Philadelphia Phillies: Top 5 Rivals in Franchise History

The Phillies–Giants rivalry took a dramatic turn earlier this month when a bench-clearing brawl put on a full showing of the disdain and hatred the two teams have for each other. 

The evolution of a rivalry is often the result of two successful teams. Because the Phillies’ have played through over 10,000 losses, there are few rivalries that have existed continuously over time. 

But over the Phillies’ past century of existence, the team has built up its share of enemies. 

Here are the top five rivals in Phillies’ history.

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Philadelphia Phillies: How Jim Thome Revived the Franchise

It has been over six years since Jim Thome contributed a hit, a run, a RBI, a walk, or a homer for the Phillies. But, even today, the former first baseman can be credited for taking one of the most consistently mediocre teams in baseball and turning it into a competitor.

In December of 2002, when the Phillies signed Thome, the best hitter on the market, to a 6-year, $85 million contract, it was a clear sign that the owners and management were hoping for a new beginning to go along with their new ballpark.

Finally, there was someone on the roster who could energize, not only a lineup, but an entire city. 

He was nothing short of spectacular in his first two seasons with the Fightins. Thome hit a combined 89 home runs and 236 RBIs—numbers the Phillies hadn’t seen in years. He subsequently led the Phillies to their best record since the team’s 1993 pennant season.

His third year was shortened due to injury, which also ended his Phillies career because of the emergence of another power-hitting lefty.

Maybe Thome did, as some critics argue, block then minor leaguer Ryan Howard from an earlier start in the Majors. Thome, however, gave the Philadelphia fans something that a prospect could not provide. The fans, after a decade of losing, finally believed in the organization’s efforts to win a championship. Along with the ballpark, would come a new era, and it all started with Thome.

Thome went on to continued success with the Chicago White Sox and his current team, the Minnesota Twins. Howard went on to become one of the best young talents in baseball for the Phillies. It all worked out in the end, for both sides. Except for the one thing Thome continues to lack on his finger: a ring.

He probably will never win the title he so vehemently deserves. But on a night where Thome is the center of the baseball world, Phillies fans should be very proud to say that he played in our city, wore our uniform, and helped bring our baseball team back from the abyss.  

Congratulations to the newest member of the 600 club—Jim Thome; who will always be, in my mind, a Phillie. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Anticipation Growing for October Baseball

Nothing has been clinched yet. The Philadelphia Phillies‘ magic number remains at 34, and there is still well over a month of play left this season. Nonetheless, barring a catastrophic collapse of epic proportions, it’s only a matter of time before the Phillies win the division, and clinch the best record in the league. Only a matter of time.

But after an off-day, followed by a rainout, that time seems increasingly endless.

It’s incredible to think that merely five years ago, a postseason birth was the only thing on the minds of Phillies fans. Because, of course, after 13 years of failed attempts, just getting there was exciting enough. But now, winning the division is hardly the sole accomplishment the fans have in mind. The only thing they’re really focused on now is the Phillies’ postseason play. Who they’ll play, when they’ll play and how they’ll play. Nothing else really matters anymore.

Sure, there are some intriguing subplots such as Roy Oswalt’s recovery, Placido Polanco’s sports hernia and the fate of the division rival Atlanta Braves, all of which could affect this year’s postseason. But, aside from these subplots, the schedule lacks any matchups that will spark any major form of interest or attention.

That’s how good this team has become.

Aside from this week’s series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a four-game set with Milwaukee in September, the Phillies will not face any current first place teams until, presumably, the postseason. For the most part, the remanding “competition” will consist of the Astros, Marlins, Nationals and Mets. 

As this team continues to extend their lead in the division, blow out the opposition and break all sorts of records, all we can do now as fans is wait. Because it won’t mean anything until October. Until then, the anticipation continues to grow even quicker than the win total continues to climb.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 15 Greatest Outfielders in Team History

Earlier this month, when the Philadelphia Phillies acquired All-Star right fielder Hunter Pence in a trade with the Houston Astros, the team topped off what is now one of the most potent outfield combinations in the league.

Pence, Shane Victorino, and Raul Ibanez are, or have at some point been, statistically among the best in the league at their respective positions. Together, they create a highly solidified outfield on a team that is getting ready to enter the postseason as World Series favorites. 

