Comments on: What should the Phillies do with Michael Bourn? http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/ Phillies Prospects Sun, 27 May 2012 03:33:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: mc http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-1093 Wed, 04 Apr 2007 18:43:55 +0000 http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-1093 How about just having him start over Victorino and having Shane play 3 times a week spelling Burrell and Rowand?

]]> By: phuturephillies http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-898 Sat, 31 Mar 2007 20:07:03 +0000 http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-898 Well, that’s true about Pierre, but because another team paid him a lot of money doesn’t mean he’s a good ballplayer. His offensive value is tied solely to his ability to get on base, because he has no power. Bourn might be similar, but a .350 OB% isn’t great if you’re nothing more than a singles hitter.

]]> By: Ken http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-897 Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:59:21 +0000 http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-897 Bourn does not need a .400 OBP to be valuable. Juan Pierre, a major league who I’ve heard Bourn optimistically compared to, had OBPs of .326 and .330 his last 2 seasons playing 162 games in each for the Marlins and Cubs. That was enough for the Dodgers to pay him $44 million. That said, I want to see Bourn try to bring his average to .300 for at least a couple more months in AAA before taking ABs away from Werth, Coste, Dobbs, or Rowand. I expect that Rowand, in his second NL season and in his contract year, will hit .290 with 20 HR and 20 SB, and be an defensive and clubhouse asset. If the Phils trade him they need to get an excellent reliever who’s still in his prime, not another over-the-hill guy like Rhodes, Worrell, or Urbina.

]]> By: andyb http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-856 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:38:34 +0000 http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-856 I may be in the minority, but I would send him to AAA. If a trade for a reliever has to be done, then I would prefer to trade Rowand. But for now I would rather have the extra power in the OF with Rowand, get at bats for Bourn in AAA, and let Burrell simply play. Dobbs and Coste will be fine off the bench. We still have a backup CF in Victorino. Werth can fill in defensively for Pat in late innings. Pinch running is not a big enough reason to keep Bourn on the team.

If relief pitching turns out to be a problem, I would first see if guys like Segovia and Happ can solve it from within. Second option is trading Lieber if Garcia is healthy. Last option is Rowand, but I don’t want to have 2 non-power guys starting in the OF in Victorino and Bourn. The team has options. There is no need to rush into a panic trade.

]]> By: Jim Barbour http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-855 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:20:10 +0000 http://phuturephillies.com/2007/03/29/what-should-the-phillies-do-with-michael-bourn/#comment-855 The question of trading Rowand involves timing and coverage. Branch Rickey said you should trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late. Last year was the optimim value for Rowand. This year it is less. At the end of the year he is a free agent, so we are stuck with offering an extended contract to someone we probably should have traded. I would trade him now and hand the job to Bourn, who, if he fails, is covered in center by Victorino with Werth sliding into right.
But obviously we make projected trades in a world in which everything is possible, whereas the GM works in the real world. And we like to see movement because it excites us, and we don’t have to live with the real consequences.

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