Thanks, Big Guy!

Well, here's something that's never happened to me before.


I was in the middle of writing a blog about how much I love a guy and how much joy he brings me on a nightly basis... when he got traded. (And yes, that’s how long I’ve been trying to get this one out the door.)


Oh Jim Thome. I miss you already!


Now, I know this trade is good for everyone involved. This little experiment just didn't work out. The Phillies need bodies on the bench who can play the field, and Thome has a bad back that no amount of yoga can fix. So, the Phillies traded him to a place where all he has to do is hit dingers and sit back down on the bench.


It just wasn't supposed to go this way.


My heart – still broken from the whole losing to the Cardinals thing – grew three sizes that day Jim came back to us in December. It may not have made a whole bunch of "on the field" sense, but I hoped adding a guy like Thome could help a team that seemed to forget that playing baseball was supposed to be fun. I had visions of him lifting a very large trophy and retiring to Cooperstown in red pinstripes, not being part of a season gone terribly, terribly awry. He couldn’t keep the Phils from scuffling, but, even when things were at their worst during the first half, there was one of the best homerun hitters of all time belly laughing in the dugout, smiling that Jim Thome smile. 


I'll never forget the way I felt when Thome signed here before the 2003 season. It was just a few months removed from when my future husband, Scott Rolen, was traded – and made his less than fuzzy feelings for the organization and the city very public. At the time, I just couldn't believe that one of the best homerun hitters in the game would choose to come to Philly. (I was also in complete shock that Ed Wade could pull of such a signing.) I don't think anyone realized it then, but things changed big time that day. Thome was the catalyst for Philly becoming a destination, not a baseball death sentence. Thome ended the string of awful signings, like the Andy Ashbys, David Bells and Adam Eatons of the world and brought on the Placido Polancos, Roy Halladays and Cliff Lees. It was a major swing in the history of the organization, and Thome deserves a lot of credit for seeing beyond the losing seasons to the potential of the team. Combined with the new ballpark, he helped put butts in the seats and more money in the front office's pocket. That money enabled them to keep the up-and-coming stars in the organization and eventually win the 2008 World Series. Thome certainly isn’t the only reason the organization is where it is today, but you can’t deny the parallels and his role in its rise to success.


I think that following Thome's career – all 609 homeruns of it – is and always will be one my favorite parts of following this amazing game. He is a man who knows how lucky he is to play baseball for a living, and does it with the joy of a really big toddler in a candy store. He brings fun and passion to the field every day, and has showed an entire generation how to be a good teammate and leader – just ask Chase Utley (here, 1:50 mark). 


No, things aren't great with the Fightins at the moment, but that doesn't mean we can't appreciate what we've gotten the opportunity to witness during Thome’s time here. A player like this just doesn't come along very often...

Opening Day is No Time for Battered Fan Syndrome

Opening Day – the most glorious day of all the days – is tomorrow. The pure joy that I feel heading into this event cannot be diminished, but I am a little annoyed by the general feeling of doom and gloom I am sensing from Phillies fans. Everywhere I go, I hear people worrying about the season and preparing themselves for a subpar team.  

Um... What?

This recent behavior has left me with this (possibly offensive, but true) realization: Phillies fans suffer from something I'm going to call Battered Fan Syndrome. The biggest symptoms of Battered Fan Syndrome include a severe inferiority complex, inability to appreciate success, consistent complaining about the "stress" that comes with being a fan, and threatening to jump off the bandwagon but always coming back for more. This type of damage can only be caused by such miserable years that a World Series and five straight playoff trips can't help. (Not to mention the harm that comes from the other three Philly teams.) The media often exacerbates this condition with its pretty much constant negativity and ability to press the panic button faster than the speed of light.

The syndrome explains why Phillies fans are never comfortable being on top and are completely consumed by their fear of the good times ending and being back in the gutter. But Opening Day 2012 is not the time to let the ghosts of summers past creep into your brain! No, it’s not ideal to begin the season without your starting right side of the infield and no, nothing will ever top the Clifton Phifer rapture of last Spring Training, but let’s try to be rational.

First of all, Ryan Howard and Chase Utley aren't dead. Ryan will be back 100% most likely before the All-Star break, and while it could take him some time to regain his swing, he will be fine. The outlook for Chase might be slightly cloudier, and while it's upsetting because we love him and will miss seeing his beautiful face on the field, let's remember his numbers last year. He hit .259 with 11 HR and 44 RBI and only played in 103 games. The Phillies finished with 102 wins. If they could perform in 2011 with Chase's fill-ins, 2012 should actually be no different.

Then there's good ol' Charlie. He still can't manage a bullpen, but the man knows how to win ballgames. It's clear from Spring Training’s emphasis on bunting, and the focus on adding utility depth during the off-season, that this team is ready to win games by any means necessary. Charlie and his staff seem dedicated to the "Get 'em on, Get 'em In" strategy (see: Juan Pierre) and clean, fundamental baseball. This game plan will only help the team when Ryan is back in the line-up, considering he hasn’t hit more than 35 homeruns in the last two years.

I’m going to throw Jim Thome into this list of reasons to be positive, as well. This guy is a huge reason that the organization is where it is. When he signed here in 2003, he ended the era of superstar players running out of town, and started the era in which people like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee choose to come to Philly. Now, he’s back – possibly for his last season – and just seeing him in red pinstripes again gives me a feeling that anything is possible. He is a mentor for the younger players on the team, an experienced veteran who has been through pretty much everything, and someone who can infuse some fun into the team – something I think was missing from the 2011 campaign.

Oh, and of course there are those starting pitchers. No one can touch the Phillies rotation. Roy, Cole, Cliff, Vance and Joey B. are hands down the best 1-5 in the league. Other teams' rotations have gotten better, but they aren't this good, experienced or diverse. I truly don't even see any reason to comment more on this.

After seven awful, baseball-less months and images of the Cardinals winning the World Series on repeat, it's finally time for the 2012 Phillies season to begin. Whether you're worried about Ryan and Chase or Cole's contract status or the glowing centerfield acid trip in Miami (no wait, that actually is worth being upset over), Phillies fans, I beg you to relax. Have a cheesesteak, enjoy the quality product this organization has on the field, and remember: Life is always better during baseball season. There may come a time when the Fightins' are at the bottom of the NL East again, but IT IS NOT THIS (Opening) DAY.

 

(Cue inspirational 9th inning movie clip, Lord of the Rings style: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGUNvIFTQw)

I Bet Batman Never Had A Degenerative Knee Condition

When the news broke about Chase Cameron Utley leaving Spring Training to go see (another) knee specialist, it sort of felt like that moment in an old cartoon, where the hero gets trapped in a terrible situation and the narrator comes on to say, "Will our Hero make it out alive to save the kids from the flaming school bus? Find out next week!" Only, in the cartoons, there’s never really a doubt that the hero will be fine, save the kids, and get the girl.

I bet Batman never had a degenerative knee condition.

Degenerative: Adj. (of a disease or condition) getting steadily worse.

I know, I know, me of all people talking like this so close to Opening Day.

While I do not think Chase’s career is over, I can't stop thinking about the bigger picture, and how it could have been different.

When Chase first came up, every Phillies fan saw the whole beautiful picture playing out in their head. A long, happy marriage between a team, a city, and it's phenomenally good looking second baseman. A gritty, hard-working player whose unparalleled baseball mind could make anyone's heart melt (or maybe that's just me). No, his range at second wasn’t great, but we knew that because of his work ethic, it would come.

Yes, the first couple years were blissful. We could see MVP awards, Cooperstown and eventually, some cushy job as the team’s alumni ambassador, or something.

Then, that stupid pitch from John Lanaan in 2007 broke his hand.

That's where things got shaky for our hero. A cranky hip throughout 2008 required surgery after the celebrations ended. A sprained thumb in 2010, and then the knee problems started. All in all, he's missed 106 games in the last two years.

The numbers certainly aren't what we expected. Most players would be thrilled to have a career .290 batting average with an .882 OPS and 1,198 hits. But, we’re talking about the difference between a solid Major Leaguer and the legend we thought Chase might become. If he had stayed healthy, and kept on pace with his 2006 season (160 games, .309 BA with 32 HRs, 102 RBI and 40 doubles), it's easy to imagine what his career numbers could have looked like. He has fallen out of the top five in most Fantasy Baseball rankings for second basemen and after five straight years on the list, he hasn’t cracked the top 10 in WAR since 2009.

