Corner outfield defense a glaring concern
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Corner outfield defense a glaring concern
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Typically, teams like to configure their corner outfielders by placing the strongest arm in right field, where the throws to third base are longer. The Phillies' strongest arm is Domonic Brown's, and he has started every game in left field.
Laynce Nix made two throws to home plate from right field Friday that arrived well late.
"Nix and [John] Mayberry have both played a lot of right field," Charlie Manuel said. "Domonic has played left and right. I kind of like him better in left because of how he moves and everything."
Manuel was not happy with the decision Brown made on a fly ball to left that could have been a run-scoring single and instead became a three-run triple. It is likely Brown remains in left because the Phillies eventually want Delmon Young playing in right field despite it being a position he has not manned since 2007.
Concern for defense in those spots will linger.
"We did a lot of work," Manuel said. "I feel like we did quality work. ... We better improve. That’s important."
EXTRA BASES. Royals reliever Bruce Chen earned his first win in Philadelphia since June 29, 2001, when he was a member of the Phillies' starting rotation. He went 11 years between appearances here. ... Chase Utley added two more hits Friday to a 7 for 15 start in 2013. ... The Phillies are 3-7 in openers at Citizens Bank Park.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
We're platooning 5th outfielders in RF with Mayberry and Nix. And we've known Brown would be an adventure in LF, and probably always will be. Personally, I'd put Brown in RF because he'll misplay some balls but he has a cannon for an arm. Delmon Young can't come back soon enough and I would DFA Mayberry, not the new guy. I'd DFA Nix, too, if there's an LF bat anywhere to be found. The jury is in for Mayberry and Nix: They're not contributing. End of discussion.
Yet, tonight's loss was a pitching loss. Everyone got rocked. Rocked.
— therealeman- DFA or trade Nix. He's a protein bloated blot in the lineup and the field.— 24sDad
- How bout relief pitching??? a bigger concern.— tennisnut
- you just figured that out? think they may need to play defense this season? when do the amaro must go articles begin? if that punk doesn't get a good deal for howard immedeiately then he needs to be fired. write about that or become even more irrelevant. this team is a joke and has been since howard's contract.— goofyfooterwill
- Dominic Brown runs around got a nose for the ball like a hound but when he finds it Phil's are in the lost & found and the entire team can't wait to get outta town see ya around who's on the mound keep it on the ground play ball that's sound— zen
- Cholly likes Bown better in left because "the way he moves and everything." Brilliant!!!— samtheman
- brown's in left because they promised delmon young he could play right field if he signed. dominic should be in right field. with fielding like this, they might as well use darin ruf. also kratz is killing us. phils have to tread water and not get too buried until they get chooch back.— high water
- Kratz is killing us? The guy homered and shoulda had a 2nd one but wind knocked it down. He also sparked the one inning the phils scored runs on thursday in Atlanta. The pitching is whats "killing" us. — Fightins2013
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Enough about Brown in LF. He's become an excellent fielder whether in LF or RF. Being a southpaw, LF is his natural field. Agreed, he made a bad decision on an important play. Dom's been taken behind the woodshed; now let's drop it.It occurs to me that Ben R. failed to make a Willie Mays catch and nothing is made of it. Nix should NEVER be on the field. Mayberry should be the everyday RF. Why was D Young picked up? Better yet, why does he deserve a spot in the starting lineup? Has anybody looked at his batting stats at Detroit last year? Add to that that he can't run and throw.— LenDyk4- Bring Ruf back! He can't do any worse than the stiffs we have out there right now. Plus he gives you a right handed bat.— vietnamvet14
- Yeh bring Ruf back and spend the year teaching him how to play baseball. He sure earned it right?? Wake up. Tommy Joseph is going to be your great white hope because Kratz isn't cutting it and Chooch will be lost to free agency. — LenDyk4
- Be careful what you wish for. I saw last night Joseph had another two passed balls for 4 passed balls in the first two games. Lets see what Ruf can do with another month of work in LF, cant be worse the Brown's defense so far. — Fightins2013
- Let's see Ruf do this. Game winning catch against Norfolk (last game before being called up last summer).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gicDqZlGYfw— LenDyk4 - Horrible off-season for the Phils. Rube failed to fix two of their biggest problems---OF and bullpen. If Durbin, "always starts slow,' then why use him in a close game in April? Pay all that $ for Adams and they can't get to the 8th inning to use him. Game was lost when Cholly brought in Durbin when he still had Adams available to stop the bleeding. The OF is pathetic. Maybe the worst in BB except for AAA Houston. There were several opportunities in 2011 off-season to strengthen the OF but Rube was out to lunch. As Stanford grad,there is no doubt that he is very smart just NOT BB smart.— butchcat
- Corner outfield is a concern, how about pitching as well? This team has gone down hill and is so far from where they were, it is a shame. We have people in the minors who should be in the majors honing their skills so we can start our trip back. Mayberry has been "no hope" his entire career and so has Nix. Thanks Rube!!— avogel36
