http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/players/wes_helms/290 Recent articles about Wes Helms en-us There is an old adage in baseball that says pitching wins championships.  The San Francisco Giants can attest to that, as they’ve won two titles in three years on the strength of their stellar starting rotation and deep bullpen.  But while pitching wins titles, it’s youth that keeps teams playing for championships. After winning four World Series in five seasons from 1996 to 2000 with a number of homegrown players who were still in their 20s (Jeter, Williams, Posada, Pettitte, Rivera), the Yankees have managed just one championship over the past 12 seasons.  Basically, they’ve become too old to compete with the young studs in places like Detroit and Texas.  Heck, they barely beat out Baltimore in the regular season and ALDS, while allowing Tampa to win two division titles over the past five seasons. Similarly, the Phillies won five consecutive division titles from 2007 to 2011, but could only manage a .500 record in 2012.  All that success earned them one World Series trophy.  In 20... Sat, 08 Dec 2012 14:21:53 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/let_the_phillies_get_older_with_michael_young/12392737 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/let_the_phillies_get_older_with_michael_young/12392737 Let The Phillies Get Older With Michael Young http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/let_the_phillies_get_older_with_michael_young/12392737 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/6/26311a30e6e3dab7e12b80651a6bf1b13c9868a0/mini/Texas_Rangers_v_24dd.jpg Phillies second baseman Chase Utley continues taking ground balls at third base and could soon be known as third baseman Chase Utley.  Sunday's television broadcast showed Utley taking ground balls at third base in Houston, and Monday, the Inquirer's Matt Gelb wrote that Utley took more ground balls.  That the Phillies and Utley are devoting so much time to this is indicative of one thing: Utley needs to leave second base. Utley's degenerative knee condition is well-known.  This is not an injury that will heal; this is something that will affect Utley as long as plays baseball.  The demand of playing second base is high, going after balls up the middle.  We all know Utley will always give maximum effort as long as he is there.  But, that works against him as he tries to manage what essentially is having no cartilege in his knees.  So, a less demanding position is in order.  The question, then, is which. The obvious position for Utley to play would be first base.  Utl... Wed, 19 Sep 2012 00:20:45 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/phillies_if_chase_utley_continues_work_at_third_base_the_move_is_more_about_second_base/11751520 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/phillies_if_chase_utley_continues_work_at_third_base_the_move_is_more_about_second_base/11751520 Phillies IF Chase Utley Continues Work at Third Base; The Move is More About Second Base http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/phillies_if_chase_utley_continues_work_at_third_base_the_move_is_more_about_second_base/11751520 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/8/4/8479330df7f3d5ffde6aefc010848fac3121e322/mini/DiamondbacksPhillies_8248.jpg On this day two years ago, the Philadelphia Flyers were riding their magical postseason run to the Stanley Cup Finals, their first appearance in the final round since being swept by the Detroit Red Wings in 1997. The Flyers were hot, taking out the second seeded New Jersey Devils in round one, followed by the comeback of all comebacks against the Boston Bruins, and a quick series against the Montreal Canadiens to advance to meet the Chicago Blackhawks. Philadelphia vs. Chicago. It was a stage set for a fantastic Stanley Cup Finals match-up, with game one scheduled for May 29 in Chicago. With Flyer mania running wild throughout the Delaware Valley, everybody was going to be tuning in for Game One with hopes of getting out to a quick start to the first Stanley Cup victory since 1975. But, oddly enough, not even the hard core Flyers fans could help but flip the channel or glance at the score of a regular season baseball game in Miami that night. It was not just because Roy Halladay w... Tue, 29 May 2012 07:33:57 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/on_this_day_in_2010_perfection_from_doc_halladay/10893443 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/on_this_day_in_2010_perfection_from_doc_halladay/10893443 On this day in 2010, perfection from Doc Halladay http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/on_this_day_in_2010_perfection_from_doc_halladay/10893443 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png It has been a bad spring training for Sizemores. Besides Grady’s seemingly annual injury, Athletics’ third baseman Scott Sizemore fell to an ACL tear earlier yesterday and will be lost for the entire season. For as deep as the Athletics have made their outfield this winter, their infield is paper-thin. It becomes obvious as manager Bob Melvin attempts to sell his team’s depth on the left side of the diamond: “In his absence, we feel we have some viable options in Adam Rosales, Eric Sogard and Josh Donaldson. They can all bring something to the position,” Melvin said. Donaldson is a catcher prospect with a .795 OPS in two seasons at Triple-A. Rosales has a .281 career wOBA and is coming off a broken foot in 2011. Eric Sogard has played 25 professional games at the position and brings a similar minor league track record to Donaldson. Although the A’s could just slog their way to a third or fourth place finish with these three players, chances are they will at least take a gander... Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/sizemore_leaves_oakland_with_third_base_wasteland/10166101 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/sizemore_leaves_oakland_with_third_base_wasteland/10166101 Sizemore Leaves Oakland With Third Base Wasteland http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/sizemore_leaves_oakland_with_third_base_wasteland/10166101 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Below is the 2012 Free Agent list of players left unsigned so far this off-season. I used the last column of each player to comment on rumors I have heard and plain comments. Lot of interesting names on the list that include Scott Kazmir, Rich Harden. If you see a letter in the fourth column that means they are Type A or B Free Agents, Team will owe compensation (picks). Enjoy - Source: MLBTR Russell Branyan 1B Casey Kotchman 1B Derrek Lee 1B B Conor Jackson 1B / LF / RF Xavier Nady 1B / LF / RF Ross Gload 1B / RF Felipe Lopez 2B / 3B Aaron Miles 2B / 3B ... Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:18:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/2012_free_agents_left_unsigned_so_far_2212/9730765 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/2012_free_agents_left_unsigned_so_far_2212/9730765 2012 Free Agents left unsigned so far - 2/2/12 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/2012_free_agents_left_unsigned_so_far_2212/9730765 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png This post is syndicated from The Yankee Analysts.With the hot stove dwindling just below a simmer, yesterday saw Ken Rosenthal "break" a story with respect to the Yankees' interest in ... Bill Hall. This is indicative of, at the very least, Cashman's continued interest in having a veteran presence to spell Alex Rodriguez. A more optimistic and/or pessimistic view may be that the team is looking to send Eduardo Nunez packing - be it to Scranton to work on his ability to be the shortstop of the future, or to another team ... with the reader determining which version is the better-case scenario. Regardless of your preference, it seems unlikely that the team will do anything other than supplement their bench with such a signing. While none of this is particularly exciting, perusing the list of remaining free agent infielders should be a bit more than an exercise in futility ... so, there's that.Bill HallThe method to this madness, Hall "batted" .211/.261/... Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:40:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bill_hall_and_the_not_so_super_utility_bargain_bin/9716398 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/bill_hall_and_the_not_so_super_utility_bargain_bin/9716398 Bill Hall, and the (Not So) Super-Utility Bargain Bin http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/bill_hall_and_the_not_so_super_utility_bargain_bin/9716398 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/6/2/62d1a223094967ca1f052a1d96e2fb863d1b83bf/mini/d7.jpg Adam Rubin believes that the Mets will fill out the bench with a right handed power threat bat who can play 1b/3b, he finds it very unlikely that a player lacking MLB experience like Zach Lutz for a bench role. I still think a left hander would make more sense since that would make the entire bench right handed.  But Sandy did say he was looking for a right handed outfielder for the bench even after re-signing Hairston. In case they stick to the outfielders here's the list I compiled yesterday...Right Handed Outfielder:Milton Bradley, Pat Burrell, Greg Golson, Jonny Gomes, Conor Jackson, Austin Kearns, Ryan Ludwick,  Magglio Ordonez, Jason Repko, Cody Ross, Marcus Ryan Spilborghs, Marcus Thames, VladLeft Handed Outfielder:Rick Ankiel, J.D. Drew, Kosuke Fukudome, Willie Harris, Corey Patterson, Juan Pirre, Raul Ibanez, Luke Scott Here is a list of 1B/3B, I left off players who are probably still starters like Derrek Lee and Carlos Pena...RHB free agents that could fill out the be... Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:44:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/a_complete_look_at_who_could_take_last_spot_on_bench/9178324 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/a_complete_look_at_who_could_take_last_spot_on_bench/9178324 A complete look at who could take last spot on Bench http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/a_complete_look_at_who_could_take_last_spot_on_bench/9178324 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png With the current direction of the NY Mets, it seems there has been a lot of talk here about how much weight to put into Baseball America’s Prospect Rankings. First, let me explain what BA actually does with regards to these rankings to avoid any assumptions. From their own website, “Our prospect ratings are based on our own research and conversations with scouts, managers, instructors, front-office personnel and others in the game. Obviously all of that input is very important, but we make the final determination about where players fit on our various lists. We pay the most attention to a player’s long-term potential, and his chances of reaching that potential. A pitcher who could be a No. 1 starter usually rates higher than a guy who’s seen as a No. 4 starter, for instance, even if the second player has performed better in the minors. Others who rate prospects often pay more attention to a player’s present value—what he can do for an organization right away. That’s why even players... Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:35:59 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/whos_to_blame_baseball_america_or_the_system/8867257 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/whos_to_blame_baseball_america_or_the_system/8867257 Who’s To Blame? Baseball America or The System? http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/whos_to_blame_baseball_america_or_the_system/8867257 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png There have been rumors this offseason that the Miami Marlins are looking to add a big name free agent this winter. They've been linked to a couple of names that seem a little strange - shortstop Jose Reyes and first baseman Albert Pujols. The only problem with the Marlins signing either of these players is that they've already got players at those positions - Hanley Ramirez and Gaby Sanchez. But signing either of the two would make sense, as it would improve the team offensively. If either player was signed however, the Marlins would need to do a little position switching with their incumbent players. We'll start off at shortstop, where Reyes is the top name on the market. Signing the oft-injured Reyes would allow Ramirez, who before this season was the pinnacle of health, to shift to center field, a much more demanding position physically. Ramirez is not a good defender at short, and shifting him to center would allow the Marlins to take advantage of his athleticism mo... Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:25:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/marlins_must_reorganize_if_they_want_a_top_free_agent/7944640 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/marlins_must_reorganize_if_they_want_a_top_free_agent/7944640 Marlins Must Reorganize If They Want a Top Free Agent http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/marlins_must_reorganize_if_they_want_a_top_free_agent/7944640 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Florida Marlins (or Miami Marlins as they will be next season) have traditionally been a poor fielding team. Simply put, they’ve had to pinch pennies wherever possible and fielding became one of those areas they were willing to sacrifice. Even their stars were subpar defenders. Heck, their double play combination, until this season, was arguably the worst double play combination in baseball. When Mike Jacobs was the first baseman, their Tinkers to Evers to Chance was known as the happy lexicon. Some of that changed this season, but the team lost Hanley Ramirez and Josh Johnson for good parts of the season. Then, there was the Logan Morrison and Wes Helms controversy in the middle of the season. Helms was cut and Morrison sent down to the minors. Sending down the player second on the team in OPS was a hard sell to the media. Still, the club moves into the new stadium and a modicum of dedication to fielding has them at least in the average range. DER: .694 (14th) RA:... Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:08:08 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/team_fielding_series_florida_marlins/7619206 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/team_fielding_series_florida_marlins/7619206 Team Fielding Series: Florida Marlins http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/team_fielding_series_florida_marlins/7619206 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png I feel old. Came across this story about ex-MarlinPudge Rodriguz watching his son, Dereck, take part in the Minnesota Twins’ instructional league in Fort Myers. The Twins drafted Dereck, an outfielder,  in the sixth round in June. I remember watching father and son play catch in front of the Marlins’ dugout during the 2003 season. Dereck was a spindly 11-year-old then. It struck me how hard Pudge threw the ball at him. You would think he was warming up with a teammate. Wes Helms’ son was a regular in the Marlins clubhouse. He’ll get drafted before I’m eligible for any senior citizen discounts, but I’m sure it won’t feel that way. Speaking of Pudge, who’s a free agent, any thoughts on the Marlins signing him this offseason? He’d love to come back. Would you rather have a John Buck-Pudge Rodriguez duo behind the plate than say Buck and Brett Hayes or John Baker? Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:02:13 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/florida_marlins_proud_papa_pudge_rodriguez_watches_son_in_pro_ball/7371220 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/florida_marlins_proud_papa_pudge_rodriguez_watches_son_in_pro_ball/7371220 Florida Marlins: Proud papa Pudge Rodriguez watches son in pro ball http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/florida_marlins_proud_papa_pudge_rodriguez_watches_son_in_pro_ball/7371220 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/a/c/ac8e747e11bd1586dec65630456a413f91305ea4/mini/MLB_JUN_16_da5c.jpg When is the last time the Phillies had a good all-around third baseman? Certainly not since the departure of Scott Rolen in July of 2002. Placido Polanco (2002), then David Bell (2003-2006), then No-Hit Nunez/Wes Helms/Greg Dobbs (2007), then Pedro Feliz (2008-2009), and now Polanco again (2010-2011). Ugh!Polly just turned 36 years old yesterday and is still under contract for the 2012 season. Now that PEDs are being removed from the game, players aren't producing into their late 30's like they were a decade ago. Polanco plays quality defense, but his bat and health are quickly deteriorating. Games played have steadily dipped since arriving in Philly (only 122 in '11) as well has his OPS (down to .674 this year). Hernia, elbow problems, big headiness...he's a walking gimpy malady.With the Phillies offense getting older, less productive, and more injury prone, maybe it's to bring in some new blood at the hot corner next year and give Polanco super-sub duties (spot... Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:48:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/polly_turned_36/7349230 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/polly_turned_36/7349230 Polly Turned 36 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/polly_turned_36/7349230 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When is the last time the Phillies had a good all-around third baseman? Certainly not since the departure of Scott Rolen in July of 2002. Placido Polanco (2002), then David Bell (2003-2006), then No-Hit Nunez/Wes Helms/Greg Dobbs (2007), then Pedro Feliz (2008-2009), and now Polanco again (2010-2011). Ugh!Polly just turned 36 years old yesterday and is still under contract for the 2012 season. Now that PEDs are being removed from the game, players aren't producing into their late 30's like they were a decade ago. Polanco plays quality defense, but his bat and health are quickly deteriorating. Games played have steadily dipped since arriving in Philly (only 122 in '11) as well has his OPS (down to .674 this year). Hernia, elbow problems, big headiness...he's a walking gimpy malady.With the Phillies offense getting older, less productive, and more injury prone, maybe it's to bring in some new blood at the hot corner next year and give Polanco super-sub duties (spot... Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:48:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/polly_turned_36/7349203 http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/polly_turned_36/7349203 Polly Turned 36 http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/polly_turned_36/7349203 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/3/4/34284adfab7baa626348a9e5392494dc9a94166e/mini/PicImg_MLB_MAR_17_f8c3.jpg