Before he became the Phillies' farm director, Steve Noworyta worked in scouting and player development for the White Sox. Among the thousands of players he came across, he remembers a young outfielder with an uppercut swing in the Brewers' organization and the words he used to describe him.Aggressive.
Hard-nosed.
So, after last season ended and the Phillies began talking about signing free-agent Geoff Jenkins, Noworyta piped up. "He's kind of in the mold of Rowand," he said, echoing what Charlie Manuel and Pat Gillick had been thinking. And while it's unfair to expect Jenkins, a strikeout-prone but proven run-producer, to duplicate the 2007 All-Star numbers (.309/27 HR/89 RBI/.889 OPS) and vocal clubhouse presence that Aaron Rowand took with him to San Francisco, the Phillies fully believe he can form a successful right-field platoon with Jayson Werth. That, plus Shane Victorino's return to center field, Pat Burrell's bat in left and So Taguchi coming off the bench, has Gillick believing the 2008 Phillies have a better outfield than when Rowand was crashing into walls in center.
"Rowand had one of those years. He did a great job," Gillick told me last night at the Phillies' promotional tour event in Center Valley, Pa. "But depth-wise, we're in better shape. I like our outfield right now better than last year."
Agree? Disagree?
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Jenkins spent a decade with the Brewers, and before he left, he did something pretty cool (not to mention unique), taking out an ad in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to thank fans for their support. Very classy.
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Apparently, some folks think Jenkins looks like a certain Wisconsin sports icon. After meeting him last night, I concur 100 percent.
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Gillick said Ryan Howard's arbitration hearing has been set for Feb. 20 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Eric Bruntlett's case will be heard Feb. 12.
2 comments:
Scott, I agree 100%. It's not that I am glad that Rowand has moved on, but I just think this is a much better situation for our team. Victorino provides much better coverage in center and that will help our defense in left, too, because he'll be able to cover more of Burrell's territory.
Rowand had a career year last season and if the Phils had given him what the Giants gave, we would all be regretting it in a couple of seasons. Rowand helped change the persona of this team big time, but that will last even with his departure, I have no doubt about that.
I don't really see how replacing Rowand and Bourn with Jenkins and Taguchi gives the outfield more depth, as Gillick claims. Unless you count the 6th outfielder. Snelling, if healthy, will be better than Roberson. Hurt, he won't be much worse.
I agree with Peyton's assessment of Rowand. I don't see him putting up '07 numbers again.
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