The 2008 Champion Philadelphia Phillies: Part Two - Lifetime Phillies

11. Chris Coste, Age: 35, Experience: 3 years
Regular Season: .263 AVG, 9 HR, 36 RBI
Postseason: 5 AB, .200 AVG
Players can make it onto major league roster in a number of ways. Most players are drafted, many sign as free agents, some arrive through trade, and others are released and then picked up by another team. Chris Coste followed one of the most unlikely routes to professional baseball. He was not drafted, but he tried out for teams and slowly climbed up through the minor leagues. He achieved his dream in 2006, and made headlines as the Phillies’ 33-year old rookie catcher. Coste is a talented hitter, with a career .288 average from the catcher position. He split time with starter Carlos Ruiz through the 2008 regular season, and finished with more RBIs despite fewer at-bats. Soon after, the former 33-year old rookie became a 35-year old World Series champion.

10. J.A. Happ, Age: 26, Experience: 2 years
Regular Season: 31.2 IP, 1-0, 3.69 ERA
Postseason: 3.0 IP, 0-0, 3.00 ERA
James Anthony Happ, the only rookie on the Phillies playoff roster, did not throw many pitches during the postseason. Happ served as Philadelphia’s fifth starter in the final months of the regular season. He helped the Philles win the division title by starting in some key spots down the stretch. The Phillies won all four of the games in which he started, and used him as a reliever in a few other spots. In those games, Happ pitched 23.2 innings (just shy six innings per start), and allowed only 6 runs (for a 2.32 ERA as a starter). He faced a formidable group of opponents in those starts: Jair Jurrjens, Mark Mulder, and Johan Santana.

9. Kyle Kendrick, Age: 24, Experience 2 years
Regular Season: 155.2 IP, 11-9, 5.49 ERA
Starting pitcher Kyle Kendrick joined the Phillies early in the 2007 season, and became a valuable fixture in the rotation. Kendrick does not possess overwhelming talent as a pitcher, but he pitched well enough in his first two seasons to help his team win plenty of games. In his first two seasons with the Phillies, Kendrick started 50 times, pitched 276.2 innings, and posted a commendable record of 21-13 with a 4.78 ERA. As the pitch counts piled up, Kendrick wore down over the course of the 2008 season. He struggled in most of his August and September starts. The Phillies chose to leave him off their playoff roster in favor of Happ, but Kendrick nevertheless played an important part in the team’s 2007 and 2008 NL East championships.

8. Ryan Madson, Age 28, Experience: 6 years
Regular Season: 82.2 IP, 4-2, 3.05 ERA
Postseason: 12.2 IP, 1-0, 2.13 ERA
Reliever Ryan Madson has played his entire six-year career in Philadelphia, and is just one of organization’s many home-grown talents. In 2008, Madson served as the primary eighth-inning setup man for closer Brad Lidge. Madson struggled at different points in the season, but performed his best when the team needed him the most. Through September and October, he allowed only 4 runs during 26.2 innings of relief (for a sparkling 1.35 ERA). Madson earned the win in for Phillies comeback victory in Game Four of the NLCS, with 1.2 innings of high-pressure relief.

7. Carlos Ruiz, Age: 28, Experience: 3 years
Regular Season: .219 AVG, 4 HR, 31 RBI
Postseason: .265 AVG, 1 HR, 4 RBI
In his second season as Philadelphia’s starting catcher, Carlos Ruiz proved himself as one of the toughest players on this championship team. All year long, he did a great job in calling games for a pitching staff that ranked 4th in the MLB with a 3.88 ERA. Offensively, Ruiz did not have a very good regular season. Hitting from the 8th spot in the batting order, Ruiz delivered only 31 RBIs. Ruiz saw his batting average, his speed, and his power numbers all decline significantly from 2007. Nevertheless, manager Charlie Manuel still named Ruiz the starter for all 14 of the Phillies’ playoff games. In addition to his work behind the plate, Ruiz improved his offensive efficiency in the playoffs, by increasing his batting average to .261, along with an on-base percentage of .346 that ranked fifth among Phillies starters. A high on-base percentage is key for the eighth spot, to turn over the batting order and give the team a chance to score more runs.

