Philadelphia Phillies: Addressing the Roy Halladay Question from Within

Roy Halladay has become a disaster.

Concerns in spring training over Halladay’s pitching prowess cascaded into the regular season Wednesday night when the former Philadelphia Phillies ace allowed five earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.

Despite the horrific outing, optimists will beat their drums over Halladay’s nine strikeouts in less than four innings. Either way, the bitter overcomes the sweet in this entire ordeal. Doc is no longer the pitcher baseball fans have grown accustomed to; Halladay has changed and it will only be for the worse so long as he does not adapt.

According to Dictionary.com, realism is an “interest in or concern for the actual or real, as distinguished from the abstract, speculative, etc.” It is now time to be adherent to realism.

On Wednesday, Halladay delivered a spike in velocity from his innings pitched in Clearwater, Florida. However, the vast majority of the pitches thrown were sinkers or cutters; therefore, the lack of fastballs may have prolonged a looming decline in velocity later in the game. At any rate, this decline appears perpetual.

A subjective debate could ensue for ages as to whether or not Halladay’s ills are mental or physical. We simply do not know. What we do know is that something has changed. Addressing the issue of Halladay’s evolution (or devolution), requires the forethought of turning inward and analyzing whether or not the answer can be found within the organization.

So long as Halladay’s performance is detrimental to the club, the Phillies must act. If not, the boo birds will be singing in Citizen’s Bank Park.

 

 

 

In answering the Halladay question from within the Phillies organization, three pitchers come to mind. Lefty Jesse Biddle and right-handed throwers Tyler Cloyd and Jonathan Pettibone are the most talented pitchers down on the farm.

With a four-pitch repertoire, Biddle has the most upside of the trio; however, 2013 will be the first season he’ll pitch beyond Single-A. An All-Star in the Florida State League, Biddle will likely emerge as a formidable starter, but he is at the very least one year away from a rotation spot with the Phillies.

Cloyd, an 18th-round pick in the 2008 MLB Draft, surprised many last year as he ascended from the depths of the farm system to a prominent late-season role in the majors. While Cloyd did make one appearance in 2011, his rapid climb in 2012 astonished onlookers.

Without many tricks up his sleeve, Cloyd relies on precise control to be effective. Having little margin of error, it’s unlikely he could be a fixture at the back end of a rotation for many years at the major league level. If anything, Cloyd represents a limited band-aid to the woes the Phillies face from the uncertainty regarding Halladay. 

The present solution appears to be Pettibone. Working downhill due to his tall frame, Pettibone is stockpiling a three-pitch variety while continuing to work on his cutter. With an effortless delivery, he appears to have the makeup to endure through an entire season of pitching from day one.

 

 

Pettibone lacks the ceiling of Biddle, but he currently provides the most stability. Despite missing the ability to maintain a high strikeout rate, he will be a manageable innings eater in the middle of the rotation. 

Naysayers will pump their chest and declare this to be an overreaction to Halladay’s woes. Simply put, they are wrong. Jumping off of the Halladay bandwagon last season would have been an overreaction.

Realistically pointing out Halladay’s deficiencies as they are is a confirmation of the ills which are troubling him. No longer a spring chicken, the soon-to-be 36-year-old has become more of a liability than a contributor to a club that has the potential to compete in the postseason. 

If nothing else, Halladay’s inability to hack it makes the Phillies worse, not better. It is time to answer the Halladay question. At this point in time, that answer can only come from within.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Will Chase Utley and Company Tease Us with Mediocrity?

The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a fork in the road and the organization is stringing its fanbase along while contemplating which direction to go.

In 2013, it’s highly improbable to forecast a National League East Division title for the Phillies. However, competing for an NL wild-card berth is not out of the question either. These things we know.

What we don’t know is how the Phillies will respond to their current conundrum.

Two years removed from a lineup and pitching staff that dominated opponents at will, the Phillies are now clustered with aging question marks, expiring contracts and a farm system that is null and void.

For instance, second baseman Chase Utley and third baseman Michael Young will be free agents following the season. Former ace Roy Halladay will join the latter two as long as he doesn’t accrue 225 innings pitched (or a sum of 415 innings pitched between 2012-2013). Halladay’s one-year option could also be renewed if he does not finish the 2013 season on the disabled list.

Additionally, outfielder Delmon Young and utilityman Laynce Nix will also hit the open market for 2014.

