Philadelphia Phillies: 12 People Most Affected By Not Winning the World Series

Let's face it, the Phillies season was not supposed to be over yet. Most if not all Phils fans expected that they, and not the St. Louis Cardinals would be playing deep into October.

They believed and wanted for the Phillies to be playing game one of the World Series yesterday.

But let's be honest here. Baseball seasons rarely ever go how you expect they will.

For the odds on favorites the Phillies, not meeting these expectations is something that could haunt this franchise for years to come if they can't win a ring in the next few years.

More than players, management has also been affected by the 2011 disappointment.

Now that it is off season, decisions have to be made regarding the makeup of the team and how to make it better going forward.

Roy Halladay

Last season was the first year Roy Halladay had a chance to experience the playoff atmosphere.

This year was supposed to be the year he paraded down Broad Street.

In the 2011 NLDS, Halladay pitched his heart out.

He recorded two great games. Unfortunately for the Phillies, the one run he gave up in Game 5 was all that the Cardinals and ace Chris Carpenter would need to shock the Phillies and the baseball world.

It is clear that Halladay wants a World Series and wants it badly. It is the main reason why after 12 years with Toronto he decided to move on and join the Phillies.

The hunger and the fire are in his eyes and because of this loss, it can only be expected that in typical Halladay fashion, he will work that much harder.

He will also be that much more determined next season.

Jimmy Rollins

For this free agent, a World Series win could have ensured staying in Philadelphia or it could have ensured he would get his asking price elsewhere.

Either way, Rollins could have only benefited from winning the ring.

Being on the Phillies team his entire career, adding ring number two to the collection could have made his decision about what to do easier.

He may have been more willing to accept a hometown discount in order to stay with the core that will determine the Phillies future playoff hopes in the future.

If Rollins goes, good playoff performances in the World Series would have only helped his case in trying to get big money and a long contract.

If he could prove that he was clutch in the postseason, teams could garner interest.

With Jose Reyes on the market, Rollins either looks to be the consolation prize in the Reyes sweepstakes or the guy who goes to a smaller market team because they can't afford a guy like Reyes.

Raul Ibanez

Raul's situation is similar to Rollins' in that his free agent prospects could have bettered based on the World Series.

Unlike Rollins however, Ibanez does not have a ring from the 2008 season as he joined the team the year after.

As a 40-plus-year old declining star, his year's in the MLB look to be numbered and getting a team to sign him to a nice deal might be difficult.

It seems pretty certain that with the up and coming rise of John Mayberry Jr. and the acquisition of Hunter Pence midseason, Ibanez's days in Philadelphia are numbered.

While he still possesses the ability to hit for power, it looks that the next logical fit for the aging OF would be on an AL team as a DH.

For this reason and the fact that most high caliber teams may not be willing to take the chance on him because of age and injury tendency.

2011 may have been the last shot for Ibanez to ever become a World Series Champion.

Cliff Lee

For the biggest off season prize of last year, Cliff Lee did not look to be going home before fall was in full swing.

The pitcher who had played in back-to-back World Series in 2009 and 2010 looked to be the final piece of the Phillies puzzle.

With him pitching behind Roy Halladay and in front of Cole Hamels, the Phillies had one of the best 1-2-3 punch in all of baseball and instantly rose to be favorites to win it all.

Winning the World Series for Lee was not to be however.

After starting his postseason career off so pristine and polished with a remarkable 7-0 record in his first eight starts, Lee has faltered and some have questioned his ability to perform on the big stage.

I think out of all the players on the Phillies roster, Lee is going to feel this loss the most.

Not only did he disappoint a lot of fans in Philly who expected him to pitch better in Game 2 but he also has to watch his former team, the Texas Rangers make it to the World Series again.

Lee is going to have some mental and emotional hurdles to overcome before next season. If he can, he is certainly going to have the determination and desire to win the World Series in 2012.

Ryan Madson

In 2012, Ryan Madson may not find himself wearing red and white pinstripes.

Although his 2011 was not bad by any means and he emerged as the Phillies closer, his free agency could not have come at a worse time for the Phils.

In trying to re-sign Jimmy Rollins and still have money left to sign a replacement for Ibanez and a contract extension for Hamels, Madson's future with the team isn't exactly priority number one for Ruben and top management execs.

The Phillies also have a young, up-and-coming star in Antonio Bastardo. He took the reigns of the closing role during the first half of 2011 when Madson had to miss time due to injury.

Although his arm did suffer somewhat, he looks to be able to handle the role full time in the near future. The Phillies also have Jose Contreras who they just activated off of the DL.

If Madson cannot be resigned, the team seems to have confidence that Bastardo and Contreras could close by committee next season. 

Ryan Howard

The image of Ryan Howard falling to the ground in pain is one that most Phillies fans won't soon forget.

The information regarding his injury is also something that this team will have to deal with moving forward.

Howard suffered a torn Achilles, and Ruben Amaro said that he'll need five to six months to play at his accustomed level.

