Pierre/Podsednik plot-line may be thickening...
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Pierre/Podsednik plot-line may be thickening...
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Today is one of my favorite days of the spring. That's right, it is Charlie Manuel Gets Pissed Off At The Offense Day. It is an annual tradition here in Clearwater, and the fun part about it is you never know it has arrived until it happens. Manuel takes a lot of heat for the perception of his offensive philosophy, but the guy really does take his team's performance personally, and sometimes even a poorly-executed Grapefruit League game will set him off.
This year, CMGPOATOD was a little different than in year's past. At least it felt that way. Manuel was really frustrated with what he saw in a 4-4 tie against the Tigers. And it was hard to blame him. The Phillies went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 on base. On several occasions, they failed to get bunts down.
One guy who has had a rough week-and-a-half is Juan Pierre, who entered camp as a strong candidate for a bench spot. Right now, Scott Podsednik looks better all the way around, at least as far as offense is concerned. He seems to be running better and swinging a faster bat. Now, I've never seen Pierre in spring training before, so maybe this is nothing new. But for a guy coming off a season in which he was thrown out on 17 of his 44 stolen base attempts and who did not receive any guaranteed offers this offseason, it's fair to wonder how much he has left. Manuel likes his personality a lot. And if he can give the Phillies a guy who can come off the bench and lay down a bunt and perhaps steal a base as a pinch-runner, then he has some value. Problem is, it isn't clear if he can still do those things. Yesterday, he struck out on a bunt attempt with runners on first and second and no out. If he would have moved the runners, Jim Thome would have had a two-run single instead of a one-run single. Pierre also struck out on a high Rick Porcello fastball and later got jammed on an inside pitch.
Pierre is 4-for-15 with three strikeouts and two walks and no extra base hits. He is 1-for-2 on stolen base attempts. Podsednik is 6-for-17 with three doubles, two walks, two strikeouts and has not been caught stealing in three attempts.
There could end up being a lot more competition for the final one or two bench spots than we anticipated at first.
As I have said previously, Juan Pierre is a great guy. He has NO arm in the outfield and is at best, a slap single hitters. Podsednik has a much better arm in the oufield, is a good gap hitter (no power for either player). SP can steal some bases and will be a better player on the bench. Just my two cents worth.— drhoffman- Not sure here yet - Pierre was perfectly pathetic yesterday in the outfield, with and without and arm, and didn't do much on the basepaths. Posednik has has about the same spring.
A SS series yesterday w/Tigers and Yankees ending in 4-4 and 3-0 tie/loss should have Manuel's hair on fire. Neither Pierre nor Posednik are really the answer to any question. Frankly Pete Orr played his rear end off. And Galvis, while not having Pierre or Posednik speed may give more options offensively and defensively from the bench.
I personally doubt either of these guys makes it - the roster of 'fractions' simply doesn't have enough slots to allow it to add up to something with these guys taking bus/plane seats.— 24sDad 
Comment removed.- If Podsednik was that great he would of been on the phillies majors roster last year instead of stinking it up in the phillies minors. The few games I watched this year Podsednik looked horrible in the outfield while trying to catch fly balls.— streetjustice
- to follow up.. Pods batted .245 in the minors Pierre batted .275 in the majors last season — streetjustice
- Murph you didn't mention Pods stats from the majors last season because he wasn't good enough to play in the majors last year.— streetjustice
- Pierre is faster, therefore better— BirdinParadise
- And Pods only played a handful of games in the minors last year, hurt most of the year, two left foot ailments. Butchered a warning track fly ball last Monday as if he was trying to catch it with his left foot. Which one has a contract that releases him March 27th if he's not on the majors roster? I think that's the one not making the roster.— calm weather
- Streetjustice: Sounds like you have a little bit of bias against Podsednik for some reason. He was injured last year, and that's been well documented. RIGHT NOW, Pierre is batting .267, while Podsednik has a .353 batting average. From what Murph has written it appears fairly obvious that Podsednik is the better option. Don't get me wrong: I like Pierre and would love to have him on the team. But if it's one or the other I don't see how you can justify going with Pierre over Podsednik.— riles1875
- Pods has a much hotter wife. Keep him for that reason alone.— hkfan
- Agreed. I googled his wife and came to the conclusion that he must make the Phillies roster. — Craigger
- She doesn't pitch, play infield or outfield, can't coach and likely won't sit with you guys at CBP given your beery, slobbery posts. Semi-intelligence and talent might get you a roster spot on the Phils or perhaps even a date, none has you watching from the internet. — 24sDad
- The Phillies' brass are old school and surely give Podsednik points for his choice of mates since it indicates he is blessed with superior eyesight. Data makes Cholly and Rube's heads hurt. — jtj06
- whichever one has the better showing in spring training, charlie will go with the other.— bubba church & granny hamner
- Manuel is feckless. We always read about his rants and raves, but they don't seem to have any effect on the players. They just keep hacking away making the game easier on opposing pitchers.— jtj10
- Occam's razor - All things considered equal go with the guy with the hotter wife. Posednik.— Desert Steve
- Can she hit with no one on ?— NewMick314
- I do believe Pods had some foot issues that really hindered him also. It would be nice to see one of these guys take the job as having some speed off the bench late in the game would be helpful. In addition, if Mayberry is having a hard time with some tough righties either of these guys could fill in capably once or twice a week.— Back up the Bus for Gload and Bowker
- Lets hope RAJ obtains some "fecks" for Cholly— NewMick314
- Cholly don't use his bench. He may use someone's hot wife. Pods wins.— UnaBlogger
- I have always liked Scott Posednick. He is the pesky Richie Ashburn type who looks like he can't hit a ball past the mound but manages to get on base every game. He is not being selected for his fielding at this point but the guy can still pickit.
Juan Pierre had a bigger upside back when. He was always getting on base and scoring but that was then and this is now. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround, I would choose Posednick for the bench role over Pierre. Tempermentally he is Ross Gload with a healthier body and I think Pierre is more likely to make a bonehead play at the worst time ala Michael Martinez getting thrown out at third the other day on a grounder to short. Pierre's failure to get down a bunt cost the Phils a win yesterday.
And, there are a few others getting a look-see as well including Tyson Gillies and Domonick Brown. There will be an extra opening at the beginning of the season when Howard will be on IR so maybe two of the candidates can make the team. The way that the pitching is shaping up, the bullpen has to be good but not that deep.— gotedge - Considering Podsednik's foot issues, if they keep him maybe the Phils should hire a pod-iatrist ...— billinseattle
- Comment removed.
- Good one Bill! A good podiatrist has been known to help others in baseball such as Barry Foote, Jim Thome and Rick Ankiel.— dasher
- Some of these people are clueless. If you followed anything at all about the Phils minors last you you would know that Podsednik was hurt. He has severe foot problems that had hampered him the last two years. He was still recovering last summer when the Phils picked him up and allowed him to recover and get back in shape. His feet are the most important part of his game and he was hurt. Remember Doug Collins and Andrew Toney? Same thing foot problems. If he can get past that or if he is recovered he can help.— REL3
- To the slobbering children who must Google player's wives: You don't have much going for you, do you ?
I'll bet you check out the lingerie section in Wal-Mart's catalog too.— phineas - Old Scout's axiom: The hotter the girlfriend/wife, the more confident the player.— Dragon13
