Last week, the Philadelphia Phillies unveiled their ballot and opened voting to determine who will be the 2016 inductee to the team's wall of fame. However, one change that was made to this year's ballot was that players who only played in the organization for four seasons now are eligible, with the rule being previously requiring candidates to have played for the Phillies for five seasons.
That rule-change was presumably changed to help open up the possibility of some of the most popular and productive members of the team's most recent run at success getting elected. Here's a further examination of who of those candidates deserves to be enshrined in the wall of fame. (Jim Thome is the only candidate examined in this article that is on the ballot this season.)
Jim Thome
The pros: Thome hit over 100 home runs in parts of four seasons with the Phillies, is entering voting on what is a relatively weak ballot, is almost unanimously viewed as a hall of famer and is one of the most likable athletes to ever play in Philadelphia.
The cons: It's a stretch to say that he really played four seasons for the Phillies. Thome hit 89 of his 101 home runs in his first two seasons with the Phillies, before injuries limited him to just seven home runs in 59 games in 2005. He was traded to the White Sox after that season, but returned for a forgettable 30-game stint in 2012.
Verdict: If Thome first appeared on the ballot at a time where the other candidates were more impressive, he may have a tougher time than he will in this case. In all likelihood, he will get in over the course of the next few seasons.
Jamie Moyer
The pros: He won 56 games in four plus seasons with the team and helped the team to win the World Series in 2008 by delivering a serviceable performance in game three of the World Series despite reportedly having a stomach virus.
The cons: Moyer, though he seems to fit all the criteria of other candidates, wasn't put on the ballot this year. In parts of five seasons with the team, Moyer won quite a few games, but averaged a 4.50 ERA.
Verdict: There really shouldn't even be a debate. He had the type of career that would make a great movie, but he isn't one of the greatest Phillies ever. Frankly, someone like Ryan Madson, who probably won't ever be on the ballot, has a better case than Moyer.
Roy Halladay
The pros: In his first two seasons in Philadelphia, Halladay won a Cy Young, finished second in Cy Young voting and threw a playoff no-hitter. His 17 complete games helped propel the Phillies to 199 regular season wins during that time period.
The cons: As special as his first two seasons with the team were, Halladay was pretty much finished after 2011, as he would go 15-14 with a combined 5.65 ERA in his final two seasons with the team.
Verdict: Halladay probably falls into the same category as Thome. Thome is even more of a lock for the actual hall of fame than Halladay, but the likability factor and two seasons of greatness from both will probably propel the duo into the wall of fame in the next few years.
Jayson Werth
The pros: In four seasons with the team, Werth hit 95 home runs, was an above-average fielder and became the franchise's playoff home-run king.
The cons: Werth left Philadelphia for a much larger offer in Washington, and has burned bridges since. It's not known exactly what the Phillies offered him, but it isn't believed to have even been close to what the Nationals offered. The Phillies probably had decided that they felt Cliff Lee was more worth a lucrative deal, and at that time they were correct. That was initially held against Werth, for whatever reason, and then people got even more mad when Werth got upset that some fans cheered him breaking his wrist. Frankly, the entire thing was rather silly, but there's not much love left for Werth from Phillies' fans.
Verdict: In my mind, yes. He's pretty far down the list of 2008 candidates that will get in, but how can someone who is the playoff home run king for a franchise that has existed for over 130 years not eventually be a wall of famer?
Brad Lidge
The pros: Between the regular season and playoffs, he was one of the most valuable members of the 2008 World Champion Phillies, completing all 41 save opportunities. At least statistically, he was also pretty good for two of his other three seasons in Philadelphia (2010 and 2011).
The cons: Lidge blew 11 saves in 2009, while posting an ERA of 7.21 and serving as one of the biggest reasons that the team didn't repeat as World Champions. Lidge is also only fifth in saves in franchise history, and considering that saves have only existed since 1969 and the Phillies don't have a history of closers having sustained success, that's rather damning.
Verdict: If you took someone who had a sentimental-based campaign for the hall of fame, the way that Lidge does for the Phillies wall of fame, I probably wouldn't vote for them. But the team's wall of fame probably shouldn't be taken as seriously, and given how dominant he was in 2008 and that he has 100 saves with the team, he'll probably get in at some point.
Phillies nuggets
- Cliff Lee spent parts of five seasons playing for the Phillies, and six in their organization. Some fans were upset with how he 2015 went, but it's hard to ignore the production he had while with the team. Lee was twice an All-Star with the Phillies, pitched 12 complete games, had a 3.09 ERA and led them to the 2009 National League pennant. I look forward to debating his wall-of-fame candidacy some day.
- All teams are opening Spring Training this week and Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino — along with the aforementioned Lee — are all free-agents. Imagine saying that five years ago.
- Domonic Brown is only three years removed from hitting 27 home runs and being an All-Star. Sure, the stretch that produced both of those accomplishments has proven to be a fluke and he's a lost cause as a fielder, but it's strange to me that no team has signed him to a minor league deal. You would think an American League team, where he could potentially be a DH option, would have some sort of interest in trying to revive his career.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is the Managing Editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
