Phillies 2015 Christmas: Naughty or Nice?
Jul 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA;
The Phillie Phanatic has some fun with Santa Claus during Christmas in July during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
(Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
While the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies team saw a bunch of players make Santa’s “Naughty” list, some actually made his “Nice” list for Christmas.
When a team finishes with the worst overall record in Major League Baseball, it’s easy to see why so many will be receiving a lump of coal in their Christmas stockings from the right jolly old elf this year.
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But for a handful of the team’s players, enough positives were provided, enough thrills given to the loyal fans who stayed with the team through a third successive dismal campaign, that they earned their Christmas gifts.
Not every player made it to either list. In fact, most of the players had performances or roles that were so inconsequential that they will be receiving neither coal nor great presents. Maybe the man in the red suit will leave them a little something as a future incentive.
So who specifically found themselves relegated to this year’s “Naughty” list, and who made that “Nice” list? Well, I just happen to have contacts at the North Pole who provided this year’s list, faxing it down to me this afternoon.
I promised that I would not reveal the entire list. But I was given permission to reveal the status of a half-dozen key members of the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies ball club. So here are those six members of the team, and on which list their name appears.
Next: Phillies Santa List: Naughty or Nice?
Aug 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Francoeur celebrates after scoring in the sixth inning in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
(Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
JEFF FRANCOEUR: “NICE”
There will be something nice under the tree for Jeff Francoeur this year from Mr. Clause. Perhaps a nice contract with a contending team? He might have to wait until after the Holiday passes, so it will be more like getting a gift certificate.
But the good thing with most gift certificates is that you get a choice in where to use them. ‘Frenchy’ earned the right to pick his team, and almost every contending club has a role for an experienced veteran who is a positive clubhouse presence and is willing to play a bench role.
Next: Phillies Santa List: Naughty or Nice?
Jun 12, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies closer Papelbon (58) looks on against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park.
(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
JONATHAN PAPELBON: “NAUGHTY”
How do you perform as strongly as Jonathan Papelbon did for the Phillies on the field, and still end up on the “Naughty” list with old Saint Nick? To use an old legal phrase, he reached that list based on the “totality of the circumstances”: good play most of the time, bad attitude and example other times.
Papelbon is a jerk, plain and simple, and it showed with his public dugout choking of Bryce Harper in Washington. He came to the Phillies prior to 2012, and the team deteriorated. He went to the Nationals at the trade deadline, and that team faded. Some will call it a coincidence. Santa does not.
May 18, 2015; Denver, CO, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Hamels (35) watches from the dugout during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Philies won 4-3.
(Photo Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports)
COLE HAMELS: “NICE”
It was pretty much “Nice” for Hamels, who grew from ‘Kid Cole’ to ‘King Cole‘ over the better part of a decade as a leading member of the Phillies starting pitching rotation, over the entirety of his career in red pinstripes.
Cole Hamels ended that brilliant Phillies career, which included the 2008 NLCS and World Series MVP Awards, with a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs in his final start. He then moved on to the Texas Rangers in a trade deadline deal, and it was no coincidence that the Rangers took off and won the AL West crown after his arrival.
Aug 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Utley reacts as he watches from the dugout in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
(Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
CHASE UTLEY: “NAUGHTY”
For the first time in his illustrious career, ‘The Man’ finds himself on Santa Claus’ “Naughty” list. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. But the fact is that Chase Utley simply did not perform this season as a player with either the Phillies or the Dodgers. He hit for an ugly combined .212/.286/.343 slash line in 423 plate appearances, with eight homers, 39 RBI, 37 runs scored, and four steals.
Chase turned 37 years old last week, and is clearly a shadow of the player who dominated the 2nd base position for the five years from 2005-09. To cap it all off this year, you had the whole “hard slide” drama that exploded in the NLDS between the Dodgers and New York Mets. He will end up on the Phillies Wall of Fame, and some will fight for his Baseball Hall of Fame induction. But for this year, he gets coal.
Aug 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Eickhoff (48) looks on from the pitcher’s mound during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park.
(Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
JERAD EICKHOFF: “NICE”
At this year’s MLB trade deadline, the Phillies sent longtime staff ace and World Series hero Hamels and hard-throwing lefty reliever Jake Diekman away to the Texas Rangers for a big five-prospect package, as well as injured veteran lefty Matt Harrison. The other four prospects in the deal, catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams, and pitchers Jake Thompson and Alec Asher, were all more highly rated than Jerad Eickhoff.
Then a funny thing happened. Eickhoff received the call to the big leagues, and got to make his Major League Baseball debut on August 21st at Miami. He shut the host Marlins out on five hits over six strong innings in winning that debut. A fluke? Hardly. In all, Eickhoff would make eight starts for the Phillies, six of those Quality Starts. In his final four outings, he lasted seven innings in each, striking out 10 in each of his last two starts.
Jun 12, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies manager Sandberg (23) looks on from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates before the first inning at PNC Park.
(Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)
RYNE SANDBERG: “NAUGHTY”
There is pretty much nothing that you can do as a member of a Philadelphia sports team that is more negative than flat-out quiting, and that is exactly what Ryne Sandberg did as the Phillies manager back in late June. Maybe he gets fired later in the season, or after it. But he didn’t stick it out. He was the captain, and he didn’t go down with the ship, or find a way to help right it.
A number of excuses were made for Sandberg by a number of people. His good friend, Larry Bowa, was quoted by CSN Philly insider Jim Salisbury as saying: “I think this left a sour taste in his mouth“, referring to Sandberg’s experience coaching the Phillies. But I know for sure that his quitting left a sour taste with fans. The bottom line is that not only did his teams lose big, but he quit on the players, on the organization, on the fans. Very naughty.