After a nice weekend in New York which included a three game
sweep of the Mets, an outstanding outing by Kyle Kendrick and Ryan
Howard possibly breaking out of his early season slumber, the Phillies
will open up a series in Cleveland on Tuesday. Playing in an American League city, a
DH will be part of their lineup, but who will be in that spot? If I had to guess, manager Charlie Manuel will rotate Howard and Utley in the DH spot for now, but Delmon Young is a perfect candidate for the role.
sweep of the Mets, an outstanding outing by Kyle Kendrick and Ryan
Howard possibly breaking out of his early season slumber, the Phillies
will open up a series in Cleveland on Tuesday. Playing in an American League city, a
DH will be part of their lineup, but who will be in that spot? If I had to guess, manager Charlie Manuel will rotate Howard and Utley in the DH spot for now, but Delmon Young is a perfect candidate for the role.
Young started a rehab assignment last week and seems to
be progressing closer to the big league squad, but many
questions have to be asked. How can the Phillies make room for him on
the roster? Is he fully recovered from his ankle surgery? But to me, the most pressing question is can
actually play right field?
When word came down that Young and the Phillies agreed to
a one year, incentive laden deal, a number of baseball fans openly
questioned the signing. Myself, I reserved judgement and thought a one
year deal for a guy that can drive in runs and would just be stuck in left
field isn’t a bad thing. The Phils won a World Series with Pat Burrell in left and he wasn’t known for his defensive prowess. I even expected Young to hit .270 with 20
homers and 75 RBIs, protecting Ryan Howard in that 5 spot in the lineup.
a one year, incentive laden deal, a number of baseball fans openly
questioned the signing. Myself, I reserved judgement and thought a one
year deal for a guy that can drive in runs and would just be stuck in left
field isn’t a bad thing. The Phils won a World Series with Pat Burrell in left and he wasn’t known for his defensive prowess. I even expected Young to hit .270 with 20
homers and 75 RBIs, protecting Ryan Howard in that 5 spot in the lineup.
The Phillies then made it known they wanted Delmon in
right field and moved Domonic Brown to left. Brown, who never seemed
confident in his fielding abilities in the first place, now has to learn
a new position on the fly, even waste his above average arm in left
field. Now the Phils would be playing two outfielders out of position when each could be playing their respective positions from last year.
right field and moved Domonic Brown to left. Brown, who never seemed
confident in his fielding abilities in the first place, now has to learn
a new position on the fly, even waste his above average arm in left
field. Now the Phils would be playing two outfielders out of position when each could be playing their respective positions from last year.
Delmon Young hasn’t played right field since 2007, when
he was finished in 2nd place for Rookie of the Year with the Tampa
Bay Devil Rays (Yes, they were still the Devil Rays at that point). As
we saw in 2012 playoffs, he can’t even make a throw from shallow left
get to the plate without bouncing before the infield.
he was finished in 2nd place for Rookie of the Year with the Tampa
Bay Devil Rays (Yes, they were still the Devil Rays at that point). As
we saw in 2012 playoffs, he can’t even make a throw from shallow left
get to the plate without bouncing before the infield.
Yes, this was just one play, but it is not encouraging to see. Maybe
the Phillies are expecting Ben Revere to make up for the ground that
Young won’t be able to cover, but he surely cannot make up for that
lousy arm.
the Phillies are expecting Ben Revere to make up for the ground that
Young won’t be able to cover, but he surely cannot make up for that
lousy arm.
The whole thing seems like an experiment to me, something the 2013
Phillies don’t really have time to see it pay off. This team is built to win now (or
last year) and can’t be hoping a guy like Delmon Young can excel in
right field after returning from microfracture ankle surgery. A playoff caliber team doesn’t have a right fielder coming off injury, playing a position he hasn’t played in six years. Time will tell if this move pays off – I’m sure it will be fun to watch!
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