Comments on: Raul Ibanez: Extra Base Machine

By: frank

frank — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:32:08 +0000

chase has to hit in the third spot. he is a perfect three .

By: steve

steve — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:46:40 +0000

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The problem is pitching, not the batting order.

By: BFO

BFO — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:10:59 +0000

The whole 3 lefties in a row concern is waaayy overated. Between Utley, Howard, and Ibanez, Howard is the only one who hits poorly against good lefties, and he still has the sluggers chance to hit one out (led the league in hrs against lefties last year). The key is one and two. Jroll still isn’t quite on track, and Victorino is streaky. I’d give Werth a shot at lead-off at least until Rollins gets some more at-bats.
Line-up, Lefty starter:

Werth
Marson
Utley
Ibanez
Howard
Rollins
Victorino
Feliz

Against righties, swap Ibanez and Howard, Marson and Rollins.
Our starting pitching will line out, but until Hamels comes back, expect 3 runs in 5-6 innings from the rest of the crew when they are going good. If the bullpen can hold it to a run, we’ll win a lot more than we lose.
I also think that unless the pitchers don’t like Marson, he is here to stay. Not a ton of power, but at least he can turn on the ball.

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 20:07:23 +0000

I didn’t see it, but was wondering if Howard made WED GEMS for either of his diving stops yesterday?

He had a nice play on a foul-ball too, down the line, earlier in the game yesterday.. nice to see him improved all-around!

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:48:30 +0000

I don’t think anyone here mentioned the improved hitting of Howard (.341BA; 9 RBIs) who has displayed patience and getting good pitches to hit thanks to Ibanez providing protection in the five hole. Ibanez’s hot bat (.386BA; 10 RBIs) certainly helps hitting behind Howard.

By: peasant

peasant — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:06:41 +0000

i never had any doubts that raul would be a bigger threat behind howard than burrell. we needed someone who hits for average with good power, raul’s power numbers are going to JUMP up this year because he’s now in the NL and he’s playing in CBP, which no matter what you think about it’s reputation for being a hitters park, it can’t be denied it’s more of a band box than safeco field. the lefty lefty lefty thing is not good, but werth will comeinto his own this year, he’s already starting to, and feliz can’t play worse than he did last year. one thing i noticed about last year that surprised me is that the phillies bats were in a pretty serious lull most of the regular season, get them all producing at their career averages, and this lineup is in the running for best in the league, no question… and lets not forget that MOST teamsrotations and bullpens are heavy with right handers, so it’s not absolutely terrible to have a lefty heavy lineup for the most part

By: Joedad

Joedad — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:23:23 +0000

The Phils are scoring more than enough runs. no need to adjust the lineup when it is producing.

By: Don M

Don M — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:59:45 +0000

I think I was off by 5 games… When they first signed him, I said that fans would stop complaining, and start to love him when he hit a walk-off Home Run on Opening Night.. and people would go run out and buy his jersey.

Dude is professional hitter.. misplayed a ball in LF, but made up for it at the plate.

Nice story in the Inq. today saying how Ibanez “fits in[to the clubhouse] unbelievably” … breaking things down with Utley and Werth to get adjusted to the National League.

By: reddeath

reddeath — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:54:57 +0000

i was there and me and everyone else were saying “rauuuullllll”.

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:33:06 +0000

I like Ted R’s idea…….”El Matador!!!!!!!”

By: beta sigma shag

beta sigma shag — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:19:25 +0000

I justatched the game on dvr and I am pretty sure there was no BOOing in the ninth inning, on my surrond sound it sounds like RAUUUUUUL.

By: Griffin

Griffin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:14:09 +0000

Were the fan really booing Ibanez? Are we sure they weren’t saying “Rauuuuul”?

By: John Fire

John Fire — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:12:29 +0000

Wait a sec… let me get this straight. The fans were BOOING Raul in the bottom of the ninth? I was watching on MLB TV, but didn’t pick up on that. If so, I’m incredibly disappointing. Fielding mistake and double-play aside, Ibanez has been nothing if not clutch for us so far this year. To think the fans were turning on him in the ninth as he stepped up with a chance to win the game is disappointing. Before the game, he was hitting .375 with four dingers and has been a HUGE upgrade from Burrell on the basepaths if nowhere else. Not to mention he has made a good amount of solid plays in the outfield. I’m a lifelong Philly fan and I’m just a bit surprised to hear that anyone would be booing this guy already – if you have to boo, boo Rollins… he’s been a black hole.

By: beta sigma shag

beta sigma shag — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:09:49 +0000

have to agree with tim c. why would want to move utley out of the 3 spot, he has been on fire this year doesn’t he have 3 home runs in 3 games and batting like 350. I am really clueless as what to do with the 3 lefties in a row thing against a team with good lefties relievers. But it seems to me that Raul has been hitting well in the 5 spot. Both Vic and JRoll are impatient at the plate, but I think JRoll is our best option at lead off if he can get his head out of his a%% Hopefully yestarday will get him going.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:01:58 +0000

Raul Ibanez was born and raised in New York City…so hes a hispanic-american as opposed to just being purely hispanic.

Yeah Wang is a former 20 game winner and former cy young candidate, when hes on Id much rather have him here. As a matter of fact, we need more sinkerballers on our pitching staff. Hamels is Hamels, and Myers is Myers. Blanton needs to throw more sinkers than he does. Chan Ho Park needs replaced by Happ.

The main problem is Moyers sinkers are all meatballs when the umpire doesnt give him a strize zone the size of a doormat. Replacing him with someone who throws HARD sinkers down in the zone would really round our the starting staff well.

By: Mark B

Mark B — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:56:43 +0000

Geoff – I would think so. One is 20 years younger than the other.

By: TR

TR — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:45:26 +0000

Time for a nickname for Raul……………Carlos Lee is “El Caballo”, How about “El Matador”?

By: Geoff

Geoff — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:17:45 +0000

Actually Chien Ming Wang is a far better pitcher than Jamie Moyer – when hes got his mechanics right that is. Im sure that will piss a lot of people off too..

By: Griffin

Griffin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:41:08 +0000

I don’t mind who hits where as long as you break up the lefties (except against the Padres who carry 13 pitchers but have no lefties in the pen.)

Let’s say Werth hits 5 and Ibanez 6, once the opposing manager goes to the pen, you’re guaranteeing that a lefty will come in to face Utley, Howard and then stay in to face Werth before facing Ibanez or the manager will bring in a lefty to face Utley and Howard and then bring in a righty to face Werth and Ibanez.

Either way Werth or Ibanez will get to face the type of pitcher that they are better against. And before anyone asks, Ibanez is a better hitter against RHP much like Werth is a much better hitter against LHP.

By: reddeath

reddeath — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:40:28 +0000

atleast has been dominant. i wonder if the knee injury wang had last year has anything to do with his mechanics being crewed up?