My Love-fest for 94 WIP Sports Radio & Discussing (Defending?) Josh Innes & Tony Bruno

It is truly amazing to me how petty many people in my city are who listen to sports radio.  For the life of me I can’t believe how much of a soap opera the roster at 94 WIP has become as well as the mini-feud some of their hosts have with some of the folks over on 97.5 THE FANATIC.

Here, all I thought I needed to do was turn on my radio and listen to the personalities on WIP, which is my station of choice, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.  I have to hear all these callers yell at new “youngster” host Josh Innes about how he “isn’t from here” and can’t talk about anything Philly-related.  Heaven forbid if he and his afternoon teammate and Philly alum Tony Bruno go on a tangent and perhaps, try and create a list of say, “The Mount Rushmore of Clowns” since they’ve been referred to time and again (as we’ve been told by Innes) as a “Clown Show.” 

Supposedly former WIP host and current ratings maker Mike Missanelli over at THE FANATIC has called the new Innes & Bruno show a “Clown Show” but I wouldn’t know it because I don’t care to listen to that station.  Nothing personal toward them, but I just have always gravitated toward WIP since I was in my teens calling, coincidentally the Steve and Mike show.

WIP just has always had personalities that I gravitated toward, whether it was the aforementioned Steve & Mike, Mac & Mac or the newer crop of guys like Ike Reese, Rob Ellis and Anthony Gargano.  While I really miss those last two gents, I don’t get why we need to hate the new guys just because well…they’re not any of the people I just mentioned.

I’m in my early 40’s and have got to say that I’ve got a pretty odd personality that makes me believe Innes talks pretty much like I would if I were on the radio. Like him, I love Howard Stern and have that same outspokenness and streak of iconoclast.  While I adore sports, I just couldn’t see myself being so stuffy as many of these callers who want to hear nothing but sports talk 24/7 on the station.  There are other things to my life and all our lives that we can have fun talking about when there is a lull in sports activity. 

If you’re in Philly right now, there IS A LULL IN SPORTS ACTIVITY, Chip Kelly notwithstanding.

I’ve listened to the station long enough to know that there is a ton of different voices calling into WIP than there was when Ellis and Gargano were on and that really surprises me….but should it?  I’ve lived here all my life and know that the people walking the streets can be pretty rock-headed when it comes to what they like and feel that they’re entitled to.

Innes isn’t from Philly, so what. If you’re informed on a topic, where you’re from has absolutely no bearing as long as you know your shit. Gargano, who I truly adored and hope to hear somewhere on the radio soon, wasn’t perfect either.  His insistence of either loving all four major sports teams or not being a Philly sports fan never gelled with me.  And frankly, NONE of the people with the exception of Innis – and Bruno due to his proximity to Josh- on WIP could successfully reference pop-culture without sounding like an old man who didn’t know what was hot at the moment.

It annoyed me that Cuz looked down on say, Lord of the Rings or that neither he nor Ellis could reference music from the last 20 years.

Innes isn’t reinventing the wheel on the radio. Do I love that he can’t stop talking about another radio station and what either of their ratings are? No, but I get the schtick.  Dude loves wrestling and in the WWE the villains are cheered/jeered just as much as the heroes.

The bottom line is that none of these people on the radio will tell us 100% of what we want because that shouldn’t be what they’re there for anyway.  But why does Philly have to just be so reluctant to give someone new a chance or to listen to something different? Why can’t we laugh at a guy (Josh) who certainly laughs at himself in addition to being an all-around radio host when it comes to the ebb and flow of conversation?

Tony Bruno is the perfect co-host for Innes because of his contrasting age and knowledge of the city. It isn’t an accident that they’ve been paired. At the same time, they did try and sit Josh next to the likes of Ike and Ellis and it just didn’t work…though Ike Reese desperately needs someone to push his buttons because he can be so much better than he is currently…and dude is pretty good at the radio thing now.  If only we could all retire and succeed at a “hobby” like Ike has.

