My questions were directed to the phutures guy, not you.

Have another cheesesteak and fight with someone else, big boy. Your team showed a lack of life against Frisco last week, the team that shouldn’t have beaten them (you) last year, and you can’t take take that reality, let alone discuss it without anger.

This has to be explained? Apparently.

I appreciate your expertise on your very great team.

Tho it seems to me, and i am no Giants fan, that the balance of power has tilited West. Look at recent evolution: The Phils win the pennant, and the World Series. Then the pennant but not the World Series. Then the division but not the pennant. Their hitting is not appreciably better. Pence will help, but the move for him was out of a desperation more needed be done before the trade deadline and coincidentally before the Phils go to Frisco next week. I’m curious as to your take. Are you a homer and blindly believe when there is diminishing reason to, or a realist who knows that if you get past Frisco, which seems to do everything right a champion needs to win at least the pennant, you’ll be pretty fortunate.

Utley is a FA in 2 years, Victorino after next year. Based on what Howard’s making it would stand to reason Utley will make at least $20 million (or not be retained) and Victorino at least $10 million (and I think that’s conservative). That means in 3 years the Phillies would be spending $100 million on 5 players. Let’s say they also retain Hamels, after this year. That’s probably going to be another $15 million minimum, which means it’s now $115 million for 6 players. That doesn’t really seem like a realistically cap friendly situation. My guess is at least 2 out of the Utley, Victorino, Hamels trio is gone at the end of their contracts.

So Beltran decided not to be good his first year, but great the rest of his Mets years until he was injured?

If Beltran could play at his best level every year of his career, he’d be a hall of famer.

And considering his record postseasons, the Giants will be very glad of his apparent ability to turn it on whenever he wants.

And Lee himself was a prospect, traded along with Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore for Bartolo Colon.

All prospects are suspects until they prove otherwise.

The Phillies total draft bonus outlay for these 3 prospects

Cosart, 38th round in 2008 – $550K
Singleton, 8th round in 2009 – $200K
Zeid, 10th round in 2009 – $10K

$760K in bonus money, none of the players taken before the 8th round.

The Phillies do a tremendous job scouting and replenishing every year.