Outfielders

The Phillies outfield was a grab-bag. Some people hit (Burrell, Werth) while some did not (Taguchi, Jenkins). Some won Gold Gloves and stole bases (Victorino) while some ran slower than I did (Burrell). It was a strange grouping of a nationalities and personalities that was quite successful.

Pat Burrell

The longest tenured Phillie. The most booed Phillie. Pat always declared his love of playing here, and no one could ever figure out why. Gillick tried trading him for Rodrigo Lopez, but Burrell invoked his no trade clause.

Pat, his wife, and Elvis Burrell led the parade down Broad Street. Crazy Days.

Grebe’s favorite player had a good season, hitting 33 HRs and carrying the team with Utley during the Howard slump in April and May. On May 2nd the Phillies and Giants went to extras. The Giants got one in the top of the tenth, and it didn’t look good. Chase singled between strikeouts by Werth and Howard making Pat the winning run. Pat blasted a Brian Wilson pitch out of the yard, and the Friday Night crowd went home happy.

Pat had quite a few moments in the playoffs. His Game 4 HR against the Brewers put the game out of reach. His double was responsible for the winning run in Game 5 against Tampa. But his moment of the post season was during Game 1 when his 6th inning homer put the Phillies ahead 3-2. CBP was a happy place, and that would prove to be the game's winning run. Thanks, Pat.

So Taguchi

So, So Taguchi. Apparently Taguchi means horrific in Japanese. So was the original Burrell caddy, however a couple errors led to him taking a seat in Charlie’s dog house, and it was Bruntlett’s time to shine. There was a Sunday Taguchi ninth inning meltdown in section 310. He failed miserably and the randoms in the section soon all agreed with the lunatic in row 5.

A year after leading the league in pinch hits, So managed all of one in 2008. But it was a big one. During the comeback at Shea, So accidentally slapped a 3-2 pitch the other way, tying the game at 5. Thanks, Pedro Feliciano for hitting So’s bat!

So was a predictable 0-4 in the playoffs. His greatest October moment came when he PH for Hamels in Game 1 against the Dodgers. The toddler sitting behind us, after hearing Taguchi announced and my predictable ranting about his use, turns to his father and says “Taguchi? But daddy, he’s horrible!” Yes, he is son. Yes he is.

TJ Bohn

Bohner also had an appearance as the Burrell caddy when JRoll got hurt and Cholly decided he couldn’t waste So’s bat. Sigh. Bohn did nothing of note, and rarely hit. Due to his Burrell caddy status, the Phillies were 12-2 in games he appeared, which is something. He also had some great facial hair. No playoffs.

Shane Victorino

Shane O-Mac! He’s Hawaiian! He has a really strong arm! On June 6th the Phillies were in Atlanta and I was in Phoenixville because Sands was home. I wish he would have stayed in the Delta, because I missed the end of this game and Shane’s finest regular season moment during the car ride home.

Lidge was struggling for one of the few times early in the year, and when Yuniel Escobar singled with runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs it appeared as Bradley had blown his first save in Philly. However while Escobar was clapping his hands celebrating down the first base line, Shane was charging. He threw a rocket to the plate, beating Henry Blanco. Phils win.

He also hit a huge two out eight inning PH homer against St. Louis in a game that will be mentioned a few more times. It made a 2-2 game 5-2 at a time when scoring runs seemed impossible.

When the Phillies fell behind 1-0 in Game 2 of the NLDS, well, at least it was only Game 2. But then in the bottom of the second, people started getting on base. The Phillies tied the game, and the mighty CC Sabathia walked the pitcher and Rollins with two outs to load the bases. Victorino hit a 1-2 pitch a line to the left field seats, and CBP was pandemonium. His Game 4 NLCS performance was also great, but the slam was something special.

Greg Golson

Gholston, as Jack likes to call him, is a former first round pick who can’t hit, as evidenced by his 0-4 4 Ks day to close the regular season. Greg can run though. Greg can run really fast. On September 22nd against Atlanta, Golson pinch ran in 2-2 game in 8th after a Dobbs leadoff single. A pickoff attempt dribbled past the first baseman and Greg flew around the bases to third, where he would eventually score the winning run. A Burrell bomb would make the final 6-2, but Golson’s speed started the rally and Jack wanted to see Gholston in every game from that point on. No playoffs.

