Philadelphia Phillies 2012: 15 Things the Phillies Still Have to Be Thankful For

Let's face it. After a disappointing end to what was perhaps the most promising season in Phillies history, most fans are probably thinking that there is not much to be grateful for. It is not like in 2008, when turkey was cut around the recent high of the Phillies winning the World Series. No, 2011 is a different story.

In addition to losing in the NLDS, this year also saw Ryan Howard go down with an injury that is expected to make him miss some time, Placido Polanco and Hunter Pence undergo surgery, a season of an unhealthy Chase Utley, and the departures of Ryan Madson, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt and likely more. This Thanksgiving, instead of celebrating, the Phillies will be addressing question marks such as a contract for Jimmy Rollins and a contract extension for Cole Hamels to keep him from being a free agent at the end of next season.

Despite all of this, however, the Phillies have a lot of things to be thankful for this holiday season and going into 2012. In no particular order, here are some of the things the Phillies and their fans can still celebrate during the holiday season.

1. There Is No Salary Cap in Baseball

If there were a salary cap in baseball every team would be on the same playing field. Each team would only be able to spend the same specified amount, no more, no less.

If you are a small market team like the Rays or Astros, this would be something not to be thankful for, but for the Phillies, who have a payroll of around $175M—among the top in baseball—no salary cap is what helps the team be able to contend and legitimately compete for a World Series every single year. It enables them to always be in the equation for a top free agent and has helped them pay to bring guys like Cliff Lee and recently Jonathan Papelbon to Philly.

2. Ruben Amaro Jr. Is an Aggressive Spender

Having no salary cap wouldn't mean anything if GM Ruben Amaro Jr. wasn't an aggressive spender. 

The fact that RAJ is constantly finding ways to have the Phillies sign big names is a credit to his baseball knowledge and perhaps a thing or two he learned from his predecessor, Pat Gillick.

RAJ and the front office understand that you have to spend money to make money and he knows just when and how to pull the trigger on a contract that most fans and people in baseball don't believe to be possible.

For the Phillies, Amaro's aggressiveness has helped supplanted this team as one of the best and has kept them relevant in the Jose Reyes sweepstakes even if they do not end up signing him. The Phillies and Ruben seem to always be in the conversation for top guys and as most fans probably learned last year with the Cliff Lee signing, never count out Ruben to bring any free agent to Philadelphia.

3. Ryne Sandberg Did Not Get Selected for a Managerial Job

It is a good thing that the Cardinals and Red Sox didn't hire Sandberg to be their manager and it is something the Phillies can be grateful for, as he is currently considered to be the possible heir apparent to current Phillies manager Charlie Manuel.

Keeping Sandberg gives the Phillies options. He can continue his post as manager of AAA Lehigh Valley, where he led them to the playoffs, or the team can move him up to the big league team as a bench coach, hitting coach or any other position, just to give him the experience.

Regardless of where he ends up in 2012, the Phillies have to be thankful that he is still going to be in their organization for at least one more season.

4. Selling Out Every Game

Playing 81 games at home is one thing, but playing 81 games in front of a capacity crowd, well that is totally different.

The atmosphere at Citizen's Bank Park has always been electric but with over 200 consecutive sell-outs, it is always something amazing to be a part of that game day crowd. Phillies fans may have gotten a bad reputation but there is one thing all these sell-outs prove and that is the fact that these fans love their Phillies.

Having all of these sell-outs is something the Phillies can be thankful for especially since their recent success has begun to decline. It doesn't seem to matter to the fans as they always come out to see the team play. In addition to the team always playing to a full house, sell-outs mean money and on the business side of baseball this just means more money to spend on making the team and its facilities even better.

5. Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee

No salary arbitration, no contract negotiations, no injuries, no trade rumors.

For Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay, the Phillies have every reason to be thankful as their situations are both set for at least a few more years. As I said above, there are no question marks when it comes to these players and knowing that the No. 1 and No. 2 in the rotation are set is something the Phillies can definitely be happy about considering the other questions that await them this off season.

Being completely sure of Halladay and Lee's situations is one thing, but the team can also be thankful that they have these pitchers ready to go in 2012. The team is returning the second and third place finishers in the Cy Young race for 2012 and in doing so, returning two guys who contributed to 36 of the team's 102 victories and had a hand in many more.

6. Shane Victorino's Trade Value

Having money to spend on free agents is one thing but being able to trade for players is something too. After all, guys like Hunter Pence and Roy Halladay did come to this team through trades.

