Game 102: Hunter Pence sits
The latest Phillies and baseball news from Philly.com.
Game 102: Hunter Pence sits
Matt Gelb
ATLANTA — No, Hunter Pence was not traded. He is not in Charlie Manuel's lineup for only the second time this season and first time since April 23. The manager wants Pence to rest for a day, and it just so happens to come with the trade deadline 48 hours away.
Pence arrived early to Turner Field and took some hacks in the cage. He sat at his locker and smiled as Juan Pierre talked about how he'd coach the U.S. basketball team.
While his name has surfaced in rumors, the Phillies are not willing to deal him unless blown away by a package of top prospects. Remember, they surrendered three top 10 prospects to fetch Pence a year ago. Settling for a much smaller return would be an embarrassing admission of failure.
Pence is 9 for his last 59 (.153) with 18 strikeouts and one extra-base hit.
The rest of the lineup against Tim Hudson:
1. Jimmy Rollins 6
2. Shane Victorino 8
3. Chase Utley 4
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Carlos Ruiz 2
6. Laynce Nix 9
7. Juan Pierre 7
8. Kevin Frandsen 5
9. Roy Halladay 1
Frandsen will be the 40th player used by the Phillies in 2012. They used 42 during all of 2011 and five were merely September call-ups.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
gave up too much to get pence last season should have got cabrera(mentioned it before the trade last yr.)dude had over 200 hits last season, was all-star mvp this year 27yrs old and batting over .330, singleton would still be in phillies minor league, would not mind if amaro is fired before manuel.— only 9- Kratz is ready. Trade Ruiz.— ghostofozark
Here we go again with the stupid comments. "only 9" wouldn't mind if Amaro was fired and "ghostofozark" wants to trade Ruiz and start a carrer minor-league catcher in Kratz. Well, Amaro isn't going anywhere (he was groomed for this job after years in the front office - he's their golden boy) and the Phillies will not trade Ruiz because he's only their best hitter this year and the fanbase would crucify them for it. In other words, if you can't make a legitimate point, don't comment at all. You make yourself look silly.- Kratz is ready for what? He's spent most of his career in the minor leagues and is not a youngster anymore. I think he's almost the same age as Ruiz.— unclejed
- Good bye Hunter. Good luck.— drbob1
- Kevin Frandsen at Third base. why not. cant get any worse.— scootch
- victorino is going to be dealt, pence is going nowhere. they aren't going to lose two OF's, not to mention a right handed bat. we'll be seeing a healthy dose of dom brown soon.— chadp123
- Trade Ruiz? He makes 4-5 million a year. He's probably one of the best values in baseball at that price. That would make no sense at all. Need to get rid of all the overpriced "talent". Howard, Utley, Rollins, Polanco, Victorino, Pence, Lee, Papelbon all make sense to me. Lee and Papelbon are still good but probably not worth their contracts. Pence looks good on paper as well. The rest aren't even close to performing what they are being paid. If you can get something for pierre or wiggie, go ahead as well. They went wrong with a lot of these contracts. You can't convince me that Rollins at 11-12 million a year is better than galvis at less than 1. Get it done!— johnhenry
- Jstroll leading off. Chawlie is either incompetent or blindly loyal.— wo_fat
- actually he is both. — coloradoeagle
- How bout a true shakup and move Rollins into the end of the order... Nobody can hit anyway so how could it be worse?.......trade Pence because he has not brought a lot of value.....— westie33
- Trade Victorino, Rollins and Polanco. Any of them are easily replacable right now. Polanco if healthy would be a hit, but the guy can't stay healty for more than a week at a time. Rollins keeps insisting on hitting lead-off and Charlie keeps catering to him. Rollins always pops out. Pierre is much better fit for that currently.— BaseballinReading
- wo_fat - Why can't Charlie be both (blindly loyal and incompetent)?
Sounds like Pence is going, but unless the Phils are getting a superb 3B prospect in return, I'd rather see them deal Victorino. Shane got his shot after the Phils traded Abreu, so a little karma may be in order. Bring up Dom Brown to play center or left for 2 months and let's see what happens.— DPinDC - If Pence is dealt, what are the chances of resigning Victorino and then getting Bourne in free agency? A true leadoff hitter would be nice. Lots of speed, some power. And two of the three outfield spots filled.— mumf86
- This is more in line with my thinking. With the way Pence is playing defense, we may as well give Dom Brown the playing time there. I would like to sign Victorino and move him to left next year, sign Bourn to play center, and go with a platoon of Brown and Mayberry in right. Rollins would be done leading off as Bourn would take that role. I would move Jimmy to third and Galvis would take over short. Gone with Pence would be Wigginton, Blanton, Polanco, Schneider, Manuel, Samuel, and Dubee. Would be nice to be king for a day. — ElwoodPDowd
