems like he is capable of being a pitcher on a big league club somewhere.
Time will tell how this recession we are in will impact baseball. One thing is for sure, the Phillies fans will arrive in droves this year and for a couple years to come to celebrate the World Series win. The World Series win was just what Phillies fans needed to make them forget about how many millions of dollars the team is paying some of them and how much they just paid for that ballpark beer, ouch... you could have got a cold six pack for what they charge for just one beer at the park.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Phillies win predictions, and MLB 2009 season predictions
with Rich Baxter, Jim Mulry, and Mike Berquist
Phillies win predictions -
Rich - 92
Jim - 88
Mike - 91
NL East Central West
Rich / Phillies / Cubs / Dodgers
Jim / Braves / Cubs / Dodgers
Mike / Phillies / Cubs / Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card
Rich / Mets
Jim / Astros
Mike / Mets
NL World Series
Rich / Cubs
Jim / Astros
Mike / Diamondbacks
AL East Central West
Rich / Yankees / Twins / Angels
Jim / Yankees / White Sox / Angels
Mike / Red Sox / Twins / A's
AL Wildcard
Rich / Rays or Red Sox
Jim / A's
Mike / Rays
AL World Series
Rich / Yankees
Jim / Angels
Mike / Red Sox
Our surprise teams:
Rich - Houston Astros / Detroit Tigers
Jim - Giants / Toronto Jays
Mike - Giants / Kansas City Royals
That was our picks from our show on March 30, 2009 from our podcast-
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Phillies 2009 prediction show with Mike Berquist
http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-79329/TS-208134.mp3
Phillies Talk internet radio show tonight 6:30 pm
That link is for tonight's show, all shows will be available here on fightinphillies.com live after tonight's show. So join Rich Baxter, Jim Mulry, and Mike Berquist for tonight's Phillies Talk show.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Phillies and the NL East depth chart: Shortstop
This is one area where I can say without a doubt the Phillies probably have the best player in his own position in baseball, of course Jimmy Rollins. Jimmy is my favorite player on the team and has been for a couple of years. His play sets the tone for the team. He hustles 99% of the time, and when he doesn’t it is easily seen as was last year with a few miscues which weren’t that bad in my opinion. Rollins I feel is also one of the most underrated players in the game, he won the MVP for a reason two years ago in 2007 and he is probably the best Phillies shortstop to play the game in the modern age. No disrespect to Larry Bowa, but I think even Bowa would admit that Jimmy is the full package and deserves the recognition as the best shortstop to play for the Phillies.
Looking around the NL East at the other shortstops we have talented players but no one can hold a candle to what Jimmy Rollins has done in the past for his team and what he’ll continue to do in the seasons to come.
Phillies - (my 1st overall pick in the NL East) – Jimmy Rollins.. aka J-Roll. He has had a couple of rare missteps with Manuel last year, but this year I don’t think you’ll see any of that from Jimmy. One of the best players on the team, gets the team motivated, and puts up huge offense and stellar defense.
Mets - (my 2nd overall pick in the NL East) Jose was born when I graduated high school, god that makes me feel old! He was signed by the Mets as an amateur free agent in 1999. This year will be his 7th season as a NY Mets player, he broke into the league in 2003. He’s a play maker, but I feel he is too full of himself, he needs to get back down to earth in relation to thinking he’s so great, when he really isn’t what I would call a superstar. He’s a two time All Star, and he’s my pick for the 2nd best in the NL East for shortstop.
Braves - (my 4th overall pick in the NL East) Yunel Escobar is a young player born in Cuba, who should excel this season. Lackluster numbers though last year puts him down toward the bottom of my overall picks for NL East shortstops.
Nationals – ( my 3rd overall pick in the NL East) Cristian Guzman – a so-so player that has hit the most number of triples in the American League by a player for three seasons when he played with Minnesota in ‘00 - ‘01 & ‘03 – has hit for a good average in his batting average last year, but not too many HR’s or RBI’s. He’s a two time all star pick though, so he’s got some moxie that carries along with that credential.
Marlins – (my tie for 1st overall pick in NL East) Hanley Ramirez – what more can you say about the talent of Hanley Ramirez. He’s only going to be playing his fifth season in the bigs, already he is appearing to be headed into rare air known as the “H” word, as in the Hall of Fame. Not yet, mind you but if Ramirez can stay healthy, I think you may see him as one of the best shortstops for years to come. I always would give the nod to Jimmy Rollins as the overall best, but Ramirez is just under the top spot in this position in my opinion.
So there you have it, the best players ranked according to what I think in the NL East, next up by this weekend an overall look at the entire outfield of each National League team and how I rank them against one another in the NL East.
My thanks to Jeff Wittwer who is a writer on my blog that suggested we post our best picks for the NL East by position, read Jeff's post here on his blog on the Phillies.
Rich Baxter - fightin phillies blog
Monday, March 23, 2009
Like the Terminator: "I'll be Back" says Kendrick

