Philadelphia Phillies: Changing the Culture with Jonathan Papelbon

Love it or hate it, it’s a done deal. Jonathan Papelbon will be closing games for the Philadelphia Phillies starting on Opening Day 2012. Though the signing ranks among the most polarizing decisions made by the front office in recent memory, the $50 million reliever will now be firing fastballs in the City of Brotherly Love.

Papelbon is no homegrown kid, spending his entire career at the back end of the bullpen at Fenway Park for the Red Sox. The closer is not the prototypical clubhouse leader that adds to the team’s renowned jovial team atmosphere – one of the reasons he has not been readily embraced.

Phillies’ fans shouldn’t be expecting a Hunter Pence-like warmth when he does suit up in 2012, and won’t be getting the humility they’ve seen with veterans Chase Utley or Roy Halladay. After throwing the very qualities that the city typically embraces out with Papelbon’s personality, why would the crowds at Citizens Bank Park even want the prized reliever representing their club?

Locked and loaded with six years of ninth-inning success and his colorful attitude, Papelbon is here to bring home a championship. Since their run in 2008, Philadelphia has maintained one of the most desirable locker rooms in sports, assembling groups of players that truly gel as team.

In the years following their second title in franchise history, not once has that tight-knit crew brought home a World Series trophy, falling shorter with each passing year.

It would be unfair to say that the Philadelphia Phillies have been a failure over the past three seasons, but the hardware isn’t there to prove otherwise. After all, a favorable team atmosphere can’t nail down the final outs in a critical playoff game.

Think back to the apprehension felt when Brad Lidge entered in Game 4 of the 2009 World Series.  Recording the first two outs in the ninth inning seemed too good to be true. As it turns out, it was. The runs surrendered by the shaky reliever cost the team a chance to even the series against the New York Yankees, sending the team into a 3-1 hole.

Imagine if the team was able to trot out a guaranteed shutdown in Game 6 of the 2010 NLCS when Juan Uribe homered off of Ryan Madson to effectively end the Phillies’ run to another chance at glory. Instead of lamenting the missed opportunities that have cost the club dearly over the past three postseasons, General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. set out to change the culture.

Reeling in the big prize on the reliever market won’t divide the clubhouse or handcuff the growing payroll to restrict filling more pressing needs. What it does accomplish, however, is adding a proven winner to a mix of players that have only known early defeat since the start of 2009.

With six 30-save seasons on his résumé to go along with a World Series-clinching strikeout, Papelbon knows what it’s like to win consistently – a feeling that a youthful Phillies’ bullpen needs after turning to several rookies in 2011.

Pap’s impact will be felt more immediately than veteran experience when he joins the team in the spring, replacing a first-year closer in Madson. In extending the large offer to the former Red Sox reliever, Amaro Jr. has upgraded to a steadier late-game choice.

Given the team’s history with back-end arms over the past decade, that should be more than enough for the fans in Philadelphia. Papelbon follows a revolving door of arms that has sent washed-up veterans, inexperienced rookies, and converted starters to finish games in the last ten years.

So if you’re a baseball fan still in awe of the eye-popping figures that were agreed upon by a suddenly free-spending Phillies’ front office, hold your judgments on both the man and the worth of the contract.

If the team receives anything close to what they’re paying for on the diamond, expect to see the saves pile up for Papelbon through 2015.

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Philadelphia Phillies: What Signing Jonathan Papelbon Means for Phillies

The Jonathan Papelbon signing has significant effects for the Philadelphia Phillies. GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. brought in a high-profile closer near the beginning of the free-agency period, ensuring that the team will have a lights out pitcher in the ninth inning for the next four years.

Papelbon’s signing also has adverse effects on the future of Ryan Madson in Philadelphia but will benefit the young arms—Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes—in the bullpen.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 6 Prospects They Should Never Have Traded

Regret.

GM Ruben Amaro doesn’t seem to care to much for that word. He has pulled off some of the biggest blockbuster trades in team history during his brief tenure as head honcho of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence and others are all top talent that have been acquired via trade. Talent like that doesn’t come cheap.

The Phillies have dealt some of their top prospects in the hopes of winning another World Series. That obviously hasn’t happened yet and we are left with a staggering payroll loaded with some of the worst contracts in baseball (see: Howard, Ryan). 

