Carlos Ruiz - Though Ruiz struggled at the plate, he was very good defensively and called games well. In 2008, Ruiz had a CERA of 3.83, good enough for 4th among qualifying catchers. Ruiz was so important with the addition of Brad Lidge because of his ability to block Lidge's vicious slider.
Throughout the season, his job behind the plate was overshadowed by his struggles at the plate. He will never offer much in terms of OPS, but he doesn't strike out much. He almost always makes contact and when you continously put the ball in play, luck will come into effect.
Look at what happened in the playoffs. For most of the regular season, Ruiz was hitting the ball at people, which can be seen by his BABIP. Once September came around, he started finding open spots in the field and it carried into the playoffs. His two biggest hits all season came in game 3 of the World Series. He homered and hit a dribbler that caused enough trouble to score the game-winner. In game 2, Ruiz reached base 4 times and went 2 for 2.
Ruiz didn't do much against Milwaukee and many people called for Chris Coste. Ruiz kept battling and was able to hit .313 in the NLCS and .375 in the World Series. Also, Ruiz reached base 50% of the time in the World Series. Both behind the plate and in the batters box, Ruiz was the unsung hero. Chris Coste - Coste did well to spell Ruiz behind the dish. During most of the season Coste was an upgrade offensively, but a downgrade at blocking balls. In 250 ABs starting at catcher, Coste knocked in 36 runs and scored 27. He also hit 15 doubles and 9 home runs to provide the Phillies potent offense with some extra pop. One of his biggest hits this year came on August 26th against the Mets. After the Phillies battled back to tie the Mets from down 7, Chris entered the game in the 8th and went 4-4, while knocking in the GW run in the bottom of the 13th.
It was a complete team effort this year and everyone had their helping hand. Continue coming back to the site as we will be analyzing the contributions of everyone else on the team.
Around 2 million people were out today to watch the Phillies World Series parade. Those who missed it were likely watching from their office building or on a television. Around 2 million got to see Pat Burrell lead the parade. He his everything that is Philly. A constant roller coaster ride of a carrer, but he finally came out on top. I hope we bring him back. 30 hr/100 rbi guys are hard to come by.
It was such an amazing experience. I had tickets to Lincoln Financial Field, but because it was so packed, they shut down all the southbound trains. Yeah, I probably should have went down closer to the stadiums to watch the parades, but I just know for next time...and there will be a next time. For almost 25 years, I started to feel that I'd never be able to see a parade.
Well, it finally happened. We are World Fucking Champions!
If you missed the parade, above is the view right on Broad Street between Walnut and Sansom.
Can you believe it? I will remember October 29th, 2008 for the rest of my life. We have a champion in Philadelphia and it was definitely worth the wait. A little over 25 years and we are finally returning to the top of one of the 4 major sports. Is Philadelphia the new title town? Did the Soul break the "curse"? The last two championships handed out have come by the way of the Arena Bowl and the World Series. The last two titles have found their home in Philadelphia.
How good does it feel? For my generation, those 25 and younger, we have finally felt how good it feels to be coined the best. We as a city finally did it. The players deserve all, or most, of the credit, but we as fans gave the home-field advantage that only increased the intensity for the opposing team. We as a city, finally got over the dirty, rotten hump. Thank you so much Phillies. You conquered your dream and all of ours. Thank you Charlie and Pat. Whenever we doubted you, you stuck by your instincts and got the job done. We're sorry.
The guarantees: Last year, Jimmy Rollins claimed the Phillies to be the team to beat in the NL East. This year, Rollins predicted that the team could win 100 games. Sorry J-Roll, you won 103! There was a guarantee that went under the radar and was rather forgotten. Two years ago, when the Phillies traded Bobby Abreu, Pat Gillick predicted that the Phillies were two years away from contending for a title. Well, his prediction held up. 4 moves that Gillick made this year paid off last night. First, Geoff Jenkins lead off the bottom of the 6th with a pinch-hit double. Later Eric Bruntlett scored his 2nd game-winning run after he pinch-ran for Pat Burrell and was knocked in by a Pedro Feliz single. Lastly, the perfectionist, Brad Lidge, closed out the World Series and sent the city in euphoria. Even if Gillick's additions at some rough times, they stepped up huge when we needed them the most. Signing great talents are always good, but with each talented player, it is character that takes you even farther.
Wow, Pat the Bat! He struggled somewhat this postseason, but when the Phillies truly need him to hit, he came through. He belted 2 home runs in the clinching game aginst the Brewers. Against the Dodgers, he completed the Phillies comeback home run in the Bottom of the 6th. Lastly, to help win our first World Series in 28 years, he lead off the bottom o the 7th with a double that only the wind kept in the park. It was his first hit in the World Series and probably the most memorable hit of his creer. Pat Burrell, you are Philadelphia.
A special thanks goes out to Ed Wade and Mike Arbuckle. Arbuckle is still with us, but Ed Wade also helped put the core of this team together. Outside of Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins he was part of the staff that drafted Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, and Ryan Madson. He also signed Carlos Ruiz and picked up Shane Victorino in the rule 5 draft. He made plenty of questionable moves during his reign as Phillies GM, but he and Arbuckle did help build the core. Most importantly, we have to thank him for accepting Michael Borun as the main piece of the package for Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett.
Speaking of Brad Lidge, he was just spectacular all year long. Including the postseason, he saves 48 games in 48 opportunities. In the first game of the year, Lidge was on the DL, and Tom Gordon blew the Phillies' comeback. Many of us thought we were heading down the same road as the past. A weekend later, Lidge returned to the closer role and shut down every team he faced in the ninth. The Phillies were perfect with a lead after 8 all year. Something that cannot be said about our foes in New York. Something that can be said about the World Champions!
Throughout the coming weeks, I will be profiling each of the Phillies players that made a difference this season.
We Hate to Lose began in October 2007. The initial purpose of the website was to provide news updates and commentary on all four major sports teams in Philadelphia. Because of time-constraints, in April of 2009, I decided to post only on my first-love, the Philadelphia Phillies.
My name is Justin Evans and I hope you enjoy the site.
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