Numbers define baseball, and Phillies fans seem to be forgetting that.  Did Lieberthal’s stats make anybody’s mouth drop open in awe?  Of course not.  But all things considered, they were not half bad, and they could even be considered pretty good.  

Image via Philly.com

For this specific situation, you have to realize that this is the Phillies Wall of Fame.  Not the MLB Wall of Fame or the NL East Wall of Fame, the Phillies Wall of Fame.  So the argument of “oh well there were other players that were way better than him on the [insert other team name here]” doesn’t work.  The other is that Lieberthal is a catcher, so you have to compare him to other catchers.  So why don’t we do that.

• Lieberthal is first among Phillies catchers with 150 home runs.
• He’s second in RBIs among Phillies catchers with 609, behind only Jack Clements who played in the 1800s.
• Since 1960, Lieberthal is first among Phillies catchers with a .788 OPS.
• Lieberthal also leads all Phillies catchers with 1137 hits.

Of course, all of these stats come from a position where defense is king and being able to hit is just a luxury that most teams don’t have.  Really, Lieberthal was not the best defensive catcher, but he certainly wasn’t the worst either.  He posted a career .991 fielding percentage and won a Gold Glove in 1999 with a .997 fielding percentage.

Lieberthal also made the two All-Star games, in 1999 and 2000.  In ’99, he put together an incredible year, especially for a catcher, hitting 31 home runs and 96 RBIs while batting an even .300 all, in addition to his Gold Glove performance.

Now, some may say that as a third overall pick in 1990, Lieberthal did not live up to his potential.  But compared to every other first round draft pick the Phillies had in the 1990s, Lieberthal was pretty good, as only Adam Eaton (1996), J.D. Drew (1997), Pat Burrell (1998) and Brett Myers (1999) made the majors with a positive WAR.  And even so, all of those players combined for only one All-Star appearance, made by J.D. Drew in 2008.

So no, Mike Lieberthal is not a Hall of Famer and he never made the post-season.  But Mike Lieberthal was a very good Phillie and probably the best catcher in team history.  Congrats Mike, welcome to the Wall of Fame, you deserve it.

After 63 games, the Phillies find themselves, miraculously, just five games under .500, but 9.5 games out of first place in the NL East.  But that’s not the worst part.  Roy Halladay injured himself in mid-May and Cliff Lee is win-less through 10 starts despite a 3.18 ERA.  But that’s not the worst part.  The Phillies are 5-11 in one-run games, 2-6 in extra inning games and the largest deficit they have climbed out of is two runs.  Throw in the fact that there is not a single exciting player on the offensive side of the ball and only one position player that is even close to deserving of being an all-star and you have nearly unwatchable baseball.

There are some bad teams that are decent or even fun to watch.  Take the Oakland A’s for example.  Are they nine games under .500?  Sure, but at least they have international import Yoenis Cespedes, a fun to watch centerfielder and Josh Reddick, who is having an all-star worthy year in right field.  On top of that, the A’s have one of the most promising minor-league systems in baseball, so at least there is hope for the future.

Unlike Oakland, however, the have no great minor-league system.  They have two truly all-star worthy players, but one is Cole Hamels, someone whose success relies on other players.  The other is Carlos Ruiz and neither he nor Hamels plays everyday.  To make matters worse, the Phillies just don’t have any exciting players that instill confidence at the plate.  Sure, Victorino and Pence are good players, but Pence has had major troubles both in the field and at bat, having already hit into nine double plays.  Victorino is not having a good year either, batting just .253 with an unimpressive OPS of .744.    But the most important difference between the Phillies and the A’s?  The A’s weren’t favorites to win their division and possibly compete for a World Series title.

That’s what makes this season the worst.  The Phillies had very high standards, rightfully so with some of the best starting pitchers in baseball.  But as the Phillies pitching has gotten better, so has the pitching from the rest of the league and at this point, a team of wash-ups and constantly injured players just won’t cut it.

There is no point in giving up hope in the Phillies; there is no place to go but up from last place.  But this team is tough to watch, never keeping leads, rarely coming back from deficits and finding themselves down in close games.  On top of all of this though, when watching a Phillies game, you have to put up with the unintelligible blabber of Tom McCarthy and Chris Wheeler.

While watching the Phillies will always be a priority, the Phillies losses and the way they have suffered these losses just makes the team worse and worse to watch.

It took the Phillies a four-game winning streak just to get back to even on the season– one that came just days after being swept by the Mets at home.  However, if being swept was the low point of the Phillies’ season so far, these past four games have been the high point.  The four games have included two one run wins, one of which was in extra innings, a great performance from Joe Blanton and an offensive showing that produced nine runs, with seven of those runs coming in the eighth or ninth inning.  And even thought the Phillies have earned these wins against the Padres, Astros and Cubs, some of the worst teams in baseball, the Phillies can certainly take solace in the way they won these games.