During the World Series, Ruiz posted an outstanding .375 batting average. He also delivered two of the team's biggest hits of the playoffs, during the Phillies 5-4 victory in Game Three of the World Series. First, he hit a solo home run off ALCS MVP Matt Garza in the second inning. Then, he followed up that feat with a walkoff RBI, a bases-loaded infield single, with the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning. Ruiz also teamed up with Chase Utley for one of the most important defensive plays of the Series. With the score tied at 3-3 in the seventh inning of Game Five, Utley threw home on a fielder’s choice. Ruiz made a diving move to tag out runner Jason Bartlett, and held onto the ball to prevent the Rays from taking the lead.

6. Brett Myers, Age: 28, Experience: 7 years
Regular Season: 190.0 IP, 10-13, 4.55 ERA
Postseason: 19.0 IP, 2-1, 4.74 ERA
Starting pitcher Brett Myers, formerly the number 12 overall draft pick, has led a tumultuous career in Philadelphia. Myers showed flashes of brilliance early on, and then posted two outstanding regular seasons in 2005 and 2006. In early 2007, though, he struggled mightily as a starter (0-2 with a 9.39 ERA). He found new life throwing fastballs in the Phillies’ bullpen (5-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 21 saves in 24 chances). Philadelphia acquired closer Brad Lidge in the offseason, which sent Myers the message that the team needed him to succeed as a starter. He had recorded the final out of the 2007 season, and then returned as the opening day starter in 2008. Once again, Myers struggled in the early months. He required a brief demotion to the minor leagues and a change in his approach (fewer fastballs, more off-speed pitches; lower strikeout rate, more groundballs). Trade rumors persisted for Myers even as late as the 2008 trade deadline, but the organization kept its faith in him.

From July through October, Brett Myers returned to form as one of the best starting pitchers in the National League, armed with a nasty curveball that was more dominant than ever. In 13 regular season and 3 postseason starts, Myers totaled 107.1 innings (6.2 innings per start), as he went 9-5 with a 3.35 ERA. Longevity for starters proved to be a key asset for the Phillies; Hamels, Myers, Moyer, and Blanton all routinely pitched well into the late innings, and kept the bullpen rested and energetic. Myers’ two biggest wins came at home in the postseason, a victory over Brewers ace C.C. Sabathia in the NLCS, and another win against Dodgers standout Chad Billingsley. Myers not only helped the team with his arm, but he proved to be even more impressive with his bat. In six postseason plate appearances, he delivered 4 hits, 1 walk, 3 runs, and 3 RBIs. Myers’ fiery feats at the plate not only helped his team to two crucial wins, but he also provided an emotional lift that helped carry the team to the championship.

5. Jimmy Rollins, Age: 29, Experience: 9 years
2007 National League MVP
Regular Season: .277 AVG, 79 R, 47 SB
Postseason: .230 AVG, 10 R, 3 SB
Slugger Ryan Howard might be the face of the Phillies franchise, but 9-year veteran Jimmy Rollins is the true voice of the team. The quick-footed Rollins has served as the team’s leadoff hitter for almost a decade, and has been one of the premier defensive players at the shortstop position. He represented the Phillies three times as a National League All-Star in 2001, 2002, and 2005. Despite his accomplishments, though, nothing that Rollins did in the field ever received as much attention as his bold statements in the press before the 2007 season. After seven seasons without a playoff appearance, and with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves serving as the division’s perennial favorites, Rollins altered the dynamic of the division with a simple statement: “We are the team to beat.” Rollins then backed up his boast with an MVP season for the ages: 162 games, .296 average, 139 runs, 30 home runs, 20 triples, 94 RBIs (all career highs), along with 41 stolen bases and Gold Glove defense at shortstop. The Phillies won 13 out of their 18 games against the Mets, and finished one game ahead of New York on the final day of the season to earn their first NL East title since 1993.

