Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Players Who Did the Unexpected in 2013

It has been a year of ups and, more accurately, downs for the Philadelphia Phillies, but all was not lost. And even though it isn’t much, late season heroics and surprises have revealed the proverbial silver lining from the 2013 season.

The surprise and, in most cases, unexpected performances—some good, some bad—have told part of the story from this season. And whether it was Chase Utley’s knees holding up for the majority of the year or Domonic Brown’s potential finally realized, the team has seen its fair share of surprises.

So in no particular order, here are the top five guys that each did something this season that no one really could have ever expected. But if you were one of the ones who “knew it” all along, congratulations. Take pride in being in the minority and feel free to tell the rest of the world, “I told you so,” in the comments.

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Why Philadelphia Phillies Fans Should Expect Big Changes This Offseason

Philadelphia Phillies fans should expect big changes this offseason, because the National League East’s overall mediocrity demands them.

The Atlanta Braves are going to win the NL East with well over 90 wins—they have an outside shot at 100—but the Braves have a few of the disconcerting hallmarks of past “good teams” that have crashed and burned in the playoffs.

Above all, the Braves’ terrible propensity to strike out portends trouble in the postseason. Right now the Braves are second in the National League in team batting strikeouts, behind only the lowly New York Mets.

As the 2012 Washington Nationals (third in NL team batting strikeouts in 2012) found out, all the easy runs that come against bad teams in the regular season are nowhere to be found in October.

So when the Nationals could only scratch out 10 runs in the first four games of their 2012 NLDS with the St. Louis Cardinals, they left the door ajar. Every Phillies fan knows what the Cardinals do when that happens.

Maybe the Braves will win the World Series, but with the Phillies already eliminated from playoff contention, their focus has to be on 2014 and beyond.

Neither the Mets nor the Miami Marlins project to be in positions to contend for the NL East crown in 2014. Though the Nationals are making a nice run to the finish line in 2013, it is very likely going to be too little too late for them.

This season should prove conclusively that the Nationals made a mistake in sitting Stephen Strasburg for the 2012 playoffs.

No playoff berth is ever a given, and despite their forward-thinking choice to sit their best starter for the playoffs, the Nationals are still often hostages of Strasburg‘s elbow and Bryce Harper’s hip.

Even if you want to concede the 2014 NL East to the Braves, then, there should be opportunities for the Phillies to accumulate enough wins to make the race close and in so doing get into the annual wild-card derby.

As presently constructed, the Phillies cannot possibly believe they will make a playoff run in 2014. The 2013 Phillies have been irrelevant since mid-August.

But after the 2013 season, the contracts of Roy Halladay and Carlos Ruiz will have concluded, freeing up $25 million in salary.

Assuming third baseman Cody Asche returns, the Phillies will be paying their third baseman something near the league minimum rather than the $5 million they paid for five months of Michael Young.

The Phillies can reasonably expect to fill at least two of the gaping holes in their roster—maybe even three—with that sort of cash on hand.

They are also unlikely to cry poor and refuse to spend this offseason, given the television-rights windfall they are about to fall into.

Chase Utley’s recent contract extension means that the Phillies are out of the Robinson Cano bidding, but there are other worthy players likely heading to free agency this winter.

Right-hander Ervin Santana has rediscovered his form after a spotty 2012. Santana’s 9-9 record with the suddenly contending Kansas City Royals is misleading; his 3.23 earned run average and 1.14 WHIP are not.

Santana would slot in nicely between the Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in the Phillies rotation.

And while Darin Ruf has acquitted himself nicely in the outfield, the Phillies may consider an upgrade there with players like Shin-Soo Choo, Hunter Pence and Nelson Cruz on the market.

Besides, the Phillies might need Ruf to play first base against left-handers while $25 million platoon player Ryan Howard sits.

Ultimately, Phillies fans should expect big changes this offseason, because the .500 finish of the 2012 Phillies concealed the major flaws in the team that 2013 exposed.

An unproductive offseason would threaten the Phillies in the standings, but it would do worse things to them where it hurts more.

At the gate.

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6 Early Predictions for Philadelphia Phillies’ 2013 Offseason

The 2013 season has been a lost cause for the Philadelphia Phillies. Sitting at 68-78, the team is out of division title contention and is just six losses away from elimination from a potential wild card.

There have been many ups and downs for the Phillies in 2013. Charlie Manuel’s dismissal definitely comes to mind as a low point, as does the team’s lack of a committed stance at the July 31 trade deadline. Some of the high points have been the emergence of Domonic Brown as an All-Star and a better winning percentage under interim manager Ryne Sandberg than under Manuel on the season.

Nevertheless, the year has been painful to watch, and it would have been much more had the team had loftier expectations. At this point, fans and the team alike await the merciful coming of the offseason, giving the players a chance to hit the reset button for 2014 in addition to an opportunity to bolster the roster.

