Philadelphia Phillies: 10 Players Phillies Fans Hate the Most

They are the players we love to hate.  The players that because of something they did, or more likely did not do, are given a very special welcome whenever they return to Philadelphia.  The kind of welcome Phillies fans have become famous for.

Now all of these players did something to earn the wrath of the fans.  Maybe they failed to run out a ground ball or they weren’t willing to sacrifice their body to make a play at the plate.  

But whatever they did, they all have one thing in common–they done us wrong.

For Phillies fans, it’s not just winning that is important but the way the game is played. Philadelphia is a blue collar town; we like athletes who aren’t afraid to get their uniforms dirty.  And just leaving town doesn’t mean all is forgiven.    

Because Phillies fans have loooong memories.

And if you don’t believe me, just ask these guys:  The 10 most hated players in Philadelphia Phillies History.

Begin Slideshow

Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee: How Will Phillies Aces Perform in All Star Game?

Let me start with a shout out to Roy Halladay. There have not been very many Phillies pitchers to start the All-Star game, so he is joining some pretty good company.

I also want to congratulate them Cliff Lee on making the team as well. He has been having a great year as the Phillies’ second representative.

For varying reasons as most people know, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels, and Placido Polanco will not be participating tonight. However, they also deserve recognition for being named.

All that being said, Halladay may have his work cut out for him tonight. It is nothing against him as a pitcher, but the American League has a very heavy left-handed trend in their lineup.

There are six left-handed batters and one switch hitter in the lineup for the American League.

He has been having a difficult time this year with left-handed hitters, who are batting .274 against him.

Halladay tends to come through when it matters for the Phillies, so it is definitely possible that he will dominate the AL, but I worry about him more than I worry about Cliff Lee versus this lineup.

Lee has been dominant against left-handers this year.

They are only batting .195 against him this year, and his ratio of strikeouts to walks against left-handed pitchers is 15.5 to 1.

He is obviously controlling the ball and is getting outs, which is the most important part.

The slight disclaimer here is that by the time Lee enters the game, probably a substantial amount of the starting lineup will be substituted out.

However, it seems like the Phillies are going to have a good showing tonight in the All-Star game.

I realize that there are several complaints about the game, but I do like it, and I like seeing the Phillies represented among the best in the league.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Fantasy Baseball: 2 Philadelphia Phillies to Watch in the Second Half

The Phillies offense has been much maligned over the course of the first half of the season.

However, the trend over the last five seasons with this club is that their second halves are much stronger than their firsts.

There are a few players on this ball club that bear watching down the stretch. 

Here are a selection of a few Phillies that fantasy baseball players need to keep an eye on in the second half.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Raul Ibanez Now a Consideration at MLB Trade Deadline

We’re used to Raul Ibanez being problematic. Disappointing at the plate. Liable in the field. A hummer-sized guzzler of green.

We’re used to Raul Ibanez being problematic.

But never like this.

Never like his six RBI in a 14-1 win over the Braves yesterday—his and everyone’s closing arguments before the All-Star Break, the line of demarcation for trading deadline considerations. GMs have to squeeze all dealing in before July 31, but now serves an opportune down time for self-inventorying:

What do we need? And what do we have?

From Ibanez, that’s never been something.

Never like this series, where at the least, he met minimum standards. At best, he vaulted the Phils in their 3-2 win with a 10th inning, walk-off homer that bore semblance to the clutch you’ve wanted from greater Phils all year.

For one half of baseball’s worst corner outfielding tandem to inch toward reputability, it would take spectacularily. You got that this weekend, with a garnish of hustle plays and contagious gamesmanship you can’t slap value on.

Now, strangely and near-sacrilegiously, he matters.

He’s only hit .241 on the year, hamstrung by a .161 April. It’s only been a week and a half, but July is looking more like May—he hit .315 in his second month—than June, when he gimped along at .211. In a “what have you done for me lately?” sport grounded in stats, his .286 satisfies.

Doesn’t stuff your gut, but doesn’t leave you hungry, either.

Isn’t that the allure to Michael Cuddyer? The object of Philly fans’ obsession of late has hit .298 on the year with only two more home runs (13) and four fewer RBI (43). He’s not a franchise-changer, but a serviceable stopgap to plug an apparent need.

If Ibanez can maintain his of-late production, they’re comparable.

The difference, though, is you have Ibanez. You’d have to get Cuddyer, the take that’s not worth the give of Vance Worley, Antonio Bastardo, Dom Brown, a handful of prospects, some permutation therein—all of which Minnesota could use or would want.

