Jonathan Papelbon made some comments the other night that struck a bad chord with some people that are fans of the Phillies and probably ownership and management of the Phillies. Papelbon, who was signed to be the Phillies closer in November of 2011 has spoken, and people took note of what he said.
Jonathan Papelbon was brought to Philadelphia to help them have a better chance to close out games and win them. That hasn’t been what has been happening all that much in Philadelphia this year or last year, which was Papelbon’s first season with the Phils.
The Phillies have played very poorly this year, and last, and have been besieged by injuries as well. Ruben Amaro, Phillies GM, has assembled some very highly paid players on this team for many years now since the 2008 World Series win, but we have seen that money can’t always buy success in baseball, as evidenced by the last few years with the Phillies and the last several years with the Yankees.
Is what Jonathan Papelbon said the other day in an interview have a ringing of truth to it?
Pap made it a point to say this ballclub needed changes from top to bottom, meaning that the change may be even as high as Amaro’s office. Ruben Amaro has had a good run with the Phillies but the success of this team hasn’t been up to what one would expect with all of the great players that have signed here. That is sometimes a measure of success that you can either bask in the sunlight if your players do well, or suffer the consequences of finding new employment if you players that you bring onto a team, with the high caliber type players the Phillies have signed, do poorly.
Let’s be honest and look at this team without the notion from a fan’s perspective, the team hasn’t done all that well at all.
Phillies teams since 2010: (thanks to Baseball-Reference.com)
2010:
The Phillies followed up their 2009 World Series appearance by making it to the NLCS, only to lose to the San Francisco Giants by a 4-2 margin.
2011:
Phillies win the most games ever in the franchise history, but fail in the Division series, losing 3-2 to the St. Louis Cardinals.
2012:
This was the start of the very poor play and injuries that plagued the Phillies, but the lack of getting ‘younger’ and top prospects back into the Phillies farm system have started to haunt the Phillies. The team finishes 81-81 and are completely out of the playoffs. 2013 has been a mirror of the 2012 debacle season by the team.
Of course Papelbon has a funny side to him and let’s not forget the way he mocked his old manager
Terry Francona, so you can’t always believe what he says….
Changes from Top to Bottom: Is Papelbon right?
Jonathan Papelbon made some comments the other night that struck a bad chord with some people that are fans of the Phillies and probably ownership and management of the Phillies. Papelbon, who was signed to be the Phillies closer in November of 2011 has spoken, and people took note of what he said.
Jonathan Papelbon was brought to Philadelphia to help them have a better chance to close out games and win them. That hasn’t been what has been happening all that much in Philadelphia this year or last year, which was Papelbon’s first season with the Phils.
The Phillies have played very poorly this year, and last, and have been besieged by injuries as well. Ruben Amaro, Phillies GM, has assembled some very highly paid players on this team for many years now since the 2008 World Series win, but we have seen that money can’t always buy success in baseball, as evidenced by the last few years with the Phillies and the last several years with the Yankees.
Is what Jonathan Papelbon said the other day in an interview have a ringing of truth to it?
Pap made it a point to say this ballclub needed changes from top to bottom, meaning that the change may be even as high as Amaro’s office. Ruben Amaro has had a good run with the Phillies but the success of this team hasn’t been up to what one would expect with all of the great players that have signed here. That is sometimes a measure of success that you can either bask in the sunlight if your players do well, or suffer the consequences of finding new employment if you players that you bring onto a team, with the high caliber type players the Phillies have signed, do poorly.
Let’s be honest and look at this team without the notion from a fan’s perspective, the team hasn’t done all that well at all.
Phillies teams since 2010: (thanks to Baseball-Reference.com)
2010:
The Phillies followed up their 2009 World Series appearance by making it to the NLCS, only to lose to the San Francisco Giants by a 4-2 margin.