Tell me this didn't send shivers down your spine.

He was out at Chickie's all night last night, watching and celebrating the Phillies game.

First, let me start off by saying that Lily and Carrie both got sick this week and I'm coming down with a cold too. So, that all sucked. I think the good outweighed the bad, though. Here's why the past seven days have been so good:

1. The Phillies won the NLDS.
2. I got to play hockey for the first time in about a year.
3. It's Danny's birthday!
4. Someone from Style.com (the same people who make Vogue Magazine) contacted me because they might feature The Brown Bag Club on their site.
5. We had three new showings on our house and came up with a good plan for all of our possible housing scenarios.
6. The house we love just dropped $10k in price, which puts it more comfortably in our budget... as long as someone actually buys our house.
7. I had a day off and got good rest.
8. I had my final dentist appointment and I no longer have a giant cavity in my molar. Also my teeth and gums are both really healthy for the first time in forever.
9. Luca Sbisa has impressed the hell out of everyone and may make the Flyers' roster.
10. I don't have to go into work this weekend anymore.
11. Lily slept until 8:00 a.m. the other day (albeit because she was sick -- but she's better now.)
12. I've made good progress on my concurrent freelance projects and am really happy with the way the designs are turning out.
13. I got ROTD at Yelp, even though I haven't been active on there in a few months.
14. I've been cooking all week and, in turn, eating and feeling better.
15. I got an awesome bottle of Polish vodka from Matt's trip to Poland
16. I got my allergy prescriptions refilled. So, maybe I can start breathing a little better again.
17. Even though I'm unable to attend the short story sharing thing -- Is there an official name yet? -- I have a story idea that I'm really excited about and can't wait to use next month.
18. I submitted feature requests for two apps I use (Coda and Doomi) and the developers liked my suggestions.
19. The NHL season started.
20. The Phillies beat the Dodgers in game 1 of the NLCS!
21. The reporter on Fox keeps calling all the highlights from the Phillies' game a "money shot."

Believe it or not, this is just the short list. Yay, good week! Now, please, someone just buy our place!

Opportunity is knocking for the Philadelphia Phillies and I'm screaming from the couch, "Open the door! Open the door!"

When this season ends, the Phillies will not go through any drastic changes. The team will not disband and we here in Philly will be left with a shallow reflection of what could have been. Rather, the team may only lose a few people. It's not of huge concern that they lose anyone. THe concern is that we won't replace them.

1. Pat Burrell
Fat Burrell, Pat the Bat, whatever you want to call him, will likely pack his bags and head to the American League where he can rest on his laurels until his turn to bat arrives. We here in Philly have been wishing he'd leave for years. Personally, I'm OK with him no longer being a part of this ball club. This leaves a hole in left field, though, which won't get properly filled. While I'd love to see the Phillies be aggressive and make a move for Matt Holliday or even sign Manny Ramirez, they won't. They'll move Greg Dobbs into left field and, if they're lucky, convert Tad Iguchi to an outfielder and platoon them. OK, Iguchi probably won't play out there. Matt Stairs probably will, though.

Why is that a problem? The best pinch hitter in baseball will become a semi-regular outfielder. He may be an improvement over Burrell defensively, even though Dobbs has his defensive gaffes too, but the team's bench will suffer. It'll lose late inning depth that, no matter how hard they pretend to try, they won't be able to replenish.

2. Pat Gillick
We love him. We hate him. He makes awful moves. He makes awfully brilliant moves. From Wes Helms, Adam Eaton, and Rod Barajas to Greg Dobbs, Jayson Werth, and Jamie Moyer, Gillick's tenure has run the gamut. In some ways, we'll be happy to see him move on but we'll also miss him a ton. Philly hasn't had much luck with GMs and Gillick is the first to bring this team to the post season in 14 years -- and back-to-back since most of us were wearing diapers.

Gillick will probably be replaced by someone within the organization like Amaro Jr. or Arbuckle. Neither will be fully qualified and neither will do a good job. Either will have sizable tasks ahead of them, such as re-signing Howard and Hamels, and improving the pitching rotation.

3. Tadahito Iguchi
We didn't see much of him this year but he helped this ball club in immeasurable ways in 2007. I consider it to be imperative for the club to convince him to play a few spots off the bench. Chances are, he won't, though.

