Posted: Tuesday, June 22, 2010, 2:58 PM | 68 comments |
 
options
 

Was designating Greg Dobbs the best move?
Yes.
No, it should have been Juan Castro.
No, it should have been Wilson Valdez.

You thought the big news would've been Jimmy Rollins being activated, but the move the Phillies made to accomodate him is an eyebrow-raiser.

The Phillies have designated Greg Dobbs for assignment, essentially meaning they have 10 days to either trade or release him or place him on waivers.

Dobbs, who was one of the top pinch-hitters in the National League in 2007 and 2008, was 1-for-25 as a pinch-hitter while hitting .152 with one home run and six RBI overall.

The Phillies have also placed catcher Carlos Ruiz on the disabled list while recalling leftander Mike Zagurski from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

In 2007 and 2008, Dobbs hit .284/.331/.467 (.798 OPS) with 19 home runs and 95 RBI in 598 plate appearances. During the Phillies' run to their title in 2008, he went 7-for-14 with two runs scored and two walks. But he struggled throughout last season, hitting .247/.296/.383 (.679 OPS) with five home runs in 169 plate appearances, including a 9-for-54 performance as a pinch-hitter.

Dobbs battled a calf injury that he suffered in 2008 throughout the 2009 season, but proclaimed himself healthy this spring.  

In 28 starts last season, he hit a respectable .309/.340/.489 (.829 OPS) with four home runs in 103 plate appearances.

This year, though, he has made just five starts, going 8-for-36 (.222) with two doubles and one home run.

Zagurski appeared in 25 games in 2007 as a 24-year-old, allowing 14 earned runs, 25 hits and 11 walks in 21.1 innings (5.91 ERA) while striking out 21.

He suffered a season-ending hamstring injury that year, then missed all of 2008 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. In 45 appearances at Double-A Reading last year, he posted a 3.57 ERA while striking out 63 and walking 27 in 53 innings. This season, he posted impressive strikeout numbers (45 in 30.2 innings) at Triple-A Lehigh Valley while posting a 2.35 ERA and 1.141 WHIP.

Ruiz was hit in the head with a bat on a follow-through in the eighth inning against the Twins Friday night and was taken to the hospital for tests. Ruiz has not played since with a concussion, but two days ago the Phillies said they did not think he would need a stint on the disabled list.

Ruiz, who has been replaced by journeyman Dane Sardinha, will be eligible to return on July 4, when the Phillies are wrapping up a series in Pittsburgh.
 

Posted by David Murphy @ 2:58 PM  Permalink | 68 comments
68
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:03 PM, 06/22/2010
    C'est la vie!
    ESFjellin
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:06 PM, 06/22/2010
    wow. later Dobbs.
    WerthsOtherWife
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:08 PM, 06/22/2010
    A sad thing, but necessary if there is any hope of getting back to the playoffs. Many more things still need to happen though. Like the Baseball gods ceasing to kick us in the nuts.
    TBear
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:08 PM, 06/22/2010
    FAT MIKE IN THE HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!
    B in DC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:10 PM, 06/22/2010
    Who?
    jibberjabber
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:10 PM, 06/22/2010
    Thanks for the good work in the past Dobbs, but the writing has been on the wall.
    Phillies1120
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:12 PM, 06/22/2010
    Well its a start. Thanks for what you did Dobbs, good luck.
    Murrayag11
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:13 PM, 06/22/2010
    Murph: why are you surprised? Dobbs has been brutal at the plate and is a marginal fielder.
    chuckw
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:13 PM, 06/22/2010
    bout time corn on the Dobbs is outta here...interesting to see who picks him up...
    tralala
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:16 PM, 06/22/2010
    I think Gload's homer put the nail in the coffin.
    fafafooey
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 3:17 PM, 06/22/2010
    A couple years ago...he was the best in baseball....
    FLAphillyfan


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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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