Comments on: Year In Review: Eric Bruntlett

By: shag beta sigma delta

shag beta sigma delta — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:46:21 +0000

Neither Polonco or DeRosa are everyday 3rd basemen, both would be good bench guys. I still think Peter Happy will be back for 3-4 million and a team option for 2011. I can still hope, if you can get him back and either Polonco or Derosa on the bench that would be huge.
I also think The Beard suffered from limited at bats, but I don’t like dissing him on here, he was key in a WS win, if I remeber correctly did he not score the winning run in game 5 second half, I may have that wrong, was it Jenkins that got the double to lead off second half game five, I smoke way too much

By: Amanda Orr

Amanda Orr — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:58:29 +0000

Come on Rob, the beard doesn’t bring it up to a one? ;-)

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:11:06 +0000

I think the reason they didn’t keep Polanco before is that he doesn’t have the arm or quick-reflexes to play 3b

he is a contact hitter, with sure hands … almost the definition of a 2b

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:00:34 +0000

DeRosa is versatile but my premise on Polanco is he’s a lifetime .300+ hitter…plays second base at a gold glove level, and is very adept at 3b as well defensively. so he can be our everyday 3b guy but gives us the ability to rest Chase more while giving Dobss ABs and innings at 3B. This strengthens our bench (making Dobbs more effective with regular ABs) and upgrades our situational hitting which is a serious team weakness and a major area of strength for Polanco. He has a high baseball IQ and if you watched Damon and Jeter in the Series you know that matters. Polanco is a winning type of player. As for age:

Polanco born 10/10/75
DeRosa born 2/26/75

Defensively:
DeRosa’s lifetime fielding % at 3B is .955 (311 games). Polanco at 3B is .982 (322 games) and he’s a gold glove-level second baseman.

I just think there is a DeRosa bandwagon now and I’m not understanding what he does better than Polanco except hit for some more power…which is not a necessity on this team…situation hitting is.

By: Biggie26

Biggie26 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:00:28 +0000

I think Bruntlett’s biggest contribution was that I always knew I could go to the bathroom and not miss anything when he was at bat!

By: Georgie

Georgie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:37:09 +0000

Hey Manny and Geoff, thanks. Good to hear from you Geoff, especially the “young lady” part, lol!

How old is Polanco? I always liked him, wouldn’t mind seeing him back here.

By: shag beta sigma delta

shag beta sigma delta — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:16:37 +0000

I do not see DeRosa as an everyday third basemen. He would not last a full year playing everyday, and is no where near Pedro defensivly. He would be a great pick up for a bench guy. Raul, Chase, and even Vic and Wreth need some more time off during the year. So he would get some AB then the Beard did this year. Pitching and defense wins, the Phillies do not need to upgrade their offense in detriment to their defense.
And as I said during trade dead line last year, you do not give up potential for a year or a year and a half of a guy. That is why I really think they will re sign Lee to 2 or 3 more years. Halliday is a pipe dream I think, if Hamels shows up at all next year the rotation of Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Happ, and X?(Drebek, Kendrick, Park) though I like Chopper in the pen. would be formidable. I also think some of the pen spots can be filled in farm within the Phillies farm system. Spend money on resigning Lee, and look for a back of the rotation guy if you do not think Drebek or someone else from the system can be the #5 this year.
I like the idea of Placido Polanco, I know it is not the best way to go about it but which ever one is Cheaper between he and DeRosa, either would be fine with me. PP would be a big upgrade, and he has played here before, so the fit in the clubhouse would already be known.

By: Ed R.

Ed R. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:16:08 +0000

Chuck…good point, just because you spend money doesn’t make you good. Look at the Met’s. A team can easily get hand cuffed by a bad contract or two…Flyers with Danny Briere and Sixers with Elton Brand.

By: Dhall

Dhall — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:15:35 +0000

Wow…he got 18 hits? I don’t remember those.

By: Ed R.

Ed R. — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:14:20 +0000

Personally I am ok with the Yankees spending. Does it suck for other teams? Yes but if you look at some of the teams that blow year in and year out, they also have some of the highest profit margins because their owners choose to pocket money instead of investing it back in their product. The Pirates come to mind. Afterall, what is wrong with the Yankees doing whatever it takes to win? It’s not like they are cheating. They are functioning within their means, don’t we all do that? Though to a lesser extent?

That being said, the difference with Halladay and what the Yankees did was that we are taking a risk in trying to trade for him? We lose something in a trade. If Halladay resigns, then that lose decreases, but if he walks after one year, then really, unless the Phillies won a title then the trade may not be considered that of a success. Maybe it would be, I guess thats a matter of opinion. But that is different than what the Yankee’s do which is identify the best free agents and then pay them more than their market value dictates simply to deter other teams from even trying to sign that guy.

