Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

by **Napalm** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:14:58

i'd be willing to think that utley plays 2nd base better than anyone on the roster, and 1st base is generally easier to replace temporarily. they've said that they'll give him more days off during the season, so I think thats how they're planning to extend him/monitor him, and not by moving him to 1st.

by **FTN** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:15:43

the only part of 1B that is easier on the knees is the lack of pivot on the double play. i dont think its worth it to shuffle around the entire infield.

just play wigginton or yayberry at 1B until Howard comes back.

by **Barry Jive** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:16:31

if Thome never plays 1b, he's basically Ross Gload Prime. Which is fine, because he's way better than Gload at hitting. But I don't want to see him waste away on the bench with 5 PAs a week when he could get 10-15 without much trouble

by **Napalm** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:19:07

start him 3 times a week, during the 3 aces' starts, and specifically gameplan to throw pitches that won't get hit to 1st.

by **FTN** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:40:15

Barry Jive wrote:if Thome never plays 1b, he's basically Ross Gload Prime. Which is fine, because he's way better than Gload at hitting. But I don't want to see him waste away on the bench with 5 PAs a week when he could get 10-15 without much trouble

He's 41. He's had back problems for the last 10 years. He has played a total of 4 games at 1B since opening day 2006.

I think its pretty dangerous to say it wouldn't be "much trouble" if hes starting 2-3 games a week

by **Barry Jive** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:48:25

Maybe I overestimated the PAs, but I figure he'll get almost 5 PAs a week as a LH bench bat and at least 5 more if he starts at 1b once a week. So maybe more like 9-12? Anyway, if he's got back pain he'll likely still be able to hit. He's not making much so if he's hurt it's not much of a loss. And if he's a PH-only player, he's not going to make much impact anyway, so if he can't hit while he's got back pain it's not much of a dropoff to whomever they pick up off waivers in August to replace him

by **Barry Jive** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 17:49:44

Also, he'd only do that until Howard came back anyway. And the reason he didn't play 1b in the past was that he played in the AL on teams with established vets at 1b

by **smitty** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:00:07

Lance "Fat Elvis" Berkman played 136 games in the outfield last year so I guess anything is possible.

The Phils have a lot of flexibility but a lot of their options -- like Wiggington at 2B or even Wiggy playing a lot anywhere -- aren't great ideas.

Mayberry and Nix seem like the best combo of offense and defense at 1B/LF.

If Thome can play a bit at 1B that should be a good thing. It should be fairly obvious pretty quickly if this is a plausible option.

by **joe table** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:05:25

Thome didn't really sound all that confident himself in his back staying healthy. THat one article w/quotes from him was basically "I have no clue. Cross your fingers"

I would obviously like to see him out there as much as possible though. Yes he dropped off vs righties last year but it's not like he went from good to mediocre, he went from "best hitter in league vs RHP" in 2010 to still very good last year

by **JFLNYC** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:07:51

Anyone not interested in seeing Thome only get 5 PA per week should probably not watch the games.

by **phdave** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:07:53

smitty wrote:Lance "Fat Elvis" Berkman played 136 games in the outfield last year so I guess anything is possible.

Lance Berkman was in the best shape of his life

by **Barry Jive** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:12:55

JFLNYC wrote:Anyone not interested in seeing Thome only get 5 PA per week should probably not watch the games.

thanks, any other tips for how I should watch baseball this season

by **CalvinBall** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:18:35

Utley on DNL now.

by **lethal** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:20:34

Barry Jive wrote:Maybe I overestimated the PAs, but I figure he'll get almost 5 PAs a week as a LH bench bat and at least 5 more if he starts at 1b once a week. So maybe more like 9-12? Anyway, if he's got back pain he'll likely still be able to hit. He's not making much so if he's hurt it's not much of a loss. And if he's a PH-only player, he's not going to make much impact anyway, so if he can't hit while he's got back pain it's not much of a dropoff to whomever they pick up off waivers in August to replace him

Why do the Phillies need him to make any real sort of impact on the regular season? He's there to stay sharp during the season, DH in interleague games and make an impact in the playoffs and DH in the World Series.

That's what they're paying him for, not to win 1 or 2 more games in the regular season. This isn't a team that's looking to make the playoffs. This is a team that thinks making the playoffs is a given and is looking to win in the playoffs.

by **smitty** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:20:54

phdave wrote:
smitty wrote:Lance "Fat Elvis" Berkman played 136 games in the outfield last year so I guess anything is possible.

Lance Berkman was in the best shape of his life

He dropped some pounds it looks like.

by **CalvinBall** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:23:53

Gillick was just on too. Said he plans to stick with the Fightin' Phils and has no interest in going to Los Angeles.

Seriously, so pumped. Just a lot of fun, exciting additions. The bench is much better. They aren't amazing or anything but anything you can remove a Valdez and Gload is a good thing.

Go baseball.

by **Napalm** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:27:49

i love chase

by **Napalm** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:28:28

i cant wait to pound florida state, drink their beers, and then bang their mothers and girlfriends.

by **Napalm** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:32:07

shane vic on DNL. and giggling.

by **CalvinBall** » Thu Feb 23, 2012 18:32:41

he has to be tired of this "star of a tv episode" stuff

Archived

Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball

Re: Random FM Musings of Phillies Baseball