It had been an undercurrent condemnation of the Philadelphia Phillies for quite a while, dating back to even before managing partner John Middleton’s criticism of his own farm system last October: Basically, the Phillies continue treading .500 quicksand because of their terrible farm system, which produces too few good homegrown players.
This is a popular notion in the Delaware Valley.
How correct is a popular Phillies fan notion about the team’s homegrown players?
As Scott Lauber implied in his piece about Middleton’s condemnation of his team’s talent evaluation for “a hundred years,” the most recent problem was probably demoted general manager Matt Klentak. Trying to put the best spin on the Phillies Former Guy’s tenure, Lauber wrote, “In five drafts under Klentak, the Phillies have thus far graduated seven players to the majors, including third baseman Alec Bohm, a Rookie of the Year candidate.”
None besides the infielder has had a “season” like Bohm’s truncated 2020.
But the critics in Philly continue crying about the current team (even with the return of J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius under new leaders Dave Dombrowski and Sam Fuld), whining, “Remember those guys in the last decade?!”
A talk show caller May 16, for example, echoed many others in the Philadelphia area by invoking memories of the 2007-11 Phillies team that won a World Series title, NL championship, and five division pennants: They “played together since they were 19,” this gentleman asserted. A hired-gun team, on the other hand, ‘’never works,” he said.
Hmm. Then, as though to prove the theory, a Phillies lineup including a number of bench players since Gregorius, Realmuto and Bryce Harper were nursing minor injuries went out and played one of the worst games this observer has ever watched.
It involved atrocious defensive play, particularly by second baseman Jean Segura, and inadequate offense until it was too late. The Dunedin Blue Jays prevailed, 10-8. Moreover, the one player who played rather well was homegrown infielder Nick Maton, who homered twice and manned shortstop ably, while hired gun Segura appeared to engage in a verbal dispute with his manager in the dugout.
The Phillies fell to 21-20 when they could have taken over first place after a Mets loss.
But let’s back up to the homegrown theory, however supported it seems to be by a sample size of one game.
First, the Phillies’ first starter’s slot, first base and third base are all manned by homegrown players – Aaron Nola, Rhys Hoskins, and Alec Bohm. A homegrown player brought them Realmuto in a trade, and Realmuto is the best catcher in baseball. So, that’s nearly half the Phillies starting lineup on Opening Day.
No, wait, it’s better than half of the starting lineup that day since both players who manned center field were also homegrown, albeit disappointments to most fans.
So, there’s that. Yes, the rest of the Phillies’ starting lineup and much of the bench and bullpen at this point involve pickups from other teams.
Now, let’s consider the Phillies’ other championship clot of teams – the somewhat changing squad from 1976 to ’83. Like the ’07-11 group, they won a World Series and NL championship, and five division titles.
Remember Steve Carlton, Garry Maddox, Pete Rose, Manny Trillo, and Joe Morgan? They were all acquired from other teams.
But let’s return to the remark of that sports radio caller. His implication was, most probably, that the homegrown infield of the ’08 champs – Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and Ryan Howard – played together from their teen years, but that isn’t quite true either.
When Chase Utley was 19 (and 20), he was playing for UCLA, and he didn’t begin playing with Jimmy Rollins for more than half a season for the MLB Phillies until three years after Rollins took over at shortstop.
So, what homegrown players get you are a less expensive lineup at the major league level, maybe. It is insanely difficult, however, to put together a largely homegrown championship team – or at least that seems to be true in Philadelphia.
It’s likely true almost everywhere else, now, as well.