The 2008 Champion Philadelphia Phillies: Part One - Trades and Free Agency

15. So Taguchi, Age: 39, Experience: 7 years
Regular Season: .220 AVG, 18 R, 3 SB
Postseason: 4 AB
The 39-year old veteran So Taguchi signed with the Phillies in the offseason before 2008 and served as a bench player throughout the year. With only four postseason at-bats, he was the only Phillies hitter who did not reach base during the playoffs. Prior to this year, Taguchi was the only Phillies player who played on a team that won the World Series. Taguchi previously hit .400 with 2 HR and 4 RBIs in the playoffs to help the Saint Louis Cardinals win the 2006 championship.

14. Matt Stairs, Age: 40, Experience: 16 years
Regular Season: .294 AVG, 2 HR, 5 RBI.
Postseason: .250 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI
The Phillies acquired the veteran slugger Matt Stairs in an August 30 waiver deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Stairs brought 15 years of hitting expertise with him into the clubhouse. He performed the functions of an additional hitting coach as well as a bench player. When the opportunity arose, he delivered big-time with his bat. Stairs crushed a pinch-hit 2-run homerun off of Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton in the eighth inning of Game Four of the NLCS, which proved to be the game-winner. Afterwards, Stairs was uncharacteristically candid in explaining his approach. "I swing for the fences," he said. "That's how I've been my whole career. I think of home runs. It carries over from batting practice. I try to hit every ball out of the ballpark. I'm not going to lie, it's fun when you're there and you're hitting balls out of the ballpark. The biggest thing is to see how far you're going to hit the ball."

13. Clay Condrey, Age: 32, Experience: 5 years
Regular Season: 69.0 IP, 3-4, 3.26 ERA
Postseason: 1.2 IP, 0-0, 5.40 ERA
Right-handed reliever Clay Condrey began his career with the San Diego Padres from 2002-2003. Over the next two years, he did not throw a single pitch in an MLB game. The Phillies added him to their roster in 2006, and Condrey has provided solid innings of relief over his past three seasons in Philadelphia. This season, Condrey achieved career highs in strikeouts and innings pitched. He ranked fourth on the team in relief innings, and proved himself as a key member of the Philadelphia bullpen that ranked 2nd in the MLB with a 3.19 ERA in 2008.

12. Scott Eyre, Age: 36, Experience: 12 years
Regular Season: 14.1 IP, 3-0, 1.88 ERA
Postseason: 3.0 IP, 0-0, 3.00 ERA
Every successful playoff team needs at least one good left-handed relief pitcher, to record key late-inning outs against left-handed hitters. Thanks to J.C. Romero and Scott Eyre, the 2008 Phillies enjoyed the luxury of bringing two excellent left-handers out of their bullpen. Eyre joined the Phillies in an early August deal with the Chicago Cubs. Since that acquisition, his performance was outstanding. Eyre allowed only 4 runs in a 17.1 innings pitched for the Phillies, for a combined ERA of 2.08.

11. Geoff Jenkins, Age: 34, Experience: 11 years
Regular Season: .246 AVG, 9 HR, 29 RBI
Postseason: .250 AVG, 1 R
After a decade with the Milwaukee Brewers, Geoff Jenkins signed with the Phillies as a free agent in the most recent offseason. He began the year as Philadelphia’s starting right fielder, but settled into a bench role when Jayson Werth won the job in midseason. Charlie Manuel relied on Jenkins in a crucial spot to lead off the 6th inning in the second half of the suspended Game Five of the World Series. In just the fourth postseason at-bat of his career, Jenkins hit a leadoff double off Grant Balfour of the Rays, and proceeded to score the go-ahead run.

10. Eric Bruntlett, Age: 30, Experience: 6 years
Regular Season: .217 AVG, 37 R, 9 SB
Postseason: .333 AVG, 3 R, 1 HR
Bruntlett spent five years as a utility man for the Houston Astros before arriving with the Phillies in the Michael Bourn – Brad Lidge swap. When reigning MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins went down with an early injury, Bruntlett provided some solid defense and timely hitting to keep the Phillies afloat in April and May. Over the rest of the season, Bruntlett served primarily as a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive specialist in the outfield. Running in place of Pat Burrell, he scored the game-winning run in Game Five of the World Series.

9. Chad Durbin, Age: 30, Experience: 9 years
Regular Season: 87.2 IP, 5-4, 2.87 ERA
Postseason: 3.1 IP, 0-0, 2.70 ERA
Chad Durbin played with four different major league teams before coming to Philadelphia by trade in 2008. Much like his brother J.D. Durbin, Chad struggled to establish himself as a starting pitcher in failed experiments with the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers. The Phillies added him in a trade with Detroit, and then used him exclusively as a relief pitcher. His performance in that role was excellent: 91 total innings with a combined 2.87 ERA. Durbin became the best long reliever on the Phillies, and recorded more outs than any other Philadelphia reliever in 2008.