What prospects would look great in Phillies pinstripes at this point or in the future? Here are six prospects the Philadelphia Phillies never should have traded.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking the Top 50 Hitters in Franchise History

From majestic home runs to seeing-eye singles, baseball’s unique offensive attack has played a huge role in shaping the game into America’s Pastime, and the Philadelphia Phillies have helped lead the offensive onslaught.

From authors of those majestic home runs, like Mike Schmidt and Ryan Howard, to the little guys like Richie Ashburn running his hardest to leg out a single, the Phillies have been at the forefront of the league’s offense since their inception in 1883, and though there have been some lulls along the way, some of baseball’s all-time greats have donned the Philadelphia uniform.

They’ve set astonishing single season records and slugged their way into career history. The Phillies have relied on slug-fests and close scoring affairs, capturing two World Series titles, and with 128 years of history already in the books, it is time to separate the good from the great.

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Phillies’ Deal with Jonathan Papelbon Exemplifies Overvaluing of Closers

If baseball is all about winning games, then the closers market in Major League Baseball has lost its bearing completely. Jonathan Papelbon‘s four-year, $50 million contract with the Phillies is a prime example of this. 

I don’t question that Papelbon will be effective this season, and also in 2013, at the least.  There are still two questions the make me skeptical about this contract: 1. Will he be effective enough to justify a $12.5 million salary? and 2. Will he be effective enough through four years to justify a $50 million investment?

Evaluating Papelbon’s effectiveness is not a matter of comparing him with the other closers in Major League Baseball. I think Papelbon is the best closer out there this year, in a free-agent class of closers that’s pretty deep. He has the big-game experience and he’s coming off one of his best years in a string of consistently good years, pitching in one of baseball’s biggest and most demanding markets.

However, Papelbon’s contract with the Phillies is a prime example of how overrated the closer has become. Need the Phillies be reminded that the St. Louis Cardinals won a World Series without a designated closer throughout the 2011 season? Even Jason Motte, who won the ninth inning role with the Cardinals by year’s end, won it by closing out nine of 13 save opportunities. That is unimpressive, to put it best. 

I’m not writing off the value of the closer position on a baseball team, but I’m also not writing it up to $12.5 million a year. Papelbon will close more games given the opportunities than a Phillies bullpen that attempts to find a closer through committee would. But that doesn’t justify his value.  

For example, if the Phillies spent $5 million on a bullpen arm, and decided to part ways with Jimmy Rollins, they could have plenty of money to sign Jose Reyes. Adding Reyes would lead to more Phillies victories, even if they go into the season with an unsettled closer situation. Or, they could sign Rollins and add Carlos Beltran. This too would make them more dangerous than simply re-signing Rollins and having Papelbon to close games. 

Where the Papelbon deal looks even worse is in the long term, as he is is due $50 million over the next four years. Today, Buster Olney discussed the possibility of the Phillies being forced to trade Cole Hamels, or watch him walk away at the end of this season. If Olney is right, and the Phillies cannot keep Hamels, Papelbon represents a choice by management that the closer role is more important than their third starter.  

Trading Hamels, particularly in this pitching-shallow offseason, could bring a hefty return to the Phillies, but they cannot replace the value of Hamels. Certainly not through the addition of Papelbon or any other closer (yes, that includes Mariano Rivera, or any other name you would suggest). Hamels had the ninth-best ERA in MLB (2.79); he had the third-best WHIP (.99) and 19th-most Ks (194 in 216IP).

I have no doubt that Papelbon will, at the least, be an effective closer for the Philadelphia Phillies. But that’s not the issue with his contract. The issue is that closers throughout MLB are being overvalued and overpaid. In the end, you’re looking for someone to pitch one inning in less than half your games. They should be paid appropriately. 

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Jonathan Papelbon’s Contract Proves the Market for Closers Is out of Control

Today, the Philadelphia Phillies decided that rather than retain incumbent closer Ryan Madson for four years/$44 million, they would be better suited to ink Red Sox fireman Jonathan Papelbon to a deal worth $50 million over the same period. The deal includes a vesting option for a fifth year.

The deal is the richest ever for a relief pitcher.

There’s no doubt that Papelbon has been one of the most successful closers in baseball over the past six years. With Boston, Papelbon became the quickest pitcher to record 200 saves in the sport’s history.

Despite all of this, paying $12.5 million/year for Papelbon—or any relief pitcher—is ridiculous.

Like most closers, Papelbon doesn’t see much work—he’s never reached 70 innings or 300 batters faced in a season.

