Results tagged ‘ Valdez ’
Ranting and Worrying
My rant of the evening: Infielders and the bench.
I have more questions than I have answers. The number one thing that I worry about is injuries. “What if” is always a question that I face while thinking about the bench. What if Polly gets sent to the disabled list and Wilson Valdez follows? We do not have Greg Dobbs anymore, but we do have Tagg Bozied who played for the Reading Phillies in 2010, who is capable of fielding first base and third base. If there just so happens to be an idle Rollins and Valdez combination, we have on the farm: Brian Bocock. We saw him last year in a few late season games around the time the Phillies clinched the N.L. East. In the minors, Bocock started in 119 games at shortstop posting a .977 fielding percentage. I’m not worried about offense from the back-up men, because there are 7 other guys who will contribute to the offense party, 8 guys if Roy Halladay is starting that game.
I understand that the odds of Bozied or Bocock suffering an injury at the same time as Valdez and Polanco is highly unlikely, but let us take a walk down memory lane for a second. Think back to 2010 when Carlos Ruiz, Brian Schneider, and Paul Hoover were all injured, we had to put in Dane Sardinha, and if he were to have suffered an injury at the time, there were talks of Jayson Werth starting in the catchers position.
Wilson Valdez’s Fate
It’s been a while since I’ve really talked about any players. I’ve talked about this guy alot, because he’s my favorite unsung hero; Wilson Valdez a.k.a Castaway. He has had his moments of fame from time to time, but I have a feeling that 2011 isn’t going to be a big year for him.
The only reason why Wilson Valdez played in 111 games in 2010, is because of the incredible amount of injuries between Chase Utley, Placido Polanco, and Jimmy Rollins.
Here’s what I’m thinking, if Jimmy Rollins has an injury-free season, and proves himself to be re-signable after the 2011 season, then Wilson Valdez isn’t going to see many opportunites. There’s always the fear that Placido or Chase are going to be sent to the DL again, which is the only way that Wilson will be the man to go to, to fill in the place of that injured player.
But, what if all three regulars have above average seasons without injury? Then what? Poor Wilson is left to fill in their spots only if Skipper Charlie Manuel gives them an off day.
There is a topic that many are avoiding: the 2011-2012 off-season. I’m dreading to see what will happen to free agents such as Cole Hamels and Jimmy Rollins. I can honestly see Jimmy Rollins being traded for $$, and Wilson Valdez replacing him in 2012. Which would leave room on the budget for Cole Hamels. That’s my theory, for now anyway, it’s up to their performances in 2011.
I hate to say it, because it kills me, but I really wish Wilson Valdez could play right field at CBP (keep it phresh, yo) because that would make the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies the (here comes a Jimmy quote) team to beat.
Wait, What About Our Infield?
I say our as if we’re all members of the Philadelphia Phillies. Bad habit that I’ll never quit.
I was thinking about this all day today because it has come to my attention that we need another infielder or two. Really, really badly. All of our regulars in the infield went down this past season, so what if that happens again? “What if” seems to be the question of the day. Forget about our outfielders for a moment, because we have plenty of them to back up anyone who hits the disabled list, including one who can also play first base- Ross Gload.
Ross Gload, the left-handed utility player who is arguably our best pinch-hitter can play first base and right field, and he’s going to get alot of opportunities in 2011. Mike Sweeney who most likely won’t be returning to the Phillies in ’11 could’ve helped out alot also, but chances are, his last game with the Phillies (1 for 1, single into left, which was his first and last postseason hit) was probably his last game as a baseball player. Ross Gload is the go-to man, and we can’t afford to lose him. But hey, go ahead and prove me wrong, Mike Sweeney.
Second base, shortstop, and third base. OK, so Jimmy Rollins was a very idle player this past season, we know, which is why we have the man, the myth, the legend: Wilson Valdez. We all know what he can do, and what he did for us in 2010, which is why he’s favorited by many fans, including myself (you know, next to Shane). I don’t even think he realizes how important he is to us. If Chutley or Jimmy or Polly were to go down again, Willy is the man to put in. But, what if two of those regulars go down around the same time? Greg Dobbs is now a free agent and we don’t really want him, so who do we turn to? Pedro Feliz? Think about it…It’s a smart move, sign Pedro to a short-term deal for a few million as a bench player, and our infield is set. Feliz is more of a regular though, so how about Juan Castro? Come on, he turned the last out of Doc’s perfecto! Maybe he wasn’t the best offensively, but we could sure use his help if we don’t call up Cody Ransom again.
That’s my interpretation of our current infield. I’m all for signing Pedro Feliz and or Juan Castro.
mlblogscbphresh
Recent Comments