Regarding Utley, Young and Halladay, the sum of their 2013 base salaries is $41 million. For comparison’s sake, the aforementioned trio will be paid nearly twice as much as the entire Houston Astros 2013 roster ($24.34 million). However, a possibility looms that Utley and Halladay will return for 2014. Young, on the other hand, will be one-and-done in Philadelphia.

The approach the Phillies should consider regarding the present and the future depends upon one’s baseball ideology. 

Those who favor a sustainable franchise that builds from within via scouting and development will be more than happy to see the Phillies part ways with Utley and Halladay. These same folks are clamoring in anticipation of first baseman Ryan Howard’s $125 million contract expiration following the 2017 season.

Those who toe this line follow the principle of development.

On the other hand, there are those who bustle about free agency and the trading block looking for the next big piece to add. For example, this type of crowd might suggest the Boston Red Sox did not err in signing outfielder Carl Crawford to a seven-year contract worth $142 million. Instead of a mistake, these folks feel that Crawford’s deal was well worth the investment at the time.

Those who argue in favor of this ideology believe in market superiority. After all, the macroeconomics of baseball tell us that teams in major markets are more likely to spend larger sums of money than their smaller-market counterparts. Hence, market superiority.

Only the ebb and flow of the Major League Baseball season can determine which direction the Phillies take in the short term. By trading Shane Victorino, Hunter Pence and Joe Blanton, 2012 was the first time the Phillies took the developmental approach in more than five seasons. 

Recent history in Philadelphia suggests that the long-term approach is to invest heavily in high-priced talent, as long as the roster makeup is considered competitive.

This is where the conundrum rears its ugly head.

At the core of the Phillies roster is nothing but 30-something-year-old’s (minus Cole Hamels). Outfielders Ben Revere and Domonic Brown are 24 and 25 years old, respectively. Although, neither Revere nor Brown has established himself in the same fashion as Jimmy Rollins, Utley or Howard.

If anything, Revere and Brown are low on the food chain of established MLB outfielders.

In the cards for the Phillies exists the likelihood of a winning season in 2013. Yet, the winning season is also unlikely to translate into a postseason appearance. Even if it did, only someone with an unrealistic outlook would suggest the Phillies have an opportunity to win the World Series. There are simply too many unanswered questions.

One question is of primary importance, though.

Cliff Lee‘s $120 million contract does not expire until 2017. If the Phillies are 10 games or more behind second place in the NL East by the trade deadline, do they deal Lee? What if they have to digest a major share of Lee’s remaining contract?

Only the performance of the Phillies over the course of the next four months can answer that question.

Another question that must be asked revolves around Utley.

At 34 years old, the second baseman is playing at full health in the month of April for the first time since 2010. With an expiring contract, is Utley expendable at the non-waiver trade deadline if the Phillies are out of contention? On the other hand, if the Phillies can retain Utley for a contract in the $6-8 million-per-year range, should they bring him back in 2014?

With an exhausted farm system and a plethora of over-the-hill MLB talent, the conundrum the Phillies face in the near term has the potential to be devastating. The sky is not falling, but even a fan wearing rose-colored lenses can see the future isn’t so bright either. 

A painstaking approach to managing the club while weighing the net difference from a cost-benefit analysis will draw criticism from every angle. Unfortunately, doubts persist that general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. is capable of steering the Phillies organization back into World Series contention. 

What can be expected in the near term?

A Phillies lineup that will tease the fanbase with just enough wins to remain relevant. Simultaneously, the dark cloud of the future will continue to linger over this franchise. With that said, mediocrity will endure and bitterness will tower as long as the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves continue to win more games than the team from Citizens Bank Park.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Chase Utley, Team Finally Healthy

Apparently Chase Utley feels “pretty damn good right now.” Unfortunately, many Phillies fans feel as if the club is a sitting duck primed to be overwhelmed by the rising tide of the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

In all fairness, Utley was referring to his overall health. It’s no secret that Utley has been dealing with lingering hip and knee issues over the last several years. The 34-year-old second baseman is likely to enter this season the healthiest he has been since 2010. 

In all honesty, I have been back and forth on the idea of the sky falling in Philadelphia. While anyone with an IQ larger than a cheesesteak can see, the Phillies are no longer the cream of the crop in the National League. They are in a state of flux, awash with aging veterans who are more prone than ever to injuries.

To put it nicely, the talent pool beneath the Big Show is shallow. Baseball America just released its Top 100 Prospects list for 2013. Guess what? Only two Phillies make the list—No. 89 LHP Jessie Biddle and No. 100 SS Roman Quinn. 