I’ve tossed barbs Barkaan on Twitter and while I don’t hate the dude, he just comes off as a flip-flopper of opinion. The WIP used car salesman if you will, who’ll say whatever it takes to incite talk and not really give you any of himself.  Regardless, the man is a good sport and always responds whether I’m poking at him or simply commenting and for that I’m appreciative…despite the fact that I wouldn’t be sad if he wasn’t around anymore on the station.

I can’t believe THIS is the topic that made me use this blog after all this time.  But it wasn’t fit for the website I co-own, mostly due to my not wanting to write a professional level piece.  These are just my opinions about something that shouldn’t even be a hotbed topic.  These guys are simply how I pass my time in the office, nothing more and nothing less.  It is cool that I like them, but I don’t have to like them.  Just like they don’t have to acknowledge I exist.  We’re all doing our thing. 

But the thing is…can’t we just listen and let them do what they’re paid to do?  Do we have to call and tell them that they’re not the people they replaced? I mean, no shit.  Josh is probably the youngest radio talk host Philly has had in a couple decades (and that is being generous). It is great to hear someone that knows sports and can sing a shitty version of “This Used to Be My Playground” from Madonna.

If you want “hardcore” sports talk, I guess you can go and talk to the other station – the one I don’t listen to.  I’ll stick with Philly’s original chatter station and chuckle along with my sports. I could use a laugh during the work day…shit is miserable enough 9-5. I don’t need to take my sad life out on a radio host.

NOTE: I’m done writing now because I need to listen Josh talk about banging aging actress Geena Davis.

Remembering 9/11/2001

I was working in the city when news of a plane "accidentally" hitting one of the World Trade Center towers broke on the radio at my desk.  Instantly, I ran into our break-room to turn on the television and, along with some co-workers, we all saw that second plane crash in real time. People around me instantly began to cry and there was confusion.  Everyone was looking for information on what was happening.

Work stopped, naturally, as everyone was glued to the TV or radio to get whatever information they could.  My job at the time functioned in a building that was about a block from the Liberty Bell and word came that the entire area had to be evacuated just in case.  After the other two planes had gone down, there was just so much uncertainty that the entire city workforce had been sent home.

Traffic was everywhere. Buses were loaded and I'm sure the subway was too.  A friend of mine at the time lived near me so we walked home.  It was a walk through many of the neighborhoods that make up South Philly to Center City and I'll just never forget that walk home. It was so silent out. People were everywhere, but no one seemed to be speaking, instead listening to radios outside with other neighbors and/or family.

When I got home, I couldn't stop watching it all. I remember saving every image that CNN placed on their website...saved local newspapers like the Metro.  Everything seemed to just come to a complete and utter halt.

I have to say, it was great when baseball decided to restart it's season on 9/17. The American public really needed it and all us east coasters especially, needed a diversion from the imagery, the misery and that feeling of utter helplessness that we all felt.

It was only fitting that here in Philly, the voice of our city spoke to us about 9/11 and baseball...and it was incredible.  See/hear for yourself:

2102 Exxxotica Expo coming to Edison, NJ November 9-11!

Billed as “the largest event in the USA dedicated to love & sex” the Edison, New Jersey edition of the 2012 Exxxotica expo will soon be descending upon us.  Over the course of the November 9-11 weekend you’ll be able to get photos, autographs and other merchandise from the adult video industry’s hottest stars and starlets!  Additionally, all weekend there will be seminars (final list still being determined at this time) and live entertainment highlighted with a performance by NJ’s own Grammy Award winning, Hip-Hop legends Naughty By Nature on Saturday night.

If you’ve never attended an Exxxotica expo before and are 18 years of age or older, there is even more incentive for those who qualify.  See, on Friday, all women enter the show for FREE. Not good enough?  Well, if you’re US Armed Forces and present your valid military ID or a copy of your discharge papers with photo ID, you too can enter the expo for FREE on Sunday in honor and recognition of Veteran’s Day.

