The Top 12 Difference Makers for the Phillies this Year

The 2010 Phillies have had some ups and downs this season, but recently they seem to be doing great, and they seem on track to make their fourth consecutive playoff berth. 

I don't know if they realized that they weren't going to make the playoffs unless they made a comeback, or if the manager and coaches helped them, or what.  But what is plain is that they are doing better, and I would like to recognize some of the players who have been very important to the Phillies this year.  So here they are, in no particular order:

1. Jimmy Rollins

Jimmy Rollins has only recently been heating up, but he still has helped the team in many ways.  On Sunday he went one-for-five, but he stole two bases and then scored a run, leading the Phillies to a 3-1 win.  Then on Tuesday he hit two-for-five with three RBI and a run, helping the Phillies to take the lead in the Wild Card race.  But Wednesday was his best day yet.  He hit three-for-five with three RBI, two runs, and two stolen bases, falling just a double short of the cycle.  Without Rollins, the Phillies might not be leading the Wild Card race.

2. Carlos Ruiz

Carlos Ruiz is one of the main difference maker for the Phils.  One of his main strengths is clutch hitting.  He almost always gets hits when they are needed most.  He has started many rallies, led many comebacks, and he got the walkoff double against Jonathan Broxton to close out the Phillies come-from-behind win against the Dodgers.

3. Jayson Werth

Jayson Werth has been great, and he is one of the main players who carried the Phillies through their injuries.  Recently he has been doing great, getting hits in key situations.  After the Phillies talked about trading him, he got hot, and now he still is.

4. Brad Lidge

Brad "Lights Out" Lidge currently deserves his nickname almost as much as in his 2008 season.  He has recently been great.  In the month of August he has six saves and no earned runs in six and a third innings pitched .  He has helped the Phillies to many wins.

5. Ryan Madson

Ryan Madson has recently been the Phillies set-up man.  He has been doing great, posting a 1-0 record and an 0.00 ERA over 10.1 innings in August.  He usually come in in the eighth inning and sets up the scene for Brad Lidge.  Those two together have had an influence on the outcome of many Phillies games.

6. Raul Ibanez

Raul Ibanez was, with Jayson Werth, another player who helped the Phillies through all their injuries.  Although recently he has been slumping, earlier he was great and was an important player in the Phillies lineup.

7. Placido Polanco

Placido Polanco has been having a great season.  He does not hit for power, but he hits consistently.  He has a batting average at  .318, and it has been around that number for most of the year.  He has started many rallies, and he is one of the main difference makers for the Phils.

8. Roy Halladay

Roy Halladay has been an ace for the Phillies this year.  He is 15-8 with a 2.24 ERA, and he has gotten many important wins for the Phillies.

9. Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels has been great this year, and recently he looks like his old 2008 self.  He has a 3.51 ERA this year, and although his record is 7-10, that is because he has not had much run support this year. 

10. Roy Oswalt

Roy Oswalt has not pitched for the Phillies for long, but he has had some good starts and has gotten them some key wins.  Before they got Oswalt,The Phillies were desperate for a starting pitcher, and it seems that they may have gotten the ace they need to help them to a playoff berth.

11. Backups and Reserves

The 2010 Philadelphia Phillies have had many injuries, but they have overcome them and still done good.  One of the main reasons are their backups and their reserves that filled in for the injured Phillies.  They have done great, and while they were playing the Phillies played almost as good as they did without injuries.  They have been as much as we could have hoped for this year.

12. And everyone else...

All of the Phillies players, coaches, and executives have contributed a lot to the team, and if the Phillies make it to the playoffs, everyone deserves credit for what they have accomplished this year.