As soon as I saw it, I knew it wasn't good. Chase Utley's glove flew toward right field. Aaron Rowand's legs flew every which way, as he jack-hammered into the air. Their collision in the eighth inning last night might've been the most violent I've seen between an infielder and outfielder.
Turns out, it also cost Rowand the rest of the season.
Rowand has a broken ankle. The Phillies found out early this morning after Rowand went for X-rays at Northwestern University Medical Center. Naturally, people are going to assess blame. Could Rowand and Utley have communicated better? Who's ball was it? Should Utley, who seemed to have the ball in his glove upon impact, have called Rowand off, or did he and Rowand didn't listen? For what it's worth, Rowand told me his left foot got stuck in a hole in Wrigley Field's "uneven" outfield grass, causing his leg to buckle. So, Rowand is saying the turf, not the collision, caused the break.
My take: Who cares?
The real issue is this: The Phillies are now faced with winning the NL wild card without their center fielder and with a three-man bench that includes, for the moment, Chris Roberson and Danny Sandoval, neither of whom have shown they can hit at the major-league level.
So, what now?
For now, Shane Victorino will take over in center field. Pat Burrell and David Dellucci figure to start in left and right, respectively. Keep in mind: Dellucci hasn't played right field on a regular basis since 2003 and is nursing a tight quad muscle.
But the bigger problem is the bench.
Clearly, the Phils need to make a move. The best in-house candidate is 23-year-old outfielder Michael Bourn, but he's not major-league-ready yet either. The Mets are hot after Shawn Green, but the D-Backs outfielder has a no-trade clause and is due to make $9.5 million next season. That's WAY too rich for the Phillies.
Of course, the Phillies don't have to look for an outfielder. They could always go with Victorino, Dellucci and Burrell, with Roberson as a spare, and bolster the bench by adding another infielder or a third catcher. Backup catcher Chris Coste can also play first and third base, if needed.
OK, you be GM Pat Gillick. Where would you turn? Who would you acquire? Would you make a trade or stay in-house?
7 comments:
Staying in house wont be enough. I dont know who else is out there but Green is not going to happen. I would rather them look for someone else in a trade. Problem is what are you going to give up?
We may have just seen the season fall apart in one horrible play. I only say that b/c Delluci is hurt and Roberson is alright but really not good enough. Depth is a huge problem right now. Burrell never looked so good at this moment.
Basically the Phils are in the hunt today but not really. Unless Moyer is awesome I just think catching the Reds and staying hot is too much to ask through September.
By the way that should have been Rowand's ball. The second baseman should have a better idea of where the outfielders are, infielders should routinely get called off when they know the outfielder is running in on the fly.
Eric: I agree that, based on the Phillies' inventory of players, staying in-house isn't a satisfactory solution. But here's where they have to be careful. Is it worth giving up a potential, though hardly certain, piece of your future (say, for example, Carlos Ruiz) for a shot at winning the wild card.
Thing is, with the NL as weak as it is, 82 wins might get the job done. And if you sneak into the playoffs in the NL, you have a solid chance of going to the World Series because every team, including the Mets, is seriously flawed.
So, that's the question facing the Phillies. How much does an 82-80 or 83-79 wild-card berth mean to you? My sense, and this is just a guess at this point, is that it means a lot for a franchise that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1993.
As a fan I agree it means alot. After watching the latest lineup I have to say in a way I like it. You have a collection of young guys hungry right now for a playoff race. What usually happens are a bunch of young guys start playing above their level and they end up right in the middle of it.
I love Victorino's hustle, and you can see alot more intensity in the rest of the everyday players. I just dont know if it will be enough. Any more injuries and forget it.
I imagine the Mets probably had been in talks with Arizona before the Rowand-Utley collision, but do you know if Pat Gillick made any inquiries about Shawn Green?
Sure, he's another left-handed bat and not nearly the slugger he once was. Still a better option off the bench than Danny Sandoval and/or Chris Roberson, no?
Yep he would have been a better solution. Now they are talking about Conine?
Is it me or is Manuel not getting that the Phils have speed and need to manufacture runs? Again the Phils get runners on late in the game with speed. And on both occassions they do not try and steal. OK Roberson went but after a strikeout. Why was the steal not on after Roberson leads off with a single? Rollins strikes out THEN Roberson steals.
I question Manuels ability to manage in key situations.
OK, regarding Shawn Green: The Mets had, in fact, been in intense discussions with Arizona for several days prior to the Rowand-Utley collision. And, while it turns out Green would've been a good fit for the Phillies considering Rowand's fate, his $9.5 million salary next season makes his contract rather prohibitive. If the Phils are going to spend $9.5 million on any player next season, you'd like to think they could get someone who is more productive than Green at this stage of his career.
To me, Conine would be the perfect guy. He's a right-handed hitter with power who can share left field with Burrell and occasionally give Howard a much-needed rest at first. Plus, he'll cost only $2 million next season, and from what I understand, the Phillies are trying to get the O's to help them pay that freight.
Manuel has made many remarks lately about how the Phillies have more speed than ever during his tenure. Roberson can run. Thurston can, too. So, as long as they're here, I think you'll see the Phillies put runners in motion more often than in the past.
Thats just it. When the Phils have the opportunity to put runners in motion they dont do it. I wonder of Manuel does the usual big league baseball thing and tells players to go on your own.
Problem with that is a player sometimes just needs to be told hey this is the right situation I am the coach you are going. Up one run against the Mets with Madsen closing you gotta manufacture a run. Or for that matter the Phils have to play with a sense of desperation and open it up if they hope to get that wild card.
Just my opinion but they are not good enough in close games to bank on the bullpen right now.
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