Melky Cabrera PED suspension could impact Phillies offseason
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Melky Cabrera PED suspension could impact Phillies offseason
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Melky Cabrera of the Giants has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for a banned substance. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
While Major League Baseball's announcement that it had suspended Melky Cabrera for 50 games for elevated levels of testosterone has more immediate impact on the Giants, who entered the day tied with the Dodgers atop the National League, the move could also have an effect on the Phillies' offseason decision making.
Cabrera will be a free agent after the season, and while he has spent 2012 as a corner outfielder, the majority of his time in the majors has been spent in center field, where the Phillies have a clear need. The Phillies kicked the tires on Cabrera before acquiring Hunter Pence last July, and he had done nothing since to lower his stock, hitting .346 with a .390 on base percentage, .516 slugging percentage and 11 home runs before the suspension.
A switch-hitter, Cabrera has eight home runs in 129 at-bats from the right side of the plate, where the Phillies are clearly in need of some power.
Comments (63)
God knows, we need outfielders. Brown and Mayberry aren't it.— therefump- Nice stats for somebody who's on the juice. Pass.— damageboy
- Rather give 15 mil per season to Bourn and let him strike out 150 times.— FABER
- testosterone reduces belly fat and increases libido - we hear it on the radio every day. sounds fishy to me . . .— Justicek
- ....and he has a new zest for life! ;) — nunayabizness
- good maybe Clueless Rube now won't waste $150 million on a guy whose stats were artificially inflated— warbiscuit
- Melky was put out to pasture by the Yankees because he has no power whatsoever especially for an outfielder with zero speed. So he figures it out and gets on some stuff and hits 18HR's last year(+went from an average of 25 doubles to 44 in 2011) and on similiar pace this year. Caution: Can he hit for the same power numbers when he shrinks off 10-15 lbs of muscle? Answer: No. Addd in that he is not really a high average guy for his career and you could ebnd ups signing a guy who hits .270 with 10 HR's 25 doubles and a dozen double plays a year. Buyer beware.— UncleStosh
- That was one expensive wizz...Had to cost him at least $50 million. — bearsfriend
- See the Phillies had a right handed bat in left field for Reading last night who has hit eight home runs in his last ten games. He is hitting left-handed pitching for the season at a .371 average with 14 home runs and an 1.226 OPS. But he is only 26 year old though. He just might be ready to get a chance in the Bigs for the Phillies in a couple more years though since he is from Nebraska and has not failed any drugs tests yet.— Dull
- Yeah, Double A players are so great when they get to the majors. If he is 26 and still in AA ball, he ain't that good, dude. — mike l
- BTW, Ruf hit #29 tonight. — drhoffman
- If this guy is so good, what is he doing in Double A at age 26?
— SteveS11 - At his age, it is appearant that he went to college (check his number and bio). He is a 1st baseman and has been one since college. Doesn't have the arm for LF? Juan Pierre has played MLB for 13 season and NEVER had an arm. Ruf needs to be given a chance. Kratz is 32 and wow...he can hit MLB pitching and actually catch. We'll never know until he gets to face MLB pitching. With his stats (AA is definitely a pitchers level), he has shown all he can. — drhoffman
- Ruf was stuck in single A for a while, not really setting the world on fire. He only made it to AA this year and he's played no AAA games. With 1B blocked they may give him a look as a September call-up but they still have to clear a roster spot to do that. I think it's more likely they give him the offseason to play LF then give him a look in spring training. Looper basically said he lacks range. I thought it was telling since Looper gushed excessively over almost everyone else. With the Phillies payroll, a guy like Ruf isn't likely going to get a shot if they pick up two proven outfielders in the offseason. They'll have one OF in Brown with suspect defense. I don't see them going into 2013 with two suspect defenders out there. Defense, after all, was a big part of their downfall this year. But maybe Ruf would have a shot as a bench player. He's the sort of guy I like to see on the bench: Younger with options left so he can be sent down and replaced if he's not cutting it. As opposed to locking up has-beens who can't cut it and hanging onto them because of their contracts.
They may try also try to get him enough exposure to trade him. With 1B blocked he has no path unless he can show he's a capable major league outfielder. He's had very few games in the OF.— s - Darin Ruf. He's been hitting the ball well. Problem is he's really a first baseman. As coincidence would have it, Jody Mac interviewed Benny Looper today and the subject of Ruf in LF came up. The consensus between the two of them was Ruf really doesn't have the arm for LF yet. Looper said Ruf is going to play winter ball (Venezuela I think) and play nothing but LF to try and make him a better fit for that position. — s
Popular Posts
About this blog
High Cheese is your place for the best Phillies coverage from the Daily News.
David Murphy
Daily News Staff Writer
Ryan Lawrence
Daily News Staff Writer
Search this blog:
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
