Donald’s Slide Disapproved By Manuel
Posted by Tim Malcolm, Fri, March 20, 2009 08:23 AM | Comments: 27
News, Posts
Scott Lauber picked up on a crucial play during the Phillies win over Florida yesterday. Jason Donald scored a run off Jayson Werth’s hit, but he slid head-first into home to avoid the tag.
Asking Charlie Manuel about Donald’s choice, Lauber found the skipper wasn’t an advocate.
These are the types of things that add up in deciding a player’s fate. While Donald still has a shot of making the 25-man roster, his hopes appear to be slim, and something like that won’t help him at all. Just an interesting tidbit to pick up in what can be a long and confusing spring.
Posts: 0 Joe O'Phillie
What the…did I miss something? Who cares?
Posted: 09:16 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike W.
Was writing the same thing. What am I missing? What was wrong w/ the slide?
Posted: 09:17 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 BurrGundy
For who ?? For What??? It’s a Spring Training game.
Posted: 09:20 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Sean Chase
You always like to commend effort, especially from a fan favorite like Jason Donald, but it is an extremely dangerous play. We all remember the tumble Matt Holliday took two seasons ago…Although, it was probably the most memorable slide of 2007 it could of been disasterous. Jason Donald will not see the majors until mid 2009.
Posted: 09:22 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Ed
I agree with you all that to me it doesn’t seem like a big deal. It happened, he knows not to do it and we move on. But I think the bigger picture is that he made the decision to do it. So Manuel should be questioning Donald’s decision making abilities and thinking that maybe the kid needs a little more time down in the minors to learn all the ins and outs of the game. Most casual fans should know to never slide head first into home plate, and that is what Manuel is thinking.
Posted: 09:23 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Jason B.
It is a dangerous play but I think it was just Donald going hard all of the way. I could see manuel peeved it he bowled over the catcher, but in a situation like that, I don’t think a baserunner thinks about it that much, they just slide. I guess I am a little confused as to why that particular play was such a big deal.
Posted: 09:25 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Mike W.
If he’s truly sliding to avoid a tag (i didn’t see the play), there is absolutely nothing wrong with the move, unless you want to see, that just b/c it’s spring training, you don’t want to risk injury.
Didn’t you all see David Wright’s slide in the PR game? Awesome slide, that stole a run for the U.S.
I understand if Manuel’s point is “in spring training, don’t do this” but if his point is “don’t do this in general” it’s absolutely ridiculous.
Posted: 09:27 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Manny
I agree with Mike W.
David Wright’s slide vs Puerto Rico was amazing, and he could’ve only scored head-first.
Posted: 09:31 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
I like how Jason Donald is a “fan favorite”, eventhough 99% of Phillies fans have never even seen him play before
Posted: 09:39 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 NC Jason
While playing legion back in PA one of our players did the same thing (a head first slide into home plate) and he tore apart his shoulder. He never played ball again. In no way am I comparing my legion team to the Phillies, much less Major Leauge baseball, however head first sliding is a risk and I inpart understand it.
I think the other side of the story is that you have to let the players play the game. And they cannot be afriad
Posted: 09:48 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe
Craziness…let the poor guy slide however he wishes.
Posted: 09:55 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Justin
Just seen on MLB Trade Rumors: “Shawn Camp, Geoff Geary, John Buck, and Geoff Jenkins are currently available. The Phillies would eat almost all of the $8MM owed to Jenkins.”
Does that help dispell some of the thoughts the Phils are trying to shop Stairs? I think it clarifies that amazingly, since word came out in January that the Phils were shopping Eaton and would eat most of his contract to get rid of him. I don’t think they’d release Jenkins like they did to Eaton but i do think Jenkins is lower on the totum pole than Stairs is.
Posted: 10:01 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
I doubt that anyone jumps at the opportunity to sign an aging Geoff Jenkins for anything. In the end, they’re probably better off, from strictly an investment standpoint, holding onto Jenkins because he has more upside… I agree that Stairs is better but if they can’t find a suitor who will give Jenkins $1MM, I think that they’ll end up keeping Jenkins.
Posted: 10:18 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Chuck P
And Jenkins more of a household name… again, I don’t agree with it but I don’t see them releasing Jenkins for nothing.
Posted: 10:21 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Phan in TN
Isn’t there a danger of injury with a superman slide?
I agree with Don M insofar as I never considered this guy to be a fan favorite. Granted, take it with a grain of salt since I’m still a faithful member of the Wolf pack and Padilla Flotilla not to mention the Duck Pond
Posted: 10:28 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Don M
People are so quick to appoint Jason Donald as an All-Star…. (which I hope he is) but lets see him play, and prove that he can play at this level..
I feel like by the time he gets here, he’s going to be expected to do so much.. he won’t be able too… the fans will get disappointed… the booing starts… and then he goes somewhere else and has a nice career..
Posted: 11:14 AM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Richie Allen
I never saw Donald play either…Matter of fact I dont even know what he looks like…
People have him playing 2nd, ,3rd..taking the place of Utley, Feliz and project him as the future replacement at one of those positions some day .As if its a stone cold lock.
I guess you have to talk about something,but to me this is rediculous.What has he done so far?What makes him a fan favorite?Like Don M said let him prove he belongs here first.
Posted: 12:29 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Joe O'Phillie
Pete Rose slid head first into home. If it is good enough for Pete….
Posted: 12:44 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Sam D.
Charlie Manuel is getting on my nerves, let the man slide, who cares. He’s got the tools to be a great hitter, probably will come up a little before the middle of the season, if he doesn’t make it with the big club now. That spot is undecided?
Posted: 12:48 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Sam D.
Manuel can say the F-word 500 times at a press conference after a spring training game, but Donald can’t slide in the plate head first? makes no sense to me
Posted: 12:49 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Phillies Phan SC
This is dumb. I love Charlie, but head first slides are part of the game. The problem with MLB today is that they disengage the policies of the previous eras; I got the DVD set from 1975, 1977, and 1979 and even though I do not care about those teams, the old style of play was GREAT. I agree with Joe O’Phillie… Pete did it all the time!
Posted: 12:49 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Greg B
This is dumb for getting reported. Manager and player will have a two sentence discussion and the problem is resolved.
Posted: 12:54 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Jim
you never slide head first into home, its a dangerous play
your head, even with a helmet, is vulernable to the walking suit of armro that is the catcher
Posted: 03:57 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Stuart
he slid to make the run, i believe that shows heart. whats the problem with that?
Posted: 04:34 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Jim
tell you what stuart, when he hits like pete rose, he can slide like pete rose
Posted: 04:43 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 mike
To me the kid is just doing whatever he can to make this team. Charlie should appreciate that this kid is a throwback type player. Hard nose kid who is making the most out of whatever talent he has, which a lot of people think isn’t much but he continues to impress whatever level he plays at, hopefully he gets a chance to play.
Posted: 05:23 PM on March 20, 2009
Posts: 0 Bruce
From a fan’s point of view, the headslide is exciting and daring; from a manager’s point of view, it’s not the correct fundamental play and a hugh potential for injury. What is worst, the play occurred in a meaningless exhibition game.
Posted: 12:15 AM on March 21, 2009