Monday, January 15, 2018

Honoring The Past, Possibly The Future

There are two ways the Phillies honor their players and coaches: Wall of Fame and retiring numbers. A player can be eligible on the WoF if they spent four years on the team (sometimes called the Thome rule). They can honor individuals or a group of players. As for retiring numbers, the Phillies adopt MLB guidance as policy: Hall of Famers only. Considering the team lost 10,160 games in its history along with that policy and it's no surprise they retired only 5 players (three wore numbers), remembering that 42 (Jackie Robinson) is retired by MLB & doesn't count toward the Phillies' five. So how should they honor the 2005-2012 teams that went 727-569 (.561) with five NL East titles, two pennants, and a World Championship?

I do have to start in the past: while these two did not contribute to the NL East dynasty, they deserve recognition through retirement. player, manager, coach and special assistant Larry Bowa (#10) and slugger Dick Allen (#15), the latter having at least a RoY, good numbers, and - new stat - an avg. HR distance in the top three. He'll probably get in but that won't be for another 2-4 years.

Before I go into the top honors, I do think the policy should change. This would put retirement as top honors with individual WoF being second and team WoF being third but still a great honor.

This year will be the tenth anniversary of the 2008 World Championship -OR- 2008-2009 Pennants While some players from that team are still playing, I think the team can find a good time for those players to return for the unveiling of a plaque for that team, especially if Cole Hamels is the only one playing. Eventually, those that were on at least two but more likely three of the teams responsible for the NL East era will be honored on a team plaque. That would have to wait until at least next year, possibly 2020. Thanks to Pat Burrell and Charlie Manuel's individual WoF inductions, I, at least, can wait. And what an honor it would be to appear on both plaques let alone just one.

And back to retirement, here are those definitely deserving:
  • Manuel 41
  • Rollins 11 - longest-tenured Philly and #1 hits
  • Utley 26 - tenure and very high value (higher WAR than Howard or Rollins)
  • Ruiz 51 - tenure and the ability to block balls, call a game and later on, hit; also 4 no-nos caught!
  • Hamels 35 (obviously after he quits) - tenure, post-season MVP 2008, combined and CG no-nos
And here are those that won't be retired but will (or are) be on the WoF as individuals or part of the teams' honors:
  • Thome, 25 - 100+ HRs with the team
  • Halladay 34 - de facto retirement and individual WoF since he had the no-hitters & 2nd Cy Young w/ Phila. and he's probably going to the Hall next ballot. Rest in Peace and thank you!!!
  • Rolen, 17 (uh oh - Hoskins!) - 7-yr tenure & RoY; good production overall
  • Werth, 28 - left too early but he was integral in getting us those pennants
  • Abreu, 53 - just like Rolen, led us to contention; like Allen, underrated (but Allen is more underrated); .921 OPS in NINE (9)! years with the Phillies.
  • Howard 6 - I don't advocate for retirement but individual WoF is probably a must. His OPS+ after signing the extension was ~95 close to league avg. We'd have accomplished lots less w/o him.
  • Lidge 54 - probably not but that 2008 season - wow!
  • Madson, 46 - tenure & 2008
  • Victorino 8 - tenure & 2008
  • Meyers, 39 - 2008-9
  • Blanton, 56 - probably not but that HR & win in Game 4 of the 2008 World Series!
  • Moyer, 50 - hometown kid, 2008, broadcaster
  • Stairs, 12 - 2008 NLCS HR, broadcaster, hitting coach
  • Lee, 33 - had he not been traded he'd have probably been in the definites!
  • Pat Burrell, 5 - #1 draft pick, 2008, etc.
  • Lopes, 15 - baserunning success (a rarity that I will recommend a coach)
  • Dubee, 30 - pitching coac
And those on the teams' WoF plaques not mentioned above: Madson, Oswalt, J.C. Romero, J Contreras,  Kendrick, P Feliz, P Polanco, W Valdez, J.A. Happ, C Durbin. Coaches: Thompson (H), Perlozzo (3B), Samuel (1B-3B), Dubee (P), Lopes (1B), Billmeyer (C, 'pen), and possibly Greg Gross (H). Obviously, Charlie Manuel will be at the top of both teams' WoF plaques.

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