8. Greg Dobbs, Age: 30, Experience: 5 years
Regular Season: .301 AVG, 9 HR, 40 RBI
Postseason: .500 AVG, 2 R, 2 BB
Dobbs led all Phillies hitters with a .301 batting average in 2008, while serving as a pinch-hitter and a backup corner infielder. Since Dobbs joined the Phillies in 2007, no other player in baseball has had more success as a pinch hitter. In 2008, Dobbs batted .355 and led the league with 22 pinch hits, along with 16 pinch-hit RBIs (2nd in the MLB). He also ranked eighth in pinch hits and first in the majors with 17 pinch-hit RBIs, to help the Phillies to their 2007 division title.

7. J.C. Romero, Age: 32, Experience: 10 years
Regular Season: 59.0 IP, 4-4, 2.75 ERA
Postseason: 7.1 IP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA
Juan Carlos Romero joined the Phillies midway through the 2007 season in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. The fiery lefthander since evolved into one of the league’s premier bullpen stoppers. Romero has allowed only 17 runs in 100 innings of relief (for a miniscule 1.53 ERA) as a member of the Phillies. Philadelphia does not hesitate to bring in J.C. to pitch in the most difficult situations, whenever they need a critical strikeout or double play. He was credited with two high-pressure World Series wins, in the Phillies comeback victory of Game Three, and the championship-clincher of Game Five.

6. Joe Blanton, Age: 27, Experience: 5 years
Regular Season: 70.2 IP, 4-0, 4.20 ERA
Postseason: 17.0 IP, 2-0, 3.18 ERA
Blanton enjoyed a string of three successful seasons as a starter for the Oakland A’s from 2005 to 2007, but he struggled mightily in the first half of 2008 with a 5-12 record. The Phillies acquired starting pitcher Joe Blanton from Oakland on July 17th. From that point on, Blanton never lost a single game for Philadelphia. The Phillies as a team won 12 out of the 16 games in which Blanton pitched. Blanton pitched the series-clinching Game Four of the NLDS, as well as Games Four of both the NLCS and World Series, and his team won each time. Blanton helped his own cause with the most unlikely hit of the playoffs, a solo home run against Tampa Bay’s Dan Wheeler. All four of the teams in the 2008 National League playoffs added a starting pitcher to bolster their playoff rotation. Blanton was by far the least heralded of the four pitchers, but he achieved a great deal of success. Cy Young winner C.C. Sabathia of the Milwaukee Brewers carried his team into the postseason, but the Philadelphia hitters tagged him for a loss in the first round. Blanton’s former teammate Rich Harden made the All-Star team with Oakland, and then continued to put up first-rate numbers when he joined the Chicago Cubs. The Los Angeles Dodgers traded for perhaps the greatest pitcher of this era, four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux. Joe Blanton could not ask for more elite company than those three pitchers, but he held his own against all three of them when it mattered most.

5. Pedro Feliz, Age: 33, Experience: 9 years
Regular Season: .249 AVG, 14 HR, 58 RBI
Postseason: .255 AVG, 4 RBI
Third-baseman Scott Rolen won the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1997 with the Phillies. From 1997 until 2002, Rolen served as the cornerstone of the franchise. Rolen disliked the team and the city, however, and he essentially held the organization hostage for years until he forced a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals. Afterwards, the Phillies struggled to find an adequate replacement at third base, and they suffered through years with David Bell and Wes Helms in the lineup. Pedro Feliz signed with Philadelphia for the 2008 season after 8 seasons in San Francisco. Feliz struggled at many points in the season with injuries and hitting slumps, but he brought excellent defense and leadership in every game. He offered just enough of an upgrade to push the Phillies over the top in the NL East. Feliz, who had played in the 2002 World Series with the Giants, was the only Phillies starter (or Rays starter) to have played in a previous World Series.

Pedro came to bat in the seventh inning of the deciding Game Five of the World Series, with the game tied 3-3 and a runner on third. Conventional wisdom would say that pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs stood a better chance of driving in the run. Charlie Manuel decided to keep Feliz in the game, and his decision proved to be the wise one. Feliz delivered an RBI single up the middle, to give the Phillies a 4-3 lead for good. Feliz later called it the biggest hit of his career, and arguably it could be called the most important hit in the past 28 seasons of the franchise.

