06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Howard isn't eligible for FA until after 2011... crazy.

I think the Phillies will have to re-sign him now.  But they'll wait a year or two and "bank" the money.

[BigEd76]

Rollins: "We're the team to beat in the NL East"

[Geowhizzer]

With Ryan Howard at first base, Chase Utley at second base, Rollins at shortstop and Wes Helms at third base, does this translate into the best infield in the National League?

Translation:  Put any Joe Schmoe at third, and it's the best infield in the National League.  Heck, put IGY there.

(Though I'd put Howard-Utley-Rollins against any threesome in the NL.)

[SD_Eagle5]

Aside from Rollins that's a brutal fielding infield.

[MDS]

Utley isn't horrible. Helms probably sucks. Howard is atroscious, but just about everyone is who plays 1B. Plus he hits 800 homeruns.

[ice grillin you]

Aside from Rollins that's a brutal fielding infield

thats what i tried to tell everyone last year...its gonna be very hard to win a division with a whole side of an infield that is basically inept in the field...furthermore helms is terrible and burrell we all know about...which is your left side of the field...its why i didnt want soriano...id rather have a good hitter/great fielder out there burrell than a hack like soriano who is a great hitter

the defense must improve on this team for it to be sucessful

[BigEd76]

Which side is inept?  The one with Rollins or the one with Utley?  Criticize the corner fielders if you want (even though Howard did better than expected last year), but up the middle, they're strong...

[SunMo]

Utley isn't a great fielder, in fact he's barely average.  He makes some spectacular plays in the hole once in awhile, but he's bad at going to his left and he botches some easy plays.

[ice grillin you]

Which side is inept?

right - howard and utley
left - helms burrell (rollins is great)

four of their seven fielders range from hack to just plain bad

i know most people dont ever think about defense in baseball but its ultra important (even in a hitters park) and can be the difference between playoffs or not

[Wingspan]

Which side is inept?  The one with Rollins or the one with Utley?  Criticize the corner fielders if you want (even though Howard did better than expected last year), but up the middle, they're strong...

So you didn't even expect Howard to make any routine plays?

Howard is an abomination in the field. He needs one of these.



Utley is barely average (as SunMo said above), and he was really a liability on the field late in the season last year.

The overall defense on this team is not good. Which is why the pitching has to be lights out this season to even sniff the playoffs.

[Sgt PSN]

They'll really miss Abreu's glove this year. 

[SD_Eagle5]

Utley's an average fielder who sometimes makes a great play, but he butchers too many routine throws.

[Rome]

They'll really miss Abreu's vorp this year. 

[mpmcgraw]

Utley's arm is meh, but he is actually one of the most solid second baseman defensively in the league.  And that's just going off what I see.  If you want me to dig up some stats I will, but I really don't feel like it.

People who never played second base regularly at a competitive level have trouble comprehending that it is one of the toughest positions to play. 

[mpmcgraw]

oops