Phils Have A Few Options For DH
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, October 20, 2008 12:24 PM | Comments: 95
Posts
And on the fourth day, they found out their opponent.
Last night the Rays defeated the Red Sox to take the American League championship. The Rays will now play the Phillies in the World Series.
Now that the Phils have their itinerary set, they can concentrate on matchups, scouting, rotations and lineups. And they can focus on setting their lineup for Tropicana Field, which means assigning a designated hitter.
The first and most obvious option for a DH is Greg Dobbs, the best pure hitter on the Phils bench, and the best pinch hitter in baseball. In game one, against James Shields (who is said to be starting), Dobbs is the right play, and maybe in left field, allowing Pat Burrell to DH.
Game two will likely bring the Phils lefty Scott Kazmir. That takes Dobbs out of the equation. So who’s the extra hitter? Wait, let me rephrase that:
Who’s the extra hitter? So?
Yes, it’s possible So Taguchi will get the extra spot in game two. The case can be made for Eric Bruntlett, however. Chris Coste would get the spot only if he plays first base and Ryan Howard gets the DH spot. That’s not a bad idea, as it would allow Coste to stay on as the second catcher, if need be.
Dobbs should be the extra hitter in game one. Who’s the guy for game two?
Posts: 0 Chuck
And if I’m not mistaken, once the roster is set you can’t change it unless there is an injury. Correct?
Posted: 03:04 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Sean
what about giving stairs a shot in game 2?
Posted: 03:04 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Stairs as DH in an American League park is a good idea.
Posted: 03:05 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
I’m not saying Tagichi is the worst player in baseball, because he certainly isn’t. And I’m the type of fan who never boos her team when things go south, I tend to be more encouraging. I am saying he is the worst player on the 25 man roster. He is the only one who has been given the chance to contribute and hasn’t come through. I’m not saying Marson is an MVP, but it allows Coste to step in. I mean seriously, in a game as big as the world series, are you really comfortable putting the bat in his hand? I don’t even want a bat in Marson’s hand either, but by putting Marson on the roster it allows Coste to hit, and gives us an option if something happens to either catcher.
Posted: 03:11 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
This speculation is giving me great distractions while I wait impatiently for the series to start…I gotta say
Posted: 03:12 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
MP…..distractions, yes. And I’m distracted from work in a big way. This site is ADDICTIVE!!
Posted: 03:14 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
I’ve already explained to my co-workers and boss I won’t be at the top of my game until this is over. And not to expect me in the day after we win the world series and the day of the parade
Posted: 03:18 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
Hope your boss is a Phillies fan!!!!
Posted: 03:20 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Tom
Don – Are you kidding me with all of this So Taguchi defense. The guy is horrible. He has a WS ring, but it’s not like he won the World Series MVP. Marson = talent. Look at what the Rays have done this year with a bunch of talent. You never know what you’re going to get out of Marson, he may play great or he may stink, but you know what you’re going to get out of So Taguchi, and it’s without a shadow of a doubt STINK!!! Please talk about how he was “Robbed” on a pathetic pop fly again…it’s not like it was a line drive deep in the gap. It should have been caught by the 2nd basemen. Go look up some more stats about the guy Marson hit the homerun after to prove that you have no life whatsoever. Better yet…make another joke about how the guy hit the homerun off of is now pitching in a high school girls softball league. You’re not funny and your analysis is WORTHLESS.
Posted: 04:30 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Don M how in the world could you say that jenkins isn’t to this point a bust. Werth hitting has nothing to do with jenkins poor season. I know you feel the phillies F.O. is the greatest and I can’t let you post that without pulling out the little hair I have left. It’s like saying eaton wasn’t a bust because blanton and happ kendrick combo won a lot of games. They took his place in rotation.
