2011’s Phillies: Pinnacle or curse?

The final pitch of the Phillies 2011 campaign ended towering aspirations and simultaneously began a new chapter leading to rebuilding, a new administration, calculated spending, and unrealistic expectations.

One, the other or both:   

When the Philadelphia Phillies went from champion to also-ran, the magic evaporated gradually over the months, but in baseball seasons it happened before the faithful or management were expecting it. Translation: a fired GM! And the decline accelerated to rock bottom: restructuring.

IN OTHER WORDS: “Most people think of success and failure as opposites, but they both are products of the same process.” – Roger von Oech

Nine years after, the four aces would have delivered the Fightins to the promised land: the Broad Street parade for their championship and the pennant raising at the Bank. Moreover, they would have arrived the next Opening Day with their gold-trimmed uniforms. Plus the ring ceremonies would have concluded that series.

In ’11, the red pinstripes had set the franchise record with 102 triumphs and were one victory away from advancing to the National League Championship Series. Yes, the opportunity was there to add their eighth NL pennant to 1915, 1950, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2008 and 2009.

Having Roy Oswalt for the fourth game in St. Louis and Roy Halladay for the battle at home provided a false sense of inevitability. Unfortunately, being on the wrong side of a pitcher’s duel ended with an injured warrior who never reached first base: ironically, his defensive position as well.

As if the air was out of the balloon, ’12 had produced only a .500 team; sadly, the Phils finally reached .500 seven seasons later: last summer. Yes, that’s six campaigns of losing baseball with three under the current front office. Will 2020 be the first winning 162 since 2011?

No sooner had the Fightins reached their organizational pinnacle than they crashed and burned. However, they didn’t rise from the ashes like the phoenix. And they eventually landed in the NL East cellar for three out of four seasons.

With spring training ahead in mid-February, the locals could be wondering if the good guys can have a winning record and qualify for serious October baseball. But even though some are uncertain or have questions, Opening Day will return hope to those willing to accept and enjoy it if truck day or pitchers and catchers won’t.

Zenith achieved:     

Describing the Phillies’ pinnacle is when their climb ended and their decline began. For some, though, it was 2008’s World Series, while others may now believe going to consecutive Fall Classics. However, 2011’s squad set the franchise record for wins, but they were never the same again. That final out was a bad omen!

Instead of listing all the individual moments, I remember the 2008 campaign and the postseason of two hurlers: Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels. Lidge blew no saves for the entire 162 and October (9 saves). As for Hamels, he was money in the NLCS and World Series.

Phillies aces:

2008:

• Hamels, 24: 33 Gms., 227 1/3 Inn., 14-10, a 3.09 ERA, a 4.8 fWAR and a 1.08 WHIP.

2009:

• Hamels, 25: 32 Gms., 193 2/3 Inn., 10-11, a 4.32 ERA, a 3.8 fWAR and a 1.29 WHIP.
• Lee, 30: 12 Gms., 79 2/3 Inn., 7-4, a 3.39 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.

After the rubber-chicken circuit had affected Hamels’ offseason preparation and ’09,, the club needed an ace. And Cliff Lee was just the jolt the red pinstripes required to defend their crown. Yes, Lee was an instant hero. Dominating in October, he added the exclamation point with his nonchalant catch on the mound.

From a perfect game to a no-hitter in the 2010 NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds, Halladay quickly helped fans to partially accept the Lee trade to the Seattle Mariners. Basically, GM Rube Amaro had absorbed the heat, but the difficulty of having both was apparent in ’11 after Middleton finally signed off on the dollars.

Phillies aces:

2010:

• Hamels, 26: 33 Gms., 208 2/3 Inn., 12-11, a 3.06 ERA, a 3.6 fWAR and a 1.18 WHIP.
• Halladay, 33: 32 Gms., 250 2/3 Inn., 21-10, a 2.44 ERA, a 6.2 fWAR and a 1.04 WHIP.
• Oswalt, 32: 13 Gms. (1 relief), 82 2/3 Inn., 7-1, a 1.74 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP.

