Tag Archives: Heath Bell

Madson Talks Heating Up?

8 Nov

Well, so they say.

It seems that the Phillies seem to value a few things heavier then their talks with Jimmy Rollins. Last night there were multiple reports that the Phillies are getting a little more “aggressive,” and honestly I feel they have to.

You can’t have three aces like Halladay, Hamels, and Lee going eight strong innings an have some goofball come out for the ninth and blow it…  These three deserve a legitimate, slam the door, closer.

Todd Zolecki reported last night that he gets the feeling that if the Phillies can’t work something out with Madson then they will look at names like Jonathan Papelbon, Heath Bell, and Joe Nathan.

That was reaffirmed by a few others in then know…

@SI_JonHeyman - #phillies also have had talks with papelbon. Seem determined to sign either pap or madson. like their style.
@jaysonst - #Phillies are making “strong push” to re-sign Ryan Madson. More to come inESPN.com Rumor Central.
@jcrasnick - Source tells ESPN.com that #Phillies talks with closer Ryan Madson are “advancing, but not complete.”
However, it’s worth noting that almost everyone has stated that the Phillies prefer Madson as their first choice, and that everyone else would be a secondary to him.

Ryan is also drawing some interest from the Red Sox, Nationals, Rangers and Marlins.  The Rangers have thoughts of putting Neftali Feliz into their starting rotation, and the Red Sox are unsure if they are going to be able to retain Jonathan Papelbon.  The Marlins and Nationals are basically linked to every free-agent out there, so I wouldn’t put too much stock into that.

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Phillies Show Interest In Padres Reliever

17 Jul

This time, I’m not talking about Heath Bell.

The Phillies have checked in on Padres relief pitcher Mike Adams. He’s not exactly as much of a household name as Bell, but he’s a definatly a pitcher to consider.  The Phillies like Adams because he still has one year left of arbitration which means he would be under their control for more then just these last few months.

Adams is a legit bullpen piece, and would probably be the closer for the Padres if it were not for Heath Bell.  I don’t really think that Adams will com cheap though.  The Padres know that Adams, and Bell are in high demand, but they are starving for some offensive production so they will have to be dealt.

Adams has a 1.56 ERA in four seasons in the Majors. His fastball is in the mid 90′s and he has a good cutter and slider as well which make him effective against left and right handed batters (9.2 SO/9).

I found this Bud Black quote while pulling some stuff together on Adams.

“He’s got the fastball inside. He’s got the cutter/slider inside. And he commands the outside of the plate (against right-handed and left-handed batters). The command is good, the stuff is good and the head’s good”

Adams would make a great set-up man, or closer. I really do get the feeling that the Phillies are starting to get worried that they will not be able to resign Ryan Madson at the end of the season.

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Phillies Eyeing Heath Bell?

24 Jun

Buster Olney of ESPN reported earlier today that the Phillies might be a potential fit for the Padres closer Heath Bell.

I’ve been saying that for months.

Bell, who most likely will become available to teams looking to trades is 2-3 with a 2.70 ERA, and 19 saves.

San Diego is 32-44 in a good N.L West, and will likely be raising the white flag pretty soon.

Ryan Madson has done a great job closing for the Phillies, but another dominate arm like Bell’s surely would be nice.  The Phillies want to sure up a bullpen that is very, very young.  With the injuries to Jose Contreras, and now Roy Oswalt it looks like they might be taking on quite a mighty load.

Contreras should be out til almost August and who only knows what the deal is with Brad Lidge.

Other teams in baseball have confirmed that the Phillies are indeed inquiring about bullpen help, but at the same time, why wouldn’t they be?  You can’t ever be satisfied with good enough.

I’d keep an eye on this one, because this is a trade I can actually happening.

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Padres Bullpen Using Jedi Mind Tricks

28 Aug

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During Spring Training if you had asked any of the experts what they thought the Padres chances were to get to the playoffs would be, you be luck to get more then a laugh.  Most everyone figured the Padres would be sellers by the trade deadline and that Adrian Gonzales would be shipped off in exchange for prospects. Now the Padres who nobody considered a contender are leading the N.L. West by 6 games and pretty much a lock for the Postseason.

One of the strengthens of this Padres team has to be their Bullpen.  If you ask them they will honestly tell you that they have found strength in their new secret weapon. Star Wars’ Yoda has joined the So-Cal crew and has been providing wisdom and luck since sometime in June.  Yoda’s wisdom isn’t just for Jedi. The Padres seem to have adopted an unofficial new green mascot, which can’t hurt gaming odds. 

It all started with actress Ashley Eckstein who voices Jedi Ahsoka Tano in The Clone Wars animated series and created a new fashion line for female Star Wars fans called Her Universe,  Ashley  is married to Padres’ infielder David Eckstein.

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If you go to the ballpark early enough to see the relief pitchers
walking from the dugout to the bullpen, you’ll notice Ryan Webb carrying some
extra baggage: a backpack that looks like Yoda,
another backpack that looks like Chewbacca and a black bag containing
provisions for the relief pitchers who spend the game in the bullpen.

It’s all part of being the low man on the totem pole.

“One day Heath Bell showed up with Yoda here, and I wore him out and
ever since then, we’ve won a bunch of games in a row so he’s kind of
become a good luck charm.

“Now we’re just adding more and more. We’ve got Chewbacca now. We took
three in a row with Chewbacca so he’s kind of part of the crew now.”

Webb said that Yoda joined the bullpen while on a six-game road trip in
Florida the week of June 22nd. Immediately, the responsibility for
Yoda’s care went to the 24 year-old righthander.

“It’s pretty embarrassing at times,” Webb admitted.

But he went on to say that everyone in the bullpen embraces Yoda and
Chewbacca. “Whenever we score runs, we give each other high fives and
make sure we include Yoda in on that,” Webb said. “Sometimes if we’re
not scoring runs, we have to shake him and wake him up a little bit
because he’s our good luck charm.” 

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Watch for shots of the Bullpen today and tomorrow you’ll see that the Star Wars characters have actual seats on the bench. Pretty funny stuff.  Not as original as Jobu but pretty close. 

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Timely Hitting Eludes Phils

6 Jun

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The Phillies did their best to overcome the runs given up by Joe Blanton (5 ER) but couldn’t get back the one coughed up by Baez in the 10th. 

Joe Blanton has yet to have a really impressive start since his late entry into this season.  Three runs in the first, one in the 4th, and again one in the 5th.  Offensively the Phillies came back with one in the 1st and then 4 in the 2nd highlighted by Ryan Howard’s two-run single.  That’s where it stopped.  Chances in the 9th and 10th eluded the Phils, ending with a 6-5 loss. 

Heath Bell walked the tightrope through the12603817_BG2.jpg10th inning for his 15th save of the
season. Bell issued a walk to Placido Polanco with one out, but Polly was
thrown out at third by Gwynn, in a potential game-saving play, trying
to advance on a Chase Utley single. Howard also singled to put runners
at the corners, but Jayson Werth struck out on a 97 mph fastball to end
the game.

Tomorrow Cole Hamels 5-4 vs Wade LeBlanc 2-4 (1-1 record to go with a
6.59 ERA in three road starts)

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