Tonight especially, the Phillies should be proud, especially Kyle Kendrick, who handled his emergency start incredibly well, going six very strong innings, striking out four, allowing three hits and only allowing one earned run (two total runs).  Kendrick also scored a game-tying run in the fifth inning after singling to start the inning.

Of course, Kendrick was not the only offensive producer though.  He was assisted by a huge home run from Carlos Ruiz in the eighth inning to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead.  From there, the Phillies closed out the game easily, scoring six more runs in the ninth, four of those runs coming from a grand slam from Hector Luna in his first career at-bat as a Phillie.

Tonight’s win was just an all-around necessity, giving not only the Phillies, but also the Phillies’ fans confidence in their team and while a record of 19-19 is not exactly where many fans would have like to be in the middle of May, it could be worse.  Much worse.

Before I continue writing, I just want to say that this in no way means to pin the blame of anything on Papelbon and even the game that he received the loss for was not truly his fault.  The  (condensed, for time’s sake) reason Papelbon gets a pardon is that the Phillies misuse him so badly, that it’s unrealistic to expect anything more from him.  The Phillies are so afraid to let Papelbon throw that they basically made him a victim of not enough activity and as a result he was incredibly rusty and lost the game.

One game it was Roy Halladay blowing a six run lead in one of the few worst performance in his career as a Phillie.  Fine, everybody has bad days and of all people, we should be most forgiving of Roy Halladay, right?  Of course.  But the Phillies bullpen blowing another six run lead after the Phillies earned it back?  That’s just unacceptable, especially when the culprits–Jose Contreras and Michael Schwimer– have contributed close to nothing this year.

Schwimer and Chad Qualls, were to blame just two nights later, giving up three runs in two and two thirds innings and losing the game for the Phillies.

Finally, tonight Joe Blanton gave up four runs in the seventh inning after a seemingly good outing to let the Mets tie the Phillies.  Chad Qualls would allow the Mets to take the lead on an unearned run and from then on, things would just get worse.  The Mets would turn a one-run game into a three-run game with two runs off of Michael Schwimer in the top of the ninth inning, all but eliminating the Phillies hopes of a comeback.

This pattern of losing late is possibly the worst thing that could happen to the Phillies.  Everyone expected their offense to be pedestrian and everybody knew that their pitching would have to carry them when they were able to score runs.  But when late losses like this one hold the Phillies’ offense back, there is very little that can be done to win.  These games are not just missed opportunities for wins, they are missed opportunities to start a win streak, or to raise the team’s confidence.  Instead, the Phillies relievers– and occasionally their starters– have just crushed any possible momentum the the Phillies’ hitters have taken so long to build.

If the Phillies are swept by the Mets at home, there will be a serious problem.  But if the Phillies get swept by the Mets at home because of bad relieving in three straight games, well then it may just be impossible to win any momentum back.

PhightingOn: When you were first traded over you played a few games in Reading,
but didn’t get any time there in 2011 because of your injury. Is it
nice to be back in Reading, and how does the atmosphere compare to
other places you’ve played?

Tyson Gillies: It’s great to be back and I was first in Reading in 2010 and I got hurt in May and am finally back now after two seasons. The atmosphere is as great as I remembered and was in such a rush to get back.

PO: What did you learn this Spring in your time with the big club,
especially from guys like Podsednik and Pierre?

TG: I asked them a lot of questions about base running and bunting and the two are arguably the best in the game right now at both.

PO: Already with nine extra base hits, you’re looking like you’ve got
your legs back under you. After almost a full season off due to
injury, are you back at 100 percent?
TG:I’m feeling better everyday body wise and it feels as if my legs are adapting to playing everyday again. I would say I’m approaching 100 percent these days and losing that slight hesitation in the back of my mind!

PO:Another guy on the R-Phils roster is Jiwan James, who seems to play
a bit of a similar game to you. Is there a friendly rivalry between
you two, or with anyone else on the team?
TG: It’s great having Jiwan and others who play a similar game like Cesar Hernandez we like to run and bunt. There hasn’t been any friendly rivalries haha we are all just focusing on contributing as much as we can to put pressure on the defense and score runs for the team.

PO: The R-Phils are off to a hot start at 17-8 so far, how does this
team compare to other teams you’ve played on? Is there something
special in this year’s core?
TG: This year’s team reminds me of when I was in High Desert in 2009. (editor’s note: that team went 83-57) The attitude and relationship of all the players is very strong. These players all have a winning attitude and want to play hard for the guy next to them.

