The Phillies made some front office moves, have a possible new trade partner to discuss Papelbon, and Amaro remains one of the worst GMs in baseball.
1. Will anybody let Joe Blanton pitch?
Former Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton is looking to make a return to the mound this season. After sitting out the 20144 season without a job, Blanton plans to workout in front of any team willing to take a look next week. The timing makes sense, with pitchers and catchers getting ready to descend on Florida and Arizona, so the interest for another pitcher for the spring should see some interest for Blanton. What is the harm?
I’m not counting on the Phillies to be among the interested teams, although it looks as though Oakland would be a possible team of interest. Best of luck to Blanton on his quest to return to the big leagues.
2. Blue Jays reportedly have interest in Papelbon
As noted in yesterday morning’s round-up, there was a mystery team rising in the discussions for Phillies close Jonathan Papelbon. That team was reported to be the Toronto Blue Jays, although the chances the Phillies and Blue Jays are able to make a move look slim. Still, it is an interesting trade partner if a few hurdles can be leaped.
3. Phillies make front office moves
The Phillies are not sending David Montgomery back into the role as team president, but he is taking on a new role as Phillies chairman. Pat Gillick will be the team president moving forward, and Bill Giles was named chairman emeritus to make everybody as happy as they can be, I suppose. Whatever the situation is behind closed doors, it is encouraging to see Montgomery feeling suitable to take on a role after stepping back from his position as team president to focus on his health.
But Ruben Amaro is still the general manager…
4. Some people are still copying off others
Remember when you were in grade school (or maybe you still are) and the kid next to you tried to sneak a peek at your test to get the answer to questions 67 and 68? Were you that kid leaning over while the teacher was not looking? Whichever side of that scenario you fell on, you knew it was wrong and odds are you grew out of that.
You would be surprised how prevalent that still is today, especially in the world of sports media. Ryan Lawrence, who covers the Phillies for the Philadelphia Daily News, caught Matt Lombardo of NJ.com in the act.
5. If the Phillies aren’t winning it all, who is all in for 2015?
Maybe I’ll be shocked and surprised by the Phillies this season. Maybe this is a team that comes out of nowhere and makes an improbable run back to the World Series. I would love it if it did, but we pretty much know the odds are stacked against the Phillies. But what teams are supposed to be World Series or bust in 2015? The Outside Corner highlighted one team from each division. The Washington Nationals are labeled the team to beat in the NL East, which comes as no surprise.
6. Ruben Amaro is one of the worst GMs in baseball
Yeah, we know. The profile of Ruben Amaro is not a particularly sparkling one since taking over as the Phillies GM after the 2008 season. Once again from The Outside Corner, Amaro headlines the worst GMs in baseball. Toronto’s GM is also in the category, so maybe these two can stumble upon a Papelbon trade after all.
7. Baseball is in pretty good shape
Football is still king of the sports world in this country, but baseball is doing just fine itself. This sport is far from dying.
8. Ichiro signed by Marlins for $2 million
The Miami Marlins now have Ichiro Suzuki on board, which is probably as close as we can get to seeing Pete Rose in a Montreal Expos uniform in this era. Ichiro, 41 years old, was signed to a contract valued at $2 million. He needs 156 hits to reach the 3,000-hit milestone.
9. Tomorrow is Wing Bowl
You have been warned.
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