Philadelphia Phillies Outfield a Major Question Mark
The Philadelphia Phillies won't have Shane Victorino or Hunter Pence to solidify the outfield this year.
Philadelphia Phillies fans are getting hopeful this spring that the team might be able to turn it around after an off-year.
They're hopeful that Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Roy Halliday will rebound from injuries and that Cliff Lee will return to form.
They're hopeful that Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins and Carlos Ruiz will have eben bigger seasons than 2012. And that some key additions in the bullpen like Mike Adams and Chad Durbin will provide some balance.
But who is going to play the outfield?
That is possibly the biggest question mark facing the Phillies this spring training.
No longer does the team have Shane Victorino or Hunter Pence in the fold.
In fact, the Phils have questions at all three positions.
Centerfield does have a player. That's Ben Revere, who was acquired by the Minnesota Twins. Revere comes with a big-time glove that might fill the hole where Victorino performed his Gold Glove antics.
But where Victorino could hit better than average and provide some power, Revere hasn't really hit a lick in the Major Leagues yet. So he'll have to prove himself.
The player, though, who may be the major X Factor is Dominic Brown.
This long-time prospect who has bounced up and down from Triple AAA and has suffered some lingering injuries appears this spring to show some signs of life that he is the five-tool promising player everyone believed he was.
Of any player in camp, Brown has had the best spring.
He's hit the ball well and has hit some monster homers that may even make Ryan Howard blush.
So, at this point, you can probably pencil Brown in for a spot, either in right field or left field.
The reason he may not stick in right field is because the team signed Delmon Young during the off-season.
The former Tampa Bay Ray was once touted as an up-and-comer with tons of talent. But then some injuries and off-field issues derailed his progress. Young right now is trying to rebound from a foot injury that will have him on the Disabled List to start the season.
Darrin Ruf, who put up tremendous power numbers in Double A and Triple A last year is being given every chance to win the left field spot.
But Ruf has been inconsistent so far, hasn't it for power and his defense is lacking at times. So he could be going to Lehigh Valley to start the year with the Iron Pigs.
So that means that Lance Nix and John Mayberry Jr. might platoon in left field, maybe until Young gets healthy and takes right, moving Brown to left.
There are so many questions that it will be interesting to see how this all develops heading to opening day against the Kansas City Royals on April 5.
Gilbert R Albright Jr
8:45 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Hunter Pence will drive you nuts but he was productive, finishing with 25 HR and 100 RBI last year. Better than the numbers Werth put up most years. The Phillies are not going get that out of any of their present outfielders or a platoon of outfielders. They say they unloaded Pence because he would be a free agent at the end of 2013 and could not meet his demand for big bucks then because the payroll was already topped out. Same reason the gave for not resigning Victorino. The same reason the didn't sign any of the top Free Agents in the off season. So they signed a bunch of bargain basement players and traded for what they could get and are making do with what they have available in the minor leagues. Look forward to another 81-81 season at the best. The outfield is gonna be a mess all season. Tommy Joseph who they got in the Pence deal has looked really good in spring training, but he's a catcher.
Starship Trooper
9:50 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Gilbert,..IDid you forget about their Pitching Rotation and the vastly improved bullpen?.Baseball isnt just played in the outfield my man. Howard and Utley are healthy , They have the Best catcher in the NL.Mike Young is a pure hitter and will produce .Dom Brown is having a good spring.YOUR NUTS if you think they go .500. Your the typical bandwagon jumper..Man I wish I knew you I plunk down my $1000 that they go 90-72 and win a wild card spot.
mork
9:17 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I don't think they have the offense to win the division,but I think they can get a wild card spot. They have some good not great defensive outfields let them play. Forget about Delman Young he is a Head Case and not good for the club house.
Starship Trooper
10:02 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
Mork...Delmon Young is inconsequential. They Phils finished 81-81 last year with an unhealthy Halladay and they didnt hace Utley or Howard for half the season .Both played less than 100% the rest of the season. The bullpen was a disaster.The bullpen lost 17 games by the All Star break last year AND THEY STILL FINISHED .500.
All of the gaps have been filled and they 100% healthy. 90-72 and a wild card.
I will take any bets on that.
Mike Shortall
11:45 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Phillies can win without significant production from any one outfield position, so long as they get some form of consistent contribution from ALL the outfield. The best offensive contributions this year would be healthy seasons from Utley and Howard.
If the signs of a productive season from Domonic Brown come through in the regular season - and with an improved bullpen (Adams could be a BEAST in the set-up role.) - the Phillies could just make last year look like an anomaly as opposed to a trend!
The young studs in the bullpen in the second half of the season are also promising.
I will not miss either Pence or Victorino. The latter became very complacent - IMO - the last several years; and neither of them provided much in the way of leadership-through-performance last season when the Phils really needed it!
Boston overpaid for Victorino. They could afford him. Good luck with that. I like Pence, but he proved he's not the horse to hitch a team's prospects too by himself.
P Cally
1:06 pm on Saturday, March 9, 2013
I"ll take Posey over Choochroid everyday of the week,but i stiil think its gonna be between us and the gnats for the div.
Bill Sams
10:26 am on Sunday, March 10, 2013
I would like to see some of the players the Phils let go come back and then they would not only take the pennant but also the world Championship. Have we forgotten about 1980?