Why so Serious? How Hunter Pence Will Lead the Phillies to the World Series

The expectations couldn’t be any higher.

Before the first pitch was even thrown this season, critics and fans alike expected this Phillies squad to make a run at the World Series. Why shouldn’t they? On paper, the Philadelphia Phillies are unbeatable. With a starting rotation that needs no introduction, a handful of MLB household names and all the money in the world to throw at talented prospects, they seem to be a lock for going deep in the postseason.

So far, so good.

With the best record in baseball, the Phillies are doing their job. At this point in the season, they are essentially a lock to make it to the playoffs. That’s not to say, however, that the team doesn’t have a unique set of problems. Bullpen inconsistency, particularly at the closer spot, a streaky slump-prone offense and key injuries have left the unbeatable vulnerable.

Even still, the expectations forced upon this Phillies squad have started to wear away at the team. As the team continues to have its own brand of hardships, a noticeable weight seems to be sitting on the players. It’s made everything so dire, so serious. Players once passionate and fiery now hang their heads during games when things don’t work out the way everyone expects them to.

Cole Hamels is moody, taking the mound with the angst, reactions and expressions you’d expect to see from a teenager. Ryan Howard is generally dispassionate and shows a pretty consistent lack of hustle. Through strikeouts, errors and slumps, the Philadelphia Phillies have not been the scrappy, zealous group of players they once were. Some may call it focus. However, it begs the question: Is the pressure getting to them?

Fortunately for Philadelphia, Hunter Pence isn’t fazed at all.  It’s been over a month and Hunter Pence has been a fantastic addition to the roster. With a .313 batting average (.330 for Philadelphia) and 79 RBI, Pence adds great depth to the batting order. Pence helped balance out a lefty-dominated group and provides a much needed balance to the squad. By all accounts, Hunter Pence is living up to his name and the stats show that. Yet it’s the intangibles that Pence provides that may be his best contribution to the team.

Pence plays like no one else is watching. He runs with an awkward gallop, chokes up on the bat like he’s still in high school and couldn’t possibly look any less intimidating in his knee-high socks. It’s this unorthodox brand of play that has made Hunter Pence such a perplexing figure in Major League Baseball. Much of the strange reputation he has garnered is earned—the guy does play World of Warcraft in his spare time.

What’s best about Hunter Pence is that you can see determination well up in his face when he swings. You can see how badly he wants to win when he jumps around in frantic excitement after a play, looking for anyone to exchange high fives with. What Pence lacks in grace, he makes up for in spades with enthusiasm. It’s the kind of enthusiasm and unfiltered talent you’d expect to see before baseball was dissected and turned into a science. It’s the raw eagerness you see in backyards all across America. It’s passion.

In a year when the Phillies have all the talent in the world, it’s nice to see someone who isn’t just waiting for the on-paper analysis and the critics’ picks to crystallize. Instead, it’s clear that Hunter Pence intends to give it his best, gangly shot.

Hopefully the feeling spreads.

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