Five years is a long time. Yet, the Phillies are holding on to too many players from their 2008 World Series run and hoping for similar results. The team had many players in their prime. Five years later we see that late 20s is not approaching-late 30s. Players lose their former glory and succumb to injuries.
The 2008 team fits into three categories: retired, injured, or they were babies at the time of the championship. Most are retired and injured. Here's how it played out:
Pitchers:
- Cole Hamels – World Series hero at age 24. Young then. Currently 1-8, 4.43
- Jamie Moyer – Retired (unoffically) after 2012
- Brett Myers – 15-day disabled list.
- Joe Blanton – 1-7 6.19 ERA
- Kyle Kendrick – Was 23 years old in 2008; emerging as solid starter
- Adam Eaton – Retired
- J.A. Happ – 15-day disabled list.
- Ryan Madson – 15-day disabled list., Career could be in jeopardy after latest setback
- Chad Durbin – 7.80 ERA
- J.C. Romero – Involuntarily retired until World Baseball Classic performance got him a minor league gig with the Nationals.
- Clay Condrey – Retired (unofficially)
- Rudy Seanez – Retired (should have retired prior to 2008)
- Tom Gordon – Pitched in three games after 2008 before retiring
- Scott Eyre – Retired after World Series Championship
- Brad Lidge – Retired (will ceremonially retire with Phillies on August 1)
Infielders:
- Chase Utley – 15-day disabled list.
- Ryan Howard – Active; bothered by injured knee; batting .254
- Jimmy Rollins – Active; spent time on disabled list 2010, 2011; batting .256
- Pedro Feliz – Retired (unless he re-emerges with Camden Riversharks)
- Eric Bruntlett – Retired
- Greg Dobbs – Hanging on as utility man for Miami Marlins
Outfielders:
- Jayson Werth – 15-day disabled list
- Shane Victorino – 15-day disabled list
- Pat Burrell – Retired
- So Taguchi – Retired
- Geoff Jenkins – Retired
- Matt Stairs - Retired
Catchers:
- Carlos Ruiz - 15-day disabled list
- Chris Coste – Retired
My final tally:
Retired: 14 – Moyer, Eaton, Coste, Bruntlett, Feliz, Taguchi, Stairs, Jenkins, Burrell, Gordon, Seanez, Lidge, Condrey, Eyre
Active on a major league roster: 13
- Disabled: Seven – Werth, Victorino, Ruiz, Happ, Utley, Myers, Madson
- Active performing poorly: Four – Hamels, Howard, Rollins, Blanton
- Active performing adequately to well: Two - Kendrick, Dobbs
In minor leagues: One – Romero
So there you have it. Of the 13 2008 Phillies that are on a major league roster, seven are injured, four are not performing well, and two are doing adequately (and let's face it – a utility guy in Dobbs is not a big worry).
Lesson to be learned? You cannot hang on too long, or you will be sitting at two games under .500 and 6.5 games out of first place heading into Memorial Day.
