Meet the Newest Phillies: Mike Sweeney
By: Mike Reisman
Who needs Ryan Howard when you have Mike Sweeney? Today the Phillies acquired first baseman Mike Sweeney from the Mariners for a player not yet named. Sweeney has not played much this year, only 30 games, but he has played decently those games with 6 homers and 18 RBI's. He has only started 3 games this year, but will be expected to start until Howard gets healthy, a pretty big task for a 37 year-old.
The move to acquire the former Mariner was in my mind, questionable. I understand filling the gap Ryan left, but a 37 year-old backup? Charlie for some reason is set on this guy. "I haven't seen him hit in a couple of years, but he knows how to hit". So Charlie Manuel is going out and getting someone, but is picking a guy who he hasn't seen hit in "a couple of years". That just puzzles me. Out of all the people why an old guy who hasn't played at all this year. The part that most confuses me? We are giving them someone for him. Whatever.