GaryMrMets
08-01-2004, 07:49 PM
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/9288480.htm
Posted on Sat, Jul. 31, 2004
Pair of trades give the Phillies some relief
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
CHICAGO - The Phillies tried to add a starting pitcher. Came up empty.
They attempted to acquire a centerfielder. Nothing doing.
But they were able to bolster their injury-depleted bullpen in the hours before this afternoon's trading deadline with two deals.
The first sent outfielder Ricky Ledee and Class A righthander Alfredo Simon to the San Francisco Giants for righthanded reliever Felix Rodriguez.
The second sent righthander Josh Hancock and shortstop Anderson Machado to the Reds for righthander Todd Jones.
Those moves addressed what had become a pressing concern. After rookie Ryan Madson was placed on the disabled list earlier this week, manager Larry Bowa sounded the alarm. It became more alarming after Tim Worrell was moved into the closer's role with the injury to Billy Wagner.
"What do we have now?" Bowa had said. "Three Triple A pitchers? [Brian] Powell, [Geoff] Geary and Hancock. So we'll see what happens."
What happened is that Hancock is gone and one of the other two pitchers likely will return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Rodriguez arrives.
In a related move, Marlon Byrd has been recalled from the Red Barons, where he batted .263 with two homers and 17 RBI in 36 games. Byrd opened the season as the Phillies' regular centerfielder and leadoff hitter but was batting .224 when he was optioned to the minors.
"It was no secret that we worked hard to get an outfielder, but we didn't see any of that coming to fruition," general manager Ed Wade said. "We looked at starters, too, but the options weren't plentiful."
Perhaps most surprising is that second baseman Placido Polanco was not traded. Barring an unforeseen development, Bowa will have to juggle to find playing time for both him and Chase Utley.
Rodriguez, 31, had his best season for the Giants in 2001 when he had a 1.68 earned run average and struck out 91 in 80 1/3 innings while allowing only 53 hits. This season, he is 3-5 in made 53 appearances - tied for seventh most in the league. He has a 3.43 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 43 hits allowed in 44 2/3 innings.
He has the option to become a free agent at the end of the season.
"This year and last year, there were more rumors than other years, but that's OK," he told San Francisco reporters. "Baseball is like that. You don't think you'll be traded, but you have to be ready, because you never know what will happen."
When the Giants initially proposed the deal, the Phillies declined, because they consider Ledee a valuable part of the team. And they think Simon, whose last three starts for Class A Clearwater were complete-game victories, was one of their better pitching prospects.
"Simon was tough for us to give up because of his high ceiling," Wade said. "But the more we discussed it, the more we decided that time and circumstances dictated that we make the move.
"And it was a tough call to Ricky Ledee's hotel room. Tampering is illegal, but I did remind him that he's a free agent at the end of the season."
Jones, 36, is 8-2 with a 3.79 ERA this season. The Phillies also got minor league outfielder Brad Correll as part of the deal.
"Todd gives us another quality arm in the bullpen," Wade said. "He's having an excellent season."
Whether these moves will be enough to spark a team that has lost five straight and 12 of its last 18 remains to be seen. The division-rival Mets added two starters yesterday - Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson for top prospects - while the Marlins picked up catcher Paul Lo Duca, reliever Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnacion for pitcher Brad Penny and first baseman Hee Seop Choi.
"Those are big moves," Wade said. "We're going to have to be prepared to play our best."
Posted on Sat, Jul. 31, 2004
Pair of trades give the Phillies some relief
By PAUL HAGEN
hagenp@phillynews.com
CHICAGO - The Phillies tried to add a starting pitcher. Came up empty.
They attempted to acquire a centerfielder. Nothing doing.
But they were able to bolster their injury-depleted bullpen in the hours before this afternoon's trading deadline with two deals.
The first sent outfielder Ricky Ledee and Class A righthander Alfredo Simon to the San Francisco Giants for righthanded reliever Felix Rodriguez.
The second sent righthander Josh Hancock and shortstop Anderson Machado to the Reds for righthander Todd Jones.
Those moves addressed what had become a pressing concern. After rookie Ryan Madson was placed on the disabled list earlier this week, manager Larry Bowa sounded the alarm. It became more alarming after Tim Worrell was moved into the closer's role with the injury to Billy Wagner.
"What do we have now?" Bowa had said. "Three Triple A pitchers? [Brian] Powell, [Geoff] Geary and Hancock. So we'll see what happens."
What happened is that Hancock is gone and one of the other two pitchers likely will return to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre when Rodriguez arrives.
In a related move, Marlon Byrd has been recalled from the Red Barons, where he batted .263 with two homers and 17 RBI in 36 games. Byrd opened the season as the Phillies' regular centerfielder and leadoff hitter but was batting .224 when he was optioned to the minors.
"It was no secret that we worked hard to get an outfielder, but we didn't see any of that coming to fruition," general manager Ed Wade said. "We looked at starters, too, but the options weren't plentiful."
Perhaps most surprising is that second baseman Placido Polanco was not traded. Barring an unforeseen development, Bowa will have to juggle to find playing time for both him and Chase Utley.
Rodriguez, 31, had his best season for the Giants in 2001 when he had a 1.68 earned run average and struck out 91 in 80 1/3 innings while allowing only 53 hits. This season, he is 3-5 in made 53 appearances - tied for seventh most in the league. He has a 3.43 ERA with 31 strikeouts and 43 hits allowed in 44 2/3 innings.
He has the option to become a free agent at the end of the season.
"This year and last year, there were more rumors than other years, but that's OK," he told San Francisco reporters. "Baseball is like that. You don't think you'll be traded, but you have to be ready, because you never know what will happen."
When the Giants initially proposed the deal, the Phillies declined, because they consider Ledee a valuable part of the team. And they think Simon, whose last three starts for Class A Clearwater were complete-game victories, was one of their better pitching prospects.
"Simon was tough for us to give up because of his high ceiling," Wade said. "But the more we discussed it, the more we decided that time and circumstances dictated that we make the move.
"And it was a tough call to Ricky Ledee's hotel room. Tampering is illegal, but I did remind him that he's a free agent at the end of the season."
Jones, 36, is 8-2 with a 3.79 ERA this season. The Phillies also got minor league outfielder Brad Correll as part of the deal.
"Todd gives us another quality arm in the bullpen," Wade said. "He's having an excellent season."
Whether these moves will be enough to spark a team that has lost five straight and 12 of its last 18 remains to be seen. The division-rival Mets added two starters yesterday - Victor Zambrano and Kris Benson for top prospects - while the Marlins picked up catcher Paul Lo Duca, reliever Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnacion for pitcher Brad Penny and first baseman Hee Seop Choi.
"Those are big moves," Wade said. "We're going to have to be prepared to play our best."