Phillies receive poor grades from Sports Illustrated
Those of us with far less optmistic worldviews had our fears confirmed when Sports Illustrated released the team's off-season report card.
Phillies receive poor grades from Sports Illustrated
Justin Klugh, Assistant Sports Producer
Some people have convinced themselves that Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Roy Halladay will bounce back and have healthy, productive years; that Michael and Delmon Young will provide cheap, adequate power in the middle of the order; that somehow, through a combination of willful ignorance and changing the channel, the Phillies' defense will work itself out.
Those of us with far less optmistic worldviews had our fears confirmed when Sports Illustrated released the team's off-season report card and saw a big red "D."
"Though the trade for Revere gives the Phillies a cost-controlled centerfielder to grow on, they’ve taken steps backward with most of their other moves," the article states. "[The Phillies] are more likely to repeat last year’s middling showing than contend in a division where the Nationals and Braves have upgraded in impressive fashion."
Sure, this was just one media outlet's opinion. But by using "information" and "facts" to back their arguments, SI painted an inarguably hideous picture of Amaro's winter tinkering.
On Delmon Young: "The money is inconsequential enough, but it looks like an overpay for a player who hit .267/.296/.411 with 18 homers last year with a −0.9 Wins Above Replacement Player mark even while being limited to just 31 games in the field, all of them in left."
On Michael Young: "He’ll take over third base in place of Polanco, who to be fair is a year older and about half as durable, but at least able to do something besides imitate a matador at the hot corner."
On Ben Revere: "Amaro did actually acquire some youth in the form of speedy 24-year-old center fielder Ben Revere, who stole 40 bases last year but hit a thin .294/.333/.342 with just 19 extra-base hits..."
Grim stuff.
Perhaps there are others in the media who took a more sympathetic angle, or were at least not paying as much attention.
"[The Phillies' defense] Could be comically bad. Howard? Michael Young? Delmon? Domonic Brown? My lord." [David Schoenfield, ESPN]
"I get why the Phillies think they can still compete. I don't get why they're punting half of their defense and adding more offensive question marks to a growing pile." [Grant Brisbee, Baseball Nation]
"Amaro might have been wise to pass up on overpaying for an outfielder, but unless Young bounces back into the player who led the American League in hits and finished eighth in MVP voting in 2011, a sizable hole remains in the middle of the lineup." [Ryan Lawrence, The Daily News]
"It has been a different kind of offseason for the Phillies, and it's impossible to say that they caught the Nationals and Braves based on where the teams finished last season and what they've done this offseason." [Bob Brookover, Inquirer]
"On paper, it seems the Phillies will once again be unable to contend with the two teams they finished behind in the standings last season. While the Braves and Nationals got better, it’s hard to argue that the Phils did the same." [Phillies Nation]
At least one man has both faith in the Phillies and the means to share his opinion with a large audience.
"I better not say a whole lot about it, but at the same time I know Ruben is really working hard and trying to improve our ballclub, and anything that goes down I think will help us." [Charlie Manuel]
Of course, that was back around Christmas. According to Sports Illustrated, the Phillies' GPA has taken a few hits since then.
The results speak for themselves. Amaro's true mission is to subvert the team as per Mont's and Gile's backroom instructions and that in turn, continues the process of EXPUNGING their best prospects. Since the Lee, Halliday trade, just about every top prospect down to the wasted trade of Singleton, Cosart and recently, Trevor May for a light weight outfielder, has been executed with deadly precision. Additionally, isn't it just a bit funny that Ruben signs Revere who can't hit a ball out of the infield and a hack, anti-semitic has-been, Young while the Braves fatten up with the Upton brothers.....Frank Wren must be laughing his bu.tt off. Amaro is turning out to be the best asset Rizzo and Wren could ever hope for. What a shame for us masochistic Phillies fans.— daystrum- Its shocking to say the least.......take a look at the list of Phillies top prospects over the last 5 years and do the math. How many has Amaro kept? They at least, could have kept Jonathan Singleton, Jarred Cosart,or Trevor May, but of course, Ruben had to expel them, can't keep talent....must get hack, bush league players nobody else wants which also keeps Chollie the proto-Neanderthal happy.
