Dear Jonathan Papelbon,

How did it feel to get your first work of the year in yesterday?  I know pitching in the 5th during Spring Training is nothing like the pitching in the 9th during a big game, but it’s a start.  You looked good, and quite funny with that one pop-up.

Jonathan Papelbon during a Spring Training game. Photo Phillies.com

But I’m not writing this letter to talk about that.  I’m here to discuss a very important issue that is near and dear to the hearts of all Philadelphia Phillies fans.

That is issue is length of games.

Last year, the Phillies had about 29 or so games under 2 1/2 hrs (baseball-reference).  That includes about 5 that lasted under 2 hrs and 10 minutes.  Did you read those numbers?  About 20% of the games are under 2 1/2 hours.  I know, those are times that you can’t understand, but it’s true.

Let’s compare that to the Red Sox, where there were 6 games under 2 1/2 hours (baseball-reference).  That’s a big difference.

I know this is going to be a culture shock for you, but it’s important to understand.  We have all seen Red Sox/Yankees games (no way to avoid them, since they are on ESPN, MLB Network or Fox whenever the two teams play) that have lasted well over 4 hours.  Philadelphia had 6 games last year that lasted over 4 hours.  That’s it, SIX.  And one of those games was a 19 inning marathon.

Now, the Phillies starting rotation likes getting the ball and pitching it. They do not like wasting time.  You need to learn from them.

Please stop taking 5 minutes (or more) per batter!  I guarantee that Phillies’ fans will start getting bored when that happens, and well, let’s just say, you don’t want that to happen.  It’s in everyone’s best interest to win them over to your side and keep them there.

We like our 2 1/2 hr games.  It’s kind of grown on us.  And while you have a tremendous responsibility of closing out games started by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels (ok, so they are going to be closing a lot of their own games, but you get my drift,) you need to be able to close them out in a reasonable amount of time.

I know you are used to rabid fan-bases, so I’m not worried about that.  But please, PLEASE work on your speed.  It is just better all around.

From,

Loyal Phillies’ Fans

Karilee Jeantet is the Lead Contributor for A View From Section 116.  Follow her on Twitter @kjeantet and @Viewfromsec116.

This past week was full of workouts, spring training photos (both good and bad) and press conferences.  Lots and lots of press conferences.

And the Phillies were no exception. They set up times for their top players to speak and for some, it may be the only time they speak all year (yes, I’m looking at you Chase Utley!)

Jonathan Papelbon

The Phillies newest high paid closer spent his first day in a Phillies uniform, talking about the Red Sox.

Asked if he still thought about that pitch, he said, “Every day. All day.”

He paused again.

“I mean, I don’t think about it at all, man,” he said. “It’s something that, when I was a rookie and I made my first All-Star Game, I had to talk with Mo [Yankees closer Marian Rivera] about the biggest thing that’s going to make me successful in this game. His first answer was [have] a short term memory. You’ve got to be able to learn from [blown saves] still and learn from those situations. But I don’t sit there and think about it all spring. You go over things and try to learn from them, but you’ve got to be able to turn the page.” Todd Zolecki of Phillies.com

It’s a good thing Papelbon has short term, because Philadelphia,  like Boston, does not.  But unlike Boston, Philadelphia doesn’t really have a reason to love him and most haven’t gotten over the loss of Ryan Madson yet.

» Continue reading “Phillies Press Conference Roundup Pt 1: The Closer and the Original Ace”

On a day when I was torn between wanting the Phillies to win or lose, they showed that they were determined to keep the integrity of the game. And that is how it should be.

September 28, 2011 will go down in baseball history because of the Red Sox collapse and the Rays surgence. At the same time, the Phillies were putting the nail in a coffin in the Atlanta Braves’ collapse.

It was a tight game. The Phillies were playing for the best record in their storied history, while the Braves were playing to survive another day. And it looked like the Braves were going to do just that.

The Braves were leading 3-2 in the top of the 9th, with Craig Kimbrel on the mound. Kimbrel rocked the baseball world by saving a rookie record of 47 games, on his way to being named Rookie of the Year. However, the month of September was not kind to this young hurler, and the last game of the year did not go his way.

Placido Polanco singled off of Kimbrel to start the 9th, and he was quickly replaced by Pete Orr on the bases. After striking out Carlos Ruiz, Ben Francisco and Jimmy Rollins both work walks. Chase Ultey comes up to bat and hits a sacrificed-fly to tie the game, and send it into extra innings.

In the top of the 13th, Brian Schneider walks and advances to third on an Utley single. Schneider came around to score the winning run.

The reason that I love this game is not just because they came back to win (and yes that is always fun.) And not only because it prevented the Braves from entering the postseason (always a win.)

I loved this game because of how they played. Charlie Manuel played all of his regulars and the team acted like it was just another game that they needed to win. They were determined to uphold the integrity of the sport and make the Braves earn a postseason berth.

The only strange part was how the pitchers were used: Joe Blanton pitched 2, Cole Hamels 3 and Vance Worley 1. Hamels and Worley are Starting Pitchers, not Relievers, yet they pitched out of the bullpen as a final warm-up before the Playoffs. I think that just added to the fun of the day.

Ultey hits a game tying Sac-Fly in the top of the 9th.

Dear National Baseball Writers,

STOP!  Just stop!

Enough with the Cole Hamels rumors already. You started them because you were bored, I think, and sent the Phillies fan base into panic mode.

Why?  Why are you putting these evil thoughts in our heads?  Strictly because of the finances? Because YOU think the Phillies can’t afford to keep him?