That’s what you mull in times like these. Is what I’ve seen worth what I think I will? In other words: Does Raul Ibanez ease worry enough to justify holding off on a right-handed outfielder?

For the price, sure. But anybody worth having would pluck talent from the depleted farm system or oft-used bench.

And for Cuddyer, take on another $10.5 million.

That’s not worth it for Cuddyer, the only one implicated in trade rumors and a free agent at year’s end. Or for a guy who’d stay—for a lot more coin than the hundreds of thousands the others make.

There’s legitimate credence in the pro-Ibanez argument. Take his .247 average with runners in scoring position. Not much to write home or on B/R about, except for that there’s no drop-off between that and his batting average.

That says Ibanez is somewhat reliable. He can’t transcend, but he doesn’t wilt, either.

You’ll take that, like you took Jayson Werth last year. The season that milked a seven-year, $126 million deal from Washington stacked up to a .296 average with 27 home runs and 85 RBI (Ibanez is on pace for 22 home runs and 84 RBI).

Leveling with you this: Raul Ibanez isn’t worth any offseason’s fattest wad of contractual cash. He’s hardly earned the three-year, $31 million deal he inked in 2008.

That’s part of the problem. Fuzzy as this mid-year wrinkle feels, it doesn’t tempt anyone to take on Ibanez’s $11 million. At least not without the Phillies wolfing down sunk money like Joey Chestnut at Coney Island.

You can’t move him. So live with him.

Continue to bat Ibanez fifth and hope Dom Brown’s trajectory offers a threat enough to polish the pitches Ibanez sees. It should be noted: He’s hit .274 in 2011 from the five hole, left unprotected by and proven inconsequential because of hitters who can’t at No. 6 and beyond.

Makes you wonder what you can get from Ibanez, no lesser a player than Pat Burrell or Cody Ross before they conjured greatness in last year’s World Series. Is that gleaning my forecast for Ibanez’s October?

No, but it cautions against ruling out the possibility, how the Giants exploited Florida and Tampa Bay (and their own) dumping.

The other facets of Ibanez’s game aren’t as questionable. Say what you want about his noodle arm, as sturdy as spaghetti on the witness stand and worth only three assists this year.

But save for one error, he’s been perfect.

That gets lost in snowballing frustration that’s mounted in his time in Philly. I get that.

But he’s as reliable an outfielder as any right fielder in baseball, only separated by one-hundredth of a point from No. 3 in the National League.

Is Raul Ibanez the answer? Probably not.

But he’s at least a consideration—far more than he’s been in a while.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Inconsistency Between Sabermetric and Actual Wins?

I found a kind of funny statistic today.

The Phillies have the best record in baseball at 57-34. However, if you look at the statistics on FanGraphs, the Phillies are ranked third in overall wins above replacement when you add batting and pitching together behind the Red Sox and Yankees.

How does a team that is not the best in sabermetric terms manage to have the best record in baseball?

I know that right away this article is going to bring out all the people who say that sabermetrics are worthless and entirely inaccurate.

However, that is not what I mean to do with this.

I wanted to emphasize this point because I think that it is important to notice that the Phillies have been pitching that phenomenally to be able to perform better than teams that should be supposedly doing better.

If you go back to the sabermetrics, the Phillies are ranked first in pitching but 13th in batting.

Their team ERA is 3.02. That is remarkable, to say the least.

The five active starters, assuming that Kendrick will be No. 5 until either Oswalt or Blanton return, all have ERAs between 2.20 and 3.58 (Worley being the lowest and Kendrick being the highest)

These numbers are pretty crazy for a team that plays in a very hitter-friendly ballpark.

I know that talking about the success of the Phillies’ pitching is nothing new.

However, I definitely found it interesting that in terms of sabermetrics, the Phillies are over-performing largely because of the pitching success that they have been enjoying.

The other option is of course that the Yankees and Red Sox are not winning as much as they should and the Phillies are doing what they are supposed to.

As long as the Phillies keep winning, I don’t think that a lot of people will complain, whatever the reason.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

AL, NL Midseason Awards: Who’s the Best in the Game?

We are just a few days away from the All-Star break for the 2011 MLB season.

We’ve already seen some spectacular performances in the first half from expected names and some newcomers alike.

Like last season, baseball has been largely dominated by incredible pitching performances. Pitchers are going deeper into games than they have in recent memory and leaving most hitters in the dust.

There have been a few exceptions however.

With that in mind, here are the best (and just for fun, the worst) in the AL and NL this season

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 3-2 Win Over Atlanta Braves Outlines Philly’s Formula

After months of toying and tinkering, they found it.

After a half-season of fumbling, they’re onto it.

The Phillies found the formula.

