Who's on third? Polanco for now
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Who's on third? Polanco for now
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
That's the question Charlie Manuel had to answer before the Phillies begin a 10-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night. About four hours before game time, he came up with that answer: Placido Polanco.
Polanco, an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2011, was activated from the disabled list this afternoon. Polanco has been sidelined with lower back inflammation since July 23.
Meanwhile veteran utility man Kevin Frandsen had started 20 straight games at third base in Polanco's absence prior to Monday. All the 30-year-old Frandsen has done over that time is hit safely in 16 of 20 starts; he's batting .329 overall.
Polanco, who turns 37 in two months and becomes a free agent in three months, is hitting a career-low .255.
So, who's on third?
When asked about Polanco's ability to play everyday last week, Manuel was noncommittal and sounded very aware of the infielder's oft-injured status.
“I probably won’t be able to put him out there everyday,” Manuel said.
Polanco, on the other hand, said he was healthy enough to return to regular, everyday duty before beginning a three-game rehab assignment at Class A Clearwater over the weekend.
“I expect to be the everyday third baseman, but what I expect and what is going to happen could be two different things,” Polanco said five days ago in Miami. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just want to be healthy for whatever. If [Manuel] plays me he plays me. If not, I don’t know.”
While Manuel usually defers to his veterans, the guess here is the two split time over the next few weeks. But if Frandsen continues to swing a hot bat - and handles himself fine defensively - he could continue to get a longer look as someone who could fit into the Phillies plans in 2013, too.
Polanco is an excellent fielding third baseman,and thats all he is!! He cant hit or run the bases anymore, get rid of this dead weight! But i say he will go 2-4 tonight because when u start talking negative about a player, they usually do well that night!! We will see!!— huntnmike3666- Polly has 10 days to get himself into tradeable shape. If he can stay healthy during this stretch, he would be a valuable defensive player for a team looking for one.— ESFjellin
- Funny thing about Fransden...seeing how the Mets are most likely going to pick up the option on Wright and the Phils don't have the resources to get Headly, KF might be the starting third baseman for the Phils next year. Yeah, teams go for power at the corners, but if they can get the power in the OF instead, it will benefit the team just as well.— ESFjellin
- Wigginton, Nix, Martinez, Schneider, now Polanco...such fresh faces...the auditioning continues!— dasher
- Let's not get all worked up about Polanco playing ahead of Frandsen, he will no doubt be out of the line up with some sort of injury within 5 days.— jicook
- ESFjellin: not sure Polanco will bring anything back in a trade, other than cash and a fringe minor leaguer, particularly as he cannot drive the ball any more, and the Phillies need to find out what they have for next season.— chuckw
- Why not give Frandsen a long look to see if he's a viable option for the future? I understand that there's a reason why he's been a minor leaguer for most of his career, but some players are late bloomers. The Phillies need look no further than Chris Coste for proof of that.
Polanco is shot. He's a good fielder, but he's not going to be part of the team in 2013...unless he's willing to accept a HUGE pay cut and be a part time player. Oh, I forgot...he's already a part time player, although he's being paid as a full time player.— SteveS11 - Hey Rube check the ages of the Reds starting 8. Six out of eight are between 24-28 years old. And they have the second best record in the league. Now look on the Nationals with the best record. Again six out of eight are under 28 years old. That's what the Phils were in 08. Get young Rube! Forget about aging free agents, Bourn, Youkillis, Cabrera. You need to add youth into the mix. After Howard, Utley, Rollins and Ruiz everyone else has to be in their 20's or you have no chance.— REL3
- Unbelievable. Chuckles has a $175 M payroll and is 20 games out. His blind loyality to his leadoff hitter(.298 obp)is asinine and now he is making room for Methuselah and his 18 rbi's (.299 obp).
Meanwhile Frandsen who has done a fabulous job gets benched.Incredible.— argonne - wow, what a shock, huh? A returnign under-performing veteran steps right back into his spot in the lineup and on the field, while the highly performing sub gets sent to the bench yet again.
Man, I wish Chooch was returning in August just to see who they subtract from the 25-man roster to accommodate him, now that Luna is again back at LHV. Wanna bet it wouldn't be Martinez, but might, instead, be Frandsen?
— advantasux - What, exactly, is the point of playing Polanco? He won't be back next year, and anyone that trades for him in the next 10 days will be doing it for his glove. Frandsen *probably* isn't the answer for next year, but we *know* Polanco isn't.— Only in Philly...
