Why Helms For Kline Might Be A Good Idea

Yesterday, I wrote an article giving three good reasons why trading 3B Wes Helms for LHP Steve Kline would be a very bad idea for Pat Gillick and the Phillies. Now I'm gonna flip the coin and give reasons as to why it might be a good idea.

Reason #1: Home/Road Splits - His home/road splits last year and over the past 3 years show him to be a far more effective pitcher outside of San Francisco than inside. Usually this wouldn't make sense but the reason is simple. Steve Kline isn't and never has been a flyball pitcher so having a huge home park doesn't really help him by preventing HRs. Kline is a sinkerball pitcher with extreme groundball tendencies (1.52 GB/FB in 2007, 1.57 GB/FB for 05-07 and 1.79 for his career). Given a good infield defense (i.e. Feliz, Rollins and Utley are all much above average defensively) he should be pretty competitive.

Here are his road numbers over the past 3 years:


By Breakdown

ERA W L SV SVO G GS CG IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG
3.20 4 3 2 6 100 0 0 78.2 67 30 28 9 39 39 .233


Reason #2: Experience - Steve Kline is an experienced setup man. He performed this role admirably for the Cardinals from 2001 -2004 so he has plenty of experience pitching in high pressure situations. While it may be nice to give Blackley a shot at the Big Show, maybe Philly in 08 is not the place to be experimenting. Kline has pitched on playoff teams and could easily fill in as a setup man when injuries start piling up in the Pen.

Reason #3: Why Not? - Helms isn't gonna make the team anyway so the Phillies will have to outright him before the start of the season. Feliz is the starting 3B with no arguments and Bruntlet and Dobbs are far more versatile off the bench anyway. Both can play corner outfield and Bruntlet can capably start at 7 positions and has in the course of his career, so there is no room for Helms anyway.

Reason #4: Addition Through Subtraction - Helms is one of the most "beloved" figures in Phillies history. He probably gained this loyal following by hitting well under .200 at home last year. Getting rid of him can't possibly hurt. If someone like Steve Kline is all we can get for him, so be it.

Either way, we need to get rid of Wes Helms.