Top Phillies third basemen over the past ten seasons
The Phillies won the World Series ten seasons ago. Looking back, we list the top third basemen for the team during this time period.
Ten seasons ago, the Phillies won their second World Series in franchise history. Looking back, we take a look at the top Phillies third basemen over that time, as well as a few honorable mentions. None of these players will remind anyone of Scott Rolen or the greatest third baseman of all time, Mike Schmidt, but they were the best the team had to offer during this time.
Honorable mention – Gregg Dobbs (2007 – 2010)
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Although seeing just 104 games in the field a third base over his four seasons with the Phillies, Greg Dobbs was an excellent bat off the bench, particularly in 2007 and for the 2008 World Series champs. Dobbs hit .280 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI in 2007 and .301 with nine home runs, 40 RBI and an .824 OPS in 2008.
Dobbs had 16 plate appearances in the 2008 playoffs, collecting seven hits and two walks.
He didn’t drive in any runs, but he did score two runs. However, he didn’t collect any postseason hits in 2007 or 2009.
Dobbs’s production dropped significantly in 2009 and more so in 2010 and was out of Philadelphia by 2011.
5- Cody Asche (2013 – 2016)
Asche played four seasons in Philadelphia, but by the end of his tenure he was relegated to left field with the emergence of Maikel Franco. Asche was substandard in the field during most of his time in Philadelphia. Asche posted the league average .959 fielding percentage in 2013, Asche plummeted to .943 in 2014 and .939 in 2015 before moving to the outfield.
Asche also never flourished at the plate, posting a career best .252 average in 2014 and 12 home runs in 2015, never cracking the .700 plateau in terms of OPS. In 2016, Asche had a .213/.284/.350 line in 71 games. It was clear his time in Philadelphia was over once the season ended and he wasn’t tendered a contract in the offseason.
4- Michael Young (2013)
Michael Young was a big name who was well past his prime when the Phillies signed him as a 36-year old in 2013. He was a seven-time All Star who hit over .300 seven times with the Rangers.
While posting a decent average of .277 with the Phillies, Young hit only eight home runs and drove in a relatively mediocre 42 runs. In the field, he was only slightly better than average, posting a fielding percentage of .961. Young was traded before the deadline to the Dodgers and retired following the season.
3- Maikel Franco (2014 – Present)
Maikel Franco has the potential to be one of the top third basemen in club history, but so far hasn’t produced up to potential.
Franco hit .179 in 56 at-bats as a 21-year old in 2014. He showed much promise in 2015, hitting .280 with an .824 OPS in 80 game. While hitting 25 home runs in 2016 and 24 home runs this past season, Franco’s average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS all plummeted.
In the field, Franco has been posting very mediocre numbers, with fielding percentage at or below the league average. Next season should tell whether or not Franco lives up to promise or becomes another one of the Phillies disappointments. Otherwise, the team may opt to bring in Manny Machado on a big contract.
2- Pedro Feliz (2008 – 2009)
At first glance, the numbers put up by Feliz aren’t eye-opening. However, much can be said about a player who can man the starting hot corner position for the World Series champs in 2008 and National League champs in 2009.
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The big reason was the top-notch defense Feliz provided. He committed only eight errors with a .974 fielding percentage in 2008, well above the .956 league average.
At the plate, Feliz hit a combined .259 with 26 home runs and 140 RBI in this two seasons with the Phillies. However, he came up big in the 2008 World Series, batting .333 and driving in the winning run in Game Five. Feliz is only one of two starting third baseman in team history to win a World Series, so that deserves at least some credit.
1- Placido Polanco (2002 – 2005, 2010 – 2012)
A likely surprise on this list, in his second tour of duty with the Phillies, Placido Polanco was the most consistent bat and sure handed third basemen on this list.
In 2010, Polanco hit .298 with 27 doubles and only 47 strikeouts in 554 at-bats. His average declined to .269 over the next two seasons, but he showed excellent bat control, punching out only once ever 11.2 at-bats.
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Polanco was an All Star and won a Gold Glove award in 2011. He committed only eight errors on the season and posted a 983 fielding percentage from 2010-2012. As the only Phillie on this list to win a Gold Glove or make an All Star team, Polanco’s spot at number one is justified.