After the Phillies came up short in the 2007 playoffs, Rollins as reigning MVP set a new team goal for the 2008 season: to win 100 games. Then Rollins himself suffered an ankle injury in April that caused him to miss a stretch of 27 early games. That setback was one of many factors that contributed to Philadelphia’s slow start. Upon his return, Jimmy never found quite the same powerful hitting stroke from a year ago, but he still compensated in other ways. He was more selective at the plate as he set a career high with 58 walks and a .349 on-base percentage. He also managed to steal a career-high 47 bases (4th best in the MLB) in only 50 attempts, and he once again earned a Gold Glove in the field. When Philadelphia finished the regular season with a record of 92-70, Rollins was quick to remind people that he never specified whether those wins would come in the postseason or the regular season. The Phillies won their 100th game in Game One of the World Series, and proceeded to win three more to finish their title run.



4. Pat Burrell, Age: 32, Experience: 9 years
Regular Season: .367 OBP, 33 HR, 86 RBI
Postseason: .364 OBP, 3 HR, 8 RBI
No other player on the championship team has played more games in a Phillies uniform than Pat Burrell. No other player seen the team through more wins, more losses, more cheers, or more boos than Burrell. Pat played his first game with the Phillies on May 24, 2000, just a few months before teammate Jimmy Rollins joined the squad. Expectation levels for Pat ‘The Bat’ Burrell in Philadelphia have always been almost impossibly high. Philadelphia selected him with the first overall pick in the 1998 draft, and so he often became the scapegoat for the franchise’s problems. Burrell received heavy criticism from the Philadelphia media and fans for his seemingly aloof attitude, his below-average defense in left field, and his lackluster batting average. Over time, especially as he has worked into the final years of his 6-year, $50 million contract, the city has come to understand and appreciate more of what he brings to the team. Currently, he ranks 2nd all-time among Phillies players in home runs, behind only the great Mike Schmidt, with 251.

Over a stretch of games from July 1, 2007 through July 31, 2008, Pat Burrell carried the offense as well as any other player in baseball. He hit .288 and collected 134 walks, along with 48 HRs and 129 RBIs. That outburst of productivity coincided with Philadelphia’s dominant run to win the 2007 NL East title, and also kept the team afloat in the early months of 2008 while other key players were struggling. Even as Burrell struggled late in 2008 and through the postseason with back problems, he remained a valuable offensive threat at the 5th spot in the batting order. Burrell led the team in walks in both 2007 and 2008, and he continued to find his way on base even when he was not hitting. Burrell came to the plate in Game Five of the World Series with the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Despite an 0-14 performance so far in World Series at-bats, Burrell launched a long drive into deep center. The ball landed just inches short of a game-winning home run, but Burrell was aboard with a double. Soon after, pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett scored the game-winning run in his place. It may have been Burrell’s last at-bat in a Philadelphia uniform, and it was certainly the most important hit of his career.

3. Ryan Howard, Age: 28, Experience: 5 years
2005 Rookie of the Year, 2006 National League MVP
Regular Season: .251 AVG, 48 HR, 146 RBI
Postseason: .259 AVG, 3 HR, 9 RBI
Opinions about the value of first baseman Ryan Howard have always been divided. Howard possesses a combination of some incredible strengths and some maddening weaknesses. At 6 foot 4 and 256 pounds, he looks more like a brute force of nature than a world-class athlete. Howard cannot run very well, and he makes more than his share of mistakes in the field. At the plate, he strikes out more often than just about any player in all of baseball: 100 strikeouts in just 312 at-bats as a rookie, 181 strikeouts in his first full season, an MLB-record 199 strikeouts in 2007, followed by that same total in 2008. He struck out 7 times in his first 12 postseason at-bats in 2007, and added another 16 strikeouts in the 2008 playoffs. Any ordinary player with that combination of faults probably would not even be able to make it on a professional roster.