It's hard not to think about the what-ifs. What if Chase hadn't gone to college and started in the system earlier? (Actually that one's easy, he would have been playing for the Dodgers.) But what if Chase didn't have to wait for the Phillies to clear space for him? What if he hadn't played in so many games early on? The speculations are endless, but it doesn't seem to matter much now. Now is a 33-year-old second baseman with a degenerative knee condition shrouded in mystery and secrecy by a general manager whose remarks on the subject usually involve “different stretches and exercises.”

I am in no way shape or form acting like Chase is dead or that the Phils never have a chance to win again – because they do. If anything, I'm already nostalgic about this core group of guys, the ones who brought us a parade and so many good memories. It’s hard to imagine the Phillies without Chase, Ryan and Jimmy, but it seems the end of this love affair is closer than we thought. After almost 10 years, it’s hard to say how many more summers we have left with this group of players together.

The 2012 Phillies are still incredibly talented, experienced and, oh yeah, there are still those three guys in the rotation. This team will not fade from contention, but they need to pull together, regardless of who takes the right side of the infield. Like an aging pitcher with less velocity, it’s time to reassess the arsenal, and find a way to win, even if it means adopting a different strategy. For the fans, it’s time to start letting go of the “what-ifs” and focusing on what’s on the field – what I believe is still one of the best teams in baseball.

Even if Chase can never get back to 100%, we should count ourselves lucky for getting the chance to watch him play when he was healthy (and that the team around his has gotten so much better). He brought a lot of passion back into Philadelphia baseball and the organization owes him a lot for getting them to where they are.

But, maybe our hero will surprise us all yet. Because, after all, “Chase Utley, you are the man.”

(Proof you really can find anything on Google.)

Bring It, March!

I hate March.

I really, really hate March.

It’s still cold. I’m not in Clearwater. I’m pale as anything.

Baseball is around the corner, but really, that just makes my desire to be at the ballpark even worse. Yes, the hockey is good, but the last 20 games are so stressful. I don’t do March Madness. The same reports coming out of Spring Training, every day. The list goes on and on. Essentially – with the exception of St. Patty’s Day – this month makes me want to crawl in my bed and not come out until Opening Day.

This year, I’m preparing early with my 5-step “Make March Less Awful” plan.

Step 1: Listen to Spring Training games on the radio at work. This is a perfect combination of things, and a carry-over from March 2011. It makes the afternoons at work absolutely fly by and it’s so comforting to hear those familiar voices. Usually the broadcasts are full of funny stories from Spring Training and Scott Franzke and LA making fun of each other about all of the things they did over the winter. Win.

Step 2: REALLY pay attention to the late innings of Spring Training games. I don’t like to talk about it, but the fact is the Phillies are getting old. In the next couple of years, the franchise is going to look substantially different. So, for the first time in a while, those unknown minor leaguers playing in the 9^th inning of Spring Training games may seriously have an impact, either on the field or in a trade. Now is the perfect time to pay attention to their mechanics, fundamentals, and most importantly, figure out what assets the team can play with.

Step 3: Watch my favorite sports movies. Once baseball season starts, there is very little time to watch movies. What better way to infuse fun and joy into these miserable March weeks than to watch all my sports movies? Opening Day is 5 weeks from today. I think I shall try to come up with my top five favorite sports movies of all time. There will be more on this soon…

Step 4: Try not to lose my mind watching the Atlantic Division points totals. For all the reasons that I hate March, scoreboard watching usually takes on a life of its own. Without much else to entertain myself with, I sit and watch the standings. It’s stressful, and the thought of not having the Flyers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (aka the greatest thing in sports) hurts my heart.

Step 5: Watch this interview with Chase every day. Watching Chase get completely smitten about his son (and Jim Thome) is just about the most adorable thing I have ever seen in my entire life. I love him. Watch this and you'll be instantly happy – perfect for March! You'll also probably wonder if the Phillies forgot to pack sunscreen.

Okay, this may not be the greatest plan I’ve ever come up with, but at this point, anything will help! Bring it March – I’m kind of ready for you.