Phillies: The All-2010s “Forgotten Phillies” Lineup
Starting Pitcher: Aaron Harang
Coming in a close second for this honor was A.J. Burnett, but I went with Harang because he didn’t sign with another team the following season and earn an all-star appearance.
Harangue, spelled a bit differently, means “tirade”, “rant”, and other similar words. During a 63-99 2015 season, Phillies fans had many harangues.
The Phillies offered Harang a $5 million contract for his age-37 season. He started off well but fell apart as the season progressed. He finished with a 6-15 record and 4.86 ERA in 28 starts, allowing 26 HR. Behind the plate, he hit .167, tying his career best of 8 hits on the year with 9 sacrifice bunts.
Harang was best known for his career with the Reds, where he spent 8 seasons. He had his best ERA seasons with the Padres and Dodgers, and also had stints with the A’s, Mariners, Mets, and Braves.
Harang’s 2015 season with the Phillies would be his last, retiring at season’s end.
Relief Pitcher: Antonio Bastardo
Philadelphia Phillies
Bastardo started five games for the Phillies in 2009, but he didn’t become a mainstay on the roster until 2010. He spent almost five full seasons in Philadelphia as a bullpen lefty.
In 275 total games with the Phillies, Bastardo went 20-18 with a 3.72 ERA and a 105 ERA+ (on a scale where 100 is average) in 259 innings. In 2013, he was suspended for 50 games for participating in the league-wide Biogenesis drug scandal, which included notable players such as Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, and Ryan Braun, among others.
Bastardo appeared in five postseason games for the Phillies in 2010 and 2011, pitching one and two-thirds innings, facing eight batters, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out two.
Bastardo left the Phillies in a trade with the Pirates for Joely Rodriguez in December of 2014. After being granted free agency, he was signed by the Mets and traded back to the Pirates. He last appeared in a major league game in 2017.
Bastardo was suspended again in 2018 for 140 games for violating drug policies. He has not appeared in the majors or minors since, but appeared in 15 games over the past three seasons in the Dominican Winter League.
Closer: Jeanmar Gomez
Jeanmar Gomez was signed in January 2015 by the Phillies after three years in Cleveland and two years in Pittsburgh. He pitched 74.2 innings in 2015 with a 3.01 ERA, making him one of the better arms in the bullpen that year.
In 2016, with Jonathan Papelbon and Ken Giles no longer on the roster, the season’s “closer” role went the Gomez. He saved 37 games, but had an ERA of 4.85, six blown saves, a WHIP of 1.46, 10.2 hits per 9 innings, and 2.9 walks per nine innings – not exactly what you’re looking for from a bullpen pitcher, let alone a closer.
More from Phillies History
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- Phillies History on August 23: Eric Bruntlett records historic triple play
- Remembering Vin Scully: Dodgers voice’s first game was against Phillies
- Phillies in hot water for inviting Pete Rose to 1980 World Series celebration
- 4 Phillies players who skipped the minors and went straight to MLB
Gomez hung around with the Phillies for 2017 as well – albeit for only 18 games. In 22.1 innings, he gave up 18 earned runs and had a WHIP of 1.7. On June 23, 2017, he was released.
Gomez was signed shortly after that by the Brewers, but didn’t appear in a major league game for them. He signed a contract with the White Sox in 2018, and another with the Texas Rangers last season. Gomez appeared in 15 games and allowed 14 earned runs for an ERA of 8.22. He was released on June 1.
I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane as we recounted some forgotten moments. It just goes to show you how long a decade can be. In this uncertain time, I will be keeping an eye out for MLB’s plans for a 2020 season, and you’ll surely get my reaction.