Philadelphia Phillies: Does Anyone Else Miss Mike Sweeney Yet?

There are, I’m certain, many readers out there that will not even read word one of this article—largely because they believe that Mike Sweeney made no impact with the Phillies last year and that, moreover, he is done as a player.

While it is absolutely, irrefutably true that Sweeney is far past his prime, I do not believe him to be past his value to a ballclub. 

Sweeney retired on March 25 of this year, but I do not believe there is any doubt that, had he been signed even to a league minimum contract by the Phils, he would have been back in red pinstripes this season. 

What is the big deal about Mike Sweeney, you ask?

Well, first off, the guy can still hit the baseball and can still occasionally hit it out of the park. He would have made for a decent right-handed pinch hitter with some pop. 

Having said that, there are plenty of guys out there who, at this point, can hit just as well, if not better, than Mr. Sweeney.

So, why am I writing this article?

Have you ever seen a player so excited to be a member of the Philadelphia Phillies?

I’ve been watching this club for 33 years and I’ve never, ever seen somebody so happy to be playing professional baseball in Philadelphia.

That kind of enthusiasm is contagious. Many of our core group of players are, though competitive and intense on the field, more of the laid-back, nonchalant, “brush it off” type of attitude.

Don’t get me wrong, they are professionals in almost every sense of the word, but as many of the greats used to say, “You have to have a lot of little boy in you.” 

And that, I contend, is Mike Sweeney. 

This guy is a former star slugger, a five-time American League All-Star and a player that put up some seriously immense numbers while playing for a perennial loser in Kansas City for over 10 years. 

The first time Sweeney had ever been with a winner was last season with the Phillies, and we could certainly tell. When he hit his first home run as a Phillie, he came into the dugout and started hugging his teammates. 

This is what baseball is supposed to be about. 

Oh yes, the guy also happens to be a grizzled vet, who, aside from actually winning with his team, has experienced just about everything in his long career. Combine that with a youthful exuberance and you’ve got yourself one hell of a bench player. 

Now, I know that there will be those who simply cast this article aside, or even rip it to pieces, because, let’s face it, Mike Sweeney is no longer a star. Hell, he’s not even an everyday player anymore. 

There will be those who criticize my use of this valuable space to even discuss a guy who is not even on the team anymore. This type of fan is usually a numbers-only, fantasy geek who doesn’t truly know how this game is played and won. 

It is a team game, made up of individuals. As we all know, one bad apple can bring down an entire team, even a strong one. 

At the same time, one good apple can bring back a team’s will to win. 

I’ve been a diehard Phillies fan for over 30 years and aside from Chase Utley, my favorite player over this team’s last four years of success was, you guessed it, Mike Sweeney. 

When I saw Mike Sweeney play, or in the dugout during games, I would say to myself, “Now there is a guy that gets it. 

That’s what the game of baseball is all about.”

People actually made fun of me during the offseason when I’d ask daily if anyone had heard if the Phils had signed Sweeney. Even after Cliff Lee, I asked, “Yes, but did they resign Sweeney?” 

Sometimes a player is about more than numbers. Sometimes a player is even about more than what he does when he is playing.

You are all more than welcome to criticize this take. However, with the Phils spending such incredible amounts of money on their players, would it have been such a stretch to go the league minimum on a guy that would bring the invaluable energy and desire to the clubhouse?

Thanks for reading!

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