Placido Polanco Signs 3-Year Deal With Phillies

So much for the theory that they wanted Mark DeRosa to be their third baseman.

about 2 years ago Al Yellon 27 comments 0 recs |

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So the Cubs can still get Mark DeRosa

If they feel so inclined.

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Dec 3, 2009 1:09 PM CST reply actions

The DeRomantics are going to be PUMPED!!!!

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Dec 3, 2009 1:26 PM CST up reply actions

Dammit

by Mulhollandmania on Dec 3, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher

by Musicdude10 on Dec 3, 2009 1:31 PM CST reply actions

Can someone explain this to me?

I’m not overly familiar with Polanco, but apparently he hasn’t played third base since 2005. And it’s not like he hits for that much power. Three years seems kind of long for a guy in his mid-thirties, too. Maybe I’ll wander over to a Phillies blog and see how their fans are reacting.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 3, 2009 1:34 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, I don't quite get this one either.

It’s not just that he hasn’t played 3B lately — his offensive numbers are starting to decline. The Phillies would probably have been better off sticking with Pedro Feliz, if Polanco is his replacement.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 3, 2009 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

It appears Phillies fans are having a similiar reaction.

Here’s the Polanco thread over at The Good Phight.

On a sidenote, what do Phillies fans have against using subject lines in their comments? Discuss.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 3, 2009 2:19 PM CST up reply actions

Good question on the subject lines.

They really should use them. Makes comments easier to read, I think.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Dec 3, 2009 2:45 PM CST up reply actions

I think so, too.

Everything kinda blurs together without them.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 3, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

Let's all sign up

And tell them the value of subject lines!

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Dec 3, 2009 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

Meh, they'll just rub their back-to-back World Series appearances in our face.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 3, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

There is that...

We could counter with the 10,000 losses thing, although we are most likely the next franchise to follow suit

by Musicdude10 on Dec 3, 2009 4:17 PM CST up reply actions

whats the cubs alltime record?

1 Aaron down, 1 to go

by jesus christos on Dec 3, 2009 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

Just a wild guess

but there could be the possibility of playing Polanco at 2B and maybe moving Utley over to 3B.

Polanco is by far the better second baseman of the two, and I seem to recall Utley making some shaky plays at 2B in the postseason.

Either way, Polanco is a good pickup for them (great fielder, high OBP, hard to strike out and can hit .300).

If you think you've seen it all...just wait!

by CubFanSince1970 on Dec 3, 2009 2:53 PM CST up reply actions

No, I believe the Phillies Web site states...

…that Polanco will mainly play third base and occasionally spell Utley at second.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 3, 2009 3:08 PM CST up reply actions

If you think Utley is bad at second

He’ll be uglier at third.

by Musicdude10 on Dec 3, 2009 3:16 PM CST up reply actions

defense

Except Chase Utley might be the best fielding second baseman in baseball (according to UZR).

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Dec 3, 2009 7:15 PM CST up reply actions

third base

They tried Utley at third base in the minors back in 2002, when it was obvious that Scott Rolen was going to split, and the experiment was a failure.

You can’t evaluate Utley’s defense based on a couple bad throws in the playoffs. The numbers show that he’s been an outstanding defensive second baseman.

I imagine Polanco will probably spell Utley for a few games here and there, as he seemed to have some fatigue issues down the stretch (he was awful in September).

http://www.thegoodphight.com

by WholeCamels on Dec 3, 2009 7:17 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

I think a lot of fans are making too much of Utley’s brief case of the yips in the postseason. There really aren’t ~~a lot of~~ any major flaws in the guy’s game.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Dec 4, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

They don't really need power production from that position

When your line up starts Rollins Victorino Utley Howard Werth and Ibanez, the other two people only need to be solid hitters. Polanco is a very solid, sound hitter. Feliz was very inconsistent at the plate. Polanco’s 3b skills are what could go awry.

by Mulhollandmania on Dec 3, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Polanco and Wagner

both got more $$ than I thought they would…I thought spending would be down. $7 for Wagner means guys like Valverde and Soriano (who can both pitch more than 2 days a week, unlike Wagner) will be licking their chops.

Scott Bora$ is satan.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Dec 3, 2009 2:06 PM CST reply actions

I was thinking along the same lines

But the Braves have some money to spend. Polanco…I think his value went up because guys like Beltre and Figgins are on the market and will command around 10-15 mil a year. Considering that, Polanco came cheap. Is he overpaid? ABSOLUTELY

by Musicdude10 on Dec 3, 2009 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

depressed

This just means that the Cards will probably sign DeRosa. I don’t know if the Cubs need him, but I hate to see them get him.

"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields

by KedzieKid on Dec 3, 2009 4:08 PM CST reply actions

Makes ya wonder

what Dero’s contract demands were and/or whether there are some linger questions about how he will recover from his wrist injury/surgery.

"All I want is food and creative love" - Rusted Root

by TheRiot Police on Dec 3, 2009 4:49 PM CST reply actions

Strange deal

Polanco is a Gold Glove caliber 2nd baseman, and the Phillies are going to move him to 3rd base?!?! And a 3 year deal for a guy already in his mid-30’s?

I like Polanco, but this was a strange move all the way around. Especially given that it is the Phillies, a very well run organization.

Mark DeRosa? I love him, but at this point he is on the wrong side of 35 and coming off a wrist injury. The fact that the Phillies took a pass on hometown boy DeRosa speaks volumes to me.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Dec 3, 2009 9:20 PM CST reply actions

That's a lot of money...

for a guy who isn’t all that good.

by kanderber on Dec 3, 2009 10:37 PM CST reply actions

Phillies generally know what they are doing

And strike early in the offseason.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Placido Polanco, but it might be because he has one of my favorite baseball names. I guess the Phils were looking for more of a contact hitter, but it seems they already have a good #2 hitter in Victorino. My guess is 1) they figured Placido might be a better NL player 2) he is a known quantity as they have employed him before, and 3) he didn’t cost them a draft pick like DeRosa would have. Also there are whispers that the Yankees and Red Sox might be interested in DeRosa, so he could ended up costing more than Polanco.

"I'd rather hit home runs you don't have to run as hard." -- Dave Kingman

by BucknerKongCardenal on Dec 4, 2009 1:15 AM CST reply actions