Phillies Nation

Excellent piece, Tim!

I couldn’t wait to read what everyone at Phillies Nation was going to say about Sheff…and that’s a compliment to this site.

Of course I disagree with everyone!

Assuming he 100% understands before any deal is signed that he would be:
a) a RH Bat off the bench and not a regular player
b) let go because of non-productivity / first sign of distraction
then I would be all for having this guy waiting on the bench for some manager to consider before he wastes his LOOGY on Ibanez or Dobbs…and that’s the type of presence this team could use. Is he washed up as an everyday guy? Possibly, err, more likely, probably. But in a hit-man, lefty killer type of roll he could still have some value.

As far as this guy being a clubhouse cancer, well I don’t know about that. Yes, he’s been shipped around and probably keeps one suitcase packed so that’s certainly an obvious red flag, but from ex-teammates I have heard that he was one of the quietest guys in the clubhouse and a worker. Maybe that means he’s a loner or unapproachable, maybe it just means he’s private…don’t know, never played with him.

For those of you who have played with him, what was your experience?

I still doubt he will be a Phillie however.

I don’t know how healthy Wily Mo Pena is, but I do remember watching him during batting practice when he played for Boston. He really has enormous power and he’s only 27. Didn’t we take a gamble on Jayson Werth that paid huge dividends? Pena is supposed to have talent in abundance, plus some success in the majors.

I really have some mixed emotions. I agree with those last night that said of their memories of Jenkins that he was the guy who was screaming, high-fiving, and genuinely happy for those who were playing instead of sulking. So I will miss Jenkins for that. However, if the goal is to get better than I am all for it; Jenkins was not a true option.

But the answer is NOT Sheffield. I do not want to bring up all of the pros/cons but there is a reason that he is looking for his EIGHT team to play for…

When looking for a righthanded “bat” off the bench, the Phillies should also keep in mind the need for a defensive replacement in the OF. The loss of Jenkins is more significant in that regard (still remembered those remarkable diving catches of his in OF). Heaven forbids if there are injury issues with aging Ibanez or injured proned Werth. Dobbs (a career 138 of 190 games played at 3rd base) and Bruntlett are natural infielders by profession and you roll the dice when they are used in the OF. Plus the team needs Dobbs as their pinch hitter deluxe off the bench. Stairs in the OF? Are you serious? If true about Sheffield’s abundant ego (chuckles), he won’t play for the Phillies on their “conditions”. So forget about him. No loss there.

Sheffield’s .360 average and .500 OBP% as a Pinch Hitter would seem like nice numbers too..

I would rather have Nomar Garciapparra, but since that didn’t work, give me Sheffield for $400,000

This Sheffield is a clubhouse cancer is about the same as when people were saying that Howard wasn’t a decent guy and doesn’t do anything for the community, and he’s greedy.. etc..

None of us have ANY idea about how Sheffield acts… a few teams didn’t like him, the Braves LOVED him.. If he came here, he would be well aware that other teams didn’t think he could play everyday.. he’d either be a problem and get cut.. or show every other team in baseball that they were wrong..

A guy with a lot to prove.. sounds like a good idea to me

Tim: I’m not convinced Sheffield couldn’t be an answer at a corner OF spot for a “fill-in” amount of time, such as covering for a 15 day DL stint…but yes, for an extended period he is likely not the answer.

But in all honesty, I don’t think the Phillies have that answer anywhere in the system. It would have to go to Mayberry I guess, but in my opinion, he would get exposed, and quickly. A platoon would be a more likely scenario.

I’d be happy with Pena as the right handed thumper off the bench that can play the OF. One player you’re forgetting though Tim is Dobbsy can play the corner OF positions as he did the first 2 seasons he was here with the Phils, I know it’s almost playing him out of position but he knows the OF and he’s not a bad mobility guy so he’d be a better choice than Stairs if you need an OF replacement. Or there’s even the prospect of Cairo maybe being able to play OF if he’s your 2nd utility guy off the bench.

Tim, OF THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS… who do you want, or are you content with the roster as is?

Matt Stairs can’t do anything BUT hit HRs, and he’s still here.. I wouldn’t mind having a legit HR threat from both sides of the plate, late in close games.

The guy is 40 and has lost his juice (figuratively speaking, of course… I wouldn’t want to accuse anyone). Add to that his arrogance and I say we pass on Sheff. He has been on a steady decline: down from hitting 1 HR every 17 AB’s in 2005 to 1 HR every 22 AB’s in 2008. He’s a DH… not a fielder. A professional hitter that has always relied on bat speed (not mechanics)… that speed is not quite what it was a few years ago. He might be able to help an AL team as a regular DH. We don’t need a guy that is going to bring that type of baggage… he’s never been a “role player” so nobody knows how he’s going to react. He’s not a good fit for this team.

you don’t hit almost .300 for your career because you have great “bat speed”…. He’s the best RH bat available..

i wouldn’t take sheffield if he played for free. hell, i wouldn’t want him on the phillies if he personally wrote a check out to me to allow him to play. he’s worse that TO.

What about Mike lamb?

Lamb is an arrogant steroid-using racist too

A.) McPherson is a Lefty
2.) He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of boat.
and
D.) That would give us 5 possible 3B on the roster

Wily Mo Pena, if he’s healthy enough to swing a bat that’s extra base power off the bench if he can adapt thats worth a 1 year punt. Personally I’d be taking a look at Frank Thomas right now, we need a bat not a fielder on the bench.

Couldn’t the Phillies have packaged Paulino and Jenkins and gotten a better lefty reliever than trashheap? We’re eating the 7 million anyway and Jenkins will help somebody.