Pence didn't see deal to Giants coming
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Pence didn't see deal to Giants coming
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Hunter Pence said his goodbyes inside the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park exactly 367 days after saying hello at Citizens Bank Park.
The circumstances of the departure and arrival could not have been any more different.
When Pence arrived in Philadelphia from Houston last year at the trade deadline, he was supposedly the missing piece for the team with the best record in baseball.
As he departed for the San Francisco Giants Tuesday afternoon, he was a player who had become too expensive and inconsistent to keep. The Phillies acquired outfielder Nate Schierholtz and minor-league prospects Tommy Joseph, a catcher, and Seth Rosin, a righthanded pitcher, from the Giants.
Pence admitted to being shocked by both the trade and the Phillies' 2012 demise that has led to a flurry of deals by general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. at the deadline.
"Very surprising," Pence said with a glazed look in his eyes. "I don't think anyone anticipated the season that has gone on this year. It was a perfect storm of injuries and things that didn't go right for us. That's the business of the game and you have to understand that. We had a great run and now I've been sent on."
Unlike a year ago when he was with the Astros, Pence did not see this deal coming.
"Not until it happened because I honestly this year didn't pay any attention to any of that," he said. "I didn't really hear rumors. I talked to the media maybe one time, so really it just kind of happened, so I'm on to play for San Fran and hopefully in a playoff race."
Pence is in a playoff race again. The Phillies, meanwhile, were in their final race of the season and it was a sprint to see how much money they could get off the books before the 4 p.m. deadline.
Despite his brief time in Philadelphia, Pence said he grew to love playing for the Phillies.
"I had nothing but great memories here in Philadelphia," he said. "I am nothing but thankful for the opportunity to play -- unbelievable teammates and really the organization is a class act all the way from the top down. The fans made it an absolute blast to play for, so it was a great experience."
Why are people making excuses for why Pence did not perform? He's an average outfielder and a free-swinger whose many holes have been more artfully exploited as his career has gone on. Some guys cannot adjust to the book against them because they rely too much on their athletic ability. Pence is never going to adjust (reminds me of Soriano), so he'll be a dangerous -- but very limited -- hitter, and easy prey for any quality pitcher with plus location. The moves today are positive for the team's prospects next year. The pitching staff is intact with the bullpen being marginally better, and if we're going to rebound next year, it's going to start there. Finally we're going to reach some conclusions regarding Dominic Brown.— auntesther- Thanks to Vic--part of a lot of good memories, and worked to become a pretty good professional player. And no regrets about Pence: it was worth the gamble last year, and it is a good move this year.
I still think having to pay the luxury tax is a little overrated: it would have only been a million or two...but if they got under it for this year, they can go close or over next.
Regarding Vic trade: there was rumor that they were only going to get a low A prospect, so to get a major league bullpen piece is better than what was projected.
Regarding Pence trade: the giant outfielder is worth the rest of the season, could be an inexpensive corner next year, or a good 4th outfielder. And if the catching prospect pans out, that will be great. it seems to line up well with when Ruiz's contract runs out, and in that sense, I appreciate Amaro planning ahead.
While sad to see the two go...in whatever way it signifies some type of transition, I think Amaro did some potentially good work.
— kgood - Now if they could only get rid of Rollins, Utley and Howard....— SteveS11
- He's shocked?! He should be delirious with joy! For the second year in a row, he got traded from a last place team to a first place team. I doubt that anyone else can make the same claim.— nmlawyer
- Time will tell how both these deals turn out; if they don't turn out well, it will be because of the short timetable the Phils FO(and involved ownership)left themselves to make these deals. A truly wise GM would have seen "fools gold", not only with the Brewers series, but before that as well. You're also expecting a lot when 2 guys who couldn't lift you over San Fran and STL in consecutive years(Utley and Howard)were expected to be "saviors" this year, coming off significant injuries and rehab, and trying to lift the Wiggintons, Nixes, and Qualls of this world to another division title. Many people figure firing Charlie, by itself, will fix the problem. The problems with this team go much higher.— 76erfn
- Clueless rube has decimated this franchise with a series of the most imbecilic signings and trades in history...and he still hasn't gotten any "younger" ...to the contrary Phils don't have a single decent young position player or genuine prospect --unbelievable how a complete imbecile does nothing but collect aging garbage and mediocre middle relievers --worst g.m. in baseball cements his reputation
....
