Pittsburgh right-hander Ian Snell faces the Phillies newly acquired right-hander, who’s making his fourth appearance of spring. Wes Helms sits for Abraham Nunez at third base, and Karim Garcia will start instead of Shane Victorino in right field and also bat sixth. [Live Box Score]
Transaction update
(From a Phillies news release): The Phillies made five transactions prior to today's game. Two players were optioned to minor league camp: infielder Danny Sandoval and righthander Brian Sanches and three players were re-assigned to minor league camp: righthanders Ryan Cameron and Kane Davis and first baseman Randall Simon. The moves leave the Phillies with 40 players remaining in camp.
I know this isn't a big deal, but in what universe does it make sense to hit Nunez second? Maybe Cholly just wants to give him more ABs, but Ruiz or Rowand would make much more sense.
If Helms ever has a day off during the regular season and Nunez hits second, I will send a formal letter of complaint to the Phillies.
Posted by: kdon | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:22 PM
kdon, didn't you read the last thread? Nunez doesn't strikeout much, and therefore is the perfect #2 hitter. any other offensive metric is irrelevant.
Posted by: ae | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:23 PM
For those who didn't see it, Conlin predicts another mid-80s win season for the Phightins, blaming bullpen misery and defensive weakness for falling short of 93 wins.
Posted by: clout | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:24 PM
Geranamo was placed on waivers and claimed by the Padres.
Posted by: The Reverend | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:24 PM
Just heard Germano was placed on waivers and claimed by Padres -- shame to lose him. Guess we got nothing for Cormier after all.
Posted by: Glennbo | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:26 PM
We got nothing but vapor in a trade? What else is new.
Posted by: J. Weitzel | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:28 PM
If true, that's yet another poor personnel decision by Gillick. Now I have to hope I'm wrong about Germano being a useful back of rotation starter/middle reliever.
Posted by: clout | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:33 PM
I forgot ae, how silly of me. By my calculations, he was almost 3 times as good an offensive player as Burrell and more than 4 times a good as Howard.
Posted by: kdon | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:36 PM
From Zolecki: "Pat Gillick said yesterday that he didn't think he would be able to make a trade for bullpen help before the season starts...he expected to open the season with six starting pitchers, one of which would move to the bullpen." So who do you move? Move Leiber and he becomes even less tradeable. Move Eaton and you risk Madson-syndrome after you dump Leiber and bring Eaton back to the rotation.
ps I'm new to the site so sorry if this has been discussed ad nauseam
Posted by: Glennbo | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 01:56 PM
why can't we hit the pirates? is it an intra-pennsylvania thing?
Posted by: gr | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Glennbo: I'm not sure Madson and Eaton are comparable. Eaton is a proven major league starter and Madson never was. But I do agree that moving Lieber to the pen would harm his trade value.
Re: The Bell/Polanco debate. Polanco is every bit as good a fielder as Bell so it really comes down to offense. I suppose the best measure would be to compare them to others in that lineup spot. Was Bell better than league average in the 6 hole? Was Polanco better than league average in the 2 hole? I think Polly wins that debate. But another consideration is HR power. 3B is a power position. Is the team weaker with a non-power player at 3B? Is there enough power being generated at other positions?
My personal opinion is that the Phils would've been a better team had they re-signed Polly (avoiding arbitration) and dumped Bell for whatever they could get (which they eventually did).
Posted by: clout | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 02:15 PM
The Phillies can't hit Snell. Never have been able to.
Posted by: RickSchuBlues | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 02:15 PM
Nice inning by Bisenius. We need any reliever to induce ground balls and I hope he's getting a serious look.
Posted by: Mike H. | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 02:38 PM
I agree Mike. I'm liking Bisenius.
Posted by: Bedrosian's Beard | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 02:40 PM
...except that he can only go one inning. Oh well. Geary has decent ground out/all out stats this spring. Ol' Six-Digit is a total nightmare, though. Man, I miss Carlos Silva.
Posted by: Mike H. | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 02:59 PM
Mike H: If we hadn't traded Carlos Silva, we wouldn't have gotten Eric Milton who led us to the...um, where did Eric Milton lead us to again?
Posted by: clout | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 03:31 PM
It's ashame to lose Germano for nothing.
Posted by: Lake Fred | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 05:27 PM
Clout, Milton led us to that place called "86-ville", the place of slightly above mediocrity and out of October baseball. I think the mayor of 86-ville is Kevin Millwood.
Posted by: Mike H. | Monday, March 19, 2007 at 06:23 PM