FOXSports Reports Phils Lead Race for DeRosa

by Tony4251 on Nov 19, 2009 1:25 AM EST Comment 30 comments

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/17644/20091118/source_phillies_lead_race_for_derosa/

Personally I was hoping for Beltre, but I guess we'll see what happens. DeRosa is definitely a solid player but I see him as about the same average, a little better power, worse defensively when comparing him to Feliz. I just think Beltre could also have an Ibanez-like season. Not only because he is coming from Safeco as Ibanez did, but also because he will be hitting with much better protection in our lineup.

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Well,. of course they are, most teams that would need a 3rd baseman are talking to the front line of the OF’s, not the phillies, they’re going to skip the above average 3rd baseman and skip right to the mediocre ones so they can solve that problem quickly and give him a 3 year contract before any one else is signed.

Now why does that sound familiar?

by jemagee on Nov 19, 2009 9:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Freudian slip: you actually said “OF’s” instead of “3B’s” in the first sentence.

Amaro has proven to be adept at the arbitration side of being a GM, as well as the trading portion of the job, but free agency has been a weakness. I think it’s due to his failure to understand the market — there’s absolutely no need to jump all over a 35-year old in the second tier of free agents, because someone of similar quality is likely to be available for far less money later on.

For whatever reason, Amaro seems to overemphasize the “good teammate” and “experience” parts of the equation, which is why we’re on the verge of our big free agent splashes being a 37-year old outfielder and a 35-year old third baseman in back-to-back offseasons.

by PhillyFriar on Nov 19, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah you’re right, but this smells like Ibanez all over again

by jemagee on Nov 19, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good teammate is important. The Phillies have great chemistry, and chemistry is a huge deal. An example of a team with a lot of high priced talent and terrible chemistry and attitude is the Mets. And we all know about what high stat players like Milton Bradley and Terrell Owens end up being worth to a championship…

While I’m not that high on DeRosa, he seems like a relatively low-risk move because if he flops at 3rd he can still fill the role of upgrading the bench.

by The R on Nov 20, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

An example of a team with a lot of high priced talent and terrible chemistry and attitude is the Mets.

So, it was their bad chemistry that caused the injuries to Beltran, Reyes, Delgado, F-Mart, Wright, and Santana?

I’ll never say that chemistry isn’t important, because I’m sure it plays a role. But a major league baseball club can’t make a habit of signing inferior players to good-sized contracts simply because they’re a “good fit in the clubhouse.” Or else, you know, you wind up with 4 years of David Bell.

by PhillyFriar on Nov 20, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Um…that’s just shenanigans right there

by jemagee on Nov 21, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Figgins plz

eff you we winning anyway

by eagleswin on Nov 19, 2009 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Don’t get your hopes up. At least if Zolecki is to be believed:

They have money to spend, but they will try to be judicious, which means they are not considered serious pursuers of a free agent like Chone Figgins.

http://www.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091118&content_id=7686150&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi

by Boundforbeach on Nov 19, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea u are probably right

eff you we winning anyway

by eagleswin on Nov 19, 2009 5:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t be a huge fan of signingDeRosa either, but he’s clearly better than Feliz. Let’s not shortchange the guy here.

by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 3:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

How much is ‘clearly better’ offense and defense?

by jemagee on Nov 19, 2009 4:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

10 points of VORP, for one thing.

by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 4:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is VORP the one that ignores defense?

by jemagee on Nov 19, 2009 9:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe so, but I’m not convinced there’s a significant difference between the two defensively anymore. Certainly, earlier in their careers, Feliz used to be an outstanding third baseman and DeRosa used to be a terrible one. In more recent years, they seem to have equalized to a degree.