4. Brett Myers
Myers is signed through next season but he already admitted he wants to be a rock star closer, which won't happen in Philly. He's been mostly good since he's returned to the rotation after his stint in the minors, but I'm thoroughly convinced that the organization told him that, if he was to improve, buckle down, and hit certain goals they set for him as a starter, that they'd trade him to a team that needed a closer after the season's end. Unless he's wearing a World Series ring this October, I think he'll be traded.

I'd like to believe that the Phillies will go out and land a Brad Penny, I'm not going to hold my breath. If Myers go, the team may just consider the rotation to be: Hamels, Moyer, Blanton, Carrasco, Kendrick. Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Worse yet, they may not re-sign Blanton and consider Eaton the fifth starter. He's still under contract for one more year. Yikes.

5. Ryan Howard
What will be Howard's situation next year? Will he be here? How much will he be getting paid? If he's here, will we see the Howard from September that killed the ball and was defensively surprising, or will we see the Howard from the beginning of the year who was no better than if Charlie Manuel was playing first himself.

6. Jayson Werth
His contract ends this year. He needs to be re-sign but will probably command a buttload of money, considering the year he's had. I believe they will re-sign him but, if/when they do, will they trim the fat from somewhere else?

7. Cole Hamels, Shane Victorino, Greg Dobbs, Carlos Ruiz, Chad Durbin, Ryan Madson, Joe Blanton, Scott Eyre, Eric Bruntlett, Clay Condrey, Chris Coste, Rudy Saenez
I believe all of these players have contracts that expire this year. To retain them all, or even the top tier of these players, this stingy team's payroll will have to increase significantly. Who goes? Who stays? What does it mean for the team? Without Gillick, the scrap heap virtuoso that he is, at the helm, will the next GM be able to find adequate replacements for these players? Even if the next one could, I doubt it would happen quickly enough to ensure a third straight trip to the playoffs, especially with an angry and determined Mets team ready to finally prove that they are good. The Mets, unlike the Phillies, will open up their pockets and spend big money if they can land someone like Sabathia.

Despite the optimistic outlook any of us may have for the Phillies this postseason -- especially with the Cubs nearly eliminated! -- next year may leave a lot to be desired.

You think you're so coy the way you call Phillies fans frontrunners and then, between commercials of how great the Phillies fans are, you say you try to "clarify" your statements. Then, the hoopla begins about how you've tried to recruit free agents but they wouldn't come here because of our fans. Meanwhile, the fans have no idea whether to cheer or boo you. I'm all boos from here on out, you cocky bastard.

Let's rewind to last fall. You, JRoll, had an amazing season. You helped the Phillies into the playoffs for the first time since I was a year out of grade school. Despite the piss poor playoff performance, this city was in sports bliss. Then, you were named the NL MVP. Congratulations. We were all very happy. I'm sure you were very happy for yourself too. The award and all the recognition that came along with it elevated your status in the baseball world. It must've felt nice to get the spotlight you felt you deserved and, perhaps, the eventual door it would open for you.

People began calling you the best bargain in baseball. In truth, you should be getting paid more. You deserve it. How hard it must've been for you to see Fatty McStrikesouttons be awarded a ten million dollar contract for his one dimensional play.

Howard's suddenly making too much money. Meanwhile, Hamels called his contract offer a slap in the face and Rowand, arguably the most important leader on the team, bolted for the West Coast. What a roller coaster of an off season. To top it off, the Phillies made no significant moves to ensure the team would be any better than the previous season.

Then came the new baseball season. The focus shifted off of you and onto Utley. Barely into the season and people were already predicting he would be the next NL MVP. You were slighted of continued recognition. So, you opened your mouth and said the team would win 100 games. Why not? It puts some attention back on you.

After a hot start, the Phillies cooled by the trade deadline. With so much hype about who would the Phillies would trade for in order to put the team over the top, the deadline came and went and the only real change was an upgrade over the incompetent Adam Eaton to fat Joe Blanton.

I bet that was the final straw for you. That's when you admitted to yourself that you'd fully set your plan in motion, wasn't it? I can't say I blame you for recognizing the front office considers this team to be nothing more than a business and that they won't go the extra mile to win a WS.

