Phillies Nation

57 Responses to “Jenkins Might Hold Key To Offense”

1. Don M Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 11:58 am

   All year I’ve been suggesting that its so hard for part-time players to ever get comfortable at the plate, as soon as they get in a groove, they sit for 2-3 games.. If you count him and Werth as one player, the numbers aren’t too bad

   142 hits, 562 at bats

   .252 Avg
   25 Home Runs
   72 RBIs
   71 Runs Scored
   13 Steal, 2 Caught Stealing (+11 Steals)
   62 Walks (4 HBP) = .331 On Base Percentage

   Obviously, you’d like the batting average to be higher.. but from the guy’s that usually bat 6th in the lineup, that is pretty good production

2. That Guy Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 12:12 pm

   Jenkins holds the key to my hemmoroids inflamation but that’s probably it.

3. PhillyFriar Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

   Jenkins certainly needs to step up, but there’s an obvious problem to giving him more playing time…

   Who sits?

   Victorino’s pretty much been the Phils’ most consistent hitter recently, so he shouldn’t sit. Burrell has struggled a bit, but responded with 2 crucial HRs in the Padres series, and since he’s the premier RH hitter in the lineup, the Phils can’t afford to sit him. And Jayson Werth seems like one of the few Phils who has provided quality at bats recently — he works the count (leading the Phils in pitches per plate appearance at 4.26) and gets on base, something no one else in this lineup has done recently.

   I guess you could sit Victorino and Werth one game each this series to get Jenkins some at bats. Whatever the case, Jenkins plain and simply needs to start producing.

4. danny Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pm

   Nice post Tim. My thoughts:

   According to fangraphs.com, the Phillies have 3 of the 25 worst clutch hitters in baseball. They happen to bat 2-3-4 in our line up. (although Vic is now batting 6th sometimes.) I agree that the clutch and WP statistic don’t tell the whole story, but they do empirically express what we all sense: this team does not get timely hitting.

   Which is what baseball is all about.

   Also, I agree that this is just who this team is. If Rollins has the year he had last year, we probably win 5 more games (who knows). But this team’s record is nearly identical to the one we possessed last year on August 18, thanks to our pitching picking up the slack for a pathetic offense.

   By the way, is Milt Thompson DEAD? Can someone verify this? Is he just being propped up in the dug out like Weekend at Bernie’s?

5. TJ Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 1:53 pm

   Don M, I would take those numbers from a 6 hole guy any day. I would bet that if Jenkins played more, and dont get me wrong I like Werth alot, he would put up numbers similar to these.

6. Richie Allen Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm

   HAS JENKINS EVER BEEN A PART TIME PLAYER?….MAYBE THATS THE PROBLEM….THE PLATOON IN RIGHT AND VICTORINO IN CENTER DEFINATELY HASNT BEEN AS GOOD AS HAVING (DARE i SAY IT),ROWAND IN CENTER AS A STARTER.AND VICTORINO PLATOONING IN RIGHT.

7. NC Jason Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm

   Pete Happy is almost back, hopefully he can give the bottom of the order some stability and much needed power

8. KM Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

   I laughed when I saw the title.

9. mick Says:
   August 18th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

   Good thoughts Tim–My worry with Jenkins is that he is one more free swinger–to go along with a few others that we have–we need grinders–this team as a whole has got to make pitchers work harder–maybe playing time will help Jenkins–who knows–its worth a try

10. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    my worry with jenkins is that he sucks, hahaha.

11. Don M Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Rowand in Center and Victorino in Right was nice… with them passing on Rowand’s $10 M contract.. they claim they’ll spend that on a Starting Pitcher in the offseason….

    Wait and see…if they spend the money, be happy.. IF THEY DON’T… THEN we can hold SELL THE TEAM rallies..

    But lets wait and see what they do with the money they’ll have

12. danny Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    Welcome back Mets bullpen! So good to see you!

13. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    that might be the biggest reason the phillies still have a chance. the mets bullpen flat out sucks. and they got luis ayala yesterday, who flat out sucks too. hes one of those guys that throws a sinker that doesnt sink, a slider that doesnt slider, and a cutter that doesnt cut.

14. lilgartrn Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    If anyone hasn’t read Bill Conlin’s article in today’s daily news, it’s too good. Let’s make a liar out of J-Roll and cheer him on tomorrow… See if his idea that our horrid fan skills are the cause of the current slump… I’m thinking not, and hoping for some good play to keep the dream of a post alive. (and hope that it carries over to the dodgers later this week.)

15. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    Instead of “hoping the bats come alive” id prefer them to just assemble a readlly good team, and they didnt really do that.

16. mg52 Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    Jenkins was a solid Brewer. He always seemed to hit well against the Phils. I thought that that good hitting – aside, of course, from the part about hitting against the Phillies – would carry over. He has a good power swing, but would get so much more out of his offensive capabilities if, like everybody else, he shortened up even just a little when coming around with the bat. I think that Jenkins is trying hard but that no one understands that not being aggressive on pitches in the strike zone will doom them.
    I missed reading the Daily News today. What did Mr. Conlin say?

17. lilgartrn Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    Basically called out Rollins and Howard, with a reference to Schmidt’s rail on the fans at the Vet. Made sense, pretty much, step up your play. Funny, LA swept them, can’t put that on the fans, I guess. I, for one, never and will not boo them at CBP, but if they don’t step up the offense, I’m going to stage a silent protest (or go on some Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, whichever works, lol.)

18. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    I also have NEVER booed them or any phildelphia team at the stadium. ill rip them, but they know what they did. like a bad dog, they dont need to be told by the fans what they did wrong. i undersatnd booing, approve of it, i just personally prefer not to do it.

19. TJ Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    “Welcome back Mets bullpen! So good to see you!”

    Duaner Sanchez – 0.0 innings, 1 walk, 3 hits, 2 earned runs on all of 9 pitches.

    1.5 games back.

20. tom Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    the problem isn’t jenkins, werth, or whoever is playing 3rd on a particular day (although i do think getting feliz back will be a big help).

    the problem is utley, burrell, rollins and howard are not hitting. best four hitters not getting it done means you’re not going to win too many ball games.

    here’s a novel idea, why not put burrell between howard and utley? break up the lefties and force managers to either waste more than one lefty in the late innings or have them pitch to burrell. this was fine last year and earlier this year when utley and howard were hitting…. but since they’re not now this is absolutely killing them in the late innings (last night this happened) because howard is hitting .180 off lefties this year.

21. KM Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    We still need a long-term option in right field. Werth is a decent player, but as I have said before, i believe he is best-suited to be a 4th outfielder where he can fill in at all 3 positions, and pinch hit and run.

    Jenkins is basically a waste. Before the season i though he was over-the-hill, but I thought he might be able to fill in the hole, maybe get 350-400 at bats and be productive (maybe hit .270 with decent power numbers), but was I wrong.

    i will write an article, and the title will read “rollins MAY hold key to phillies offense.” i will back that up with this evidence: before april 1st, rollins was batting .500, on pace for 324 hits, 162 homers, 324 runs, 324 rbis, 162 doubles, 0 strikeouts and so on.

22. Greg V. Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    If Jenkins is the key to our offense, then we really suck!

23. ped Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    For me, the whole season is on J-Roll’s shoulders not anyone else. The phils are 30-11 when he scores.

    The only reason why we’re still in the running: Brad Lidge is a beast

24. Mike B. Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

    I have my doubts that free swinging Jenkins will do much better offensively for the remainder of the year. If you watch him closely when he bats, he consistently fishes after low pitches on whcih he strikes out most of the time. Offensive awakening is going to hinge on Rollins, utley and especially Howard with Howard being the key to the Phillie’.s fortunes the rest of the year.