Kyle Kendrick Slips into Minor Role with Phils
I have got the new nickname for Kyle Kendrick. KK was very publicly demoted yesterday and with the latest quote being reported, Kyle said, "I'll be back." His new nickname is "The Terminator".
Kendrick seemingly was on his way to challenge Cole Hamels only a year ago or so, and with this latest development, Kendrick seems to be sliding down that ladder from the majors and into the minors again. Nothing can be more humiliating as a pitcher who has had success and wins in the majors and then starts to fade. What happened to Kyle? A lack of confidence and the pressure of making it to the 5th starting position could have something to do with it. He started his fall a long time ago during last season. He suddenly went from a Greg Maddux style of pitcher to a guy who couldn't get anyone out. Command problems? Control seemed to be ok... what happened to Kendrick?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The MLB Picks 2009 Podcast - recorded live
The Yankees look like a powerhouse, and the Dodgers, and the Cubs are out for revenge. Hear all about our 'surprise' teams... the sleepers of the bunch that may wake up and take it all!
Listen to the show here
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Phils wearing o' the Green

Sunday, March 15, 2009
Mets prices go to the level of 'Insane' per game here is the prices for a game against the Pirates

DELTA CLUB SILVER | $180.00 | |||
| DELTA CLUB | $140.00 | ||
| METROPOLITAN BOX GOLD | $180.00 | ||
| FIELD BOX GOLD | $180.00 | ||
| EBBETS CLUB | $160.00 | ||
| METROPOLITAN BOX SILVER | $140.00 | ||
| FIELD BOX SILVER | $140.00 | ||
| METROPOLITAN BOX | $120.00 | ||
| CAESARS CLUB PLATINUM | $140.00 | ||
| CAESARS CLUB GOLD | $120.00 | ||
| FIELD BOX | $100.00 | ||
| CAESARS CLUB SILVER | $100.00 | ||
| CAESARS CLUB BRONZE | $92.00 | ||
| BASELINE BOX | $60.00 | ||
| CAESARS CLUB | $60.00 | ||
| PROMENADE CLUB GOLD | $60.00 | ||
| LEFT FIELD RESERVED GOLD | $56.00 | ||
| RIGHT FIELD RESERVED GOLD | $56.00 | ||
| PROMENADE CLUB | $48.00 | ||
| PEPSI PORCH GOLD | $48.00 | ||
| LEFT FIELD LANDING GOLD | $48.00 | ||
| LEFT FIELD RESERVED | $40.00 | ||
| RIGHT FIELD RESERVED | $40.00 | ||
| PEPSI PORCH | $32.00 | ||
| LEFT FIELD LANDING | $32.00 | ||
| PROMENADE BOX | $28.00 | ||
| PROMENADE RESERVED INFIELD | $20.00 | ||
| PROMENADE RESERVED | $15.00 |
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Phillies and the NL East depth chart: Third Base
I inadvertently included the Pirates in my NL East lineup originally, I would love to have the Pirates back in the NL East, they left the East in 1994 and went of course to the NL Central. Thanks to LDPhan for pointing that out!
Friday, March 06, 2009
Phillies Talk 2009 - World Baseball Classic Show
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Phillies take on Jimmy Rollins and the USA - All World Team

Today Jimmy Rollins and Team USA will be playing against the Phillies as the World Baseball Classic team USA will play the Fightin's in exhibition baseball at Clearwater, Florida. The two teams will meet at 12:05 at Brighthouse Field in a tune up for the USA team that will face Canada in the first 'round' of the World Baseball Classic on March 7, 2009 in the Rogers Center, Toronto Canada. The Classic is something I didn't think I would be too interested in, but it has grabbed my attention of late. The Classic starts at all corners of the globe: The Asian teams will play in Tokyo, a strange grouping of teams will play in Mexico City, others will play at the Rogers Center, Toronto, and still more will play in Puerto Rico. These are the venues for Round One, the teams that advance will move exclusively to the US for the second round. Venues for the second round will be San Diego's Petco Park, Miami, Florida's Dolphin Stadium, and the finals will be in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.
How can you not like the USA team? Names like Jeter, Chipper Jones, Pedroia, Rollins, Wright, Youkilis, Victorino, McCann, and Granderson. They will be taking on the mighty Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon and you can listen to it live over the web, but you need a subscription to MLB radio for $14.95 - but that will get you audio for the whole season as well. You can also watch games live, just go to www.worldbaseballclassic.com and sign up for the $19.99 plan for the over the internet live broadcast plan for the games of the WBC for the regular games schedule of the WBC (not including the game for exhibition with the Phillies). ESPN, ESPN2, and the MLB Network will be televising games on tv as well.
The Phillies whipped up on Team Canada on Wednesday, 9-2. The Phils displayed some awesome offense in how the Phillies won a lot of the playoff games last year, with the home run! Raul Ibanez doubled with the bases loaded, I can't wait to see him play in the regular season, and I hope he saves some of this for the regular season!
Monday, March 02, 2009
Phils have won 3 in a row and welcome back to blogging - 'A Citizen's Blog'
Don't look now but the Phillies are well on their to continue their winning ways with their third win of spring training and third win in a row. When things go right for the Phillies, they really go right. Raul Ibanez shook off his .200 average and smacked two doubles today which is awesome and I will love to see this in the regular season.
Forget the huge snow storm we had in the Delaware Valley today, we're only about 33 days away from opening 'day' or night as it is being called. This foot of snow and 12 degrees at night will be but a memory.
Speaking of memories, I remember a certain Phillies blog is supposed to be coming out of an extended hibernation today or tomorrow. 'A Citizen's Blog' by Mike Berquist is coming back to the blogosphere and I would like to welcome him and the blog back to the scene! Good luck Mike and I am looking forward to reading your posts.