4. Jayson Werth, Age: 29, Experience: 6 years
Regular Season: .273 AVG, 24 HR, 67 RBI, 20 SB
Postseason: .321 AVG, 10 R, 3 SB
Right-fielder Jayson Werth offers a rare combination of size, speed, and power, as well as smart play on offense and defense. At 6 foot 5, the lanky Werth is an imposing physical specimen, whose skills translate well into every facet of the game. He did not begin the season in the starting lineup, but he became more and more integral to team success as the season progressed. For the entire regular season, he ranked 3rd on the team in on-base percentage, 4th in slugging percentage, 4th in home runs, and 4th in RBIs. Werth also collected 20 stolen bases in just 21 attempts, to rank 3rd among Phillies in that category. A right-handed hitter, Werth was a particularly devastating offensive weapon against left-handed pitchers. He led the league with 16 home runs against left-handers in 2008.

In the middle of the season, Werth approached manager Charlie Manuel, and told him that he believed he should be starting every day. The move paid immediate dividends for the Phillies. From July through September, Jayson hit .278 with 51 runs, 15 HRs, 41 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases. Werth’s versatility became extremely important for the Phillies down the stretch. Manuel played Werth in all nine positions of the batting order, but he primarily rotated with Shane Victorino between the 2nd and 6th spots. Werth provided great speed from the top of the order (7 SBs), and great power from the bottom of the order (26 RBIs), essentially whatever the team needed him to do. In the playoffs, Werth built upon his second half success. He led all Phillies starters with a .309 batting average and a .969 OPS in 14 postseason games, as well as a .444 average in the World Series.

3. Shane Victorino, Age: 27, Experience: 5 years
Regular Season: .293 AVG, 102 R, 36 SB
Postseason: .273 AVG, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 3 SB
Speedy Hawaiian outfielder Shane Victorino began his career with the Padres before he joined the Phillies in 2005. Victorino might be, pound-for-pound, the toughest player on the team. At 5 foot 9 and 180 pounds, he still packs plenty of power, boasts one of the league’s strongest outfield arms, and has survived countless collisions with players and with stadium walls. In two consecutive seasons, Victorino earned the unenviable task of trying to replace an All-Star. The Phillies traded away Bobby Abreu in late 2006 and asked Victorino to step into right field. Then, center fielder Aaron Rowand left via free agency at the end of 2007, forcing Shane to move to center. Amazingly, the team suffered no drop-off in either offense or defense. In 2008, Victorino led all Philadelphia starters in 2008 with a .293 batting average, and set a career high with 58 RBIs, along with 36 stolen bases. He followed up Rowand's 2007 Gold Glove Award and Abreu's 2005 award, by winning the same award for his defense in 2008.

In the 2008 postseason spotlight, Victorino stepped up in an even bigger way. He set a Phillies playoff record as he led the team with 13 RBIs, but even that feat does not tell the whole story. In Game Two of the NLDS, with the game tied at 1-1 in the second inning, he hit a grand slam off C.C. Sabathia of the Brewers, Sabathia entered the game as the league’s most dominant pitcher, with a 1.83 ERA over his previous 235 innings pitched. Victorino’s second postseason home run came at perhaps an even more opportune moment. Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda instigated a near-brawl in Game Three by throwing a pitch at Victorino’s head, which shifted the dynamic of the series. The Dodgers won Game Three of the NLCS, and took a 5-3 lead into the eighth inning of Game Four. Victorino responded by sending a game-tying 2-run home run, which landed in the Dodgers’ bullpen. The Phillies regained the momentum and swept the remaining games in Los Angeles.

2. Brad Lidge, Age: 31, Experience: 7 years
2008 NL Comeback Player of the Year
Regular Season: 2-0, 1.95 ERA, 41/41 Saves
Postseason: 0-0, 0.96 ERA, 7/7 Saves
None of the first-time Phillies in 2008 made a bigger impact than closer Brad Lidge. Over six seasons with the Houston Astros, Lidge saved 129 games, made the 2005 All-Star team, and helped his team advance twice to the NLCS and once to the World Series. Despite his success, two posteason pitches began to define his whole career. In the 2005 NLCS, Lidge allowed a 3-run home run to league MVP Albert Pujols, which prevented his team from clinching the series. The Astros rebounded to win the next game, but Lidge allowed another devastating home run, a walkoff shot from Scott Podsednik in Game Two of the 2005 World Series. The Astros organization lost confidence in Lidge after those two games, and began searching for a replacement. Houston traded Lidge to Philadelphia for Michael Bourn before the 2008 season, and he stepped in as the Phillies number one relief pitcher.