Phils got useless trash for both Victorino and Pence -- 2 major leaguers acquired (scheirhotz and Lindstom) are mediocre middling nobodies and are a dime a dozen in free agency every winter; the other "prospects" are unlikely to ever make any major league impact and are not in same league as the dozen that Rube has given up --and yes to all you ignoramuses, D'Arnaud, Singelton, Gose, etc are all likely future major league stars...Royals got better for Broxton whom they got for cheap past winter than Cluless imbecile got for his starting outfield— warbiscuit - The Phillies already had a first baseman with zero plate discipline who struck out all the time with runners on base. The team didn't need two players like that. Victorino, on the other hand, was a gold glove centerfielder who was hitting .357 since the All-Star Break. When Victorino is carrying the World Series trophy down Sunset Boulevard with Jeff Carter and Mike Richards how idiotic is the Phillies organization going to look?— Gnip Gnop
- Well the time had come and the moves made today were a start. Pence was moved to get us under the luxury tax...good player but not great and not worth 14+mm. Victorino gave us 8 great years but it was time for him to go. It will be tough to do a complete rebuild with so much money tied up in Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Howard but it can be done. While I don't like his approach at the plate, Rollins is still a top 5 shortstop. I really hoped Amaro would have moved Pierre and Blanton today as well but they could still be moved later. At one point, I read Pierre to the Reds for T.Frazier...revisit this if possible and forget about L.Andrusek. Amaro also needs to make a play for Upton and Headley and a phone call to Milwaukee to see what they want for A.Ramirez. If nothing else happens, they still have Polanco and Blanton off the books next year and can target Bourn and middle relief. What about moving Utley to 3B next year...less wear on the knees/legs and putting Galvis at 2B as long as he can still play after the broken back.— CMack
- I liked him and thought he got a bad rap because he did play hard and to the best of his ability. Sure he looked goofy but despite that he was the second best player on the team. It's unfortunate it didn't work out. But if he's getting $14 million next year, that's about the threshold I'd be willing to pay him.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- This guy is the major league equivalent of Odi. Decent player but we can get better value somewhere for 15 million.— Brainiac
- Most of you may not like this deal, but you did definitely upgrade your right field play if you start Schierholtz...he is the real deal with his glove and arm. Having said that he has been the classic streaky hitter for the Giants with ten game hot streaks followed by 0 for 30's. I also think you got a great catching prospect in Tommy Joseph. Go Giants!— corker
- As should be obvious by now the Phils got ripped off when they got Pence BY ED WADE. Then Amaro trades Pence a year later for almost nothing. Nobody even pretends we got a fair deal the best reason is that it was a "salary dump" and the reason we had to dump is the all the other contracts so awful other teams won't take even if you give them for free. Good luck to the Giants and Dodgers in the playoffs this might be the worst outfield (except Pierre) I can remember.— subgen
- WOW ALL THE MAJOR LEAGURE READY PROSPECTY THE PHILS TRADED ! any of them playing in the majors.?so these guys so far are nothing. nothing. trading prospectws for established players is always the best way to go. wake up mprons. none of these guys that were traded have been in the majors so you need to shut up and pay attention.— benny1
- And one more thought...exactly which prospects have we given up in the last 3+ years have panned out? Drabek had surgery this year, the Indians have nothing to show for Lee and the "stud" catcher we gave to Toronto also just had surgery. None of the prospects we gave up to get Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Pence have done anything which is why they are prospects.— CMack
- The plate discipline thing is played out. Vlad Guerrero had no plate discipline either but is a HoF candidate.— dglass1
