Philadelphia Phillies Mid-Season 2007 Report Card

The Phillies position players have, on the whole, performed better than the pitching staff. Any team with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley in the lineup is going to score a lot of runs. Greg Dobbs and Carlos Ruiz have been pleasant surprises. Rod Barajas and Wes Helms have been big disappointments. Pat Burrell is stealing from the team with his $13.25 million salary.

Let's look at the individual performances by the 2007 Phillies position players.

Catchers

Key Stats: 7 doubles, 4 home runs, 9 rbi's, .213 average

Barajas signed a $2.5 million, one-year contract with the Phillies last December. He's another terrible free agent signing by the Phillies. When he was signed it was bad news for Chris Coste - one of the team's top player last season. Nine rbi's in half a season? He should have been released after failing to block the plate in a key loss. Grade F

Chris Coste

Coste has only 22 at-bats since being recalled from the minors but only 15 fewer hits than Barajas. The pitching staff likes to throw to him. Why was he ever sent to the minors? Grade - incomplete

Carlos Ruiz

Key Stats: 174 doubles, 3 home runs, 29 rbi's, .272 average

Ruiz has done a solid job in his first full season in the majors. He was slated to be the backup catcher this season, but with Barajas' dismal performance, things changed He has come through with several key hits. Grade C+

Infielders

Key Stats: 14 doubles, 7 home runs, 34 rbi's, .288 average

Dobbs is quite possibly the Phillies best off-season acquisition. He filled in at first for the injured Ryan Howard. He's also played left field and more third base than anyone expected. His drawback is that he's another left handed bat on an already left handed heavy roster. Grade B+

Wes Helms

Key Stats: 13 doubles, 3 home runs, 24 rbi's, .267 average

Helms was signed to be the Phillies' regular third baseman following an excellent 2006 season in Florida. Although he performed better in June, he can only be considered a disappointment. He's platooning with not one, but two, other players at third. The power that the Phillies need from their third baseman has not materialized with Helms. Grade C-

Ryan Howard

Key Stats: 52 walks, 96 strikeouts, 13 doubles, 21 home runs, 67 rbi's, .256 average

Ryan got off to a terrible start and was hampered by injuries which led to a stint on the disabled list. Since his return he's once again showing the power that has made him the fastest player to 100 home runs in Major League history. He strikes out far too much. He needs to get that under control to avoid the Dave Kingman comparisons. Grade B-

Abraham Nunez

Key Stats: 8 doubles, 0 home runs, 13 rbi's, .263 average

Last year's disappointment at third base continues to disappoint in 2007. Nunez has shown no power and not much of a bat at all. Grade D

Jimmy Rollins

Key Stats: 22 doubles, 10 triples, 16 home runs, 53 rbi's, .286 average

He told us that the Phillies were the team to beat this season and except for a short slump he's definitely done his part. He has finally become a good leadoff hitter with some power to boot. Grade B+

Chase Utley

Key Stats: 34 doubles, 15 home runs, 68 rbi's, .325 average on-base percentage .401

What more could you ask? He's easily the best second baseman in baseball and was rewarded by being the only Philly selected as a starter in the All Star Game. Grade A+

Outfielders

Key Stats: 2 doubles, 2 triples, 5 rbi's, 13 stolen bases, .256 average

With less than 100 plate appearances it's tough to get a handle on a player. Bourn's major role has been that of a pinch runner and while he's shown that he's a great base stealer, he has made some major blunders as a base runner. Grade C

Pat Burrell

Key Stats: 58 walks, 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 37 rbi's, .215 average

The Phillies tried to trade him during the off-season without any takers. They tried playing him everyday with disastrous results. He's the highest paid player on the team and the weakest person in the lineup on most days. Is it any surprise that he's been spending lots of time on the bench? Grade F

Aaron Rowand

Key Stats: 20 doubles, 11 home runs, 43 rbi's, .310 average, on-base percentage .385

Rowand had a terrible spring training which left many calling for him to be traded. He started off hot and has cooled a bit, but still has the second best on-base percentage on the team. With free agency in his future, many still see him as the most likely trade bait for much needed pitching help. Grade B

Shane Victorino

Key Stats: 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 37 rbi's, 27 stolen bases, .277 average

"The Flyin' Hawaiian" has become a fan favorite in Philly complete with his own hula skirted bobble-head. He lacks the power you'd like from a right fielder but makes up for that with one of the best arms in the league. If Rowand is traded, he's the center fielder of the future. He needs to improve his on-base percentage. Grade B-

Jayson Werth 15-day Disabled List

Key Stats: 1 doubles, 3 home runs, 10 rbi's, .235 average

After a lost season due to injury in 2006, Werth finds himself once again on the disabled list. If you haven't noticed it's because he made little impression when he was on the active roster. He took a spot on the roster for most of the first half of the season that should have gone to Chris Coste. Grade D

The Manager

Manuel's biggest drawback is his handling of the pitching staff. He often pulls the starter too quickly and then plays "by-the-book" too often to get the "perfect" pitcher/batter matchups. He's also reluctant to let a reliever stay in the game when he's pitching well if "the book" says to replace him or if it's time for his set-up man or closer.

Manuel has probably cost the Phillies four or five games during the season. The players have cost him many more. It's likely that this is Charlie's last season as manager of the Phillies since his contract is up. He probably deserves better than he's been given here. Grade C+

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