The biggest chip Amaro played, however, was catcher Lou Marson. He is a big kid who was supposed to grow into a little more power than he has generated. However, Lou is a fine receiver who was an Eastern League .300 hitter last year and was flirting with .300 at Lehigh Valley. Scouts downgrade his throwing, however. Lou is not blessed with a powerful arm and needs slide-step help from a pitching staff. Basestealers are running .750 against him this season.
Bill Conlin: Phillies GM Amaro pulls off masterful move to land Lee
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I don't know how the Indians rank the four futures they accepted for Lee and Francisco. But if I was guessing where they will be a year from now, they would look like this:
Marson: Indians backup.
Donald: Utility infielder with a puncher's chance to seize an opportunity.
Carrasco: Will get spring-training chance to make rotation back end, but might need more Triple A experience.
Knapp: High-Class A.
One short-term Phillies projection. Mayberry goes down. Eric Bruntlett is the only backup middle infielder and is safe. Jamie Moyer will not be sent to the bullpen, no matter what. Ditto Pedro Martinez. You can't ask veteran starters to adjust to the vagaries of situational relief.
You can pencil Cliff Lee into the No. 1 or 2 slot, depending on how Manuel chooses to apportion what could suddenly become an embarrassment of pitching riches reading Lee, Hamels, Blanton, Moyer, Happ (or possible righthanded replacement), Pedro.
I don't know if there is an all-points bulletin out for Ruben Amaro in Ohio, but there should be. Grand Theft. Really grand.
Send e-mail to bill1chair@aol.com.
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