Charlie and The Lineup Factory
After the front office added two new everyday players, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel takes a stab at the lineup.
Charlie and The Lineup Factory
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
The last time Charlie Manuel addressed the Phillies beat scribes, we were all in Nashville having lunch and the front office hadn't done a thing to improve the roster.
But just before Manuel and Co. boarded a plane bound for Philly on Thursday, Manuel knew there was a very good chance he had two new pieces for his starting lineup. The Phils traded for center fielder Ben Revere and were awaiting word for Michael Young to accept the third base job.
On Monday, with most of his starting nine accounted for, Manuel tried to take a stab at his 2013 batting order.
"You know, when I think about it, Michael Young, I can hit him quite a few places," Manuel began. "And in the year, two years, Ben has mostly hit second. But, you know what. I can sit here and go over lineups all I want to, but when it really gets down to it, who we have on the corners and in the outfield, that's what is going to dictate where our lineup falls. You can say whatever you want to, but if you're going to have production, as far as RBI and runs scored..."
Like you, Manuel is waiting for the next move. And if history is any indication, there will be another move.
The Phils aren't going to run the foursome of Domonic Brown, Darin Ruf, Laynce Nix and John Mayberry Jr. into the final two spots in their outfield. After trying to fill one corner outfield spot with question marks in each of the last two seasons, there is no chance they go into 2013 with two question marks in the corners.
In 2011, the Phils hoped to replace departed free agent Jayson Werth with Domonic Brown. But Brown got hurt early in spring training, Ben Francisco struggled and the team eventually traded for Hunter Pence.
In 2012, the Phils hoped to replace departed free agent Raul Ibanez with John Mayberry Jr., who finished the previous season on a tear. But Mayberry never took hold of the job when the season began and was out-played by Juan Pierre, a limited veteran who played above the minor league contract he signed last winter.
The Phils could platoon one of those two spots in 2012 - say, Brown and Ruf in left. But they know they need a proven bat in the other spot, and after going cheap in center, they have money to spend, too.
Among the outfield bats still on the free agent market: Josh Hamilton, Nich Swisher and Cody Ross.
Since Charlie won't entertain a lineup until all of the pieces are in place, here's one man's guess. (I'm sticking Carlos Ruiz in there since he will be back as the team's regular catcher following a 25-game suspension).
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS
2. Michael Young, 3B
3. Chase Utley, 2B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Carlos Ruiz, C
6. Free Agent, RF
7. Darin Ruf/Domonic Brown, LF
8. Ben Revere, CF
9. Pitcher
- When they signed Qualls Toolbiscuit posted:
"good pickup -- see that Mrs. Amaro (i.e. "dogbiscuit") has been relaying my constructive criticisms to her son..."— warbiscuit
Of course when he crashed and burned Idiotbiscuit says he was misused, lol, um ok dopey.— DogBiscuitthedope - Hey dopey tool what GM has won more games in the last 4 yrs? Hey dopey tool I can't believe you wouldn't lend RAJ your crystal ball so he could see that Howard would get hurt. Hey dopey tool think we should spend 8 mil on Carlos Pena (lol) great call dopey. Hey dopey tool who would you sign to play CF, of course if we signed Upton, Bourn or Victorino you would whine like the dopey tool that you are complaining he overspent. Hey dopey tool when Halladay was winning a CY award we didn't hear a peep or when he followed that up with another great year not a peep, when he gets hurt here comes dopey tool with his moronic comments, again please lend your crystal ball. Dope idiot moron loser tool — DogBiscuitthedope
- Amazing how the frachise,writers, and posters are still afraid of offending STROLLMAN. My lineup
1-Young
2-Utley
3-Ruiz
4-Howard
5-Rollins
6-Revere
7-Ruf/Brown
8-FA
9-Pitcher
If Rollins can't deal with that he can cry,quit,or ride the pine!! If he won't be a team player, put Galvis in 8 spot and move FA signing into 5 or 6 spot. Don't get me wrong; the Rollins of 4-5 yrs ago would be leadoff,but at this point in time the team needs to be 1st.— Jiminfl - A few points to consider: 1) The Phils didn't acquire Ben Revere, the 3rd best base stealer in the AL in 2012 and a .294 hitter who hits righties and lefties equally well, to hit 8th. He's the Phils new leadoff man. 2) Ruf won't be part of any platoon. Left field is his to lose. 3) Former Rangers, Young and Lee, could make Hamilton want to lower his salary demands and become a Phillie. 4) Acquiring Stanton from the Marlins would not be an impossibility. It would probably require some combination of top prospects and young major leaguers. 5) Swisher would be a nice acquisiton but, if the Phils wouldn't pay center fielders like, Bourn, Upton, Pagan or Victorino their asking prices, it's unlikely they'll pay a right fielder like Swisher an 8-figure salary. 6) A platoon combination like Ross and Ibanez, or Soriano and Ibanez would be very affordable and add the power the Phils need. 7) If any of the above are acquired by the Phils through free agency or trade, there will be a surplus of players to trade, possibly for pitching.— onthebucks
- Ibanez can't play the field. wonder where the phils are on the idea of trading Brown? if they think he's a bust, trade him for Soriano. sounds good. 8th inning pitching is priority number 1.
The most disappointing thing of this off season is Manuel is still the manager. And does anyone really think Utley will be ready after he prograstinated playing two years to get to the final year of his contract?— TomO- hey dogbiscuitthedope, get a load of this:
2011 National League East
Philadelphia 81-81 17 GB— so-called dogbiscuitthedope is a dope - Your next screen name should be "Sybil"... — stan the man too
- You got a point dopey tool? — DogBiscuitthedope
- and when the red soxs get injured they have a bad year. and when the yankees get injured they also have a bad year. howard is a stud. he's allowed to get injured, once.:-)
- Genos has just named a hoagie after Howard. they say his shape is much like Idaho— stoky
- howard was in great shape before he got injured. would you rather another utley who works out so much he destroys his knees and is now permanently injured?
- Carlos Ruiz, with his huge on base percentage, should hit second then move everybody down one notch, BABY!!!— sevillano
- Good,thoughtful post onthebucks. some interesting points that make sense. My post was mindful of what exists at the moment and the probability of a FA signing. Love the way you are thinking my man!— Jiminfl
- Will the "unenhanced" Chooch really be a #5 hitter?— dasher