The closer position has been a troublesome one for the Phillies in recent years. The Phillies last advanced to the World Series in 1993, and lost to the Toronto Blue Jays. Closer Mitch Williams lost Game Four while trying to protect a 14-9 lead, and then he blew a save to lose Game Six on a walkoff home run to Joe Carter with a 6-5 lead in the ninth inning. Issues at closer plagued the Phillies throughout the current decade. The Phillies finished two games short of the division title in 2001, five behind the wild card in 2003, six back in 2004, one back in 2005, and three back in 2006. In each of those Octobers, fans and players were left wondering what the team might have accomplished with more reliable late-inning relief. The 2005 regular season was particularly devastating for the Phillies, as high-priced closer Billy Wagner not only publicly declared his belief that the Phillies were not a playoff-caliber team, but he also lost two games against the Astros in September, a turn of events that allowed Houston to finish one game ahead of Philadelphia for the wild card.

The Philadelphia bullpen, which served as the team’s Achilles heel for the majority of the decade, quietly became one of the team’s biggest strengths as they raced to the division title in the second half of 2007, behind the efforts of J.C. Romero, Tom Gordon, and Brett Myers. When the Phillies added Brad Lidge in the 2008 offseason, the trickle-down effect instantly transformed the bullpen into one of the elite (3.19 ERA, 2nd best in the MLB). Lidge himself put together one of the best regular seasons and the best postseasons ever from a closer: a perfect mark of 48 saves in 48 opportunities, with a 1.83 ERA, and 12 strikeouts per 9 innings. He pitched for the team’s final outs to clinch the division title (a bases-loaded double play), the NLDS, the NLCS, and the World Series (a devastating strikeout with a runner on second). Lidge’s ‘Lights Out’ performance as closer essentially shortened the game by one inning; the Phillies finished 85-0 when leading after eight innings. As a dominant closer, he provided a major championship ingredient that the team had lacked in past seasons.

1. Jamie Moyer, Age: 45, Experience: 22 years
Regular Season: 196.1 IP, 16-7, 3.71 ERA
Postseason: 11.2 IP, 0-2, 8.49 ERA
The story of Jamie Moyer’s baseball career sounds worthy of a Hollywood screenplay. He was born in Sellersville, PA, and grew up rooting for the Phillies. At the age of 17, he watched his favorite team win their first World Series championship in 1980, led by his idol Steve Carlton. He attended the championship parade through Philadelphia as a fan, and he carried the memory of that the experience his whole career. He pitched at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, and then worked his way into the major leagues. Moyer made his professional debut with the Chicago Cubs, and earned the win, against Carlton and the Phillies in his first career start. Over the next 22 years, Moyer pitched for seven different MLB teams, and won 246 games, ranking him as one of the most successful starters of his era. For years, Philadelphia tried to trade for him, and then finally landed a deal with the Seattle Mariners in the second half of the 2006 season.

Since he joined the Phillies, Moyer has been an invaluable asset in the Phillies clubhouse. He shares the wisdom of over two decades of major league experience and he provides the ultimate model of professionalism. On the other hand, he also maintains the same youthful enthusiasm and appreciation of Philadelphia tradition that he developed as a kid. Thanks to an incomparable level of work ethic and pitching knowledge, he made sure that he never became an old-timer novelty act, but an exceptional MLB starter. His style of pitching is a rarity in today’s game. His best fastball barely tops 80 mph, and as he relies on deception and precision rather than power. At 45 years old, Moyer was the oldest player in the MLB, but he remained the model of consistency as Philadelphia’s number three starter. He pitched just under 200 innings, and he went 16-7 (1st on the team in wins, 7th in the NL), with a 3.71 ERA in the 2008 regular season.

Moyer did not pitch nearly as well in his first two playoff starts as he did during the regular season. He threw 90 pitches and allowed 2 runs in just 4 innings against the Brewers. Then, the Dodgers lineup tagged him for 6 runs in only 1.1 innings, the shortest outing of his career. After those two performances, people speculated that Moyer’s professional career might be finished. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel kept confidence in the veteran player, and refused to change his rotation for the World Series. Moyer started Game Three against the Rays, and allowed only 1 run in a masterful six innings. In the seventh inning, he laid out to make a fantastic dive and to scoop the ball to first base. Replays showed that Moyer made the out, but the umpire could not see the barehanded catch by Ryan Howard. The blown call eventually added 2 runs to Moyer’s box score, and he did not receive credit for the team’s 5-4 win. Moyer’s career was always more about team success than individual accolades. The team won, and the 45-year old Moyer enjoyed the thrill of his second Philadelphia championship, this time as a player rather than a fan.

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.