Comments on: UPDATE: Phillies, Jonathan Papelbon agree to four-year, $50 million contract

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:28:25 +0000

The Baseball Gods have spoken.

I’m with you. Until it back fires. Then it’ll be a huge mistake that should have never happened. I really like Madson, but Papelbon is better, and as a fan I can’t complain about the GM making the team better. Unless they can’t score runs and this stops them from improving offense. See how that works?

By: thefalcon123

thefalcon123 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:39:54 +0000

How crazy is this?
Papelbon will be making twice as much per inning pitched as *Roy Halladay*!
This is insanity.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:36:31 +0000

Here’s another article comparing the two:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies/Phillies-take-risk-with-Papelbon.html

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 22:09:58 +0000

Yeah, it’s not like they traded away Cliff Lee so they could afford Halladay, or anything like that.

By: frank35sox

frank35sox — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:46:56 +0000

Red Sox fans, rejoice. This is the best thing for you. If you don’t think so, how did Bobby Jenks taste this year? From a Sox fan to another type of Sox fan, a dominating closer during a World Series run or two warrants less revere than he actually gets.

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:45:17 +0000

You know, I doubt they care either.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:27:20 +0000

I cannot tell a lie. I googled “middle finger text” then copied and pasted it here.

By: seattlej

seattlej — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:11:52 +0000

Well, the Fillies have to pay an extra $8M or so. Besides that, yeah, I guess it’s kind of a wash.

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:05:17 +0000

One more thing Jonny….how long did it take you to do that? Impressive.

By: seattlej

seattlej — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:04:54 +0000

The Red Sox?

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:03:49 +0000

Hahaha! Well played Jonny. Well played.

By: seattlej

seattlej — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:03:07 +0000

Wow… relevant information AND analysis in the hardballtalk comments? Without calling someone an asshole or idiot? Never thought I’d see the day…

By: stlouis1baseball

stlouis1baseball — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:02:56 +0000

That makes two off us Common Man! “Great” sign Philly! Wonderful. Outstanding. Well done!

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:54:05 +0000

Of course because not having a great closer was the reason they were knocked out the last two postseasons… NOT!

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:52:47 +0000

Jonny 5 – The luxury tax threshold for 2011 was $178M. Do NOT count on it going up that much in the new CBA if it goes up at all. My guess is it tops out at $180M plus or minus a million dollars in total. Any more then that and the luxury tax concept becomes meaningless.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:48:34 +0000

Ned Colletti is impersonating Ruben Amaro Jr! He has the Ninja tied up and gagged in his office! Quick, someone save Rube!

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:45:11 +0000

uyf, You’re preaching to the choir here on that. I hope the Luxury tax threshold is a good bit higher.. I believe as it stands, they have less than 20 million to use up for SS and LF players. Unless the jump is bigger than it previously was with the tax they will be limited.

By: lanflfan

lanflfan — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:43:46 +0000

Comparing numbers on blown saves can be misleading, since I believe Madson was a setup man before this year, and thus had fewer save chances (but plenty of chances to pick up blown saves). Of course, sabre heads discount the save completely (not that I agree).

By: The Baseball Gods

The Baseball Gods — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:42:49 +0000

And since when has everyone been counting the Phillies money? They have shown over and over again that they can afford to pay whoever they really want to pay. They saw that Papelbon was the best closer out there and so they did what they felt they had to in order to bring him in. Everyone can get up in arms if they don’t spend the money on Hamels, but why does everyone care so much about how much money the Phillies are spending? Phillies fans should be happy that they continue to spend their money on trying to improve the club.

By: Francisco (FC)

Francisco (FC) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:42:18 +0000

Have you seen their Shutdown numbers?

190 vs 181 is fairly similar. Papelbon has a history of fewer meltdowns (40 vs 67) But there’s nothing that suggests Madson won’t keep his meltdown rate low.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:41:22 +0000

Take that Common man!!!! ;>P

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:40:35 +0000

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By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:39:01 +0000

Who cares.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:37:23 +0000

All blown saves are not created equal, and every set up man has a bad save to BS ratio because blown leads by a non-starter any time after the 5th inning is a blown save….so middle relievers and setup men (especially guys that are regularly brought in with men on base) will always have a far more blown saves than saves….because the never ever get a save opportunity. Madson has spent most of his career with few save opportunities, whereas Papelbon has spent nearly his entire career as the closer. So this is a bad comparison on two levels.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:37:15 +0000

Jonny 5 – It’s nice that they got a player they apparently wanted. But they still need to generate “offense”. From what I can tell that was their biggest problem last season and this signing does absolutely nothing to solve that. The Phillies were probably one of the few team that really didn’t need to address their pitching situation. At least not to the tune of $50M/4 years for a closer. That’s just my opinion.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:36:53 +0000

Some people may say it’s better to look at xFIP actually….

By: lanflfan

lanflfan — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:36:03 +0000

This smells more like a Ned Colletti signing.

By: The Common Man

The Common Man — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:29:02 +0000

I, for one, look forward to mocking this deal regularly for the next four years.

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:27:32 +0000

Fine points, but Papelbon just signed for about 30% more than his actual worth, in my humble opinion.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:27:07 +0000

Amen to that uyf. And again, since it’s not my money….. WOOT!! Phills picked up the best FA closer on the market and either resign Madson or get an extra draft pick. It’s all good I guess..

But yeah, “closer money” is getting crazy imo.