With Thome and Nix, there might not be room for Pierre or Podsednik...
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With Thome and Nix, there might not be room for Pierre or Podsednik...
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Let's get all of the disclaimers out of the way first. Jim Thome is a good story. In fact, he has the potential to be a great story. If you don't want to see the big guy win a World Series, then why do you even watch sports? He also brings a lot of off-the-field positives to this roster. The basketball folks talk about "glue guys," and Thome has all of the characteristics. It is impossible to quantify the benefit of having him in the clubhouse and behind the batting cage to talk hitting and impart leadership. Plus, he still provides a heck of a left-handed power bat.
All that being said, when you sit down and look at the Phillies bench, you start to see why it is difficult for a National League team to carry an American League designated hitter type on its roster.
Let's take a look at the Phillies' likely line-up for Opening Day, when they will face Pirates lefty Erik Bedard:
1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Placido Polanco 3B
3. Shane Victorino CF
4. Hunter Pence RF
5. John Mayberry Jr. LF
6. Ty Wigginton 1B
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. Freddy Galvis 2B
For all the talk about the health of the Phillies' offense, the above line-up is still one that should be able to beat Bedard and the Pirates. I still find it hard to believe that they will enter the season with Galvis as their second baseman, but they also might not have a choice. Either way, that isn't the point.
Let's look at the bench as it stands for Opening Day:
1. Laynce Nix LHB/LF/1B
2. Jim Thome LHB/1B
3. Brian Schneider LHB/C
4. Right-handed OF/INF TBA
5. Utility man TBA
The bulk of the focus this spring has been on the battle between Juan Pierre and Scott Podsednik. But there is a chance that neither player breaks camp with the team. In fact, at this point, I would project Podsednik to start the season in the minors and Pierre to start the season with another organization. Clearly, both of those players have a skill set that would benefit this roster. Charlie Manuel talked yesterday about the need for his team to excel on the base-paths with Chase Utley and Ryan Howard out. The thinking: without Utley and Howard's power, it is going to be difficult to field an offense that relies on power to move runners. So the runners have to move themselves whenever possible. Pierre and Podsednik both have the ability to do that.
Problem is, the Phillies also have a glaring need for another right-handed bat who can play the infield or outfield. Pretend, for example, that the Pirates and Phillies are tied at 2-2 with the pitcher's spot up in the top of the eighth inning. Manuel's top two pinch-hitting options are both lefties, so Pittsburgh has a lefty warming in the bullpen. If he calls on Thome or Nix, the Pirates bring in the lefty, and Manuel must either let Nix or Thome face said lefty, or make another switch. Except who does he have to switch to? You can bet the Phillies are trying to answer that right now. Lou Montanez might be the guy to start the season. He has played good left field defense, and he has hit the ball well. Or maybe the Phillies bring in another right-handed bat via trade or waiver claim.
The point is, they appear to need to fill a roster spot with a right-handed bat. Which means one less roster spot for a player like Podsednik or Pierre. The Phillies are clearly going to keep a utility man, even though that utility man probably isn't in camp right now (Pete Orr is the only true utility guy in camp, and he bats left-handed).
So unless the Phillies are content to enter the season with an all left-handed bench (at least against lefties), or unless they are content to carry an extra bench player and one less reliever, then it is going to be tough to keep a player like Podsednik around.
But who helps your roster more at this point? Podsednik, who stole 30 bases and posted a .342 on base percentage in 595 plate appearances in 2010 (he missed all of 2011 with a foot injury) and can play all three outfield positions? Or Thome, who has the same skill set as Nix, who is a left-handed power hitter who can play first base?
Just to be clear, the question isn't who is the better left-handed power hitter. We've already noted the various positives that Thome brings to the roster. But at some point, you can only have so many swing-and-miss power hitters who play first base, particularly when your stated goal is to rely on base-running and contact.
If Thome can play enough first base to help make up for the lack of Howard power, then maybe the question is Podsednik/Pierre or Nix. Either way, the point remains the same. The Phillies are going to be trying to play a brand of baseball that does not necessarily fit their personnel.
What do I think is going to happen? One, they are going to add a utility man. I don't see any way around it. Two, they are going to take a hard look at all of the right-handed bats who become available. If they do not find one they like, I think they enter the season with Montanez on the roster and see how things play out. If they decide they absolutely need to upgrade Montanez's roster spot, then they will do so, either by trading for a veteran like Alberto Callaspo or Maicer Izturis or for a fourth outfielder on another team. Podsednik will start the season in the minors, and the Phillies will make a decision on him before his June 1 opt-out.
As for Pierre? It's tough to tell. Charlie Manuel likes him a lot. Spend any amount of time around Pierre and it is hard not to feel the same way. But he hasn't had a great camp. Manuel keeps bringing up the 80 runs he scored last year for the White Sox. But his on base percentage was a meager .329. He was caught stealing on 17 of 44 attempts. This spring, he has been caught stealing on 3 of 5 attempts. He has nine singles and five walks in 40 plate appearances. He looks particularly susceptible to hard stuff inside.