Talk about taking one on the chin. The gurus at Baseball America found it evident that they could find 88 better prospects elsewhere than in Philadelphia.

Still, I still feel pretty good about the Phillies this spring.

The team is apparently at full health for the start of the season, something they missed out on last year when they tiptoed into last season relying on Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix and Juan Pierre.

While first baseman Ryan Howard will always struggle against left-handed pitching, the ability to hit 30-plus home runs is still there. Count on him to add another 100 or more RBI in this full season as well.

Shortstop Jimmy Rollins proved last year that he is not on his last leg either. Statistically, Rollins had his best year at age 33 since he won the NL MVP in 2007. No one can count on him repeating last year’s numbers but anything close will help in adverting disaster early on.

Utley is who he is. We can only hope for a full season of strength and health at second base for the Phillies. If that happens, Utley can rebound in his contract year.

At his age, he is playing for reputable longevity at a position that has not been kind to 30-somethings in recent years.

Believing that Michael Young can shore up the third-base position is hazardous. Let’s be honest, he is just keeping the seat warm for Cody Asche.

The outfield is a major question mark though. While no one hopes to see anyone get injured, Delmon Young beginning the season on the disabled list could be more of a gift than a curse.

Why—because we should finally get an extended look at both Darin Ruf and Domonic Brown.

The rotation and bullpen remain the strong suits of this organization. While it makes sense to see a further decrease in the overall production of Roy Halladay, he can still be a successful top-of-the-rotation pitcher if he adjusts his pitching to account for a decline in velocity. 

Ultimately, only a homer oblivious to the challenges the Phillies must overcome would predict an NL East title for Philadelphia in 2013. Washington and Atlanta are two young and extremely talented clubs standing in the way of this aging lineup and rotation. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Answering the Ryan Howard Question in 2013

The career of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard has taken a tumultuous turn for the worse in the last three years.

For fans in the City of Brotherly Love, the love—or lack thereof—for Howard is rooted in the discontent of his strikeout while looking in the 2010 National League Championship Series versus the eventual World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Then when you add on his eventful demise during the final at-bat of the 2011 NL Division Series versus the St. Louis Cardinals, where Howard suffered a torn Achilles and had to have surgery that would force him to miss the first three months of the 2012 season, one can easily see where the roots of this discontent stem from.

Simply put, the high hopes of Phillies fans have been squashed in recent years due to the fact that the Phillies have failed to live up to expectations since winning the World Series in 2008. The ensuing years were ripe with disappointment while clubs with weaker expectations persevered and triumphed over the more talented Phillies.

Any hopes of the Phillies being serious contenders for the NL pennant in 2013 are held by blatant homers. This current crop of players lack a cohesive identity. In their confusion, they also lack a serious face for the franchise.

The debate over who the face of the Phillies will forever rage on with the current roster. Many folks believe that the shortstop, Jimmy Rollins, is at the pinnacle of this club. Others think it is Chase Utley or one of the three aces (Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee or Cole Hamels). Others think it is the “Big Piece” Ryan Howard.

Regardless of how one feel’s, Howard has been the most productive Phillie since 2005. That year, Howard smacked 22 HR and 63 RBI in 348 PA while maintaining an average of .288. His Wins Above Replacement (WAR) for his rookie year was a modest 2.2. At the end of the season, Howard became the first Phillie to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award since third baseman Scott Rolen in 1997.

The following year, at age 27, Howard mashed 58 HR in 702 PA. He would drive in 149 RBI while hitting .313 on his way to winning the NL Most Valuable Player award, the first for a Phillie since third baseman Mike Schmidt in 1986.

Despite not cracking the majors in a full-time role until the age of 26, Howard made a big splash in his first two “full” seasons with the Phillies. Needless to say, he earned the recognition of “face of the franchise.”

The downside to this success Howard was having was the frustration with his strikeouts. Howard averaged 191 K from 2006 through 2009. It was in 2007 where Howard would break the record previously held by Adam Dunn for most strikeouts in a season (199). In 2008, Mark Reynolds would break this record with 204 K only to break it again in 2009 with a still-standing record of 223 K.

Aside from the strikeouts, Phillies fans were please with Howards production. 

Through the 2011 season, Howard never hit for less than 31 HR and 108 RBI (aside from his rookie year). 

Signs of trouble in the future were coming though. From 2006 through 2009, Howard maintained an average WAR of 4.4 with a peak in 2006 of 6.2. In 2010 and 2011, however, Howard’s WAR stood at 1.4 and 1.7, respectively.