On the added free entrance for military, J. Handy, director of Exxxotica remarked “This idea seemed like a natural fit for EXXXOTICA, and we are truly proud and honored to personally thank all of those who have served to protect our freedoms."

Whether you want to attend as a VIP and get into all the sponsored after parties for free (among other things), watch the gorgeous Stoya perform her aerial act or just take in a day (or whole weekend) of doing something you don’t usually get to experience, the Exxxotica expo is a good bit of adult fun and this year’s installment looks better than ever.  The list of attending stars grows by the day but so far some guest highlights would have to be Asa Akira, Seymore Butts, Lexi Belle, Ron Jeremy, the aforementioned Stoya, Teagan Presley, Gianna Michaels, Lisa Ann, Alexis Texas and so many others!

Would you like to know more? Bookmark or check for updates at the following:

Exxxotica Expo NJ Main Page 

Stars Appearing 

Ticket Information 

Follow Exxxotica on Twitter

Find them on Facebook  (Edison, NJ specific page HERE)

Click to see a larger image of Ladies FREE Friday mayhem!

Its "Buck-A-Shuck" Heaven in the Philly Area

I happened to notice a new trend here in cheese-steak and scrapple heaven.  In a city known mostly for eating copious amounts meat and dough in various incarnations, a little bit of the ocean has crept onto many a city eatery’s menu.   Oysters, those ever-sexy little bivalves are being featured all over the place and usually for a buck, during “happy hours” or just a specific day of the week.

Below, you’ll find a listing (in NO order whatsoever) of all the spots I could manage to find that have specific dollar oyster times or days.  So if you find yourself in need of mass quantities of these zinc-rich aphrodisiac legends, use this little blog as a starter manual, guiding you to some lands of promise.

 

Oyster House

1516 Sansom Street

Philadelphia,PA 19102

(215) 567-7683

Website            Twitter           Facebook

“Buck A Shuck” Happy Hours Monday-Friday 5-7 pm, Saturday 9-11 pm

Who better to start off with than the home of the “original” buck-a-shuckers?  I’ve got to add that the Oyster House does one hell of an incredible New England-style Lobster Roll too!

Pub & Kitchen

1946 Lombard Street

Philadelphia, PA 19146

(215) 545-0350 (NOTICE: they do not accept reservations)

Website             Twitter             Facebook          

$1 oysters during happy hour Monday-Friday, 4-6 pm

This kicked up corner pub is a personal favorite of mine, so whether you love oysters or don’t, this stop bears attention.  Chef Johnny Mac’s menu always has something new to adore on it, but I’ll always come back for the Churchill, a masterpiece of burgers.

The Pour House   

124 Haddon Avenue

Westmont, NJ 08108

(856) 869-4600

Website                Twitter                Facebook

Buck-A-Shuck oysters every Wednesday

This is a place that my friends and I just cannot stop eating and drinking at! About fifteen minutes from Center City, this gem from the folks who also own P.J. Whelihan’s is one awesome beer joint serving up devilishly delicious bar food.  In terms of oysters, my wife loves the Cape Cod Wiannos and the British Colombia Fanny Bays.  Me?  I’ll take their perfectly cooked wings (Korean, Smoked Porter and Saigon Street) or a Pour House Deluxe burger any day of the week. 

Route 6

600 N. Broad St.

Philadelphia PA 19130

215-391-4600

Website        Facebook

Chef’s Choice $1 oysters (3 piece minimum) Monday-Friday, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Route 6 is one of Stephen Starr’s newest enterprises, having just opened in November of 2011 in the up-and-coming new hotspot of North Broad Street. Admittedly, I’ve not been to this one yet as of the publishing of this blog but I’ll tell you this:  when I see something like Crab Deviled Eggs (blue crab!) or Chicken Fried Lobster Tails, you can bet it I’m fast tracking a visit!

Devon Seafood Grill                     

225 S 18^th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-6141

215-546-5940

Website           Facebook

$1 Chef’s Oysters on the half shell Sunday-Friday, 4-7 p.m. & 9-11 p.m.

