Phillies Welcome Placido Polanco’s Return

Darting to his right, Placido Polanco reached down, snared the sharp grounder, and whipped the ball around to second baseman Chase Utley. The Phillies’ second baseman fired the ball off to Ryan Howard to complete the 5-4-3 inning-ending double play.

As Polanco jogged toward the dugout, the visiting third base coach, the Tigers’ Gene Lamont, congratulated the N.L. defending champs’ new third baseman.

Turning two is routine for Polanco—but from the other side of the infield.

When Polanco signed with the Phillies this offseason, he agreed to move from second base to third. In Polanco’s absence, Utley developed into one of the game’s premier second basemen, and manager Charlie Manuel opted to shift the newly-acquired infielder around the horn. 

When he took the field against his former team on March 11 in Clearwater, Fla., Polanco looked as though third base was the only position he has played on defense. 

He was patient and set his feet firmly before throwing across the diamond to Howard. He told Philadelphia baseball writers that he felt comfortable at the position he has not played since the 2005 season, when he played nine games at third for the Phillies and the Tigers.

Polanco settled into his role as a middle infielder during his tenure with the Tigers. He won the Gold Glove Award at second base in 2007 and 2009. And he set a Major League record for second basemen in ’07 for playing the entire season without giving up an error in the field.

The Phillies value what Polanco will contribute to a more complete defensive arrangement and well-rounded batting order.

“He brings a lot of experience,” Utley said. “He brings a great glove, and he makes contact all the time, consistently. You can’t ask for much more out of a player.”

Polanco replaces Pedro Feliz at third for Philadelphia. Though Feliz’ RBI single in Game Five of the 2008 World Series clinched the Phillies’ championship, his numbers do not compare to those of Polanco.

Feliz batted a .266 clip in his last season in Philadelphia, hitting 12 home runs, driving in 82 RBI, and scoring 62 times. During four years in Detroit, Polanco posted a higher batting average (.307) and scored more times than Feliz (at least 82 runs per season). 

The only glaring discrepancy, however, is that Polanco’s bat has had less pop. He drove in fewer runs, hitting seven homers and bringing in 72 runners in his last season in Detroit. But between Jimmy Rollins and Utley in the Phillies’ batting order, Polanco’s run total is expected to rise and cover the difference.

Polanco has a definite edge over Feliz on the base paths. He stole seven bases and was caught stealing twice. Feliz did not steal any bases, nor was he caught stealing. Polanco’s .331 on-base percentage was greater than Feliz’s .308 OBP.

And in the field, Feliz recorded a respectable .966 fielding percentage. But Polanco excelled at second base with a near-spotless .997 fielding percentage. 

The Phillies are to benefit if Polanco maintains those numbers through the transition to third base.

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