Well, I have some news for you.  The Phillies sold out EVERY game last year.  As a matter of fact, they sold out at an average of 104.1% capacity.  The next closest was the Red Sox at 101.7%.  The were first in baseball with an average attendance of 45,440.  They were also first in baseball with total attendance with 3,680,710 people coming through the turnstiles.  The Yankees came in second at 3,653,680, that is a difference of 27,038 tickets sold.*  That’s a lot of money.

If it was the Yankees or Red Sox, would you be putting out rumors that they should trade one of their star young pitchers? Of course not, and neither should they.  But it’s the Phillies and so their money must be short.

News Flash: Its not.

The Phillies payroll is more than covered by the tickets alone, with a good $15 million or so left over.  That is not even including the concessions or merchandise that are purchased once the fans are in the gates.  That’s not including the royalties the team gets every time the brand is used: a t-shirt, hat, or jersey is sold. Oh, let’s not forget the TV contract.  Ok, so it’s not one of the best contracts in sports, since it was forged about 10 years ago, before the team was good, but it’s still income for the team.  Plus that contract is up in 2 or 3 years, which will bring in even more money.

As annoying as talking about the money is, what is even more frustrating is that you are assuming that just because contract extension talks haven’t occurred, then Hamels is gone.

Roy Halladay, Shane Victorino, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee at the All-Star game. (Photo credit ESPN)

Have you looked at past precedence? The Phillies, and Ruben Amaro Jr. even more specifically, have a habit of signing players to extensions in January, after all the Free Agent frenzy is over.  Did you stop to think that the “shortstop situation” (as Amaro calls it) is more pressing matter at the moment?

And speaking of Amaro, has it really escaped your attention that he collects high-end pitchers the way most people collect baseball cards?  Cole Hamels is the homegrown Ace that the Phillies fans have been waiting for.  As much as I love Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, Hamels gives a different type of excitement.

He’s ours.  He was the one that led the team to it’s second World Series victory in the franchise’s storied history.  He not only led them, but earned the NLCS and the World Series MVP along the way.  Halladay and Lee weren’t there yet.

Lee came and offered a boost as Hamels struggled the next year.  Though many Philadelphians were frustrated with him, most believed that he would snap out of it.  And he proved those believers right on so many levels.

Did you see the backlash that Amaro received when Lee was traded?  Do you listen to anger when he was shipped to Seattle?  And that was the supposed price to get ROY HALLADAY!  The fans only had Lee for three months and they were flipping.  What do you think will happen if the pitcher that they watched develop into a Cy Young candidate before their eyes is sent away?  The Lee reaction won’t even come close.

Look, I do understand about budgets and finances.  I understand that part of your job is to create controversy where there might not be any.  And I definitely understand that Hamels is a year away from Free Agency and will be in-line for a big payday.  He probably expects to be paid like one of the best pitchers in baseball, and he deserves it because he IS one of the best pitchers in baseball.  But stop making assumptions based on nothing.  And stop presenting those assumptions as fact.

Remember, just because Amaro checks in on the availability of another pitcher does NOT mean that Hamels is gone.  It could just be for depth, information, or the desire to add just another stud pitcher to his team.

Now, I could be completely wrong.  I could be missing something, but, as of right now, I don’t think I am.  So until you have something more substantial than your own speculation, do everyone a favor and keep it to yourself.

Sincerely,

Phillies Nation

*All attendance stats came from ESPN.com

It came out Tuesday night, the Phillies had an agreement in place to sign Ryan Madson to a 4 year/ $44 million contract. Immediately, the Phillies blogosphere jumped on it and examined the pros and the cons of such a deal. Most agreed that it was too many years for a closer. That the 5th year option pushed it over the edge of ridiculousness. But hey, he’s homegrown, a fan-favorite and had proven that he could handle the 9th. The devil that you know is better than the one that you don’t.

So the deal was seemingly done, until, well, it wasn’t.

Suddenly, it wasn’t about Madson, but about Jonathan Papelbon.  The Boston Red Sox closer.  And the contract wasn’t a bad 4 yr/ $44 million with a 5th year mutual option, but an atrocious 4 yr/ $50 million with a 5th year vesting option.  Oh Ruben, how did you get this one approved?

Papelbon is an excellent closer.  And, in all honesty, is better than Madson, but he’s not our homegrown one, so it’s going take a while to get used to.  Madson, if retained, would have been the first high quality, homegrown closer in Phillies history.

Ok, so I need to get over it and actually root for Papelbon.

Phillies.com

Philadelphia, meet your new closer: Jonathan Papelbon.

Papelbon is 30 yrs old from Jacksonville, Fl.  He has a career 2.33 ERA in 429.1 IP.  In those 429.1 innings, he has surrender only 322 hits, with 126 of those scoring (111 earned runs.)  Of those 126 runs scoring, 31 have come via the long-ball.  He can keep the ball in the park.

I have to admit, my eyes widen when I saw his career K’s, 509.  That is 1.2 k’s per 9. So not only can he keep the ball in the park, he keeps the batters off-base by striking them out. (Baseball-reference.com)

According to some of my friends on Facebook, the Phillies are getting a high-quality closer that plays with passion and determination.  Oh, and that the fans are going to love “the stare.”  (I wonder how it compares to Halladay’s stare.) Also, he knows what it’s like to live with World Series expectations and how to play in an intense environment that overtakes Citizen’s Bank Park.

In a shocking, yet very Amaro-esq way, welcome to Philadelphia Jonathan.