Catching Up for December

DroppedStrikeThree is not dead! I'm just taking it slow this offseason. If you were expecting knee jerk commentary to every piddly signing the Phillies make, then I'm sorry but you've been reading the wrong blog! If you insist, I'll summarize my thoughts on the Phillies hot stove as follows:

• Jim Thome - cheap bench bat
• Ty Wigginton - plays everywhere and our team gets injured everywhere
• Laynce Nix - Ben Francisco with different color skin
• Jonathan Papelbon - best closer available, but paid a bit too much
• Michael Cuddyer - not worth what he's looking for
• Jimmy Rollins - time to move on, even a 3 year deal blocks Galvis
• Cole Hamels - pay this man
• Dontrelle Willis - great value as LOOGY
• Aramis Ramirez - we blew this one, total steal at 3/$36
• Ryan Madson - Scott Boras strikes again

But I digress... The fact of the matter is, I won't rush to judgement until I at least see a few batting cage swings during Spring Training. In the mean time, I give you another round of links to tide you over:

• Someone who DOES chronicle the Phillies every move in a much more refined writing style than you'll ever find on my blog is Tim over at "Dawn in Philadelphia." It reads more like a chapter book than a blog, but it's incredibly well done. Bookmark this one because if the Phils go on to win a World Series in 2012, this will become the kind of bedtime reading you can whisper to your grandchildren. 

• Today is the last day to get your vote in for the final player on the Phillies mural that will face the Schuylkill River at 24th and Walnut. Personally, I think they went a little heavy with new players so I voted for Del Ennis. His career in a Phillies uniform was just as impressive as the rest, but he has local roots.

• About a dozen Philadelphia and national sports writers will be in the area tonight signing various books. Pick up some new bathroom reading material for dad!

• Speaking of books... best friend of the Phillie Phanatic and author of his adventures, Tom Burgoyne, must be making a killing off the sale of Phanatic related reading material. The latest installment shows the Phanatic making a trip back to the Galapagos Islands where he learns it's okay to be different. I'm sure it's a great read on the heels of all of the anti-bullying laws that are being enacted around the country. Grab yourself a copy or 3 along with the rest of the Phanatic's library here. 

• Amazin Avenue has put together an incredible account of the financial woes of the NY Mets. Long story short, the Mets were screwed long before Bernie Madoff ripped them off. It certainly doesn't help that they still owe Bobby Bonilla about $30M over the next 25 years!

• Finally, two of my greatest passions in life have finally come together: The Phillies and Legos! Well, not Lego brand "legos" but it's close enough. Lego men can't bend at the knee or elbow anyway so Advantage = OYO. For $12 a pop, though, I sure hope these guys are taller than 1.5". Stocking stuffers perhaps?