Status updates: Contreras, Utley, Howard, and more
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Status updates: Contreras, Utley, Howard, and more
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Just arrived home from the Philadelphia Sports Writer's Association's annual banquet, where the Phillies always send a large contingent. I have to write a story for the newspaper, so I will be light on details and quotes. But here are some of the key things that jumped out at me in conversations with Charlie Manuel, Ruben Amaro Jr. and others. Keep in mind that I have been largely out of the fold for the past month-and-a-half, so a lot of this might be reptetitive.
-I don't want to say that Manuel tends to have an overly optimistic outlook with regards to injuries, but he seems to operate on the assumption that if the appendage is still attached to the body in any manner (tendon, bone, ductape), then a player could return in the near future. Hey, I'd think the same way if I were a manager and had nearly died on an operating table. But even though Manuel said he doesn't think Howard is going to miss much time, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, "If he's back by some time in May, I'll be happy." Keep in mind that Howard is a big fella, and that he blew out the Achilles on his back foot. The Phillies played two months without Chase Utley last year and still won a team record and major league season-high 102 games. So expect caution.
-Early prediction: On the third day of spring training, Manuel starts giving out wedgies every time a reporter asks him about the clean-up spot in the line-up. He seemed to get a little - and I mean little - edge in his voice when somebody asked him who will take Howard's spot in the middle of the order. Often times, this is less of an indication of annoyance with the question than it is annoyance at having to think about something that has no obvious answer.
Say what you will about Ryan Howard's contract, the guy has elite power and a knack for driving home runners, and the Phillies don't exactly have an abundance of options to replace him. The first guy who Manuel mentioned was John Mayberry Jr., but he also named Hunter Pence and Chase Utley, even Laynce Nix and Jim Thome, provided Thome is able to play a game or two a week at first, which is still very much in question.
There really is no obvious answer. Pence has a career .236/.271/.350 line in 30 starts at the clean-up spot. Whether you think that means anything is up to you. His numbers are far more prolific at No. 3, No. 5 and No. 6.
Other line-up notes:
-He likes Polanco hitting second when Polanco is healthy. Polanco has recovered from offseason surgery and is expected to be 100 percent at the start of spring training (First workout: Feb. 18).
-He likes Utley hitting third.
-He sees John Mayberry Jr. as a left fielder. Laynce Nix and Ty Wigginton will likely get playing time at first base, with Thome perhaps factoring into the mix.
-Random line-up projection based on all of this knowledge:
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Placido Polanco 3B
- Hunter Pence RF
- Chase Utley 2B
- Shane Victorino CF
- John Mayberry Jr. LF
- Laynce Nix 1B
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Jimmy Rollins SS
- Placido Polanco 3B
- Hunter Pence RF
- Chase Utley 2B
- Shane Victorino CF
- John Mayberry Jr.
- Ty Wigginton 1B
- Carlos Ruiz C
polanco is absolutely atrotious as no. 2 hitter --has no speed and just clogs up bases --Phils scored more runs when he was injured or when he batted anywere else --but Chollie still hasn't figured that out— warbiscuit- This comment has been deleted. — DogBiscuitthedope
- Does anyone else think that warbiscuit and dogbiscuit is the same person, using two accounts to argue with himself? — nydb
Comment removed.- Polanco is the ideal number two hitter when he is healthy. He gets the bat on the ball. He can drive a ball to right field. And he has a lifetime batting average over .300. You need speed from your leadoff hitter, contact from your number two hitter and RBI potential from numbers three, four and five. Warbiscuit, all you've done is show all of the readers that you know very little about baseball.
- I would argue that the most important job of the #2 hitter is to get on base for the #3. Advanced metrics have shown that giving up outs is NEVER a good idea, and Manual plays hit and run about once a year (another play that metrics don't like). With this being the case i would say Polanco is not a great #2 seeing as it took a batting average of 341 for him to reach an OBP of 388. Conversely Ruiz routinely has an OBP that high while only hitting 250. I would make Ruiz my #2, and don't give me the speed argument because Chase is one of the slowest players in the lineup at this point with his knee. Also, if speed is the most important trait then Victorino would be much better suited than Polly. — Knowledge King
- Nice update on Contreras.
When Howard comes back Pence should bat 5 th, major error in the playoffs. Vic is NOT protection.— WFChamps - Comment removed.
- Contreras is healthy then?— Danielson
- Looks like the Phils could use a RH bat off the bench. Martinez isn't going to get it done.— JB1204
- I missed the contreras quote— CaptainCrunch
- The Phillies will have to play small ball without Howard which is not a bad way for a team with diminishing power to go. The Dodgers were masters of the concept: Get them on, move them over and find a way to get them home. A run is a run is a run. If you wait for this team to hit a long one, you will be waiting in last place. With the Phils pitching staff, it won't take too many runs to win a preponderance of games--just like last year.— gotedge
- dbmoron, uh excuse me Mrs. Amaro, but actually Phils scored per runs per game when Polanco was NOT hitting no. 2— warbiscuit
- Phils scored more runs per game when Polanco was NOT hitting no.2 -- a no. 2 hitter with no speed or power and no walks is terrible no. 2 hitter .... Phils actually did better with Utley at no. 2 and Polanco at no. 3 because Utley is better at allowing Rollins to steal or to move him up htting other way or with walk, and the one thing Polanco is decent at -- getting his bat on the ball for a sac fly or single -- is more productive with Rollins in scoring positon than at 1st --but Chollie and Mrs. Amaro (that's dbmoron) havent figured that out— warbiscuit
- gotedge....Which Dodgers are you talking about? Brooklyn?— CornerPretzelGuy
