Comments on: Can’t we do both?

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 02:46:09 +0000

Uh huh. The Phillies are built to win. Now. Amaro may talk about getting younger, but the future with this lineup is now.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:14:15 +0000

Not sure I’m with you on that one. Getting younger might be a goal, but winning the World Series in 2012 should be the goal. Offense plus defense, I expect Ramirez will be better than Polanco in 2012.

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 02:35:21 +0000

Ramirez would’ve been a pretty bad decision for a team trying to get younger. Amaro obviously valued the bullpen higher and signed Papelbon with the money available. Signing ARam for 4 years would’ve just weighed the team down with yet another horrible contract in two years when he could barely play.

A few things on ARam…look at his home/road splits from 2011. Pretty rough away from the Friendly Confines, and last I checked the Bank is not in Chicago. Oh, and yes, he is that bad at third. He had a range factor of about 2, where league average is about 2.5. What that means is about 1 in every 5 ground balls that the average third baseman got, he didn’t get to. Not that he made an error, he just didn’t get there. For reference, Polly has a range factor of 2.9.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s an offensive upgrade over Polanco, but a huge downgrade at defense and not worth the contract. The contract that they gave to Howard is forcing them to make some concessions elsewhere…yet another reason why that is such a horrible contract.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 01:37:35 +0000

I would have been pretty happy to see the Phils get Ramirez. Given that this is probably the last year of Polanco and the Phils aren’t exactly bursting with in-house options, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Phillies pick up someone before the end of the year. It will also be interesting to see how much if ever Wigginton plays at third. Against lefties, when Howard is back playing first, I think it makes sense to give Wigginton some starts there instead of Polanco.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:16:15 +0000

1. Aramis Ramirez. He’s only 33 and showed he can still swing the bat with authority in 2011, as he hit .306/.361/.510 with 26 homers and 93 RBI. He’s also not the butcher many believe he is at third base — though he’s not exactly Adrian Beltre, either. Ramirez is unlikely to have his option picked up by the Cubs, so it seems like he’ll have a new home for the first time since 2003, when he landed in Chicago on a July trade. As already stated, if someone wants to sign a good free agent third baseman, the buck stops here.
Potential teams: Marlins, Brewers, Tigers, Rockies, Angels, Orioles (mercifully making Mark Reynolds a DH) … and the Cubs are still possible

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:11:00 +0000

Can’t remember his name right this second but there was a biggie available.

Lee is being sat out with a possible ab strain.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:26:13 +0000

I’d love to know who this third baseman is that Amaro was supposed to go get. I’m pretty sure there were none.

I can see a deadline deal for David Wright though.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:25:32 +0000

Agreed. If we have any hope for significant post season play – and I haven’t much – Utley and Howard need to be there at the end. And be there strong. I think it is more realistic that Utley will be the guy we need him to be than it is for Howard. Utley’s pride is enormous and last year really pricked it; he’s also had a year to figure out his hurt and how to manage it. Howard’s Achillies is much more problematic. If Howard gets on the field before the Break, I’ll buy you a burger. if he gets 10 dingers by the end, I’ll buy you dinner.

By: egrissom

egrissom — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:40:16 +0000

I think the key for Utley and Howard is how their health is during the last third of the season. Given their rotation, I think the Phils can stay near the top of the division even if Utley and Howard both see limited time in the first half of the year. In the long term, it’s going to be worth it to the Phils to have them stronger for fewer games at the end of the year.

I do think the offense has a pretty real problem with what to do at first base/left field against righties (and there will be a lot of them) with Howard out if Thome can’t play first. Brown in left against righties would help a lot — I think it’s likely he’s going to fare much better against righties this year than Nix, Mayberry or Wigginton.

By: DaMannse

DaMannse — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:31:20 +0000

Nothing in the articles about Utley’s knee or Howard’s Achilles is surprising to me. Worrisome, yes. Amaro knew these things. And again, why is it that he didn’t locate another serious bat for the left side somewhere – like third base? Sigh. I just hope #26 and #6 are ok, and that this does not bite us in the butt this year.

I am looking for Mayberry to show he belongs everyday. Man, would that help.