While it’s too early to count on Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. making any specific moves, it’s not too early to speculate upon what he might do. Here’s six early predictions for the Phillies’ upcoming offseason.

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“Hamels, Lee, Then Turn and Flee” a New Take on Old Rhyme for Phillies Fans

Like so many great lines, “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain” is actually a misquote.

Millions of people misquote “Casablanca” every day when they say “play it again, Sam.” Humphrey Bogart’s character Rick Blaine never says those words, though he comes close.

Similarly, “Spahn and Sain and pray for rain” is a convenient revision of Gerald V. Hern‘s poem.

Hern was writing about the dearth of reliable pitching options after Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain on the 1948 Boston Braves.

Now, 65 years later, the 2013 Philadelphia Phillies are putting a new spin on that old line.

As the season winds down, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee make two of every five days of Phillies baseball worth watching.

The other three days? We need a rainout.

Especially since August 16, 2013, also known as “Black Friday 2013” or “The Day Charlie Manuel Was Fired,” Hamels and Lee are the lone bright spots on the dark death march the Phillies will remain on until the season mercifully ends in Atlanta.

Take a look at the team’s game log via ESPN. Or, for a more explicit presentation, check out the game logs for Hamels and Lee. From August 17 forward, Hamels and Lee have started 11 games between them.

The Phillies are 10-1 in those games. They are 4-9 when Roy Halladay, Ethan Martin, Tyler Cloyd or Kyle Kendrick starts. Tossed in among the wreckage of those 13 games were Martin’s exit after two outs and Cloyd making the inept San Diego Padres look like the 1927 Yankees.

Before you toss out the “small sample size!” cry, the season numbers bear this analysis out.

Hamels and Lee are on their way to posting elite seasons based on all those peripheral numbers that wins and losses cannot account for. In Hamels and Lee, the Phillies have two pitchers in the National League top 10 in Wins Above Replacement as per ESPN. They are both likely to top 200 strikeouts this season.

After those two, you have to scroll down the Phillies roster all the way to Kyle Kendrick with his 10-12 record, his earned run average closer to five than four and his six losses in seven decisions to find the Phillies’ third-best starting pitcher.

That is not a drop-off, that is a free fall.

Enjoy Hamels and Lee now, because there will be no October baseball in Philadelphia in 2013.

Which means that either or both of them might look to be dealt in the offseason or, if the 2014 Phillies are flailing in July, next summer.

Until then, savor the spectacular quality Hamels and Lee bring to the mound when they pitch.

And feel free not to watch the Phillies when they don’t.

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The 6 Biggest Regrets and Missed Opportunities of Phillies’ 2013 Season

Though expensively constructed, the 2013 Philadelphia Phillies came apart like a cheap suit.

It is hard to believe now, but in March and even into April there were Phillies fans who fervently believed that the aging heart of the 2008 world champions had one last playoff run in them.

Now we know that the Phillies are aged, not aging, And the thought of a playoff run seems as far away as it did in desolate Phillies days like the late 1990s.

Where did it all go wrong?

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Philadelphia Phillies Players Who Must Be Let Go This Offseason

Following every major league season, each team has a select number of players either eligible for arbitration or free agency. For the Philadelphia Phillies, this is no exception. With 12 arbitration-eligible players this offseason and a handful of free agents to boot, the upcoming offseason will be one of the most transaction-heavy and intriguing in Phillies history.

As is the case with any offseason, there are certain types of moves that can be made. In the case of the arbitration-eligible player, he can be tendered a contract to return for at least one more season, or he can be non-tendered and hit the open market before hitting six years of MLB service time. Options of all sorts can also be declined, whether on the side of the player, team or both parties. Vesting options with unmet requirements can also render players free agents.

If a player is a free agent, he can be signed to a new contract or sign one with another team. Trades can also occur, as can designations for assignment, the latter of which usually happens when the 40-man roster is being trimmed down and revised before the Rule 5 Draft.

The Phillies have at least one or two players in each category listed in the above paragraph, but not all of them are definitely goners. Only a select few are virtual locks to be wearing another team’s uniform next year—or no one’s at all. Here’s the list of Phillies players who must be let go this offseason, whether by non-tendering, walking in free agency or via trade.

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Quick Pitch: In 1984, Ryne Sandberg Ran Like a Cheetah, Not a Ryno

Fourth in a series of short player profiles spotlighting the peculiar and the noteworthy

With Ryne Sandberg’s recent hiring as interim manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, one achievement of his Hall of Fame career bears a closer look. Apart from his 1984 National League MVP, a home run title, two monster performances in the Chicago Cubs’ only postseason appearances since 1945 and stellar defensive play that culminated in nine Gold Gloves and the highest career fielding percentage ever by a second baseman, Sandberg’s 19 triples (tied with Juan Samuel) led the Majors in 1984, far outpacing such speedsters as Willie Wilson, Tim Raines and Willie McGee.

