Posted: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 8:01 AM | 9 comments |
 

Does Giles have a shot?
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It's an interesting question, the one posited in the subject line of this blog post. When he signed in the offseason for a minor league deal that could pay him $600,000, it wasn't hailed as big news. After all, Marcus Giles hadn't played baseball in more than a year, and the last season that he did play ended with him hitting .196 in his final 91 games. But Giles is getting his opportunities this spring training, and the past couple of days he has made the most of them. Manager Charlie Manuel said at the beginning of camp he wouldn't mind having another infielder on his bench, particularly one who can hit right-handed, run the bases, and play a variety of defensive positions. Giles would seem to have a check mark next to each category.

Is he ready? He thinks he is, at least according to what he told me prior to a game against the Braves in which he had two hits and stole two bases. Here's the story in today's paper.

^

I talked to a Phillies source late last night who said definitively the team is not in the running for Will Ohman's services. Could that change? Absolutely. But with the way the Phillies' roster and payroll sets up right now, the only way it would happen is if an injury leaves them desperate or Ohman (or Beimel, or Reyes) is willing to sign for a very club-friendly deal.

Keep in mind that there is always dialogue between clubs and agents. And also keep in mind that there was speculation all last spring that the Phillies needed to add another left-handed reliever. But, in the end, the only reliever they added was righthander Rudy Seanez. And for the bulk of the season, J.C. Romero was their only southpaw in the pen.

^

The story of the day is Cole Hamels' 2009 spring debut. There has been a lot of talk about Hamels being behind the other pitchers in camp. But just to keep things in perspective, the lefty did not make his 2008 spring debut until March 2nd last year. Today is March 4th. Add in the extra day in February last year (it was a leap year), and you pretty much have a wash.

Oh, and Hamels line last March 2nd?

Two innings, four runs, four earned, two home runs, two walks, two strikeouts in a 7-7 tie with the Yankees.

All's well that ends well, I guess.

 
Posted by David Murphy @ 8:01 AM  Permalink | 9 comments
9
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:16 AM, 03/04/2009
    Giles would make a fine 25th man. Hope he sticks.
    — Grazman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:26 AM, 03/04/2009
    I hope so. I always like him. But Uncle Charlie may keep Bruntlett over him and Cairo. He is very loyal to his players. I don’t understand why. Bruntlett is not a good player, period. He is a .240 career hitter with no power and a .963 fielding percentage. That's brutal. Utility guys should either hit or play good defense. He offers neither. I wonder myself why he has lasted six seasons playing at this level. His only value is his versatility, particularly playing the outfield. But this year the Phillies don't need him, because there are indications that Charlie won't replace Ibañez late in the game and Mayberry could be that extra right-handed outfielder with power the team desperately needs. Cairo and Giles are way better.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:47 AM, 03/04/2009
    I was in Clearwater for the first 3 games of the spring and a couple observations regarding our competition for the utility infield roster spot. Jason Donald (right now, at least) doesn't look like the 3b of the future. Defensively, he doesn't look like he has a strong enough arm to make plays where he has to throw on the run. Same goes for Miguel Cairo. Both men look like reserve 2b to me at best. Pablo Ozuna showed surprising pop offensively, but i didn't . I know he's not getting much ink, but I'd pick him or Giles for the final spot and send Donald back to Lehigh Valley.
    — terryharmon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:26 AM, 03/04/2009
    Giles can be the 25th man without getting rid of Brunlett, who offers not only versitility, but decent speed and decent small ball (a good bunt, a grounder to move teh runner over etc) Bench will be: Dobbs, jenkins, Coste, Brunlett and either Stairs, Mayberry, Giles, Donald, etc.
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 AM, 03/04/2009
    To answer your question: No he doesn't have a shot.
    — JayW
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:25 AM, 03/04/2009
    Donald will probably go to AAA unless Utley isn't ready. He has to learn 3B this year, that is his top priority. Feliz is gone at the end of the year
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:09 PM, 03/04/2009
    As great as Stairs is he also has trade value bc of his contract..so i would like to see Giles be the last bench spot. Send Donald and Mayberry to AAA and let them get in a rhtyhm and produce. Injuries always happen so they have their chance later this year.
    — philsfan in the atx
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:16 PM, 03/04/2009
    Giles & Bruntlett both blow donkeys!! 5 man bench should be 1. Dobbs 2. Stairs 3. Mayberry 4. Cairo 5. Coste. Paulino & Donald go to AAA. I forgot to mention... Jenkins blows as well. He hit like 30 some HR's a few years ago.. I wonder if he is one of the other 103 ??
    — FetchDixon
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:28 PM, 03/04/2009
    How can anyone advocate sending Myberry to the minors if he keeps this up. To be honest if he can hit for avg .275-.280 and can hit lefty's I would like to see him in the line-up 2-3 days a week spelling Shane and Werth. Particulary Werth I think he is frail mentaly and physically and is worthy of about 110-120 games a yr.
    — Truth


9 comments
About David Murphy
David Murphy joined the Daily News as its Phillies beat writer in February of 2008. Born in Upper Merion and raised in the Poconos, he attended college at La Salle University before taking jobs with the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Sun-News and the St. Petersburg ( Fla. ) Times. E-mail Dave at dmurphy@phillynews.com.

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