Let’s take a look at how these Phillies outfielders compare to the best in the team’s long, and cherished history. 

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Harry Kalas’ Legacy Continues: Statue to Be Unveiled at Citizens Bank Park

Recently, after watching nearly an entire Phillies game with my television muted, I realized something: I simply don’t care what they’re saying anymore.

Tom McCarthy, Chris Wheeler and Gary Matthews are fine, I suppose. But how can any combination of announcers compete with the voice I grew up with? I’m talking about the the voice that I feel asleep to when I was little, and the voice that kept me up late—sometimes until the wee hours of the morning when I was a teenager. That voice, unfortunately, cannot be unmuted.

The deep-baritone voice that is permanently cemented in my memory is one that can never be replaced. It went beyond the voice. It was the man behind the microphone, pure and simple. It was his genuine nature, his kindness, his passion, his enthusiasm and his bona fide love of the fans. He really did feel our passion “through and through.”

I’m alluding, of course, to longtime Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.

Although Kalas’ voice went silent in 2009, his legacy will never be “outta here.” And this weekend, the Phillies will take another step to commemorate their Hall of Fame announcer.     

The much anticipated statue of Harry Kalas will be unveiled this Sunday during a special ceremony at Citizens Bank Park.

The event will be part of the Phillies Alumni Weekend and will feature some special guests in attendance including members of the Kalas family and former Phillies.

The statue, which has been in the works since shortly after Kalas’ passing, was sculpted by Lawrence Nowlan, who leads Dear Harry, Inc., a fan-based group created to help fund the 7.5-foot bronze figure. Nowlan takes tremendous pride in being a part of the group’s efforts.

“Harry gave all he had to the fans here in Philadelphia,” said Nowlan. “For 38 years he treated us with nothing but love and respect. Being able to play a small part in cementing his legacy in our city and beyond has been a dream come true.”

The ceremony will begin at 1:10 p.m., just before the Phillies wrap up a three-game set with the Washington Nationals. Team president David Montgomery will accept the statue on behalf of the organization. It will, fittingly, be located near Harry the K’s restaurant in left field.

The statue will serve as a constant reminder of the man who got Phillies fans through both the good times, the bad times and everything in between. It will remind future generations who walk through the gates of the Bank how extraordinarily lucky we were to have such an amazing person in our lives.

And even though we no longer have Harry himself with us anymore, his memory will forever help us maintain the one thing he constantly reminded us to have: high hopes.  

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Philadelphia Phillies: Re-Sign Jimmy Rollins or Suffer the Consequences

Perhaps the biggest storyline for the Philadelphia Phillies heading into this year’s offseason will be the contract situation with shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Rollins, who has only ever known Philadelphia as his home in the big leagues, is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career after the 2011 season, marking the end of his six-year, $48.5 million contract. 

Naturally, Ruben Amaro Jr. and company will need to ask themselves several questions regarding Rollins’ future with the organization. But what it all really boils down to is whether or not the Phillies actually want to bring Rollins back, and if they do, what they willing to pay for his services.

Rollins, who is now the longest tenured athlete in Philadelphia, has rung up his share of career accolades during his 12 seasons with the team—three All-Star selections, three Gold Glove Awards, a Silver Slugger Award, a MVP selection and a World Series ring, to name a few.

He has a career batting average of .272, an on-base percentage of .329 and has the third highest fielding percentage all time among shortstops. He has also, arguably, surpassed Larry Bowa as the best Phillies shortstop in franchise history. Manager Charlie Manuel has in the past referred to him as the “catalyst” of the team.

But since his MVP year in 2007, Rollins has seen a steady decline in his game, having suffering a number debilitating injuries.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that several Phillies fans are ready to see Rollins go. They argue that Rollins is not the player he used to be, and is not worth another contract extension.

At a closer look, however, it’s quite apparent that Rollins continues to play an important role in the success of the club. This year, Rollins has a mediocre average of .267. But the 32-year-old switch-hitter continues to garner several clutch hits, with an impressive .303 batting average and an on-base percentage of .403 with runners in scoring position.  

Rollins has also played been an instrumental force in the team’s dominance in postseason play. Since 2008, the Phillies are a solid 19-7 when Rollins has at least one hit. They are an incredible 15-0 when he scores at least one run. 

