Just a few years in the past, I retroactively checked out a few of the Phillies’ offseason moves from years previous and graded them on how properly they ultimately performed out. As a part of my Chaunkkah celebration involving the quantity eight, I’ll now look again on the 2008 offseason.
Heading into 2008, the Phillies had been coming off their first postseason look since 1993, even when that look didn’t final very lengthy. Still, the Phillies thought-about themselves to be championship contenders, and their strikes beneath basic supervisor Pat Gillick had been made with that mindset.
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The massive strikes
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Signed third baseman Pedro Feliz as a free agent
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Signed outfielder Geoff Jenkins as a free agent
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Signed aid pitcher Chad Durbin as a free agent
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Signed outfielder So Taguchi as a free agent
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Re-signed aid pitcher J.C. Romero
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Sold third baseman Wes Helms to the Miami Marlins
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Traded Michael Bourn, Mike Costanzo, and Geoff Geary to the Houston Astros for Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett
How did it work out?
The basis for the World Series champions was laid a lot earlier, however Gillick did a very good job of rounding out the perimeters of the roster.
Helms had been a disappointment at third base in 2007, so the Phillies changed him with Feliz. Feliz wasn’t a star, however he was a stable defender with simply sufficient pop to make himself viable decrease within the lineup. He would go on to get the game-winning RBI in recreation six of the World Series.
Geoff Jenkins was disappointing, as the previous All-Star was imagined to be the left-handed facet of a proper area platoon with Jayson Werth. But Jenkins struggled and Werth thrived, so the job ultimately went full time to Werth. So Taguchi was introduced in as a bench piece, and his presence laid the groundwork for a lot of extra Japanese gamers to return to the Phillies. (Someday.)
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Bringing again Romero was key, as he was an efficient, sturdy left-handed setup man who pitched in 81 video games that season. He was joined by Chad Durbin, who was efficient in center aid (though I by no means trusted him in a giant spot.)
But the signature transfer of the offseason was the commerce for Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett. The Phillies wanted one other beginning pitcher and got here to the conclusion that their best choice was to show starter-become-reliever Brett Myers again right into a starter. To substitute him as nearer, Gillick labored with outdated pal Ed Wade to convey Lidge to Philadelphia.
This transfer shouldn’t have labored out. Bourn was a younger, cost-controlled outfielder with loads of velocity and nice defensive expertise. And the Phillies traded him for a more in-depth. And not simply any nearer; one who was coming off two inconsistent years and was rehabbing from an harm. (Bruntlett was principally a throw-in. He was a wonderful defensive infielder who couldn’t do a lot with the bat however lives on in Phillies historical past because of his unassisted triple play.)
But as we all know, the transfer did work out. Myers was inconsistent in his return to the rotation and was even demoted to the minors at one level. But he ultimately obtained his act collectively and pitched properly down the stretch. (Even if his most memorable second from the postseason run got here whereas he was on the plate.)
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As for Lidge, he turned in maybe the best season ever by a more in-depth. He didn’t blow a save all yr, and him falling to his knees after hanging out Eric Hinske will ceaselessly be remembered by Phillies followers.
The commerce regarded considerably worse the next season when Bourn developed into an All-Star and Lidge was terrible. But as they are saying, flags fly ceaselessly, so no regrets.
Analysis and Grade
This wasn’t an ideal Howie Roseman model offseason the place each single transfer hit, however the Phillies made quite a lot of good strikes to complement a fantastic core, and it resulted within the franchise’s second World Series title. For that alone, the offseason receives an A grade.
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Grade: A