CLEVELAND -- Overshadowed by Joe Borowski's comments, Steve Smith's suspension and everything else that happened here yesterday was the fact that Pat Burrell didn't play. Again.In the previous post, I noted where Aaron Rowand ranks among NL outfielders in various statistical categories and asked you if he's an All-Star (don't forget to vote, by the way!). Here's where Burrell ranks in some of the same categories: average -- 32nd (.211); slugging percentage -- 28th (.387); OPS -- 20th (.769); homers -- 18th, tied (8), RBIs -- 21st (29).
I'm not sure what's more alarming: those numbers or the fact that everyone sort of accepts them from the $13 Million Man.
10 comments:
Scott,
You're absolutely right. It's amazing that this level of ineptitude is accepted by the fans and the organization. I hate to bang on the same drum again but I'd really like to see Bourn play one game a week at minimum in place of Burrell.
Also, the Borowski situation is indicative of the poor front office management this team has suffered from since the 1980s. I think it is poor form on Borowski's part to say what he's said, but it was a poorer decision by the Phillies not to sign him. But, that's why they are a mediocre team and a weak organization.
completely inept organization.
pat is slumping hard, but he will come out of it. but i've already argued my point enough in the past.
but i had a feeling he would get a big hit today. just because someone on this blog was ripping him. good for pat.
yeah, that was it
Oh, good for Pat. We'll talk when he hits .220 and 10.
On a somewhat related note (because he subbed for Burrell at DH) can we just quit this juggling act and make Dobbs the starting third baseman. He's hovering around .300, his power is respectable and he's only made one error. I mean, it's not like Helms' contract is that huge.
a nunez/dobbs platoon is perfect. and possibly a werth/victorino platoon as well.
nunez is hitting lefties and dobbs is smashing righties. but anything that gets dobbs more playing time is great with me!
So the Phils are wrong for not demanding an MRI on Garcia prior to the trade. And they're wrong for not signing Borowski after the doctor examined the MRI and didn't like what he saw.
Does that make no sense to anyone else?
well, i would say there weren't in the wrong. but borowski said that they just basically tugged on his arms.
and for garcia. when a team is trying to get rid of a pitcher with his history for that cheap you have to think something is up. along with the 5+ MPH that left his fastball..
Banafish,
How can you not place blame on the front office for both situations? I understand what are you saying - how can they be wrong for doing a more in depth medical review on one guy and not another.
First, the real determiner of knowing if the right decision was made is in the player's performance. Borowski has been very solid for Cleveland while The Chief can't get out of the 6th inning but one time in all his starts. Borowski has 20 saves in 22 chances.
The bottom line to me is that this type of major error in judgment is typical of this front office group. The Phillies front office received the medical reports and then made a decision on what to do with them. They didn't sign Borowski because he didn't want to take the reduced salary the Phils offered him after finding out about his medical issues. In its infinite wisdom, the FO thought they were entitled to "some security" as GM in waiting Ruben Amaro put it. Borowski didn't like it and went to Cleveland. It's just typical. They gave up a potential future top of the rotation starter in Gio Gonzalez to get Damaged Goods Garcia. I don't have as much of an issue giving up the ultimate head case Gavin Floyd because he had plenty of opportunities. But, poor organizations make poor decisions.
I don't know this for a fact, but maybe Borowski didn't sign with the Phillies because he knew they had Gordon, who was going to be the closer, and he didn't want to be a setup guy. Or maybe he wanted closers' money to be a setup guy. I don't doubt that the Phillies were trying to lowball him (it's their M.O.), and maybe the MRI was their way of saying, "look, we already have a guy with a questionable arm in Gordon, and we don't want to take a chance on paying for two closers who might break down."
Basically, while it's easy to blame the Phillies for not signing Borowski, I think Borowski himself wasn't that keen on coming here as a setup guy, or at least coming as a setup guy and not getting closers' money.
Martin: I probably should've written this, but Borowski said he was coming to Philly if not for the problems with the physical. No, he wouldn't have been the first choice as closer, but, ultimately, he thought he'd have a chance to close games. The biggest thing, though, was the initial two-year offer from the Phillies. Borowski said he didn't have any other two-year offers, and he wanted the security of a multi-year deal.
There's absolutely no question he would be with the Phillies right now if the team didn't have issues with his MRI.
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