Defense highlights offseason moves
Buster OlneyCoco Crisp is nearing a deal with the Oakland Athletics, according to late word from MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes. Presumably Crisp will slot into Oa...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 20, 2009
Offseason notebook: Outfield shuffle
Tristan H. Cockcroft, ESPN.comTristan H. Cockcroft looks at the other big moves of the week beyond the Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee trade and John Lackey signing, leading with the Hideki Matsui and Mike Cameron signings.
Story | Conversation | December 18, 2009Searching for Bobby Abreu
Buster OlneyIt wasn't until Feb. 12 that Bobby Abreu signed last winter, after waiting and waiting and waiting. The music had stopped, the big dollars were gone a...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 18, 2009
What the Figgins deal says about the Mariners
Keith Law...or so), but I wonder if the Figgins signing and the departures of Adrian Beltre and Raul Ibanez indicate that the Mariners' front office believes that power is overvalued, or just so fully valued...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 05, 2009
The Yankees' case for Halladay
Buster OlneyThe Yankees, Mets and Red Sox have spent more money in free agency over the past decade than any other teams, as ESPN's esteemed Mark Simon notes: Bi...
Blog Entry | Conversation | December 03, 2009
Type A positive (and negative)
Buster Olney...around regularly to different spots, giving a day off to Ryan Howard or Chase Utley or Raul Ibanez. Or he could be a candidate to be the everyday third baseman, as the Phillies declined...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 10, 2009
Obstacles to a World Series rematch
Buster OlneyCharlie Manuel quoted a general after Game 6, in pronouncing that the baseball world has not seen the last of the Phillies. "I'll tell you something -...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 05, 2009
Six key matchups for Game 6
Buster Olney...is Victorino will play, and if he doesn't, Ben Francisco will be in center and Raul Ibanez will be in left, and the Phillies' late-inning defense will be diminished. Victorino may have...
Blog Entry | Conversation | November 04, 2009
The top matchups of the World Series
Buster OlneyThese are my top matchups of the World Series, beyond the battle of old friends CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee: The Yankees' hitters against Cliff Lee's f...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 28, 2009
McGwire has a road map, but also a guide
Buster OlneyWe saw again Sunday night an example of how others have talked about their past use of performance-enhancing drugs and moved on. Yankees pitcher Andy ...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 26, 2009
Replay for the World Series could work
Buster OlneyDon Denkinger, an umpire who had one of the most famous blown calls in history, tells Bob Klapisch: It's time to go to replay. Here's the thing: Even...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 22, 2009
Rollins' 9th-inning double gives Phillies 3-1 series lead
Associated PressJimmy Rollins lined a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning and the Phillies rallied past the Dodgers 5-4 Monday night.
Recap | Box Score | Conversation | October 19, 2009Four difference-makers who could fly under the radar this postseason
ESPN.com...is paid to the three left-handed hitters who hit 30 homers (Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez), since the Phillies are the first team to have three left-handed batters hit 30 homers...
Page | ConversationAngels present a challenge for Sabathia
Special to ESPN.comThe Angels have hit well against left-handed pitchers' fastballs this season, which should make things difficult for CC Sabathia in Game 1 of the ALCS on Friday.
Story | Conversation | October 15, 2009
Top 10 matchups of the LCS
Buster Olney...The Phillies have a murderers' row of left-handed hitters, with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez, and they all are very good at hitting left-handed pitching. But late in games, Dodgers...
Blog Entry | Conversation | October 15, 2009
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