Wha' Happened?
The Phillies Zone tries to make sense of everything that happened yesterday.
Wha' Happened?
Todd Zolecki
I've had a few hours to digest everything that happened yesterday.
Let's review:
- Chase Utley is scheduled for surgery on his right hip next week in New York. He is expected to need four to six months to recover.
- Pedro Feliz had lower back surgery and is expected to need eight to 12 weeks to recover.
- The Phillies traded outfielder Greg Golson to the Texas Rangers for outfielder John Mayberry.
- The Phillies put righthanders Carlos Carrasco and Drew Naylor, lefthander Sergio Escalona and catcher Joel Naughton on the 40-man roster.
Other than that, a pretty quiet day.
But what does it all mean? In terms of how it changes Ruben Amaro Jr.'s off-season plans, not much. The Phillies' top priority remains re-signing Jamie Moyer, which I believe will happen. Their other priorities include finding a solution in left field (Rocco Baldelli, Raul Ibanez and Pat Burrell remain possibilities) and adding another reliever to their bullpen (they have interest in righthander Juan Cruz). But Amaro made it pretty clear yesterday they are optimistic any time Utley misses will be minimal. So don't expect the Phillies to call up free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson's agent today. The Phillies are going to go with short-term solutions to their second base problem.
Eric Bruntlett filled in for shortstop Jimmy Rollins early this season when Rollins spent time on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle. He could do the same at second base. Jason Donald, one of the organization’s top prospects, is hitting .407 in the Arizona Fall League and also could see time there. The Phillies had kicked around the idea of adding a utility infielder before they scheduled Utley for surgery. Free agents like Nick Punto, who played for the Phillies from 2001-03, and Damion Easley could make sense.
“I think we have coverage with Bruntlett and with the emergence of Donald,” Amaro said. “That does not mean that we won’t look to add, but I think if were to open the season today without Chase … we’re covered fairly well.
"You don’t necessarily replace an Utley, but at the same time we really feel … he’s going to be fairly close to ready, if not ready, by opening day. A lot of it depends on how the rehab goes, how the surgery goes. This is not an exact science. But we fully expect to have Chase Utley with us for the bulk of the season, so I’d have to say frankly as far as how we go about our business with our club, it probably won’t change significantly.”
Same goes for Feliz. The Phillies expect him back before Utley, so they think third base is even less of an issue than second base. Plus, if something with Feliz lingers, they have Greg Dobbs, Bruntlett and Donald to help out.
Mayberry is not the team's 2009 solution for left field. The Phillies acquired him because they have very little power in their minor-league system, and his power eventually could play big at cozy Citizens Bank Park -- if not in 2009, then in the future. But why trade Golson? Wasn't he an everyday outfielder of the future? Not necessarily. I had heard rumblings during the season that the Phillies projected Golson to be a fourth or fifth outfielder. Golson, the Phillies’ first round pick in 2004, hit .282 with 13 homers, 60 RBIs and 23 stolen based for double-A Reading, but also struck out an alarming 130 times. Maybe because the Phillies have Shane Victorino signed through 2011, they feel they could use a righthanded power bat more than a speed/defense guy.
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Expect the Phillies to announce today the final coach for Charlie Manuel's staff. The Phillies had interviewed Rich Donnelly, Tim Bogar and Pete Mackanin.
Update (11:42 a.m.): The Phillies announced that Mackanin will be Manuel's new bench coach. That means Sam Perlozzo is the team's new third base coach.
