Phillies Nation

Oil Can Boyd

There’s a lot not to like about baseball in the 1930s and 1940s–no television, racial segregation, and an offensive explosion that would make the Steroid Era look like the Bronze Age, thanks to joke ballparks (258 feet to the right field foul pole at the Polo Grounds!) and a set of strategic norms still adjusting to the live ball era.

But there were some things I wish hadn’t changed from then. Four, to be precise:

1. No designated hitter
2. No Atlanta Braves (though I admit that if they were from Boston I might hate them even more)
3. No New York Mets
4. Nicknames

Sure, we have nicknames on the Phillies, and while some of them are pretty good (J-Roll, assuming he comes back, Doc, Chooch), others are pretty awful, like “Polly” or “J-Bone,” which is what Steven De Fratus wants us to call his brother, Phillies reliever Justin De Fratus. Intending no undue disrespect to either De Fratus brother, J-Bone is the stupidest goddamn idea for a nickname that I’ve ever heard in my life. We can come up with something better.

That’s what was so great about the interwar years–they put thought into their nicknames, which is how we wound up with The Splendid Splinter, Fat Freddie Fitzsimmons, Goose Goslin, and a litany of awesome sobriquets for Babe Ruth. And because we weren’t afraid of hurting people’s feelings, nicknames weren’t limited to things you might call your golden retriever or the third-line center on the squirt hockey team you coach on the weekend–you couldn’t really be mean, but you didn’t have to be complimentary, either. You could call someone “Losing Pitcher Mulcahy” or “Three Finger Brown” and no one would accuse you of being an insensitive pig. We need to think outside the box here, which is why I’ve been trying so hard to get “Exxon” and “Tony No-Dad” to stick.

It’s also why I need your help.

Continue reading Dr. Strangeglove: Nicknames

UPDATE, Thursday, 4:40 pm: Willis officially signed a one-year deal after passing his physical today. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, there is a $25,000 bonus for 30 plate appearances made by Willis. There’s a good chance that happens, too. Willis is a career .244 hitter and last year in 31 at-bats, had an OPS of 1.032. You certainly could do worse if you needed a pinch-hitter to jump in at some point.

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(Originally posted Tuesday, 10:38 am)

Former Marlins, Reds, Diamondbacks and Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis has signed a one-year deal with the Phillies today, pending a physical. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com it is worth up to $1 million with incentives.

Continue reading Willis Signs One-Year Pact with Phillies

We near the end of our 2011 Phillies player review series. Today is Jimmy Rollins. Ryan Howard will be last.

Mystery team involved or not, the Phillies without Jimmy Rollins just wouldn’t seem right. Rollins’ decade as leader of the team has been one of the most interesting, exciting, frustrating, and fun tenures of any sports star in Philadelphia…maybe ever. In the same game – hell, in the same at-bat – he can make you smile and cringe several different times. But usually, in the end, you leave with a sense that Rollins has helped the Phillies in some way.

In 2011, frustration may have taken more of a central role in our feelings toward Rollins. No, he’ll never return to being the J-Roll of 2007 – the MVP-winning shortstop that exploded for a once-in-a-lifetime season. I think Phillies fans continue to believe there is some of that magic dust left somewhere. But, let’s be honest with ourselves; that J-Roll ain’t coming back.

What we’re left with is an aging, yet plenty-good Rollins that is beginning to fine-tune his game knowing that he can’t quite do the same things he did from ’01-’09. Leg injuries in 2010 scared folks into thinking the ultimate demise of Rollins was closer than expected. A better 2011 quelled those beliefs, somewhat.

Continue reading Rollins’ 2011 Leaves Us with Differing Emotions

PHOTO AP

The calendar will soon turn to 2012, putting 2011 behind for good. This past season, the Philadelphia Phillies set a franchise record with 102 wins, but the St. Louis Cardinals ruined their World Series dreams. Although the Phillies were knocked out of the playoffs earlier than expected, 2011 was an exciting year filled with memorable moments. As we continue to look ahead to 2012, Phillies Nation will also reflect on the top moments from the 2011 season.

To create our “Top 20 Moments of 2011″ list, each Phillies Nation writer listed their top 20 moments in order. We used a “fair voting method,” the Borda Method, which is also used to tally votes for baseball’s Most Valuable Player Award. Basically, a first place vote equals 20 points, second place equals 19, third place equals 18, and so on. This helped determine the order of our list.

We’ll start at 20 and count our way up to number one.  Number 20 will be released soon, but below are the games that did not make the cut:

Continue reading Top 20 Moments of 2011 Preview

During the last week of July, I lost my mind at the prospect that the Phillies would trade one or more of Jarred Cosart, Domonic Brown, and Jonathan Singleton to Houston for right fielder Hunter Pence. But then it happened, and you know what? It all turned out better than anyone could have imagined.

