May 5th, 2014- The 2014 Philadelphia Phillies are one game over .500 and one and a half games behind the Atlanta Braves for first place in the NL East. They are fresh off of a 1-0 win from fifth starter Roberto Hernandez in a game that featured a triple from Jimmy Rollins, an RBI single from Chase Utley, and closer Jonathan Papelbon's ninth save in ten opportunities.
All things considered, the Phillies are having an above average spring. They're contending in an admittedly depleted division. Ryan Howard has gotten off to one of his hottest offensive starts since 2008. Cliff Lee continues to piss excellence, or whatever it is other Philly sports blogs have dubbed it. "Marquee" signing Marlon Byrd has been serviceable, if not an asset.
So why does the entire city seem to feel so listless about its baseball team?
To say there was a lack of excitement going into spring training would be an understatement. Sports radio hosts could barely create the dialogue they're paid to manufacture without getting Rubén Amaro or John Kruk on the phone. The conversation continually shifted back to the Eagles. The Desean Jackson saga was a godsend for ratings and dominated the top of the hour chatter through the start of the season.
Amaro has proven himself to be the definition of mediocre throughout his tenure with the Phillies. He inherited the keys to a baseball kingdom full of treasures, and like his predecessor Pat Gillick, has never shied away from making the big move. In many ways, however, most of those "choices" were almost certainly handed down from above. The smaller baseball decisions have presumably been Amaro's alone. At best, they've led to complacency. At worst, they've been atrocious.
It would be flat out asinine to blame Howard's monstrous contract or Rollins' resigning on Amaro while David Montgomery continues to sit comfortably upstairs, letting Amaro's smug face serve as a symbolic punching bag for fans and bloggers alike. To suggest Amaro acted alone in acquiring Halladay or reacquiring Cliff Lee would be foolish. The ownership group hasn't been meek about the return they want on their investment, especially post 2008. In situations where Wade or Gillick may have been handicapped, Amaro has been given the green light to spend well into luxury tax territory.
Amaro's micromanagement has been his true Achilles' Heel. His lack of charisma further harms his reputation.
Papelbon is off to the best start of his Phillies' career and may be returning to form. He's still one of the most unlikeable players to ever wear a Philadelphia uniform. The rest of the bullpen is a mess; it's like playing roulette at Sugar House casino every time Antonio Bastardo or Mike Adams takes the mound. Freddy Galvis, boasting an awe inspiring .032 batting average, is somehow still getting regular playing time.
We're dealing with the most uncharismatic team to grace South Philly since the Ed Wade era. Jimmy Rollins has pronounced himself "untradable" and seems more interested in chasing individual Phillie records than a pennant. Ryan Howard continues to alternate between looking at strike three and attempting to pull balls into the parking lot while showing occasional flashes of his former self. Chase Utley, currently hitting .346, seems destined to come back down to earth. It'll be a minor miracle if he stays healthy through 162 games.
The "feel good" guys Phillies' fans felt compelled to cheer for in the past are gone. There is no Raul Ibanez, Placido Polanco, or Shane Victorino on this club. Marlon Byrd could hit .400 and knock in 100 this year, but he'll still have the pizzaz of a dying fish. Matt Stairs exudes more personality from the press box than the majority of the Phillies' roster.
This team is going to win some ball games. They may even make the playoffs. Just don't expect anyone to notice until July or August.
Even if Papelbon, Byrd, and Hernandez continue to perform to Amaro's expectations, it won't buy the GM much good will. Anything short of a pennant and we're back to square one next season with little to show for it. The cupboard has been stripped bare over the years. There's almost nothing to be excited about in the pipeline. Ken Giles continues to show promise in Reading, but doesn't project to crack the big club bullpen anytime soon. Maikel Franco is 6 for 14 in his last 3 games with one home run and a .206 batting average. Anthony Hewitt is looking more and more like a total bust.
The Phillies are Rubén Amaro's baby. They're built to compete now, but any kind of real run would be unprecedented by MLB standards and in all likelihood change the perception of Amaro and his legacy.
It all seems like a stretch. The hopes and dreams of the team rests solely on Amaro's Heroes, a group of crabby millionaires with World Series rings and misfit veterans with the collective charm of a broken window in Upper Darby. Ladies and gentlemen, your 2014 Philadelphia Phillies.
High hopes!
No comments:
Post a Comment