Spiking glaringly in Sandberg’s statistical record, those 19 three-baggers stand as one of the more anomalous marks in baseball annals. Prior to 1984, Sandberg had never hit more than five triples, nor did he leg out more than eight after that career-defining season.

In contrast, Juan Samuel followed his 19 three-base hits in 1984 with three consecutive seasons of double-digit triples. Yet Sandberg—fleet enough to swipe 344 bases in his career—quickly reverted to his norm, averaging a mere six triples per season during his Major League tenure (in 1984, he slammed six in June alone).

Sandberg hit as many triples in 1984 as he did home runs—a curious statistic in itself for a quantity that large—made more odd when considering that Sandberg averaged 15 more home runs than triples per season throughout his career. Further taking into account that cozy Wrigley Field is no haven for triples (Sandberg is the only Cub since Ron Santo in 1964 to lead the league in that category and the first to triple as often since Vic Saier in 1913), his 13 three-baggers hit in 79 home games in 1984 suggest that Sandberg knew all the holes in Wrigley’s ivy.

Perhaps most remarkable about Ryne Sandberg’s triples explosion of 1984 is that, on five separate occasions, he smashed a three-base hit in consecutive contests, at one point logging four in a span of nine July games. Sandberg’s surfeit of triples actually brought him within a single base of Dale Murphy—who out-homered him 36-19—for the National League lead in total bases.

Although triples play little role in attracting MVP votes, Sandberg’s surprising output of three-base hits surely helped earn him the 1984 NL MVP.

Spearheading, along with mid-season acquisition and eventual Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe, Chicago’s drive to its first postseason since the end of World War II, Sandberg peppered triples at clutch moments: two of them came in extra innings (one leading to a steal of home), five times he hammered a three-bagger with the game tied and nine times Sandberg crossed the plate after knocking a three-base hit—which, when considering that he led the NL in runs scored by eight, contributed mightily to that crucial honor.

There is no explanation for such a short-lived knack for hitting triples—but none is needed. Leading Chicago to a 25-win improvement over the previous season, Ryne Sandberg was, in 1984, what George Orwell might have called unreal. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Full Scouting Report on Each September Call-Up

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ press release setting forth their September call-ups was so understated and so uninspiring that it reminded me of the late, great David Foster Wallace’s summary of tepid applause at a tennis match.

“The applause of a tiny crowd is so small and sad and tattered-sounding that it’d almost be better if people didn’t clap at all,” Wallace wrote in “The String Theory,” published in Esquire.

That, sadly, is the sort of malaise the list of the Phillies’ September call-ups is likely to inspire in the team’s fans.

No one was clamoring to see more of Phillippe Aumont, but the omission of Maikel Franco and his 31 minor league home runs (per Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer) was a real disappointment.

Four of the September call-ups are, for better or worse, familiar faces. 

Freddy Galvis is back up—in fact, he started at shortstop last night. As the press release recounted, Galvis “hit .245 with three home runs and 25 RBI in 62 games for Lehigh Valley this season.” His 0-for-4 performance last night dropped his career average to .215.

Unfortunately, Galvis is probably the best player the Phillies called up.

Right-handed starting pitcher Tyler Cloyd is back after compiling a record of 5-9 with an earned run average just under five at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 13 major league starts, Cloyd has served up 12 home runs.

Right-handed relief pitcher Luis Garcia was also called up. I cannot improve upon the way the press release explained the stark difference between Garcia at Triple-A and Garcia in the major leagues, so I won’t: “Garcia has retired all 12 batters he has faced at Lehigh Valley since being sent down on August 25. The 26-year-old has a 5.59 ERA in 19.1 innings for the Phillies this year.”

Left-handed relief pitcher Joe Savery is back in the majors again. It is true that Savery “has a 1.38 ERA in 13.0 innings for the Phillies this season,” per the press release.

It is also true that, despite his gaudy statistics, Savery did not pitch in Philadelphia from July 13 until last night, when he promptly yielded an earned run in less than an inning of work.

The last two September call-ups, unlike the four already mentioned, are primed to make major league debuts.

Left-handed relief pitcher Mauricio Robles earned his ticket to the big leagues (for a month, anyway) with 64 minor league innings (at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley) and an ERA under two.

The most intriguing new Phillie is catcher Cameron Rupp, who faced long odds coming into this season as far as being the minor league catcher the Phillies would be calling up in September was concerned.

