Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
October 20, 2008
The DH Problem

Phillies Nation explores the possibilities for a designated hitter against Scott Kazmir:

Game two will likely bring the Phils lefty Scott Kazmir. That takes Dobbs out of the equation. So who's the extra hitter? Wait, let me rephrase that:

Who's the extra hitter? So?

Yes, it's possible So Taguchi will get the extra spot in game two. The case can be made for Eric Bruntlett, however. Chris Coste would get the spot only if he plays first base and Ryan Howard gets the DH spot. That's not a bad idea, as it would allow Coste to stay on as the second catcher, if need be.

Coste only has 177 career at bats against left-handed pitchers, but the results are good. So is just so-so, and Brunlett hasn't shown Coste's power. It may come down to Manuel fearing having both catchers in the same game and one or both of them getting injured. Coste, at the moment, looks like the best choice from a hitting perspective.


Posted by David Pinto at 01:15 PM | World Series | TrackBack (0)
Comments

Another option is Matt Stairs. Not ideal, but he will give you great at bats. He won't get rattled. Plus, when Kazmir is gone after 5 or 6, you have a solid bat in the line up.

Rollins
Utley
Werth
Howard
Burrell
Stairs
Victorino
Feliz
Ruiz
Pitcher

Taguchi has given nothing all season long. He has trouble because of the combination of rust and diminished ability.

Coste would be my second choice for DH vs lefties after Stairs. But Charlie is too conservative to

1. Risk losing his DH if Ruiz is hurt
2. Put the rookie Marson anywhere near a WS game


Posted by: Joe in Philly at October 20, 2008 02:08 PM

I added a pitcher to the line up out of NL habit.
Myers could always hit ;)

Posted by: Joe in Philly at October 20, 2008 02:10 PM

The main issue here is the Charlie is stuck in his ways. They aren't going to add Lou Marson to the roster for the WS, and Charlie has already said that Howard will stay at first base. I can understand not adding Marson, but why not at least entertain Coste at first, for no other reason than getting Howard's glove off the field?

Posted by: Mike at October 20, 2008 02:41 PM

re: the dh v. Kazmir in Game 2 at Tampa Bay

Everyone is looking at this wrong.

The right thing to do is put Pat Burrell at DH, and find a right handed player to put in left field who can cover the artificial turf in left field at Tampa Bay's home stadium.

Burrell has a bad back, and playing two games back to back on turf will not be good for him.

Consequently, I would put So Toguchi in for defense, and he can also hit from the leftfield spot.

If he hits 9th, that's fine, it's still a big improvement over the catcher, and he has some speed and can bunt and hit the other way, as well as hit and run.

It's ridiculous to hit Chris Coste at dh because you're putting in a guy who's a dead double play threat, who can't run, and who can't steal.

Toguchi can steal, can take the extra base, can play left field, can hit and run, etc.

If you really think Coste can nail lefties, just put him at catcher and let Ruiz sit a game.

I don't know why this is so complicated. This is why the Phillies obtained So Toguchi and Matt Stairs--extra bats to pinch hit and play dh during a world series. They perfectly complement one another.

Against righties, Stairs can dh, and if he gets on base late in the game, you can bring in Toguchi to pinch-run and score a winning or tying run, and still have dobbs on the bench.

I wouldn't play dobbs in the field on turf at 3rd.

--art kyriazis, philly
akyriazis@msn.com

Posted by: Art Kyriazis at October 20, 2008 05:33 PM

The righthanded bat off the bench has been a weakness all season.

Taguchi hasn't hit this year and the few times he's gotten to replace Burrell in left, he hasn't been a big improvement. He has as many errors as Pat. Taguchi may be on the WS roster, but he won't play. Pat is slow, his range is limited, but he's not a liability in the field as many paint him to be.

Taguchi is regarded as a mistake. His role has been limited because his contribution has been limited.

The Phillies don't bunt, run with a few players who are very efficient. Otherwise, it's a big inning, big bat offense.

With a righty pitching you might put Burrell at DH, Stairs in right and move Werth to left field.

Coste has done well against lefties this season. Charlie should just take the risk with Coste as DH.

Posted by: Joe in Philly at October 20, 2008 06:42 PM

Stairs should DH against righties and lefties!! He deserves it. The man has been around and he can hit both righties and lefties, its the WS, start him every single AL game at DH!!

Posted by: Sean at October 21, 2008 12:03 AM
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