HA! Bet that headline caught your attention!
Unfortunately I lack the powers of premonition and I have absolutely no contacts within the Phillies organization, so your guess is as good as mine when it comes to the one open hole in the Phils starting lineup. We do however have a little thing called “statistical analysis”, so let’s take a look at the candidates to potentially replace Pete Happy at the hot corner:
A few important points to consider before we get too into this:
- An explanation of the abbreviations…BA (batting average), OBP (on-base percentage), P/PA (average pitches per plate appearance), F % (fielding percentage).
- Chone Figgins is a Type A free agent, so any team that signs him will owe the Angels two draft picks. It’s also pronounced “Shawn”, not “Cho-nee.”
- Placido Polanco played 2nd for the Tigers all last season and would need to switch to 3rd in Philly. The last time he played there? 2005, the same year the Phils originally traded him to the Tigers to make room for some guy named Chase Utley. ESPN is also reporting that the Phillies are already seriously considering bringing Polanco back.
- Mark DeRosa played all over the field for the Indians and the Cardinals, but the fielding percentage above is from his time at 3rd for both teams.
The best way to approach this whole scenario is to break it down based on what each player brings to the table, so without further ado:
Chone Figgins
Living in So Cal means I get to watch quite a few Angel games, and Chone Figgins is probably one of the more underrated players in baseball. He can play almost any position, has tons of speed, is a capable defender, and is the most patient hitter out of any of the Phillies options at third. The thought of adding a threat like his to our already tough lineup would be enough to make even the most jaded Negladelphian crack a smile. Obviously he’d be a downgrade in the power department from Feliz, but his superior hitting numbers in just about every other category more than make up for that. Another plus to adding Figgins to the roster is it would allow Charlie Manuel to move Jimmy Rollins out of the leadoff spot, and Figgins could fill in for J-Roll, Utley, or even an outfielder if someone needed a day off (which seems to be the primary trait the Phils are looking for in a replacement 3rd baseman.)
The cons to bringing Figgins in revolve more around finances and prospects than anything else. He’ll command a much larger contract than most of the guys on the above list, and the two draft picks are a tough price to pay for a guy who isn’t a franchise player.
Likelihood of happening: 45% – I don’t see the Phils shelling out the necessary dough/picks for Chone’s services.
Placido Polanco
Matt P. over at the700Level sees Polanco fitting in well with his old club, and he is a better, more versatile player than Pedro Feliz. Placido hit just two fewer homers, but had much higher averages across the board. His fielding percentage at second was also fantastic, but he’d have to make an adjustment to play third and it’s reasonable to assume he may not be able to bring the level of defense that Feliz provided there for the past few seasons.
Likelihood of happening: 65% – He’d be more affordable than Figgins and would be a clear upgrade over Feliz. His past playoff success (2006 ALCS MVP) and familiarity with Philly doesn’t hurt either.
Mark DeRosa
DeRosa is another player who brings a ton of versatility to the table, and could give several other regular starters a day off when needed. He may not have Figgins’ speed, but he has quite a bit of power to make up for that. DeRosa was hitting .270 prior to his move to St. Louis, but he batted just .228 for the Red Birds down the stretch. Any questions about his ability to perform in the clutch however can be disregarded thanks to his career playoff batting average of .358.
Likelihood of happening: 50% – Much like Polanco, DeRosa would be more affordable than Figgins and an upgrade over Feliz largely across the board. He has superior power to Polanco (although not by a ton) but doesn’t get on base quite as well.
Adrian Beltre
Durability has been an issue for Adrian throughout his career and last season was no exception: he only played in 111 games and saw a significant dip in his power numbers. While he only hit 8 homers in 2009, he hit 25, 26, and 25 the three years prior. He’s also played in pitcher-friendly parks his whole career so the move to CBP would help him out quite a bit. While that thought can make Beltre a tempting option his career .270 BA, his average fielding skills, and his inability to play other infield positions makes him an unlikely option.
Likelihood of happening: 40% – His lack of versatility and durability will likely keep him out of Philly.
Pedro Feliz
What about good old Pete Happy, the almost-hero of Game 4 of the World Series?!? (He did hit the homer that tied the game at 4 after all!) While he may be a talented defender he was exposed behind the plate for a majority of the 2009 playoffs, hitting just .167 overall. After those struggles it’s hard to see the front office bringing him back. The only way it happens is if they swing and miss (pardon the pun) on some of their other options.
Likelihood of happening: 20% – Just think Phillies fans, no more watching Pedro come up to the plate with runners in scoring position only to ground out on the first pitch!
