Phillies' late-season charge ended with whimper

By Bill McFarland

There's no use crying over spilled milk. Close, but no cigar.

Use any cliche you want, but the bottom line is another disappointing season as the Phillies came up short again this year after mounting an unexpected challenge for the wild-card spot in the playoffs.

The 36-22 run over the last two months created much excitement at Citizens Bank Park, but in the end, it's not really going to matter which heartbreaking game the team should have won during the season — the one that would have put them in the playoffs.

The fact is, every game is important. During the year, some players downplayed losses, saying that over a 162-game season, one loss didn't really matter. It matters now.



There are a few things that I'd like to address. Although Chase Utley should have been awarded a three-run homer, and thus a Phillies victory, last Tuesday, and Ryan Howard should have 59 homers, human error is part of the game. Every team takes every missed call that goes its way.

Baseball lives on the decisions of the umpires. Most of the time, they get it right. That's why they're officiating at the game's highest level. However, during the winter break, baseball should address the use of instant replays.

I previously wrote that the Phillies should re-sign free agents Mike Lieberthal and Randy Wolf. One caller mentioned Lieby's injuries, and it appears that the groin muscle tear on Saturday probably sealed the catcher's fate. Likewise, Wolf's short outing on Saturday probably hurt his chances.

I'll stand my ground with Wolf — I still think he should return — but I think there will be another face behind the mask next year. One name mentioned was former Phillies catcher Johnny Estrada.

Pat Burrell's future is in his hands. He has two years and $27 million left on his contract — along with the right to invoke a no-trade clause. With him, it might be a matter of where he'll consent to go. He fell out of favor with the fans long ago, and the club would like to move him to free up some money. Stay tuned on this one.

While things could change at any moment, my feeling is that Charlie Manuel will return to manage in 2007. General manager Pat Gillick was hired with a mandate to hold expenses. Manuel has one year remaining on his deal, and most of the other managerial names that are floating about — Joe Girardi, Felipe Alou, Dusty Baker, etc. — would be more expensive.

Remember the fuss when Charlie was hired? He had the job before anyone else interviewed for the position simply because he wasn't Larry Bowa, yet a parade of big names came to Philadelphia to participate in that show. Only Jim Leyland was outspoken enough to note the charade of that one.

Has anyone else noticed that both Leyland (Detroit Tigers) and Grady Little (Los Angeles Dodgers) — two of the Phillies' rejects — are taking teams to the playoffs this year, while Manuel's season is finished?



If I had a vote, Ryan Howard would be my MVP for the National League. The only reason he doesn't have 60 home runs is because nobody pitched to him during the last week of the season. How many other hitters put that much fear into opposing managers?

The biggest reason for my vote is the one statistic that seems to be ignored. Yes, he hit 58 homers and drove in 149 runs — both league leaders — but he also hit for a .313 average! Albert Pujols' power numbers were a little shorter, but St. Louis made the playoffs, despite Pujols missing some time and the Cardinals' late-season slump. It's anyone guess which way this vote will go.

One caveat I should add is this: Every player has a career year. Howard may have just had his. I'm hoping that isn't the case, but I think it would be unfair for fans to expect 50 homers from him every year.

While teams were pitching around him, Howard still made the most of his opportunities and singled in runs. He may never approach 58 homers again, but he has become a more disciplined hitter. Keeping his average above .300 was most impressive to me.



This column will once again go on hiatus for the winter, although I may turn up from time to time. Thanks for all of the calls, letters and e-mails. We'll get together again next season.

This column was published on Oct. 4, 2006, in the Northeast Times in Philadelphia, which owns the copyright. It may not be reproduced anywhere else without permission.

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