>Asche is a potential star. But any key to success next year is going to be some stability in the lineup. They either need Howard in the lineup with 35 home runs and 100 RBIs or they need someone else from day 1 of spring training. I personally think Howard is finished.
>
>I like Ruf, though he's definitely a diamond in the "rough"
>
>Doc is finished. I do not see him coming back. I think Amaro really needs to think outside the box in the off season....including trading Doc and even trading Howard if they do not have strong confidence he will be 100% next spring.

Not sure I agree with you on Doc. I think he's smart enough and hard-working enough to re-invent himself, a la Jamie Moyer. I don't think he's going to the ace of a staff again (though I'd love to be wrong), but I think he may be a solid #3 for somebody.

I thought Utley was finished, and he proved me wrong this year. Hard to know about Howard. This injury may actually have given him the time to finish healing from the last one. IAC, to trade him, the Phillies would have to eat a lot of contract.

>
>I hope they keep Chooch, though his late-season offensive surge might increase his value in the off-season to other clubs.
>
>And God, PLEASE TRADE PAPELBON!!!

Mixed feelings on Ruiz. With him, as with Bastardo, I don't know what was the man and what was the drug.

I agree that it's time for Papelbon to go. Suspect they'll have to eat some contract on that one, too. Based on what we've seen the last month, I think down the road, Diekman and Rosenberg are potential closers.

>
>They have 3 good starters for next year...Lee, Hamels, and Kendrick. All the more reason to deal away Doc and Howard if he's not healthy, and get some younger arms.

And the Cuban for a starter. I'm hoping that whatever's wrong with Kendrick now is why he's looked so awful recently. I do wish they'd come up with a way to get the guys to be honest about being hurt instead of just trying to go on and on.

>
>I don't think the playoffs are out of the question next year - but Amaro needs to be aggressive in the off-season.

From your mouth ...

Tamar