    If Manuel was smart, he would hold Moyer back to start against the Dodgers and let Kendricks pitch against Washington Nats. Would give Moyer some extra rest and would give you a veteran pitcher who would have the experience and pitching knowledge to go against a hot hard-hitting team like the Dodgers. Kendricks was pounded by the Dodgers in his start last week. Moyer’s patient approach to pitching and slower pitching would work against the Dodgers.

25. Pat Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    i gotta agree with nick from earlier in the day. It seems like the phillies never hit off the opposing teams starter. if we can’t hit we need someone that will eat pitches at the very least. Jenkins isn’t that guy.

26. Phillies>Mets Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 6:49 pm

    I read on MLB Trade Rumors that the Phillies are interested in catcher David Ross. He was recently let go by the Reds.

27. KM Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 7:43 pm

    jenkins swings at 3-0 pitches more than any one player i have ever watched. and besides coste, he swings at the first pitch more than any other player.

28. Mike N Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 7:47 pm

    This would be a drastic move…but why not bring up Marson and play him? He hits over .300 with an excellent OBP. That would sure help the bottom of the order wouldn’t it? Though 1) who knows if he could work with the pitchers and handle the pressure, and 2) I agree that if the Rollins/Utley/Howard trio doesn’t get going, it doesn’t make a hell of a lot of difference what else they do… That said, isn’t it time for a drastic move?

29. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    ooh david ross. a .231 hitter who suffered a serious power outage. i agree here, the consesnsus rightly seems to be to bring up marson in september.

30. TJ Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 8:40 pm

    Please no David Ross. How about production from Utley/ Rollins? Anyone?

31. Georgie Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 8:45 pm

    Dodgers acquired Greg Maddux from padres.

32. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 8:46 pm

    sounds like somebody wants to win

33. Richie Allen Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 8:53 pm

    I wonder if Maddux nixed any offer or interest from our wonderfull Phills.

34. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pm

    Oh he said months ago he doesnt want to pitch in CBP. he gets shelled there.

35. TJ Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Geoff/ Richie Allen – He wasnt gonna waive his no trade clause unless it was to a contending west coast team, aka the Dodgers. The Phillies are on the west coast by the way. He didnt say anything specific about any teams because that would violate league rules.

36. Georgie Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:18 pm

    Sabathia just knocked in 2 runs off of Randy Wolf and is also pitching a shutout.

37. Michael Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    I can’t agree with the Jenkins prayer. Someone who strikes out 25% of the time isn’t likely to be an offensive catalyst. I side with ped in his view that Rollins is the key. In addition to the amazing win numbers when he scores, he sprimes the pump. If he doesn’t start hitting soon kiss the season goodbye.

38. Mike T. Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    I’m back. Everyone can now take a deep sigh of relief.

39. Gavin Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    Who have you all booed over the years? The only Philly I have ever booed was Jose Mesa.

40. Gavin Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Sabathia would be batting 3rd in our lineup.

41. Mike T. Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    i’ve never booed anyone. only opposing players, reyes, bonds, chipper jones etc.

42. Geoff Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 9:56 pm

    Ive never booed anyone. I think its a waste of energy because when they lose and Im there I just get pissed and leave. They know what they did, bad phillies, baaaad.

43. Fred Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 11:09 pm

    Never booed? That’s unPhiladelphian!

    Get off Rollins’ case. Considering last year was an aberration, he is pretty much matching his career averages. Jimmy is what he is. A better than average shortstop and a .270 hitter.

    The big guns, Utley and Howard, are killing this team. After two years of .309 and .332 average, Utley’s .284 isn’t getting it done in the 3 hole. (Not to mention he looks like he’s in la-la land land half the time.) Howard’s record setting pace of 162 strikeouts absolutely takes the wind out of the sails in crucial moments. (And I argue strikeouts do count – they’re a momentum killer.)

    Between the two, these guys make 17.8 mil. Start earning that jingle.

44. PhilPhan Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 11:26 pm

    A lot of you guys should read “Moneyball.” Andrews explains in the book that OBP is wayy more valuable then batting average, and that clutch hitting really doesn’t exist. Interseting stuff, opened my eyes.