Their bar has an awesome view of Rittenhouse Square whether it is summer and open-air or winter and you can watch the snow fall.  I’m in love with their Shrimp Scampi entrée, but just so ya know…during the aforementioned oyster happy hours, crab claws can be had for a mere $3 each! 

Fish

1234 Locust Street

Philadelphia, PA 19107

215-545-9600

Website         Twitter            Facebook

Happy hour Tuesday-Friday, 5-7 p.m. featuring $.99 “oyster of the day”

Chef Mike Stollenwerk’s restaurant garnered Philadelphia Magazine’s coveted “2010 Best of Philly” award for “Best New Restaurant, City” and recently moved to its new home on the ground floor of The Independent Hotel, which tripled its size.  When you’re not slurping down the oyster du jour, check out brunch for Carrot Cake pancakes or a Lobster Grilled Cheese. They’ve also host a wine list worth studying.

Snockey’s Oyster & Crab House             

1020 S. 2^nd street (just above Washington Ave)

Philadelphia, PA 19147

215-339-9578

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“Clammy Hour” Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 2-4 p.m. Also available during all Philadelphia Eagles football games

My friends, the South Philadelphia institution known as Snockey’s (they’ve been open since 1912!) features a happy hour where the prices fall to UNDER a dollar. Yep, you can get raw or steamed clams for $.50 as well as raw or fried oysters for $.75!

Know any other places? Don't hesitate to contact me or leave a comment.  I'd love to keep adding to the list!

2012 Phillies Fallout: Reloading for 2013 (part 2 0f 2)

Okay, so yesterday I broke down the Phillies trade deadline acquisitions and movement.  What I want to do today is look at what the team needs and who is out there and feasible for them to bring in to make them much better in 2013.  There are a lot of variables here and really, I'm going to split this piece into two different scenarios: one where players already on the team shift and one where they don't

THE SHIFT

This version of the Phillies starting lineup would need the least amount of brand new pieces.  The primary part of this theory, hence the name, would be shifting SS Jimmy Rollins to 3B for the final two years of his contract and letting 2013 be the year that SS Freddy Galvis takes over the position full time.  Currently, Ruben Amaro, Jr. is alluding to Galvis potentially opening next season as the potential fix at 3B and I just can't agree with that for a few reasons.  Freddy has played a fantastic defensive short as well as second base, why move him again if he already excels elsewhere?  Additionally, the light-hitting Galvis just doesn't have the bat to be an everyday 3B.  You can live with a light-hitting shortstop that is a vacuum for the baseball, teams do it all the time. Remember Rey Ordonez, who started on the New York Mets in the late 90's?  He played roughly nine seasons and was a career .246 hitter, but his glove and acrobatics kept him in the lineup and still having people talk about him as a player.

Third Base should be Rollins new home. It is the fashionable thing for all aging veteran shortstops.  Cal Ripken did it. Alex Rodriguez did it.  Jimmy still has a great arm and his timely power projects him to be a better three-bagger than Galvis could ever be.

"The Shift" would then require no new pieces on the infield, save backups to cover for injuries and riding the bench as pinch-hitters.  Carlos Ruiz will still be catching, Ryan Howard should be that much more healthy with another off-season to work hislegs and body back into shape.  Chase Utley...ugh.  Chase Utley is the sole team enigma and I'll bet anyone out there that brass can't wait to have his contract come off the books as of the end of the 2013 season.  The team is likely stuck in the same situation next year that it was at the beginning of this year since Utley's knees are shot and not repair-ably injured.  But I have a suprise of a move here for a backup.

When this season is over, Placido Polanco becomes a free agent. I know he is pretty damned brittle at this point, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say he was so injury prone because he tried to play every day.  I think it would behoove the Phillies to do what they didnot do with Raul Ibanez and attempt to bring Polanco back to the team for a low cost one-year deal (Ibanez is only making $1.1M this season).  The bright side to this is that he could be not only spell days off for Chase, but he could also fill in at 3B when Rollins needs a day off too.  Additionally, Polanco is still a solid contact hitter who hardly strikes out.  If the decreased playing time results in less body breakdown, Poly could be a bargain of a backup.

