Game chat: Cholly goes for win by keeping J-Roll in

Bench Jimmy Rollins for Michael Martinez? Um, no.

With the Phillies clinging to faint playoff hopes, Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel keeps his shortstop on the field, despite the annual "lack of hustle" dust-up, when the Phillies open a four-game set in Milwaukee. First pitch is 8:10. Cliff Lee has the honors. Readers recall that it was a four-game sweep of the Brewers in September of 2008 that sparked their stretch-run charge. They're hoping for the same type of lift here, only this time, it's likely a last-ditch effort.

So why wouldn't you start Rollins?

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Comments

[ColonelTom]

Gordon makes outs at an appalling rate, and if you have any faith in the UZR defensive metric, he's an awful SS (-24.2 UZR/150 over 2 years). Overall, FanGraphs has him at -1.2 WAR this year.

[Iceman]

"Gordon makes outs at an appalling rate, and if you have any faith in the UZR defensive metric, he's an awful SS (-24.2 UZR/150 over 2 years). Overall, FanGraphs has him at -1.2 WAR this year."

But MAN can he fly! (/Wheels)

[lorecore]

ChollyM: "But I am convinced now that Frandsen isn't strong enough defensively to be a regular"

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least, how much did you know about Kevin Frandsen before his recent call up to the Phillies?

I ask this because the only way someone could be 'on the fence' on whether Kevin Frandsen is strong enough to be a starter in the majors is if they simply knew nothing about Kevin Frandsen before.

[Willard Preacher]

And he's a second generation player, to boot!

We could have him room with JMJ.

[MG]

Not sure what is dumber:

- Indignation and outrage at the JRoll's 'lack of hustle'

- People reacting to the people who criticism him for various reasons and defend JRoll's effort on the play

JRoll did something he shouldn't have, Cholly spoke to him behind closed doors about it (one of Cholly's best traits is that he doesn't air dirty laundry), and it is a done deal I bet as far as they are concerned.

[Iceman]

WP- their on-base skills certainly match up well.

[Willard Preacher]

"and it is a done deal I bet as far as they are concerned."

Until one of the beat writers gets writer's block and needs to dig up some page views.

[pblunts]

@lorecore see my 12:42 post about Galvis and PED's totally agree.

[Bob]

lorecore,

I'll freely admit I knew next to nothing about Frandson before his recent promotion. That's part of why I enjoy BL so much, the chance to hear from people who are far more up to speed on guys like that than I.

I can't even claim to have known enough to be called a fence sitter when he was called up. But after having seen him play now for a while and read about him over the time he's been here, I have formed an opinion. I don't think he's strong enough to be an everyday, starting ML player for a team that aspires to go anywhere. Maybe a good utility guy next year, but hopefully not the regular 3rd baseman. If he is we got troubles.

[Willard Preacher]

Looks like Nix in CF again tonight.

Rollins SS, Pierre LF, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Brown RF, Nix CF, Frandsen 3B, Schneider C, Worley P

[ChollyM]

I guess when looking at Polanco,I was hoping Frandsen could possibly be the replacement, seeing as there is not a huge supply of quality 3rd basemen available this off season. On a scale of 1-10, I would say I was about a 3. It was wishful thinking on my part but like Bob, after watching him closer, I can only view him as a utility player.

[lorecore]

handful of Cody Asche questions in Baseball America chat today. Lot of their scouts seem pretty impressed, and only note that his power is weak for 3B. Was compared to the Mets' Daniel Murphy, with better defensive ability.

Would love for that to be true. Chat also touched on the Phils' system as a whole, and noted that surprising 2012's along with trade acquisitions have really started to turn their farm around.

[Not Cliff Lee]

"Looks like Nix in CF again tonight."

Anyone but Mini Mart. Even my dead Grandmother.

[Willard Preacher]

Frandsen isn't a starting 3B on a contending MLB team. Though, to be fair, neither is Polanco. Both, however, would be very capable and decent utility players.

That said, it's entirely within the realm of reason that either could be the starting 3B next season. If that's the case, then I avert your attention back to my opening statement, with a key emphasis on the word "contending."

[ChollyM]

I actually think Jimmy would play a good 3rd base, with Freddy at short, but I know that will probably never happen.

