Total lunar eclipse of the heart
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Total lunar eclipse of the heart
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
FORT MYERS, Fla. — So here we are, three days away from breaking camp in Florida, and finally the lasting image of this morose Phillies spring has emerged.
Charlie Manuel rattled off a bunch of Hector Luna's career stats following Wednesday's 11-7 loss to Minnesota. He likes Luna's bat, especially after three more hits and a home run. Luna is still a long shot to make the team on the bench, but Manuel is intrigued.
Just ask Ed Wade and his Google.
"He's played all over really," Manuel said. "He's played first. He signed originally as a shortstop but I don't think he’s played shortstop in the majors. But he has played second before. I don’t know when, but according to what shows on the, uh, Ed Wade Googles 'Major League Baseball' or something that shows it."
Yeah, that's this spring in a nutshell.
Luna, 32, has played in 27 major-league games over the past three years — none in 2011 — and that probably says more than 42 Grapefruit League at-bats. Luna is hitting .286 with three home runs this spring. That makes him the team leader in homers.
Problem is, Luna cannot play shortstop. Nor can he really play second base anymore. He's restricted mostly to first and third base, and maybe left field. But he's righthanded and there is uncertainty for the final few spots on the Phillies bench.
"There's some arguments there of what we can do," Manuel said. "He's been playing good. He's hit the ball very well."
See, Google can't tell you that.
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He can't be any worse than some of the stumble bums that suited up in the past few years.— phineas- Don't know who will be the 25th man on roster, biy ig I was making the
cuts: Kratz makes team over Schnieder
Luna makes team over OPrr
Montenez make tean over Pods and Pierce
Hearndon makes bullpen
We need RH offence and Herndon was steady last year.— Philvegas 
Comment removed.- Herndon is a mediocre college pitcher, at best. But this article is about Luna...who is better than any other infield option they have or can get without giving up another minor league prospect.— gentian
- Luna over Polanco at 3rd...— mbutley
- They both SUCK— 658012
- No shot— shawnmac
- If we're considering Luna, we're in trouble.— Grazman
- Luna and Montanez are nice March stories but they have no shot. The real action is Pierre vs. Posednik and Herndon vs. Stutes. Bastardo will break with the team but Diekman appears waiting, which is a good thing.— eman
- Thank goodness many of "you" are not the GM. Luna is a great story, but remember, he is 32 and why has he not played in the majors recently? Same with Montenez. Ben Francisco had a great Spring last year...how'd that work out for ya'll? Get real, Just because certain player have good Springs doesn't equate to the regular season. Many of the AB's are against AAA/AA or no-roster invitees. Luna won't get to see that type of pitcher come April 5th. Podsednik/Pierre have track records against MLB pitching with success. When healthy, Podsednik hit .300+. Thats what is important.— drhoffman
- Don't know about you but I'm ready for some "Hector Lunacy" and a cheering section of "Hector's Lunatics."— Dragon13
- Barry Bonds needs a job.— orange rhino
- Comment removed.
- Barring any trade, it is going to come between Luna and Orr for INF utility role, IMO. Luna has the edge right now because the team needs a RH off the bench with some pop. At the beginning Pierre was the front runner to win the 5th OF spot. Right now, Pods is hands down the winner. Pierre should be released either today or tomorrow. He looks shot from here. Now, if the Phillies are not sold on Luna and want to keep Orr, Montañez could win the OF spot and Podsednik could be headed to the IronPigs for a while. As for Herndon, he has outpitched Stutes. Which tell you how serious the situation is with this WS contending team that with a few days away from the opener we have so many unanswered questions and these veterans and career minor leaguers are getting a serious look down the stretch. We have not even mention the Bastardo situation or when Contreras will be ready. It looks like Raul Valdes, a Mets reject, could figure into the bullpen as a LH reliever as well. No, the sky is not falling, but it has a hell of a crack.— EL Zorro
- I don't understand why none of the geniuses who somehow get hired to write these pieces even considers moving Polanco to 2B, where he has won a Gold Glove after all. That way you have way more flexibility -- Luna, Wigginton, even Ruiz can be plugged in at 3B. Acquire Theriot & give Galvis another year at Lehigh Valley.— princeton22