But if, after all these years, the Phils opt to part ways with Rollins, who’s going to take his place? Shane Victorino would likely become the lead-off hitter, which is not a problem considering Rollins was never a typical lead-off hitter anyway. But, with no highly-ranked shortstop prospects in the farm system, the Phillies cannot rely on anyone in-house to fill the void created by Rollins’ departure.

So then, the next obvious step would be to look at the free agent market for shortstops. There, the only two notable names are Jose Reyes and Rollins himself. Reyes would, undoubtedly be an improvement over Rollins, but it’s unlikely the Phillies will be able to financially afford adding another big name player to the roster.

If not Rollins at shortstop, it will likely be an okay talent with an okay bat and an okay glove. Good shortstops are just not easy to find this day and age. And after 11 straight seasons of having one, a sudden change to mediocrity is not something the Phillies want in their lineup.

Granted, the Rollins situation is not the only problem the Phils will need to address this offseason. Reliever Ryan Madson needs to be re-signed and starter Cole Hamels is due for a contract extension.

But, with the Phillies’ recent willingness to spend as much money as necessary to win, outbidding other clubs for Rollins should not be a ground-breaking issue for management.    

After five year, it’s easy to forget where this Phillies’ run of league-wide domination actually started. It all began on January 23, 2007 after Rollins made one of the most talked-about comments in team history. “I think we are the team to beat in the NL East—finally,” he said.

The most daunting question facing the Phillies this offseason is whether or not they can remain “the team to beat” without Rollins manning shortstop. 

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Placido Polanco Has Sports Hernia, Will It Affect Phillies’ Championship Run?

Just as things were looking nearly perfect after a series win over the Giants, the Philadelphia Phillies received some very troubling news last night. Placido Polanco has a sports hernia and it may require surgery. Polanco has not played since being removed from Saturday’s game against San Francisco.

Philly sports fans are all too familiar with the injury, having witnessed a sports hernia end franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb’s year with the Eagles back in the team’s disastrous 2005 season.

In this situation, Polanco’s injury will likely be far less catastrophic.

To begin the recovery process, the third baseman will receive an anti-inflammatory injection at some point today. Later this week, Polanco will be re-evaluated by team doctors to determine if he can play through the injury without surgery.

Playing through a sports hernia is a realistic scenario, especially in the game of baseball, where there is minimal contact. Raul Ibanez experienced a similar injury back in 2009, and he was able to push off surgery until after the World Series. But Ibañez saw a sharp decline in his play. It was a disappointing second half to what started as an MVP-caliber season.

Although Polanco’s MRI showed signs of built up scar tissue, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. remains hopeful that surgery can be eluded, adding that the injury appears less damaging than the one Ibanez suffered two years ago.

If surgery proves to be unavoidable, Polanco will take another trip to the disabled list. With a recovery time of three to four weeks he would be back with the team sometime in mid-September, just in time for postseason play.

Polanco is in the midst of a solid season both offensively and defensively. He is batting .275 and has a fielding percentage of .976, best in the NL among third baseman. However, he has not been the same player he was in the first half, possibly the result of the evolved state of his injury. It’s possible that surgery could supply Polanco with an improved and revived presence at the plate. Still, he’s not easily replaceable.

The Phillies will likely look in-house for an interim third baseman, with rookie Michael Martinez and 33-year-old utility-man Wilson Valdez the top candidates for the position. Martinez has a disappointing average of .222, and a poor on-base percentage of .265. Valdez hasn’t fared much better with a BA of .235 and an OBP of .284. Both are solid defensively but they are not desirable fill-ins because of their lack of offensive abilities. But with Amaro hoping for a quick return for Polanco, he says the team will opt for the Valdez-Martinez combination rather than resorting to outside help.     

Let’s face it: The Phils are no-doubt a postseason lock. There is virtually no competition from anyone in the National League to even come close to the Phillies record. With their dominant pitching staff, the lead should remain intact with or without Polanco. If he returns by the playoffsas predicted, he will likely provide a strong boost to an already inconsistent lineup. 

