Philadelphia Phillies: Why They Shouldn’t Even Think About Selling Yet

According to one rival official, Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has “zero” interest in trading either Cole Hamels or Shane Victorino.

Jayson Stark of ESPN reported this earlier today in a statement that seems contrary to all of the rumors that have been swirling around the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies are in last place and all last-place teams need to sell.

Right now, the Phillies are sitting four games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves with approximately three quarters of the season remaining. They are obviously not living up to the high standard that they have set over the past several seasons.

Apparently, many people think that this is a cause to panic and that the Phillies should immediately start selling.

After all, if the Phillies aren’t going to do anything this season, why not try to cut your losses and bring in some talent before Hamels and Victorino might depart on the open market with limited compensation?

However, there is a problem with this line of argument. Who exactly says that the Phillies aren’t going to do anything this season?

A four-game deficit is really not that much when you look at the entire season in perspective and the fact that it is only a quarter complete. Bigger deficits have been overcome in shorter periods of time.

The bigger concern is probably rooted in the fact that the Phillies are not playing that well. The bullpen has not been able to hold on to leads, and, outside of Carlos Ruiz, the offense has not been nearly as productive as it has been in the past.

However, that concern is also somewhat suspect.

The bullpen needs to be fixed, but at the same time, there are some bright spots. Jonathan Papelbon has pitched very well when he has been given the opportunity, and Antonio Bastardo hasn’t missed a beat since his breakout in 2011.

In terms of the lineup, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley are coming.

I know that many people doubt whether or not they will make an immediate impact since recovery does take time. Nevertheless, given their previous track record, it is hard to believe that their returns would not bring about an overall increase in run production.

The degree of that increase is harder to quantify, but Howard and Utley should make a positive change in the lineup.

When looking at these two major concerns of being in last place right now as well as some poor performances by the Phillies themselves, it is easy to think that the Phillies should sell.

However, at this point in the season, that discussion should not be happening whatsoever. Ruben Amaro Jr. is absolutely right to not be thinking about selling right now.

The season is too young and the Phillies are still too close to start waving the white flag yet.

 

Whether you think I know everything or nothing about Major League Baseball, you should follow me on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook and keep in touch. I love hearing what you all have to say!

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Fueled by Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies Are Making a Push in NL East

If you enjoyed taking your shots at the Philadelphia Phillies while they had a losing record and were digging themselves a last-place hole in the NL East, you might have to find another team to jeer now.

As disappointing as the Phillies have been this season, they had never fallen lower than four games under .500. No, a 6.5-game deficit in the division standings didn’t look good, but that’s hardly an insurmountable obstacle with more than 120 games remaining on the schedule. 

So talking about the Phillies being sellers at the trade deadline, as ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden did this week and I did myself last week, may have been a bit premature.

The Phillies almost certainly have tabled such talk after leaping over the .500 hurdle Thursday night with an 8-7 win over the Chicago Cubs. That gave the Fightins a winning record for the first time since they began the season at 1-0.

This is still a last-place team with four teams between them and the NL East’s top spot. But the Phillies are only five-and-a-half games back and the division is pretty tightly packed. The Miami Marlins are two-and-a-half games ahead for fourth place, while the New York Mets are only one game better for third. 

One good or bad streak could change things in a big way. The Phillies have put themselves in this position by winning five in a row and six of their last seven.

Philadelphia’s schedule presented just such an opportunity, with the Padres, Astros and Cubs laid out for them. Had the Phillies not been able to capitalize on lesser competition, then the concerns would have been more valid.

After helping them to right the ship a bit, the Phillies’ schedule will soon allow them to directly influence the NL East standings. Following this weekend’s interleague series with the Red Sox, Philadelphia will play nine of its next 13 games against division rivals. That could help them move up the standings in a big way. 

One big factor in the Phillies’ recent surge has been catcher Carlos Ruiz. Since Apr. 24, when his batting average was a season-low .265 with an OPS of .745, Ruiz’s bat has caught fire. He’s batted .438 (28-for-64) with five home runs and 23 RBI.

During that stretch, Ruiz’s slash average to .363/.405/.619. That .363 batting average is currently the third-best in the NL, with his 1.024 OPS ranked as the sixth-highest total.