[Iceman]

"Chat also touched on the Phils' system as a whole, and noted that surprising 2012's along with trade acquisitions have really started to turn their farm around."

I take it Law wasn't part of this chat, as he got in another shot at the Phils' system yesterday in a chat excerpt I saw.

I caught the Orioles/Red Sox game yesterday in Baltimore and listened to the radio guys on the way home after the game- Duquette is telling Dylan Bundy he can't throw a cutter and said something about how it's not a pitch that many big-leaguers rely on. Keith Law predictably mocked that statement and said the whole scouting community is laughing at Duquette and feels sorry for Bundy that he's stuck in the O's system.

The co-host then went on a tirade about how Law hates the Orioles, hates Dan Duquette, and cannot be trusted to give an unbiased opinion about either, so his comments on the subject are worth nothing. Sounded awfully familiar.

Is it possible that KLaw is just a pretentious d*ck, period, and therefore everyone assumes he's got something against their team?

[Not Cliff Lee]

Of course, even if he is a pretentious d*ck, doesn't make him wrong :)

[lorecore]

Wasn't Klaw fired from a FO job years ago? Maybe still bitter?

Chollym: Injury riddled Polanco is a better offensive player than over achieving juiced up Freddy Galvis. And since Polanco still plays a good 3B, I can't see how a 3B-SS combo of rollins/galvis can be any better than what Polly/Rollins gave them this season.

[ChollyM]

You are no doubt correct lonecore. I'm Just assuming Polanco will not be back. if he is back next year, he will no doubt be the best option at 3rd base, albeit on a more limited basis in my humble opinion.

[Willard Preacher]

lorecore, great point. As much as a contending team does not employ Frandsen or Polly as their starting 3B, I'd go ever farther to say that even a middling, barely-drawing-flies, team that siphoning funds from revenue sharing doesn't employ Galvis as a starting 3B.

Basically, the Phillies have an overabundance of utility men, none of which are good enough to call a full time starter. And I loathe any sort of a part-time/platoon scenario, a la Dobbs/Nunez/Helms.

Luckily, you can use more than one utility IF when you have aging and injured starters. The problem is that damn 25 man roster limit...

[Kendrick Appreciation Society]

Keith Law worked in the Blue Jays system but was, I believe, let go during a regime change. He was offered a job with the Astros before turning them down.

He's generally regarded as having pretty solid knowledge of minor league players and draft prospects. He'll tell you himself that he knows he's not always right.

Oh, and his level of snark puts him very high on the pretentious d*ck scale. And he doesn't apologize for it.

[Willard Preacher]

"Oh, and his level of snark puts him very high on the pretentious d*ck scale. And he doesn't apologize for it."

Can't help but wonder why we haven't seen him on BL?

[aksmith]

We haven't seen KLaw on BL because pretentious snark while giving opinions isn't the stock in trade here. Pretentious snark while NOT giving an opinion, but pronouncing on everyone else's opinions is BL's specialty. Well, it's one BL poster's specialty and he flavors the entire stew. That probably chases the KLaws away.

[Kendrick Appreciation Society]

I'm sure we just popped up in Keith Law's Google alert. Maybe he'll stop by and say hi.

[aksmith]

I'd rather have Frandsen at third, JRoll at short, Chutley at second, Howard at first and two dynamic outfielders in trades or free agency, than chase the elusive unicorn that is the perfect third baseman.

If Chooch is healthy and catching with Kratz as the backup, the bullpen is fortified, and the only position we are subpar is third base, then I think Rube will have done okay.

[abercrombie france]

Pour ne pas être à l'intérieur du comprendre le plus souvent, je suis enclin à n'aimez pas les messages concernant ce sujet progressivement supplémentaires considérez que vous êtes à l'écrire à la mode outre vos moyens personnels, nous avons obtenu de dire, c'est vraiment, vraiment une belle publier de ceux à retenir.

[abercrombie france]

Pour ne pas être à l'intérieur du comprendre le plus souvent, je suis enclin à n'aimez pas les messages concernant ce sujet progressivement supplémentaires considérez que vous êtes à l'écrire à la mode outre vos moyens personnels, nous avons obtenu de dire, c'est vraiment, vraiment une belle publier de ceux à retenir.