For comparisons sake, in 2011 first baseman James Loney (Dodgers), first baseman Casey Kotchman (Rays) and first baseman Carlos Lee (Astros) all finished with a higher WAR despite weaker production at the plate. Of the aforementioned trio, no one outproduced Howard in homers, runs scored or RBI.

Quite frankly, the scare was on because it seemed that the word “downside” was becoming synonymous with Howard.

For sensible purposes, we can discount Howard’s 2012 season due to him missing the first three months of the season and subsequent recovery while playing from his torn Achilles surgery.

In 2013, Howard will be earning a salary of $20 million with $25 million pressed against the luxury tax threshold. 

For payroll purposes, he is the highest paid hitter on the Phillies. He is also the most important facet of the Phillies offense. After all, Howard has led the Phillies in RBI each year from 2006 through 2011. In 2012, the Phillies finished 19th in team RBI, behind the even more destitute Minnesota Twins. 

By comparison, the Phillies finished 11th in 2011 in RBI, eighth in 2010, fourth in 2009 and eighth in 2008.

Therefore, a direct causal association between the production of Howard and the Phillies in scoring runs exists. For how long this pattern will endure is dependent upon the production of Howard and his ability to play a full season. Until proven otherwise, it is essential to note the influence Howard’s bat has on the success of the Phillies.

For the Phillies to sneak up and maintain in a competition with the perceived NL East favorites, Washington and Atlanta, an imperative prevails for Howard to return to producing 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Thanks to Ruben Amaro Jr., the End Is Near

The Philadelphia Phillies have not had a losing season since 2002, when they finished 80-81. The last ten seasons have provided the faithful fan base in Philadelphia with more things to cheer about than to jeer about. Unfortunately though, the end is near. 

It wasn’t the farcical Mayan Apocalypse that dashed the hopes of Phillies fans everywhere. No. It was the mismanagement of a roster and farm system that will cause the destruction of arguably the best decade of baseball in this franchise’s history. 

Who is to blame?

People will easily point fingers at the players. Most notably, Ryan Howard’s disappointing lack of production along with an additional projected decrease as his salary increases through the next several years is causing flack among Phillies fans.

Despite all this, Howard is not to blame.

Charlie Manuel developed a reputation for being a manager who knows how to instruct and correct batting issues from the get-go. It is sad to say, but one of the problems with the Phillies has been the ability to hit effectively and drive in runs on a consistent basis in recent years.

Still, managers in baseball are the most innocuous figureheads in professional sports. They matter much less than head coaches in the NFL and NBA.

The problem resides with the front office.

On November 3, 2008, Ruben Amaro Jr. succeeded Pat Gillick as the general manager of the Phillies, directly after the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. Since then, a series of gaffes and questionable transactions have compounded the problems for the Phillies, diminishing their relevance in not only their specific division, the National League East, but the entire National League as well.

 

On April 26, 2010, less than two years after his promotion to GM, Amaro Jr. signed the soon-to-be 31-year-old first baseman Ryan Howard to a 5-year, $125 million contract extension. The deal called for a club option on the sixth year. 

Despite holding the single-season HR record for a Phillie as well as many other records, Howard’s production is on the decline. Coming off an Achilles tear, Howard struggled mightily last season. Some believe that Howard should regain his ability to produce at an elite level in 2013, while others dismiss him as an oft-injured slugger prone to striking out who can’t play defense and is on the decline.

Whichever way you see him, Howard is definitely a controversial piece to the puzzle of where things went wrong with Amaro Jr.

Amaro Jr. does deserve some credit. Despite selling the best prospects in the farm system and spending cash hand over fist, Amaro Jr. has amassed talent in the form of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence, Roy Oswalt and Jonathan Papelbon.

While these names are enticing, their deals probably are not. Take Papelbon, for example. He was given the richest contract in history for a reliever. The problem is that a deal worth $60 million for a pitcher who is tasked with attaining three outs per game is asinine.

Especially when the money could have been used to give the rest of the bullpen or 25-man roster more depth.

2013 will be a telling year for Amaro Jr. He will either look like a genius or possibly lose his job. He deserves to be knocked hard for acquiring, then trading away Gio Gonzalez. He also shipped Chris Singleton out of the organization.

Meanwhile, many fans are disheartened at the lack of talented acquisitions during the 2012-13 off-season.

Ben Revere? John Lannan? Both guys are nice players, but Revere has one of the highest ground ball rates in baseball while Lannan is extremely ordinary on the hill. Meanwhile, fan favorite Vance Worley—a man who, when healthy, is an extremely effective young pitcher—was shipped out of town.