Is it really worth keeping him on the Opening Day roster and guaranteeing him the veteran minimum for the rest of the season? Particularly if it prevents you from carrying a seventh reliever, who just might be a lefty specialist like Joe Savery, who just might be the kind of guy who opens your eyes when he is given a chance in April?
The only certainty is that Thome, Nix, Brian Schneider and a utility man are guaranteed spots.
It is going to be an interesting couple of weeks.
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I haven't been paying that much attention to this but I have a question. Why haven't they decided to move Polanco to 2nd and play Wiggy at 3rd. Alot more pop in that lineup and then Galvis is the utility guy you mention. I know Polanco has been nicked up and the defense will suffer (at 3rd) somewhat, but I still feel Galvis will be an out, especially batting 8th. This approach allows us to keep another bat and not use it on a utility guy.— corkyb- 1. Jimmy Rollins SS
2. Placido Polanco 3B
3. Shane Victorino CF
4. Hunter Pence RF
5. John Mayberry Jr. 1st
6. Scott Posednick LF
7. Carlos Ruiz C
8. Freddy Galvis 2B
1. Laynce Nix LHB/LF/1B
2. Jim Thome LHB/1B
3. Brian Schneider LHB/C
4. Ty Wigginton 3rd/INF
5. Utility man TBA
Thoughts? I like the Spring Lou Montanez RH OF'er has had.— jwdv22 - Just bite the bullet on Nix and eat the contract. It's only 3 mil over two years. Problem solved.— ESFjellin
- Have to keep the best players based on expected future performance. The lefty/righty thing will fall into place. I also hope Montanez get a chance this year.— Sportsphan
- I guess it depends on what standards and who you ask as to whether Pierre's .329 OBP is "meager". I've heard .330 is the MLB average. And He had a .341 in 2010 and .365 in 2009. He's had lower OBP than last season in his career to show it's not necessarily a downward trend. What's more important is he also strikeouts a lot less than Podsednik and generally speaking. If we are playing small ball, that's obviously important to consider.— UkraineTrain
- Why would you make a roster move like that with 1 situation in mind?? Pierre will make the team and so will Orr, unless they trade for Callaspo. Soo much negativity over a team that won 102 gms and has the best pitching in baseball. Why is everyone concerned with April & May?? Even is somebody blows away the field in the NL East, they will still be 1 of the wildcards. Some could argue thats a better spot for them than having the best record.— FABER
- The answer is reasonably elementary.
At the outset of the season, the Phillies break camp with eleven (11) pitchers- five (5) starters, one (1) long man, one (1) closer, two (2) RHP, two (2) LHP. That gives you 14 position players and allows you to keep the eight (8) named starters (including Wigginton) and an additional six players on the bench. The substitutes would include Nix, Schneider, Posednick/Pierre, Thome, a RH utility infielder, and RH pinch-hitter who can play 1B or OF. Derrick Lee is available and that would be my choice to fill the last slot. He's a great 1B and a good guy in the clubhouse.
OK, so that wasn't too hard. As such, Mr. Amaro, go with 11 pitchers at the start and 14 regular position players. Shame you got rid of Valdez. Stupid move. You'll pay a lot more for his replacement.
Get busy!— World 
Comment removed.- this lineup will not take them to the post season..— hardball
Erik Kratz is winning a job in spring training. Does anyone notice? Big right handed bat. Third catcher.— zubzub- So, why did we ever let Wilson go? Maybe the GM's worst move to date!— pazcats
- jwdv22: Why does everyone, including yourself, seem to blindly accept that Laynce Nix should be on this roster. Of the supposed five tools he has NONE! He doesn't hit for average, doesn't hit for power, can't field, can't run, and has a weak arm. I'd take both Juan Pierre and Scott Podsednik ahead of him. ESFjellin has got this one right. Eat the contract and MOVE ON!
On the other hand, the only thing less meaningful that a good or bad Spring training is a good or bad Winter!— BEMiller - zubsub, I hear you, but Schneider has a guarantee contract. And please guys, don't bring the he was great with Worley and stuff. Too me that was one of those weird things in baseball. This guy should not be playing in the majors. Period.— EL Zorro
- Guaranteeing 2 yrs of Nix's poor OBP, glove, speed, youth, etc. was an awful move that writers are skipping since he is "guaranteed". We "cut" Valdez for less & may miss Posednik's value.— phillies6pack
- The Phillies are going to be trying to play a brand of baseball that does not necessarily fit their personnel.
Exactly my point and exactly why RAJ is the Executive Boob of the Year already. He did such a poor job this off-season that he should be fired for lack of vision. Absolutely unacceptable planning...or non-planning, as the case may be.
— scootch