The Phillies scored six runs before the sixth inning, so with Roy Halladay on the mound, the game seemed all but over, as Halladay had a 107-0 record (in terms of pitching decisions, not team’s win-loss) while defending a four-run lead.  But, as the Phillies and Braves would soon find out, this was no ordinary game.  Halladay would go on to give up six runs in the fifth inning–the same inning the Phillies extended their lead from four to six runs–including a Brian McCann grand slam.

After giving up two more runs in the sixth, Halladay’s night would be over, in line for the loss.  However, Carlos Ruiz would come to his aid, hitting a three run home run and a three run double in the seventh and eighth innings respectively, giving the Phillies a four-run lead.  A five-run Braves eighth off of Jose Contreras and Michael Schwimer would erase the Phillies lead and put them down by one run going into the ninth inning.

Down to their final out, the Phillies would force a bottom of the ninth with a Shane Victorino RBI single.  Both teams would be held scoreless in the 10th inning, but the Braves would win the game on an 11th inning Chipper Jones walk-off two-run home run, effectively wasting the Phillies 13-run game.

More than anything, this game revealed two things.  One, Roy Halladay is indeed human and occasionally even makes mistakes.  Rare as it may be, it can happen.  But more importantly, this game showed the lack of Charlie Manuel’s ability to manage a bullpen.

Keeping Roy Halladay in after allowing four runs I understand because, let’s face it, he’s Roy Halladay and likely won’t give up more runs.  But the logic not to use Jonathan Papelbon in the eight inning with the bases loaded?  Papelbon is the team’s best reliever by far, so with the go-ahead run at the plate, it only makes sense to put your closer out for a four-out save instead of putting out Michael Schwimer, a guy who blew both of his save opportunities last year.  Of course, Manuel went against the choice that was fairly obvious and paid the price for it.

Later, Manuel wouldn’t put Papelbon into a tied game to guarantee the game stayed tied, instead putting in Brian Sanches.  Sanches did the job for a while but eventually served up a walk-off to Chipper Jones.  While that decision wasn’t so detrimental, the philosophy of “Save our best reliever for when we have a lead” when you may not ever get to play with a lead again, just does not work.  In certain situations it may make sense, but when scoring 13 runs with a team that has been nothing short of anemic offensively, there is no reason to be risking leads.  To make things worse, the Phillies had won two games in a row coming into this one so a loss like this was quite the opposite of what the Phillies needed in terms of momentum.

A loss like this hurts, but the fact that it was preventable makes it so much worse.  This loss is simply unacceptable, but since it happened, the Phillies and, specifically Charlie Manuel, need to learn from this.  If they don’t, these occasional, preventable losses will end up killing the Phillies.

Lehigh Valley

Cody Overbeck, 1B: the only qualifying hitter on the IronPigs hitting over .300 (he is currently at .313), Overbeck seemed to pop up in the highlights of every game in April. He leads the team in RBIs at 14 for the month, and is tied for the lead in doubles (6) and home runs (2). He is also the only position player with at least ten games played and zero errors in the field,   and his slugging percentage is the highest in Lehigh.

April Stats: .313 AVG in 24 games, 14 RBIs, .458 slugging

Jake Diekman, Relief: Diek has been dominant out of the bullpen so far, allowing just one earned run in the month of April. In 11 innings of work, he has struck out 17 while only walking three, and has picked up three saves. I’m starting to see what Rich Dubee likes about this kid.

April Stats: 0-0 in 9 games, 11 IP, 0.82 ERA. 17 Ks

Reading

Darin Ruf, 1B: If Jim Thome gets put on the DL at some point, I can see Overbeck and Ruf getting called up to the MLB and AAA, respectively. at .378, all Ruf does is hit, and his .524 slugging percentage backs up his 2 homerun, 10 RBI numbers. His BABIP (batting average on balls in play) is a high .426, meaning that when he makes contact, it’s finding holes and hitting off walls.

April Stats: .378 AVG, in 23 games, 10 RBIs, 14 runs scored, .931 OPS

Tyler Cloyd, Starter: This was really tough, and Trevor May almost beat him out, but Cloyd has been the absolute man in April. The opening day starter for Lehigh Valley as an emergency call-up, he pitched six innings of no hit ball before being returned to Double-A. Since coming back he’s gone 3-0 and thrown at least six innings in every one of his outings. 28 strikeouts in 25 innings ain’t too shabby, either. (he is pictured above in his LV uniform during his opening day spot start)

April Stats: 4-0, 1.45 ERA in 5 starts, 31 IP, 28 Ks, .200 BAA

Clearwater

Cody Asche, 3B: His first full season after being drafted in 2011, Asche is playing a level higher than expected at Hi-A, and is fitting in well. the 21-year-old is hitting .333 with three doubles in 19 games. This is all a major improvement considering his average in short-season A Williamsport was a horrid .192 last year.