You might not expect Ruiz’s name to be listed with the best hitters in baseball, yet there he is. 

For a team without Chase Utley and Ryan Howard in its lineup, while Hunter Pence (7.88 OPS), Shane Victorino (.694) and Jimmy Rollins (.580) have struggled, Ruiz’s performance has made a huge difference for the Phillies.

The bullpen remains a major concern, however, and will have to show some significant improvement for the Phillies to keep making a push. Jake Diekman was awful in his second major league appearance, giving up four runs on one hit and two walks in just two-thirds of an inning. Chad Qualls and Jose Contreras don’t leave the team with many good options in middle relief, other than Antonio Bastardo.

If Ruben Amaro has to make one move, bolstering the bullpen should be it. And if that’s the most significant concern Amaro has to address right now, then the Phillies might be in better shape than many of us thought.

They’re certainly beginning to look that way.

 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Grading Every GM in Franchise History

Being a general manager in MLB can be incredibly rewarding or incredibly infuriating. Of course, as with most things in this game, that depends on just how successful you are.

If you were the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980 or 2008, you’ll probably never have to pay for another meal in this town. The math is simple: When a GM’s team is going well, he rides on cloud nine. He becomes the master assembler who fit all of the pieces together, like the perfect jigsaw puzzle.

General managers for losing teams don’t have as much fun as their winning colleagues. When the product on the field is less than impressive, the general manager shoulders a large chunk of the blame. They made all of the wrong decisions. The pieces don’t fit.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of the Phillies’ history knows that they have had their share of each of those seasons—the really good ones and the really bad ones. They’ve even had a quite a few average ones.

Looking at what the future holds for this club, particularly just how hot Ruben Amaro, Jr.’s seat would be if this Phillies club missed the postseason, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at each of the Phillies’ 11 general managers.

Each general manager will have two slides. The first will give a brief review of their tenure, including some of their best and worst transactions as well as draft picks (if applicable), and the second will feature my grade of said general manager. Who’s been the best? Who knows. But one thing is certain.

It’s been the good, the bad and the ugly.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why It Was a Mistake to Treat Jimmy Rollins Like Jeter

Following the 2010 season, Derek Jeter made headlines when he and his agent, Casey Close, gave little ground in contract negotiations, in a move perceived to be as much about his career achievements as his future contributions. Close thought Jeter should be treated “like Babe Ruth,” while the Yankees thought his best years were behind him, and he should be paid accordingly.

In the end, the Yankees came to the realization that their captain meant enough to them to pay him like a player he might not be, as his contributions extend beyond the box score.  He was signed in December of that year for 51 million dollars over three years.

Jimmy Rollins hit free agency in the next offseason, following last year.  Similarly, the Phillies found themselves dealing with a player, few would argue, was past his prime, but there still seemed plenty of reason to give him the big money he craved. 

Thus, he was signed, after pretty calm negotiations, for three years and 33 million dollars It was the biggest contract, in terms of payout, of his career.

Both contracts appeared to be as much of a lifetime achievement award as anything else, but they were also expect to contribute.  A quarter of the way through the 2012 season, the Jeter contract looks exponentially better than the Rollins contract. 

Jeter is having one of the best seasons of his career, hitting .366 and slugging .523, while leading the American League in hits, with 56.  All of this came after notching his 3,000th hit last season, something the Yankees couldn’t let happen in another uniform, and certainly benefited from financially.

Rollins, on the other hand, is having a historically bad season.  His slugging percentage of .293 and OBP of .278 are both atrocious, and his WAR is negative for the first time of his career. 

He isn’t a good leadoff hitter, as he doesn’t take pitches or get on base.  He isn’t a good fielder anymore,  as his fielding percentage is the lowest of his career, and his range factor per nine is well below the league average for shortstops (3.78 to 4.27)

The worst part of this, though, is that we should have seen it coming. 

Rollins has never been the player that Jeter is on the stat sheet.  His MVP season in 2007 was great, but it appears to be an outlier in the course of his career.  He has made only three All-Star games and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting just twice. 

While Rollins has never hit .300 in a season, Jeter is a career .314 hitter. 