The Phillies have thus far failed to secure a deal for the likes of Justin Upton, Jason Kubel or Dexter Fowler.

2013 will speak volumes for what Amaro Jr. has done for the Phillies franchise. The roster is the least talented of any roster the Phillies have had since 2005, which is why this is the year where Amaro Jr.’s legacy will be shaped.

As to whether or not he has a job as GM in Philadelphia come October, that remains anyone’s guess.

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Phillies Would Be Foolish to Nab Vernon Wells Via Trade

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has reported that the Philadelphia Phillies are looking at making a deal for Los Angeles Angels OF Vernon Wells.

The Phillies are in need of a right-handed bat as well as a corner outfielder and have previously been linked to free agent OF Cody Ross.

If a deal between the Phillies and Angels would be done, the Angels would have to absorb the majority of the $42 million owed to Wells over the course of the next two seasons.

Wells has been considered one of the worst acquisitions in baseball history due to the seven-year, $126 million contract he received in 2006 while with the Toronto Blue Jays. Since landing with the Angels, Wells has failed to live up to the salary that he was given by his previous club.

In 2011, Wells batted .218 AVG with 25 HR and 66 RBI. The numbers he posted that year were the worst of his career since he was a former three-time All-Star (2003, 2006, 2010) and a one-time Silver Slugger in 2003.

Last season, Wells disappointed again with a .230 AVG followed by 11 HR and 29 RBI.
Needless to say, the Phillies could do a lot better than Vernon Wells. Among John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown, the two outfielders returning from last season’s team, Mayberry Jr. hit .245 and Brown hit .235.

Such a number is not pretty and the play of both Mayberry Jr. and Brown left the fans in Philadelphia desiring a lot more.

Philly fans have not been clamoring for the club to sign OF Cody Ross but if it trumps a deal for Wells, they have to take it. At this point in time, Ross is much better defensively and offensively.

Making a deal for Wells would be a tremendous mistake and would further cast doubt on whether or not Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is capable of maintaining his employment within the organization.

Pete Dymeck runs his own blog about baseball at PeteDymeck.com.

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Philadelphia Phillies, Lost Season of 2012: Why Ruben Amaro Jr. Is to Blame

At nine games under .500 and 11 games back from the N.L. East-leading Washington Nationals, to say that the Philadelphia Phillies have been a disappointment is an underwhelming statement.

The fact is, many of us were called “doomsdayers” when we forecasted a seismic shift in the winning percentage for the Phillies in 2012.

Sure, the same, tired arguments are sufficient in making excuses for the excessive failures of the Phillies in 2012. Ryan Howard is injured, Chase Utley missed 70-plus games, Lee and Halladay have been nicked up and the bullpen misses the 2011 forms of Antonio Bastardo and the still-injured Michael Stutes.

Injuries aside, another tired narrative focuses on where the Phillies went wrong. Unfortunately, the finger is usually wagged in the wrong direction.

While all of the following deserve some blame, they are not the primary culprits of the Phillies lost season of 2012.

Manager Charlie Manuel has made some questionable moves from the dugout.

Shane Victorino is having a down year.

Jimmy Rollins couldn’t hit a beach ball until his child was born.

With the exception of Jonathan Papelbon, the bullpen looks like it belongs in Double-A.

Hunter Pence has struggled mightily in situational hitting.

John Mayberry has been a bust.

Juan Pierre’s defense is worse than Raul Ibanez (mostly attributed to his Chad Pennington-like arm).

Cliff Lee has yet to earn a win.

No, the aforementioned are not the primary culprits to this season’s woes.

The primary culprit is general manager Ruben Amaro Jr.

Upon former GM Pat Gillick’s retirement after the Phillies’ 2008 World Series victory, Amaro Jr. proceeded to shed the Phillies farm system of its talent.

This is the part where it hurts.

Jonathan Singleton, a first base prospect who was sent to the Houston Astros last year has been raking in the minors. Similar to Ryan Howard but only 20 years old, the Phillies received Hunter Pence in return for Singleton.

Never mind the fact that Hunter Pence is making more than $10 million this season and will be entering into arbitration with the Phillies for 2013.

Needless to say, Pence’s future is cloudy in Philadelphia albeit the fact that the Phillies traded away one of the top prospects in baseball for the lanky outfielder.