    And yes Fred, he also says that the strikeout is by far the worst thing you can do in baseball. Way worse than even a ground out.

    Bottom Line: The averages aren’t the answer. The phils aren’t getting on base enough.

45. Bob Marley Says:
    August 18th, 2008 at 11:35 pm

    everything is going to be alright.

    oh wait, a minute, did u guys say Jenkins is the key? buzzkill. James – pass that over here mAAAHn.

46. Fred Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 9:15 am

    Alright, let’s talk OBP. Utley’s OBP last year was .410 and this year its .368. Howard had an OBP last year of .390 and this year its .320. A large dropoff on the part of both players.

    I think one has to be careful about theories like Moneyball. Certainly it has valuable ideas and interesting thoughts but how many championships has Moneyball produced? None that I know of.

47. Don M Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 9:27 am

    I think the point is this:

    We would all like to see them draft well, and develop top young talent, and be able to trade players for additional top talent.. so that you have YOUNG superstars in waiting under your control for 5 years or so.. With that remaining money you are saving, be able to go out and sign established players to contracts, and have them perform as expected.. If you continue those patterns, you keep yourself operating as a winning team for quite some time, and hopefully give yourself a chance to breakthrough and win a World Series.

    I wish they would do a better job of those things, just like everyone else does

    But Burrell, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Hamels, Myers, Madson, have all contributed to this team’s rise from the joke of NL East. to one of the top teams in the entire National League… They have Utley locked up, They have Howard and Hamels under their control for 3-4 years still… It will be interesting to see if they resign Burell, and what they do with Myers and Madson in the future.. this team, as currently constructed should have until the end of next season to breakthrough.. if they can’t get it done at that point… step back and make some moves. as Feliz will be gone too, we could be looking at a roster overhaul sooner than later.

48. Geoff Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 9:33 am

    I think thats on target there. you gotta fix thier hittin gproblem in the offseason. I think if they had someone reaedy to come up who can legitimately produce for power, then you can let burrell walk but they realy cannot afford to let him go and still have the same potency.

49. Don M Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 9:37 am

    I would be OK with Burrell leaving if they could find a righty that hits .300 with 25 HR and 100 RBI…. Problem is.. those guys are expensive..

    We all thought that our infield alone was good for close to 150 HR this year.. Howard 40-50, Utley 30, Rollins 20-30, Feliz 20, Catchers 15-20

    If those guys are hitting the long ball, you can get away with speedy outfielders who don’t drive the ball as much as Burrell… If Golson could stop striking out all the time, he would be awesome.. an OF consisting of Werth, Golson, Victorino would be great defensively..

50. Geoff Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 10:16 am

    yeah. i think theyre forced into overpaying to keep burrell here. maybe they have money freed up, just maybe, from rowand. but victorino and weth will get raises. lidges contract kicks in next year. so guess what? they alreayd spend that money thats been “set aside” for another starting pitcher. so the question again will be, like it has been, will they INCREASE payroll to get elite starting pitching in here or trade for one?

51. Don M Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    I don’t think they’ll sign Burrell for more than $10-12 per year.. and I dont think they’ll go more than 3 years.. Gordon’s money comes off.. Victorino is def going to get a raise.. Werth should only go from 1.7 Million to 2 or 2.5 … his stats won’t be there because he only plays part-time..

    Is Durbin just signed for this year? He’ll get a nice contract going into next year…

    They’ll have to increase payroll to get a pitcher.. BUT.. if they don’t resign Burrell.. that money is sitting there for you.. but then we’ll need someone to replace him.. Baseball’s offseason is nuts

52. Geoff Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 10:36 am

    durbin is a free agent. hell need to be resigned to a contract like JC romero’s. With burrell, the longer they wait the worse it gets and the more youll have to pay to keep him…thats why you resign people in season if you want them. they wanted lidge, i dont think they want to keep burrell. they already held in-season talks with his agent. See, in right field you need a straight up .300 hitter who hits for contact. in left field, your main outfield power position, you need someone with power. burrell is the only guy out there as a free agnet left fielder whos got real power and it worth paying for. hes the youngest too, the rest of them are old. i mean, do you want to pay adam dunn MORE than youd pay burrell? that doesnt make anysense to me because i think burrell is better.

