The 30 year old hit .241 with 8 homeruns in 2009 in 352 at bats. It was a down year from his .313 average in 2008. Spilborghs would give the Phillies a second quality back up outfielder and another right handed bat off of the bench.

Depending on the price tag for Spilborghs this trade makes sense as the Phillies look to improve upon a beleaguered bench from 2009. With Spilborghs, Ben Fransisco, and Greg Dobbs, Charlie Manuel would have better options in the late innings for a pinch hitter and pinch runner. 

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Grover Cleveland Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska on February 26, 1887. Alexander was one of thirteen children and played semi pro ball in his youth, signing his first professional contract at age 20 in 1907 for $50 per month. He had a good first season, but his career was almost ended when he was struck by a thrown ball while base running. This incident set his career back, but he had recovered by 1910, become a star pitcher again, and was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies for $750. Alexander made his Philadelphia debut during the pre-season 1911 City Series. Alexander pitched five-innings of no-hit, no-run baseball against the defending World Champion Philadelphia Athletics. He would make his official Major League debut on April 15, 1911.  In his rookie campaign, Alexander led the league with 28 wins which still stands as the modern day rookie record, 31 complete games, 367 innings pitched, and seven shutouts. He finished second in strikeouts and fourth in ERA. From 1912 to 1920, Alexander led the league in ERA five times (1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, and 1920), wins five times (1914-17, 1920), innings pitched six times (1912, 1914-17, 1920), strikeouts six times (1912, 1914-1917, 1920), complete games five times (1914-1917, 1920), and shutouts five times (1915, 1916, 1917, 1919). His 1916 total of 16 is a major league record. He won pitching's Triple Crown in 1915, 1916, 1917 and 1920. In 1915, he was instrumental in leading the Phillies to their first pennant and he pitched a record four one hitters. After the 1917 season, the Phillies sold Alexander to the Cubs in fear that he would be lost to the army in World War I, but as Phillies owner William Baker admitted later, "I needed the money". Alexander was drafted, and spent most of the 1918 season in France as an artillery officer where he suffered from shell shock, partial hearing loss, and increasingly worse seizures. Known as a drinker, Alexander hit the bottle particularly hard after the war. He still gave Chicago several successful years and pitched for a triple crown in 1920. Finally tiring of his increasing drunkenness and insubordination, the Cubs sold him to the Cardinals in the middle of the 1926 season for the waiver price. The Cardinals won the National League pennant that year and met the New York Yankees in the World Series, where Alexander had his finest moment. He pitched complete game victories in Games 2 and 6. According to teammate Bob O'Farrell in The Glory of Their Times, after the game six victory, Alexander    managed to get drunk throughout the night and was still feeling the effects when he was sent out to pitch in relief in game 7. Alexander came to the game in the seventh inning after starter Jesse Haines developed a blister, with the Cardinals ahead 3-2, the bases loaded and two outs. Facing Yankee slugger Tony Lazzeri, Alexander struck him out and then held the Yankees scoreless for two more innings to preserve the win and give St. Louis the championship. He had one last 20-win season for the Cardinals in 1927, but his continued drinking finally did him in. He left major league baseball after a brief return to the Phillies in 1930, and pitched for the House of David until 1938.

Alexander attended game three of the 1950 World Series at Yankee Stadium where he saw the Phillies lose to the Yankees. He died less than a month later on on November 4, 1950 in St. Paul, Nebraska at the age of 63. A movie was produced about Alexander's Life in 1952 called "The Winning Team". Ronald Reagan played Alex while his wife was played by Doris Day. Much was made of Alexander's drinking but as the movie portrayed and many believe, he did not drink as often as many believed and used drunkenness as an excuse to hide his many seizures and health problems related to them.

Grover Cleveland Alexander's Phillies Records:

Single Season

ERA - 1.22 1915

Shut Outs - 16 1916

All Time

Winning Percentage - .676

Shutouts - 61

What’s In A Name

Shakespeare said that a rose, if by any other name, would still smell as sweet.  But what if we called it a carnation instead?  Or how about a dandelion?  It still smells good, but doesn’t “rose” just sound better? 

The question I pose then is does the Silver Slugger award seem to denote, if only in name alone, that it is a runner-up to the Gold Glove award?  Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino both took home a Gold Glove this year and now, Chase Utley has been awarded his 4th consecutive Silver Slugger.  All these awards are obviously well deserved, but should the “Sluggers” feel slighted that their awards are only silver and not gold?