Jayson Werth

This season we learned Jayson’s mom was an Olympian, and she is still really attractive. He also learned that, if given the chance, he can be a very capable starter. Oh, we also found out Werthless (another Jack favorite) can rake. He made that quite clear May 16th against Toronto when he hit 3 homers, including a grand slam, while driving in 8 runs during a 10-3 Phillies win.

Werth’s moment of the playoffs occurred when he hit a rocket of a blooper about 110 feet just over Iwamura’s head in the first inning of part 2 of Game 5 of the World Series, putting the Phillies ahead 3-2. He also hit a HR in Game 4 against Tampa and ran around first with his fist up in the air. Personally, it was that moment I began to consider the possibility of winning the World Series.

Chris Snelling

Snelling continues the Phillies rare use of Aussies but frequent use of Gillick Seattle castoffs. Chris gave a fantastic interview after hitting a ninth inning leadoff home run on April 15th to make the score 3-1 Houston. This was a genius inning.

Snelling HR.
Chutley HBP.
Howard K.
Burrell HR ties it 3.
Jenkins reaches on a passed ball K.
Petey walk off double.

That about sums up the entire season, doesn’t it? The reliance on homeruns, Chase getting hit, Jenkins striking out, and Feliz walks off.

Jack, Rush, and I just caught the end of it while leaving the Flyers win over Montreal in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semis. Snelling also had a 10th inning leadoff double in the game Victorino won with the outfield assist against Atlanta. Those were Snelling’s only two hits the season. Chris earned his playoff share despite not appearing in the playoffs.

Geoff Jenkins

Geoff Jenkins was putrid this year. There is no way around it. He is overpayed, and his career is clearly on the downside. The conundrum here is Geoff Jenkins was the first person out of the dugout during every celebration. He was the first person in the dugout congratulating someone after a big hit. His excitement during his one big hit this season was clearly visible. I HATED Jenkies all year. Now I kind of like him. Apparently these are the problems associated with winning a title--it becomes harder to hate someone who will be an 8 million dollar albatross next year.

Underlining Jenkies uselessness this season was his biggest moment being an error. On May 4th, a game started by Hamels and Lincecum was 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth. After two outs and Howard and Burrell walks, the San Fran second baseman graciously decided to not field Jenkins’ grounder allowing the Phils to walk off despite Hewitt’s assurance Jenkins would not come through (I suppose he was right). This was much to the chagrin of Giants rookie Brian Bocock, who’s supporters we met in the parking lot that morning.

Jenkies playoff moment was without question his leadoff double in Game 5 Part 2. It took a crowd that wasn't sure quite how to act and sent it into pandemonium. It probably made him worth the 7 million he made this year. Not so sure about the 8 million next year, though.

Matt Stairs

Matt Stairs was acquired on August 31st, meaning he was eligible for the playoff roster by a day. On September 9th in a loss to Florida, he got his first hit as a Phillie, an RBI single. This game was more memorable for being Krazy K’s last start of the season as well as being the day Rushir ate 8.5 hot dogs and quit during the 9th in protest. It was also the last Phillie loss I attended in 2008, but I digress. Matt also hit solo homers late in games the Phillies were well ahead in.

Game 4 of the NLCS was not going particularly well. The Phillies had blown an early lead and the Dodgers bullpen was in the game and cruising. Somehow RyHo got a single off a seemingly unhittable lefty and Shane tied the game at 5 with a wall scraping home run, leading to me taking off the hood I had been hiding under and beginning to run around the living room. Tucci was scared. A few batters latter Stairs worked a 3-1 count against Jonathan Broxton. I mentioned to Jack that if Broxton throws one of those 100 MPH fastballs down the middle, Stairs would hit into the Pacific. Off the bat it was clear that was exactly what happened. This one scarred Tucci, I am afraid.

Matt Stairs, Philadelphia legend.