Today's line-up, plus your daily Sheff. . .
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Today's line-up, plus your daily Sheff. . .
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Although the Phillies are in somewhat of a holding pattern right now with regards to Gary Sheffield, Dusty Baker told reporters in Cincinnati this morning that Sheffield's chief concern is playing time, according to the Enquirer, which would seem to indicate that the Phillies are indeed a long-shot for the potential Hall of Famer. The only place he would get to play in the field would be left, perhaps spelling Ibanez every now and then against left-handed pitchers. But the Phillies view Ibanez as an everday player, as evidenced by the every day money they gave him. So for Sheffield to sign with the Phillies, he would have to be content with being the team's right-handed bat off the bench.
Again, it isn't out of the question. It isn't clear if any team will be in a position to give Sheffield the playing time he feels he deserves.
He clears waivers at 1 p.m., so we won't know anything before then.
^
Word out of Texas is that Andruw Jones has made the Rangers' roster, so cross him off your list.
^
Here's the line-up for today:
- Shane Victorino CF
- Chase Utley 2B
- Jayson Werth RF
- Ryan Howard 1B
- Raul Ibanez LF
- Pedro Feliz 3B
- Eric Bruntlett SS
- Carlos Ruiz C
- Jamie Moyer LHP
Left-handed reliever Jack Taschner, acquired from the Giants last Friday, is scheduled to make his second appearance in a Phillies uniform against the Nationals.
Comments (32)
Is anyone else scared that Taschner - a fly-ball pitcher who struggled in SF - is somehow slated to leap-frog guys like Majewski and Koplove, who've done extremely well this spring??— Philth- I posted this in the previous colum regarding Stairs and Sheff: Waly, Stairs doesn't scare anybody. He is just a fastball hitter. Throw him junk and he is meat. He probably won't get a hit off Moyer. Sheffield is a more dangerous hitter with one of the quickest strokes I've ever seen. I don’t think he is coming here because he is like 350 hits away from 3,000. Being the 5th member of the 3,000 hits and 500 HR (joining Aaron, Mays, Palmeiro and Muray) is very appealing to him, I believe, but is worth a gamble. If he becomes a pain, release him and bring Mayberry.— EL Zorro
- A second to that Philthy.— mick314
- It doesn't seem fair but maybe they think they got something with cast away left hand specialist, Eyre and Romero were both cut, apparently Taschner was about too be as well.— ktdb05
- No. I get the concern, but Taschner is nothing more than a stop-gap guy. They simply got him for the comfort of having another lefty in the pen. They got through most of last year with just Romero, and I believe that if Taschner struggles, they won't hesitate to release him or send him down in favor of someone else. Remember, Romero is only out through May. He isn't out the whole year, and he will be back pitching for the bulk of the season, and in the most important games. I have very little faith that Taschner could do very well, but I also don't worry about his performance damaging the team's season either. I just don't think they'll stick with him that long if he's bad.— RollinsWasRight
- I posted this comment in the previous High Cheese entry in response to Waly's comments about Stairs and Sheffield, which I think is relevant to this new post: Waly, Stairs doesn't scare anybody. He is just a fastball hitter. Throw him junk and he is meat. He probably won't get a hit off Moyer. Sheffield is a more dangerous hitter with one of the quickest strokes I've ever seen. I don’t think he is coming here because he is like 350 hits away from 3,000. Being the 5th member of the 3,000 hits and 500 HR Club (joining Aaron, Mays, Palmeiro and Muray) is very appealing to him, I believe, but is worth a gamble. If he becomes a pain, release him and bring Mayberry.— EL Zorro
- Zorro ... I get it and thanks for the reply. I keep saying somethings up and they're doing their best to hide it. I'm probably wrong but thats the way it feels. Anyhow at $400K Sheff would be a deal but as stated in the aritcle his playing time would be short. Depends on whether he wants another ring.— Wally 24
- I think the phillies are alot deeper this year. I mean this time last year we had Kendrick and Eaton with spots in the rotation. Now those spots are Blanton and Park with J.A. Happ and/or Kendrick as insurance in case of injuries. We have consistent pinch hitting (Dobbs), power (Stairs), and speed/defense (Bruntlett and Cairo) off the bench. Adding Sheff would help give us that needed righty but we won a world series without a power righty bat off the bench so cant say that is an essential. Its true taschner may not be a great option but he may fit that rudy seanez role and be solid when we need him without being dominating. I think the phils are in great shape. Cant wait for the season to start!— MTust24
- RWR ... According to Murphy's coverage of Amaro's fall to do list they wanted to add another lefty to the pen. Why I don't know but he has followed through on that need. So if you look at the Trascher trade in that light he would stay short of his really stinking up the place.— Wally 24
- The pen is Lidge, Coutley, Eyre, madson, Durbin and ? I doubt both Hap and Trascher make the team. I think it may be safe to say that Kaplove has made the team and the questin is who is the lefty, Happ or Tscher— jeff gross
- 8 starters plus Dobbs, Coste, Bruntlett, Stairs, Cairo/Sheffield/some other right hand bat, (13), 5 starting pitchers, plus Lidge, Durbin, Madson, Eyre, Condrey, Taschner, (11, they didn't get Taschner to help out in Grapefruit league games, he's on the roster for 50 games). That leaves one spot between Happ, who is clearly a starter in the long run, and Koplove/Majewski. Anyone know how many options Happ has left, or has he not served enough time for that to be a consideration?— B in DC
- 1— jeff gross
- hey B in DC, thanks for clarifying what I was trying to say about the roster. I understand your thinking, but remember, the move was made before Park won the 5th spot. Also, if Park crashes in the rotation and Happ fills in, we're back down to 1 lefty in penn. I still don't think that Happ and Tascher are both on this team. If you want to say that Mejewski will make it instead of Kapolove you can (though he was already sent down to the minors)— jeff gross
- I have to agree with El Zorro...for $400K, Sheffield is worth the gamble and if he becomes a malcontent then you waive him. I mean the money should not be an issue. I guess it depends on wether he is willing to come off the bench. Regarding Happ, if he is going to be a starter, I say send him down and let him get his work in. Don't make him sit out in the bullpen when you have other options.— jbboricua
- Sheffield and Baker is like a marriage made in heaven. Cross him off. Who else is available? Maybe Stairs could switch hit. That way we can go with a 4 man bench and we can keep everyone else in the pen.— Wally 24
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