BlogsMLB Suspends J.C. Romero for 50 games
by dajafi
on Jan 5, 2009 9:53 PM EST
While Major League Baseball never said J.C. Romero tried to cheat, the 33-year-old reliever who won the third and clinching games of the 2008 World Series has been ruled guilty of "negligence" and will be suspended for the first 50 games of the 2009 season. Romero said on Monday that he bought a supplement from a GNC store in Cherry Hill, N.J., last July. The Players Association had told players the supplement was acceptable, but now the Philadelphia Phillies left-hander will receive a suspension and lose $1.25 million. ... On July 22, Romero bought a supplement at the GNC store in Cherry Hill. He had it checked by his personal nutritionist, who said there was nothing in the supplement that was illegal. There was no warning on the label. Romero mentioned it to Phillies strength and conditioning coach Dong Lien. There seems to be some confusion in testimony during the October arbitration hearing. According to Romero, Lien told him to get a second opinion; Romero took the supplement to a second nutritionist, who cleared it. In the hearing, Lien testified to that fact, but at another time he said he suggested Romero not take it. Romero in no way blames Lien. "What they now say I should have done was call the drug hotline," Romero said. "But I had it checked out by nutritionists, and I was following the guidelines laid down by the Players Association in spring training."
Romero has become a fan favorite for his terrific performance and emotive mound demeanor. I don't see him taking this lying down by any stretch of the imagination, particularly as it sounds like there were multiple failures of communication between the MLBPA and the Office of the Commissioner.
5 comments | 0 recs
Pat Burrell near 2 year deal with Rays
2 years / $16MM
Goodbye, Pat. Thanks for everything.
Kevin Goldstein (BP) talks Phils' prospects
Goldstein hooks phuture phillies up with a nice interview
2 days ago
Governator
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Stiffed by Santa? Win a FREE Copy of the 2008 World Series DVD Set
by WholeCamels
on Dec 30, 2008 8:32 PM EST
UPDATE: Thank you for all the excellent entries. I will read them all and make my decision over the next couple of days; peyote and Captain Beefheart's Doc at the Radar Station may be utilized as emotional purifying agents.
Let's face it: Santa's a creep. Slave labor, creeping down your chimney like a Chris Hansen suspect. And: He didn't get you what you wanted most: The 8-disc 2008 Philadelphia Phillies World Series DVD set, from A&E Home Video.
via shop.aetv.com
I have my copy, and it's dynamite. Full versions of the television broadcast of all five World Series games, plus Games 4 and 5 of the NLCS, plus a bonus disc containing 2008 season highlights. It's a must-have; Championships don't come our way very often.
Now you can WIN YOUR OWN COPY. We have ONE copy to give away, and it can be yours!
How?
Tell us, in 50 words OR LESS, why you deserve this set. Submit entries in the Comments to this story. Be creative, be truthful, be funny, be maudlin. But be prompt: Entries must be received by 12 noon on Monday, January 5, 2009.
Judging will be entirely subjective and at my whim.
Good luck to all!
36 comments
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Hold Your Horses
by dajafi
on Dec 29, 2008 11:06 PM EST
It happens every year: right around Christmastime, the baseball world goes into its true hibernation. The Winter Meetings are done, the first batch of free agents have signed, and everyone—even front office types who never truly are on vacation—goes quiet for a few days at least.
The 2008 Phillies gave us the best gift in their power, not quite two months before most of us unwrapped the rest of our presents. (And perhaps Ruben Amaro’s offseason moves thus far—Ibanez, Park, Gary Majewski, etc—are a very subtle homage to his Jewish roots, in that the first Hanukkah gift is always by far the best, and then you sort of get junk after that…) With the team’s most recent bit of business, acquiring Jamie Moyer’s services for his age-46 and -47 seasons, the full championship nucleus minus Pat Burrell will be back in 2009.
But much as I love Moyer, the fact that Derek Lowe is still out there—and might get snapped up by the Mets, no less—is very troubling. Lowe is a superior pitcher now and going forward, of course, and while he’ll cost more and require a longer commitment, he offers something Moyer probably can’t deliver anymore: a near-certainty of 200-plus innings next season.
This might be one of the most overlooked aspects of why the Phils outlasted the Mets and then blitzed through three playoff rounds: their starting pitchers took the ball and kept the ball. The starters’ 966.2 innings pitched was the fourth-most in the NL last season—a fact that helped ensure the bullpen wasn’t over-exposed, and contributed mightily (along with great health and a couple-three career years, of course) to the relievers’ league-best ERA. Brad Lidge was never overused—other than by Clint Hurdle, that is—and J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre were rarely exposed to right-handed hitters who could knock them around. The only Phils reliever who faded as the year went on was Chad Durbin, and his fatigue might have been the result of a role change from starting to relief rather than overuse per se.
