The 2012 Philadelphia Phillies have already been crippled by injuries this spring, but they still have the best chance to win the National League East. They still have the best pitching staff in baseball, and the most underrated catcher behind the plate in Carlos Ruiz. With Ryan Howard and Chase Utley unable to play at all, however, the power numbers for the Phils will be substantially lower than in the past. It is that fact that prompted manager Charlie Manuel to come to the realization that this season the Phillies are going to have to play more small ball to score runs. Manuel realizes it, but can he add this to his managerial philosophies and implement the plan on gameday? He was a hitter when he played and enjoys seeing a home run as much as the fans in the right field grandstands. This season has to be different though; in order for his team to win, the Phillies need to steal bases, sacrifice the runners over and claw for runs to give his all-star pitching rotation a chance.
Since the 2008 Championship season the Phillies have lost in the 2009 World Series, 2010 NLCS, and 2011 NLDS. In all three seasons the Phillies were arguably the best team, but could not generate enough runs to win. This brings up the question, what took Charlie Manuel so long to realize that a home run is not going to win as many games as small ball? In 2009 against the Yankees Chase Utley hit 5 home runs to tie Mr. October, Reggie Jackson for the most in a World Series. The Phillies lost that series, however, in six games. The following season the Phillies' bats went dormant against the Giants, and last season it happened again in the NLDS against the Cardinals. In Game 2 of last season's Divisional Series the Phillies scored 3 runs in the first inning, 1 in the second and that was it in a 5-4 loss. In Game 4 they scored 2 in the first, and were shut out until they came up with 1 in the eighth in a 5-3 loss. Then there was the decisive Game 5 when the Phils were shut out 1-0 and eliminated from the playoffs. The losing pitchers in those games were Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Roy Halladay. Any manager in the league would want those three pitchers on their staff, but without run support they become very limited in what they could do to win ballgames. The Phillies outscored the Cardinals in that series 21-19, but still lost because of the timing of the runs scored. While the Phils were waiting for the big hit, the Cardinals were getting hits at the right times to score runs when they needed them.
The home run might be the most overrated part of a baseball game. The key to winning games is good pitching along with producing base runners to manufacture runs. Charlie Manuel is a smart manager and possibly the best in Phillies history. He knows what it takes to score runs, but cannot be too stubborn to call for the hit-and-run or stolen base when that will win the game. The 2012 Phillies have the pitching to go all the way, but with their biggest power threats injured, and the National League East becoming more talented it could be a long, hot summer in the "City of Brotherly Love". The Phils need to utilize their speed and fundamental abilities to make things happen to win ballgames. If they can create chaos on the basepaths it will force the opposing teams to beat themselves with mistakes. The home runs will happen, but it will have to be a bonus and not a staple for this Phillies team to have success in 2012.
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