April Stats: .333 AVG in 19 games, 5 RBIs and .770 OPS

Austin Wright, Starter: I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about Wright, who has started three of his four appearances so far this season. Another 2011 draft pick, he has thrown back to back games with ten strikeouts to bring his monthly total to 33 in 23 innings. Opponents can’t touch his stuff, and a .196 BAA is proof of that. I’ve seen other bloggers saying he’s the best lefty starter on the farm.

April Stats: 3-0 in 4 games (3 starts). 2.35 ERA, 23 IP, 33 Ks, .186 BAA

Lakewood:

Brian Pointer, OF: This one was really tough too, mainly because the entire outfield is steal-crazy. Between Pointer, Aaron Altherr, Kyrell Hudson and Gauntlett Eldemire ( with one usually DHing), there have been 39 swiped bags in the month of April. Hudson has more steals (13) than hits (12), and has tried to nab a bag almost every time he gets on. Pointer, who has five himself, also leads the team in RBIs (19) and homeruns (5). Two triples and three doubles don’t hurt, either, and 12 walks in 93 plate appearances is really good.

April Stats: .295 AVG in 22 games, 19 RBIs, 5 HR and .577 SLG

Ethan Stewart, Starter: Though his team hasn’t given him enough run support to allow him a Win yet, his 1.33 ERA in four starts speaks volumes for his command. Opponents are hitting just .192 against him, and he’s rung up 19 batters.

April Stats: 0-1, 1.33 ERA in four starts, 20.1 IP, 19 Ks, .192 BAA

While an obvious problem for the Phillies is scoring runs in general, more specifically, the Phillies have been unable to score runs early, scoring only 16 runs in the first three innings over the first 22 games of the year.  To put that into perspective, the Phillies had scored the exact same amount of runs in their first 22 games in the seventh inning alone.  So the four runs scored in the first inning alone were a breath of fresh air for a team that just has not been able to get their act together lately.

To make the early stages of the game even better, Vance Worley was commanding in his control, defending the team’s lead with ease.  Worley allowed just seven base-runners in his seven innings of work (five hits, two walks) while striking out five.  The only run Worley allowed came in the seventh inning on a double-play.

The Phillies’ eight inning was shaky, allowing three runs between Chad Qualls and Antonio Bastardo, tying the game at four.  However, the Phillies came through in their half of the eighth, with a two-run double from Placido Polanco, giving the Phillies a two run lead that they wouldn’t give back, as Jonathan Paplebon got his eight save of the year.

Forget that Vance Worley had a good game.  Forget that off-season investment Jonathan Paplebon had another shut-down inning.  This game was all about the offense.  From the four-run first inning to the timely hitting in the eighth inning, this was a great offensive performance.  While it would have been nice to have scored at least one run  from the first inning to the eighth, that is the beauty with this team.  A four-run first inning lead will almost always be safe, and that is why it is so crucial for the Phillies to score early.  Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee–it doesn’t matter who is on the mound, it is so much easier to pitch with a nice, solid lead than it is to be trying to hold a team scoreless and praying that your offense will eventually bail you out.

Clearly this is only one game and needs to be taken with a grain of sand, especially with the way the Phillies offense has played this year.  However, if the Phillies can recognize their success tonight and repeat it, they may be in control of the NL East even before Ryan Howard and Chase Utley come back.

Triple-A: Buffalo 5, IronPigs 1

New addition Mike Fortenot had a double, Cody Overbeck had the lone RBI. The PigPen did alright, except Phillippe Aumont shaky, 39 pitch 1.1 innings of work that included two walks and a wild pitch. Dom Brown went 1-4, his average on the year is .262.

Hi-A: Clearwater 8, Brevard 7 (f/12)

What a game offensively! Anthony Hewitt had a three run homerun, his first of the year, Edgar Duran contributed two RBIs on a second inning triple, his only hit of the game. Jim Murphy brought in Peter Lavin on a single in the bottom of the twelfth for the walkoff win. Perci Garner started for the Threshers, going 3.2 and allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks. 

Austin Hyatt started, three runs (two earned) on six hits in five innings. Hector Luna made his fifth (FIFTH) error in the field today, but did have an RBI. Cody Overbeck also drove in a run, his tenth of the year, in a 1-4 performance.

What else happened? I know you want to jump it

Double-A was rained out

Hi-A: Clearwater 4, Brevard 2

Justin De Fratus made the start as a rehab, throwing an inning and allowing one hit. Austin Wright followed and got his third win in a five inning, two run (four hit) outing where he struck out ten. Bob Stumpo DH’d and went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Cody Asche went 2-4 and Cam Rupp went 1-3. 

Single-A, a double-header, was also rained out.