Phillies Nation

Everybody Kratz your hands!

Erik Kratz was a more-than-pleasant surprise for the Phillies in 2012. He was a guy that started the year in Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and was not expected to spend much time with the big league club with backup catcher Brian Schneider assuming the role as backup catcher.

But when Schneider wound up on the DL, Kratz got his opportunity–and he made the most of it.

He finished the year with a .248/.306/.504 slash line, and his .809 OPS was good for 3rd on the Phillies among player with at least 100 PA (only Carlos Ruiz and Kevin Frandsen were ahead of him).

Four of his nine home runs came in the seventh inning or later, and three of them came in high leverage situations. It seemed that, whenever the Phillies needed something, he was able to pull through.

And because of his great power numbers, Kratz quickly became a fan favorite. The phrase “everybody Kratz your hands” echoed through Twitter by fans and beat writers alike.

In late August, the Phillies were playing the Braves, who were still battling for the NL East crown, down in Atlanta.

Paul Janish hit a soft line-drive single to shallow center, and John Mayberry Jr. came up throwing home, as Chipper Jones was about to score. The ball and Jones reached home plate at nearly the same time, but Kratz held on in one of the most spectacular plays of the year. (Watch it here) That play just reassured everyone of the awesomeness of Kratz.

Grade: A+ … His numbers and fan favoritism made him one of the most “fun” players on the Phillies. He was one of their best power hitters (.255 ISO), and had his own catch phrase.

PHOTO: AP

Jeremy Horst came to the Phillies via the Wilson Valdez trade with Cincinnati, and wasn’t really expected to contribute all that much in 2012–but to the surprise of almost everyone, he ended up having an outstanding season for the Phils out of the bullpen.

He was down in the minors until June 28 when he and Brian Sanches were called up after Chad Qualls was designated for assignment and Joe Savery was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Even though he wasn’t with the big league club until the end of June, he tossed 31.1 innings, and posted a team-best ERA of just 1.15. And if you like advanced stats, he posted an FIP of 2.39 which was good for second on the team among relievers. He had a career-high strikeout rate (11.5 K/9), and an ‘OK’ walk rate (4 BB/9)–and together that have him a 2.9 K/BB ratio. He held opposing batters to a .191 average, which was a career-best.

Another thing he did well was keeping his opposing HR rate down. His opposing HR rate (0.3 HR/9) was the lowest in the Phils bullpen among guys that threw at least 15 innings.

Overall, Horst’s 2012 was a pleasant surprise for the Phillies. The Wilson Valdez trade is looking like a great move and a steal by Ruben Amaro Jr.

Horst may be that 8th inning guy the Phillies need to get to Jonathan Papelbon. Antonio Bastardo was up and down all year, and I think Horst could really challenge him for the set-up man role next year.

Grade: A … In a season where the Phillies bullpen was possibly their weakest part of the team, Horst did exceptionally well, especially for a guy they got in a trade for Wilson Valdez.

Read the rest of the 2012 Phillies Player Reviews here.

Michael Schwimer started the year down in Triple-A Lehigh Valley after not making the team in Spring Training. He was expected to provide the Phils big league club with some relief help when they needed it–and they certainly needed it when Mike Stutes went on the DL early in the year.

However, his stay in the bigs didn’t last too long, as he was sent down just a few weeks later to make room for Cliff Lee, who was set to return to action after spending some time on the DL.

When Jose Contreras went down with an elbow injury in early June, the Phils yet again recalled Schwimer, and this time he stayed up until mid August.

But then things got weird. He was sent down on August 23, but did not report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He claimed that he was injured, and should have been put on the 15-day DL, rather than being sent down. He reluctantly reported almost a week later, and, although he was presumed to be called up in September, he never was. His last game of the 2012 season was on August 19 in a game in Milwaukee.

Even though Schwimer wasn’t with the Phillies for the entire year, he still pitched the 3rd-most innings (34.1) out of the Phils bullpen. He had a 4.46 ERA, and was overall in the middle of the pack among Phils relievers. He wasn’t the best at anything, but he wasn’t the worst, either.