So, you started showing up late to the ballpark and not running out the occasional pop out. Manuel got pissed and began benching you. Suddenly, you're on his bad side. Then, with a few appropriately placed comments, you've gone from the respected MVP to the booed shortstop. Now, everyone's wondering how quickly someone like Jason Donald could develop so the Phillies could trade you. With enough boos and some fights with the coach, you are intentionally and consciously writing your ticket out of town.

So, what's the next step, Jimmy? Are you just going to skip a game all together? Or, are you going to disappear in the middle of an inning to poop like Manny Ramirez? Whatever the case is, I look forward to this day that the whole ordeal is over.

Via Philebrity

In reference to Pedro Feliz's batting performance, Chris Wheeler said, "...he has one squirter up the middle." WTF could that even possibly mean outside of the vulgar interpretation?

Also, is it just me or is Cole Hamels' pitching performance directly linked to the amount of facial hair he has? Today, he's as scruffy as I've ever seen him and he's given up a career high in hits. Drink much last night, Cole?

It would only take a few (costly) steps to take the Phillies from World Series contenders to World Series champions next year.

During the season

1. Trade a prospects package for Eric Bedard, as suggested by Paul Hagen. It will give the team lots of good pitching options.
2. Inquire about Matt Holiday, though the Phillies probably don't have the necessary parts to get him.

Offseason

1. Re-sign Brad Lidge, whatever it takes.
2. Part ways with Tom Gordon and move Brett Myers into the setup role. 7-8-9 trio of Romero, Myers, and Lidge would be amazing.
3. Sign Brad Penny. With the bad year he's been having -- in a contract year -- he might be more affordable than in any other year.
4. With Eaton in the last year of his contract, they should be able to trade him away during the season to make room for Carlos Carrasco, as long as they eat a portion of his salary. I suggest they trade him and Ruiz together for a left fielder.
5. If both Bedard and Penny can't be obtained, re-sign Moyer. Otherwise, hire him to work with the pitchers.

To offset the cost of Penny, Bedard, and Lidge's new contract, trading Eaton and saying goodbye to Burrell and Gordon will help.

Pitching Rotation
Hamels
Penny
Bedard
Kendrick/Carrasco
Eaton/Kendrick

So Taguchi
Carlos Ruiz
Eric Bruntlett
Chad Durbin
Cole Hamels
Chris Snelling

From MLBTradeRumors.com:

There are signs that Ryan Howard wants an unprecedented contract - he won't be using Miguel Cabrera as his model. A trade before he reaches free agency (after the 2010 season) seems likely.

I couldn't be happier. I know most people in Philly would disagree with me but I say good riddance. Sure he hits an insane amount of home runs but he also strikes out more than any one else and he makes a ton of errors. In addition to watching him set a record for strikeouts in a season, it's gut-wrenching to try and watch him catch a ball. He simply doesn't know how to do it. How does anyone get to a major league level of any sport without the ability to do the most fundamental aspect of the game?

The Phillies have a ton of power at the plate. Howard really helps there. Our biggest weakness is clearly our pitching, though. After Hamels and maybe Myers, the Phils are totally screwed. Kendrick may prove us wrong but, as it stands now, he's unproven. Plus, Hamels called his current contract situation a "slap in the face." So, he may be gone as soon as he's eligible to test the free agent market too. Carlos Carrasco should be in the top part of the rotation before then.

Maybe we can add some depth to our rotation by trading away Howard. I'd love to see any combination of the following types of players: an ace, a good #2 starter, a solid lefty reliever, a top-tier third basemen, Pat Burrell's replacement in left field.

Let's say we get rid of Howard but keep Hamels. By then, our rotation may be: Hamels/#1 Starter, #2 Starter/Hamels, Carrasco, Myers, Kendrick. That's a pretty impressive lineup of starters. If the Phils can add a right handed power hitter to replace Burrell in left, then we'll still have a ton of power and a great rotation. At that point, I think the Phils will easily be World Series favorites.

So, by all means, trade Howard. Get rid of him at the end of this year if you can. He belongs in the AL, anyway. Fortunately, that's where all the good pitchers are too.