Let’s leave aside for a moment all the accoutrements that come with Hunter Pence. Let’s leave aside, for instance, the topless photos. Let’s leave aside the ragging on John Mayberry for the Stanford Mermaid Experiment. Hunter Pence: Creator of Catchphrases and Destroyer of Postgame Buffets.

These antics are great, but what do they say about Hunter Pence, the ballplayer? Pence could be a latter-day Roger McDowell, a pitcher remembered today less for his 159 career saves but for the 12 years he spent in major league bullpens setting other people’s shoelaces on fire. (Or for this more recent nastiness, which someone would mention if I didn’t.)

But back to Hunter Pence the ballplayer. From 2007 to 2010, he was pretty decent. But in 2011, particularly in the second half of 2011, he was freakin’ incredible. Continue reading Hunter Pence’s 2011: Awkward but Effective

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–Aramis Ramirez has reportedly signed a three-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers worth between $34-$37 million. He’ll man the hot corner for a franchise that is expected to lose it’s first baseman and could be without the MVP of the league due to a PED suspension.

Obviously, that makes it more likely that the Phillies hold on to Placido Polanco. There had been interest in Ramirez from the Phils side, but that seemed to be more of a backup plan if Jimmy Rollins did not re-sign. Now that Ramirez is out, it seems even more likely J-Roll returns.

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–We wait. It’s been a waiting game all offseason as the Phillies stick to their guns by not offering Jimmy Rollins the five-year contract he so desires. Rollins has lost several potential suitors, first by being adamant about his demands, and then during the Winter Meetings when teams like Milwaukee and St. Louis inked other shortstops to shorter, friendlier deals. Now what’s left?

Just come on home Rollins.

You’d think it’s just down to the Phillies, with perhaps San Francisco waiting in the wings should something go wrong. And I never count out the Red Sox, even though they have Marco Scutaro back in the fold. They’re always willing to spend money.

That being said, it seems like a contract is on the horizon. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com noted over the weekend that Ruben Amaro Jr. would be meeting with Rollins’ agent, Dan Lozano, to discuss a new deal. No information has been leaked from that meeting as of yet. The two sides have kept it under wraps, which I’m assuming each prefer.

Continue reading Odds and Ends: Ramirez, Rollins, Sherrill

Ben Fran is off to Toronto.

UPDATE, 1:27 pm: Here is a tweet from Troy Renck of the Denver post:

“Phillies trade of Francisco opens up poential landing spot for Spilborghs. Phils have liked Spilborghs for a few years as RH bat off bench”

Spilborghs could be interesting, although his 2011 season was a terrible one. He hit just .210 with a .588 OPS, however, has shown to be a very good fourth or fifth outfielder in the past.

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Ben Fran is no more. The Phillies have dealt him north of the border. Here is the announcement from the Phillies:

Outfielder Ben Francisco was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for left-hander Frank Gailey, the Phillies announced today.

Continue reading Phillies Trade Francisco to Blue Jays for Local Product

Victorino's excellent 2011 raises more questions than gives answers. (Photo: AP)

Not one thing stood out about Shane Victorino’s 2011 season and, in many ways, that is a good thing. Victorino has consistently put up very good numbers at a premium position for the Phils for six-full seasons now and is about as complete of a position player that the Phillies currently have on their roster.

Victorino’s exceptional first-half play earned him a trip to Arizona to represent the Phillies in the All-Star Game, but for most casual fans, he went unnoticed. With column after column devoted to debating the worth of the Big Piece, the excitable Flyin’ Hawaiian was in contention for the batting title entering September,   posted a career high slugging percentage 44 points higher than his previous best, and his defense returned to career best levels that helped him win the Gold Glove in 2008.

Continue reading Shane Victorino’s 2011: Solid

The Winter Meetings have lived up to the hype. Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson have found new homes, Prince Fielder will most likely be filling out a change of address form and Alex Gonzalez is calling Brewtown his new stomping ground. Mostly all big names are making big moves.

Just come on home Rollins

It’s a smaller move that could potentially help the Phillies in their negotiating corner. The St. Louis Cardinals, who a lot of people thought were front runners for Jimmy Rollins, allowed Pujols to escape their grasps. This left a lot of money lying around some thought would be to sign Rollins. They, instead, decided to re-up with Rafael Furcal on a two-year deal.

With Furcal and Gonzalez signing deals with the Cardinals and Brewers, respectively, this opens it up for the Phillies to focus on Rollins. There isn’t much of a market now for a shortstop and this will definitely work in Ruben Amaro’s favor. The only obstacle left is what kind of contract will Rollins get.

Continue reading Week In Review – Bye Bye Madson, Hello Rollins?