22-year-old Jarrod Cosart was also packaged to Houston in the Pence deal. While his numbers thus far do not scream “stud,” his peripherals are of that of a very good prospect with the upside of a No. 2 or No. 3 pitcher in the Big Show.

Outfielder Anthony Gose, part of the deal where the Phillies landed Roy Oswalt from the Astros, is likely to be promoted to the majors shortly. When he does, a lot of regard will be traveling with him.

After all, Gose is one of the top outfielder prospects in Triple-A. With Shane Victorino on his way out of Philadelphia and Juan Pierre signed only in 2012, Gose would have been a more than formidable starter in the future. He was much more regarded within Phillies’ circles than John Mayberry.

Despite recently tearing his PCL, Toronto prospect catcher Travis d’Arnaud is widely regarded as the top catching prospect in all of baseball. Acquired from the Phillies in 2010 as part of the Roy Halladay trade, d’Arnaud is likely to end up making the Phillies regret trading him.

Sure, there are no regrets in getting Halladay but, with Halladay likely reaching the apex of his career last season—and with Carlos Ruiz possibly gone after 2013—the Phillies are going to be stuck in neutral with some lackluster catching prospects in their farm system.

There have been numerous other prospects who have emerged as decent MLB players that the Phillies have traded away in order to bolster their win-now approach.

Either way, Ruben Amaro Jr. turned the Phillies into a house built out of papier-mache. 

One could easily say that the prospects traded away might never materialize on the Major League level—much like Domonic Brown. On the flip side, most would rather like to find out instead of overpaying on the like’s of Jimmy Rollins, Jonathan Papelbon, Chad Qualls and Ty Wigginton.

Speaking of Jimmy Rollins, the former NL MVP and fan favorite in Philadelphia, is making $11 million annually until 2016. When he plays out the length of his current contract, Rollins will be 36 years old. Sure, his recent splurge has given him an uptick in his statistics but, overall, Rollins’ numbers have been on a steep decline since he won the NL MVP Award in 2007.

By overpaying on Rollins, Amaro Jr. was faced with the prospect of having to go cheap on key positions that matter to the Phillies lineup.

Prior to his injury, Laynce Nix was not producing at the level he was expected to when platooning with the equally nonproductive John Mayberry.

Juan Pierre is hitting for a good average and stealing bases, but he struggles with extra base hits and continues to demonstrate his vulnerabilities defensively.

Ty Wigginton is a Triple-A player with a $4 million salary.

Mainstays such as Placido Polanco, Brian Schneider and Shane Victorino have been terribly awful too.

Needless to say, it is Amaro Jr.’s job to have a keen ability to manage the finances of the Phillies in order to win with a sharp eye on tomorrow. He has failed in both respects.

He overpaid for closer Jonathan Papelbon.

He overpaid for Jimmy Rollins to return.

He overpaid Cliff Lee (as ungrateful as that may sound, many of us thought that when the deal went down, despite Lee taking less to sign with the Phillies instead of the New York Yankees).

The sweetheart deal struck with Ryan Howard is more bittersweet than ever.

Here are a couple reminders.

The Phillies brought back the aging and injury-vulnerable Placido Polanco instead of pursuing then fellow free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Instead of locking up the most dynamic pitcher in the rotation—when age is a factor—in Cole Hamels, Amaro Jr. overpaid for Rollins, Papelbon and Wigginton.

Admittedly, it is as if Amaro Jr. has done everything in his power so the Phillies can win now. When I say now, I mean from 2009-2011.

Without the foresight to acknowledge that the window has closed on the Phillies, the organization is going down the tubes. Reports continue to linger that the Phillies are still in the race.

Theoretically, they are.

Realistically, last weekend’s sweep to the Miami Marlins was the funeral for the 2012 Phillies.

Sorry folks, Amaro Jr. has exported our young talent for a win-now approach that is now tired. The reckless moves he has made has forced the boat to leave the harbor.

Presumably, Cole Hamels is on that boat and will likely never be seen in a Phillies uniform again.

The run was great but Ruben Amaro Jr.’s actions have turned the lights out at Citizen’s Bank Park.

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Carlos Ruiz Possibly Headed to the Disabled List; Implications for Phillies

Aside from the free-swinging Hunter Pence, the only other constant within the Philadelphia Phillies‘ positional depth chart has been the catcher we all know as Chooch. Unfortunately, Carlos Ruiz may have to spend some time on the DL.

Ruiz strained his left oblique during Friday night’s ball game versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel has declared that Ruiz will have to rest a few games. On the other hand, we will know the extent of the oblique strain today as the Phillies re-evaluate their slugging backstop. Following Saturday’s re-evaluation will be a determination as to whether or not the organization will place Ruiz on the DL.