Also, the margin by which DeRosa is a better hitter than Feliz is understated by last year’s VORP difference, anyway. DeRosa posted one of his career low BABIPs, while Feliz posted one of his career highs. DeRosa is simply a much better player – it isn’t even really a close call.

by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 9:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know how it works -= but at 3b feliz had a uzr/150 of 5.0 the past season, derosa had a uzr/150 of -8.7

Admittedly, as we all know, I"m a moron and never ever right – but to me -8.7 seems significantly different than 5.0

by jemagee on Nov 19, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s unclear to me what’s going on with those two guys defensively. If you take a three-year weighted average of DeRosa’s UZRs, it actually comes out positive. If you include stats further back than that, it goes back down to negative. But then, that may not be more accurate – On one hand, you enlarge your sample, which is a good thing, all other things being equal. But on the other hand, defense is something that one can get significantly better or worse at with practice, experience, age, etc., so including stats from a long time ago might throw off your results rather than refining them.

Feliz was clearly a great fielder with the Giants through 2007, but something seems to have happened to him after he signed with us. Since then, his UZR/150 has been in the neighborhood of 7, which is only OK. On one hand, that could just be statistical noise, but on the other hand, it might have something to do with his back problems.

All this probably means that Feliz is still a better fielder, but I’m not at all certain that the margin between them is very big anymore.

by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I forgot – you have psychic abilities to project next season.

by jemagee on Nov 19, 2009 11:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK7HSZY9Euc#t=00m42s

by taco pal on Nov 19, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I still have some odd feeling that hes going to get DeRosa for the bench, for some reason I think an OF’er is going to get traded (Victorino) for a 3B allowing some opening for Taylor/Brown.

by Ant on Nov 19, 2009 3:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'll take DeRosa for the bench

he’d be perfect for it and can slot in almost anywhere. He’s not the answer full time, at third.

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by soundofphilly on Nov 20, 2009 3:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

What’s the thought on a DeRosa/Dobbs platoon? I imagine you give DeRosa around 60-70% of the starts at 3rd and move him to replace Utley or Rollins late in games.

Platoon/Super Utility infielder?

Could this happen?

by Phils 2036 World CH on Nov 20, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Humph.

David Murphy continues his well-written series on the Phillies free agent needs with his look at third base, but for some reason, he focuses almost exclusively on DeRosa and Polanco while only mentioning Beltre in passing.

Maybe it’s that he has a read on what the club is planning to do. If so… crap.

by PhillyFriar on Nov 20, 2009 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

slump busting

Leading in the race for DeRosa is kind of like leading in the race to bang a “5”.

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Nov 20, 2009 5:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

does the 5 have a cute face?

by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Nov 21, 2009 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But...

if you bang two fives, it’s a ten. DeRosa and Polanco? Ten.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Nov 23, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Third Base

DeRosa as a replacement for Feliz doesn’t make too much sense. Their age is about the same; one is better offensively; the other defensively. It looks like a wash.
I wouldn’t mind signing DeRosa as a super-sub. That would be a major upgrade for the bench. For third base, I would try to trade for somebody like Alex Gordon or Brandon Wood, guys who are young, cheap and with good potential. In this scenario, DeRosa would play a lot at 3B and fill in at 2B, SS and the outfield.
Because of the importance of good D, the free agent I like is Beltre. His glove equals Feliz’; he is 5 years younger; and his record on offense suggests that he would be an upgrade at 3B (assuming he is recovered from his injuries).

by Derekcarstairs on Nov 23, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

If rumors are to be believed (and it is silly season), as many as 10 teams have inquired about DeRosa. No way he agrees to essentially a bench or super-utility role. He wants to be a starter.

by Boundforbeach on Nov 23, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re probably right about DeRosa’s wanting to start. Maybe, the Phils can still trade for Gordon or Wood and sign a guy like Hairston for a key bench role. Otherwise, Beltre looks good if he is healthy and not too expensive.

by Derekcarstairs on Nov 23, 2009 12:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Feliz

Maybe not now but about halfway through next season, his defense is certainly going to be missed. Personally I hope that they bring back Feliz, and do so cheaper than going with his option.

by worldphuckinchamps on Nov 23, 2009 2:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs