Comments on: Phillies “actively trying to move” Placido Polanco

By: luckynucky

luckynucky — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:23:28 +0000

You (Writer) are shortchanging Polanco. He may be 36 yrs.old, but this guy can still play with the best of them. Before the injuries (dbl hernia, elbow), he was smacking the ball around for his average (.301). Again, you can thank the SF Giants for hitting ballplayers with that Motto, “If you can’t beat them, then bean them.”

By: timasahh

timasahh — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:39:30 +0000

That makes sense. I guess I’m still on board with Polanco though, and I’d much rather see Chase get a break from beating himself up on the field by playing first and letting Polly fill his vacancy at second while Howard recovers than have any of these recent signings fill in for Howard. I guess that’s not the direction the FO is thinking, though. They seem to have confidence in Howard’s recovery, and if that is the case Polly would be an expensive bench player if they look for that offensive boost from a position other than SS. We know they have good defensive guys in the system already that could fill in and produce there so maybe that’s what they’re thinking if Rollins and them can’t come to a deal. Still going to be interesting to see how this all plays out.

By: CJ

CJ — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:24:35 +0000

I didn’t put words in your mouth, and you didn’t say anything subjective. All I’m saying is that those “facts” are merely subjective in and of themselves in that they’re deterimned exclusively by the subjective votes of the media, other players, etc.

If you’re going to complain about subjectivity, don’t use ASGs and GGs as your defense. Pot, meet kettle.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:06:42 +0000

Again, CJ, you have to read exactly what I am saying. I’m not giving a single opinion on the skills of Placido Polanco. Did I use the words “great fielder”? Nope. Here’s what I wrote, which was REPORTING 101…

“Polanco, a Gold Glove winner 3 times in the last 5 years and a 2011 All Star at Third Base…”

Tell me where I said he is a great fielder? Tell me where I said anything subjectively about his skills? I simply pointed out the facts. What aaron and falcon are doing is adding adjectives to his stats, with Aaron going as far as demeaning Polanco entirely, to the point where you have to wonder whether he is even a major league ballplayer anymore, even though he was an all star and won the GG in 2011.

Again, I am not making any subjective statements about Polanco. Just saying that in an article about the guy, would it be too much to ask to include some facts instead of saying he is a utility player who missed a whole 40 games last year? How about some of the positive facts about him?

p.s. Paper…can you link me to an article because I couldn’t find any legitimate articles panning the signing…unless we have two different definitions of legitimate. Stark didn’t seem to have a problem with it.

By: CJ

CJ — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:33:16 +0000

this does nothing to fix the SS issue. It only fixes the issue where they’re just relying too much on Polanco at this point and strenghtens that part of the lineup. At the same time it does mean there’s less $$$ to spend to address SS. Of course, with a better hitting 3B, SS is less of a concern and they’re more apt to going with a cheaper and/or less proven alternative there.

By: pjcostello

pjcostello — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:20:32 +0000

Signing a thirds baseman who can HIT, and hit with some power, means they can bring up the young shortstop from the minors and not worry about his batting — only his glove.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:10:05 +0000

The Polanco signing was widely panned at the time for being too long and for too many dollars.

By: timasahh

timasahh — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:07:17 +0000

I’m really curious about this decision, as am I about the rumors surrounding Ramirez. I don’t understand how signing a third baseman fixes the shortstop problem if we don’t get Jimmy Rollins. The only way I see that making sense is if Ramirez moves to short, or if the Phillies’ brass somehow pulls a deal out of their hat for both players. Even still, I feel there should be room for Polanco on the team. When healthy he has been a solid right handed, high average at-bat, and with Howard’s injury looming and putting uncertainty in the infield, he gives us another viable option that can play second and third and help solidify the bench. I’m thinking either the FO is banking on Howard making a quick recovery or has something up their sleeve and doesn’t think the money is worth it for a back-up. Regardless, as I said before I’m interested to see how this all plays out, because as of right now I’m not able to connect the dots.

By: CJ

CJ — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:59:21 +0000

have to disagree on this one CF. Both facts you’re using rely almost entirely on subjectivity as they’re determined by the opinion/votes of others, and not stats that are more relevent.

Couldn’t I take the same facts you used above to prove that Derek Jeter is still a great fielding SS.

By: xmatt0926x

xmatt0926x — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:58:38 +0000

Polanco still has alot of value as a utility guy who can back up at 3rd and 2nd base. Yeah, he’s had hernia issues last season and had an elbow issue the season before but that was due to a hit by pitch, not age related breaking down of the body. His glove is still fantastic. I wonder how many of the commenters on here ever actually see a player on a consistent basis before tearing him apart. If the Phillies ate some of his salary he’d be a great pickup for any team and I wish the Phils could keep him.

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:48:37 +0000

No, falcon, when Aaron uses words like “widely panned”(which is flat-out wrong) and you use words like “just” and “paltry”, you are injecting subjectivity into the reporting. What I wrote is 100% fact. I didn’t add words like “a great fielder” or “amazing 2011 All-Star season”. I said what he was…a winner of 3 GGs in the last 5 years and an All Star at 3rd base in 2011. Those are the facts. You guys want to call his production paltry and say his contract was widely panned(which again, it was not) then that’s called subjectivity.

By: thefalcon123

thefalcon123 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:38:54 +0000

“Polanco, a Gold Glove winner 3 times in the last 5 years and a 2011 All Star at Third Base…”

Or just a TAD more objectively…

“Polanco, a 2011 All-Star who slugged just .339 with a paltry 85 OPS+ at third base…”

#justsaying

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:24:14 +0000

THAT, was funny. LOL….

By: joshftw

joshftw — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:11:40 +0000

This has been today’s edition of “Good Luck With That!”

By: CJ

CJ — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:11:04 +0000

idk…if it were me, they’d have to pay 100% of his salary and maybe even give me the prospect. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t useless and can still play when healthy, which these days seems to be more “not” than “often”, if you will. The guy’s coming off a double hernia at 36 playing the hot corner (or second). Gets on base well still, but not much speed or power. Great glove but his range is decreasing.

He has enough value where’s he’s better to keep as a bench player than to give away for free. And no one will take him for less than free given the circumstances, I’d imagine.

By: manifunk

manifunk — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:08:39 +0000

Polanco has been actively trying to move himself since September but keeps getting hurt

By: Chris Fiorentino

Chris Fiorentino — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:04:14 +0000

“Polanco still has $7.25 million remaining on a three-year, $18 million contract that was widely panned at the time and is coming off a career-worst season in which he missed 40 games with various injuries. ”

Or just a TAD more objectively…

“Polanco, a Gold Glove winner 3 times in the last 5 years and a 2011 All Star at Third Base…”

#justsaying

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:02:21 +0000

Oh – heh – forgot. That’s the Chihuahua over there, standing on the barstool, frantically trying to get Amaro’s attention and passing him napkins with ballpoint scrawls that read “Hey Ruben, is that a real third baseman you’re selling?”

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:30 +0000

Hilarious. Craig takes his leave this morning promising to be blogging like mad all day, and all the reportage since then has been coming from Aaron, Drew and Shorty – who are Buddha knows how far from Dallas.

Obviously, Craig ran into someone with a sample case of bourbons…..