The Yankee captain has appeared in 12 All-Star games and finished in the top 10 of MVP voting seven times.  Of all active players, only Alex Rodriiguez, Albert Pujols, and Chipper Jones have higher career WARs than Jeter. 

Clearly, any attempt at a favorable comparison of Rollins to Jeter will be one made in vain.  But this wasn’t just about numbers. They were treated so similarly when it came to contract negotiations and, eventually, terms, for different reasons than their direct contributions on the field.

Beyond the box score, Jeter and Rollins are both seen as leaders, as well as big-time performers who crave the spotlight and show up most when the lights come on. 

While the reasons for this perception of Jeter are obvious – because they’re true – Rollins has gained these attributes by talking a lot and being on some pretty good teams.

In 2007, Rollins declared the Phillies the “team to beat” in an ongoing war of words with then-Mets‘ outfielder Carlos Beltran.  As his predictions turned to prophecy, with Rollins as the catalyst, he began to be recognized as the unofficial team spokesman, because the national media craves things like rivalries and guarantees. 

Over time, Rollins became viewed as the leader of the Phillies.  While the microphones and cameras seemed to gravitate towards him – and for good reason, because he always had something to say – the other members of the team just went bout their business, following the lead of guys like Chase Utley.

Some things a leader would never do, though, are things like taking plays off, like Rollins did in 2008, or showing up forty minutes late to a game, like he did a month later.  Both instances resulted in benchings, and really didn’t scream leader. 

J-Roll also doesn’t really show up any bigger in the big moments, as evidenced by his postseason batting average of .250 and his World Series slugging percentage of .267. 

Jeter, on the other hand, has hit .307 in the playoffs and slugged .449 in the World Series.  Again, he has earned the “big game” persona.

My final thought on the subject is about the legacy of these two players.

Derek Jeter is a needed piece of Yankees lore, which is impressive considering the team’s proud and accomplished tradition.  He is one of the six greatest Yankees of all-time, with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Joe Dimaggio and Mariano Rivera.  To let him walk in free agency and watch him finish his career in another uniform would have been unacceptable, and was set from the start to be avoided, no matter the cost. 

Jimmy Rollins might not be on the Mount Rushmore of the Phillies from the 2000s, let alone the history of the club.  Seeing him in a different uniform would not be any more strange than seeing Pat Burrell in a Giants uniform, or Cole Hamels in Dodger blue.  Resigning the declining shortstop for so much money not only could have been avoided, but should’ve been viewed as hysterical. 

Over the next two-plus seasons, the Phillies will be forced to pay eight figures to a poor player with a big ego.  Rollins has joined Howard in the “Contracts that make me wish I had a time machine” club.  You could never say that about Jeter.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Quarter-Mark All-NL East Team

As we come up to the 25 percent mark of the season, it’s time to acknowledge the All-NL East team to date.  Just 5.5 games separate first place from last place so there is still so much to be determined. 

Big stars such as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Mike Morse haven’t even seen the field yet but the following have all performed at a high level making them front-runners for this season’s All-Star Game in Kansas City.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 25 Most Disappointing Seasons in Franchise History

Fans of the Philadelphia Phillies are no stranger to the meaning of the word “disappointment.” While this current string of division titles may ease the pain just a bit, you don’t lose 10,000 games as a franchise without having more than a fair share of disappointing seasons.

As with any disappointment, some hurt worse than others.

Combine that previous statement with the fact that baseball can be a funny sport and it’s the perfect storm for a tidal wave of disappointment from time to time. Teams can look great on paper and not make the postseason. That’s disappointing.

Some teams make it all the way to the World Series, and win or lose, miss the postseason all together just a year later. That’s disappointing as well.

The Phillies are a franchise who have disappointed in more ways than a single man could ever distinguish, and the 2012 season is shaping up to be no different. This is a roster studded with talent and experience. If they missed the postseason, it would be one of the most disappointing seasons ever. In fact, it would rank ninth on this list.

So while the 2012 version of the Phillies attempt to turn things around, let’s take a look at what they’re trying to avoid: Joining the 25 most disappointing teams in franchise history.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Returns of Utley, Howard Won’t Solve Problems

With the exception of the last few games, this year’s Philadelphia Phillies team has been difficult to watch.

