With lots of Phillies turnover the last few seasons, many of our old friends have moved on to new teams and fans still love them. Others we still hate. Some in between. But this is just a quick look at how our former players are doing with their new teams.
Shane Victorino – Boston Red Sox
Boston signed Victorino probably to play center field next season after Jacoby Ellsbury leaves as a free agent. Victorino is playing right field for the Red Sox, but not hitting like a right fielder. He is, however, getting on base. So far in seven games Victorino is hitting .345 and getting on base to a .409 clip. He has driven in four runs thus far, but has only recorded one extra-base hit.
Raul Ibañez – Seattle Mariners
Some of us thought he would be helpful on the Phillies this season. In the early going in Seattle, Ibañez has played in four of Seattle's seven games. He started three times and came in mid-game last night against the Houston Astros. While Ibañez started out one for his first 11, he went had two hits in two at bats in last night's contest. One of those hits was a home run that drove in two runs.
Josh Lindblom – AAA Round Rock Express
Josh Lindblom (along with Lisalverto Bonilla) landed the Phillies Michael Young this offseason. While Young is hitting .345 for the Phillies, Lindblom had such an awful Spring Training that the Texas Rangers sent him to the minors. An added storyline: Lindblom is being converted to a starter while he is down there. Lindblom wants to start, this Dallans News blog says, so now he will get a chance.
Nate Schierholtz – Chicago Cubs
I pretty much expected the Phillies to non-tender Schierholtz from the moment they agreed to take the unhappy Schierholtz off of the San Francisco Giants' hands, but some were upset when he was let go feeling that he would be a valuable part of a plattoon. So far, he has bested the Phillies' Laynce Nix. Starting six of the first seven games for the Cubs, Schierholtz is hitting .304 with one home run, three doubles, and four RBI. He has walked twice and has stolen a base facing both right-handers and left-handers.
Hunter Pence – San Francisco Giants
Pence may have been the biggest thing in Philadelphia to die out almost before it began. Pence is off to an effective start for the Giants, hitting .300 with three home runs and seven RBI. His defense has been a little suspect. While we watch the Phillies non-platoon platooon struggle at times in right field, some fans wish the Phillies had held on to Pence. By the way, the catching prospect the Phillies traded Pence for is having trouble catching the ball.
Miami Marlins Juan Pierre, Placido Polanco, and Greg Dobbs
The Marlins are bad, in case you were unaware. Three former Phillies are starting for them. Juan Pierre is the Marlins leadoff hitter. He has started every game and is hitting just .226. Placido Polanco has served as the Marlins' cleanup hitter most days of the season and is hitting a respectable .310. But without Pierre getting on base he is not cleaning up much of anything. Polanco has yet to walk and has one extra-base hit. It took Marlins manager Mike Redmond one Casey Kotchman start to make Dobbs the starting first baseman. He has started all six games after Opening Day.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Joe Blanton and Ryan Madson
Joe Blanton has only started once but has been the Joe Blanton Phillies fans remember so well. Blanton went five innings and gave up four earned runs. Blanton gave up three home runs to the Reds, as the Angels would go on to lose 5-4. Ryan Madson has yet to throw a pitch. As recently as four days ago Madson felt pain while throwing, so there is no clear timetable for his return.
Some Other Notes:
- Aaron Cook signed with the Colorado Rockies, but yet is on their AAA squad in Colorado Springs.
- Rodrigo Lopez has not signed with anyone as of yet.
- Yuniesky Betancourt has been playing first base for the Brewers while hitting .250.
