The Phillies are one of only two teams in the majors that have not had a player steal 10 bases in 300 or fewer plate appearances in any of the last four seasons. No team was worse than the lead-footed 2009 bench, which combined for four steals in more than 800 plate appearances. John Mayberry Jr. stole eight bases last year and Ben Francisco stole eight the year before. But if Pierre can still summon the type of speed he showed from 2001-2010, when he averaged 52 steals per season, he will give the Phillies their most dynamic threat off the bench since Michael Bourn swiped 18 bags in 133 plate appearances in 2007.
There is still plenty of reason to believe Pierre can be a valuable reserve. Although he finished 2011 with a career-low 27 steals and was thrown out 17 times, he still led the American League with 18 bunt base hits and 19 sacrifice bunts. In 2008 and 2009, he went 21-for-71 (.296) with three extra-base hits, eight walks and 11 runs as a pinch-hitter for the Dodgers.
"Juan Pierre knows how to play the game," Manuel said. "He's a high-energy guy, too. His personality and everything - he's dedicated, and he likes to play . . . He's still got talent. And he's a top-of-the-order hitter when he's in the lineup."
Pierre still must earn a roster spot this spring. After his disappointing 2011 season, when he hit .279 with a .329 on-base percentage in 711 plate appearances for the White Sox, the speedy lefty found few opportunities beyond a minor league contract with the Phillies.
"Pretty much, this was it," said Pierre, who has a .296 batting average and .345 on-base percentage for his career. "I probably could have waited longer, but if you wait too long, you wind up just being a fill-in guy."
