Getting Phelps in the Lineup
by GOOCH24 on Aug 29, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
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PrintConsider Phelps line at AAA this season:
461 AB, 31 HR, 97 RBI, .941 OPS
Phelps has mashed. However, he seems to only be a first baseman.
Proposition: moving Albert to Left Field and letting Phelps man first.
Question: would it be a net advantage (if so, how many games)? or net disadvantage.
Con: Moving Albert from a position where he is the best defender in baseball into a position where he is likely just average defenisvely.
Con: Albert has a balky right elbow which might be injured if he's throwing from LF.
Pro: You get Phelps in the lineup.
Pro: Albert wouldn't be throwing much more from LF than he does from 1B.
Here's what a Phelps lineup might look like:
Lopez (R)
Ankiel (L)
Pujols (R)
Ludwick (R)
Glaus (R)
Phelps (R)
Molina (R)
Pitcher
Miles (R/L)
That's a scary looking lineup, folks. Over 30 games, displacing Skip in the OF (who can't hit Lefties)...worth one game? Maybe two. If not for the "you don't move superstars out of their defensive positions" cultural stickyness...this would seem to make alot of sense. D.GOOCH
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Can't put Albert in left...
even if it means keeping phelps in AAA. I would much rather have Pujols at 1st, where he is possibly the best fielder in the league and he doesn’t have to strain his elbow, than have him risk injury in left just so phelps can get some playing time. if anything i would say we should trade phelps, but that would be more difficult now because of the waivers process
"I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it."- Rogers Hornsby
Why put Albert in left for someone who is below defensively at first? If your going to force Phelps into a lineup, your going to either give Albert a day off or put Phelps in left. This is like saying we should have put Albert in left and moved Duncan to first last season or earlier this year; it just doesn’t make sense.
Now I could see Tony using Albert in an emergency situation only using Pujols at third or short for an inning or two, but thats as far as it would go. Kind of like when the Astros used Brad Ausmus at short for a few innings last season or the Tigers with Pudge at second for a few plays… But even then, that would have to mean that many players would have to have been used off the bench and someone like Glaus was injured late in a game. Basically, very very very small chance of it ever happening.
Phelps was brought up to be a pinch hitter and nothing really more. He may get a start in left every once in a while, but thats about it.
the presumption...
…is that you’ll save more runs with an average LF and an average 1B than a really bad LF and an excellent 1B. D.GOOCH
-- GOOCH
Skip isn't a really bad Left Fielder
Actually, he’s a pretty good left fielder. So, you would be making your defense worse in left field and 1st base.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
Lets remember
Phelps is a solid bench player who was hired in the event Albert went down long term. It is nice that he had a solid AAA season maybe he can get a major league job next year, but he really isn’t an every day player. I quess if he gets major league at bats next month he can find a better job next year. By no means will he be the difference maker this year.
I like the idea
Of Phelps starting versus Lefthanded pitching in left field. Once the starter is pulled, you put Skiperoo in there.
I don't know
You could just as easily do this with Mather, plus he’s a real live outfielder to boot.
by mikedallas45 on Aug 30, 2008 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Why not try it...?
Hell, we have thrown Luna and Lopez out there in the last few years…I know Phelps doesn’t start with an “L,” but it’d be worth a shot.
It could also be a disaster.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
yeah,
we could be 5 1/2 out with 28 to go and then 6 1/2 out with 27 to go……
btw, I don’t see how being 4 1/2 out with 29 to play is a disaster.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
I'd call...
a less than ten percent chance of making the playoffs a ‘disaster’ in the making. Time to pull out all the stops. D.GOOCH
-- GOOCH
I wouldn't call over-achieving every prediction in a rebuilding year
a disaster.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
the true disaster
would be transplanting jose albert pujols to LEFT FIELD IN DEFERENCE TO JOSH PHELPS. wtf? A. BAW
— BAW
"so if you can’t understand what someone else is saying why don’t you just shut up about it instead of being a jerk-off?"
"i’d challenge you to offer me alternatives which would convey the same level of meaning without being even more wordy and verbose."
Really?
So, sticking Pujols in left field and watching him lumber around the outfield on a bad calf while throwing with a torn ligament in his elbow just so we can get Josh Phelps into the lineup would be the equivalent of playing Chris Duncan in left field………..
I beg to differ.
In the world I see--you are stalking elk through the damp canyon forests around the ruins of Rockefeller Center. You'll wear leather clothes that will last you the rest of your life. You'll climb the wrist-thick kudzu vines that wrap the Sears Tower. And when you look down, you'll see tiny figures pounding corn, laying strips of venison on the empty carpool lane of some abandoned superhighway.
PUJOLS
I’m all for putting in young players now that the season is pretty much over, but not at any potential cost to pujols. any potential con to moving pujols should be avoided, and will be avoided. I would like to see some of the SP candidates for next year get a couple starts in. Move whoever is not going to be in the rotation next year to the bullpen to make room. These playoffs will suck. no cards again?
A more sensible suggestion might be that pujols should take a couple extra days off
and come out in late innings of games. September already has a lot of off-days, but i’d hate to see pujols get hurt at the end of an almost-lost season.
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