Posted: 04:38 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
i just posted this in the other thread…
what happens if one of the home games gets rained out??? would they do a WS doubleheader?! (hope not)… games get pushed back or what? someone help! i’m just trying to cover all of my angles…
Posted: 04:44 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Gabriel
don m… i appreciate your comments and your positive enthusiasm, i do however, agree that taGUCHi shouldn’t be on the WS team… if he earns a 2nd ring without contributing its as bad as eaton gettin 7.65 mil to fade away in AAA… i think that marson is a good choice to replace him on the roster because at worst, he is the same as taguchi… and he gives you the option of lettin coste to coast DH against kazmir…
Posted: 04:49 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
damn Tom, you’re right.. I’m should go kill myself, because as hard as I try… I’ll never be as cool or funny as you.
Jenkins was brought on to be a part-time player.. and because he doesn’t have 25 HomeRuns people think he sucks.. Considering what our bench has been like before.. wouldn’t you rather have Jenkins over like Jason Michaels, David Dellucci, etc.. maybe you wouldn’t.. I would..
Its not that I think the Phillies anything, is the greatest anything ever… Doesn’t it bother anyone else that “Negadelphia” is a true-nickname.. All the players that have sucked all year include Myers, Madson, Rollins, Howard, Ruiz, Feliz, Taguchi, Condrey, Blanton when we obtained him, Moyer after his last two starts, etc..
I obviously go overboard with sticking up for random players..but I just want people to realize that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
People can never just be content with what they have and it bothers me.. so I say all the reasons that its not as bad as people make it out to be.
Posted: 04:50 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 MP
I am more than content with this team, Don. I don’t think anyone on here isn’t! I just think it would be a smart move if we have someone to back up the catchers, and the opportunity to let a BETTER righty bat hit, we should take it. We are content with this team, we love this team – we just don’t want this team to fail after coming so far. I thinkby giving Marson that spot, which would allow Coste to hit, makes this team stronger, and allows a player who we’ve embraced and who has embraced this city back to contribute to what I think will be one of the greatest series’ this city has ever seen.
Posted: 04:56 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Tom
Don M’s first post was at 12:49 this afternoon. Who here thinks he needs a life? Good bye Don, I’m not wasting anymore time on this site, debating whether on not it makes sense to DH the worst hitter in the major leauges (who by the way is rumored to be a giant Japanese Woman) against tough lefties in the World Series. I honestly don’t think he could get a hit if he was allowed to use a tee. Freeing up Coste by bringing up Marson is the way to go. Good bye Don. Don’t kill yourself, no one wants to make your family and your only friend miss any of the World Series planning/attending your funeral services.
Posted: 05:26 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
Why you hatin? Can’t a brotha get no love? So Taguchi is mad chill. He’s my dawg. I’ll defend him till def.
Posted: 05:35 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chris Johnston
I’m going to have to agree with Tom. So Taguchi does suck. On the other hand, I think we should all go easy on Don M. He may be legally retarded.
Posted: 05:39 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
We are on here debating things about the phillies. To say jenkins is better than michaels what’s does that prove or taguchi is better than so and so. the bottom line is the phillies got bail out on a bad free agent. He has done nothing for them you mention he made a good catch big deal how many outfield assist did he have. I watch him play right where you need a arm he can’t throw. check out his number with runner in scoring position. taguchi stunk in the field he cost them two games early in the season with drop fly balls. and gave them nothing off the bench.
Posted: 07:01 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
So I see we still haven’t resolved the Taguchi-Marson matter. Don M is possibly retarded. But……and this is a stretch…………he may have a point with Taguchi. As I said before, if Taguchi is on the roster and the first time Charlie asks him to sacrifice and he can’t lay it down and get it done, then I’m gonna be all over this move. Because, experience be damned, if a guy absolutely can’t do a basic task such as bunting to move over a runner TWICE in the postseason, then he doesn’t deserve to be on the team. Period.
So, Don M…..I’m willing to give this argument a shot, because I think you know this game pretty well and I have been “listening” to a lot of back and forth on this blog with this issue. I DO think there is a certain something a player brings to the mix in these situations with experience, etc, etc. that means something. But he better produce. that’s all I’m sayin.’