For Howard, a lot has been said about his own power decline.

Hitting 30 HR and 120 RBI may be good enough for other superstars but players at Howard's caliber are expected to do more. That is exactly what Philly still wants from Howard.

Next season, he will be expected to perform at a high level if and when he can return. The Phillies look to Howard to lead their team and any future World Series hopes will fall on his bat.

Charlie Manuel

The Phillies Manager is certainly going to have a lot to think about this off season starting with the fact that his team squandered a great opportunity to win the World Series.

It isn't entirely Manuel's fault that the Phillies lost the NLDS, but when a team loses first blame typically lands on the coach.

Manuel's decision making was questioned at times including the choice to pinch hit Ross Gload over John Mayberry in specific situations.

Other decisions including pitching also had some question Manuel's bullpen choices.

While Charlie most likely did the best with what he had, the Phillies recent lack of success and their periodic decline are having some question about the man who just became the Phillies most winningest manager.

I doubt very much so that Manuel's job is in jeopardy.

He is still affected by this loss and moving forward it will be up to him to have an active role in how the team improves and makes it back to the Fall Classic.

Greg Gross

The Phillies hitting coach is most likely taking the brunt of the blame in the Phillies loss.

His hitters went cold after game two, barely mustering hits and runs and ultimately having that lead to a first round playoff loss.

Although the Phillies batting improved from last season, the lack of timely hits in the playoffs reflect badly upon the hitting instructor.

Even the great Milt Thompson found that out as he was fired when the Phillies hit a bad slump and replaced by Gross.

It is uncertain if Gross' job is in or will be in jeopardy, but what is certain is that next season, the Phillies offense needs to come out of the gate strong.

Otherwise they may see a new hitting coach before the end of the 2012 season.

Ryne Sandberg

Greg Gross's potential firing could be Ryne Sandberg's opportunity.

The former Cubs great led Philadelphia's triple A team, the Iron Pigs to a pretty good season including making and winning the first round of their playoffs.

After the team was eliminated, Sandberg made his own September call-up to the big league club where he helped the coaching staff.

Having Sandberg as one of the Phillies coaches would be a great addition for the team.

His success at the major league level could translate well into being a hitting coach.

Chase Utley especially would benefit greatly from being under the wing and tutelage of one of the best second basemen to ever play baseball.

Ruben Amaro Jr.

Having taken over for Pat Gillick after the 2008 World Series, Ruben Amaro Jr., is going to experience his toughest off season yet.

He faced with big decisions regarding free agents, Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Madson, Raul Ibanez and Roy Oswalt.

He also has to deal with finding ways to improve what was considered by many the best Phillies team ever.

Having acquired Cliff Lee in last year's off season, Amaro not only proved that he is capable of anything but he also created one of the best rotation's in baseball history.

The addition of Hunter Pence mid season was a huge help for the team and the decision to option Brown to triple-A allowed for the emergence of John Mayberry Jr.

It looked like Amaro had assembled the perfect team but after a devastating NLDS loss, the holes were magnified.

Part of his 2012 approach is to improve the team's offensive production and the way Amaro hopes to do this is through consistency.

It may be acquiring a free agent cheaply or trading for someone who could fill the role but either way, being the Phillies GM right now is not an enviable job.

Freddy Galvis

If losing and not making the World Series is negatively going to affect current Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins, it is positively affecting the guy who hopes to be his replacement in Freddy Galvis.

Galvis is one of the Phillies minor leaguers who many think they are ready to play fulltime at the major league level.

He is one of the Phillies top prospects and if Rollins chooses to sign elsewhere, he could compete for the job in spring training.

If Galvis can in fact win the role, it puts the futures of Michael Martinez and WIlson Valdez's career with the Phillies in jeopardy.

One of them will surely be kept as a bench player and as a way to relieve Placido Polanco and Chase Utley who will need the occasional rest and that guy.

While this guy will most likely be Martinez, Galvis could get the bench job if he doesn't get the starting role.

Either way, Galvis looks to at least get an audition for the Phillies come spring of 2012.

Domonic Brown

Phillies losing could mean the departure of Raul Ibanez. It could also mean another chance for top prospect Domonic Brown.

Brown has had his chances to outright earn the job of Phillies starting OF.

So far, he has not been able to produce at the big league level like the Phillies organization had hoped.

He has been the guy that Ruben does not want to trade. The Phillies organization still has faith that he can succeed in the MLB.

Brown is going to have a good shot at earning a spot on the Phillies this spring. Howard is due to miss time and with the possible departure of Ibanez, there will be an opening in the OF as Mayberry will most likely start at first.

Now this isn't to say that Ruben won't pull the strings to bring a free agent to play OF or 1B, but with the focus being on re-signing Rollins, that is currently not the direction the Phillies are looking to go.

If Rollins does not re-sign the Phillies may invest money to bring a solid free agent to town but most likely the OF role will once again be Brown's to lose.