Having suffered several debilitating injuries over the past couple of years, the return of a fully-healthy Polanco is far from a guarantee. He may not be the most important piece to winning a World Series, but in a postseason where every game, every inning, every at-bat, and every pitch can define the line between champions and losers, the Phillies would greatly benefit having their All-Star third baseman back in the lineup.  

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Vance Worley, John Mayberry Jr. Continue to Prove Themselves

Perhaps forgotten in last night’s scrum between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants was the continued success of rookie pitcher Vance Worley and outfielder John Mayberry Jr.

Worley, who was put in the rotation due to an injury to the Phillies’ fifth starter, Joe Blanton, plowed through the Giants lineup for the second time in less than a month, giving up just two earned runs in the process.

It is the ninth game in a row the Phils have won with Worley on the mound. During that span, he has given up more than two runs just once, when facing the Pittsburgh Pirates in late July.

The 23-year-old right-hander has quickly become the Phils greatest surprise this season, holding an exceptionally impressive 2.35 ERA with eight wins and just one loss.

Some skeptics have quickly pointed to Kyle Kendrick and former Phillie J.A. Happ, two pitchers who had great rookie seasons that were followed by major disappointment.    

In 2007, Kendrick had a solid 3.87 ERA and was a major contributor to Philadelphia’s division-title run. Since his rookie campaign and his poor performance in the 2007 NLDS, Kendrick has not lived up to the initial expectations some fans had for him.

His ERA since 2007 is 4.62, highlighted by a sophomore year in which his ERA skyrocketed to a whopping 5.49.

Happ had an even better rookie year than Kendrick, going 12-4 with an ERA of 2.93. The young southpaw, who was injured for most of 2010, was traded at last year’s trade deadline for ace Roy Oswalt.

In his first full year with Houston, Happ has gone 4-14 with an ERA of 6.26.

Last night, while Worley was dominating the defending world champions, Happ was busy recovering from a shellacking at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, a game in which Milwaukee scored six runs in just four innings.

It was the 10th time this year Happ had given up more than five earned runs in a game and the eighth start in a row in which he has done so.  

A drop off similar to that of Kendrick or even Happ is definitely a possibility going forward for Worley, or the “Vanimal,” as fans have come to call him. He is probably not an ace who can lead a club to the promised land; he just doesn’t have the stuff for it.

But, he should remain a solid fourth or fifth starter in the rotation, and in Philadelphia, where they are already full of aces, that’s all he really needs to be for the next few years.

On the other side of last night’s game was Mayberry, who continues to carry a hot bat.

The right-handed slugger hit another home run last night, this time against starter Jonathan Sanchez. It was Mayberry’s fourth homer in just over a week and the second in the series against the Giants.

Since being called up from Lehigh Valley on July 5, Mayberry is batting a formidable .311 with 19 hits, 14 of which were for extra bases.

Mayberry has had his fair share of clutch moments this year, winning the first game of the year on a walk-off single and tying last week’s series opener with a home run when the Phils were down to their last strike.

He has quickly become a go-to guy for Charlie Manuel, who continues to place him in the lineup, both as a starter and a pinch-hitter. He has clearly earned his place on the roster and could end up being the power bat off the bench that the Phils were supposedly looking for at the trade deadline.

Only time will tell whether or not the successes of Mayberry and Worley have been flukes.

But, in a period in which the Phillies players are growing older and management has quickly gone into a win-now mode, it’s nice to see that there are still young players remaining in the system who can help this club succeed going forward.

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Phillies-Giants: If It Wasn’t a Rivalry Before, It Sure Is Now

Before Friday night’s game, it was evident that the Phillies and Giants were two clubs with a history. They didn’t like each other—that much was certain. But after a bench-clearing brawl in the top of the sixth inning, these two teams just formed an all-out rivalry.  

During the first pitch of Shane Victorino’s third at-bat of the game, Giants pitcher Ramon Ramirez plunked Victorino in the lower back. Victorino, who homered in the top of the fourth, immediately threw his bat down and started walking toward the mound. Placido Polanco headed toward Victorino until being tackled to the ground by Giants catcher Eli Whiteside. And then the benches cleared.

The brawl lasted for several minutes, and was quite a bit more heated and physical than the comparably uneventful fight between the two clubs in Game 6 of last year’s National League Championship Series. By the end of it, Victorino, Ramirez and Whiteside were ejected from the game.  