Outfield is where focus could then be shifted to bring in new talent. Admittedly, we're not going to know until next season whether or not Domonic Brown will be in the equation. Nate Schierholtz should be seen as the solid 4th outfielder and I'll assume that Juan Pierre isn't going to be here (likely a wavier deal by the end of the season).  How do you find two starting outfielders as well as someone to compete with Brown for the other spot without hitting the luxury tax? There really aren't any farm team prospects on the horizon and we already know that John Mayberry, Jr. isn't an answer for starting at any position.  What I do know, is that the following outfielders of interest will be available this off-season: Michael Bourn, Josh Hamilton, Shane Victorino, B.J. Upton, Melky Cabrera, Carlos Lee, Torii Hunter.

In either scenario that I'm proposing (the one above or the one coming below), it'd be wonderful to just sign those first two (Bourn, Hamilton) and call it a day but we know that isn't gonna happen.  Unless one of our $20+ million dollar pitchers is traded over the winter, the Phillies aren't to be considered in the Josh Hamilton conversation.  Bourn and Cabrera are interesting potential signings, each with warning signs. Bourn is having a really nice season but isn't stealing bases at the pace of the rest of his career. Do they want to offer a 30-year old declining speedster a lucrative 3-5 year contract?  If Cabrera leaves the Giants for a new team, it'll be his 5th and he isn't even 30 yet.  Could 2012 be the year he cashes in on a career season and then disappoints from here on out?  Upton has the potential to be a real steal and is young enough to still have not touched his stat ceiling even though he is an 8-year veteran. Victorino would be welcomed back at a smaller contract than he is currently looking for...much smaller actually.  Lee and Hunter are clearly in their twilight stages, but both are still solid hitters who could challenge for playing time when you don't really have ANY outfielders. I'm not in love with any of these players, personally and I think it is a pretty lackluster year for free agents which makes the Phils work that much more difficult.

Putting out the APB

In this version of the team I'll discuss the pitching staff, as both of my scenarios mainly focus on the different needs for the batters.

If Rollins doesn't want to move to 3B or the team never even mentions it, then they're going to have to put out an all points bulletin to grab as many free agents as possible. It should be noted that, God forbid, people are mentioning Ruiz possibly taking over third next season instead.

In addition to needing two and a half outfielders the team in this scenario will also need a third baseman, as Rollins would stick at short and Galvis would become a "super" utility player, moving between 2B/SS/3B. Frankly, there isn't a single free agent 3B that I'd bring to this city.  Do we really want a Mark Tehan or Scott Rolen?  David Wright, Kevin Youkilis and the non-fielding Mark Reynolds all have options and will most likely be renewed, so dream on Phillies faithful who imagine Wright manning our base for the next so many years.

The non-availability of someone to sign really makes my option of Rollins sliding over pretty darned attractive, doesn't it?  Why spend money on a bum when  you can patch the situation in-house and put that money elsewhere?

Besides the outfield (as stated above), that "elsewhere" would be the bullpen, a place that Amaro has really neglected in his time as full-time GM.  I'd still like to believe that Antonio Bastardo and Mike Stutes will be big-time contributors and that 2012 may have been just an aberration for both, but they'll still need some veteran support.   Two names that come instantly to mind are Ryan Madson and David Aardsma, two hard throwers coming off major injuries.  Madson still has an option but the Reds are more than likely going to buy him out.  These guys could be bargains on one-year, low cost deals.  Other really good additions would be Mike Adams, Shawn Marshall, Brandon League, Casey Janssen and option-folk like  Rafael Betancourt, Joakim Soria (another injured dude) if they're not renewed.