Posted: 07:04 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
It’s great that Don M loves his team. But you can’t come on here and try to sell two bad offseason moves as good when we all saw how bad they played. Jenkins was so bad charlie used werth ,who’s numbers against righthanders was not good but as low a average as werth had against righthanders a least he could field and run. and I believe a lot of orgization would have had golson up doing what taguchi was suppose to do but the phillies hold back there young players not like the rays who use price. who was only in the minors one season. Marson on his ability to take walks gives you more than tagushi can at this stage of his career.
Posted: 07:09 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
and that’s my argument AGAINST Taguchi. Marson can possibly do that (take walks) and frees up Coste to be a RH DH. Don M’s argument is that Taguchi brings a certain WS experience to the equation and I understand that. I love Golson’s potential….the guy can flat out run…..but he strikes out a lot and I wonder how his sacrificing abilities are. With some hitting instruction and a season or two in the minors he could develop into a nice player. But that’s not for now. It’s either Taguchi or Marson and, either way, it’s a gamble.
Posted: 07:23 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Don M I figure the only way to prove to you I know a little about this game is facts. Okay go to phuture phillies and see today’s fielding stats came out. remember when I said felix can’t go to his left or charge. Well the numbers bail me out . he is 12 among third basemen with the biggest drops in his ability to charge the ball-7 and go to his left-6 to his right good numbers. all this and he can’t hit argument over he is okay in the field makes the routine play good arm but no range and because of his poor offensive output he stinks.
Posted: 07:23 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Mike
I’m not certain about this, because he’s not a great hitter. But, if we go by the pennant series… this will be a series based on homers. And I kinda want Feliz in, at the 8 or 9 spot against Kaz. It’s like… he can’t do a ton of damage there, and maybe he’ll get lucky and clean the bases.
I definitely want him there over Bruntlett or Taguchi.
Posted: 07:37 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Joey
Id Say Dobbs v righties as DH (dont take Burrell out of the field) and Coste v lefties as DH, hes also no better defensively. rest shouldnt be an issue.
Posted: 08:13 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
By the way Donald is tearing up the Arizona Fall league today 4-5 with according to reports tremedous homer and unbelievable play on de jesus playing third. he is ready He should get a shot in spring hopefully. I wish that I saw more of the rays, Only two times have seen them. That kid Garza looks really good. never seen Kasmir, or shields hard for me to pick. As a phillies fan would love to see them do it . Howard Eskin said they are the Best Fielding team in american league. I was a little suprise in regular season upton only had nine homers. but he killed the sox in the playoffs. hopefully he tails off.
Posted: 08:30 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Bobby in Boston
Chris Coste for DH! He’s a lifetime .316 hitter against lefties and Kazmir’s fastball is the kind that he can hit out. Bruntlett and Dobbs both hit about .250. against lefties. But no way in hell should Coste play 1B. Ryan Howard played 159 games at first base this year, Coste played one. I also think it’s important to get Coste some at-bats early in this series because we might need him to PH against Price or Howell later in the series. As for Taguchi, he has been a huge disappointment from day one. Which is just the sort of performance that dictates (in baseball’s topsy-turvy way) that he’ll be the guy that makes a key play in the bottom of the 13th in game 5 of the World Series…or something like that.
Posted: 10:37 PM on October 20, 2008
Posts: 0 Philly Fan from NY
I think that Burrell should DH both games because he doesn’t field as good, so you would have to sub him anyway. You need Dobbs Bat in the line-up as much as possible.
So Taguchi Stinks and should not play.
Batting order should be:
Rollins SS
Werth RF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Dobbs LF
Victorino CF
Burrell DH
Feliz 3B
Ruiz C
Posted: 12:55 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Andy
Manuel will not take Burell out of the 5 hole… He’s better protection for Howard than Dobbs… I’d stick with Dobbs for the DH spot… maybe Stairs, but you’re not going to get many balls put in play with Stairs, Howard, and Burrell… too many potential strikeouts and too little speed. As for So, he hasn’t come up big much this year… but he has shown in the past that he can hit well and produce in clutch situations. Recall the Mets game over the summer when he hit a double to spark the huge comeback in the 9th. I think leaving him in there is better than bringing up some unproven young guy.
