Wilson Valdez has done a serviceable job for the Phillies over the past two seasons as a utility infielder. He logged time at 2nd, 3rd, and SS, playing adequate defense. He even won a game in relief last season. His bat wasn't much (.254/.652 in 210 games), but most UTL players aren't. He was set to earn $930K in 2012. Trading him to the Reds seems like nothing more than...

Last year I ran in the freezing temperatures of the Phillies 1st Annual Charities 5K. Once again, I will be lacing up the running shoes for this event. The 2nd Annual Annual Phillies Charities 5K will take place on March 31st at Citizens Bank Park. Participants get a t-shirt, 2 tickets to the On-Deck series versus the Pirates on April 2nd or 3rd, and the chance to get themselves...

From left to right: Richie "Whitey" Ashburn, Andy Musser, Harry Kalas & Chris Wheeler.They were the Phillies broadcast team while I was growing up. They kept me company on many Sunday afternoons. Now, only Wheels remains, as Musser passed away at the age of 74. The Phillies issue the following statement on the passing of Andy Musser:“Our thoughts and prayers go out...

Yesterday I proposed offering Juan Pierre or Johnny Damon a contract to be a bench player on the Phillies. Neither option is likely because they're looking for starting gigs, and the Phils don't have that to offer. Also, someone in the comments section mentioned that a right-handed bat would be preferable to a lefty, so I looked over the list of remaining free agents and...

By all accounts, Ryan Howard will not be ready by Opening Day. Thus creating an open spot on the 25-man roster. The Phillies could use a player with some speed and the ability to play the outfield on their bench, something that Michael Martinez or Scott Podsednik would provide. However, Mini-Mart can't hit, and Pods wasn't in the Majors last season, and only played 34...

On January 21st/22nd back in...2007 - we were mourning the loss of ex-Phillies pitching coach Vern Ruhle and celebrating the contract extension of Chase Utley.2008 - I had a premonition that this year might just be the Phillies year... "The Phils may have choked in the 2007 playoffs versus the Rockies, but in '08 I have much higher hopes! Hey, at least we're not the...

[*Subtitled: An Off-Season, Off-Topic Song Parody That Probably Only Carson and I Will Find Funny But I'm Doing It Anyway]If you haven't heard, Fausto Carmona is not Fausto Carmona. He's Roberto H. Heredia. And he's 31. Which inspired me to write this little number. Count it off, Marky!Wondering where I'm pitching tonight Got busted in the D.R., don’t feel all...

But Does He Know Where The Rockies Play?Jamie Moyer signed a minor league deal with the Rockies this week. The 49 year old Moyer, who's coming off of Tommy John surgery, has to pass a physical.I don't know if any other team offered Moyer a deal, but taking a look at their current rotation options, I can see Moyer getting a shot, especially if the Rockies look at him as part time...

A. Total of Mike Schmidt's AS selections, GG & SS awardsB. Multiplied by Von Hayes league leading runs scoredC. Minus Charles Fuqua Manuel's regular season wins as Phillies managerD. Divided by Rob Ducey's career pinch hit homerunsE. Plus the total of Wes Chamberlain's MLB jersey numbersWhat's the number?

Nobody wants to go through an arbitration hearing. Not the player, not the club. It's two parties haggling over money while either building up the player's worth by pointing out all of his attributes or tearing it down by nagging on all his weaknesses. Coming to an agreement prior to that is ideal and the Phillies did just that with Cole Hamels and Wilson Valdez today.Hamels...

Kudos to Amaro for signing Joel Pineiro to a minor league contract. The 33 year old right hander has a lifetime 104-93 record over 12 MLB seasons with a 4.41 ERA, 1.35 WHIP in 1754.1 innings. 2011 was a disaster for him with the Angels, compiling a 5.13 ERA in 23 starts, but the 2 seasons prior to that with the Cardinals and Halos were solid efforts (25-19, 3.64/1.18, 366.1 IP...

Miami Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison is not shy with his opinions on Twitter or apparently his bathing habits, as evident by the picture posted below. It's cool that he's so open with with this kinda stuff. He'll fit right in with new coach Ozzie Guillen. Also, the Marlins have been known for this type of stuff in the past, just check out that machete wielding ex...