So while I think the bullpen has the best chance for overhaul, my biggest worry comes from the starting rotation, believe it or not.  Cole Hamels is thankfully remaining a Phillie for another six years and we've still got Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee (no matter what his season looks like) and Vance Worley. Joe Blanton thankfully will not be back and I don't care how wonderful his stats say he is in the second half of a season, watching him for full seasons for the last five years will tell you that he stinks and always has. Unfortunately there are only the likes of Kevin Correia, Kyle Lohse, Derek Lowe, Carl Pavano and other past their prime or Blanton-like people to take fat Joe's place.

Even more unfortunate, considering there have been rumors since a week or two before the trade deadline, Cliff Lee may not be here in 2013.  Today he was put on waivers and he is sure to be dangled during the winter.  Is this the right move?  I'm asking this and I'm not even a fan of the guy - never have been (with the exception of that one post-season behind the back catch).  Why trade Lee when you've got him under control for more than one year?  If someone has to go, shouldn't it be Halladay since his contract is up after next season?  I don't want any of them to leave the team but if we're peddling someone, it should be the guy who we have less control over. Should the Phillies trade Lee and not resign Doc, 2014 looks to be Hamels, Worley and three pitchers to be named later and that just isn't going to work for anyone.

There are many ways for the Phillies to improve themselves before 2013. What we're going to have to do as fans is trust in Ruben Amaro, Jr. and the ownership that the right pieces to the puzzle will arrive and fit in seamlessly.  It sounds easy, but since the departure of Hall of Fame GM Pat Gillick at the end of 2008, Amaro's teams have incrementally taken a step backwards every season since.

Time for the former Phillie outfielder to put the owner's money where his mouth is, step up and right the ship.  One thing I'd like to point out before I depart is that when the Phillies won the World Series in 2008, they were second in the regular season in runs scored, first in home runs, second in RBI and third in total bases. On the pitching side, their staff was forth in ERA, fifth in complete games, eleventh in strikeouts, and fifth in WHIP.  In the years since, the Phillies have migrated from a hitting team to a pitching team and though they had three pitchers in the top five for the Cy Young award last year, they just couldn't get out of the first round of the playoffs.

Why was this change enacted?

MLB Trade Deadline and the Phillies Fallout (pt.1 of 2)

We'll miss you guys!

The collective thud that was heard all through Philadelphia late yesterday afternoon just after the 4 p.m. MLB trade deadline was deafening, wasn't it? Never in my Phillies-loving life have I witnessed so many people falling off of a bandwagon so quickly.  Gotta admit that it makes me sort of happy because after checking StubHub, it looks like I'll be able to go to a few more games this year than I have during the historic 5-year run that the team has been on.

I'm not saying that the whole city jumped onto the Phillies would-be dynastic coattails because as a lifer, I can tell who has been here before along with me. We're the people who know that despite missing the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, there is still a hell of a lot of important baseball to be played in this city. 

See, once you get over the fact that there will be no Phillies post-season, the real fans begin looking to see what is needed to avoid this same situation in 2013.  We don't sit around moping about the run being over or that it was good while it lasted.  True, the Phillies have a long and winding road of heartbreak, but this current incarnation is a different world entirely and we owe them our faith even if it means we're not watching our team come this October.

Take a long, deep breath.  Exhale. Now, all you wannabe die-hards who only know the previous five winning seasons collect yourselves and lets take a good hard look at what transpired yesterday and what needs to happen to avoid this same mess of a season in 2013:

CF Shane Victorino traded to the Dodgers for RP Josh Lindblom and minor league pitcher Ethan Martin

Pitcher Josh Lindblom

Here is the reality of this deal: the fact that we got anything of value for Victorino is a miracle considering the Phillies weren't going to resign him in the off-season.  That said, Lindblom just turned 25 and in his short major league career has pitched 77.1 innings of relief with 71 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.91. Martin is a 23-year old former first round draft pick who has had some of the luster washed away in recent seasons but the talent is there and he is having a pretty solid 2012: 118 innings pitched, 112 strikeouts and a 3.58 ERA. His problem is control and this season he is averaging 4.7 BB/9IP which is actually DOWN from last year's 6.5 BB/9IP. Martin has only given up 5 home run balls so far this year.