Ryan Howard, however, is no ordinary player. Without question, he is one of the best hitters in all of baseball, and he could some day surpass Mike Schmidt as the greatest Phillies slugger of all time. Quite simply, Ryan Howard is a run-producing machine whenever he steps up to the plate. His 88-game award-winning rookie season (22 HRs, 63 RBIs) would go down in the books as a strong 162-game effort for most players. Howard was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player the next year, when he hit a franchise-record 58 HRs along with 149 RBIs. Howard has seen his batting average decline in two subsequent seasons, but his run-production remains MVP caliber: 47 HRs and 136 RBIs in 2007 (both 2nd in the league), and 48 HRs and 146 RBIs in 2008 (both 1st in the league). Since the Phillies called up Howard in 2005, no player has hit more home runs, and no player has driven in more runs. Despite his difficulties as a contact hitter, Ryan is still highly selective at the plate, and he has finished in the league’s Top 15 in walks in each of the past three seasons.


Howard’s performance in the 2008 regular season mirrors his postseason performance: he struggled early, then became dominant late. Howard entered the second half with a .215 batting average, before hitting .287 with 28 HRs and 78 RBIs over the final three months. Similarly, he hit .173 with just 1 RBI in his first seven playoff games, and then finished with a .344 mark, 3 HRs, and 8 RBIs to push his team to a World Series title in the final seven games. On top of his accomplishments, Howard also continues to be one of the most likable personalities in all of baseball. He combines the work ethic and demeanor of a professional with the enthusiasm and appreciation of the game found in a kid. Many factors in recent years have contributed to declining numbers of African-American baseball players. Ryan Howard (along with teammate Jimmy Rollins) remains one of the few genuine stars in that ever-dwindling group. Howard’s success on baseball’s biggest stage should no doubt inspire the younger generation to swing for the fences.


2. Chase Utley, Age: 29, Experience: 6 years
Regular Season: .292 BA, 33 HR, 104 RBI, 14 SB
Postseason: 11 R, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 3 SB
Alongside his teammate Ryan Howard, Chase Utley ranks as perhaps the best draft choice in recent team history. The Phillies selected Utley with the 15th overall choice in the 2000 draft, and then took Howard in the fifth round of the 2001 draft. Utley was called up in 2003, and Howard first dressed in a Phillies uniform a year later. After both players took over the left side of the infield full-time in 2005, the franchise transformed into an offensive juggernaut and a perennial contender. The team has put together four straight winning seasons, with an average of 87 wins per season. The Phillies finished among the top ten teams in runs scored in each of those seasons (although, admittedly, their relatively small home ballpark helps that production).


Howard plays first base, where great offensive players are easy to find, and where defense is not a high priority. On the other hand, most second basemen are expected to play great defense, but they usually do not produce great offensive numbers. Utley is unique in that he does excel in hitting even more than he does in fielding. There are simply no weaknesses in Utley’s all-around game. His 162-game averages are outstanding in every category: .298 average, 80 walks, 108 runs, 29 HRs, 108 RBIs, 13 stolen bases. He can hit anywhere in the batting order, he hits for average, he draws walks, he crowds the plate to attract HBPs, he hits for power, he runs well, he steals bases but rarely gets caught, and he plays top-notch defense every game. Chase Utley has already cemented his legacy as the greatest second baseman in Phillies franchise history. When his career is finished, he might be regarded as the greatest second baseman in baseball history.


