Comments on: Outfield: Phillies in Hot Pursuit of Holliday

By: bucknersankles

bucknersankles — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:54:12 +0000

BRING WALLY BACK MAN,

THE GREAT GAZOO ? LOL, YOU’RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AS I RECALL THERE IS A DEFINITE RESEMBLANCE ESPECIALLY WITH VICTORINO’S TWO FLAP.

By: jamie

jamie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:41:59 +0000

wow…an impressive amount of information in that post.

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:29:12 +0000

Because just in the last few years their attendance has jumped about by about 8,000 per game. I believe it went up 30% from last year to this year. In their first season they averaged about 30,000 fans a game. And when they changed to the current front office back in 2006 they had about 40,000 people show up to their home owner. There’s clearly interest they just need to prove they’re committed to winning. During the season there merchandise sales increased nearly 75%, and they set television records for their local FSN channel more than once during the season, the increased revenue is already starting to come in and teams usually see a huge jump in attendance the year following a break out year, so it should be expected that the fans are going to come too. Plus they’re planning a huge stadium project in the next few years, that would actually move them into the city of Tampa, making it easier for fans to go to their games. Are they ever going to be a big market team, obviously not, but they’re more likely to end up somewhere in the middle than stay at the bottom of the barrel.

By: There's Always '09

There's Always '09 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:26:51 +0000

Here is my rationale…we get the lefty starter (off of a bad year, albeit). We also get Helton, who is a major disappointment and bad contract in Colorado. However, he could slot in nicely as a 2 hitter in NY. Much better glove than Delgado as well.

Colorado gets two things. They get the opportunity to throw boat loads of money at Holliday after next year…with Helton’s contract off the books. They also get another potential 35-40HR, 100RBI guy. It gives them the option of keeping Atkins and playing him at 1B to make room for Stewart. Just a thought. It’s the hot stove after all.

By: There's Always '09

There's Always '09 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:22:52 +0000

Castillo is really the only one that needs to go. Like I’ve said a million times on this site, you can live with a poor excuse for an 8-9. But not a 7-8-9 or a 2-8-9.

By: There's Always '09

There's Always '09 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:21:53 +0000

The only think that is certain is Holliday will not sign a long term extension with any team he goes to. It’s just not Boras’ thing.

I really think Colorado should try to bring him back and trade a Todd Helton. Would anyone here be opposed to Delgado for Helton and Jeff Francis?

By: Repeat 86

Repeat 86 — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:37:31 +0000

And what makes you think they will be able to draw fans down the road. The problem with TB is everyone who lives there are transplanted. They have no interest in this team. You also can’t say that if they play good baseball they will show up because without those phillies fans filling those seats they probably wouldn’t have sold out those world series games. Medium market at the most, but I will bet they stay a small market team. I just as sumed they might be interested since they lost floyd and they have been linked to Burrell, who will cost more than Delgado but is a right handed bat. And they probably need a veteran presence in that lineup, so I don’t know why it couldn’t happen.

By: Reyes es el Rey

Reyes es el Rey — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:28:20 +0000

Yea kinda on the collision with Escobar.

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:26:21 +0000

TB already locked up Longaria to a long term contract and are planning on locking up Upton. Why can’t you see it happening? Tampa is very capable of supporting at least a medium market team, the problem is they were never able to attract fans, there’s no raise to think they won’t be able to support a much bigger pay roll a few years down the road. And even if for some reason they werent most of their young players are years away from hitting free agency.

By: shudderWINGS

shudderWINGS — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:10:41 +0000

MLBTradeRumors.Com is reporting that the Cardinals are also in aggressive pursuit, offering Ryan Ludwick and also stating that they’d like to sign Holliday long-term.

Hopefully he winds up there and not with the Phillies; nevertheless, it would be good to get rid of Victorino.