Rupp began 2013 firmly planted behind catching prospects Tommy Joseph and Sebastian Valle. But Joseph had a nightmare of a season and is presently shut down due to a concussion he sustained in May. Valle responded to that opportunity by hitting .203 at Double-A Reading.

In summary, then, the Phillies called up a journeyman right-handed starter, a utility infielder who cannot hit major league pitching, three relief pitchers and a catcher who started the season behind Valle in Reading.

This September cannot end soon enough.

 

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What Cuban Signing Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez Can Bring to the Phillies

More than a month after reports surfaced that Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez had reached a lucrative, multi-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, a deal between Gonzalez and the team has finally—and officially—been reached:

While that’s a far cry from the six-year, $50 million windfall he was rumored to have landed back in July, Gonzalez is still arriving in the City of Brotherly Love with high expectations placed upon his shoulders by a team and a fanbase that needs some young, electric arms from the right-side of the mound in the rotation.

With Roy Halladay far from certain to return in 2014 and Kyle Kendrick able to leave as a free agent after next season, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. needed to get this deal done.

Ideally, the Phillies would send Gonzalez to the minor leagues for some fine-tuning before he made his major league debut, but with the minor league season coming to an end and the Phillies going nowhere, a trial-by-fire in the major leagues appears to be the way things will work out.

For those unfamiliar with Gonzalez, B/R’s Prospects Guru, Mike Rosenbaum, put together a detailed scouting report on him back in July, noting:

At 6’3”, Gonzalez has a lean, athletic build that doesn’t require future physical projection given his age. But despite his long limbs, the right-hander actually demonstrates plenty of present strength throughout his delivery. Furthermore, his frame helps generate lots of extension towards the plate.

Employing a high leg kick, Gonzalez hides the ball well and, for the most part, does a nice job of keeping his shoulders closed and in line with the plate. However, there are times when he’ll cut off his stride and rip open with his front shoulder, which leads to lower velocity and flatter offerings left up in the zone. Additionally, the right-hander doesn’t always finish his delivery and, in those instances, tends to rely on sheer arm strength rather than executing pitches.

His fastball sits in the low-to-mid 90s and is most effective when he keeps it down in the zone, while he turns to his three secondary offerings—a changeup, curveball and forkball—to keep batters off-balance.

So what can Phillies fans expect to see from Gonzalez this season?

Assuming that Ryne Sandberg inserts him into the back of the team’s rotation right away, replacing Ethan Martin, Gonzalez would be on track to make five starts for the Phillies down the stretch:

Date	Opponent
Tuesday, Sept. 3	Washington
Sunday, Sept. 10	San Diego
Friday, Sept. 15	@Washington
Wednesday, Sept. 21	New York (NL)
Monday, Sept. 26	@Atlanta

While there’s something to be said for beginning your major league career at home, leaving pitches up in the zone at Citizens Bank Park can be deadly, as the ballpark remains one of the most hitter and home run-friendly locales in the game.

That said, the ballpark doesn‘t automatically doom Gonzalez to failure, and with the majority of the batters he’d be facing having never faced him before, early success is certainly not out of the question, especially against the Padres and Mets, who have two of the weaker lineups in baseball.

If he starts, Gonzalez would likely run into some rough patches against Atlanta and Washington, especially the second time around against the Nationals, though it would be interesting to see whether he’s able to adjust to the adjustments that Washington makes after its first outing against him.

The other option, of course, would be for the Phillies to use him out of the bullpen, limiting the wear-and-tear on his arm—and exposure to the competition—allowing him to ease into the major leagues, pitching an inning here and two innings there.

If it were up to me, I’m starting Gonzalez on Tuesday against the Nationals. His future lies in the team’s starting rotation, and the experience that he could gain in five September starts this season can only prove beneficial in 2014 and beyond.

With the Phillies out of contention and looking towards the future, the team has nothing to lose—but more games—by running him out there every fifth day from now until the end of the season.

Regardless of how September plays out, the Phillies got themselves some insurance against another Halladay injury or defection after the season and, more importantly, a pitcher just entering the prime of his career who has the stuff to become a quality No. 2 or No. 3 starter at a middle-relief price.

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7 Reasons to Keep Watching the Phillies with an Eye on 2014

As the 61-73 Phillies head to Chicago for a Labor Day weekend series at Wrigley Field, there won’t be a postseason run to look forward to for a fan base that hasn’t experienced a losing season since 2002.

Instead of trying to get back into the National League playoff race, the Phillies will be looking towards the future. For the first time in a long time, it’s very, very uncertain.

With an interim manager, young players trying to prove their big league worth and major decisions coming on veterans in the offseason, the franchise is at a crossroads.

September might feel like spring training 2014 has come early. Sit back and enjoy watching the path back to contention unfold over the next month.

Here are seven things to watch in September, Phillies fans.

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