Posted: 02:33 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
tried to post a minute ago but it didn’t go through..
BUT.. I haven’t ended my own life yet.. im waiting at least two weeks.
Tom, read stuff before acting tough.. I never said that Taguchi should be the DH.. I just said the he should be on the roster instead of a guy with 1 total game of experience. Marson wasn’t even the Phillies top catching prospect until mid-way through THIS season.. Jaramillo was ahead of him.
I am a big nerd for posting comments about the Phillies.. thats true..
I post from work in between working on accounts and waiting for things to upload.. because it makes the day go REAL fast, and its better than listening to the EAGLES radio on 610..
Mike, that Feliz thing started because they said Casey Blake was better than Pedro Feliz.. so I said that at Hitting, yea Blake was better.. but not at Fielding.. so if anything if should have been a tie when comparing those teams at each position. I just went to the phuture phillies site, but not sure where to find that stuff.
just about every time Feliz throws to 1st, he hits Howard right in the chest.. and everything he gets to, he fields cleanly.. I understand about range, and charging the ball (a quick Rays team that might lay some bunts at him..) we’ll see. I just still think he’s one of the best at 3b
Posted: 10:17 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
I can’t believe there is even an argument going on about Pedro Feliz and his defense. How many errors did he make all season? I don’t know the answer, but I think I saw him make one with all the games I watched. The guy is a true stud at his position….AND…..he is not a bad hitter either (ok, he’s no Blake, but he isn’t Wes Helms either).
I’m a nerd, too. So what?? This is too much fun and…..YES…..it sure does make the day go fast.
Posted: 11:07 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Georgie
Chuck and Don, as I’ve said before, we’re all nerds on here, and I agree-SO WHAT? There are alot worse things to be called than nerd. Nerds are generally intelligent, compassionate, and lots of times funny. I married a nerd, dated tons of “cool” guys that turned out to be assholes.
NERDS RULE!
Oh, and GO PHILLIES!
Posted: 11:17 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 adam
hit Coste against lefties, Dobbs against righties, and leave the rest of the lineup the same defensively
Posted: 11:22 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I know.. I just get REALLY pissed when people act tough on the computer.. If you ever read anything on the internet that has a message board.. on news websites, or anything.. within the first 10 comments, there is always someone trying to act tough and calling someone else a “fag” a “nerd”.. its ridiculous.. then we get people on here, who have never chimed in before acting tough.. that, to me, is annoying..
Yea all day long I post comments on here.. and generally.. its part of awesome, phillies-related talk that makes my day speed by lets me say anything and everything on my mind about the Phillies.. but you get people on here that throw jabs at you, and then disappear.. THAT is sad
I didn’t say that Taguchi should Pinch Hit.. I just don’t know that it should be Coste either.. I really think it should be Dobbs DH vs. RHP.. and Burrell DH with Bruntlett in LF vs. LHP
Posted: 11:27 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 adam
do you want bruntlett hitting over coste?
Posted: 11:29 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I want Burrell hitting the whole game more than I want Coste hitting over Bruntlett…
If Burrell is not the DH.. he’s out of the game by like the 7th.. and misses at least 1 at bat. So if Bruntlett is going to enter the game for defense at some point anyway.. why not start him out there, let Burrell DH, and you get Pat the Bat for the entire game
That is my view on it… its not that I want Bruntlett batting over Coste, its about having the BEST hitters staying in the lineup for the whole game..
Posted: 11:35 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 adam
coste is a better hitter so give him more at bats than bruntlett, burrell only misses at bats when we are ahead anyway, i.e. 80-0 after 8 innings
Posted: 11:41 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 adam
the only basis for starting bruntlett should be his defense, not getting burrell and extra at bat
Posted: 11:44 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
I get what you’re saying.. and if they go with Coste.. they’ll need to call Marson up to the World Series roster. I just do not think they’ll do that because Manuel is crazy-loyal to his players, and I think that if you need to use one of them, I’d still rather have Taguchi than an in-experienced Marson.