Meanwhile, the Phillies have already re-called catcher Erik Kratz from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the full-time job has already been given to Brian Schneider while Ruiz is ailing.

Of course, a Ruiz injury will just follow suit to everything else that has happened to the Phillies since last October. Injuries to Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Jose Contreras, Freddy Galvis and so on have given the Phillies’ roster more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese.

Sprinkle in an oblique strain for Ruiz and it is time for the Phillies to come out and say what everyone is thinking—it’s time to sell.

Many folks have called this season a lost season. In a previous article, I discussed how the Phillies could save this season by preparing the roster for a return to a high level of competitiveness for 2013.

The loss of Ruiz, who is hitting .362 with eight home runs and 35 RBI, would be decimating.

What is more important is that Ruiz provided stability against left-handed pitchers, hitting .409 on the year with only five strike outs.

I don’t even have to touch on the magic that Ruiz performs behind home plate, either. He is one of the top defensive backstops in all of baseball.

While nothing has been confirmed yet, a loss of Ruiz would definitively place the Phillies in a position where they must begin shopping the like’s of Shane Victorino, Jim Thome, Joe Blanton, and (gulp) Cole Hamels.

Baseball is a business and the business environment of 2012 has been harsh for the Philadelphia Phillies. Now is the time to make the tough decisions and put the Phillies in a better place for 2013.

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Philadelphia Phillies 2012 Season Can Be Repaired, but at What Cost?

That sound you hear isn’t the toilet flushing. Rather, it is the panic that has emancipated itself from the high hopes that were brought forth when the Philadelphia Phillies first took to the diamond in 2012.

Most people saw through the gilded exterior of the 2012 Phillies 40-man roster to a problem that was looming ahead. The problem is three-fold, and here, halfway through June, it has finally reared its ugly head.

The problem isn’t that the Phillies are nine games behind the Washington Nationals in the N.L. East. The problem lies in the discarded waste laid forth by general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. in his quest to build a franchise that would be the king of the mountaintop, albeit a temporary mountaintop.

Die-hard fans and insiders, (yes, the die-hard phanatical fans in Philadelphia come first), both knew something was seriously wrong with the atmosphere in Philly. Ironically enough, while both contingents acknowledged something was wrong, no one knew what specifically was wrong.

Tired discussions of how a healthy Chase Utley and Ryan Howard could help this ballclub aside, the problem lies in GM Amaro Jr.’s management of this team.

First, Amaro Jr. was duped by Utley’s own prognosis concerning the lower half of his frame.

Second, Howard’s timetable to return has been unclear, and Amaro Jr. has not been forthright when it comes to public relations.

Third, no one in their right mind expected the Phillie rotation to pitch as splendidly as it did in 2011.

The first two topics speak for themselves.

On the third topic, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels are monsters. Yet, all of the reports out of Clearwater during the spring were focused on Halladay’s diminished velocity, Lee’s elbow concerns and Hamels’ contract situation.

Thus far, the latter two issues have been more accurate than any reporting on Hamels’ ability to function with his long-term status in Philadelphia in doubt.

As good as Vance Worley was as a rookie, his BABIP and other metrics suggest that he pitched over his head.

Also, while Joe Blanton has looked good periodically in 2012, nobody expected Blanton to fully earn the $8.5 million he is making this year.

Meanwhile, Amaro Jr.’s idea for fortifying the house that manager Charlie Manuel built was to give the aging Jimmy Rollins a lucrative deal that will likely backfire (if it hasn’t already).

Furthermore, Amaro overpaid for a closer in Jonathan Papelbon, and bypassed power hitters like Josh Willingham, Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel for light-hitting Ty Wigginton, Juan Pierre and Jim Thome.

While I recognize that Thome has been on a tear during interleague play, he offers nothing as a full-time player at 1B once interleague is over. Also, his pinch-hitting statistics are worse than former Phillie Ross Gload’s.

Needless to say, Amaro Jr. swung and missed big time with this roster.

Instead of locking up Cole Hamels with a long-term deal, he decided to sure up Jimmy Rollins at shortstop—a contract that Amaro Jr. will want to quickly forget come next season.

On the bright side, Placido Polanco, Shane Victorino, Juan Pierre, Jim Thome and Joe Blanton will likely be gone next year.

On the downside, so will Cole Hamels.

With that in mind, the Phillies can do three things to drastically help curb the downslide they are currently mired in.

