| Chris Cocca. 2nd June, 2005 - 3:24 am
 It’s a running gag in Philadelphia, at least among Phillies fans: everyone gets better after they leave. Curt Schilling and Scott Rolen may top the list of Phillies “used to be’s” in recent years, but the tradition is a long and less than proud one. If the boys and girls in Philly’s front office play their cards right, though, it could be a tradition that’s finally about to change. In the last few years, the Phils have made some key acquisitions that are starting to pay off. Add another reliable veteran or two, and the idea of a Philadelphia contender is no longer only the stuff of Andy Reid or Rocky Balboa.
Consider Jim Thome. His recent stint on the DL aside, the former Indian has put up solid numbers since coming over from Cleveland in 2003. That year the big man hit safely 153 times (four shy of his career high of 157 from 1996) with 47 homers, his third highest round trip tally, followed by a very respectable 42 dingers in 2004. Just 75 four-baggers short of the fabled 500 club, a healthy Thome will be an important part of this team for the foreseeable future, evidence that some times these deals actually do break in Philly’s favor.
Then there’s Bobby Abreu, who came to the City of Brotherly Love by way of Houston in 1998 and hasn’t looked back. Since becoming a full time player that year with the Phils, Abreu’s been consistently impressive and has stats that even last place finishes can’t diminish. A career .306 hitter hitting .322 at the start of June, Abreu’s greatest hits list include 183 and 182 hit seasons in 1999 and 2000. With 61 hits as of June 1, Abreu seems poised for another banner year in 2005.
Plagued by injuries and less than stellar years, Phillies prodigal son Pat Burrell is coming into his own this year, hitting safely 50 times in 46 games. If Burrell keeps this pace, 2005 will be a record year for the left fielder who’s currently batting .305 and holding his own with Abreu and veteran Kenny Lofton in the Philadelphia outfield.
Speaking of Lofton, the solid center fielder is hitting .377 in this his 15th season, with a .298 career average. An alumnus of 8 other big league teams (including two stints with Cleveland), Lofton’s acquisition was a good move by a team in desperate need of consistency.
But good numbers by good players hasn’t been enough. The Phil’s fate in 2004 was sealed by failure at basic levels. They didn’t get runners over. Runners that got over were left stranded. They didn’t get the hits or wins that counted, and while stars like Abreu and Thome complied impressive numbers, the team finished poorly, another of Philly’s running gags. The worst of it is that the team has the necessary talent. Well, most of it.
The Phillies need a deeper roster, and they could specifically use another solid hitter in the outfield. Tomas Perez did an admirable job filling in for Lofton last month, but imagine for a minute if Lofton could swap centerfield duty with someone like Bernie Williams.
In 2002, Williams racked up 204 hits in 154 games. Injuries and a constant influx of talent has meant less playing time in recent seasons, and the buzz in New York in recent weeks has not all been good. Despite the recent flap over his diminishing role in the House That Ruth Built, however, there’s no indication that Bernie is really looking to leave the organization and fans that love him so much, let alone for Philadelphia. Still, it goes without saying that Bernie’s ethic, experience and post-season credentials would make him one of the top guys in Philly if such deal ever happened and he could aptly fill the roles of team leader, mentor, and, with Lofton, World Champ in residence. Lofton’s role won’t have to change either: he will always come through in the clutch, but someone like Bernie Williams can get you there.
Bernie still plays a solid defense and can take the ball long. He’s a career .300 hitter with legendary post-season credentials – his 22 homers and 79 RBI are still post-season records. A team that has been so good at trading away or otherwise alienating young talent would do well to take a risk and go after this veteran, should the opportunity arise, filling out an already formidable outfield platoon and putting the finishing touches on an offensive lineup still very much on the rise.
And hey, it’s Philadelphia. While we wait around for another shot at the Super Bowl, or, more realistically, Rocky VI, the Phillies’ front office should take a lesson in heart from the city’s fictional champ. Bernie’s got one more ring in him. Supported by a stable of youngish veterans who can put up good numbers and talented, promising kids like Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins, Bernie or someone like him could make all the difference come September and all bets in the NL East could be off. Should Mr. Williams go on the market this year or next, a tiger-eyed Philadelphia organization could make something happen. Ding, ding. |