The answer alone begs the question, who is this moron working for? Certainly not the interests of fans who want to win.....who is then, Tony Soprano:-)— daystrum - Warbiscuit has the correct perspective, when I see his postings, its in the realm of "reality" vs the delusions of Phillies apologists. The facts are smack in front of us, Amaro took over the team in 09 and since then, he has virtually decimated the farm and converted the Phillies from a potential dynasty to a team that likely couldn't even win a AAA championship....pathetic.— daystrum
- "Phillies receive poor grades from knowledgable fans and writers"
"Many silly Phils fans rejoin their compatriots in Cleveland, Houston, Miami, and Kansas City and practice denial ...."— warbiscuit - This team isn't much different than the '09 Yankees in age. The Phils have a better 1-3 SP than that team did and for that, you just never know.— mentzertopps
- Apologists...lol. I like the team I've liked since I was 5 in 1965. I liked Wayne Twitchell and Larry Christenson and Deron Johnson. I'm gratified that we have had some sustained success for the first time since the later Seventies into 1980.
I like the Phillies, I don't hate the Philles. Ruben is the GM, Charlie is the manager, they're Phillies today. I guess that's where I differ with some of you guys.— CallisonTaylorRojas - Amaro should become a lying car salesman or a politician when he gets fired at the end of this season.— Pete60
- On paper the new players are middling impressive at best. Revere is expected to provide superior defense in CF. You have to hope this is the case with the corner outfielders questionable defensively. Delmon was supposed to be a star when he came up and perhaps he will step into next level. Both Youngs Michael and Delmon can hit but the hope is they wont hurt you defensively. Im still hoping Brown,s talent emerges. Dom is still young and there is time for him to show his skills. Rays Gordon was expected to make an impact and it took him a few years Im hoping Brown does the same. I know few see it but the talent is there....2 Phills made top 100 prospect list pitchers Biddle and Martin. There are others in the system who may make it next year, Joseph, Quinn, Franco Morgan etc. Things are looking better from prospect standpoint when recently it was bleak.— Don w
- looks to me that Amaro has the money but chose wisely not to overpay this pathetic free agent class.... smart move, because the 2014 class is full of stars....don't expect the Phillies to make the playoffs though as this team hasn't improved at all.— jto9191972
- i would like to know the average education level for these "fans" who have all the negative statements but no solutions or positive statements about anything. now some of you people are actually saying the halliday deal was bad . so glad i moved out of phila and its hateful, cup is half empty ignorance— RUgodot
- Yet you still come to this board, rugidiot. — jman
- This team is being run by Ed Wade Jr (The GM) and Ed Wade(Special scout to the team). This team is still regressing. Can you buy Pat Gillick or other quality baseball minds to run this team?— martin710
- Amaro is a con artist.— Pete60
- ryanrockzzz,
Amaro had no budget to work with this year? When they unloaded Pence and Vic, they said it was to "position themselves" for this season (to free up money to make moves). What did we get? An injured, malingering right fielder who is apparently going to be handed a job when he returns from his Danny Tartabull vacation.
And stop minimizing the negative aspect of the Qualls deal. Sure, he was acquired as a bullpen fill-in, but he was personally responsible for blowing many games last season, enough losses to have made a difference at the season's end.— jman - Agree Amaro gets an A for resigning Hamels. And so far he gets
B- (Revere; in relation to the $$ spent; needs to bat lower in order)
C (Lee; D- for trading him and an B for resigning)
B M.Y.
C- Lannan
D- Durbin
D Qualls
C (Mike Adams - too much $$ for a guy who doesn't pitch much)
C (Papelbon)
C (resigning J-Roll)
F (Ryan Howard extension)
D. Young (Incomplete)
Not sure what that works out to total but it's probably around a C-.— Sam Crow