That means that, barring injury, the Phillies will probably be paying him anywhere from $60,000 ti $70,000 per out until 2015. This is akin to paying a performer. They paid Roy Halladay about $28, 500 per out in 2011.

Relatively, the Phillies aren’t stupid to pay Papelbon this sort of money. Over the last decade, the price tag for a “proven” closer has increased steadily. Last year, the Yankees relievers made more money than the entire Tampa Bay Rays personnel.

This is one of the most disturbing trends in the economics of the game. Teams are paying for pitchers based on the name on the back of their jersey, rather than the actual ability to pitch. Sure, signing Papelbon will calm down nerves in Philadelphia—until his first blown save.

Meanwhile, the Phillies could have had Madson, who put up 0.5 WAR more than Papelbon, for $1.5 million less per year. If they really wanted to save some cash, Antonio Bastardo, who put up 0.7 WAR in 2011, could fill the closer role while making just $419,000 in 2012.

Really though, the Phillies should look to the team that bumped them out of the the playoffs—the St. Louis Cardinals, who used effective bullpen management and years of minor league development to make an incredible run to the World Series. Meanwhile, the Cardinals didn’t shell out more than $1.5 million for any of their relievers.

Several key relievers for the Cardinals—closer Jason Motte, Mitchell Boggs, and Mark Rzepczynski—all made the league minimum.

St. Louis’s bullpen may be an outlier, but they are proof that teams should not shell out eight-figure deals for relief pitchers. A successful bullpen can be bought entirely for less than the entire worth of Papelbon’s contract.

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Philadelphia Phillies Will Get Their Players but Don’t Expect the World Series

The Philadelphia Phillies have just signed free agent closer Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year deal worth $50 million.

This signing proves two things to Phillies “Phans.” It proves that pitchers Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge will not be back with the Phillies in 2012. They will both surely look elsewhere to close. It also proves, once again, the Phillies will get their guys.

At the end of the day, the Phillies will enter spring training in Clearwater, Fla. with five or six star-free agents on board. However, because of recent postseason history, do not expect the Phillies to win the 2010 World Series.

The Phillies won the ’08 World Series and have been improving personnel ever since. They won the World Series in 2008 with just Cole Hamels. They lost the World Series the next year with Hamels and Cliff Lee.

They failed to make it back in 2010 with Hamels, Roy Hallady and Roy Oswalt. Then they were bounced in the NLDS last season with Hamels, Lee, Halladay and Oswalt.

One would think if the Phillies get a fifth ace, they’ll just miss the playoffs altogether.

There is still much work to be done with the Phillies this offseason. Roy Oswalt, Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins are free agents and might not be back in 2012. Raul Ibanez hit 20 home runs and had 84 runs batted in, making him a serviceable option as a designated hitter. Unfortunately for Ibanez, the Phillies are not in the American League.

What you see is what you get with Jimmy Rollins. Outside of his MVP season in 2007, he’s been the same since his rookie year. He wants to come back and if the Phillies cannot get Jose Reyes, they might as well bring back Rollins.

Roy Oswalt went 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA and got spanked in the playoffs. Knowing the Phillies, they’ll go for C.J. Wilson first before turning to Oswalt for a reunion.

They’ll get their players and make the playoffs once again in 2012, but don’t expect them to win the World Series until they actually get there. It’s not to say that they will not win the World Series next year, they certainly will contend for it. Baseball fans outside of the cheesesteak capitol of the world just have that “fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me” type mindset with the Phillies.

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Jim Thome Signs with Philadelphia Phillies: Can He Replace Ryan Howard?

Jim Thome is no first-base savior for the Philadelphia Phillies. He last played the position in 2007. He hasn’t been a regular there since his last stint with the Phillies in 2005.

Nonetheless, Thome agreed to a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the Phillies Friday. That move sets up Philadelphia with a very good pinch-hitting slugger; Thome’s 40 home runs in 664 plate appearances the past two years ably demonstrate that Thome can still do that.

But Phillies manager Charlie Manuel might ask a bit more of his long-time friend and sometime protege. With Ryan Howard out for an indeterminate period after tearing his Achilles’ tendon, Thome could be a candidate to make some starts at first base early in the year.

Read on for a thorough examination of the viability of that idea.

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MLB Free Agents 2012: Aging Slugger Jim Thome Not What Phillies Needed Most

Jim Thome will play for at least one more season and the destination is Philadelphia.

