5 Galvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong.
The Phillies aren’t ready to turn to 2013 just yet, so Chase Utley started Monday night’s game against the Mets at second base.
Not third base.
Utley continues to work out at third, and while it’s not a certainty that he’ll be playing there next year, it’s more and more becoming a real possibility.
He may even play there this season, but general manager Ruben Amaro and manager Charlie Manuel both suggested Monday that won’t happen until the Phillies give up on this last-gasp run at a wild-card spot.
“Only if he feels comfortable there, and likely only if we’re out of the race,” Amaro said.
Utley continues to work at third during early batting practice, and he was there again on Monday. The word is that he’s feeling more comfortable there, and it’s obvious the Phillies are becoming more comfortable with the idea.
If Utley plays third, Freddy Galvis would likely play second base, giving the Phillies a stronger overall defensive infield.
The Phillies want to add at least one significant hitter over the winter, but they figure it will be easier to add that hitter in the outfield. They would still have the option of adding a third baseman, and leaving Utley at second base.
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1. Sean Forman Posted: September 18, 2012 at 10:12 AM (#4238930)AAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Chase Utley is like Joe Morgan in that it seems like nobody including himself realize why he is so damn good.
Apparently the best 3B available as free agents are Maicer Izturis and Jeff Keppinger.
When Utley first came up there was nowhere for him to play behind 2B Polanco and 3B David Bell. "Trade Bell and put Utley or Polanco at 3B", we all cried. They were unable to trade Bell but eventually they traded Polanco.
Yeah, the 3B market is just bone dry this year. The Braves are lucky to have Prado and Francisco as options post-Chipper, as odd as that sounds to say. I'm not sure what the options are at 2B, but there's no reason to think Utley/Galvis wouldn't be more productive than FA 3B/Utley, all things told. The point is not to maximize Chase Utley's raw value by playing him at 2B regardless. The point is to maximize the team's overall talent level by playing Utley+the best non-Utley candidate at either 2B or 3B.
Mark Reynolds will certainly have his $11 mill option declined, if you consider him a 3B.
Jim Thome might be available too.
Not true. I said shiite-can Bell and play Polanco at 3B.
At this point in his career, Thome might have a better chance of playing the actual base than he would playing a third baseman.
"Jim, we just need you to lie there on the baseline. Once in a while, someone will slide into you. Don't worry, we'll fashion some kind of padding."
2002 was the year the Phils' main priority was trying to get rid of Scott Rolen. If Utley hadn't committed 28 errors in his 120 games at 3B, I guess they would have made him the heir apparent at 3B instead of signing David Bell to that four-year contract.
oops
ed wade is good at finding relievers offn the scrap heap. PERIOD.
i can see putting utley at third instead of second IF he can play third and IF it makes him less likely to get re-hurt AGAIN. i can understand why his hitting is valuable as a second baseman. but i don't understand why it makes any difference if he and the only other available 3B switch positions if their offensive numbers are the same.
jeff keppinger is a lousy thied baseman - he really is a second baseman
it's also true that utley's games played and ops plus keeps trickling down every year for a while now. the phillies would be remiss not to consider other options to at minimum keep him in the lineup.
chase will be 34 this winter. he's at the tipping point where guys either have another 3 years or so of solid play or just keep petering out.
if aramis ramirez can have a 5 plus war season at age 34 so can chase utley. easily
I'm with Harvey. Less ground to cover, essentially you only have to move to your left although you will occasionally have some balls to your right but mostly reaction plays, not something you have to run for. You never have to make an awkward play at the base to try to avoid a runner trying to take you out. 3B seems much less demanding than 2B.
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