The Roster Right Now

by dajafi on Mar 31, 2009 5:26 PM EDT Comment 6 comments

With today's big news--the release of Geoff Jenkins and the installation of Chan Ho Park in the starting rotation--we now pretty much know what the Phillies' roster would be were Opening Day tomorrow rather than Sunday:

Catchers (2): Ruiz, Coste

Infielders (7): Howard, Utley, Feliz, Rollins, Dobbs, Bruntlett, Cairo

Outfielders (4): Ibanez, Victorino, Werth, Stairs

Starting pitchers (5): Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Blanton, Park

Relief pitchers (7): Lidge, Madson, Eyre, Durbin, Condrey, Taschner, Happ

Of course, we have five days yet, and with the news that the Phils are hoping to add Gary Sheffield as a bench bat, the possibility of starting the year with 11 pitchers rather than 12, and the ongoing long-shot bullpen candidacies of Bobby Mosebach and Gary Majewski, it's more likely than not that the picture will change between now and Sunday night. Nonetheless, it's striking to see just four names who are new from last October--a tribute to the the quality on hand, and an indication of just how much confidence this front office has in this same set of players.

0 recs | Comment 6 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

this cast of players ...

has given management good reason to have confidence. Sheffield would be a great right handed stick in the lineup

Marc Gross

by phillyfansportstalk on Mar 31, 2009 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why is Stairs on the roster?

What purpose does he serve? He seems completely, 100% redundant to Ibanez, who screams out as the guy in the OF who will need the most aid from a 4th OF, between defensive replacements and potential platooning, of which Stairs provides neither. Doesn’t provide much pinch hitting value in such a LH heavy lineup either.

Seems to me that he should be replaced by a righty who can actually be some use by platooning with Raul, as his defensive futility combined with his struggles against LHP makes him an enormous liability when a lefty takes the mound, probably around, if not below, replacement level really. As such, it seems that there would be a glut of players floating around that could serve as a much more useful 4th OF to the Phils than Stairs that could be obtained relatively easily. Sheff seems like a step in the right direction, but I can’t help but think that a player with more youth and defensive ability could be snagged without giving up too much. So what’s the deal with Stairs, what does he bring to the table that I’m missing?

by Terminator_X on Apr 1, 2009 7:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He serves the sal fasano role?

"Someone created the box score," Morey says, "and he should be shot."

Blocked shots — they look great, but unless you secure the ball afterward, you haven’t helped your team all that much.

by jemagee on Apr 1, 2009 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The feel good role

Remember that home run he hit against the Dodgers? Boy was that awesome.

by David S. Cohen on Apr 1, 2009 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, this is the reason that I somewhat hoped they’d deal Stairs and keep Jenkins, who is a decent defender in either OF corner (all summer/fall I wondered why Manuel would use Eric Bruntlett to replace Burrell in the late innings rather than Jenkins).

But the difference between the two guys is their suitability for that job as Manuel has framed it: pinch-hitter and once-a-week starter. Stairs has been effective as a PH for years, and is more likely to come off the bench cold and blast one out of the yard—that’s pretty much all he tries to do.

They’ll never use him as a defensive replacement, but Bruntlett or even Dobbs can do that.

It’s a questionable call, but not a crazy one.

by dajafi on Apr 1, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs