It is too early for a 2011 season reflection after the Phillies were knocked out by the Redbirds. Even if the outcome was not the way we thought it would be, there are plenty of memories from this past season from the good to the bad.
Posted by Christina Angelos
#6 Phillies Pitchers Hitting
You know before the Phillies season started, the Phillies aces had a bet on who will have the best hitting season… well here are a lot of firsts for the aces with the bat: Cole Hamels triple (first career). Cliff Lee smashes 2 homeruns (first and second career, a month apart). Roy Halladay bases clearing double (first career extra base hit). Who do you think had the best hitting season?
#5 Opening Day Shocker
Pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. lined an RBI single off closer Brandon Lyon that capped a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Houston Astros 5-4. He was the hero sending Phillies fans home with a smile.
#4 Juan Perez Strikes Out the Side; Raul Sends Phillies in the "W" Column
So what if he was released, he did give us one very good outing. Perez came on to start the 10th and struck out Jason Heyward, Nate McLouth and Wilkin Ramirez, inducing five called strikes and four swinging strikes ON NINE PITCHES! Perez earned his first Major League win after Raul Ibanez crushed a ball to rightfield! He became the first Phillies pitcher to strike out the side on nine pitches since Andy Ashby on June 15, 1991. Pretty cool history to see.. probably won't see that again.
#3 Wilson Valdez Fields and Pitches on the Same Night
Pretty exciting night after both teams each added a homerun in the 10th inning… but it was only going to get funner without a real pitcher. Of course, Ruiz goes to 3rd and then the fielder Wilson Valdez turns into a pitcher. Wohoo! Let's Go 19 innings!! Phillies RP Wilson Valdez retired the Reds heart of the order even if he hit Scott Rolen. Phillies walked off in the bottom of the 19th inning with a sac fly by Raul Ibanez.
#2 Welcome to the Show, Vanimal
Vance Worley emerges as the Phillies' unlikely pitching hero after the injuries to Joe Blanton and Roy Oswalt. However, the night was young when Vance Worley threw his first complete game against the defending World Series Champions SF Giants with the help of four homeruns including a Chase Utley inside-the-park homerun.
#1 Clinching the NL x2; Winning 102 Games
Of course the Phillies will clinch the NL East 5 year straight–It's been an unbelievable run, however, winning 102 games in one season and breaking the old record. As you may know, the Phillies franchise have only reach the 100 win marks twice before the 2011 season. It is truly hard to do, but Hunter Pence gave the Phillies 4-3 win over the Braves for win #102 as the Phillies swept the Braves.
Personally, I do not think I would have thought the Phillies would be on this kind of run. This is truly the greatest season even without a the parade, I believe. You may not ever see a team with 100+ wins for a long time. I have seen it all.
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My least favorite moment of the season: are all the injuries during the WHOLE season including the one that just happened on the final out of the Phillies season.
From Chase Utley being out with health issues from the start of Spring Training when most people saying it could be career ending injury. What about Dominic Brown? He did not get a base hit until the day he hurt hamate bone. He was sent to the DL. There are no words what the fans have put him through. I guess Lidge belongs in this list. On a night, where Oswalt had a shaky outing—many believe something may be wrong. It turned out; it was family and tornado outbreak. Is he ready to retire? Maybe not, but he was sent to the DL twice. What about Shane Victorino? What about Jose Contreras? There are plenty of minor injuries throughout the season, but it’s not comparable to what happened on the final day of the Phillies season. Ryan Howard, our last hope to advance had grounded out for the final out; however, he did not know what happened because he collapsed as he was getting out of the batter’s box. Looks like we already have our first 2012 DL victim, could be 6 months or a full season before we see him back.