Free Bumper Stickers:We Should Be GMs may not be on the forefront of awesome Phillies themed t-shirt production, but by golly we've created some nice bumper stickers. Below you will find our legendary header design, the endearing term of Phucco, and GM-Carson's other baseball site More Hardball. You can have all three free of charge. All you have to do is email us your...

Ryan Madson's signing with Cincinnati leaves Liscio's Bakery without a face for their advertising campaign. Or does it? Those business savvy Italians were quick to ink Hunter "Good game, let's go eat" Pence to take over for Mad Dog. Suddenly I'm starving for a cannoli.

Yeah, I know, it's Thursday...So I never did my "Charlie In The Movies" series this off-season. Instead, I'm going to just throw one or two in every week during this cluster-fuqua. Today, entry, "The Shining." Heeeeere's Fuqua!!!!!So Long, Mad Dog Maybe it's because the Phillies have already replaced him with a better closer, but I don't think...

WSBGMs concludes our rankings for the 2011 season from the NL East today with position #9 on the diamond- right field.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Stolen Bases, and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East Right Field Rankings:1. Mike Stanton/Marlins .262/.893, 79 R, 30 DBL, 34 HR, 87 RBI, 3.6 OWAR.2. Carlos Beltran/Mets .289...

Being strong up the middle is a focus for most winning clubs, and that means strong defense at catcher, shortstop, second base, and today's NL East position being ranked- center field.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles, Triples and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Stolen Bases, and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East Center Field Rankings:1. Shane Victorino/Phillies...

The infielders of the NL East for the 2011 season have been ranked and now it's on to the outfield, with the least important defensive position on the field aside from pitcher being first on the docket, left field.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Stolen Bases, and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East Left Field Rankings:1...

This mustachioed masterpiece is a former 1st round pick (selected twice in different drafts) and had a respectable, albeit brief career with the Phillies. In 9 MLB seasons, this man played for nearly that many teams. With neither speed nor power, he was overall a dud, but his lusty 1.319 pinch hitting OPS with the Phils is a nice achievement. Go ahead and name that Phillie...___________________...

The ranking of each position in the NL East from the 2011 season continues today with the only spot remaining in the infield yet to be analyzed- the shortstops.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles, Triple, and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Stolen Bases, and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East Shortstop Rankings:1. Jose Reyes/Mets .337/.877, 101 R, 31 DBL, 16 TRPL...

WSBGMs continues in our self appointed duty of ranking each position from the NL East for the 2011 season. Catcher, 1st and 2nd base have already been covered, so we move over to the hot corner, third base.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Stolen Bases, and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East Third Basemen Rankings:1. Chipper...

WSBGMs is in the midst of ranking each position from the NL East from the 2011 season. Yesterday first base was examined, today it is the second basemen.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Stolen Bases and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East Second Basemen Rankings:1. Dan Uggla/Braves .233/.764, 88 R, 22 DBL, 36 HR, 82 RBI, 3.1...

Over the next week or so, WSBGMs will be ranking each position from the NL East from the 2011 season. Yesterday it was the backstops, today position #3 on the diamond, the first basemen.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Doubles and Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, and Offensive Wins Above Replacement.2011 NL East First Basemen Rankings:1. Michael Morse/Nationals .303/.910, 73 R,...

Over the next week or so, WSBGMs will be ranking each position from the NL East from the 2011 season. First up, the men who don the tools of ignorance, the catchers.Stats- AVG/OPS, Runs, Homeruns or Extra Base Hits, Runs Batted In, Offensive Wins Above Replacement, and Caught Stealing.2011 NL East Catcher Rankings:1. Brian McCann/Braves .270/.817, 51 R, 24 HR, 71 RBI, 3.2 OWAR, 22...

This man will highly touted, but never flaunted his sought after skill set that was so desirable come draft day. Giving credit where credit is due, he does have a higher career OPS than campaigns of 2011 National League All-Stars Placido Polanco and Scott Rolen. Go ahead and name that Phillie...