Jon’s Grade: C … Overall, I think Schwimer did a decent job, given the circumstances. He wasn’t even on the team on Opening Day, and made multiple trips between Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley during the season.

"Cinco Ocho" couldn't replicate his numbers from 2011, but his 2012 was still really good.

In a year full of frustration and shortcomings in all phases, the Phillies bullpen was arguably the most disappointing. After moving on from 2011 closer Ryan Madson, the Phils added Jonathan Papelbon, and Ruben Amaro Jr. made him the highest paid reliever in MLB history with a 4 year, $50 million (actually $50,000,058) contract.

Along with the addition of Papelbon, the Phils also expected guys like David Herndon, Mike Stutes, and probably others, to contribute positively to the team.

Continue reading Phillies Player Review: Jonathan Papelbon

Jimmy Rollins is one of the best shortstops in Phillies history, and will undoubtedly be on the Phillies Wall of Fame one day. But will he be in Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame as well? I say that he should get in eventually, though I don’t think he ever will. Our writers take a look:

Eric Seidman: Jimmy Rollins has 48.6 WAR in his career, which ranks 12th among shortstops in the expansion era (1961-now). However, he also has at least another three years left to play on his current deal. Assuming he averages the conservative estimates of 3 WAR, 140 hits, 20 SB and 13 HR per season, he would be at around 58 WAR, 2,450 hits, 470 SB and 240 HR. His WAR total would place him 8th among shortstops in the pre-defined expansion era, which when coupled with his all-star appearances, gold gloves, MVP and World Series title, seems like it should be enough.

However, he would also be right behind Alan Trammell in that WAR leaderboard, and Trammell is one of the posterchildren for players who deserve to get in but haven’t. It’s going to be hard to imagine voters considering Jimmy when they have mostly ignored Trammell. Rollins has had a fantastic career and he is undeniably one of the best Phillies of all-time, but he seems destined for that Trammell-territory of being deserving and getting HOF support each year but not getting in.

Donald McGettigan: I’d say no. Fair or unfair, that’s how I think the baseball writers will vote when the time comes for Jimmy Rollins. Don’t get me wrong, Rollins has put together a great career to this point (and is my favorite player), but I don’t think he has dominated the sport the way I feel a Hall of Fame player should. Hall of Fame players should be perennial All-Star and MVP candidates, they should win 10 Gold Gloves (not just 3), they should strike fear into opposing players, and should be the no-doubt-about-it best players in the game. I don’t think Rollins quite fits that billing.

I wrote in Spring Training that I think Jimmy Rollins is a sure thing Wall-of-Famer, and went a step further by saying I think the Phillies should eventually retire his #11. Barring injury, Rollins is within striking distance of becoming the Phillies all-time leader in categories like Hits and At-bats, and Top 3 all time in Games Played, Runs, Stolen Bases and Total Bases. His longevity and production with this organization should be recognized in a special way, but I don’t see how he can be viewed among the greatest to ever play Major League Baseball.

Pat Gallen: Rollins might get close, based on some of the numbers Eric put forth. But using the eye test, I just don’t see actual voters putting him in the hall. Even as he’s put together a fairly impressive resume for a shortstop that stands maybe 5’8″ (it’s hard to play the game when you’re small, right?), I agree with Don in that he hasn’t really dominated for more than just his MVP season.

If we’re looking at some of the other shortstops who have entered the hall before him, how many of them would you take over Jimmy? His numbers actually slide right in there with some of the best, especially in the power category. He’s also third among active shortstops in stolen bases. The Phillies should absolutely retie that #11, but if you’re holding a gun to my head, I’m saying he’s not quite a Hall of Famer – and I think the voters will vote that way, too.

Corey Seidman: No Hall of Fame for Jimmy Rollins. The last four shortstops inducted into Cooperstown were Barry Larkin, Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith and Robin Yount.

Ripken was a tremendous hitter for his position and had a streak that will probably never be broken. Smith was the best defensive shortstop ever. Yount hit .305 during a nine-year peak and played the two hardest positions other than catcher. Larkin was a .295 career hitter who made 12 All-Star teams.

J-Roll is not on that level, counting numbers or no counting numbers.

