Last
season ended too soon.
The Philadelphia Phillies won a franchise record 102 games in the 2011 regular season, under a dominant rotation that included Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Vance Worley.
The success also came from a rejuvenated hitting lineup. Thanks in part to the trade deadline deal that brought in right fielder Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros.
After the return of Cliff Lee during the offseason, 2011 held World Series or bust expectations.
But, as it is now well known, the Phillies floundered in the postseason.
They struggled to hit when it mattered most, and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series in game five.
A season that held such high hopes, ended quickly, and it was harder to swallow than past disappointments (sports wise that is).
However, one of the great things about sports is that there is always next year, and the start of spring training is here.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. did not make an earth shattering move like he did the past couple years with the trade for Roy Halladay, and the signing of Cliff Lee.
Instead, Amaro made smaller, but still important, moves that will help strengthen the Phillie’s bench, and improve the bullpen.
It started with the one-year deal that will bring Jim Thome back to Philadelphia. Thome played first base for the Phillies from 2003-2005, but was then traded to the Chicago White Sox after Ryan Howard proved he was ready to be the starter.
Thome, who became part of the 600 home run club last year, is expected to be a left handed bat off the bench, but he has said that he will prepare to play at first.
He may have to, because Howard tore his Achilles at the end of the NLDS and is not expected to be back until May.
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The team’s former closer Ryan Madson, was originally reported to have re-signed with the team, before the announcement of the Papelbon deal.
Madson ended up being on the free agent market for a while, and speculation even arose that he would return to the Phillies for one more year as the set-up man, then hit free agency again next year. But Madson finally found a one-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds.
Next, the Phillies went out and traded for a utility to player that could cover at first and third.
The team made a trade with the Colorado Rockies for Ty Wigginton. He is expected to help fill in at first until Howard gets back, and play at third on days when Placido Polanco is out.
The Phils addressed a few notable problems early on in free agency, but there were still a few notable ones left to fill.
One was left field.
Raul Ibanez’s contract ended after the 2011 season, and he was unlikely to be brought back.
John Mayberry Jr. showed potential to be the everyday left fielder last year. But the Phillies brought in Laynce Nix to platoon with Mayberry, so there is an extra left-handed bat around.
The biggest hole to fill, and the one that generated the most buzz around the Phillies this offseason, was at shortstop.
Jimmy Rollins, who became a free agent for the first time in his career, was demanding a hefty five-year contract.
As time wore on, Rollins’ asking price was deemed by all teams as too high for the 33 year old.
Right before Christmas, Rollins lowered his demands, and re-signed with the Phils for another three years.
Since then, the Phillies made various other signings that will help strengthen their bench and their bullpen.
Pitcher Dontrelle Willis signed a one-year deal in December, and Chad Qualls signed on for a year recently. Both will be relievers out of the bullpen.
At the end of January, outfielder Juan Pierre signed a minor league contract. He will bring speed off the Phillies bench, provided he makes the team (which, at this point, he has a good chance of doing).
The club also got all arbitration eligible players new deals.
Right fielder Hunter Pence, and pitcher Cole Hamels each got new one-year deals.
Infielder Wilson Valdez also got a new one-year deal, but was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league pitcher Jeremy Horst shortly after.
Again, the Phillies did not make the big move this year, like they have in the past. But they still brought in many additions that will keep them as a serious contender.
However, there were some players that they could no longer hold on to.
Valdez and Madson will be in new uniforms this year. So will pitcher Brad Lidge, who will be remembered for a perfect season as closer in 2008 that lead the Phils to a World Series title. Lidge signed with the Washington Nationals.
Ibanez and Oswalt are also players who are free agents. They currently have not signed with anyone (at the time of this writing), but are unlikely to return to Philadelphia.
The competition in the NL East is also getting tougher.
Both the Miami Marlins, and the Washington Nationals made many new additions that make them real threats to the Phillies five time division title defense.
The 2012 season should prove to be an eventful one for the Phillies.
The competition is better, and should prove to be a real test for how good the team is this season.
Pitchers and catchers report on February 18. The new season is almost here, and the expectations are still high.
Also, just pointing this out, the last time the Giants won the super Bowl, the Phillies won the World Series.
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