It is difficult to point to a single defining moment for Utley during the 2008 playoffs, so here are three. In Game One of the NLCS, Dodgers ace Derek Lowe had pitched five scoreless innings, and appeared to be cruising toward a victory. In the bottom of the sixth inning, with the Phillies trailing by 2 runs, Utley crushed a 2-run home run to tie the score. Pat Burrell followed suit with a solo shot two batters later to give the Phillies a 3-2 victory. In Game One of the World Series, Utley accomplished a similar feat, this time a 2-run home run off Scott Kazmir in the first inning. Utley demonstrated his versatility later in the game with 2 stolen bases, and the Phillies once again won 3-2. Utley’s best playoff performance, though, might have come in Game Five. Officially, he was 0 for 3 in the game, but he drew a walk, he was hit by a pitch, he stole a base, and he scored a run. He turned three double plays in the field, and then made the most important defensive play of the series. With the game tied at 3-3 in the seventh, Akinori Iwamura hit a ground ball to second base. Utley turned to first base, but the speedy Iwamura looked like he would beat the throw. Utley then turned back to see runner Jason Bartlett advancing toward home plate. He threw a perfect strike to catcher Carlos Ruiz, who made the tag. The Phillies went on to win the game 4-3, and the rest is history. Two days later, Utley was standing in the middle of the championship parade uttering three immortal words: “World Fucking Champions.”


1. Cole Hamels, Age: 24, Experience: 3 years
2008 NLCS MVP, 2008 World Series MVP
Regular Season: 227.1 IP, 14-10, 3.09 ERA
Postseason: 41.0 IP, 4-0, 1.98 ERA
Starting pitcher is probably the most important position in all of baseball, and one of the most important positions in all of professional sports. A starting pitcher can have the type of impact on a game matched only by an NFL quarterback and an NHL goalie. When a pitcher plays perfectly, he can neutralize even the best major league offense, and silence a hostile crowd of 40,000 fans. The Phillies selected Cole Hamels with the 17th overall selection in the 2002 draft, with the hopes of finding a future number 1 starter to serve as the cornerstone of the franchise. He pitched his first game with the Phillies in early 2006. Since then, the team steadily imposed more and more responsibility onto his young shoulders, and each time he responded perfectly to the challenges. His mental approach to the game is second to none, and his repertoire of pitches (including the league’s best changeup) ranks him among the best in the league.


From 2006 through 2008, Hamels started 84 regular season games, and pitched 543 innings, to go 38-23 with a 3.43 ERA. Statistically, Hamels has improved with each season. In 2008, Hamels started 33 games, and pitched 227.1 innings (over 6.2 innings per start), with a 3.09 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 196 strikeouts, and a .227 opponents batting average – all career bests. Among National League starting pitchers, he finished 2nd in innings pitched, 6th in ERA, 1st in WHIP, and 6th in strikeouts. Even those numbers, though, might disguise the magnitude of his success, because the Phillies play in the hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park. Hamels made the All-Star team for the first time in 2008, but he did not receive much recognition in the race for the Cy Young Award. Regardless, though, few pitchers in the league were more valuable to team success than Cole Hamels.


In the 2008 playoffs, though, Hamels elevated his performance level from excellent to legendary. In five postseason games, all wins for Philadelphia, Hamels pitched 35.0 innings (7.0 innings per start), and went 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA, a 0.91 WHIP, and a .190 BAA. Hamels was unbeatable, and virtually unhittable. He never finished fewer than 6 innings, and he never gave up more than 2 runs. He won duels against veteran ace Derek Lowe, as well as phenoms Chad Billingsley and Scott Kazmir. The Phillies pitching staff pitched 123.0 innings in the postseason; Hamels pitched 35.0 of them (28%). A team needs to win 11 games to win the World Series; Hamels won four of those games (36%). Cole Hamels was the best pitcher throughout the 2008 playoffs, the NLCS Most Valuable Player, and the World Series Most Valuable Player. At only 24 years of age, Cole’s best years still lie ahead of him. In the progression of sports history, great players set the bar, and they inspire the next generation to jump over it. With the ageless left-hander Jamie Moyer as his mentor, and legendary southpaw Steve Carlton setting his example, there is no limit to what else Cole Hamels might accomplish in his career. No matter what happens in the rest of his career, the history books are already written for the 2008 season. Cole Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies are World Series Champions at last.