Scutaro, DeRosa would fit Phils needs
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Scutaro, DeRosa would fit Phils needs
Andy Martino
Update: In thinking about Charlie Manuel's comments, detailed below about the need for a strong utiltity infielder, two names occured to me: Mark DeRosa and Marco Scutaro. Both are free agents, and both are the type of veteran that Manuel would be likely to trust. DeRosa could also spell Raul Ibanez in left field. The Phils will be operating with payroll constrains, and neither of these guys figures to be very expensive.
Just sayin.
***
Good morning, and welcome to episode two of TBS’ new reality series “The NLDS.” Some lineup changes in a very big game for the Rockies, who’d be pretty dead looking if the went down down two games to none.
Carlos Gonzalez is leading off, with Dexter Fowler batting second. Ryan Spilborghs is batting seventh and playing right field. Spilborghs is 2 for 3 with two doubles lifetime against Cole Hamels.
***
An interesting moment in Charlie Manuel’s pregame presser came when he was asked about Chase Utley. Utley was obviously tired in September, as he is every season. Manuel said that the way to avoid that was to acquire an better backup infielder. Um, sorry Eric Bruntlett, but that doesn’t sound good for you.
Here’s the quote from Bill Faulkner:
“I would like to have somebody who can—somebody that can give Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley a spell, and it would probably be real hard to find, because I expect him to be close to—we don’t want to lose nothing by playing a guy, if that makes sense. I want something similar to who they are and someone that can probably contribute something similar to that. Though that would be hard to find, because that’s a tough job.”
Are you listening, Ruben?
***
Manuel is being cagey about his rotation. He said yesterday that Pedro Martinez would be available in the bullpen today, and now he says Pedro probably won’t pitch today. My guess is, if Happ and Blanton do not pitch today, they will start Games 3 and 4, who knows in what order. Manuel is playing this very close to the vest.
“He does his side work, and he throws in the bullpen,” Manuel said of Pedro. “He’s ready. He knows what he’s doing…I’d say he is capable of going out there and throwing definitely 90 to 100 pitches.”
Okay, will Blanton and Happ be able to stay ready for a start, given the changed routine?
“They are going to be ready. They’ll know. They’ll be ready.”
All righty.
Comments (32)
Leaving Bruntlett off the NLDS roster was message enough. Too bad the Phils couldn't have gotten Scutaro from the now-Ricciardiless Blue Jays; he would have been a great bench player.— paolibulldog- Sounds like Charlie wants a "Ben Francisco" for the infield!— JBP
- You have to hand it to Charlie: if he has us stumped, how do you think the Rockies feel? At least we have the benefit of several years experience trying to figure him and his words out...I say great strategy!— Timmy
- Marco was injured at the end of the year, he played through it, but, who knows if he'd be 100% . I would rather have him at 80% than Bruntlett or Cairo at 100.— phairmount
- Geez, you guys need to get over this thing about the 3rd and 4th starters being available out of the pen early in the series. Playoff teams do this all the time. You're all acting like this is something that's never been done before. These guys throw on the side and in the pen between starts anyway. There's no harm in keeping them available in the pen for an inning if needed.— JimG
- Adios, Buntlett.
- In Charlie We Trust!— bcmojo
bardle do?- I dont think Scutaro will sign to be a backup. Cairo may be the answer if he can play short. I didn't check it out but it was said he had a 267 career avg. and was always thought to be a smart player.— Don w
Do we have any infielders in the minors capable of coming up for some shots next season?— verve- Looking ahead to next year I think the Phils should go get Mark Teahen from the Royals. He's a solid LH bat who can come off the bench and on any given day he could give Howard, Utley, Feliz, Ibanez or Werth a breather. How's that for versatility?— T-Money
Too bad DeRosa wanted to start, how good would he look?
Pete Orr, Alexi Casilla guys like that can play both middle infield spots and can swing a bat.- [verve Do we have any infielders in the minors capable of coming up..] We had Jason Donald, but he was included in the bag of beans we gave Cleveland for Cliff Lee - in what turned out to be a SWEET MOVE by Ruben!— jman
- Sorry Eric. Take Bako with you.
- Phills may have backup infielder in Cairo. It was said he has a267 career batting avg. and is a smart player. Agree with poster who said what a pleasur Vince Sculley is. He was an outfieder for Fordham university in the ealy 40's.— Don w
- The Phils stuck with Brunlett longer than necessary - Cairo should have come up midseason.— fafafooey
Comment removed.- Another Jays SS/utility guy makes more sense - John McDonald. Plays all infield positions and OF too.— PhillyPhantastico
- Comment removed.
- Looks like some of you beat me to it on the suggestions. See, they make sense.— Andy Martino
- I don't like the idea about Happ/Blanton not knowing if they are pitching today or saturday or next week. For prep, tell them they are starting game 3 and game 4 and get them into a routine. Wouldn't have been an issue if Cholly had an extra arm in the pen. But I guess he really believes Dobbs and Stairs are necessary...what a joke.— scootch
- Both guys would want to start. especially DeRosa. Plus let's worry about this year instead of Free agency. Go Phils!!— oharabri
- pete orr cound't make a punchless atlanta bench this season, and alexi casilla has hit .220 this season. those aren;t answers. but neither are scutaro or derosa...andy, you are proving your baseball incompetence by even suggesting the phils have a shot at signing either one. not only have both proven themselves VERY capabale starters, they will want to start, and more importantly they will want starters money, which they phils can't and shouldn;t offer them just to be a backup. I GUARANTEE you both will get starters money and starting roles next season.— djacobs5582
- Andy, hello! ".......two names occured to me: Mark DeRosa and Marco Scutaro"? I guess that's what they mean when the say these blogs write themselves.
- [The Phils will be operating with payroll constrains,] ... After all these sellouts, the Phillies better not play the "payroll constraints" card! The fans don't want to hear that.— jman
- Shoulda kept Nick Punto.— jman
- Final thoughts on Eric Buntlette: He was 372nd in the National League in on-base percentage. 16 teams * about 15 position players per team (including callups) = 240 players. This means 131 PITCHERS also had a better OBP than Buntlette.— jman
- I'm sorry, but what is up with Chase?????— Conshy04
- another name could be Jerry Hairston.....— MICKDONAHUE
- Mark DeRosa: Great idea.— CenterCityPhan
- Comment removed.
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