15 Games And Already A 6 Game Deficit…It Seems Familiar

The Phillies understand crappy starts. The (5-10) start seems familiar, remember they were (6-9) after 15 games last season. The last 2 seasons they stabilized the early bleeding to get back to (11-11). This years club is going to need a nice run to be able to match that. What seems REALLY familiar is that by May the Phillies were already thinking wild card as they buried themselves in the divisional race. I know that there are three wild cards and it’s way too early to care, but falling out of the division hunt is a great way to pop the balloon of fan enthusiasm.

I’m a relentless advocate telling fans not to push the panic button too early. We have seen too much data to suggest that we know anything about post season standing till at least June. Last season the Mets were the torrid starting team and the Phillies were not even in their rear view mirror by the time they fired Joe Girardi. As we took a deep breath and let things play out the Mets returned to form, choked away the division championship to the Braves then melted down to the Padres at home in the wildcard round. The Phillies beat the division champion Cardinals and then the Padres and Phillies knocked off division champions in the NLDS. All to make the point that early season proclamations are a complete waste of time.

The 2022 Braves won the division and were not at .500 until they were (27-27) in early June. On the same date the Mets were 19 games over .500 and cruising. The Phillies were firing their manager. See, it seems very dark on April 16th but the truth is the slow start to this movie could still produce a monumental ending.

There is also the chance that this is who the Phillies are. They were like this for large stretches of last season. If we don’t see a turnaround of the starting pitching staff very soon they could very well be also rans. That would be a huge disappointment. The 76ers will give them cover for at least a few weeks to get their act together. The huge crowds aren’t expected consistently at CBP until the summer months. I’m not trying to be Pollyanna here. I’m just stating the facts. You need to back away from the ledge and don’t allow yourself to make the grand pronouncements you did last year in error. This team might still be really good.

Last night when the Philadelphia Phillies played the Marlins, we saw old friend Jean Segura playing third base for Miami. It reminded me of this tweet that I posted in April of 2021.

The Phillies got to the World Series last season, so Segura will always have a special place in our hearts. But at the time of the tweet, it didn't look like they were heading to October baseball. Segura would have been another player on a long list of Philadelphia Phillies who were forgotten or considered a "bust out." 

This one was easy, but doesn't totally fit the narrative. Unlike outfielders and starting pitchers, the Phillies have been successful with catchers. Boone, Dutch Daulton, Ruiz, and now JT Realmuto. All have been a part of a World Series, and all have been vital parts of the team. Unfortunately for Lieberthal, who played 13 seasons with the Phillies and is now on the Wall of Fame, he came in during the 94 season and left before the Phillies won the division in 2007. 

You are laughing. I know you are. But in the late 90s when the Phillies were bottom feeders, Brogna was a dim bright spot. He hit at least 20 home runs in each of his 3 full seasons with the Phillies and drove in over 100 runs twice. After leaving the Phillies he hit 4 home runs and only had 29 RBI. Something about the Vet helped Brogna's career.

He is the genesis of this piece so out of respect, I will leave him in here. If not Segura, you could make the case that Cesar Hernandez should be here, but Segura was much more successful. 

Scott Rolen would be the obvious answer here, but people remember Rolen. Heck, the dude is being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. So the guy that fits this conversation is Polanco. A guy who had two stints with the Phillies. He ushered in Chase Utley to second base in the early 2000s, and then came back to play third base. When I ask you to name third baseman in Phillies franchise history, your first, second, third, or fourth thought would be Polanco. In total, his 7 seasons with the Phillies were productive but didn't lead to anything big.

If you are my age, you've had it good at shortstop. Jimmy Rollins for over a decade and now Trea Turner. You can't go wrong there. But there was a shortstop in between who wasn't bad (except when he came back) and that is Freddy Galvis. A guy who played almost every game had enough pop to hit 20 home runs, and was an excellent fielder. Do I miss Galvis? Absolutely not. Was he a decent ball player during the bad days of the Phillies post 07-11? Yes.  

Kenny Lofton played one season here. One. You forget that he played with the Phillies. When you look at what he did, you are amazed that you forget what he did. In 2005 Lofton hit 335, THREE THIRTY-FIVE. He didn't hit bombs, he didn't drive in runs, but he was a staple at the top of the order for a young team. 

I will start with Rowand. You will always remember Aaron Rowand, but only for the catch where he broke his nose. In 2007, the guy did way more than just that. He hit .309 and smashed 27 home runs. If it wasn't for Shane Victorino, Rowand is your centerfielder when they win the World Series in 2008. After leaving Philly and going to the Giants, he was a mediocre player. But that 2007 season got him paid, and the Phillies finally won the division. 

Last but not least, and definitely not least, even though he gets 0 respect from Phillies fans, Bobby Abreu. I have him in this just so he gets a little love. A bubble Hall of Famer, a guy you could pencil in for 20-30 home runs and 80-100 RBI every single year. He was a great baseball player, 5 tool, and just played with bad Phillies teams. In 9 seasons with the Phillies, he finished hitting over 300. Someone that gets no respect but deserves it.