Amateur Hour, thank you for posting what you did as you pretty much beat me to the punch on every point so you saved me a bunch of keystrokes. I'll only disagree with you on putting Brown in CF. You need your CF to be good defensively and Brown isn't even a mediocre fielder.
For the record, I don't think Brown is a viable option at all, Victorino will need to be replaced. I just don't think the situation is AS dire as everyone is making it out to be. Is it perfect? No, not by a long shot, but I think it's a stretch to say this team wouldn't be competing this year if Utley and Howard weren't out.
I can't really argue with anything you said, we're both seeing things the same way, just reaching different conclusions haha. I'm an eternal optimist, unfortunately.
I will say this. I agree with Howard's decline, he really needs to learn how to hit for contact better and avoid the shift (if humanly possible). BUT, this lineup is a lot scarier with him in it, and it makes everyone around him more effective. Look at Pence with and without him...big difference. Same with Werth. Plus 100+ RBIs can't hurt, and we need someone with raw power.
The only thing we disagree on is with Chase. I'm going to post here again the article I read that completely changed my outlook on the situation, but long story short, it's not chronic and isn't degenerative in the light of it WILL get worse, it's 100% fixable. It's just a weird condition where rest does nothing; you need to attack it head on with stretching and strengthening routines. Chase himself has said after this, they fell better than they have in like 4 years.
And I'm the eternal pessimist... so I guess that explains our respective outlooks. Thanks for the link, enlightening read. If Chase can return to anything even resembling previous form, it'll go a long way in alleviating some of my concerns, but it's at the point where I've forced myself to accept that the Utley of 2005-2010 is no more. That said, I'll gladly accept an Utley who can put up an OPS of .800 while providing all the intangibles we've come to expect. I just have to keep reminding myself how much he's spoiled us over the years, and that even in his current state he's one of the best second basemen in baseball.
Amateur Hour, thank you for posting what you did as you pretty much beat me to the punch on every point so you saved me a bunch of keystrokes. I'll only disagree with you on putting Brown in CF. You need your CF to be good defensively and Brown isn't even a mediocre fielder.
You're welcome. It was a 20-30 minute chunk of time well spent here at my job.
Wasn't Brown getting good reviews in CF in Lehigh Valley? I also read that he was enjoying playing the position. The Domonic Brown saga has been unbelievable. How could everyone have been so wrong about him? Were there serious concerns about his defense while he was getting hyped up? For the record, I thought he was improving at the plate last season, and I place a lot of the blame for his stunted development on the Phillies for jerking him around.
I just think this franchise needs a serious infusion of young, high end talent in order to remain competitive in a division that's quickly becoming like its AL counterpart.
You're welcome. It was a 20-30 minute chunk of time well spent here at my job.
Wasn't Brown getting good reviews in CF in Lehigh Valley? I also read that he was enjoying playing the position. The Domonic Brown saga has been unbelievable. How could everyone have been so wrong about him? Were there serious concerns about his defense while he was getting hyped up? For the record, I thought he was improving at the plate last season, and I place a lot of the blame for his stunted development on the Phillies for jerking him around.
I just think this franchise needs a serious infusion of young, high end talent in order to remain competitive in a division that's quickly becoming like its AL counterpart.
I really don't get that at all. He was billed as a 5 tool player, yet he can't play D, or throw accurately? It doesn't make sense how this all just appeared out of seemingly nowhere.
I'm really hoping for an Utley resurgence, but yea he did just spoil us haha. Still an upper echelon player, plus he just plays the game right. I think Pence looks up to him, too, so maybe he can teach him how to take a freakin' pitch.
As for Brown, I'm baffled as to what happened with him, but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't just mental.
At least they're being thoroughly humiliated. I'm telling you, dude... the problems with this team go beyond injuries. The injuries just provide a convenient excuse for in-over-its-head management to point to when it decides to do nothing but stay the course. This is only going to get worse next season if the status quo is maintained.
I feel like something is going to happen...soon. Like within the next 48 hours. Firing, hiring, trade(s), call-up(s), something.
As for the CF questions, I like how Mayberry plays out there, I wouldn't be against him patrolling the confines for a year or two until we find a good-great replacement.
I feel like something is going to happen...soon. Like within the next 48 hours. Firing, hiring, trade(s), call-up(s), something.
As for the CF questions, I like how Mayberry plays out there, I wouldn't be against him patrolling the confines for a year or two until we find a good-great replacement.
Can we trade ALL THE PITCHING for Trout?
I wouldn't be surprised if something happened. I would, however, be mildly surprised if it was a bigger shake-up. I could see the possibility of someone like Dubee getting axed a la Milt Thompson 2 years ago. He wouldn't deserve to get canned as he's not on the mound throwing slop (nor was he responsible for picking them), just like Milt didn't deserve to get canned 'cuz he wasn't going to be able to change how the veteran guys approached their ABs.
Amateur Hour, thank you for posting what you did as you pretty much beat me to the punch on every point so you saved me a bunch of keystrokes. I'll only disagree with you on putting Brown in CF. You need your CF to be good defensively and Brown isn't even a mediocre fielder.
How do we know? He has come and said he feels more comfortable in center. I want see how he actually plays it.
With the direction that this team is heading(which is south pretty fast), I don't think Charlie is the kind of manager to help this team back up. Unload the older guys for prospects, and bring in another manager. Charlie works best when he's got a good core of veterans that are happy and he makes them happy and keeps them motivated.
I'll only disagree with you on putting Brown in CF. You need your CF to be good defensively and Brown isn't even a mediocre fielder.
