2011 Phillies vs. 2008 Phillies: Who Wins?

I needed five days to collect my thoughts and allow my hand to heal after punching several walls. I also needed to go to church to repent for the mass obscenities that came from the belly of the beast that lay claim to my soul last Friday.

Finally, I can say what I have been thinking—the events of the past week were only a nightmare, right? Apparently not.

I now sit here in my office, thinking about the events of the past week. The Rangers beat up the Rays. The Tigers stomped out the Yankees‘ dream of two titles in three years. The Brewers squeaked by the D-Backs.

Oh yeah, almost forgot: The Phillies choked themselves out of another title by recording just three hits in the deciding Game 5 of their series against the Cardinals.

As most of you know, I am a die-hard Phillies fan—all Philadelphia sports, all the time—but I have to say, I was not surprised by what transpired last Friday. This series had nothing to do with the Cardinals. If the Phillies were facing the Lakeland BlueClaws in a five-game series, I think the Phillies would have lost.

Why? Momentum. Seriously. That’s it.

The Phillies lost a whopping eight games in a row a week before the season ended. Good teams rarely let that happen at the end the season. Great teams never let it happen throughout the entire season. The Phillies were better than every team in the MLB in 2010 and 2011. Yet, each one of the last two seasons have ended in failure.

Yeah, the Cardinals were not the best draw for the Phillies, but when you have the best pitching staff in the league and your No. 1 nearly goes the distance, giving up only one run, you need to win that deciding game.

Roy Halladay ran into first-inning trouble, like he has been susceptible to all season, and the red birds scored a single run. No way in hell that single run should have held up. Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals ace, was rocked in Game 2. The Cardinals still won that game after Clifton “Cliff” Phifer Lee blew a four-run lead for the second time in like 100 or so games in which he had given a four-or-more run lead.

It makes me want to throw up. This series should have been clinched at two separate times for the Phillies. After winning Game 2, the Phillies were given a masterful pitching performance by baby ace Cole Hamels, in which they won.

Phillies sweep—bring on the Brewers.

What? The Phillies lost Game 2? OK, that’s fine. We’ll win both in St. Louis—bring on the Brewers. Hamels wins Game 3 after Ben “Don’t Call Me San” Francisco hits a pinch-hit three-run home run. The “cards” were falling into place for a Phillies series win.

 

Edwin Jackson was on the mound for Game 4 against the Cardinals. “Little” Roy is on the mound for the Phillies—another advantage for the Phillies.

Oswalt was 5-0 in the postseason in games he started. Bingo—bring on the Brewers. Funny how things look so good on paper, and the exact opposite seems to happen too often. Just ask the Eagles.

The Phillies hitters come out smoking the ball off of Edwin Jackson. First-pitch fastballs were being sent up the middle, off the wall—to every place on the field where there wasn’t a Cardinal player.

The Phillies scored two in the first from the first three batters. Hunter Pence was on first base with no outs still, and the “Big Piece” was up to bat. (The “Big Piece” is a moniker given to the Phillies first baseman, Ryan Howard.)

After this series from Howard, the correct moniker should probably be the “Big Piece of $%#@.” With no outs and a 3-2 count, Charlie put on a hit-and-run. Howard can barely see the ball as it is, and Charlie expects Howard not to be distracted with “Flailing Arms” Pence running to second.

In an instant, there were two outs. Go back and look at the tape. You will see two separate things happen on this play that cost the Phillies their season.

First off, the ball that Ryan Howard took for strike three was about a foot outside. Howard should have been on first base. Secondly, Hunter Pence, who is one of the fastest base runners in the league, was SAFE at second! I know, “He’s a Phillies homer,” blah blah blah. Look at the tape. Phillies could, and should have scored 3-4 runs in the first inning off of Edwin Jackson. The Phillies win Game 4, bring on the Brewers didn’t happen.

You know the rest of the story.

When the cards were shown, the Phillies aces just weren’t enough to take the jackpot. One-hundred-and-two wins is a nice season, but ten years from now, no one will remember this team simply because they choked.

The 2008 Phillies, with a ragtag group of home-grown talent and small free-agent additions, beat everyone in the postseason that year. Going up against a 2011 Phillies team, who obviously has a better group of players than the 2008 version, the 2008 Phillies wouldn’t have a shot in hell (on paper).

The 2008 Phillies had what many Philadelphia sports teams lacked in the past and even the present (have you seen the Eagles this year?): They had heart. Sad to say, but the failure of the 2011 Phillies was not because of talent. They lacked heart.

Give me 86 wins backing into the playoffs if it means the Phillies win the World Series that year. Even without a title, show me some heart in an elimination game, at least. The Phillies acted like the underdogs in their series against the Cardinals.