2011:

• Hamels, 27: 32 Gms. (1 relief), 216 Inn., 14-9, a 2.79 ERA, a 5.1 fWAR and a 0.99 WHIP.
• Lee, 32: 32 Gms., 232 2/3 Inn., 17-8, a 2.40 ERA, a 7.1 fWAR and a 1.03 WHIP.
• Halladay, 34: 32 Gms., 233 2/3 Inn., 19-6, a 2.35 ERA, an 8.7 fWAR and a 1.04 WHIP.
• Oswalt, 33: 23 Gms., 139 Inn., 9-10, a 3.69 ERA, a 2.8 fWAR and a 1.34 WHIP.

With four aces, the Fightins cruised from start to finish except for being behind by a half game on April 26. Through Sept. 17, though, they even won three out of four with three regulars alternately getting a rest and were 98-52. But they lost eight straight before a four-game winning streak: 102-60.

Vigor lost:       

Was fate working against the 2011 Phillies when they swept the Atlanta Braves in Georgia to finish the 162? Well, events since then have gone from unfortunate to painful and winning to losing. Coincidence?

While Atlanta went 3-8,, the St. Louis Cardinals finished 2011 with an 8-3 mark. But the Braves had held a one-game lead for the NL Wild Card with two to play; yes, the red pinstripes eliminated them. Translation: The Fightins got the hot team instead of the cold one.

With the Phils up by 2-1 in the NLDS, the Cards tied the series before besting Halladay at the Bank by 1-0 with a first-inning run produced by the first two batters. Interestingly, Doc lost to his offseason hunting buddy: Carpenter. But defeat, injury and intense pain occurred on the final pitch for Ryan Howard: the downed warrior.

Following up their organizational best, the red pinstripes only managed to win their final 2012 contest and finish at 81-81. Unfortunately, the Big Piece only played his first of two half seasons due to injuries, while Doc stumbled to a pedestrian 4.49 ERA: his last complete campaign.

Phillies aces:

2012:

• Hamels, 28: 31 Gms, 215 1/3 Inn., 17-6, a 3.05 ERA, a 4.6 fWAR and a 1.12 WHIP.
• Lee, 33: 30 Gms., 211 Inn., 6-9, a 3.16 ERA, a 5.0 fWAR and a 1.11 WHIP.
• Halladay, 35: 25 Gms., 156 1/3 Inn., 11-8, a 4.49 ERA, a 2.5 fWAR and a 1.22 WHIP.

2013:

• Hamels, 29: 33 Gms, 220 Inn., 8-14, a 3.60 ERA, a 4.7 fWAR and a 1.16 WHIP.
• Lee, 34: 31 Gms., 222 2/3 Inn., 14-8, a 2.87 ERA, a 5.6 fWAR and a 1.01 WHIP.
• Halladay, 36: 13 Gms., 62 Inn., 4-5, a 6.82 ERA, a -0.7 fWAR and a 1.47 WHIP.

During 2013’s spring training, reports surfaced about Halladay’s velocity drop, but his denials didn’t slow Father Time. And the Phils had their first of six losing campaigns with a 73-89 record because 2008’s heroes were now shadows of their former selves.

Phillies stars:

2014:

• Hamels, 30: 30 Gms, 204 2/3 Inn., 9-9, a 2.46 ERA, a 4.5 fWAR and a 1.15 WHIP.
• Lee, 35: 13 Gms., 81 1/3 Inn., 4-5, a 3.65 ERA, a 2.0 fWAR and a 1.38 WHIP.

Howard, 31 and 34:

• 2011: 152 Gms., 644 PA, a .253 Avg., 33 HR, 116 RBI, an .835 OPS and a 1.6 fWAR.
• 2014: 153 Gms., 648 PA, a .223 Avg., 23 HR, 95 RBI, a .690 OPS and a -0.2 fWAR (new normal stats).

In 2014, Lee never recovered from his torn flexor tendon. Even 2015 gave fans only a few days to savor Hamels’ no-hitter: the only ace to leave on a high note. Yes, the baseball gods handed the faithful that one last taste of glory and a bitter bite with Howard in 2016 to end this chapter.