Amaro Jr.: Ibanez almost as productive as Werth
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Amaro Jr.: Ibanez almost as productive as Werth
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
ORLANDO, Fla. -- When asked to assess Raul Ibanez' 2010 season Thursday before leaving the GM meetings, Ruben Amaro Jr. made an interesting unsolicited comparison by bringing free-agent right fielder Jayson Werth into the discussion.
"(Ibanez) was still a pretty productive player and ... his numbers are not all that different from Jayson's last year," the Phillies general manager said. "What did (Ibanez) have, 83 RBIs? Jayson had 85. (Ibanez) didn't have as many opportunities as Jayson did to drive in runs.
"Clearly, Jayson had more runs scored and his on-base percentage and stuff were better, but (Ibanez) had 37 doubles and five triples or something like that. The difference in their production was not all that great."
What's so fascinating about Amaro's comparison is that it could serve two purposes.
In addition to talking up Ibanez in a thinly veiled effort to increase the left fielder's trade value, he also devalued Werth's contributions to the team last season.
For the record, Ibanez batted .275 with 16 home runs and 83 RBIs. He had 37 doubles and five triples. Werth hit .296 with 27 home runs and 85 RBIs. He had 46 doubles and two triples Werth, of course, is seven years younger and a superior outfielder to Ibanez.
You can read more about the final day of the GM meetings in tomorrow's Inquirer.
Ed Gein...Putting Hamels in a trade discussion is just plain dumb. You clearly are an idiot.
@Ed Gein - DBacks GM Kevin Towers says he's looking for a team willing to "grossly overpay". I'd guess your offer of a top 20 pitcher and two ace prospects, plus one more would qualify. Upton's OPS last year was .799. 33rd in the league. Hamels ERA was 3.06 - 12th in the league. And you want to give away three more guys to go along with him. Sounds "gross" to me.— B in DC- Ed Gein's trade proposal needs no further comment.
Comparing Ibanez to Werth is just greasing the skids for Werth's departure or driving down his asking price. With Boras as his agent don't count on the latter.— Rick Wise Guy - Let's see: Ibanez had 1 good year out of 2-the first half of 2009 and the second half of 2010. Werth was missing in action for at least 6 weeks duriing the first half of 2010. They were both missing in action during the playoffs in 2010. I don't see any team jumping to make an offer for Werth so far. Which Ibanez half will show up for the Phils next year?— StevenT
- Keith Law just said in his chat that Brown and Cosart would not nearly be enough to get in done. So adding Hamels I think would be enough. I think Hamels is a top of the rotation starter, but it is much easier to project position players especailly ones as talented as Upton. I would do the deal and then sign a guy like De La Rosa. Cosart hat top of the rotation potential, but his delivery sacres me Id move him for a piece like Upton.— Ed Gein
- Ed Gein... wow! what are you smoking?— bobf876
- He isn't taking into account the botched catch that cost them a win in the NLCS is he? (Raul dropped a game decider and basically cost them the series)— Mo Biggsley
- I guess it would be better received if I made some homer offer lik Riz, Garcia, and Mathieson. Towers is reportedly asking the Red Sox for Ellsbury, Bard, Iglesias, and one of Lars Anderson/Casey Kelly. My offer at least resmbles something that it would take to get Upton.— Ed Gein
- It used to be that teams were measured by their strength up the middle. Phils are fine at catcher and pitcher positions (maybe a secure bull pen would help). But weak at 2nd and SS, utley has no power most of the time and Rollins goes on long dead streaks. Victorino is strong at center on defense, variable on offense. That would not be a problem if 2nd and SS were stronger. There has been quite a drop in center of the field power since the WS Championship.— atp2007
- Who cares about RBIs? The statistic has almost no meaning.— Noonan
- @Ed Gein...you offer resembles something that it would take to get Pujols. Justin Upton is not a superstar. He's got superstar potential but how often do players live up to that? His brother's been in the league how many years now and he's still "trying to put it together". If I could get one of the brothers at a much lower cost I'd do it but not at the price of Hamels and Brown---either one would kill the deal, but both? That's insane. Of course Kevin Towers is asking for the moon. He's new in the job, had a commodity and is looking to see how high he can get. He could ask Boston for every player on their roster if he wants...and Boston can turn it down. Like they will turn down Ellsbury and Bard. Boston is not trading Bard for anyone unless it's a steal for them...i.e., for Pujols, for Matt Kemp AND Clayton Kershaw, for Adrian Gonzales and a 72 hour window to negotiate...not as part of a package for Justin Upton. What's your love for Upton anyway?— Eilex826
- Noonan- agreed, it's very disconcerting that our GM is citing RBI's when comparing two players.— Ed Gein
Avg, RBI, are not the stats that matter. Werth had more productive at bats even when he made outs because he saw a lot more pitches and fouled off a lot more pitches. Werth hurt his value only with is lack of productivity with runners on base. Werth is by far the better play, especially defensively, plus he's right handed and younger. A lot of fluff by Amaro, as others have pointed out, to build up Ibanez and drag down Werth's worth.— jp8899- werth is a choke artist, plain and simple. put that in your numbers pipe and smoke it!!!— sgamble077
- no ed, you're just a moron— sgamble077