You can’t buy a title with 102 wins. All those wins were just a tease to die-hard Phillies fans. All those wins were for nothing.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Phillies Trade/Free Agent News: 6 Tweaks to Make Them Even More Dominant

Now that the pages have turned and the book has closed on the Philadelphia Phillies‘ 2011 season, one that was supposed to lead them to a World Series title with their ace-studded rotation and dangerous offense, the only thing remaining between this season and the next for the Phils is the offseason.

While the offseason isn’t necessarily the most interesting part of baseball to fans, it is arguably one of the most significant. Impending free agents are re-signed or move on to new teams, and players can sign mega contracts bigger than a lottery payday. The free agency process can bring out either the angels or demons within players, agencies, and teams alike.

In the case of the Phillies, they will have an offseason that could be more important than any in recent memory. For the last few years, the Phillies have made few moves, albeit surprising. In 2008, they signed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a three-year, $31.5 million contract. After the 2009 season, they traded deadline acquisition Cliff Lee in a series of moves that netted them eventual-NL Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. And last season, they brought Lee back in a move that endeared both Lee himself and GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. in the hearts of Phillies fans.

Whether a free agent signing or a trade, whether at the trade deadline or in the offseason, the Phillies have made moves that they believe are necessary to make the team better. This season the Phils had a gap in right field; they filled it by acquiring Hunter Pence from the Astros. Four years before revolved around starting pitching; Kyle Lohse, Joe Blanton, Lee, and Roy Oswalt were acquired in the years that led the Phillies to division titles.

This offseason will be the same as those in the recent past, as the Phillies will be looking to fill the holes potentially left by impending free agents, specifically in left field, at shortstop, and in the bullpen, namely the closer’s role, and also first base with Ryan Howard possibly being out for a good chunk of next season. How the Fightins handle their newest challenge is impossible to predict, but there are always possibilities as to who they could bring to the City of Brotherly Love.

But who could be on the Phillies’ radar? Here are some possibilities.

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Reading Between the Lines of GM Ruben Amaro’s Recent Statements

Today, Philadelphia Daily News writer David Muprhy compiled a list of Ruben Amaro’s quotes from his recent news conference. Many of these quotes are interesting and telling if you read between the lines.

Ranging from the lineup to Ryan Howard to soon-to-be free agents and possible roster additions, his news conference delved into a myriad of topics. The conclusions derived from the statements are at times expected, surprising, and disappointing. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: How Will Charlie Manuel Get by Without Ryan Howard?

Ryan Howard’s five-year, $125 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies begins next season.

The only problem? Howard won’t be ready for the start of the year following a torn Achilles tendon suffered on the final play of the game in the Phillies 1-0 Game 5 NLDS loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

It’s not easy to replace a slugger who has averaged 44 home runs and 132 RBI per year since 2006, but here are four potential options for manager Charlie Manuel.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking Their 6 Most Important Championship Pieces

Philadelphia is still reeling as the best team in baseball and arguably best roster ever assembled was upset by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The Philadelphia Phillies have quickly gone from a team loaded with superstars to an assembly of overpaid and over-aged players.

2011 was clearly a World Series or bust year but there is still reason to not jump off the bandwagon. The Phillies have the best rotation in baseball locked up for next season and they have a lot of money coming off the books.

A tweak here and there and this team could be even stronger in 2012. Players like Jimmy Rollins, Brad Lidge and Raul Ibanez could all have played there last game’s in Phillies pinstripes, but there are other players on this roster that are crucial to the Phightin’s World Series chances.

Here is a ranking of the Philadelphia Phillies six most important championship pieces.

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Ryan Howard Injury: Matt Rizzotti Can Replace the Ailing Slugger

For a while now, we knew the Phillies‘ slugging first baseman Ryan Howard felt soreness in his left heel. We just did not think he would tear his Achilles Heel and be sidelined for approximately six months.  

The Howard injury does not only represent the Phillies’ tough elimination from the 2011 NLDS, but it also highlights a large list titled “Phillies’ Offseason To-Do.”  

Replacing Ryan Howard for a few months of the 2012 season, or longer, will be no easy task.  He leads the team bye far with 33 home runs and 116 RBIs.

Many suggest that GM Ruben Amaro Jr. should search the free agency for an above average batter who can play first base and more (Michael Cuddyer was the biggest name).  Investing money in a first baseman, however, will only decrease Amaro’s flexibility to sign other free agents and re-sign some of their own players.  

There must be an in-house solution!

John Mayberry Jr. has developed quite a convincing case to be an everyday starter in 2012. Considering he has 18 games of experience at first base, he may well get his chance to start.

