The Paralysis of Losing

To the highest skilled eyes, it was obvious in September of 2011. Certainly by the end of 2012, anyone could tell. Then, along came 2013, and the Phillies got worse- much worse. They'd lose 89 games a year in 2013 and 2014, before dropping to 99 losses in 2015. Until August of 2014, the team seemed to have no interest in doing anything to change it either. Except for a brief moment in 2012 when they traded a free-agent-to-be, Shane Victorino, and their primed outfielder Hunter Pence, the Phillies seemed to be in denial about where they were in the world.

The Phillies spent several seasons in denial of how bad the team had become, and refused to move on from their 2008 heroes. A cynic might say that was because Chase Utley still "sold tickets." A more charitable man might say that the team still hoped their stars would bounce back. It took until David Montgomery was forced out in favor of Pat Gillick as team President for the Phillies to face the music- they stunk, and needed to divest themselves of payroll and big names, in favor of prospects. They finally did that over a 13 month period from August of 2014 until the beginning of September in 2015. Sure, they had to take a 99 loss season in there, but they bounced back nicely, improving by eight games in 2016. It stands to reason that if health holds in 2017, the young Phillies should improve again.

Now though, a new paralysis grips this team, still related to a losing mentality- the do-nothing paralysis. The Phillies are not rumored to be in on any of the big name trades on the market ahead of next week's Winter Meetings. No Andrew McCutchen, no Chris Sale, no Mike Trout- because the Phillies are not just "one piece away"- And to be fair, that's true in each case. None of those three would make the Phillies a contender to win the World Series in 2017. Of course, if you do nothing to upgrade your club, you're never going to be just one piece away either.

You could simply wait out the 2017 season, and hope that your young talent arrives. Maybe J.P. Crawford is in Philadelphia and excelling by year's end. Maybe Aaron Nola gets health and grows into a solid #2. Maybe Roman Quinn surprises you. Maybe, maybe, and maybe. After those things, you might be just one player away. You might be ready to go get your Bryce Harper. I don't know, but I do know that leaves a lot to chance.

The last great era of Philadelphia Phillies baseball, the one that is highlighted by the 2008 parade down Broad Street, was kick-started by signing Jim Thome and trading for Kevin Millwood, even though the Phillies were not really a contender in 2002. Those moves themselves didn't win the Phillies a title, but they brought interest back, putting people in the seats, and revenue in the team. The result of that was a team that dominated the NL East for years to come. Washington kick-started their current run by getting Jayson Werth after 2010, when they were bad. Jon Lester didn't sign with a championship Cubs team, but he signed, and they became one. There is an up-front cost to being good. There is an attitude about being good. Spending the off-season in the corner, left out of the serious business is not how you get good.

So, my hope is that the Phillies surprise us in the next week. Another upgrade in the line-up, some trades, and a closer would shake up the paralysis of losing right now at Citizens Bank Park. With the new CBA in place, and the TV contract money beginning to flow, there's no reason the Phillies can't proceed on trying to improve now- if they want to.