Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Benchwarmers the Phillies Should Take a Look at
June 19, 2011Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Benchwarmers the Phillies Should Take a Look at
Just like Matt Stairs stated in his press conference after his moon shot in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS, he was just looking to get his "ass hammered." In other words, he was looking for a slap in the behind after his at-bat to signify that he did something good.
In 2008, Greg Dobbs was an important piece to the Philadelphia Phillies' World Series run. He hit over .300 that season. Pinch-hitting benchwarmer Matt Stairs single-handedly won Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS. Geoff Jenkins...another solid reserve.
In the 1980's Greg Gross accumulated 143 career pinch-hits, 117 with the Phillies. His 143 career pinch-hits ranks fifth on the all-time list.
The Phillies' current bench—OF Ben Francisco, INF Wilson Valdez, RES Michael Martinez, PH Ross Gload and C Dane Sardinha—is not exactly the best.
They need some pop off the pine. There's a reason why a certain game took 19 innings to complete earlier on in the season.
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Honorable Mention: Vladimir Guerrero
I realize that some may bring up Vladimir Guerrero's name, but that $8 million is too much for a benchwarmer.
And at this point, can he even play the field? Then again, Raul Ibanez isn't exactly the best defensive asset in left.
Jim Thome
Jim Thome would be the perfect candidate to provide pop off the bench.
The dilemma is that the Twins, despite a rash of injuries all season long, have found their winning ways. They've won six in a row, and eight of their last 10.
At one point this season they were 17-37. Now they're 30-39 and eight games back in the puzzling AL Central.
Thome's been on the DL since June 2 with a sprained left quad. He's seven home runs shy of the highly coveted 600 home run club.
Garrett Jones
The Pirates have gotten off to a better start than in years past, but they've always sold at the trading deadline.
Jones has back-to-back 20-plus home run seasons and is currently hitting .256 with seven bombs and 24 RBI.
He'd be cheap too, having signed a one-year $456,000 contract before the season.
Hideki Matsui
Hideki Matsui's 2009 World Series performance still haunts many Phillies fans.
In the clinching Game 6 of that series, the World Series MVP drove in six of the Yankees' seven runs en route to a 7-3 win.
Matsui became the first Japanese-born player to win the World Series MVP. He went 6-for-14 in the series with three home runs and eight RBI.
Although Matsui's seen a dip in his batting average this year, just .224, he has postseason experience. And, he can still turn on a fastball. That short porch in right would certainly appetize the Godzilla.
There is a "but" here: the $4.5 million he's making this season.
Brad Hawpe
I know, another left-hander on this list.
With the recent call-up of the Padres' No. 2 prospect Anthony Rizzo, Brad Hawpe won't be seeing much playing time at first base.
Hawpe had a four-year stretch of 20-plus home run seasons from 2006-2009: 22 (2006), 29 (2007), 25 (2008) and 23 (2009). I must note that was when he was with the Rockies.
Hawpe's been struggling this season. He's hitting just .231 with four home runs and 19 RBI.
As the Padres continue to fall further and further back in the NL West, they'll be in selling mode at the deadline.