machuzick - Howard-for-Pujols? Are you serious? And do pray tell, why on EARTH would St. Louis do that deal? I know Ryan Howard doesn't always get his props here, and sometimes he takes unfair criticism when he is slumping, but does anyone in their right mind (besides Howard himself and his agent) think that Ryan Howard is a comparable player to Albert Pujols? You must be joking, or else have ZERO respect for the Cardinals' front office.— RollinsWasRight- Rollins, I’m with you in not moving Utley at all, but I rather see him play at third than at first because you’ll hate to lose his instincts, aggressiveness and natural ability at first. But you are right about his arm. That could be a handicap. But if Eickstein (is that the name of the Cardinals shortstop?), is getting away with his weak arm at short, I guess Utley can make the adjustment. And Varsho, you might be right about Utley’s range. As a matter of fact, Utley is not a typical second baseman. It seems to me that he’s still a work in progress defensively in some areas (I would like for him not to be that expose turning the DP), but he is still one of the best. His hustle and heart makes up for his average range. He gets to a lot of b*lls by just being aggressive, not because he is quick and fast, like a Robbie Alomar or other flashy second basemen.— EL Zorro
- I don't think Utley will move to 1B. He's not very tall and I think you need to be to be a 1B. Leave him at 2b. As someone else said, it's easier to get a power hitting 1b than a good 2b. As for Howard for Pujols, no way that's going to happen even up. Pujols is a much better 'complete' player than Howard will ever be. You may however be able to do it with the Phils giving up more. You would think St. Louis and Howard would be a good fit considering the fact he is from there. Trades like this rarely happen though. There really is no point in it.— James TL
- Zorro - I totally agree - so that is why his long term plan would probably be 1B. As he ages, he surely isn't going to get quicker or develop better range. Plus if he is battling health issues that limit his mobility, he may be better off at 1B. I agree with RWR - he could go down as one of the best 2B of all time, and its great to have him there, but if his longevity depends on him moving to 1B down the road, so be it.— Gary Varsho
- If the Phillies ever trade Howard, my guess is that it would be to the AL, where he could end up being a DH. Unless they remain extremely far apart on a contract, I don't see the Phillies moving him anywhere.— Gary Varsho
- Pretty good conversation. Utley should remain at 2b for the forseeable future. I must commend the blog for actually exposing the flaws in Utleys gm, something that is not often seen here. Funny thing is I have never doubted his defensive ability or his range just his fragility and leadership skills and at times his lack of clutch production. Norma, feel free to send Chase 'world *** champions' Utley' some soup to help him along..... Kudos, Truth— Truth
- Varsho - I think you summed up the crux of the discussion about moving Utley to another position: **"...if his longevity depends on moving him..."** That is the way I see it...in the here and now, when he is just an awesome hitter for a 2B, and not at all a defensive liability, it is great to have him stay there... but down the road, IF playing 2B, and playing it the way he does, starts to take a toll (which it probably will eventually), it would probably make sense to move him to a less demanding position to keep his bat in the lineup, and as productive, as long as possible.— RollinsWasRight
- and to answer jeff gross's question from way back in the beginning of the discussion, the reason Carrasco wasn't on the 40-man roster prior to this is there was no risk of exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. It was generally accepted that he was not major league ready, and thus no team was going to bother to take him in the Rule 5 draft because they would've had to try to keep him on their 25-man roster for the entire season, and everyone knew they couldn't do that.— RollinsWasRight
- Zorro - good point about David Eckstein. Also can't forget that David Bell made a career at 3B with one of the sorriest rag arms I have ever seen at the position (although I think Philadelphia city limits I can be fined for comparing Utley to David Bell). But here's the thing, if Utley were to be moved, it would likely be cimply to protect him from the defensive wear and tear. Third base is nearly as physically demanding as second is (although without the risk of trying to turn a double play), so does it make a lot of sense to move him to third?— RollinsWasRight
- How can we bring Eckstein's arm into this? He does have two world series rings and a world series mvp right?— gallen024
- Truth you are such a Jerkk Off!!! Utley is a Tough SOB!! You are such a F-ing LOSER truth!!!!!!!— Clinton, NJ
- Utley can not play third base, they tried him there at triple A when they were losing Rolen.If Utley could play third, he would be there and Polanco would be our second baseman. I believe Utley will eventually move to first when Howard becomes unaffordable(3 years ?)— dntnoschmidt
- If you play second base you should be able to play third, specially a great and hardworking athlete like Utley. If Pete Rose (who started his career as a second baseman) and Tony Perez played third, don’t you think Chase could? Remember, one worry the Phillies had when they drafted him was his defense, and he made himself a pretty good second basemen and he is getting better at it. The reason Utley is not playing third is because we got Polanco in the Rolen’s deal, who is a second baseman by trade but also plays a very good third (see my point?), and then Ed Wade made a bad trade for David Bell.— EL Zorro
- No Way Golson turns into a Beltran like player!!!!— fyreknight
- Darn! Here we go, again! I posted two comments last night, that never showed up! Anyway.....I agree with El Zorro and dntnoschmidt. The reason Chase wasn't put at 2nd, when he first came up, was because we had Polanco. Vuk worked really hard with Chase at 3rd, but it never worked out. Again, forget about moving him to 1st! We need the Rollins/Utley double play combo!!!— Norma