The 41-year-old slugger said, “I’ll keep playing, I just need teams to call me. I can’t go play in the backyard by myself. I don’t know the demand for a 41-year-old DH but my passion is I want to continue to play.”

The Phillies got a bargain on a DH for $1.25 million dollars. Oh wait, they play in the National League and Jim Thome will be asked to ride the bench except for pinch-hitting appearances and interleague play because he is behind Ryan Howard in the pecking order for his defensive position at first base.

Well, the Phillies got some added power to their lineup whenever he is able to squeeze in, but Thome is a player that needs to get in a rhythm at the plate if he is going to be productive.

This is not going to happen with a National League team like the Phillies because they cannot use him as a DH, which he himself realizes is his role as he is in the twilight of his career.

Thome played 93 games last season and put up 15 home runs, 50 RBI and a .256 batting average, not too bad for an aging star.

This year he will not be able to even replicate anything close to the numbers that he had last season.

He will instead become a role player who will reside on the bench and could more than likely end up as trade bait at some point in the season when negotiating with an American League team.

The Phillies did in fact get a steal, but Thome is not the missing piece that is going to automatically push them over the top and into the World Series.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Michael Cuddyer’s Versatility Would Benefit Phils

Before you all go out and get your Cuddyer jerseys, hold up, because he hasn’t been signed…yet.

Rumors swirling around the web involving the possibility of the Phils signing Cuddyer began last night after the Jim Thome signing was announced. According to Phillies insider Jim Salisbury, not only is this a possibility, but Ruben and the team are “seriously pursuing him.”

For the Phillies, signing Cuddyer not only makes sense but it also makes the team that much better. While Cuddyer isn’t the flashiest or youngest player out there, he brings solid defensive abilities and a pretty good right-handed bat to the lineup. Not to mention he can play 1B, 3B, LF and RF, which is something the Phillies could desperately use.

Cuddyer offers options and versatility for a Phillies team that currently has more questions than answers. The big one is going to be who starts the season at first base.

At First Base

While optimists alike hope that Ryan Howard will be ready go, it is very, very, let me stress VERY unlikely that he is healthy and in baseball shape come April. For this reason, the Phillies are going to be looking for a first baseman to play at least the first month of the season.

The options? Right now it is John Mayberry Jr. and Thome, both of whom have played first for the Phillies before and both of whom are in different situations regarding the position.

For Mayberry, the Phillies left-fielder, having to step in at first base isn’t foreign to him. He spent some time there last season when Howard was given rest. Although Mayberry played solid first base and didn’t appear to be a liability, he is also needed in left field. It seems certain Mayberry will make the team at one of these spots, but his inexperience of spending a full year or even multiple months consistently at first might have the Phillies exploring other options.

Then there is Thome, one of those other options. Thome was not necessarily signed to step in for Howard, and he may not get the chance. The 41-year-old has only played minimally in the field in the past six seasons, and his defensive ability is yet to be seen. Although he will probably get a shot in spring training, his primary role may end up being as a bat off the bench as opposed to an everyday player.

This is where Cuddyer comes in. His averages of 22 HR and 80-plus RBI the past three seasons aren’t exactly Howardesque numbers, but they will take some of the pressure off of Hunter Pence and Chase Utley to try to make up for Howard’s missing presence.

Cuddyer is also familiar at the first base position and poses less of a liability than Thome and even the inexperienced Mayberry. He is the best option for the Phils at this position.

At Third Base

One of Cuddyer’s other positions is at third. The Phillies don’t necessarily need a third baseman as Placido Polanco is expected to be ready to go at the beginning of the season, but again Cuddyer would give them options. Last season, Polanco suffered from back problems and saw his productivity dip dramatically. Not only would Cuddyer be able to play third if this happens to Polanco, but he could also step in to give Polanco rest, which might benefit the production of the aging third baseman.

At Right Field

With Pence in right field, Cuddyer would not be needed to play this position, but having the option is always good.

At Left Field

If Mayberry is playing at first, Cuddyer would take his spot in left field. Although it makes more sense to leave Mayberry at left and put Cuddyer at first, this is another one of those options the versatility of Cuddyer offers.

Wherever Cuddyer would end up playing would help the depleted Phillies offense. He is a right-handed bat to aid a left-handed heavy lineup, and if Raul Ibanez is not re-signed, Cuddyer would greatly help Utley and Pence in carrying the offensive load for the team. This is a move that makes sense for the Phillies, and one that makes sense for Cuddyer.

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