And lastly, whoever said that the players union pressures these guys is absolutely right. People make out players to be the bad guy because they chase the money, maybe some do, but they don’t all. A lot of times the Players Union has as much of an impact as anyone or anything else. Remember, the Sox almost traded for A-Rod but the Union blocked it due to A-Rod having to take a pay cut. Doesn’t seem fair from an outside perspective but the Players Union is a business too.

I say, bring on Halladay, Beltre and anyone else the Phillies can go after. Because as long as baseball will allow free spending, then why not take advantage?

Oh and also, we do need Halladay to win another World Series. Successful baseball teams are like sharks, if they aren’t moving(wheeling and dealing) then they are dead. Standing pat is easy to do but it isn’t always right. Look at the Eagles. They went to the Super Bowl in 2004 and lost, the following year they did nothing in the off season, traded away draft picks I believe and now look at them. They over estimate their talent and that blinds them to the reality. Sure they owned the NFC for a while but the NFC as a whole was awful, while they stood pat, other teams built up their talent and surpassed them.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:08:23 +0000

Wow…never thought about that…..Shane creating a genius business move…

As far as the payroll issue, sad thing is that only 10 years ago or so (late 90′s) the O’s had one of the HIGHEST payrolls….guys like Ripken, Bobby Bonilla, Roberto Alomar, Palmeiro, etc….it’s amazing how that landscape can change that quickly….and it goes to show just how poorly run a team like the Orioles is…

By: Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:05 +0000

Hi Georgie, well said young lady!

By: Manny

Manny — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:59:13 +0000

Thumbs up, Georgie!

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:53:34 +0000

Shane Victorino is a genious… invite a guy that will guarantee Paparzzi at your wedding.. means that your name gets out there

you already play a great baseball team, so baseball fans know your name.. now the general public (at least those who care about celebrity gossip) .. and by Christmas, Shane Victorino’s name will be known by x % of people in the US

all of a sudden he grabs more endorsement deals, etc..

give some props to the Flyin Hawaiian on a smart business move

By: Georgie

Georgie — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:46:00 +0000

The sad thing is, most of us probably agree with Manny on an ethical level, but realistically, NO ONE is going to be able to compete with the Yankees and their obscene payroll. If we start letting our payroll creep up towards $200M, we’re just buying in to what Phillies fans were criticizing the Yankees for, as Manny said. Don is also right, this is bad for baseball in general, not fair to teams like the Pirates and O’s. I’m almost tempted to say, ya know what? Let the freakin’ Yankees win the WS every year, with less and less competition, see how long MLB lets that go on. Ratings would crap, it would be a disaster for baseball. Something needs to be done before our national pasttime becomes the YBL.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:44:17 +0000

Interesting posts here…..especially Geoff and Don M agreeing….Am I really on the right blog!!!

I agree with the Hamels thing…..I can’t see him going anywhere. I have to believe that the guy will bounce back strong and be a major contributor next year and in the future. At least I hope so..

Mark DeRosa… When it’s all said and done, is he really THAT much of an
upgrade over Feliz??…If you factor in the offense and defense.??

___

Who cares about Jon Gosselin?? So what??

By: Manny

Manny — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:29:09 +0000

The rotation isn’t the problem here!! Enough about Halladay.. if he eventually gets he’re fine, but we don’t really NEED him. Third base first (Beltre or Feliz), strong bullpen arms (two hopefully… we’ll have a post-surgery Lidge and Eyre/Romero).. and a bench player that could play at least once or twice a week like DeRosa. Then you see if you can extend Lee’s contract. Those are our priorities, and I’m glad that our GM has made that clear. After that, I doubt that you’ll have enough money to go and pay Halladay…

People b!tched about the Yankees payroll and look at us, here we are asking for similar things (as if that’s THE only way to win the WS)… the difference is that for a team like the Phillies this type of short-term thinking is unsustainable and could kill us for the next decade or so.

First things first.

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:27:40 +0000

Nobody would go watch the Royals roster wearing Yankees uniforms..

the Yankees sucked in the late 80′s, early 90′s

people still recongized the Logo, it was a familiar thing.. but it wasn’ the International Symbol it is now … Props to Jeter, Mariano River, Posada, Pettite, etc.. but the fact that baseball doesn’t have a salary cap hurts the game overall

must be nice to get to play the Padres, Royals, Pirates, Orioles, Nats, etc.. lots of times per year (some teams get to play them more than others).. the whole system is out of whack

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:23:01 +0000

Yankees are a big draw BECAUSE they have an traveling All-Star team …

I don’t want the Phillies payroll to go over $140.. .which is extremely high

but the funny thing is, that it’s high because we’re paying market-value for our own players.

The Yankees pay well above market value for other teams players.. to the point where the players recieve pressure from the Player’s Union to take the most money, so that other Free Agent contracts will follow suit

Yankees played within the rules.. that doesn’t mean people can’t complain about the rules though

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:56:10 +0000

Eric Bruntlett for Roy Halladay, straight up. Blue Jays are getting a guy with an unassisted triple play under his belt. It’s really a steal for the Jays man