The decision to hit Victorino may have been caused by Jimmy Rollins stealing a base earlier in the inning. Of course, the unwritten rule is that a team doesn’t steal a bag when blowing out the other team. But with the score of the game at 8-2, could this really be considered a blowout? Especially with four innings left in the game? There have certainly been comebacks of even more insurmountable scores over the past few years.

Perhaps the brawl was sparked by the recent war of words between Charlie Manuel and Tim Lincecum. Manuel recently was quoted calling the Giants rotation was “good, not great.” Lincecum took offense to that analysis, and it ultimately led to a half-hearted “apology” from Manuel himself.  

The Phils have not had a serious rivalry since the 1993 season when they beat the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS, advancing to the World Series before losing to Joe Carter and the Toronto Blue Jays. Sure there were the Mets rivalry of 2007 and 2008, the Yanks rivalry of 2009 and the Braves rivalry of last year, but those failed to ever mount any serious hatred or animosity between the the clubs. 

This time, it’s different. This is a real, genuine rivalry, that now ranks among the best in baseball. The fans don’t like each other. The players don’t like each other. If these two teams meet again in the NLCS this fall, it will surely be the most anticipated, hyped, fascinating and downright intense matchup in years.   

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Philadelphia Phillies: Why Hunter Pence Is a Better Fit Than Jayson Werth

Despite passing on re-signing Jayson Werth this offseason, the Phillies may have found a replacement who is even better.  

After turning to Ed Wade for help yet again, Ruben Amaro Jr. acquired the most coveted hitter on the market in Hunter Pence.

After less than a week with the club, his presence in the lineup is already being felt. In just six games, Pence has maintained a .360 batting average with his new club and upped his overall BA to .311.

Additionally, Ryan Howard seems to be benefiting from the added protection Pence provides batting behind him in the lineup. Since Pence’s arrival in Philadelphia, Howard is hitting .346 with nine RBI and four home runs.

To put that in perspective, Howard hit just three homers in the month of July leading up to the trade on July 30. The Phils haven’t lost a game yet with Pence on the roster.  

Obviously, it’s way too premature to make any long-term assumptions based on these numbers, especially given the extremely small sample size provided by Pence’s time here. But on the surface, Pence is a far better fit in Philadelphia than Werth would have been had the Phillies chosen to write the enormous paycheck it would have taken to keep him.  

Since signing a blockbuster seven-year $126 million contract with the Washington Nationals, Werth has seen an enormous decline in his level of play. He is hitting a measly .224, second lowest on his team, and surpassed by every starting position player in the Phillies’ lineup.

The right fielder has only 42 RBI this year, an incredibly low number considering Werth was signed as a player who, as Nats GM Mike Rizzo put it, “brings an edge to the ballclub.” Rizzo also at one point referred to his new presumed franchise player as “elite.”

But, as this year has evidenced, Werth is hardly capable of leading a team without a substantial supporting cast similar to what he had in Philadelphia.

While Werth makes an average of $18 million a year until he nears the age of 40, Pence will remain under the Phillies’ control through the 2013 season, making far less than that figure. By saving that large sum of money at the position, Amaro was able to bring Cliff Lee back, who unlike Werth, has so far lived up to his contract.

Lee has been the player everyone expected him to be, with an ERA of 2.96 and five shutouts. Although there were doubts when it was first reported that the Phils’ interest in Werth had diminished over the offseason, it all seems to have worked out for the better.

Pence said he got “chills” from the fans during his first game as a Phillie. This is a stark contrast from Werth’s lackluster approach to the fans, highlighted by an incident in which he screamed at a fan for what he thought was interfering with a foul ball.

Werth further distanced himself from the fans after his departure saying, “I hate the Phillies.” Whether he said it as a joke or in sincerity, the message boards and blogs were ablaze with fans furious with Werth’s apparent disdain for the team that got him a ring. 

Werth was a great player for the Phillies, and he surely enjoyed the time he spent with the team, fans included. But it’s refreshing to have a player who is actually hungry for a ring—a player who’s never been in a pennant race, and who is experiencing a winning environment for the first time in his professional career.

Since the Phils let Werth walk, Pence might just provide the extra boost to bring another parade down Broad Street.

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