We all knew we wouldn’t be seeing the Phillies in the playoffs this year, but we are seeing some (former) Phillies. Of the four major leaguers dealt away by Ruben Amaro since the start of this season, three will be playing in the playoffs. You wanna guess who isn’t? It’ll make you happy:
Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins’ LA Dodgers stayed pretty consistent since Utley joined the squad, going 21-17 with the reunited double-play duo. The win percentages before and after Chase was added were only separated by .005 points, a statistical non-starter. Ben Revere, perhaps some kind of magical spark-plug once he passes the Canadian border, helped the Blue Jays’ to a .212 winning percentage increase since he joined the team. Cole Hamels’ Rangers went from under-.500 to a possible division winner, with Cole going 6-1 and earning a 3.86 ERA down the stretch. And Papelbon? The loud-mouthed, throat-grabbing lunatic whom Ruben Amaro dumped on the Nationals in a beautiful swan song? He helped lead the Nationals down a dark, miserable hole as their closer, allowing the surging Mets to go from neck-and-neck with the Nats to the NL East’s only playoff representative.
It’s actually really beautiful. Hamels and Utley will both be playing for another ring. There isn’t a happier baseball player on the planet than Ben Revere– so good for him. And there isn’t a more miserable baseball player on the planet than Papelbon. You get what you give.