It could be worse

Well, folks with the Phillies season being a mess so far we figured we would lighten the mood a little bit. This has to be one of the worst seasons in recent years for the Philadelphia Phillies, after their 2008 World Series Championship this team has been one of aging stars and big contract mistakes. But, ladies and gentleman it can always be worse. So here we are to list the players at every position that just never worked out for the Phillies. Just think your team could be made up of these guys instead.

Starting Catcher: Lou Marson

                Lou truly was a prospect that was never able to get over the hump. He was a guy that was viewed for many years as the future of the Phillies franchise, a guy that at any moment could hit his peak. However, that would never happen with the Phillies and he would be shipped off in the first Cliff Lee trade. Lou would bounce around the league for a few more seasons even coming back to the Phillies this spring, and once again lack performance greatly. Lou made our list due to the fact he was a guy that had so much expectation and never lived up to any of it.

Starting First Baseman: Travis Lee

                One name comes to mind when you think of first baseman that never really produced with the Phillies. Travis Lee is the first that comes to many people’s minds. Travis Lee was a superstar in college baseball, even winning the Golden Spikes award. Many thought Travis was the missing piece for the Phillies squad a guy that could carry a team on his back. In his time with the Phillies he was known for one thing, and one thing only the guy who never did anything from the Curt Schilling trade. Travis never really panned out with the Phillies, playing only two years with the squad and finally being released when the team signed fan favorite Jim Thome. Travis Lee stuck around for a few more years but never really was anything special, just an average player.

Starting Second Baseman: Nick Punto

                Now I know many of you are probably saying Nick Punto hasn’t had a bad career, in fact he’s still playing with the A’s right now. But, the 21^st round draft pick of the Phillies in 1998 really never worked out for them in general. In simple terms he was just like Lou Marson, a guy that was given many chances but never really worked out. Punto in his career with the Phillies in 3 years would play only 77 games and hit .223. The reason Nick made the list over someone like Marlon Anderson is due to the fact that he has had recent success but basically none with the Phillies.

Starting Shortstop: Kevin Stocker

                Many of our readers probably don’t even remember a time when Jimmy Rollins wasn’t the starting Shortstop for the Phillies, and trust us we try to forget that part. The years between Larry Bowa and Jimmy Rollins was filled with many, and we mean many failures at the Shortstop position for the Phillies. One that stands out strong is Kevin Stocker. Though Kevin was very success in his Rookie season, finishing 7 in the ROY voting, batting .324 that season. Stocker’s career would quickly go downhill from there and eventually would leave Philadelphia for the expansion draft with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Kevin Stocker was just one of many failures that the Phillies had at the shortstop position. However, the reason he makes our list is due to the fact again he had a lot of potential but never really worked out for the Phillies.

Starting Third Baseman: Kim Batiste

                The Phillies have always been a team that has struggled to find a replacement Third Baseman for Mike Schmidt. For years many would come to Philadelphia just to fail at the position. Until Scott Rolen arrived to the Phillies and would be a hit, however he would not last long in Philadelphia. The losing of Rolen would cause many years of mediocre players and lack of talent. Batiste is a guy that many remember for playing multiple positions. He was never a true starter with the Phillies, but would get a lot of playing time. Batiste is a guy that never really gave the Phillies anything during his time in the 90s and many would view him as a failure.

Starting LF: Domonic Brown

                The Phillies have had tons of different failures and success at leftfield, but for years one man was a mainstay out there and that was Pat Burrell. Even though Pat never lived up to his potential he was productive day in and day out and was truly a fan favorite. Many thought for sure that Domonic Brown would be the perfect replacement for him. However, Brown has just been a complete failure at the position. Dom was very successful for about 5 weeks last season, even making an All-Star game. Now Brown just looks lost and confused out at that position. Brown just hasn’t lived up to anything.

Starting CF: Doug Glanville

                Yes I know Glanville was decent and frankly above average during a couple season with the Phillies, batting .325 one year. Glanville was a local guy from the New Jersey area, even went to UPenn. Doug did have a few good years in the eyes of Phillies fans, but in all honesty he never did anything special. He was just an average defender, decent arm, and some speed. But, in my mind Doug will always be remember for miss playing a ball during Eric Milton’s almost no-hitter at CBP. Doug makes the list well, just because Phillies fans had a love hate relationship with him.

Starting RF: Jason Michaels

                The Phillies have actually had themselves some great right fielders in their history. There really has been no one that key to pick on. In the past 10 years the position has been filled with guys that were all above average players, Bobby Abreu, Jayson Werth, even David Dellucci. But one guy that stands out in Phillies fans minds will always be Jason Michaels. The guy was always to put it simply unproductive. Michaels played several seasons with the Phillies and never really amounted to much.

Starting Pitcher: Kyle Kendrick

                Face it people we have to go with him. Kendrick has been extremely unproductive in his time with the Phillies. He really hasn’t produced much for this team and hasn’t really given them anything to work with. Year in and year out Kendrick comes in and is either the same or worse then what he is. Don’t get me wrong he’s a decent number 5 starter, but that’s all he is a number 5. Kendrick has had some ups but mostly downs in his time with the Phillies.

The Closer: Jeff Brantley

                This is another position where the Phillies have once again excelled it. Though people including myself do not like Jonathan Papelbon he has been productive; the Phillies have also had guys like Wagner, Mesa, and Lidge all guys that were productive closers. But, if we have to pick a guy to make this squad, it is Jeff Brantley. Most of you guys are at this moment googling his name. Brantley played two seasons with the Phillies and was their closer for one of them in the early 2000s. Brantley was a guy who came to Philadelphia past his prime and was put in the closer role; kind of like how Tom Gordon was. Brantley in his two years had an above 5 ERA, and simply looked horrible.

                Well, we told you it could be worse. We could have this team of rag-tag guys, of failing prospects and washed-up stars. For the most part these guys weren’t necessarily bad baseball players; they were just failures with the Phillies and never really worked out. For the most part all of the guys listed above, may not have been the best ball players but they were probably the nicest and kindest of all the players, so in that category they are winners, performance not so much.         

-Brett