The Phillies and the Bush Years

by WholeCamels on Jan 20, 2009 9:24 PM EST Comment 18 comments

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've closed the comments for this thread, and I appreciate everyone remaining civil while they were open. I didn't intend for this to be a political discussion, and just wanted to commemorate a (completely coincidental) observation I made regarding our last President and the fortunes of the Phillies. I can see now how it could have been taken otherwise. The fact is we're all here because we agree on something (the Phils) so let's keep the site on-topic. Thanks!

Today saw the end of the two-term Presidency of George W. Bush and, regardless of what you may have thought of Mr. Bush as a Chief Executive, the Philadelphia Phillies experienced one of the greatest runs of sustained success in their mostly moribund history.

During Bush's Presidency, the Phillies experienced seven winning season out of eight, averaging 86.5 wins per season -- and the lone losing season, 2002, saw the Phillies finish 80-81. The eight season run was capped with a NL East division title in 2007, and a World Championship in 2008. The only era in team history that arguably exceeds the present stretch is the 1976 to 1983 run that saw the team win five division titles, two pennants, and the team's first World Championship in 1980.

Two MVPs (Howard 2006; Rollins 2007), and one Rookie of the Year (Howard 2005). One no-hitter (Kevin Millwood 2003).

The team saw the arrival of free agent Jim Thome in 2003, almost single-handedly conferring credibility on the franchise. During the Bush Years, the Phillies drafted and developed Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels, with stars Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, and Jimmy Rollins emerging during the time.

So, let's hope that the Phillies don't need a Republican in the White House to succeed. Maybe the Obama Years will be even better.

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This reminds me uncomfortably of the question a few people asked me in the last couple weeks of October: if you had to choose just one of a Phillies title and an Obama win in the election, which would it be?

I never answered, and I never intend to answer. Just deeply and abidingly grateful that we got both.

by dajafi on Jan 20, 2009 9:54 PM EST reply actions

I think I’m 100% in agreement with this. But at least we had some pretty good baseball to distract us over the past eight years…

Also… the Yankees have not won a World Series with a Republican in the White House since 1958; they’ve won eight titles since then (1961, 1962, 1977, 1978, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000).

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Jan 20, 2009 9:57 PM EST up reply actions

A lot of people asked that question too! I dodged it, too. Here was my answer: “I will celebrate a Phillies Championship more than an Obama victory, but I recognize which is more important.” When naturally prompted with the question as to what if I could only make one happen, I would answer that I wouldn’t want to interfere with a sports outcome— it wouldn’t count as winning if I cheated to make the Phillies win.

by Matt Swartz on Jan 20, 2009 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

Are you suggesting a correlation? ;-)

What if Bush becomes the next Commissioner of Baseball?

by ajay on Jan 20, 2009 10:56 PM EST reply actions

Sadly, I think he would have been a very good Commissioner of Baseball if he’d gotten the job in 1993 when, legend has it, Selig made an implicit pledge to install Bush in that position. And, of course, he might never have gone into politics.

One thing I never doubted about Bush was his love for baseball. I think that his veneration for the players and his appreciation for the owners’ business priorities might have made him the perfect guy to finesse the difficulties that led up to the strike.

All that said, I think given how polarizing a figure he is now, he wouldn’t be a good fit for the position. (Bill Richardson, on the other hand…)

by dajafi on Jan 21, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions

Not interested in politics here, quite honestly. Please stop it.

While the parent post is not overtly political, I think it invites discussion that, honestly, I would prefer to avoid in the context of this website. Without stating a position either way, I will simply leave it at: I’d rather discuss OPS+, VORP, etc. rather than open the door to what will inevitably invite unrelated political bickering.

Not interested, not interested, not interested. If I wanted to read that, I would be at the Huffington Post or Townhall or FreeRepublic or whatever political bread and circus passes for discourse these days on the left/right.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 21, 2009 3:49 AM EST reply actions

fair point

I apologize for making that first comment, which took the discussion in a bad direction.