As Eric said, Rollins will fall into the Alan Trammell category. This is the Hall of Fame, not the Hall of Very Good. You can’t convince me that Jimmy Rollins is one of the best 300 players in the history of baseball. Sorry.

How did this team lose to the Astros last night? The Phils bounced back in a big way Friday night, as the bats caught fire with the offense putting up 12 runs on 16 hits. They scored three runs before the Astros even recorded an out. Here are some notes from the blowout:

‘OKAY’ START FOR HAMELS

Cole Hamels didn’t have a great game, but he didn’t pitch all that badly, either. He threw seven innings, while giving up four runs (three of the earned) and added eight strikeouts. He gave up two home runs—one to Justin Maxwell in the 5th and one to Matt Downs in the 4th.

Also getting some work in tonight were Justin De Fratus and Jeremy Horst. Each of them gave up one run in one inning, and Horst struck out the side.

PHOTO: AP

OFFENSE!

WHAT IS THIS?! Okay, maybe it’s because they played the Astros, but still. I like seeing those ‘crooked numbers’, as Wheels likes to say. 12 runs, 16 hits, four multi-run innings–I love it. Jimmy Rollins started off the game with a home run and it just kept getting better from there. Hopefully the offense can put up even half of what they did tonight more frequently.

THE RUF RIDER COMETH

Darin Ruf had an at-bat. And he popped out to third base. Oh well, it was nice to finally see him get some action. Let’s see if he lands in the starting lineup in one of the two remaining games in the series.

GAME NOTES

The Phillies take on the Astros again tomorrow at 7:05 PM with Kyle Kendrick pitching against Dallas Keuchel.

Games are won and lost each year as a direct result of missed calls by umpires. So, naturally, this topic seems to come up every year. Should there be replay in baseball? If so, to what extent should replay be used? Can we use an alternative to replay? My opinion is that MLB should add an additional umpire that watches the game in real time on various monitors in a booth and can talk to the umpires on the field if a call should get reversed or at least looked at in slow motion. Here’s what the rest of our writers think:

Jay Floyd: The technology is there and it’s helpful in ensuring the proper calls are made in others sports and in certain aspects of baseball, so let’s get the appropriate changes in motion to give professional baseball the right results all of the time.

The basis of arguments against replay in baseball is often that it subverts the legacy of the sport or undermines the umpires that are, for some reason, held so sacred, despite constantly being proven unworthy of support for having exceptional judgement.

I don’t know what the best methods for expansion of video replay in baseball should be, but with the ability to get every call right, why not use it? Preserving history and officials’ feelings aren’t strong enough reasons to deny players, team personnel and fans a 100% accurate and legitimate outcome.

Pat Gallen: I’m all for replay being a part of the game. However, I do not want to see several stoppages per game as the game is slow enough already. We’ve come a long way with technology and it should be used when necessary. But let’s not completely remove the human element of the game. I like it for home runs and I like the idea of a few challenges for managers for calls at bases and fair or foul balls.

Perhaps 2 challenges on calls that do not pertain to home runs can be used per game and if both of those are correct a third can be given. You can not use a challenge on balls or strikes. Also, to keep the pace of the game, the crew chief should wear an earpiece and be hooked up to a 5th umpire or a “war room” like the NHL has implemented to get the call correct in a timely fashion.

That said, if MLB were to do little or nothing in the way of change replay, I’d be OK with it. We did without it for a long time and the game is still strong. Continue reading Writer’s Roundtable: Replay in Baseball?

PHOTO: AP

The Phillies couldn’t do much at the plate against the Rockies Friday night, but they did enough to win the game, as they came back from a late 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 on a pinch-hit, RBI single by Nate Schierholtz. It was their 10th walk-off win of the season.

NOT THAT FRANCIS GUY AGAIN

I remember Jeff Francis from 2007 when he shut down the Phillies in the NLDS. He did the same tonight, throwing 5.2 innings of shutout baseball. He had a pitch count limit of 75 pitches–which Larry Anderson rightfully bashed all night–and was pulled after 86. He walked just one and struck out seven, while allowing six hits.

