Letters:

Saving the Phils

Any other manager would have gotten this team into the playoffs. Even with all the problems, this team should have been there. But Charlie Manuel cost this team at least 10 games. You do the math.

gates2012

Philly.com/Sports

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Zack Grienke. That's what the Phils need.

Yes, I'm well aware of the lack of offense. But it was only a year ago that this team, still with weak offense, set a franchise record in wins. They did that with pitching.

If Roy Halladay had been healthy and posted his 19 to 20 wins instead of 11, the Phils would still be playing. You can't count on Halladay to be the pitcher he used to be. Sign soon-to-be-29-year-old Grienke and you maintain your pitching prowess for another five years.

Iron Giant

Philly.com/Sports

So if we concentrate on the bullpen we'll lose a multitude of games 3-1 instead of 4-1. We need a serious upgrade to the offense.

pedge

Philly.com/Sports

The reason that the Phils should skip the "big names" in free agency this year isn't because they don't have needs at third and in the outfield.

It's because the "big names" are all risky bets - at least assuming that all of the players with options have them picked up. There are zero third basemen on the market worth throwing a multiyear deal at.

Bretzky. Philly.com/Sports