    so lets say we let burrell go. you spend the money on a pitcher. you can have golson as a 5th outfielder but you know hes not ready to start everyday yet. a few of our prospects have developed lately and some of them on the rise might make some others expendable. do you trade some of our top prospects for a power-hitting left fielder going into the last year or two of his contract? JA Happ is going to be lost in the mix here I think. He needs to start regularly but i dont think hell do that here. maybe you move him with a package that includes a good relief prospect and a good outfield prospect for the best guy you can get. i dunno.

    it creates such a problem. its so much easier to keep burrell then you dont have to worry about all that. then all you have to do is get an elite starter which is safer to do by trade then by free agent signing because of the absurd amounts of money being thrown around.

53. Don M Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 10:47 am

    Yea but Burrell is going to slow down, and slow down, and slow down in the coming years.. Maybe if you want to keep him in the mix and consider him at 1st base when Howard leaves.. (since they probably aren’t signing him longterm anytime soon).. I think they offered Pat $20 M over two years.. and that wasn’t what he was looking for, but I wouldn’t pay him $50 over 5 or anything like he might get in Free Agency.. I would set the limit at 4 years. and not go over $12M per.. That is what sucks with the guaranteed contracts in baseball, if 3 years into a 5 year deal you want to dump a player.. you are handcuffed by his contract

54. Michael Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 10:50 am

    What about a catcher?

55. Michael Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am

    I would keep Burrell. He’s the only one who gets on base consistently and always gives you 30/100. I would shop Howard to get your 300 hitter. Is power the only criteria anymore? We already have a team of bapping slugs.

56. Focus, Mechanics, and Drive it! Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 12:30 pm

    Under no circumstance can I see Jenkins as a solution to the Phillies offensive woes. A contribution would be welcomed, but any trained eye evaluating his swing mechanics would vomit. IMHO, he has the worst swing that I have ever seen in the major leagues! I cannot think of another major leaguer who is even remotely close.

    Problemssss:

    1. He has a long, arduous swing
    2. His swing is initiated with left elbow and hands way to high. I do agree to an extent that it does not matter where a batter’s hands come to set in the stance, but it is crucial that the hands and knob of the bat get on the plane of the pitch during negative move (some call it load or trigger).
    3. He is not balanced. During his swing, as soon as his hands clear is his left shoulder, he collapses the complete left side of his body. This causes a severe upper cut swing.
    4. His hands and the barrell of the bat do not stay on the plane of the pitch. He chips upward through the plane of the pitch, and not directly back through the plane of the pitch towards the pitcher. That is the key to driving the ball!
    5. He is not hitting off of his front foot because of the collapsing left side of his body and a significant body imbalance leaning towards the catcher.
    6. He opens his hips and right shoulder up prematurely causing the barrell of the bat to pull away and to the right side and away from the optimal point of contact.

    I work with 10-12 year olds who can flat out drive the ball after a few simple corrections. Milt and Charlie……how you can continue to let Jenkins hit with his dreadful swing mechanics?????? It’s beyond me.

57. KM Says:
    August 19th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    well put, focus, mechanics and drive it in.

    i think burrell walks after this season, because i can’t see the phillies paying 12-15 million to keep him here when they wouldn’t give rowand 10-12 to stay.

    i wouldn’t mind letting burrell go, cuz i would rather spend the money on pitching. i would like to have a guy with speed, that gets on base in that position – someone who will help this team generate runs by means other than the long-ball.

    i would take the 12 million that burrell will cost, and add about 5-8 million to that and give it to sabathia.

    also, i know juan pierre has fallen out of favor in los angeles, i would take a shot at him to play the outfield. he wouldn’t cost much, especially if the dodgers can resign manny, they will have nowhere to play pierre.

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