 Now, it is not a matter of whether he can handle first base or not, rather it is a matter of whether Dominic Brown is ready to step onto a Major League roster in left field, a position he has only recently started playing in.  Also, his offensive numbers in 2011 are not too inviting.  In order to keep Mayberry in left field and replace Ryan Howard the cheapest way possible, the Phillies might want to consider bringing up Matt Rizzotti.

At 25 years old, Matt Rizzotti is arguably ready for the majors.  On three different minor league affiliates in 2010, left handed first baseman Rizzotti hit .343/.430/.555 with 17 homers and 76 RBIs.  In 2011 AA Ball, Rizzotti hit .295/.392/.511 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs.

One can argue that Rizzotti could not handle AAA Ball, and that is why he was sent back to AA. Although not an ideal move to take a guy who spent his whole season in AA and give him a starting role on a Major League roster, the Phillies do not have much flexibility, and Rizzotti might perform better offensively than Dominic Brown, who had nothing to show in both the majors and the minors in 2011.  

Bringing Rizzotti to the majors would provide a cheap option to replace Howard for a number of months.  His effective offense in the minors proves that he might be ready to hit in the big leagues (at least more ready than Freddy Galvis is).  If Matt Rizzotti can find his stride and adjust quickly, he may find himself a permanent spot on a big league roster. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: 7 Reasons Why They Didn’t Win the Ring in 2011

Just as the 2008 World Series image of Brad Lidge on his knees after he struck out Eric Hinske for the Championship is one we will never forget, so is this year’s NLDS image of Ryan Howard on the ground in pain as Chris Carpenter and his Cardinal teammates celebrated in front of 40,000+ absolutely stunned Phillies fans.

It didn’t seem right that the best season in Phillies history would end so unceremoniously, but it did.

As Howard tried to run down the line his Achilles tendon snapped and left him on the ground in pain. His pain was the physical manifestation of the pain hundreds of thousands of Phillies fans felt when they saw that their World Series caliber team could not even make it out of the first round of the playoffs.

For the Phillies, and their fans, this loss meant more than just going another year without a ring. It marked disappointment, one of the most if not thee most disappointing seasons in Phillies history. The perfect team was believed to be assembled and with the four aces, considered by some to be the best staff ever put together, odds were not only on the Phillies making the Fall Classic but winning it as well.

With high expectations and even greater aspirations, the Phillies failure will be one that won’t soon be forgotten. Time to ask the question “why.” Why, if the perfect team was assembled did the Phillies lose? Why if they had four of the best pitchers in baseball could they not even make it past the NLDS? 

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Philadelphia Eagles or Philadelphia Phillies: Who’s the Bigger Hometown Choker?

On Friday night, the World Series-favorite Philadelphia Phillies were bounced from the playoffs after falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.

Less than 48 hours later, Philadelphia fans watched with disgust and amazement as the Eagles continued to find ways to lose.

During this two-day span, the greatest team in Phillies history collapsed in first-round defeat, and the Eagles pushed themselves to the brink of elimination after a mere five games.

These events beg the eternal Philadelphia sports question: Who choked worse?

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Philadelphia Phillies: 20 Most Memorable Moments in Postseason History

Another October has come and gone for the Philadelphia Phillies, albeit much sooner than anyone outside of the St. Louis area expected.

After getting bounced from the 2011 NLDS by the Cardinals in five games, all fans can do is begin to pick up the pieces.

Perhaps just as disappointing as the team’s finish itself is the vanishing opportunity to create any more October magic, playoff heroes or indelible moments in franchise history. No more games means no more drama for a team that seemed primed to win the World Series for the second time in four years.

But, after the Game 5 loss to St. Louis, the clock ran out on the Phillies’ 2011 season.

Although there will be no additions to the growing list of the team’s postseason war stories, the collection of events that helped shape the organization is permanent and frozen in time.

Looking back at almost a century of postseason play will provide its fair share of glorious memories and haunting visions. Beginning with the team’s first NL Pennant in 1915, Philadelphia has given fans a database of thrillers that seem to come in bursts.

The ranking of each item on the list will always be up for debate, but one cannot deny that each of the following has left its mark on the franchise and its fans in some way.

Without further introduction, the top 20 postseason moments in Phillies team history.

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2011 NLCS: 15 Greatest Pitching Gems in Phillies Postseason History

It’s been 96 years since the Philadelphia Phillies made their first postseason appearance in franchise history.

In 1915, it was Grover Alexander who led the Phillies on the mound in the World Series.

Now, nearly a century later, the Phils have another ace in Roy Halladay leading any hopes of another World Series appearance.

But Alexander and Halladay are not just two Phillies pitchers who have led the team in the playoffs.

They were also a part of two of the greatest pitching gems in Phillies postseason history.

In 14 trips to the postseason and over 100 total playoff games, the Phils have witnessed their share of great pitching performances.

Here’s a look at their 15-greatest postseason gems.

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