That's What He Said: Filling the Howard void
Video: With Ryan Howard out for the first two months of the season who will step up and fill the void for the Phils? The Inquirer's Bob Ford and the Daily New's Marcus Hayes discuss.
That's What He Said: Filling the Howard void
Video: With Ryan Howard out for the first two months of the season who will step up and fill the void for the Phils? The Inquirer's Bob Ford and the Daily New's Marcus Hayes discuss.
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Buy Phillies tickets Comments (11)
Thome could step up, but you can't play baseball with a cane.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt- In a way it's embarassing that they had all offseason to prepare for 2012 without Howard and they couldn't find anyone to play full time and offer stability. But based on who they have, they should just play one person at first (other than the days Thome plays I suppose). Their idea of platooning or whatever they plan on doing probably won't work because they have players who have never played first as candidates. It's not always easy to just plug someone in at first base. They tried that with Wes Helms and when he played he was horrible.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- So spoiled. Five consecutive seasons in the playoffs, one World Series win isn't enough. The club is trying to stay competitive until the new TV contract is signed, sealed and delivered. Then, they will have the money to get the pieces once again. There will be two to three tough years under this hypothesis, but I do not believe it is too far fetched.— mattbagley
- Acquiring the likes of Wigginton and Nix as backups to Howard, Utley, Polanco and Mayberry seemed like a good idea at the time, but Wigginton still looks out of shape and Nix has been too injured to even start getting in shape. The good news is Polanco looks healthy and is playing well, and Mayberry is getting there. However, Howard and Utley are still not ready to play, and no one is really sure when they will be not just ready, but really ready. I like how Galvis is starting to come around and show some unexpected versatility, so second base may have an answer. First base, however, is an entirely different matter. Wigginton and Nix can't make up for Howard, nor can Thome who can only pinch hit and DH as his great career comes to an end. Mayberry can play first base, but that leaves a defensive void in left field and a power void in the lineup. The answer to this problem is to sign free agent Derrek Lee, who has won multiple Gold Gloves at first base and who hit over .300 last year with the Pirates, to a one year contract. Such a move would give Howard the ability to return when he is really ready and have backup when he finally starts the season. Such a move would also put some power back into the lineup, power that Wigginton and Nix don't appear ready to add any time soon.— onthebucks
- @onthebucks: Interesting post.
News: Lee hasn't officially planned to retire and is open to the right opportunity, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports. (Wed Mar 7) ESPN
Lots of parts and pieces yet, No team. RAJ has work cut out for 'hisself' - ie, whether to make such an interim move, or adjust the parts and pieces to have Utley at first, Polanco at second, Rollo at SS and Wigginton at 3B. Leaving Mayberry in LF, Victo in CF and Pence in RF. Personally, I doubt RAJ wants to pick up another loose piece like Lee, but I like the creativity of the suggestion OTB.
— 24sDad 
Phils are not accustomed to 'Situational Hitting' and that will be the problem. This is where Charlie needs to step-up as a Manager and start managing, instead of allowing the Players do what they think is best.- Now that LaRussa has retired, Manuel is the smartest mgr in the league, if not the world.
Good report by otb. If Wigginton and Nix are in bad shape, and they're journeymen at their best, maybe they should just be waived.
Get rid of some dead wood. As for playing with a cane, if it's shaped like a bat, there's a chance. Actually, the Phils weren't good when Thome was here before, and it doesn't look good for them now. I expect nothing from Thome.— bobdc - I am still waiting to see Matt (Home Run) Rizzotti. I have seen enough of Cody Overbeck. Overbeck belongs in Double A ball. The other day in the same game first he drops a double play ball and then he cost the Phillies a run when he has 4 seconds to get the ball to first and he does it poorly in 2 seconds. He probably could have tagged the runner also but maybe not as he looks very slow afoot. He can not hit or field. It is time to see Readings (Hr) Rizzotti.— jpelle36
- Spring Training or no Spring Training; teammate or not, if I were the pitcher and Overbeck cost me a run by being stupid, I would be dead in his face.— jpelle36
- So what are the Phils going to do for real with or without Howard? They (including Manuel) have no idea how to play small ball and really can't play long ball unless Utley and Howard are at full power, which is not likely. They need 4 runs a game. I don't see it happening with this roster. The days of 4 players with 30+ HRs (2009) are long gone.— Xyzzyx
- The Phils absolutely miss Howard batting clean-up.
Its not every major leaguer who can strike out 200 times season after season.— fmMD
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Bob Ford has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 1981, and is still trying to figure it all out. A former beat writer covering the Phillies and the 76ers, Ford became a general sports columnist for the Inquirer in 2003, following in and occasionally falling in the deep footsteps of Bill Lyon, Frank Dolson and many distinguished others. He comes to the Philly.com blogosphere after award-winning success as designer/editor of the fabulous Pen & Pencil Club softball blog. Likes: Palestra, inside-the-park home runs, sunny days. Dislikes: phony people, cloudy days, rewrites.
Reach Bob at bford@phillynews.com.
Bob Ford
Inquirer Sports Columnist
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