Phillips and RHP

External Since: Jun 12, 2006 Posts: 889

Should this guy be even playing against right handers?

..223 / .257 / .350 with a K every 4 AB.

Hope this improves with age or this may be another bad contract since you
get the RHP on most nights.

External Since: Jun 12, 2006 Posts: 889

"Tuff Gong" <no.spam RemoveThis @mymail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9A9A234D511E6nospammymailcom@216.196.97.142...
> "RJA" <rja RemoveThis @nospam.cinci.rr.com> wrote in
> news:4824e3e3$0$3395$4c368faf@roadrunner.com:
>
>> Should this guy be even playing against right handers?
>>
>> .223 / .257 / .350 with a K every 4 AB.
>>
>> Hope this improves with age or this may be another bad contract since
>> you get the RHP on most nights.
>
> Well, 2B is one of those positions like SS where you also pay a guy for
> his
> defense. 2B is also a position that's not real deep on talent so even a
> guy with a career AVG against RHP of .248 (which is what Phillips' career
> average is) who plays solid defense has a lot of value. In fact, based on
> last year's numbers Phillips was probably the best overall 2B with all
> things considered. Perhaps last year will prove to be an anomaly, but he
> hit 30 HRs, stole 32 bases, 94 RBIs and 107 runs. You also can't overlook
> that Phillips has turned into a fan favorite.
>
> Phillips signed a 4-year $27 million contract before the season started.
> That's roughly $6.5 million a year. Now bear in mind that Chase Utley is
> making about $12 million a year, Brian Roberts makes about $6 million a
> year (and will likely earn more as a free agent after this year), Robinson
> Cano makes $7 million a year, Placido Polanco makes about $6 million a
> year. Orlando Hudson becomes a free agent after this year and there's
> been
> much talk about him likely getting a deal worth $12-15 million a year.
>
> Basically, the absolute top guys at the position are making (or will make)
> about $12-15 million a year. Now if the Reds were giving Phillips the
> contract based solely on last year's stats then, yeah, he's probably being
> overpaid because he probably won't repeat last year. That said, he's
> still
> a reasonably good offensive player and is rock solid defensively, and in
> today's market I don't think $6.5 million a year is that out of line.
> Maybe it's a bit high but I don't think this will be labeled as a "bad
> contract".

Actually, I think he's about on pace for what he did last year and I agree
on the defense, but I don't think he should be in the middle of the order
against righties.