First, trade Cole Hamels.

I know, it seems crazy. Even with Roy Halladay on the disabled list, the Phillies should trade Hamels to the highest bidder and receive the appropriate high-level prospects in return.

Then, in the offseason, the Phillies can turn around and re-sign Hamels (I know, nearly a pipe dream, but it can be done). By doing this, Amaro Jr. would be able to maximize his return for Hamels, and bring Hamels back to the red pinstripes in 2013.

Second, Amaro Jr. must move Jim Thome while he is hot. The Cleveland Indians would be the ideal situation, since their current DH, Johnny Damon, is swinging and missing at beach balls. The return on Thome may not be great, but it could be satisfactory.

Third, trade Shane Victorino and give Domonic Brown one more shot in the Show.

Victorino is not going to be back in Philly next season due to the contract he will likely get somewhere else, so why not move him for some long-term depth or a veteran reliever?

Amaro Jr. can also give former five-tool prospect Dom Brown one last chance to prove himself. It’s not like Brown isn’t tearing the cover off of the ball at Lehigh Valley.

While my three proposals are not likely to yield a playoff appearance for the Phillies in 2012, they are a realistic approach to saving the 2012 season while also keeping an eye on a rebound year in 2013.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Brett Myers and the 5 Most Likable Ex-Phillies

In light of Jayson Werth’s debut in Washington, it’s time to examine the five most likable ex-Philadelphia Phillies.

This is a list of active players who we could all agree that we like (and secretly root for when they’re not playing the Phils).

We may not have always liked them when they were with the Phillies. However, the fact of the matter remains, they were appreciated.

This list may not be liked by all of our readers, but it can be agreed upon that we could do much worse. Obviously, you won’t see Jayson Werth or J.D. Drew on here.

Still, sit back, enjoy the read and let us know what you think of the list we compiled.

 

1. Brett Myers (Houston Astros)

Myers is a favorite because after he was notified that he wouldn’t be back with the Phillies for the 2010 season, he told the organization, “thanks for putting up with my shit.”

He also said that when he returns to Philly to start, which he will do later today, he wants the Phightin’ Nation to boo him as loud as they can.

Nothing was ever perfect or smooth when Myers would take the mound, but his vicious nature appealed to Phillies fans everywhere.

It will be nice to see him go blow-for-blow today in Philadelphia, but I hope he gets rocked by our hitters.

 

2. Kyle Drabek (Toronto Blue Jays)

While he never made the big league team, Drabek may become known as “the one that got away.”

Part of the deal that landed Roy Halladay in Philadelphia, Drabek will always have a place in Phillies lore.

When he steps on the mound in the A.L. East to do battle with the likes of the Yankees and Red Sox, everyone in the Phightin’ Nation will hope he dominates.

I wouldn’t think twice about dealing him away for Halladay, but it would have been nice to still have him in our organization.

 

3. Pat Burrell (San Francisco Giants)

Often booed in left field, the guy who became known as the “$50 million mistake” is still appreciated for his contributions to the team when they made their run to the world title in 2008.

When he returned as a member of the Rays to collect his ring, he still received a standing ovation.

Now he plays for the hated San Francisco Giants, but that doesn’t negate what he did with the Phils. We would have liked to see him do more, but we got the most out of him when we could.

 

4. J.A. Happ (Houston Astros)

Never considered to be an elite prospect, when Happ was called to duty, he fulfilled everybody’s expectations and then some.

It was disappointing to see him go in the deal that landed Roy Oswalt, but we wouldn’t think twice about doing that trade again.

Still, Happ was consistent despite being considered an overachiever by the “experts.”

Hopefully, his lingering injury will not stop us from seeing him on Sunday.

Happ is going to have a long tenure in the MLB.

He may not ever win a Cy Young Award, but he will prove steady enough to accumulate a bounty full of starts for whomever he is pitching for.

 

5. Bobby Abreu (L.A. Angels)

It seems like forever since Abreu donned the Phillies uniform.

As a Phillie, he might be remembered most for his 2005 Home Run Derby performance, when he lifted 24 baseballs out of Comerica Park in one round.

He would eventually win the contest with a total of 41 homers.

Abreu might not have helped the Phillies take that extra step forward into the postseason, but his ability to make noise at the plate is what made him special. He is still hitting well despite his age (37), but is often forgotten among the long-list of former Phillies who have put on the best pinstripes in baseball.

J.D. Drew he is not.

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Pete Dymeck is the owner of PhightinNation.com

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