It was a goal of TGP from the outset four years ago to keep this space as free of politics as possible. I think a little deviation yesterday was understandable, and WC makes an interesting point, but in the main you’re absolutely correct.

by dajafi on Jan 21, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

With all due respect. It’s not your blog, so settle down.

by FuquaManuel on Jan 21, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks, dad.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 21, 2009 7:41 PM EST up reply actions

; )

by FuquaManuel on Jan 21, 2009 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

For the record

I wasn’t trying to provoke a political discussion; I just happened to observe yesterday that the Phillies recent run of success chronologically correlates precisely with the Bush Presidency. Remember how bad they were in 2000?

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Jan 21, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t think politics was discussed anyway, just preference. I agree, we don’t need to talk politics here, but I don’t have a problem with anyone stating their preference just for informational purposes.

For Who? My teammates.

For What? To Win.

How Much? Where do I sign?

by jonk on Jan 22, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions

My preference is for smart politicians over dumb ones – i think i’m in the minoirty

by jemagee on Jan 22, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions

Sports-related parent post comment

The past 8 years ("00’s")have been good to the Phillies, although I can’t say that the period begins to compare to the 76-83 period ("80’s"):

1. World Series victories: 1 each — tie
2. World Series appearances: 2 (80’s) vs. 1 (00’s) — 80’s wins.
3. Total division titles: 6 (80’s — I counted 1981) vs. 2 (00’s)
4. Total winning percentage (regular season): .568, or 92 wins per year (80’s) vs. .543, or 86.5 wins per year

The latter item is of most interest to me ~~- take the Phillies roster over the last 8 years and add one more player with a per-season WARP of 5.5~~-6.0, and that’s the difference between the 80’s/00’s Phillies. That’s not HOF material, but it would be a good all-star performer. Perhaps another Jimmy Rollins (WARP in 2008 of 6.9 – http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/sortable/index.php?cid=431725). Or, using last year as an example, replacing Pedro Feliz with an Aramis Ramirez.

I note that Ryan (I want 18 million in arbitration) Howard has a WARP of 5, which is behind 8 other Phillies last year.

In any case, the 80’s Phillies were clearly superior for a much longer period of time. The only other comparable eras would be 1961-1968 or 1910-1917, the latter era being ancient history.

You can only wonder how the Phillies of 2001-2008 would have turned out if they had retained, for example, Scott Rolen (42.6 WARP from 2002-2008 after leaving PHI) or Curt Schilling (53.3 WARP from 2002-2008). If they had kept both? Wow. Sorry, didn’t back out David Bell. Nor did I back out Travis Lee/Padilla for Schilling, though you can see more on that here: http://hugetinymistake.wordpress.com/2006/07/26/the-curt-schilling-trade-6-years-later/

My guess is that the Phillies probably win another division title or three, and once in the playoffs, who knows? C’est la vie.

Remember the Phitans

by RememberthePhitans on Jan 21, 2009 4:53 AM EST reply actions

heartbreak

Although the 1976-83 run had its share of traumatic, heartbreaking events (i.e., Black Friday) that have been mostly lacking from this most recent run. This decade were had primarily been saddled with the soft disappointment of coming “this close” to the playoffs year after year, but aside from that Biggio homer off Wagner in September 2005, I can’t really think of any single events/games that were too devastating.

http://www.thegoodphight.com
WHY CAN'T US?

by WholeCamels on Jan 21, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions

also

they had the 2005 and 2006 home run derby champions, howie and abreu.

by char6587 on Jan 21, 2009 5:03 AM EST reply actions

I agree with the ’it’s your blog’ sentiment.

Anyway, this is by far the best the Phillies have ever been in my lifetime, and for my money they’ll end up being thought of as better than the 80s team too, if they make another World Series.

Huge Tiny Mistake

by pacino on Jan 21, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions