What They Need
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What They Need
Todd Zolecki
Charlie Manuel just pulled his golf clubs out of storage yesterday in Winter Haven, Fla.
He might play a little golf today.
But that doesn't mean he isn't following what's going on in Philadelphia. He knows the Phillies have just re-signed Scott Eyre. He knows they're getting closer to re-signing Jamie Moyer. He understands that it might not be simple bringing back Pat Burrell, unless Burrell agress to a pro-Phillies contract.
"We're going to have to replace the guys that aren't coming back, and we're going to have to replace them with guys with equal talent or better," he said. "At the end of the year you had to like our team, but we can still tinker a little bit with it.
"You can probably get another infielder to go with [Eric] Bruntlett, so we can spell [Jimmy] Rollins and [Chase] Utley on some days. We can definitely use another two-inning guy out of the bullpen to go along with [Ryan] Madson and [Chad] Durbin and them. There are some things we could use. And you can also always beef up your five-man rotation. But at the same time, we're going to be pretty good. I think we're going to be pretty good if we can just replace who we're going to lose."
If Burrell doesn't return, the Phillies would need another righthanded bat for their lineup.
"Even if we had to platoon in left field, we still need a righthanded bat," Manuel said.
Comments (44)
This is following the last post. timm2, Dye had a good season last year (.292, 34 and 96 rbi) and he is being a pretty good power hitter with good avg. when healthy and won a Gold Glove once. But he will be an old 35. Its like Burell, he looks older than what he is. It seems to me that Dye is always hurt. I would not mind getting him for the right price. He could have a MVP-type season like he did in 2006 when he .315 with 44 hrs and 120 rbi, or spend some time in the DL, like he did the following year (2007) when he slumped to .254, 28 and 78. He will make 10 millions, which is relatively cheap. If they take Kendrick, Jaramillo and another minor leaguer, it could be worth the risk. Ahh, but I keep thinking about Gordon and Freddy Garcia.— EL Zorro- As an extra infielder, I like free agent Felipe Lopez. He could play second, short, third and some outfield also. In case something happens to Utley and Rollins, he will be more that an adequate replacement for a few weeks. He is also a switch hitter with good speed, but he is young and probably wants to start.— EL Zorro
- How about Eric Byrnes from Arizona. he's the odd man out in the outfield there. and they're looking for takers for his 21 million he has left on his 2 year deal. but when healthy, (a big if), the guy can hit 270, hit 20 dingers and steal more than 20 bags a year. Plus he's "athletic" which the phils want, scrappy and has playoff experience.— terryharmon
- Zorro, i replied to your post in the last one. he isnt really the same risk as a pitcher though. although the hesitation to deal with the sox again i can understand.— timm2
- Byrnes will fit in nicely with this team. He is kind of crazy in a nice way. The Phillies PR department will love him and if we keep him, he'll be a regular on Comcast Sportsnet and enventually could replace Larry Anderson or Sarge in the booth, if no major network grabs him. But can you put him in the 5 spot behind Howard?— EL Zorro
- Truth be told... there's not alot of players who can replace Pat Burrell and his presence in the lineup. There are only a handful of RH hitters who've done what he's done. I'm being realistic here. We're not getting Manny or any other big time power guys. So lets move on. Regarding Byrnes, if he's healthy (and it's a big if), he'll play a better outfield than burrell, steal more bases, won't need a late inning defensive caddy (freeing up another bench player for charlie), and will bring an intangible, aaron rowand type scrappiness to the lineup. The 5 hole might be one of those positions where you have to move some people around (Werth, Jenkins, or Byrnes) and see who emerges the best fit. But Byrnes does have a no trade clause and he's coming off his worst year as a pro, and his hammy makes him an injury question mark. But on the plus side... he can probably be had for a mid level prospect. And the Phils would still be able to retain Carrasco, Happ and their 2 young catchers.— terryharmon
- wow? was that the phillies zone or the twilight zone. Nothing was accomplished and my head hurts.— aman1711
- If the Phils need a right handed pitcher for the bullpen they should take a shot at Chad Cordero.Starters - Peavey or Sabathia - otherwise time for Happ or how's Savery doing. As far as an extra infielder goes how about Jason Danald. I like the fact that the Phils won with players they drafted - Hamel, Myers, Madson, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Burrell and Ruiz. They added just the right people in Werth, Romero, Lidge, Moyer and Blanton, Jenkins.. Victorino's practically a draft pick since they selected him with Rule 5. Nice thing about them is that they're all young (Moyer's younger than me so he's young). If Burrell goes then they should take a shot Rocco Baldelli. He wouldn't be a full timer but when he plays he's a big bat and he's got speed. Plus with a name like that he'd own South Philly.— Phillyexp
- how was Byrnes even mentioned, are there rumors associated with his name and the Phils?— phairmount
- Right now they have Werth in right and Vic in center. The expected Burrell vacancy will happen unless he gives the FO a hometown discount and signs. Oherwise that leaves a need for platoon in left. On the bench now they have Jenkins, Dobbs, Stairs Buntlett all of whom can play the outfield and a catcher. The lefthanded bat of Stairs is replacing the righthanded bat of the seldom used Taguchi on the bench. I see the Phils going cheap and replacing Burrell with the righthanded bat of Jason Donald who is playing 3rd and 2nd in the Arizona Fall league to go with his natural SS position. This would allow Brunlett to platoon in left with one of the three lefthanded bats on the bench. This also frees up Burrell's $14 million salary to pay the arbitration eligible players who will get hugh increases for 09.— Dull
- I already miss baseball...how many days until Pitchers and Catchers report?— Phront_Runner
- What's appealing about this Phillies team is (besides a WS championship) the core was built from within. Instead of spending on free agent bust (Garcia, Eaton anyone?) why not let Donald, Carraso, Savery and others ready to come up get their shot. If they're not ready in Spring training, then there will be options for Amaro out of Spring training. If Carraso is not ready, Happ is and has proven it. The Phillies have also done ok in Rule 5 with Victorino and remember Romero was a waiver pick-up from the pitching rich Red Sox. The worse thing is for the Phils to make a move for the sake of a move. That's how we lost Ryan Sandberg back in the mid-1980's.— pizano13
- Garcia was not a free agent.— EL Zorro
Comment removed.- Scratch Jaramillo as a prospect. Has huge defensive flaws and cant hit the offspeed stuff. Marson is the real deal. Savery has not yet made it to AA, so lets wait and see on him.— mick314
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The Phillies Zone is the place for up-to-the-minute Phillies coverage from the Inquirer.
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