The Phillies have placed Aaron Rowand on the 15-day DL with a fractured nose and recalled OF Chris Roberson from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The 26-year-old switch-hitting speed merchant was hitting .287 (39-136) with 10 doubles and 12 stolen bases for the Barons. He started slow, but has been hot lately, currently on an 8-game hitting streak in which he’s gone 13-for-34.
Roberson, a 9th round pick in the 2001 draft, spent 2005 with Reading (AA) and won Eastern League Rookie of the Year after a league-leading 172 hits, which set a Reading record. He also won the Paul Owens award as the best player in the Phillies’ minor league system.
Roberson was in the running for the final spot off the Phillies bench this spring, but the spot that was eventually filled by David Dellucci. He hit .273 with 2 home runs with the Phils this spring.
Well, you know I'm happy to see Roberson up in the bigs finally. I bet he contributes when he gets the chance. I think that even as valuable as Rowand is, the Phils aren't going to miss a beat with Victorino - who may be almost as good defensively - and now Roberson in the picture.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Friday, May 12, 2006 at 05:27 PM
I hope Roberson can be a quality pinch-hitter, pinch-runner type like Victorino was, until Victorino got suddenly cast as the starting CF. Hurry back Rowand, we all love you!
Posted by: Carson Book | Friday, May 12, 2006 at 08:05 PM
Wait a minute Mr. SchuBlues.
About two weeks ago I casually mentioned that Victorino was a decent 4th outfield option.
You suggested I was using controlled substances and said he would never be anything except a AAA/MLB tweener.
Now he's "almost as good defensivley" as Rowand. I swear you just make this stuff up as you go.
Posted by: Trask | Friday, May 12, 2006 at 08:06 PM
tell me about it !
Posted by: | Friday, May 12, 2006 at 10:30 PM
Whoa, Trask, you got the wrong guy. Anyone will back me up on this. I'm the one who in fact went so far as to say Roberson might be a more productive player than Pat Burrell over a full major-league season. (And believe me, if anyone was cited for taking controlled substances, it was me for saying that!) I'm a big fan of his, and I thought he should been in the majors a long time ago.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Friday, May 12, 2006 at 11:28 PM
Oh shoot, you're talking about Victorino, not Roberson...
Yeah.
Okay, well, I never was quite as high of Shaner, but at the same time I don't remember bashing him as you're claiming. He *is* good defensively, and I don't know how I ever could have said otherwise. As for him being more than a 'tweener', I think he's better than that and is obviously proving it. So it's possible you got the wrong guy in his case as well...I just don't think I ever had reason to be down on him. If you can dig up exactly what I said, I'd be curious.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Friday, May 12, 2006 at 11:38 PM
Roberson better than Burrell . . . let's not get ahead of things. Hopefully Roberson can bring another useful bat off the bench. The Phils pinch-hitting has been woeful this year so far.
Dellucci is mistcast as a pinchhitter and Nunez, Gonzalez, and Fasano have given the Phils nothing off the bench.
Posted by: MG | Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 12:29 AM
Speaking of pinch-hitting. Cole Hamels had just about as much of a chance knocking in a run with the bases loaded in the top of the 6th as "No-Stick Nunez". Fricken Manuel.
Posted by: Carson Book | Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 06:33 AM
Maybe Sanatana can play the utility IF spot and pinch hitter. Then they can cut Gonzo. I think he is running out of time to produce.
Posted by: Bob D | Saturday, May 13, 2006 at 02:40 PM