Any one of a number of players could claim the third base job for the Ironpigs in 2011. Right now it seems to me like the logical choice is Jeff Larish. Tagg Bozied and Pete Orr were profiled at first and second base respectively but both could also see playing time at the hot corner.
For three years I have talked about the jet stream to right field at Coca-Cola Park and the need for a lefty power hitter who could take advantage of it. Andy Tracy was terrific in his three years with the Ironpigs but he was more of a gap hitter than a pull hitter. That was never more evident than it was in the AAA homerun derby last year on July 12th. While Dan Johnson of the Durham Bulls was lofting homerun after homerun over the Bud Light Trough down the rightfield line, Andy was hitting balls just as far, maybe farther, that were either off the wall or landing on the warning track in right-center and centerfield. The tentative roster for 2011 appears to have more left-handed power than any of the previous Ironpigs teams and Larish is at the top of that list. He needs to be in the lineup somewhere, so why not at third base?
Jeff Larish
DOB 10/11/82, Iowa City, Iowa. 6’2″ 200. Bats/Throws: L/R
Jeff played baseball at Arizona State University and also played on the USA silver medal team at the 2003 Pan American Games. In his last year at Arizona State he became just the third player in College World Series history to hit 3 homeruns in one game. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2005 amateur player draft and played briefly in the rookie league before being promoted to Oneonta in the New York Penn League where he hit .297 with 6 homeruns in just 64 at bats. In 2006 he played for Lakeland in the Florida State League and hit 18 homeruns. By 2007 he was in AA playing for Erie in the Eastern League where he hit .267 with 28 homeruns. In 2008 he hit 21 homeruns for the Toledo Mud Hens in the International League and also made his big league debut with the Tigers on May 30th. He hit .260 for the Tigers playing mostly third base and first base. He split the 2009 season between Toledo and Detroit and did the same in 2010 until he was selected off waivers by the Oakland A’s on August 3rd. He was granted free agency at the end of the season and signed with the Phillies on November 18, 2010. In his 3 seasons of AAA ball he hit .266 with 47 homeruns and 164 RBI’s. He played mostly first base in 2008 and 2009 mainly because of the presence of Mike Hessman at third but in 2010 he played 53 games at third base and 38 games at first base. He has a lifetime batting average of .333 (15-45) with 4 homeruns at Coca-Cola-Park. The 4 homers have come in his last 7 games at CCP and all of them were hit to right field. Whether he’s at third base, first base or DH, hopefully we will see plenty of those right field homers in 2011.
Cody Overbeck
DOB 6/5/86. Atoka, TN. 6’1″ 200. Bats/Throws: R/R
Cody attended the University of Mississippi and was drafted by the Phillies in the 9th round of the 2008 amateur player draft after his junior year. He was assigned to Williamsport where he hit .272 with 12 homeruns. In 2009 he bypassed Lakewood and moved up to Clearwater where he hit just .230 with 12 homeruns. He began the 2010 season back in Clearwater and hit .302 with 11 homeruns in just 215 at bats. He was picked to play in the Florida State League All Star game but was promoted to AA Reading just before the game was played. After a slow start at Reading he finished at .255 with 13 homeruns giving him a total of 24 homeruns between Clearwater and Reading, however, in 490 at bats last year he struck out 134 times. Pitch selection is an area where he needs to improve and that comes with playing time. My instincts tell me he begins 2011 back in Reading where he can continue to play everyday. If he does well, he could be with the Ironpigs by July or August.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
Once again, thanks Decal. I’m looking forward to seeing both of these guys this year. Larish because he’s good, and Overbeck because he’s still considered a prospect in some circles. Plus, Larish’ ML experience should provide Philadelphia with the “extended bench” they desire in Allentown.
I know Overbeck’s fielding skills are lacking, but how is Larish at third? Passable? Better than Ransom?
I’ve never seen Overbeck or Bozied play at all and I really don’t remember Jeff Larish or Pete Orr as defensive players. It’s hard to formulate an opinion on players who have only played four games a year in Allentown. Larish has played considerably more games at first base than he has at third base but the Phillies want to see what Rizzotti can do at first. That leaves third base and DH. Since the Ironpigs play something like 88 games vs. American League affiliated teams that means the DH can be used 88 times. If Larish can’t do an adequate job at third, he’ll DH. But that still leaves 56 games without the DH so Larish will have to play somewhere in the field in order to keep his bat in the lineup. I don’t think there’s a player currently on the ’11 roster who is going to do a great job defensively at third base. Unless someone else is signed, I’m guessing the Ironpigs will be hoping for nothing more than a good bat and an adequate glove. Also, if you recall when I looked at first base I said it wouldn’t be surprising to me if Rizzotti begins the year back in Reading. If that happens then Larish is your opening day first baseman. I’d hate to see Rizzotti struggle early in AAA and then be sent down. There are big shoes to fill at first base in the Lehigh Valley and maybe the veteran would better handle the pressure that comes with it, especially in April.
I saw Overbeck play once, and he seemed to do fine in that game at third, but it is obviously a small sample and he’s widely known to lack fielding skills. Rizzotti’s similarly known, but I noted that he worked very hard on his fielding in pre-game even while on the DL last year.
I was thinking statistically, though, so a quick trip to the MudHens web site reveals Larish committed only 4 errors in 84 games last year with Toledo. That’s not so bad. Now, that was probably, mostly, 1B, and could have included some DH, as you say. When I asked above I was wondering about errors, mostly.
Nice interview in the MC this morning with Parent from Reading, who says that he wants to win games so that the prospects get used to winning and doing the little things that make winning possible. Nice attitude. I hope Sandberg feels the same way.
Fielding: Jeff Larish at Toledo in 2010:
Third Base: 46 Games, 113 Chances, 33 Putouts, 77 Assists, 3 Errors, 8 Doubleplays. .973 fielding pct.
First Base: 36 Games, 313 Chances, 292 Putouts, 20 Assists, 1 Error, 29 Doubleplays. .997 fielding pct.
In 2010 Cody Ransom’s fielding pct. at third base was .899. In 2009 Terry Tiffee’s fielding pct. was .973 (same as Larish last year). In 2008 the fielding pct. of Brennan King was .967.
Cody Overbeck made 8 errors in 53 games (.949) at Clearwater last year and 17 errors in 76 games (.908) at Reading.
Jeff Larish also submitted a great recipe for the cook book today!
woo hoo! I’m likin’ this Larish more every day. Wait, it wasn’t quiche, was it? 🙂
Decal, you rock. Thanks for the info; that’s exactly what I was looking for. Tiffee’s range was horrible–probably because his back was still hurting quite a bit. Larish is certainly above the line as a fielding third baseman, which should be good for both LHV and Philly this summer.