Taking a step from the game and the long, seemingly never-ending season is always a good thing to do. This is why I decided to provide some food for thought as to which centerfielder you would want patrolling center field for the Phillies.
Now, I could have opened this discussion to include any centerfielder in the game today, but that would be no fun. Instead, I picked three center fielders who are currently playing on three other teams (2 NL 1 AL), and the fourth choice is the team’s current center fielder, Shane Victorino.
But here’s the catch: the name of the player will not be unveiled, therefore balancing the competition and making it a discussion based on statistics, achievements, age, and overall play.
Candidate 1
Age: 33 (9 seasons)
Bats: R
Throws: L
2011 stats:
.299 average, 8 RBI’s, 1 HR, 1 SB
Career Stats:
.282 batting average
.340 OPB
.422 slugging percentage
.712 OPS
47 SB
409 RBI
73 HR
Fielding %: .988
Achievements:
2010 All Star Selection
Candidate 2
Age: 30 (7 seasons)
Bats: S
Throws: R
2011 stats:
.292 average, 17 RBI’s, 5 HR, 8 SB
Career Stats:
.279 career average
.343 OPB
.432 slugging percentage
.755 OPS
151 SB
310 RBI
67 HR
Fielding %: .996
Achievements:
3X Gold Glove
2009 All Star selection
Candidate 3 (5 seasons)
Age: 28
Bats: L
Throws: R
2011 stats:
.264 average, 7 RBI’s, 0 HR, 13 SB
Career Stats:
.263 average
.332 OBP
.348 slugging percentage
.691 OPS
186 SB
115 RBI
11 HR
Fielding %: .990
Achievements:
2X Gold Glove
2010 All Star selection
Candidate 4 (14 seasons)
Age: 35
Bats: R
Throws: R
2011 stats:
.239 average, 15 RBI’s, 4 HR, 1 SB
Career Stats:
.274 average
.332 OBP
.468 slugging percentage
.800 OPS
173 SB
984 RBI
262 HR
Fielding %: .993
Achievements:
9X Gold Glove
4X All Star
2009 Silver Slugger
*Names of candidates will be revealed in the comments section
I’ll take #2 who is already in CF for the Phils.
A player I really like is Adam Jones from the Baltimore Orioles..
who at 25 Years of Age is just coming into his Prime and can hit,run,field and has a little pop in his bat.. It would probably take 2-3 players (Blanton or a Kendrick, Worley or a Stutes and a Minor Leaguer to get him)
plus Adam Jones could then be shifted to LF to replace Ibanez next Season
while the Phils Keep Victorino
#2 hands, down, and I didn’t cheat till after I made the decision and read bugsy’s post
Kyle – great piece here. One of the highist level ever on this site. Thanks
Paul, you couldn’t at least follow directions?
#2 easily. good average, good stolen base numbers, good rbi’s, great fielding %…and 3 years younger than #1 (who looks like the 2nd best option to me)
Thanks to fantasy baseball, I recognized player #3 as M. Bourn, player #2 b/c I watch as many phillies games as possible and again recognize the stats to be Shanes. I then figured the rest were former Phillies but can’t make out the other 2. my thoughts were possible Abreu, Byrd, Werth???
You got half of them right jturguhart… 1 is Marlon Byrd, 2 is Shane Victorino, 3 is Michael Bourn, and 4 is Torri Hunter… I picked Byrd and Bourn because of their connection to the Phillies.. .Victorino for obvious reasons… and I picked Hunter because of the possibility of the Angels trading him at the deadline and/or releasing him after this season
How about Mike Cameron as #4.. He’s probably on the Market for the Red Sox who could use a Pitcher like Blanton/Kendrick..