I think I prefer Young a little over Barfield. More pop in the minors (albeit with a lot of PCL time). But I agree that I want one on the team, can't just have Wilson out there as primary backup for all non 1B IF positions because Polanco and Rollins will need some days off too

Isn't Tad Iguchi available?

joe table wrote:I think I prefer Young a little over Barfield. More pop in the minors (albeit with a lot of PCL time). But I agree that I want one on the team, can't just have Wilson out there as primary backup for all non 1B IF positions because Polanco and Rollins will need some days off too

Are more than 1 of Polanco, Utley and Rollins ever going to be resting on the same day? If healthy, they're 150+ game a season players. That's like 30-40 starts for 1 backup. Do you really need 2?

If any of them get hurt, even for a couple days, we can call up a guy as a backup. I don't think the ability to play an infield position should be the primary factor in picking the 25th man. It should be hitting ability first and foremost.

lethal wrote:

joe table wrote:I think I prefer Young a little over Barfield. More pop in the minors (albeit with a lot of PCL time). But I agree that I want one on the team, can't just have Wilson out there as primary backup for all non 1B IF positions because Polanco and Rollins will need some days off too

Are more than 1 of Polanco, Utley and Rollins ever going to be resting on the same day? If healthy, they're 150+ game a season players. That's like 30-40 starts for 1 backup. Do you really need 2?

If any of them get hurt, even for a couple days, we can call up a guy as a backup. I don't think the ability to play an infield position should be the primary factor in picking the 25th man. It should be hitting ability first and foremost.

I do think that type of situation with multiple guys resting could come up, on getaway days or day after night or something like that. Especially since Utley is already trying to manage an injury. There are always situations during the season where guys are banged up a bit but not enough to be on the DL as well

And Young's hitting profile in the minors compares favorably to that of Mayberry's as well, it's not like we'd be shafting one guy who is clearly preferable on merit. And he can play OF too. Neither guy has hit much in the majors (albeit less opportunity for John Jr). Hopefully Mayberry has a really good spring though and they can trade him for a borderline type who could contribute, like a MLB ready LHR who could either make the team or start in AAA

I hope Young hits well enough to beat out Mayberry on hitting merit. If Mayberry hits better, I'd rather keep him. I wouldn't want to keep Young (or Barfield) over Mayberry even if Mayberry outhits him just because he can play some 2B.

That's my only contention.

Well I don't disagree with that. If Young looks like butt don't just stick him there if Mayberry is doing well, he did sign a minor league deal (and I don't recall there being an opt out, but could be wrong) so can afford to start him in Lehigh.

On the other hand, both are guys with 2800+ minors PAs so I don't know how much 50 spring PAs will change the overall picture of what each guy is. Mayberry does have ability so maybe he could be a late bloomer type and learn how to reach his raw power more frequently I guess

heres the thing. with bench guys, they need to have a clear purpose.

mayberry's only strength is his power against lefties. but when will that come in handy? pinch hitting once a week for the pitcher? theres no way charlie will pull ibanez in favor of mayberry late in the game. ibanez is his guy. also, i think good pinch hitters are generally guys who can make contact. thats not mayberry's strength

young or barfield at least offer you defensive insurance against an injury to polanco, rollins or utley. and both are better contact guys than mayberry, in my opinion. they obviously lack the power. both offer more speed.

if the brass has the nuts to do it, we really should go with a 14/11 split

ruiz, howard, utley, rollins, polanco, ibanez, victorino, brown
schneider, valdez, francisco, gload, young/barfield, and speedy OF

the speedy OF isnt on the roster yet. but he may become available as teams make cuts at the end of the spring and guys are out of options. im thinking a legit 40 SB type guy, preferably an OF who will never play, but who can pinch run when we need a run in the 8th/9th inning. that could be a real weapon for this team, especially if we're going to play a bunch of close games because of an average offense.

1 wrote:utley has patella tendonitis.

Hey, I've had that! That will give Chase and I something to talk about if we ever get together for a catch or something.

swishnicholson wrote:

1 wrote:utley has patella tendonitis.

Hey, I've had that! That will give Chase and I something to talk about if we ever get together for a catch or something.

Was that once called "runner's knee" swish? If so, I'm sure I've had it too. Hurts but you can "play through it" if necessary I believe.

swishnicholson wrote:

1 wrote:utley has patella tendonitis.

Hey, I've had that! That will give Chase and I something to talk about if we ever get together for a catch or something.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djQZhUc-0U0[/youtube]

1 wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:

1 wrote:utley has patella tendonitis.

Hey, I've had that! That will give Chase and I something to talk about if we ever get together for a catch or something.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djQZhUc-0U0[/youtube]

can someone find the photoshop of ryan howard riding the imaginary unicycle for me?

thanks

smitty wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:

1 wrote:utley has patella tendonitis.

Hey, I've had that! That will give Chase and I something to talk about if we ever get together for a catch or something.

Was that once called "runner's knee" swish? If so, I'm sure I've had it too. Hurts but you can "play through it" if necessary I believe.

"Runner's knee" is usually identified with chondromalacia. I've had that, too. Patellar tendinitis is often called "Jumper's knee". I don't like any injuries, of course, but tendinitis is at the top of the bottom since it almost always responds to rest and ice and can often be managed within an exercise program since the pain tends to lessen after warming up. That doesn't help a start and stop activity like baseball very much , though. I can see why they'd want him to take it as easy as possible this far away from the start of the season, since closer in he won't have that option.

Patellar tendinitis is more of an annoyance than anything. I battled it constantly in college during tennis, especially in the early-spring when we'd move back outdoors and the weather was still cold. As mentioned, ice and advil is really all you can do, aside from wrap it up for extra support/stability.

Thanks Swish. I do wonder if tendinitis is even what he has given the Phils and their super secret attitudes about injuries. This started as "general soreness" and is now patellar tendinitis -- it might be his knee hurts and we don't know why or even something is bad wrong. Hard to say with this club.

Back in our day I think all runners got runners knee but no one knew exactly what it was. I know my knees always hurt but I never got a real diagnosis.

He might have to do some extra stretching with Thacker too.

Kerrigan on NBC10 right now, talking about the starting staff. He says Cole will win the Cy, and it's gonna be fun watching these aces try to outdo each other every night (and games will end before 9:30). He also thinks Brown starts at LV and Francisco wins the RF job...

BigEd76 wrote:He also thinks Brown starts at LV and Francisco wins the RF job...

Well, it's only one game, but if today is any indication, he's right.

Given the composition of the team, I don't think it hurts to give Brown 3 months in AAA. If he's lighting the world on fire and either Ibanez dies or Francisco sucks, then you can bring him up in July.

Brown has 2 months and chance in service time, I believe. If he comes up on July 1, he'll end 2011 with just under 1 year of service time. Which means

2011 = pro rated league minimum
2012 = league minimum
2013 = league minimum
2014 = arbitration

i think.

having 2 full seasons at the league minimum will help with payroll management.

FTN wrote:can someone find the photoshop of ryan howard riding the imaginary unicycle for me?

thanks

bigedbot, i listed you on my HOF ballot. Please earn it.

thnx.

I didn't get a vote