Yo Glavine, My Fingers Are Numb Too

I am going to write about the Phillies today- with an awareness that a lot- and I mean a lot- of BlogPoll traffic is passing through here right now. I’ll get to that tomorrow.

When we last left the Phillies here on Thursday, they had pounded the Mets three straight. Unfortunately, Charlie ran out of major league rotation options at that point- and the club finished up the week splitting the final four outings. At home, the Phillies absolutely have to win series against teams like the Nationals- so it was heartening to see them come back and win the needed pair after dropping the first one. So, a five win week- not too bad. Consequently, the Phillies not only picked up 1.5 games on the Reds- slogging as expected to a typical National League style three up-three down week- but also stand tied for second in the Wild Card race. They aren’t chasing seven teams any more; those teams are largely chasing them.

There is really nothing to complain about concerning Jamie Moyer. Now, I still cannot believe in their heart of hearts Gillick thinks this season is, well, ultimately about this season. But acquiring Jamie Moyer- and his not insignificant salary- for two low minors’ prospects is a trade certainly about this year- a true deviation from Gillick’s mandate of, say, just three weeks ago.

That normally is a real road to ruin- but I suggest these three tests for late season acquisitions outside real contending teams:

1. Did you give up anything approaching major league talent? I can’t imagine two Class A prospects (one an undrafted free agent) being can’t miss guys. Bill Conlin suggests one of the two guys had a pretty good season in A-ball- but I imagine Gillick could have refrained from including him if he wanted to- see point 2.

2. Does it cost you payroll now that could be better spent in 2006, etc.? Moyer is around a $6 million pitcher- but a lot of the season is over and apparently Seattle is picking up some of the remainder. But this sort of spending isn’t going to cost the Phillies a key agent or retention of a core young player. And had Gillick wanted to retain his prospects, I bet he could have freed Seattle entirely from their obligation to pay Moyer in return. So either point one or point two is sort of a free pass for Gillick almost by definition.

3. Does it take major league playing time away from young players who could use seasoning for the immediate future? Put your hand up if you need to see more of Scott Mathieson this season? Or if you think being cuffed around in another three big league starts will help his development? Anyone? Anyone? Frankly, I’ve seen enough of Gavin Floyd also. Look, if the Phillies fall out of this in the next few weeks- the September call up option is available for both those guys to get a few starts. And if they don’t… then yes, I’d rather see Jamie Moyer.

Plus, Moyers clearly makes the Phillies better- honestly, maybe three, four games better. Not that Moyers is such a huge plus- but the guy he’s placing was such an unreserved, unmitigated minus. Screw the fifth pitcher, Moyers might arguably start a Game 2 today if the Phillies had their druthers.

Frankly, a lot of the Phillies’ improvement has be the subtraction of utter minuses. Less Bell & Leiberthal is good, good, good! Less Gavin Floyd too.