I agree that I’d much rather have Coste hitting the whole game over Bruntlett.. but with Bruntlett in LF your defense is very good against very fast baserunners on Tampa (maybe cutting off balls in the gaps and holding players to long-singles)… etc..
Trust me, I won’t be arguing with whatever Manuel decides, because they obviously know more than we do.. I just don’t want to have to see people flipping out if Marson doesn’t make the World Series roster.. because I don’t think they’ll put him on it
Posted: 11:49 AM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Philly Fan from NY
You need Burrell’s bat, but not his glove. Dobbs is a better fielder and you need his bat too, so have him in LF. Bring Brutlett in to play LF at the end of the game if we are winning. Coste you need him to be able to Pitch hit if we are losing late in the game for Ruiz.
Keep the rest of the lineup the same.
Posted: 02:33 PM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Bobby in Boston
Hey Don,
DH’ing Coste doesn’t mean you have to put Marson on the roster. It only means that if Ruiz gets hurt and you have to move Coste behind the plate FROM DH in that particular game, the pitcher has to hit for the rest of the game. But if Ruiz is truly injured, we get to add another player (I think) after the game.
And while we’re on the subject of Ruiz, I gotta say that guy is doing an amazing job. Like the kudos that Jason Varitek gets for his handling of pitchers, Ruiz deserves some credit for the high quality of pitching by the Phillies. Getting five hits in the NLCS didn’t hurt either. Probably the most underrated player on our team. Love to see him jack one out in the WS.
Posted: 05:14 PM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Don M
That is what I wasn’t sure of.. you take the DH and move him to a defensive spot.. the Pitcher then has to bat for himself.. but if you read the MLB rules, it makes it sound like if you double-switch, the DH moves to wherever, and the new guy can bat for the pitcher..
but then it would just be the same as the NL really… so im still confused as to their ruling
Posted: 05:36 PM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Manny
As Game 1 gets closer and closer, I am inclined to putting Burrell as DH and Bruntlett in left field. If the Rays change their pitcher mid-game (putting in a righty), then we could get Bruntlett out and put Jenkins or Stairs in –of course, that would imply moving Werth to left field.
Posted: 06:48 PM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Chuck please don’t say he is a hitter . We are all phillies fans and you have your right to a opinion. but felix this year number defensely and hitting were bottom of the barrell. go on to phuture phillies and see the numbers. he made seven errors and drop down to 12th in defense among third basemen big drops in all the fielding catagory.mostly things I said before. What I am starting to believe is people look at his numbers in san fran. and just assume he was the same. not true, he forced charlie to play dobbs there who isnt a third basemen just to get some offense.. He is a dead fast ball hitter and pitcher don’t have to give him with a 230 hitting catcher and a pitcher following him he doesn;t walk and can’t steal. he makes the routine play and has a great arm. which harry kalas seems to say ever game. my whole point is they are in the series but felix and jenkins did little to help them get there.
Posted: 07:35 PM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 mikemike
Don M I always thought the dh couldn’t go in the field . but I guess I was wrong hate the D.H. takes out the strategy out of the game. Say its 2-1 in the eight the national league has to go to the bullpen and not the american if the mets were in that league how many games would they had won not having to go to that bullpen.
Posted: 07:41 PM on October 21, 2008
Posts: 0 Chuck
mikemike…..not sure if you’re still checking this thread……but I didn’t say that Feliz was a “hitter” in the sense that he’s Pete Rose or something. All I was saying was that his defense is good and that he’s definitely an upgrade in the hitting department for third base. Sure…..Dobbs last year was a better hitter, but he’s not the defensive third baseman you need on a pretty regular basis.
Posted: 07:32 AM on October 22, 2008