DECENT NIGHT FOR LEE, BUT NOT A THIRD STRAIGHT ‘W’

For the Phils, Cliff Lee had an pretty good night. He had a rough first inning, where he gave up two runs, but then got in a groove for pretty much the rest of hit outing. He got in trouble in the 7th, but the bullpen surprisingly bailed him out.

Overall, he gave up two runs on eight hits while striking out seven in 6.1 innings. Both he and Francis received a no-decision on the night.

“CLUYTCH”

OK, that was bad. But it is a reference to Laynce Nix‘s 2 RBI pinch-hit double in the bottom of the seventh inning. It was only his 3rd pinch hit of the year.

You know who else was clutch? Erik Kratz and Nate Schierholtz. Kratz threw out a runner in the 9th and Schierholtz hit the game winning single in the ninth.

MINI MART CAN HIT?

Michael Martinez, who came into the game hitting a cool .115, collected two hits on the night in two at-bats before he was taken out in favor of Pete Orr.

GAME NOTES

The Phils play the Rockies again tomorrow at 7:05 PM, with Cole Hamels facing off with Tyler Chatwood.

PHOTO: PhoulBallz.com

Darin Ruf is having one heckuva season down in Reading. He’s been named the Eastern League MVP, he’s broken Ryan Howard‘s home run record, and was named the Paul Owens award winner for being the best position player in the Phillies’ minor league system. But does he have a future here in Philadelphia? What should the Phillies do with him at this point? Our writers take a look:

Eric Seidman: Bring him up, play him in left field, see if he can potentially fill that hole for next season. He’s not playing first base here, but if there is any shot he could stick in LF, get him September experience now. Otherwise, move him while his value is high.

Jay Floyd: At the risk of duplicating my sentiments from this week’s edition of Phillies Nation TV, it would be a complete disservice to Darin Ruf if the Phillies don’t promote him to the big league roster once Reading’s season is done. Ruf’s August is legendary. It’s as simple as that. The man has more than earned the right to, at the very least, fill a Mike Cervenak or an Andy Tracy role, as a guy that can pinch hit or give a teammate a day off in the field.

Giving Ruf six to ten games in the field and another six to ten pinch hit at bats would be the right sampling to allow the 26-year-old slugger to show what he can do in the big leagues for a team that should have some roster openings next spring.

Ryan Dinger: Now that the Phillies have given Hector Luna his outright release, it seems apparent that they’re making room to add Darin Ruf to the 40-man roster. This is absolutely the right thing to do at the right moment.

If you’re going to see what Ruf can be for you, you bring him up right now and play him at a position where he could possibly contribute next season (most likely one of the corner outfield spots). You do it now because the team is playing meaningless baseball, and there isn’t a desperate need to have players produce at the plate.

The 2012 season has become all about seeing what things look like for the future, and Darin Ruf may play a part in that equation. So you see what he can give you. If he impresses, you may have one less hole to fill in the offseason. If he hits well, but is a disaster in the field, you at least know that he won’t work as an outfielder and can explore potential trades for him. If he flops entirely, then you know he’s still got more work to do before being a viable big league option. None of those results can hurt the team in any fashion.

Ian Riccaboni: The Phillies will exit 2012 with only five outfielders on their 40-man roster, with one of them being Tyson Gillies. Outstanding 2012 campaign aside, Gillies has more room to grow, and the Phillies should see what Ruf is able to do in left at the Major League level.

One thing is for sure: Ruf can hit, hit, and hit, but plays defense somewhere at a level between Raul Ibanez and Pat Burrell. If it’s a good match, the Phillies will have to fill one less roster hole in 2013. If not, he can head to Triple-A for 2013 until they find a trade partner as Ruf has three more seasons before he can elect to be a Minor League free agent.

PHOTO: AP

The Phils weren’t satisfied with just a series win against the first place Nationals, as they came out to play Sunday afternoon and collected a 4-1 win.

It’s the first sweep the Phillies have completed since a sweep of the Brewers a month ago, and the first time the Nats have been swept since they were swept  by the Yankees back in June.

Continue reading Phils Complete Sweep of First Place Nationals