Dust Off Your First Baseman's Mitt . . . Raul?

by David S. Cohen on Aug 12, 2010 11:27 AM EDT

With Ross Gload pulling up lame last night, the Phillies are short another position player. In all likelihood, they're going to have to activate Shane Victorino from the DL tonight or tomorrow and replace him on the shelf with Gload. (No official word yet on Gload going on the DL, but I can't imagine it won't happen.)

The conventional wisdom is that Mike Sweeney will take Gload's place as the first-base fill-in while Ryan Howard heals. And, the conventional wisdom is that Domonic Brown will head to the minors to play everyday once Victorino rejoins the big league club.

But the Phillies have another option to consider -- playing Raul Ibanez at first base and filling the outfield with Brown, Victorino, and Jayson Werth.

Over the course of his 15 year big league career, Raul Ibanez has played 1225 games in the outfield, 1 game at third base, 1 game at catcher, . . . and 135 games at first base. It's been a while, as he hasn't played there since 2005, when he played 4 games there for the Mariners. The most he's ever played the position was in 2002, when he played 49 games at first for the Royals.

Now, Ibanez has not exactly been a gold glover at first when he's played there. He's 12 total fielding runs below average per 1200 innings (roughly 135 games) at the position, compared to only 5 total fielding runs below average in left field. But, putting him at first would get the Phillies a much faster, more athletic outfield, which could make up some of the loss. Although, to be fair, Brown has been pretty bad in the outfield so far.

The advantage would be getting more major league at-bats for Brown, who is finally off the schneid in the home run and walk department, and saving Sweeney for the bench or for starts against really tough left-handed pitchers.

I think this is a tough call for the Phillies, as I'm not sure that either option is obviously superior to the other. But, I think I'd lean toward what I'm proposing here -- trying Ibanez at first and getting Brown more exposure.

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Comments

I understand the athleticism argument

But, if Brown has not been that good in the field, is there really any gain in leaving him out there? I think the best place for him to learn this season may be in AAA, not the thick of a pennant race.

by dannijd on Aug 12, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

I couldn’t agree more. He’s had a taste of the Majors knows what he needs to work on and now needs to go back to AAA to work on it. Not sending him down to developed could be the worst thing possible. Confidence is a funny thing almost like charisma if you got it you got it but if you don’t then it’s not something that comes overnight.

Hey Dez, it's 2am do you know where your mother is?

by sowhatifitisasportste on Aug 12, 2010 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Larry Wayne Jones is out for the season.

by WanderingMoses on Aug 12, 2010 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

That could also be a career ender. Wow.

by philiafan14364 on Aug 12, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

did you see the post where the guy says us Phils fans can shove it now about our injuries? Is taht guy really serious?

by PSUcup1 on Aug 12, 2010 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

I see no reason to doubt his seriousness. Now ask about his intelligence.

by taco pal on Aug 12, 2010 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

good point! haha

by PSUcup1 on Aug 12, 2010 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

^^^

meant that for Taco

by PSUcup1 on Aug 12, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think it will hurt to at least try it for a game. Sweeney can’t seem to more than 2 consecutive games that often, so Manuel can slide Raul in there as needed. I would not be surprised to see that happen but Fransisco play in the OF with Brown in the minors. It will be interesting to see how they react/adapt to another injury.

The Mikan Drill

by JoshuaR on Aug 12, 2010 11:58 AM EDT reply actions

Ibanez is in such a monster groove right now that I’m not sure I’d want to disturb him. Tracy and Rizzotti are both decent options at triple-A, and the big guy is hopefully only about ten days away from getting back.

by dajafi on Aug 12, 2010 1:22 PM EDT reply actions

lot can happen in 10 days.

Hey Dez, it's 2am do you know where your mother is?

by sowhatifitisasportste on Aug 12, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Tough Call

Brown has been okay but should be a bench player, equivalent to Francisco but from the leftside. Leaving him up would only slightly slow his development but keep him in a high pressure situations even longer. He would be a Sept callup anyway for a similar role but just further down the bench.
Agree that Raul is hot. It might be better to leave him where he is. Might want to have him field a few grounders though as a fallback option.
Sweeney can hit lefties and righties but maybe Dobbs get 2 starts at 1B over the next two weeks just to give Sweeney a day off.
A Victorino for Gload trade is fine for now since Brown goes to ‘power lefty off the bench’ and both Werth and Ibanez have played 1st in the past.

Still must get either Baez or Herndon of the 25-man somehow. Hate to lose either but somehow the rest of the team has not injured one of them on purpose. I think Zagurski should also be recalled so each lefty never needs to face a righty.
Roster is a really big mess right now.

by phxphilly on Aug 12, 2010 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

If it’s a foregone conclusion that Brown’s a September call up, then why not just leave him in the bigs? Seriously, how much further development is he going to get in AAA over the next 2 weeks or so…? It would only seem to make sense if we really need the roster spot until they expand…

by Boundforbeach on Aug 12, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Actually Brown should be a starter or stay in AAA. In September as a bench player is fine, but 2 weeks of starting and playing constantly is better for him that 2 weeks of sitting on his hands.

by Cormican on Aug 12, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions