It’s Official. Philadelphia is Baseball Heaven
Most Phillies’ fans are familiar with the infamous “Baseball Heaven” quote from Prodigal Son Scott Rolen upon hearing he was traded from the last-place Phillies to the first-place Cardinals in 2002.
“I felt as if I’d died and gone to heaven. I’m so excited that I can’t wait to get on the plane and get to Florida to join the Cardinals.”
via ESPN
My, how things have changed. For anyone paying attention these days, Philadelphia is, without a doubt, Baseball Heaven.
The traditional notion of Heaven, as an eternal resting place in Christianity, is home to the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We, here in Baseball Heaven Philly, have our own powerful collective of individuals. Let’s call them the Holy Quintet of John Middleton, Dave Dombrowski, Rob “Topper” Thomson, Bryce Harper, and the incomparable Phillies fans.
John S. Middleton
None of this is possible without John S. Middleton’s willingness to spend whatever it takes to field a Championship-caliber team. He has talked the talk and walked the walk. He has committed practically a billion dollars to a handful of players. He’s paying Dave Dombrowski upwards of $20m. The Phillies are currently in the top five in total team payroll in Major League Baseball, outspending the Dodgers, and he shows no signs of tightening the wallet.
Dave Dombroski
Dombrowski has brought a sense of calm and competency to the entire Phillies organization, from the lowest levels of the minor leagues to the team playing at Citizens Bank Park. He took over a franchise with a woeful farm system and a major league team with Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and zero direction.
He wasted no time in sending Girardi packing and instilling Thomson as the interim manager. Any casual fan can suggest signing the likes of Schwarber, Castellanos, and Turner. Dombrowski is making the second-level moves that a winning franchise needs. The additions of the likes of Brandon Marsh, Taijuan Walker, Craig Kimbrel, Matt Strahm, and Michael Lorenzen feel Pat Gillickesque in nature. Not only are Dombrowski and his staff finding players that contribute, but he is also finding players that fit in the clubhouse.
Rob “Topper” Thomson
Topper has been taking a lot of heat for some questionable baseball moves and this year’s batting order. Let’s not forget he righted the Girardi ship and took a then-underachieving team to the World Series.
This year, Topper has guided the team to a 63-52 record thus far. The team currently holds the top NL Wild Card spot, and, I think, they are the 2nd hottest team in the National League since the All-Star break. The team has achieved all that while missing Bryce Harper for over two months, losing their 30 HR 80 RBI emotional-leader first baseman in Spring Training, having stars like Turner, Schwarber, Nola, and Realmuto underachieving, and Harper not regaining his power since returning.
I don’t know how you take shots at Topper looking at their record in that context. While the lineups and questionable calls ultimately rest on Topper’s shoulders, they are not decisions made in a vacuum. He has a bench coach and analytics that all contribute to those decisions.
What Topper does, which is immeasurable, is create a culture that works. According to reports, Girardi’s clubhouse was tense, stressful, and lacking any fun. Topper turned that around. Nothing was more evident as we watched the fun the clubhouse had in their run to the World Series. It was infectious.
That has continued this year. The clubhouse is fun. They are relaxed. The players seem to like each other. They appear genuinely happy for their teammates’ successes. Did you notice most of the team standing on the field waiting for Lorenzen, after his no-hitter, to finish his interviews and photo opportunities? It’s as if the entire team wanted to take it all in with Lorenzen, a guy who has been on the team for just over a week.
Topper manages egos and creates a fun, loving clubhouse that is reminiscent of the days of the great Charlie Manuel. That’s not easy to do and it’s far more important than blowing a challenge. Heck, we wouldn’t have DJ Garrett Stubbs without Thomson’s managerial style and we probably wouldn’t have had Dancin’ On My Own.
Bryce Harper
This guy has done everything expected of him and more. Harper won an MVP. He’s made a miraculously quick return from Tommy John surgery. He’s switched positions. And, maybe most importantly, he’s a heck of a player recruiter. He successfully lobbied for J.T. Realmuto. Schwarber and Castellanos do not come here if not for Bryce Harper. He campaigned for Trea Turner. He’s got Middleton’s ear.
Harper came to Philly when they weren’t at their best and he’s helped make this roster a desirable roster to join and one that gets along with one another.
The Phillies Fans
Phillies fans put the league and the world on notice during the 2022 Playoff run that this is the greatest baseball fanbase on the planet. The frenzied energy of Citizens Bank Park was recognized on national news and throughout the League. Players on other teams saw that energy. Talking heads on the MLB Network gushed over the Citizens Bank Park energy.
This year, the fans came up strong again. The reputation precedes us as a difficult place to play, particularly while struggling. Trea Turner was struggling. He signed a $330m contract and was performing like Steve Jeltz. Anyone watching the games could see Turner pressing and things weren’t improving. There were reports of Turner staying after games and taking hours of batting practice.
What did we do? We gave the guy a standing ovation on his first game back after a disappointing road trip. We gave him a standing ovation every at-bat in that game. The cheers continued through the weekend. Turner hit a home run in the second game of the homestand. He took out a billboard thanking Phillies fans for their support. He said the standing ovations made his mother cry. His teammates were blown away by the support of the fans showing that we, as a city, have their backs in this journey.
Again, national news took notice. If you don’t think every player, and more importantly, every potential free agent made note of that, you are smoking great recreational herbs.
On Wednesday night, the crowd was incredible as Lorenzen took his solitary walk to the mound in the top of the ninth inning with a no-hitter on the line. They rose and they roared. In his post-game comments, Lorenzen made special of the fans’ energy and how their support propelled him to have the strength to successfully complete the no-hitter.
Who wouldn’t want to play baseball in Philadelphia after seeing the fans’ support over the past two seasons?
HEAVEN
They haven’t won any Championships yet, but they are going to be in contention for the foreseeable future. They are going to be a desired destination for free agents and tread-deadline players because of the unrivaled Holy Quintet we have in the City of Brotherly Love.
Sorry, St. Louis. It’s official. Philadelphia truly is Baseball Heaven right now.