All Things Valley League: Here's a Phillies Thought

**The timing here, with a monstrous Lidge blown save last night, might be a little off, but the sentiment remains...**

I stopped by Ted's yesterday, and he said something that I've been thinking about ever since: this might be the best time to be a Phillies fan ever.

Ever.

He went on to explain that the Phils are coming off a World Series championship, leading the NL East by 7 games, and building a strong minor league system.

Let's look at a few of the high points over history, shall we?

Phils went to the series in 1950 (swept by the Yankees). Even though the '50 Whiz Kids were just that- young- they sank right back to 73-81 and 5th place in 1951. (Geez- Robin Roberts was just 23 years old in 1950, and Curt Simmons 21! Richie Ashburn was 23, and Del Ennis was 25...) The team would not finish higher than 3rd place until 1964 (eek!). The Phils would not play again in the playoffs until 1976.

Thirty years later: 1980 World Series Championship against the Kansas City Royals, finished with 91-71 record. The team competed in the strike year of 1981, winning the first half with a 34-21 record. They fell apart in the second half, however, going just 25-27, and then losing to the Montreal Expos in the Divisional Series.

1983: A World Series loss to the Baltimore Orioles (4-1). The Wheez Kids were the anomaly of anomalies, with Pete Rose at 42, Steve Carlton 38, and only one regular (Von Hayes) under the age of 30. An old, old team that would fall back to 81-81 in 1984, and start a string of nine years of futility. (Seven years under .500, over 90 losses three times.)

1993: A World Series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays (4-2; darn that Joe Carter!). This team also came out of nowhere, finishing with a 97-65 record. They right away fell back to 54-61 in 1994 (another cursed strike year), and seven straight losing records. It has been suggested that most of the '93 team was on some major performance enhancers with all the career years (Daulton, Hollins, Dykstra, Jackson, for example).

Then 2008! World Series championship, now 72-51 record the following year. The team just traded for a Cy Young winner, while keeping the team's three best prospects (Taylor, Brown, and Drabek), and JA Happ.

Why was the development of the minor league players so bad for so long? Let's look at those drafts, starting in 1980. Following is the team's top pick listed first, and then any major league contributors after that.

1980: Lebo Powell. Steve Jeltz (9th), Darren Daulton (25th).
1981: Johnny Abrego. Charles Hudson (12th).
1982: John Russell. Lance McCullers (2nd- traded for Sixto Lezcano), Mike Maddux (5th).
1983: Ricky Jordan. Mike Jackson (29th).
1984: Pete Smith. Marvin Freeman (2nd), Todd Frohwirth (13th), Bob Scanlan (25th).
1985: Trey McCall. Bruce Ruffin (2nd), Wally Ritchie (4th), Jason Grimsley (10th).
1986: Brad Brink. Chuck McElroy (8th), Chuck Knoblauch (18th- didn't sign).
1987: Matt Rambo- 2nd round. (Lost first pick for signing Lance Parrish.) Kim Batiste (3rd), Toby Borland (27th)
1988: Pat Combs. Mickey Morandini (5th).
1989: Jeff Jackson (!!). No one else- a completely lost draft.
1990: Mike Leiberthal. No one else.
1991: Tyler Green. Kevin Stocker (2nd).
1992: Chad McConnell. Casey Blake (11th- didn't sign)
1993: Wayne Gomes. Scott Rolen (2nd).
1994: Carlton Loewer. Matt Beech (7th), Wendell Magee (12th).
1995: Reggie Taylor. Marlon Anderson (2nd), Ricky Williams (8th- too bad this isn't football!).

Just look at the above list. This is a pitiful, pitiful draft record. Scott Rolen is the only all-star type player drafted, with Mike Leiberthal and Kevin Stocker the only other regulars. Now, things start to turn:

1996: Adam Eaton. Jimmy Rollins (2nd). (Got lucky with a high school shortstop from California)
1997: JD Drew (didn't sign). Randy Wolf (2nd), Derrick Turnbow (5th), Johnny Estrada (17th).
1998: Pat Burrell. Eric Valent (1st supplemental), Jason Michaels (4th), Ryan Madson (9th), Geoff Geary (15th), Nick Punto (21st)
1999: Brett Myers. Joe Saunders (5th- didn't sign), Marlon Byrd (10th).
2000: Chase Utley. Taylor Buchholz (6th).
2001: Gavin Floyd. Ryan Howard (5th).
2002: Cole Hamels. Scott Mathieson (17th).
2003: No 1st pick (signed Jim Thome), no 2nd pick (signed David Bell). Tim Moss. Michael Bourn (4th), (Kyle Kendrick (7th).
2004: Greg Golson. JA Happ (3rd), Lou Marson (4th).
2005: Mike Constanzo (2nd- no first round pick). Matt Maloney (3rd), Josh Outman (10th).
2006: Kyle Drabek. Adrian Cardenas (1st supplemental), Jason Donald (4th), Dominic Brown (20th).
2007: Joe Savery. Michael Taylor (5th).
2008: Anthony Hewitt. Jason Knapp (2nd).
2009: Kelly Dugan (2nd- no first round pick).

Not great drafts, even with the bolded members of the 2008 World (F) Champions- just enough big scores to hit Utley, Myers, Burrell, Hamels, Rollins, and Howard.

Back to the original thought: yes, I believe that this is the best time ever to be a Phillies fan. The team is leading the division, and still has Drabek, Brown, and Taylor in the wings. From 1883 to the present- this is the time. Now, of course, the team may not play in the World Series this year, but we (we Phillies fans, I mean) need to enjoy this while it lasts!