Whether it’s injuries, poor performance, lack of fundamentals or a combination of the three, at times the Phillies’ play has left fans just shaking their heads. The offense is lackluster, the bullpen is horrendous (save Jonathan Papelbon, no closer pun intended) and the defense for some players in the field has been atrocious, too.

Not to mention—the injuries have taken their toll.

David Herndon, Michael Martinez, Laynce Nix, Michael Stutes and Jim Thome are all on the DL. Justin De Fratus, who was possibly expected to break camp with the Phillies, hurt his elbow and is now on the 60-day DL. And now, Vance Worley has some elbow soreness, resulting in a skipped start.

But what’s dragged this team down the most this year has been the injuries of Ryan Howard and Chase Utley. Howard’s rehabbing from a torn Achilles suffered in the last at-bat of the 2011 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals, while Utley is building up strength in his shoddy knees, which was an issue at the beginning of last season as well.

When these two guys return, though, will the team necessarily get better again? Will they start to hit, to field, to have a stronger bullpen once more? Or will they continue their downward trend, and will we see the Phillies trade away one or two of their top players?

I’m here to tell you that the return of the Phillies’ three and four-hole hitters is not going to guarantee the team success at that point.

Could success happen? Sure. But is it set in stone? No. And here’s why.

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Carlos “Chooch Train” Ruiz Keeps on Rolling

It’s election time again, and for Carlos Ruiz this year, the Philadelphia Phillies fans know what that means. 

The MLB All-Star Game.

Vote early.  Vote often.

The annual Midsummer Classic is scheduled to take place on July 10 at Kaufman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.

As tradition dictates, baseball fans choose the starting lineups.  The process is democratic but not perfect.  The most qualified players don’t always take the field.

Popularity plays a role.  Fans vote according to their hearts, not their heads. 

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., for example, was voted a starter in 2000 while hitting .239 during that season’s first half.    

Further complicating things, MLB rules stipulate that each franchise is represented with at least one player from their roster. 

Admittedly, this has worked in favor of the Phillies: Mike Lieberthal (2000), Jimmy Rollins (2001) and Randy Wolf (2003) were lone Phillies All-Stars.

It has also worked the other way, though. 

Ryan Howard belted 28 home runs and drove in 84 runs before the All-Star break in 2008; it was not enough to get Howard in the game, and he stayed home. 

This year, at the first All-Star Game played in Kansas City since 1973, Phillies catcher Carlos “Chooch” Ruiz must be there.

Certainly, a case could have been made before and Phillies fans know this. 

They know all about Ruiz’s ability to successfully manage the most highly profiled pitching staff in the big leagues.

They know, too, all about Ruiz’s propensity for hitting in the clutch. 

This year, Phillies fans and the rest of baseball have learned something new.  “Chooch” has emerged as the best catcher in baseball.

And there is no time like the present. 

 

The last-place Phillies, battling injuries and complacency, have struggled in every phase, except when “Chooch” is either at the plate or behind it.

Check the numbers: Ruiz leads all MLB catchers in hitting .337 and slugging .577 and is tied for second with six home runs and 23 RBI.

Defensively, Chooch’s fielding percentage is a perfect 1.000.  He leads all MLB catchers with four double plays and is ranked third in runners caught stealing with 11.

The “Chooch Train” has left the station, and it has been carrying the Phillies all season.

Now it is up to Phillies fans. 

Vote early.  Vote often.  

Clear the tracks.  The “Chooch Train” is right on time.  Next stop: Kansas City.

All aboard!

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MLB Trade Rumors: Why Kevin Youkilis Is the Answer to Phillies’ Offensive Woes

The Boston Red Sox don’t need Kevin Youkilis anymore.

That sounds harsh. Cruel even. But… have you seen this Will Middlebrooks kid?

The Sox called up Middlebrooks to take Youkilis’ spot when they placed him on the disabled list earlier this month. In 11 games, Middlebrooks is hitting .304 with four home runs and 13 RBI. To put that in perspective, Middlebrooks has more RBI in 11 games than Albert Pujols has in 35.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has said (via The Boston Globe) that Youkilis is going to be back at third base as soon as he comes off the DL, and that day is fast approaching. However, it’s fair to say that the Red Sox will be downgrading when they go from Middlebrooks back to Youkilis.

