Werth-less?

I'm really glad that Pat Gillick is getting the chance to keep his former draft picks in the majors, but what is he doing? Jayson Werth, who Gillick drafted with the Orioles in 1997, did not play in 2006 because he was injured, but in 2004 he hit 16 home runs in 290 ABs for the Dodgers. Of course, in 2005 he hit 7 home runs in 337 ABs. You know who can also do that? Jeff Conine (10 HR, 489 AB between Baltimore and Philly last year). OK, I know Conine isn't your speedster off the bench, but we also have Bourn waiting around so we can see what he can do. I understand wanting a replacement for Dellucci, but is the RIGHT-HANDED career .245 hitter the answer? Don't think so.

The Phillies are also apparently close to signing Rod Barajas to back up Ruiz. Well it isn't like we had anyone else on the active roster who could do that. Barajas hit .256-11-41 in 344 ABs for Texas last year. Chris Coste hit .328-7-32 in 198 ABs last year. Sure, I understand having a veteran tutor for Ruiz, and I understand the bench flexibiliy that Coste, who can play 1st and 3rd, brings to the team. Then again, Howard is going to play 160 games with Conine to back him up, and we already have two crappy third basemen. So Coste is your #1 pinch hitter, a role held in 2006 by (wait for it) David Dellucci.

So what is Werth doing here again?


To clarify the original post: it is the combination of what they say they are doing and these two signings that bothers me. Coste will pinch hit, so what does Werth do? He is the defensive replacement for Burrell/Conine (Conine won't play much unless Burrell is awful again). Well, I don't know why we need to bring someone in when we have Roberson and Bourn. If it is those 3 guys competing for the last roster spot, then that's fine, but if it is Werth's spot based on what he did in 2004 before being injured, that is crap. Either way, they don't replace Dellucci because Werth isn't as good and isn't a lefty (whether we needed a lefty or not).