Schneider Provides Sac-Fly Walk-Off Over Rays
Posted by Pat Gallen, Tue, March 23, 2010 05:22 PM | Comments: 56
Posts
Gotta love it when the backups pull through. Brian Schneider was the hero in today’s Spring Training affair against the Rays. His sac-fly walk-off in the 9th inning have the Phillies a 4-3 victory in Clearwater.
Ryan Howard smacked two home runs, Shane Victorino added another. Joe Blanton did his usual thing, going 5 1/3 innings while allowing two runs, with two walks and two K’s. Blanton continues to be a model of efficiency. Basically, nothing new to see there.
Back to Howard; the guy has been pretty spectacular. His average is up to .357 and I’m glad he isn’t waving at anything and everything. Yes, he still has 14 strikeouts, but with an OPS well above 1.000, it’s good to see him finding his stride early. But, again, it’s just Spring Training.
Chad Durbin hasn’t allowed an earned run yet, like David Herndon, although today he gave up one of the unearned variety. Jose Contreras even got into the act with a scoreless frame today. Can’t say much more about this pitching staff. It’s looking solid.
Posts: 0 Don M
WFC010 . . . . where are you getting the idea that IF Werth leaves after the season, he would be replaced with a high-priced, veteran ??
That doesn’t even make sense..
If Werth leaves.. its due to the fact that they’ll try to keep costs down, while using the organizational OF-depth that they have..
It would suck for the lineup if they replaced Werth with the left-handed hitting Domonic Brown . . . but maybe they try to rid of Ibanez to an AL team.. eat some of his salary.. and pay Werth? who knows..
whatever they do, I promise you that a HIGH-PRICED replacement for Werth is not anywhere in their plans
Posted: 04:21 PM on March 24, 2010
Posts: 0 Manny
RAUUUUL’s last 3 years splits (2007-2009):
vs. Left
.283 .343 .493 .836
vs. Right
.287 .356 .504 .860
… Conclusion: the guy hits anybody, regardless if he’s a lefty or a righty… Makes me think we can do just fine in 2011 if they actually let Werth walk (hope not!). Howard batting 4th, Raul batting 5th –which is what Charlie did for half of ’09…
Utley (L) – Howard (L) – Raul (L) – Shane (S) -Domonic (L)
Bonus thought: Most pitchers in baseball are righties..
Posted: 06:16 PM on March 24, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
If Raul’s healthy….I’m really not all that concerned.
Domonic is a BEAST!!
Posted: 06:30 PM on March 24, 2010
Posts: 0 WFC010
“WFC010 . . . . where are you getting the idea that IF Werth leaves after the season, he would be replaced with a high-priced, veteran ??
That doesn’t even make sense..”
it may not make SENSE, except for the fact that the Phillies DO need a right handed power threat, and if they can’t find that within their system(with Francisco and Mayberry being the only possible in house right handed options next season), then they WILL be looking for a free agent who may very well be not much less than Werth would have received.
Because the Phillies are NOT stupid, I have to think they realize that they will need a good right hander in their lineup if Werth walks, so it’s not like they can just let Brown take over for Werth and then forget about the fact that they are leaning too heavily to the left side. So either they let Francisco have a shot at a full-time gig, or they go looking for a free agent.
Posted: 08:12 PM on March 24, 2010
Posts: 0 WFC010
Also, the infield is pretty much set the way it is for a few more years yet, so the only possible place to get right-handers is in the outfield. Shane just signed an extension and isn’t likely to leave until AT LEAST Gillies is ready to take over, which leaves Ibanez who’s contract is up after 2011, so they would have to trade Ibanez this offseason if Brown is ready.
Posted: 08:19 PM on March 24, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
WFC010…
I said at 3:40 yesterday that “the Philadelphia Phillies are not gonna sign someone to replace Werth and pay that guy almost what Werth will maybe get (I’m guessing around $15M per season). That wouldn’t make any sense.”
Don M said at 5:21 yestarday exactly what you just quoted above, “__________________That doesn’t even make sense.”
Look, Jayson Werth is going to command a huge pay raise. We all pretty much know that. Whether it’s $15 M or $13M it’s doesn’t matter. He is in line for a big raise….and rightfully so.
The Phillies may decide to re-sign him….or they may not. I am guessing that if someone from WITHIN the organization can take his place (Brown?) then they might do that. Brown will make $400,000.
The Phillies realize that they need to save somewhere in order to pay elsewhere. There are so many contracts (Rollins, Utley, Hamels, Howard) that need to be explored and the team can’t pay everyone $15M a season. Ruben’s on record as saying that.
I undersatnd what you are saying about a right handed power threat. That is very important. But there is absolutely NO WAY that the Phillies will sign someone to a contract almost as big as Werth’s……after letting Werth walk. Why would they turn around and do that if they could just re-sign Werth in the first place!!??
That would be just plain stupid. It doesn’t make any financial sense and it would be a HUGE public relations disaster…..maybe even worse than the Cliff Lee backlash from this offseason (if that’s even possible)
And as far as Shane getting an extension….he could always be traded if Tyson Gillies is ready sooner rather than later. Ibanez could be traded maybe this coming off-season. There are so many variables and possibilities and the Phillies are actually in a very good position.
It’s like David Montgomery said in his interview, There’s probably “a little more depth in outfield than maybe some other positions.”
Posted: 07:01 AM on March 25, 2010