This off-season, the Philadelphia Phillies' management set out on the daunting task of improving a World Championship team. The moves they have made so far will affect the franchise for years beyond 2009. One of the most important objectives the Phillies accomplished this off-season was keeping the core intact. There have been several teams throughout Major League Baseball history to win consecutive championships, and one thing they all have in common is that their main players stayed on the team. In the era of free agency and large contracts, this has been an increasingly difficult goal to reach.
The first major move the Phillies made was locking up Cole Hamels for the next three years. At just 24, Hamels has already become one of the premier pitchers in the Major Leagues and is the reigning World Series MVP. With his good fastball, above average curveball, and probably the best changeup in the game, Hamels can easily be a twenty game winner for each of the three years of his new contract. The high-powered offense is wonderful, but pitching wins championships. The poise beyond his years that he shows on the mound gives the whole team confidence that they can win every time Hamels is out there. Signing Hamels now also avoids a few years of almost certain salary arbitration similar to the kind slugger Ryan Howard had gone through the last few off-seasons.
On that note, the signing of Howard to a three year contract was also a major deal. In his first three and a half seasons in the Majors, Howard has won the National League's Rookie of the Year, the National League's Most Valuable Player award, a World Championship, and has tied the Phillies team record for home runs in a season. I understand that it was the Phillies right to deny Howard the large contract so long as he was not a free agent. However, looking at those credentials listed earlier, he obviously deserved it. I'm surprised they didn't give it to him last year. In doing so they removed the fear that the long, baseball process of salary arbitration would sour Howard's relationship with the Phillies to the point where he would sign with another team once he becomes a free agent. True, he strikes out too much, but that is the price you have to pay sometimes for a power hitter. His ability to hit for power to all fields, regardless of the size of the ballpark, puts him with the best in the Majors.
Along with Howard and Hamels, the Phillies also gave new contracts to key players like speedy outfielder Shane Victorino, steady set-up man Ryan Madson, outfielder Jayson Werth who is coming off of one of the best years of his career, utility infielder and pinch-hitter extraordinaire Greg Dobbs, and the ageless Jamie Moyer. With these players plus closer Brad "Lights Out" Lidge, solid defensive third baseman Pedro Feliz, 2007 NL MVP Jimmy Rollins, and potential MVP and two-time All-Star Chase Utley, the Phillies have the potential to be a championship team for years to come.
However, there is one big piece baseball last year's Championship puzzle that is missing- Pat Burrell. Burrell became a free agent at the end of the year and eventually signed with the American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays. True, I used to get angry with Burrell for his inability to come through in the clutch, his perceived lack of hustle, and sometimes volatile relationship with Phillies fans. Although after seeing him hit the double that led to the run that won the World Series, watching him lead the World Championship parade, and hearing him speak of his love for the Phillies and their fans, I vowed to never get on Pat Burrell's case again. I'm sorry I'll never get the chance to prove it. I just don't know how the Phillies let him get away. One thing that could keep the 2009 team from repeating is lack of leadership. Rollins does fine, but there seems to be the need for someone in the clubhouse to keep it all together, and now the man who had done that is gone.
Worse yet is the man signed to replace him- Raul Ibanez. Nothing against Ibanez, I hear nothing but great things about him. He seems like a great clubhouse guy, a major defensive improvement for Burrell, and a bat comparable to Burrell's. However, the Phillies went out and not only got someone older than Burrell, but another left-handed bat. Maybe Pat was asking for too much, but I think after all he's done for the organization he deserved the extra money he was asking for, especially when the alternative is Ibanez. I hope the Phillies and Burrell tried as hard as they could to work out a deal, but for some reason it never happened.
As for the rest of the notable moves, I think the one most overlooked is the signing of catcher Ronny Paulino. What this means for the future of fan favorite Chris Coste will be played out in Spring Training. I understand that someday the two catchers will have to be Carlos Ruiz and Paul Owens Award winner Lou Marson, but until then why mess with what works? Coste has done well at the big league level, and has been a solid number two backstop. The Phillies also signed veteran infielder Marcus Giles to a minor league contract. He could become a nice player to have on the bench this season, especially with the health of Utley and Feliz in question. Overall, new General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and his staff have done a great job of maintaining most of the players that won the World Series, as well as providing some new faces that should be helpful in filling in the gaps. These players, under manager Charlie Manuel, have a great chance of winning World Championships for years to come.
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=phi&year=2008&month=12
http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=phi&year=2009&month=1
No comments:
Post a Comment