Storyline: The once powerful Phillies have fallen on tough times. Now they’re rebuilding. We’ll see what the future brings. Written by Robert Kobrin, North Carolina
When I think of the Phillies, I think back to 2008, “The Glory Year.” That year they won it all. It was the year the statue of William Penn proudly wore the Phillies hat, bestowed upon him by a daring civilian atop the City Hall. Since then the Phillies have been in a downward spiral, visiting the World Series just once more.
Courtesy: Fox Sports
If you dive into the numbers, you’ll realize that the beginning also signified the end. The 2008 Phillies were never about Batting Average. Sure, they have a handful of players with respectable numbers, but none stood out. The Phillies won games by crushing HRs and pumping out huge slugging percentages. While their batting average was 5 points lower than opponents, their slugging percentage was 28 points higher. The Phillies production went UP in 2009–the best statistical season in years.
Father Time and the pitchers of the National League combined forces to destroy the Phillies. In 2014 the Phillies slugging percentage dropped to .363; and they’ve only had one player hit .300 or above since 2008 (that was Ben Revere, 2014).
Now the Phillies are rebuilding. Just before the trade deadline, Cole Hamels (the Phillies ace for years), was shipped to Texas for four promising young prospects. The Phills have finally pulled the trigger on rebuilding. In a few years they’ll get their chance, again–to claw their way back to the top.