Not just to win, even in epic fashion against the second-place team in the National League East and consensus runners-up as baseball’s most feared club (for now).

The 3-2 win at Citizen’s Bank Park over the Atlanta Braves was fine, but it was more a road map than a destination.

This is what they need to do to contend.

Sounds sacrilege, given that another tally on the left puts the Phils at 56-33, above and beyond the best record in baseball, especially after padding the gap between Atlanta, now 3.5 games back.

But the Phillies’ woes were long documented and stacked high enough to cast a shadow.

A small one, like what afternoon suns cast over day games but awkward and intrusive enough to cause worry.

No one game can lift that. However brilliant, no nine-inning summation of singular efforts can wipe it.

But this was a start.

It started with Carlos Ruiz’ homer in the bottom of the fourth, the Phils second answer to a Braves’ score. Dan Uggla smacked an infield single in the top of the inning, as Brian McCann slipped the other way to plate Atlanta’s second run—their second test of wills in four innings.

It ended with Raul Ibanez‘s beaming line drive that skipped into the stands. The story, the game—it was the bottom of the 10th inning—the doubt about when they’d would find something to replicate.

The Ruiz and Ibanez jacks had more value, not just because they’re sexier stats or instant scores. They represented something grander. Valdez’ sacrifice fly, however commendable, that scored Ibanez to tie it at one apiece in the bottom of the second.

You appreciate the small ball, a facet of the game you’ve begged Philly to try for years.

But for figures like Ruiz and Ibanez, tenured and well-paid and underachieving with .255 and .239, to welcome moments like that was big.

Manufacturing them on-command was huge.

Remember: It won’t be pretty in the playoffs, often ugly and grueling as last night. Good to know that the Phillies can rise up on call.

“It’s definitely a good feeling,” Ibanez said of his sixth career game-winning homer. “You definitely don’t try to do that. You try to look for a pitch to drive and when you do it, there’s no better feeling as a player.”

It’s one thing to rise above when asked, what you could characterize Michael Stutes, Antonio Bastardo and Juan Perez’ clean eighth, ninth and 10th innings. The three relievers entered in consecutive, margin-for-error-less spots and met expectation.

Granted, we barely knew that Stutes had the slider that ended Alex Gonzalez’ night—thing dropped off like Ben Affleck’s career—to request it. Even though Bastardo has sent the heart of a hot lineup packing a few times now, it doesn’t get old.

You assume results from Roy Halladay, even on a night he was challenged by Atlanta starter Brandon Beachy, whose line rivaled Hallday’s, seven innings and as many strikeouts.

But not from Perez, who struck out Jason Heyward, Nate McLouth and Wilkin Ramirez and eluded the makings of a meltdown. Though you’d love to learn that habit.

“I’m excited and pumped up about my first win,” Perez said through a translator. “I worked hard to stay sharp mentally and I’m thankful for the opportunity.”

Thankful? He volunteered for it. That’s the trophy from wins like these, ones you hope last beyond the All-Star break.

Yet the consolation prizes, like Ryan Howard barreling for an infield single in the eighth, were almost as meaningful. Not as flashy or consequential. But Ibanez hustling out a sure-thing double play on after grounding a dribbler to Freddie Freeman (says something it’s taken so long to mention his name), matters.

You appreciate those nuggets and from recipients of a copious amount of Ruben Amaro Jr.’s money (Howard) and fans’ derision (Ibanez).

Question now is whether they learned. Question now is whether they’ll perfect it by October.

Questions that can answer themselves if the Phillies can repeat performances like these.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: How to Fill in for Injured Shane Victorino?

As Shane Victorino hit the DL recently, Phillies fans have been left to wonder how the team will fill that new gap in center field.

Obviously, this is a more significant question than simply who will play in the field and take up a spot in the batting order.

Victorino has been incredibly productive this season, and according to FanGraphs, he is the ninth most valuable position player in all of baseball in terms of wins above replacement.

He is hitting .303 and has been bounced around the batting order to fill different roles

He has nine home runs and 13 stolen bases, which is pretty good production. He isn’t quite on a 20-20 pace, but these numbers still indicate that he is one of the more important players in Phillies lineup.

In the field, he is the winner of three consecutive Gold Gloves and showcases his remarkable speed in that role as well.

So how will the Phillies replace him while he is injured?

It seems that the plan for right now is with John Mayberry Jr.

Actually, I’m not that upset by this replacement.

I am definitely not saying that Mayberry is as good as Victorino, but what I am saying is that he has been appearing to be a more capable replacement over these past few games.

Mayberry has been hitting the ball very hard lately, and on July 6, he sent out two home runs while driving in three runs.