Between the two, the talent is there and if Martin harnesses any of his talent - his top two pitches are his fastball (93 to 95 mph) and a power curve that's been ranked as the best in the Dodgers farm system, so says Baseball America - The Phillies will have two solid pitchers for a player they could still very well have back on their roster next season.

What I mean by that is...should Shane sit around all winter twiddling his thumbs from the lack of teams bidding on his services, the Phillies could swoop in and see if he'd come back on a lesser deal.  At last mention, Victorino stated he was looking for a 5-year deal and considering he is making nearly $10M this season, you're looking at something in the range of a $60 million dollar demand and that is being conservative.  Considering that he turns 32 in November, that is a deal approaching insanity, so who knows. If the stars align and he sits out in the open too long, maybe the Phillies would shoot him a much more reasonable 2 or 3-year offer.

RF Hunter Pence traded to the Giants for OF Nate Schierholtz, minor league C Tommy Joseph and minor league right-hander Seth Rosin

Catcher Tommy Joseph

 I'll admit to being slightly surprised by this trade because I liked Pence and thought he was productive considering what has transpired this season.  But the reality of the situation was that he played a piss poor right-field this year and when Utley and Howard were on the disabled list, Pence took a step back instead of stepping up and being a leader. While not as reckless a swinger as Victorino (or Rollins for that matter) it just isn't great to have so many batters in your lineup looking to constantly swing at balls 3 and 4. Also, going back to last post-season, Hunter was nowhere to be found...hitting a Mendoza-like .211 with no home runs in five games.

Hunter just never lived up to the hype or the cost of players that GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. sent to the Astros to get him on the team.  This trade was done to recoup something (anything) for him as well as enabling the Phils to avoid going to arbitration with Pence in the off-season and getting stuck giving a player a raise who had been nothing but a statistical disappointment.  Note that I said "statistical" disappointment, because if baseball games were won on personality only, Hunter Pence would have gotten us to the World Series single-handedly. 

In OF Nate Schierholtz the Phillies get a 28-year old serviceable outfielder who has a career .270 batting average with occasional pop who doesn't strike out all that much. As a lefty, he'd make a great platoon partner with right-handed slumping outfielder John Mayberry, Jr.

Catching prospect Tommy Joseph is something the Phillies haven't had in ages; a power-hitting catcher.  Playing in A+ ball, the then 20-year old bopped 22 home runs and had 95 RBI in 127 games, batting a solid .270.  This season in AA he has just 8 homers and 38 RBI, but the Eastern League is said to be more of a pitcher-friendly league.  Clearly though, this was an acquisition to place the team in a much more comfortable position than they were to eventually replace the Philly beloved Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz (now 33 years old).

The final piece to this trade is 23-year old Seth Rosin. This kid projects to be a fireball reliever.  in 145 innings he has struck out 161 batters. His control is solid, having walked 48 and giving up 9 home runs.  Currently in the low minors, Rosin could potentially be fast-tracked as he seems to be lagging behind in terms of age/league placement.

So this is who the Phillies lost, what they got for them and a little bit about the new folks.  As mentioned earlier, since this season is more or less finished in terms of post-season competition, I'm happy with who the Phillies acquired.  They all look like solid prospects that project to be potential major leaguers, but there is always the risk that someone won't make it...it just can't be helped. In terms of replacing Victorino and Pence on the 2012 club we've got Schierholtz and this guy right here.

OF Domonic Brown promoted from minors to Phillies, will start the rest of the season

Another thing the above two trades have done was enable the promotion of former wunderkind outfielder Domonic Brown.  Finally, this kid is going to get his fair share of playing time and the whole world will see whether he'll sink or swim.  It is about time too, as his "prospect" moniker was about to switch over to "suspect" considering he'll turn 25 in September.

There is about 1/3 of the season left to play and our Phillies are taking auditions for 2013. Who will still be here when next season begins? What holes do Phillies brass need to fill and who is available?

Check back tomorrow for the answers!