The 2013 Phillies were not exactly what you want out of a Major League Baseball team. They had inconsistent bats, up and down starting pitching along with a very poor bullpen. You put these three things together and the likelihood of a team succeeding goes way down. A lot of people felt that the Phillies should have blown this whole thing up during the 2013 season which did not happen. In fact, they almost didn’t even trade Michael Young who batted .276 and had little eligibility with the club left. Thankfully they finally did trade him to the Los Angeles Dodgers but for only 21 regular season games.
The Phillies feel like the old wallet that you have. Or anything old that you cherish for that matter. You know that it is beyond time to get a new one but you want to keep seeing how this one will work out for you. All it ends up doing is disappointing you and you are still not happy with said product. I think I speak for everyone that follows baseball when I say that the Phillies need to move on and starting looking into the future!
Lets face it, Ryan Howard is one of the biggest contract busts of all-time and everyone knows it. Phillies fans are not happy with the job that GM Ruben Amaro has done and for good reason. One of the main reasons is due to the height of the contract that was offered to Howard along with the two year, in advance extension. If I am a Phillies fan I have to be asking myself if this guy even cares about the well being of this team. Besides the fact that he failed to trade Young during the deadline in July he also signed Delmon Young and then cut him to pick up Casper Wells! Please tell me I’m not the only guy to remember this?
Regardless of what Amaro does you still have to put some blame on the players. 2013 was a soap opera in Philly. Jonathan Papelbon went on his little media rant saying that he “didn’t come here for this”, angering the Philly faithful. So let me get this right Papelbon; you didn’t come to Philly to blow seven games over only 60 inning pitched? Thanks, we had no idea. I guess I would be mad too if I just left a team that is now playing in the World Series with a far superior closer than myself.
Finally we have to talk about Jimmy Rollins, good ole’ J-Roll! He is now 34 years-old and it is very obvious that the greatest years are behind him. His slugging percentage is falling bad and his WAR is almost at an even zero compared to five years ago when he was at a 5.3 WAR. 2014 will be the final year of a three year contract and if you are the Phillies you have to try and trade this guy for some young talent. He likely will not sign with the Phillies at the end of 2014 and this team is not going to compete so why hold on to him?
Dear Philadelphia Phillies, it is time to move on from the great run that your team had. These guys that won you a World Series are not the same guys as they were in 2008, time to move on. The next few years are going to be rough but trust they won’t be as rough for as long if you blow things up now and look ahead.