Ok, so both of the words “Silver Slugger” start with ”S” and “Gold Glove” with “G”…I get that.  Very cute in a Sesame Street kind of way.  But why can’t we just call it the “Great Big Bat” award?  I do not know any man on the planet that would not be thrilled with both the name and the connotation ;o)  And since it is all about size here, why not a “Gigantic Glove” award in stead of “Gold”?  I mean, aren’t the words “Gold” and “Silver” kind of woosie and girly in nature?  Toss those out and give us some masculine power phrases!  Put some testosterone into it!  The legal kind, of course ;o)

I therefore dub Chase Utley the winner of the Great Big Bat Award!  There, don’t you feel better now?  Expressions of gratitude are accepted in all forms….thanks ;o)

Speaking of thanks, check out this interview with the Utley’s at home that Access Hollywood put together.  The wife, Jen Utley, tells Chase she loves him as he is getting ready to leave the house at the end of the video.  And his response?  “Thanks.”  See, I told you he needed a more masculine award name because that response if off the charts caveman-style.  Funny stuff…

A Pop Culture Moment

Totally unrelated to baseball, has everyone heard about poor little Taylor Swift?  It seems that the teenage Country singing star just cannot stay out of the firing line.  First, Kanye West crushed her little soul when he interrupted her “Best Female Video” acceptance speech at the VMA Awards and lobbied that Beyonce should have won.  West later apologized and heaps of bad jokes ensued.

Then in a more recent twist, poor Swift was dissed by Country Queen, Wynonna Judd in an interview.  Judd told USA Today that all the awards Swift received at the CMA Awards were “too much, too soon.”  But of course, Judd quickly apologized for the remarks and heaped praise upon the 19-year old.

However, the real back-breaker was when Jenn of Phightin’ Phils Phorum said on her blog, at this exact moment, “I do not like Taylor Swift’s music.  Frankly, it sucks.”  Jenn remains unapologetic to this very minute.  No word yet on the potential fall-out that is sure to ensue…stay tuned!

2009 Phillies Filing For Free Agency as of 11/12/2009:

Paul Bako C

Eric Bruntlett Utl

Miguel Cairo Utl

Scott Eyre RP

Pedro Feliz 3B

Geoff Jenkins OF

Cliff Lee SP

Rodrigo Lopez SP

Gary Majewski RP

Pedro Martinez SP

Brett Myers P

Pablo Ozuna Utl

Chan Ho Park P

Matt Stairs OF

Jack Taschner RP

If all that glitters is gold, Phillies Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino have enough bling to go around.  Both players were awarded the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in their respective positions yesterday.  For the shortstop Rollins, it is his third Gold Glove in a row; for centerfielder Victorino, this makes two in a row.  Rollins had only 6 errors all year, which was the best among all qualifying players.  Victorino had a .997 fielding percentage, 2nd best in the NL among outfielders, and 5 assists.

On the injury front, Brad Lidge had surgery yesterday to repair his right flexor tendon as well as remove loose bodies from his elbow.  It was not known before the surgery if the tendon was damaged, but it appears Lidge was worse off that anyone let on.  That fact has caused quite a stir among fans who are very disappointed about the whole situation.  Tell me again why Lidge was pitching with serious injuries, especially in the World Series?

But everyone must look forward now and it appears that Lidge will not be ready for the start of Spring Training.  As a result, the Phillies have been reportedly looking for another / back-up closer.  They need bullpen help anyway, so this is no surprise.

As for the Roy Halladay / Cole Hamels rumors, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. insists this will not happen.  Again, not much of a surprise as such a trade was a long shot at best.  In fact, the Jays demands are still very high, so it is possible that Halladay may not go anywhere.

And to clarify, I have not given up on Hamels.  Odds are that he will rebound and have a better year.  However, the thought of a Cliff Lee – Roy Halladay combo, two proven veterans, is an exciting thought.  Think about it this way: The Phillies window to win another championship is closing.  We will probably have Lee only for 1 more year as he is going to command Yankees-type money, which the Phillies historically are unwilling to pay.  They may strike a deal with him, but do not hold your breath.  The core of the team is intact for a while, but the pitching overall has been shaky down the stretch.  If the Phillies can get a quality third baseman, improve the pen and add or develop a solid starter, they could be unstoppable in 2010.  In my humble opinion, they need to toss everything, including the kitchen sink, at this 2010 team.

But sadly, the Phils do not have the payroll of many other teams; the Phillies rank 7th, which is very high, but still $88,445,143 less than the Yankees, as an example.  That equals almost 4 CC Sabathia’s and nearly 8 Chase Utley’s.  I don’t know about you, but I would take 8 Chase Utley’s anyday.  And no, I am not jumping on the “buying a Championship” bandwagon which I hear a lot about the Yankees.  I believe they still have to play the game, regardless of income. And this year, the Yanks played better than anyone else.  But would an additional $88 million be a BIG boost for the Phillies or any other team…obviously, the answer is “yes.”

But that is just a dream and the Phillies will need to do the best with what they have.  Hopefully, that will include a few more quality pitchers.

 Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino each won the Rawlings Gold Glove award in 2009. Rollins won the award for the third time while Victorino won his second. 

Both players are complete deserve the award and I actually question why Rollins only has 3. 

The full story and list of 2009 National League gold glove winners is below complements of MLB.com.

2009 NL GOLD GLOVE WINNERS

PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino found themselves in rare company Wednesday when they picked up Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.

Rollins is the first National League shortstop to win three consecutive Gold Gloves since Rey Ordonez in 1997-99, and the first Phillie to win three consecutive Gold Gloves at any position since Mike Schmidt won nine consecutive at third base from 1976-84.

Rollins also is the fifth Phillies player to win at least three Gold Gloves, joining Schmidt (10), Garry Maddox (eight), Manny Trillo (three) and Scott Rolen (three).

Victorino is the first Phils outfielder to win consecutive Gold Gloves since Maddox won eight consecutive from 1975-82.

Rollins led Major League shortstops with a .990 fielding percentage. He committed just six errors, which were fewest in baseball among qualifying players. He ranked second in the league in games (152) and innings (1,364 2/3), fourth in putouts (212), sixth in total chances (607) and assists (389) and eighth in double plays (72).

His career .983 fielding percentage is the second best in baseball history among shortstops. Only Omar Viz...

via philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com

If the Phillies can manage a deal for Halladay, odds are they will have to pay much less for him than they would have in July since now he is only good for one potential post-season instead of two.  But the Jays are probably still interested in the Phillies top prospect, Kyle Drabek, whom the Phillies are unlikely to part with.  In an interesting twist however, it has also been rumored that the Jays might be willing to take Cole Hamels.  Can I get a Hallelujah and an Amen to that possibility?!!

Although Hamels is six years younger than Halladay, he had a terrible season for the Phillies and most fans are sick of his emotional issues, media faux pas and lack of composure on the mound.  Odds are, not many people would be sad about such a trade.  Sadly, if this were rumored last season, there may have been riots in the street full of angry fans unwilling to let the World Series MVP go.  But now?  Not so much…

Besides upgrading the pitching staff, it appears the Phillies now need a third baseman as Pedro Feliz did not have his option picked up.  The Phillies can still sign him as agree agent if they come to an agreement, but it looks more likely that the Phils will look elsewhere.  Feliz had a decent season, but I think he really screwed himself in the playoffs where he hit only .167, made unproductive outs in crucial situations and hit into double plays that killed rallies.  Plus, he is 34 years old, which does not help his case.

The top prospects for third base right now are Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Mark DeRosa and former Phillie, Placido Polanco.  Figgins would be the best choice, although fans loved Polanco when he was here and many were upset when Chase Utley took his job.  Hind sight, as they say, is 20/20. 

Back in 2005 when Polanco went to the Tigers, many Phillies fans felt he should have been moved to 3rd base to keep him on the team, myself included.  As it turns out, had the Phillies done so, Polanco would likely still be with us.  Up to that point, he had moved back and forth from 2nd to 3rd base for years.  But after going to the Tigers, it was 2nd base all the way.  The question then with Polanco is, could he transition back to 3rd after more than 4 years steady at 2nd?  That may be too big a question for the Phillies to consider taking him.

So, third base is wide open right now and several other Phillies have filed for free agency; Chan Ho Park, Matt Stairs, Paul Bako, Pedro Martinez and Miguel Cairo.  The Phillies will not likely sign Martinez again, as he will command too hefty a salary and they need a more consistent arm.  Park is a possibility, Cairo and Bako will probably not be back and Stairs I am not too sure about.  My feeling was that he might retire, but since he has filed, I now do not know what is on his mind.  But this leaves the Phillies with the need for a back-up catcher, a right handed bat off the bench and a variety of pitching needs.

As for our walking wounded, both Scott Eyre and Raul Ibanez had successful surgeries yesterday and are expected to make recoveries before Spring Training.  Eyre may or may not decide to retire so his future is uncertain.  Ibanez, we hope, will be back to 2009 first-half form.  Brad Lidge will have surgery tomorrow.  What exactly is wrong with him will be an interesting revelation.  We should have more information in the days to come.

Stairs and Bako should only be considered for minor league contracts. While Stairs will always have a place in Philadelphia sports lure for his homerun in the 2008 NLCS, he is not the weapon off of the bench that the Phillies will need in 2010. With a minor league contract, he could provide depth, be given a shot to make the team, or be a replacement in case of a injury.

Matt Stairs Pinch Homerun 4/23/2009 to break up Dave Bush's no hitter. 

The same is true of Bako. With the departures of Chris Coste and Lou Marson, the Phillies are dangerously thin at catcher. They need to acquire a better back up catcher but keeping Bako in the organization makes sense in case of injury, to create some competition at Spring Training, and to fill out the minor league roster.