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nothing says "commitment to winning" like signing john lannan as a free agent and giving a multi-year contract to a relief pitcher who can't feel his fingers.

I agree with your apparent feelings on the latter but the former seems like a pretty decent signing. For the difference in their performances, I'd much rather have Lannan at 1 year, 2.5M (up to 5M with bonuses) than 2/15M for Joey Blanton.

I agree with your apparent feelings on the latter but the former seems like a pretty decent signing. For the difference in their performances, I'd much rather have Lannan at 1 year, 2.5M (up to 5M with bonuses) than 2/15M for Joey Blanton.

i actually don't really disagree with either acquisition, but they don't exactly alter the landscape of the NL east.

Chase Utley's gotta love this signing.

STEAGLES, don't know about you, but I almost went MAD this year with the number of games that the Phils bullpen blew during the middle of this season.

Having said that, a better bullpen is not enough if Halladay-Lee-Hammels are not back and in force, and if Utley/Howard don't produce.

As to Lanna, 2.5MM per year is nothing for a team with the Phils revenue streams, and the Phils SHOULD make that kind of bet every day of the week and twice on Sunday (I made that very argument in regards Contreras 2 years ago, and that didn't work out, but I stand by the rationale).

Chase Utley's gotta love this signing.

My first thought as well.

Godspeed to Lannan -- I hope he puts up a fine season and earns a nice multi-year contract after it's over. He was a small bright spot for the Nats during a very, very dark era.

That said, I hope we utterly obliterate him when we face off against him.

Lannan isn't bad and could be pretty good. He's better than most 5th starters.
Larry: What's with Utley and Lannan? A HBP?

Regards,
Tim

Larry: What's with Utley and Lannan? A HBP?

Lannan broke Utley's hand. I think it was the first time Chase seriously missed time.

For the difference in their performances, I'd much rather have Lannan at 1 year, 2.5M (up to 5M with bonuses) than 2/15M for Joey Blanton.

How can you not root for John Lannan? He's the Scott McGregor of the 21st century. Baseball needs more Scott McGregors.

Lannan isn't good enough to start for the Nationals, but he might help the Phillies. That pretty much sums up the two teams.

Lannan broke Utley's hand. I think it was the first time Chase seriously missed time.

In Lannan's first MLB start.

This is a great signing. Even though I reflexively respond to his name with revulsion because of the hand breakage.

Lannan isn't good enough to start for the Nationals, but he might help the Phillies. That pretty much sums up the two teams.

Only since they traded Vance Worley.

That Adams contract is positively Wade-ian.

#15 - whoa. No kidding. 2 years, $12 million for a 34 y/o set-up man? And a $6.5 million vesting option? Wow.

Adams isn't a fungible middle reliever of the Brandon Lyon/Matt Lindstrom variety. His career ERA+ is 177. His career-low ERA+ (with the exception of a 2-game stint in 2006) is 140. Granted that 140 ERA+ was last year, but it was largely the result of (1) a BABIP 60 points above his career average and (2) a higher-than-usual walk rate that likely resulted from finger/hand numbness due to his thoracic-outlet syndrome.

If the medical issue has been resolved - and I assume the deal is contingent upon the Phils' doctors giving it the thumbs-up - he's the ideal guy for the Phils' bullpen vacancy.

RE: Lannan and Hit Batsmen
It's not just Utley. In 94.1 career IP vs the Phils he has 11 HB, or one every 8.2 innings. In his other 689.1 career IP he has just 19 HB, or one every 36.1 innings. He's gotten Utley three times and Howard four times. Think he'll be welcomed in the clubhouse?

Think he'll be welcomed in the clubhouse?

Better to have him inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

RE: Lannan and Hit Batsmen
It's not just Utley. In 94.1 career IP vs the Phils he has 11 HB, or one every 8.2 innings. In his other 689.1 career IP he has just 19 HB, or one every 36.1 innings. He's gotten Utley three times and Howard four times. Think he'll be welcomed in the clubhouse?

Check out Lannan's record against the Phils vs. his record against every other team in Major League Baseball, and then wonder whether or not there's a correlation between that and his HBP numbers. And what nature that correlation might take.

Lannan was ejected after hitting Utley (I recall it wasn't intentional, just jitters on John's part in his MLB debut). Phillies fans still remember that. Then again, I remember how they despised Len Dykstra as a Met before a certain trade in June 1989.

As a Nats fan, I'll miss Lannan and his key spot starts this past season. Wish him well...against everyone else in MLB.