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Farewell to Pat Burrell
Check out this montage of photos, set to Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" (Pat's at-bat music), covering Burrell's nine years with the Fightin' Phils. Only thing missing, alas, are parade shots.
16 days ago
dajafi
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Ibanez, Santana, and Fun With Small Sample Size
by dajafi
on Dec 20, 2008 2:26 PM EST
In his latest missive defending Ruben Amaro Jr, Bill Conlin dismisses concerns—voiced here among many other outposts—that the addition of aging left-handed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a lineup already featuring portside bats Chase Utley and Ryan Howard renders the Phillies too vulnerable to lefty pitching. Here’s my favorite part of the defense:
The best news? He has faced Mets ace Johan Santana 34 times and has a .353 average.
Though I didn’t like the Ibanez signing—and it’s going to look much, much worse in a month or two, after Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu and Adam Dunn all sign for a lot less—and I’m not a huge Conlin fan, I’m not dismissing the statement. Rather, it got me thinking about the point at which we can take a sample of outcomes—batter vs. pitcher, batter vs. team, pitcher vs. team--and determine (rightly or wrongly) that, yes, something sustainable is at work.
We all know cases like this. My all-time favorite is Joe McEwing vs. Randy Johnson.
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A World Series Story
by Travis Hughes
on Dec 17, 2008 6:54 AM EST
Note: I wrote this on the Tuesday between Game 5.1.and 5.2.
As I crossed the Delaware River from Burlington, New Jersey to Bristol, Pennsylvania on Monday night, I glanced out the window to my left at the Philadelphia skyline 20 miles down stream. The cloudless twilight afforded me a spectacular view of a city illuminated in red.
I turned onto Route 1 and headed into the Northeast portion of the city, passing a store-front sign that read "GO PHILLIES! BRING IT HOME TONIGHT!" And you can be sure this was the theme on every sign from Burger King to Gary Barbera's Dodgeland.
Everywhere I looked, cars had Phillies flags and magnets and license plates holders, and their drivers wore Utley jerseys and National League champions hats. I had been in this city just two weeks ago for the first game of the NLCS, but I knew immediately that this was different. In 19 years of Philadelphia fandom, I had never seen this before.
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Phillies Re-Sign Jamie Moyer
by David S. Cohen
on Dec 15, 2008 2:57 PM EST
The ultimate good guy is back. The Phillies today re-signed Jamie Moyer to a two year deal, with terms as yet undisclosed. Last year, Moyer posted a 3.71 ERA, going 16-7. He struggled mightily in his two NLDS and NLCS appearances, but rebounded to throw an important quality start in game 3 of the World Series.
I would have preferred a one year deal, but Moyer wasn't going to take that. So, in the realm of what's possible, as long as this isn't too pricey, it's probably a good move. Moyer still has it, even for a guy who is going to be pitching through the age of 47. Of course, if he were a power pitcher, there would be reason for concern. But Moyer relies on outwitting his hitters, which he hopefully will still be able to do as he gets closer to 50.
One question though: with adding Ibanez and Park and now re-signing Moyer, is Amaro making this team too old?
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Chan Ho Park Signs
by PhillyFriar
on Dec 15, 2008 10:39 AM EST
David Murphy reports, courtesy of the Korea Times.
A 1-year, $2.5 million deal worth up to $5 million in incentives. Not a bad deal if we see him as a swing man and spot starter -- i.e. this year's version of Durbin -- but let's just say I'm a bit worried by some of the following quotes. Take it away, Korea Times...
Park, who has made it clear that he wants to be a starting pitcher, said the Phillies only viewed him as a starter.
``I was a little worried about the Citizen Bank Park, the home of the Phillies, which is hitter-friendly, but as they considered me as a starter, I signed with Philadelphia,'' he said.
Hopefully there's either a language barrier, or we sold him a bill of goods. I mean, the guy pitched reasonably well last year, but to be a starter you have to get guys out from both sides of the plate, which Park simply could not do (LHB .301 BAA).
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NL East Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia
|
92 | 70 | .567 | 0 | Won 3 |
|
New York
|
89 | 73 | .549 | 3 | Lost 1 |
|
Florida
|
84 | 77 | .521 | 7.5 | Won 1 |
|
Atlanta
|
72 | 90 | .444 | 20 | Lost 1 |
|
Washington
|
59 | 102 | .366 | 32.5 | Lost 4 |
(updated 1.6.2009 at 1:48 AM EST)
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Most Commented
Stiffed by Santa? Win a FREE Copy of the 2008 World Series DVD Set
by WholeCamels 6 days ago
36 comments | 1 recs
Pat Burrell near 2 year deal with Rays
by WholeCamels about 14 hours ago
22 comments | 0 recs
MLB Suspends J.C. Romero for 50 games
by dajafi about 6 hours ago
5 comments | 0 recs