Last night, he crushed the ball as well that was knocked down by the wind near the warning track.

In the field, while he may not be Victorino by any means, he has shown that he is a capable defender. Using his giant 6’6″ frame, he covers quite a bit of ground and seems to be a pretty smart player.

Again, he may not be Victorino on the basepaths, either, but he can run very well and he is definitely not a liability.

While I will be as happy as anyone to see the Phillies’ final All-Star (who won’t play in it) return to the lineup when his time on the DL is done, I think that if Mayberry is able to continue hitting the ball hard and playing solid defense, he will have done what the Phillies expected of him.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Grading Every Player so Far This Season

As the Philadelphia Phillies approach the final series of the first half the 2011 Major League Baseball season, the Phillies find themselves with the best record in all of baseball at 55-33.

This weekend’s series with the Atlanta Braves may be turn out to be one of the most important series of the entire season.

Lucky for the Phillies, they will throw all three of their All-Star pitchers; Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels.

The 2011 season has been filled with searing highs and lonely lows, but the Phightin’ Phils have persevered holding a 2.5 lead in the NL East over the Atlanta Braves.

Here are the grades for the core Phillies players so far this season.

Begin Slideshow

The Atlanta Braves Head to Philadelphia with a Chance to Take First Place

The Atlanta Braves, hot off a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies and winners of 14 of their last 17 games, head to Philadelphia with a chance to take over first-place in the National League East heading into the All-Star break. 

Lately, nearly everything has been going right for Atlanta.  Their pitching is top-notch and has shown it can compete with the best, even with Philly’s celebrated foursome—one of whom is relegated to the disabled list (Roy Oswalt) most of the summer.  Their offense has picked things up lately as well.  

Dan Uggla, the slugger the Braves acquired in the offseason, and then rewarded with a 5-year contract extension, has been absolutely dreadful most of the season.  However, it was never a matter if he would hit, but when.  Uggla’s batting average is still far below the Mendoza line, but his production has increased in recent weeks and he’s tied for the team lead in homers with 14.

Franchise player Chipper Jones may not be what he was even a few years ago, but there is still some life left in his bat and the veteran leadership he provides is unquestioned.  Brian McCann might be baseball’s best offensive catcher; he doesn’t generate the buzz that Joe Mauer’s name does, but McCann has steadily been one of the best hitting backstops in baseball for several years now.

Atlanta could definitely use another bat—and it would be surprising if Frank Wren doesn’t address that before the July 31 trading deadline—but their biggest asset is on the mound.  Jair Jurrjens is having a season for the ages and he might not even be the team’s best pitcher. Tommy Hanson is also having a fine season and Tim Hudson has been the ace of every staff he’s pitched on for many years now.

With most teams with great starting pitching, the goal is to work their pitch counts in hopes of getting into the bullpen for a chance to win.  That’s not the case with Atlanta, where they have perhaps the game’s best relievers.  Craig Kimbrel has been dominant, Brad Lidge—2004 dominant.  He’s among the league leaders in nearly every statistical category for relievers and, at times, has been downright un-hittable.  And Johnny Venters  is as good—if not better–from the left-side.  The rest of the pen is proven, durable and can come at an opponent for both sides with dominating stuff.

In any case, Atlanta is a scary competitor for most teams.  In the major leagues, Philadelphia has more wins and they have holes of their own.  This weekend series could help determine supremacy not only in the National League East but in baseball as well. 

But it’s still only July, with a lot of baseball left on the calendar.  Come September, hardly anyone will remember this series as pivotal, regardless of which team wins it.  The Braves could sweep and head into break with a half game lead in the division, or they could fall five and a half games back.  

Odds are neither team sweeps and Philadelphia holds its lead heading into the All-Star break.  And while the Braves are younger, they may not have the fortitude to hold on all year and catch the Phillies.  As good as Jurrjens, Hanson and Brandon Beachy have been this year—and will be in coming years—they also lack the experience of what pitching deep into October means for their young arms.  

The Phillies trio—Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels—have the experience of knowing exactly what it takes to get their team to late October and no doubt they will do it again.  

The Phillies have lined up their rotation perfectly for this series and should dominate it.  The Braves have gotten within 2.5 games of the division lead and despite all the good things happening in Atlanta that is as close as they will get.  The Phillies will take the series and division lead to the All-Star break and never relinquish it.  They will cruise to a fifth straight division title and probably meet the Wild-Card champion Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series.  

The Braves have built a phenomenal team and are as good as anybody.  But they’re the Phillies.  I wish them luck the remainder of the season, and look forward to seeing them in October.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »