Can't beat the Astros, but handle CY Dickey

If Galvis is the guy they want at 2B, I'm going to continue saying that amaro stole his stanford education. We don't even know if he can play coming off his back injury. Back injuries tend to keep coming back. And then there's the little matter of him being one of the worst, if not the worst, regular offensive players in the league, and that was with PEDs. I shudder to think how bad he might hit without the juice. Offense > pitching > defense. Defense is important, but not enough to stick the worst offensive player in the league into the regular lineup, imho.

Of course, from a purely baseball point of view, it would be fun watching the kid play the field, assuming his back doesn't limit his range, athleticism, etc.

Monkeybaumann

Not every prospect works out, you know.

Or are you saying that Galvis will be healthy and the PEDs didn't help him last year? If so, I'd like access to your crystal ball. I mean, I hope we're not going to get on people for being logical and not wearing rose colored glasses. Bottom line is that I don't think we can depend on him for next year. If he comes in and does well, then he's a great utility guy and he can play almost every day resting our old and injured. I just don't want them penciling him in and then acting surprised in May when he's hitting .180 and he's lost some of his range from the back injury. I do, however, like him in the mix going into spring training.

Monkeyboy wrote:I do, however, like him in the mix going into spring training.

That's all it is at this point. They'll know way before we do whether he'll be physically ready.

I assume the PEDs helped him a little offensively, yeah. But also that a 22-year-old could improve a little.

Again, this is 50% about putting Utley in the optimal situation, and if they add two good hitters to the lineup the Phils could get away with batting you 8th.

If Utley goes to third--which I'm still not really buying--my guess is that they bring in a veteran to share time with Galvis in some kind of offense/defense platoon.

I agree Galvis probably doesn't have enough bat for an everyday job, particularly if the PEDs helped his encouraging 2011 season in the minors (which stands to reason, but who knows). But he's still young enough to justify some hope and a look-see.

Edit: What Grote said. Could've saved myself some time here

I also agree with what he said, except that I took the prior comments to mean that they feel Galvis is ready to take over 2B. I think that is yet to be seen. I'm hoping he improves, but I expect him to be about the same as last year (better because of his age, worse because of the PEDs, equaling out over all), assuming his back isn't an issue. I also think you'll lose defense moving Utley to 3B, which will negate some of the defense from Galvis, unfortunately.

I love watching the kid play, so I hope he is ready.

Isn't looking at a Utley(3B) & Galvis (2B) combo no better than the nails on a chalkboard that Polanco was this season? We're talking great glove and terrible bat in the IF. The only thing with Galvis is the hope that he can improve. This is no way to go into '13 though.

Well, Ruben Amaro has never lied, so get ready

Monkeyboy wrote: And then there's the little matter of him being one of the worst, if not the worst, regular offensive players in the league, and that was with PEDs. I shudder to think how bad he might hit without the juice.

Although you have a point, we don't know how long he was using PEDs, so we can't say one way or the other whether it played a role in his minimal "success" at the plate.

The much bigger issue is the uncertainty surrounding his back. I said it a few weeks ago--this would be an entirely different story if he was playing in the Fall League, but I haven't seen any indication that's the case. The only mention I saw of the Fall League I saw on phuturephillies did not mention Galvis as being one of the players.

stevemc wrote:Isn't looking at a Utley(3B) & Galvis (2B) combo no better than the nails on a chalkboard that Polanco was this season? We're talking great glove and terrible bat in the IF. The only thing with Galvis is the hope that he can improve. This is no way to go into '13 though.

Galvis also has some speed, and at 22 a future that doesn't immediately involve AARP, Reverse Mortgages, and capturing detritus and small birds in orbit around his head. Ideally they would probably prefer him to be an utility fielder while picking up an everyday player who can provide some offense. But, if they're able to get better production picking up a center and corner outfielder, having the hole in your lineup be your second basemen is not exactly unprecedented. In short, don't have a cow, man.

yeah but do they have to break the bank for the IF production? At this rate, I'll take a Kevin Frandsen (career 77 OPS+) over a Polanco/Galvis. Marco Scutaro won't make all that much next year either and then you have Galvis as the utility IF for all 3 positions. You'd still have $ for the OF spot.

stevemc wrote:yeah but do they have to break the bank for the IF production? At this rate, I'll take a Kevin Frandsen (career 77 OPS+) over a Polanco/Galvis. Marco Scutaro won't make all that much next year either and then you have Galvis as the utility IF for all 3 positions. You'd still have $ for the OF spot.

This is what I've been saying all along. Let the "Utley to 3rd" plan be the backup plan. See what Frandsen can do over 140 games. Let Galvis start 60 games by spelling Frandsen, Utley, and Rollins. Let Utley or Mayberry play some 1B to spell Howard (or Nix considering he's got a multi-year deal).

I left out Wigginton b/c I'd assume that they don't pick up his 2013 option, right? $4MM option, 500K buyout. He hasn't had a wRC+ over 92 since 2008. (BTW, I didn't realize that Colorado was paying half of his $4MM salary this year. Thanks guys!)

ek wrote:i think it might have to be spots in the outfield. like brown and then two starters because i don't think they see mayberry as a starter and it's fairly obviously that they don't see schierholtz as a starter. the only caveat is that they get one guy and then platoon mayberry/schierholtz. that way they can then bolster the pen too

Or if they sign some OF, then trade Schierholtz for bullpen help? There's already some surplus parts--if you acquire at least one guy like Hamilton, Bourn, Vic, or an Upton, then you've got too many guys to even set up platoons. Nix, Mayberry, Schierholtz, Brown... someone is the odd man out there. And that's without even signing or promoting another Pierre-like player to play the bench small ball role.

Right, so you fill the areas where production is available, pick up a new bullpen vet, then spend what you got left in the budget to get whatever 2B you can afford, who will almost certainly produce better than Galvis, and use Fregal (It'll catch on damnit) as your UI. in the grand sceme, 2B isn't that important unless you have DAN UGGLA flopping around out there.

Vic's batted middle of the order during his time here. I can absolutely see signing him here again.

ek wrote:from what i can gather from amaro, it won't be vic or bourn and probably not upton (although it could be). he says middle of the order power bat and he already said brown is a starting outfielder

I was mostly throwing those names out as the usual suspects. It also could be Swisher, Melky (on a one-year incentive laden contract), or... god it's a bad FA class. Grady Sizemore? Delmon Young? Raul Ibanez? Jesus christ.

still hoping the mets don't re-sign wright

Why do we need a middle of the order power bat when we already have RYAN HOWARD answer me that one

Eem wrote:Why do we need a middle of the order power bat when we already have RYAN HOWARD answer me that one

.225/.304/.405, .169/.242/.289 in his last 95 PAs

.169/.242/.289