Could Marson “Pipp” Ruiz?

11 04 2009

By Mike Gill

Lou Marson was scratched from the Iron Pigs line-up and sent on a plane headed for Denver.  Starting catcher Carlos Ruiz is headed to the DL with a strained rib cage – enter Marson.

The Phillies top position prospect was an unimpressive 0-for-20 during spring training, but did hit .314 for Reading in 2008.  His one appearance in Philadelphia last season saw the talented catcher go 2-4, hitting his first major league home run in the process.

The Phillies made it known in the off season that Marson was the future, trading away former catching prospect Jason Jarmillo to Pittsburgh for fellow catcher Ronny Paulino.  Paulino was later dealt away for left-handed reliever Jack Taschner, opening the door for Marson to play if Ruiz was to be injured.

Here we are now, less the a week into the Phillies quest to repeat and already they have had their first obstacle.  With Ruiz down, I would assume that Marson gets at least a 60/40 split of the playing time with Chris Coste.    The big question is, what if Marson gets the majority of the playing time, makes the most of it and the Phillies don’t won’t to send him back to the minors. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies, Pirates

Phillies Trade Jaramillo

10 12 2008
Paulino is a solid back-stop

Paulino is a solid back-stop

By Mike Gill
(From Phillies press release)

Catcher Ronny Paulino was acquired by the Phillies from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for catcher Jason Jaramillo, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. announced today.

Paulino, 27, split last season between Pittsburgh, triple-A Indianapolis and the Gulf Coast League Pirates. In 40 games (27 starts) for Pittsburgh last season, he hit .212 with two home runs and 18 RBI. With runners in scoring position, Paulino hit .387 (12-31) with 14 RBI.

Paulino threw out 26 percent (8 of 31) of potential basestealers this season for the Pirates and for his career has caught 24 percent (51 of 216).

With Indianapolis, Paulino hit .306 with four home runs and 18 RBI in 30 games. He spent time on the disabled list with a right ankle sprain which included a rehabilitation assignment with the GCL
Pirates where he hit .286 with one home run and six RBI. Paulino combined to hit .302 (42-139) with five home runs and 24 RBI between both stops. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Phillies, Pirates

Atrocious Attire

12 08 2008

by Kevin Collins

Last time we took a gander at the best dressed teams in sports.  Today, we are taking the opposite route.  These are the uniforms that must have been designed by Todd Pinkston when he had the sun in his eyes.  I don’t know what these teams could have possibly been thinking when they thought up some of these threads.  I really want to meet the men and women who OK’ed these uniforms at the team meetings and actually thought they were good ideas.

Sure teams want to get as many unique uniforms out there as possible.  Why? – so fans like you and me will go out and purchase these authentic, or replica jerseys to show our support for our favorite team.  In reality, its all about turning a profit.  If a  franchise can throw out a new uniform every three years, whether it be sharp or hideous, they will give it the okay, in hopes of fans buying more and more merchandise, thickening the teams’ executives’ already padded pockets.  Let’s begin.

Let me warn you.  The images you are about to see are not for the faint of heart.  If graphic images scare you, then look away and stop reading this entry.  Some of these uniforms are so awful, I can not actually rank which are worse than the others.  So instead of a top ten, I have just singled out the most awful, leaving the others unranked.  Here we go…
Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Baseball, Basketball, Braves, Diamondbacks, Dolphins, Football, Giants, Hockey, Phillies, Pirates, Seahawks

Fleecing Of The Red Sox

31 07 2008

Manny Ramirez was traded at the deadline in a three way trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers.  In the trade, Ramirez went to the Dodgers, Jason Bay to the Red Sox, and the Pirates received Andy Laroche, Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen, and Bryan Morris.  A three way trade had been rumored to the Florida Marlins, but fell through this morning and the Dodgers entered the equation.

This trade truly shows just how desperate the Red Sox were to rid themselves of Ramirez, as Moss and Hansen are both top prospects.  Bay does have one more year on his contract at just 7.5 million.  After weeks of rumors surrounding whether the Pirates would or would not trade Bay, this deadline deal has brought them a very nice haul of young players who are major league ready.


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Categories : Dodgers, Pirates, Red Sox

Manny Being Marlin

30 07 2008
This Way To Florida?

This Way To Florida?

The Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates are reportedly closing in on a three way deal that would send Manny Ramirez and cash to the Florida Marlins, Jeremy Hermida to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Jason Bay and John Grabow to the Boston Red Sox. The Pirates would also receive several prospects from the Marlins including pitcher Ryan Tucker, ranked the #4 prospect in the Marlins organization.

The deal would instantly upgrade the Marlins offense while virtually doubling their payroll.  The Marlins, a notoriously financially frugal franchise (say that ten times fast) would not be expected to pick up Manny’s $20 million option for 2009.

This trade would be a coup for the Red Sox, who would rid themselves of all the headaches associated with Manny Ramirez and replace him with Bay, a comparable batter and superior defensive player.  Bay is signed through 2009 at just $7.5 million.  John Grabow is a left handed reliever, currently with a 3.19 ERA, that would round out the Red Sox bullpen which has seen it’s struggles recently.


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Categories : Marlins, Pirates, Red Sox