Baseball

[shadows]

Originally Posted by dauls

Big surprise to see him back in Philadelphia. What a great rotation for 2011.

@mlb.com:
A five-year contract with a vesting option for a sixth year - the deal in the $120 million range.

That's gonna stretch the Phillies budget.
I wonder what it will mean for pitchers like Blanton, Kendrick, etc., and also the non-pitching staff? Who will leave Philly?

Werth has already left(I wonder if he is wondering "Why did I do that?" now?). Their main issue last year wasn't pitching, it was their offense(which disappeared in the playoffs). Cliff Lee helps their already imposing pitching staff, but their offense is still the same(except for the departure of the aforementioned Werth). Will the Cliff Lee signing ultimately help them win the World Series? Only time will tell I guess.

[transjen]

With Lee back in Phillie Blanton's days are numbered not because he isn't a decent pitcher but because he's now expandable and i can see him packaged out for some power in thier offense
Holiday, Oswalt, Lee and Holmes all four of these guys tend to go at least 7 or 8 innings witch means a lot less worries of the bullpen blowing games next year