One thing Boston can do to make everyone happy is trade Youkilis, thus providing him with a change of scenery and opening up an opportunity for Middlebrooks to play every day at the hot corner for (hopefully) a long time.

It’s a legit possibility. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reported recently that there is going to be a “strong” trade market for Youkilis if he can show he’s healthy after he comes back. Among the teams that are actively looking are the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies.

David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News likes the idea of the Phillies acquiring Youkilis. As long as he can be had “on the cheap,” of course.

Players that can be had on the cheap are the only players the Phillies can target, as their farm system has been stripped of a lot of talent in recent years thanks to high-profile trades. They don’t have the assets to pull off another Cliff Lee or Hunter Pence-esque trade.

Youkilis doesn’t have a whole lot of trade value right now, and his recent issues with injuries and simple ineffectiveness will make sure his value stays relatively low. As long as they aren’t asked to pick up the bulk of Youkilis’ remaining salary, the Red Sox probably will take what they can get for him, especially if that involves a pitcher or two.

The Phillies would be rolling the dice if they decided to execute a trade for Youkilis. But if there’s a team in the National League that needs to roll the dice, it’s them. They have the pitching to make a deep postseason run, but not the offense. Just like last year, they need a hitter.

Preferably a right-handed hitter with power who can play either corner infield spot. The Phillies aren’t going to get much offense from the first base spot in their lineup until Ryan Howard comes back, and Placido Polanco is only going to provide singles from the third base spot.

This is where Youkilis’ comes in. He could fill in at first base until Howard comes back, and he could slide over to third after Howard returns. Regardless of where he’s playing on the infield, his right-handed bat would fit well in the middle of Philly’s lineup, and he would also be a good fit in Citizens Bank Park.

Youkilis has a .171 average in 13 career games at Philly’s ballpark. He does, however, have three home runs in those 13 games. That’s not a huge surprise seeing as how his primary power alley is to left field, and the left field wall at Citizens Bank Park isn’t too far out there.

No, a trade to Philly would not make Youkilis’ fragility go away, and the Phillies would indeed be banking on the change of scenery energizing him.

They wouldn’t have to worry about the second part. Youkilis has calmed down some in the last couple years, but he’s a guy with a tendency to play the game with a chip on his shoulder. If the Sox trade him so they can play a rookie, Youkilis is going to have a huge chip on his shoulder. He would be out to prove, for both financial reasons and for pride’s sake, that he’s not washed up.

If the Phillies trade for Youkilis in the near future, their offense will be getting an upgrade, potentially a major one. Once Chase Utley and Ryan Howard return, the middle of Philly’s lineup would feature the likes of Utley, Howard, Youkilis and Pence. Two powerful lefties, and two powerful righties.

That’s not a bad foursome. Surely a lineup featuring a core like that night after night would be able to provide support for Philly’s starting pitching.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Philadelphia this year, as it’s pretty clear that Philly’s championship window is closing. But as long as they have their killer starting rotation, there is hope for them. All they have to do is make a deal to keep their championship window propped open.

It’s bound to happen. If Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. has taught us anything in recent years, it’s that he’s not afraid to wheel and deal for the sake of winning now.

If he determines Youkilis is the best he can do, he’ll do it. 

 

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4 Ways Roy Halladay Is Pitching More Than Ever Like a Finesse Pitcher

With a fastball whose average velocity prior to this season was around 92 mph, Roy Halladay may not have been considered a pitcher who got by using only his power until this point in his career.

However, the recently turned 35-year-old’s pitching style may resemble more of a finesse manner more so than ever during his 14th season in the major leagues.

After logging over 2,500 innings in his career, Halladay’s cutter has averaged 89 mph through eight starts this season, its lowest velocity since the pitcher joined the Phillies prior to the 2010 season.

But, rather than his age or health being reasons for the decrease in velocity, might Halladay simply be transitioning into a pitcher who focuses more heavily on command and pitch movement?

Here are four ways in which Halladay has been pitching more than ever like a finesse pitcher this season.

 

(Note: All statistics and information relating to pitches were obtained from fangraphs.com)

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