With a team of a lot of old, injured or contract's near expiring players, the Phillies do have one bright spot when it comes to major league talent with a trade value. That player is Shane Victorino.

Now the team and fans are not going to want to part with Victorino but if the right deal comes along, you have to think that the team will at least be willing to listen to offers. If a deal is proposed that could fill a void, the Phillies have such as infield depth, Victorino could be on his way out of town, as the Phillies have such a good amount of outfield depth that they could afford to part with him. 

7. Their Farm System

Part of the reason the Phillies have been able to make blockbuster trades are because of guys who have never even stepped onto a major league baseball field.

The Phillies have one of the best farm systems in baseball and even though they have traded away a handful of great players, their farm system is constantly producing more. More players who could be traded away and more players who this year especially could be called on to play for the Phillies.

Some of the guys who might get their big league shot or a second chance are guys like Domonic Brown. Once touted a top baseball prospect, Brown's major league experience has left many wondering if he will ever live up to the star he was made out to be. If the Phillies trade Victorino or don't re-sign Raul Ibanez, Brown might be given his third and final chance to prove that he can play in the majors.

Other guys that might be called upon this year are bullpen names including September call-ups in Justin DeFratus or Michael Schwimmer and in possible closer of the future, Phillippe Aumont. The bullpen also has Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes in key roles and both of these guys were Reading and Lehigh products.

Although maybe not this year, the Phillies have a star in the making in SS Freddy Galvis. It is not expected that he will be ready to start in 2012 but give him a few years and the Phils expect him to be a future star.

8. John Mayberry's Emergence

John Mayberry's emergence in 2011 is something that is going to be key for the Phillies going into 2012. With Ibanez likely gone, Mayberry will be looked to as a way to fill that void and possibly even as the everyday left fielder. All he has to do is produce like he did in the second half of the 2011 season and the Phillies should be pretty set when it comes to their outfield.

Seeing Ryan Howard go down means that Mayberry is even more important. Mayberry, who played 1B for four years at Stanford, could be called on to start the season there if Howard is not ready to return. 

It is almost guaranteed that Mayberry will make the roster in 2012 because of his ability to play either left field or first base. His 2011 campaign, although not perfect, is also good enough to make the decision to out him on the roster pretty easy. Not only can he fill the Ibanez or Howard void defensively, but he can also make up for some power the lineup will be missing.

9. Carlos Ruiz's Gamecalling Ability

Ruiz may not be the best catcher offensively but he has something that is even more important to the Phillies and that is his ability to call games.

Having Halladay, Lee and Hamels is part of what last season gave the Phillies 102 wins. Their success, however, can in part be contributed to the guy that was behind the plate helping them determine what pitch to throw and where to throw it.

Both the Phillies pitchers and fans can be thankful this offseason for Ruiz. Not only is he locked up for the season as the starting catcher but he is also uninjured and ready to go. Ruiz will be a big part of what happens in 2012 and the Phillies have to be happy that he is not a question mark like so many of the other players going into next season.

10. The Pitching of Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels' 2009 hiccup of a season seems to be far behind him now as his 2011 stats proved. Hamels was a verifiable ace on a team where he pitched third in the rotation. Hamels' great season was enough to help the Phillies trio have 50 wins, where he contributed 14 of them and a sub-3 ERA. Hamels' efforts had him good enough to come in fifth in the Cy Young Award voting.

The fact that Cole Hamels had a good season is a great sign for the Phillies who will be returning all three of their pitchers. Because of his solid contributions, the Phillies have three pitchers whom they can trust and whom they will rely on in 2012. The only question when it comes to Hamels is his contract status.

The Phillies can be grateful that Hamels will be pitching for them in 2012 but they can also be grateful that they have an entire season and the money to work on bringing him back for the foreseeable future. Lee and Halladay won't pitch forever and if he stays, it looks like the 28-year-old Hamels would be the Phillies' ace of the future.

11. The 2008 World Series Championship

With the recent playoff campaigns each ending sooner than the last, the Phillies can be grateful that in 2008 they won it all.

Not only can they be thankful for the parade, the screaming fans, the image of Brad Lidge on his knees and the trophy itself, but the Phillies also can thank the 2008 World Series for keeping them relevant and for making free agents want to come to Philly.

The memories of 2008 are just recent enough that free agents still want to come to Philadelphia. Winning the World Series and the commitment by RAJ and the rest of the front office to win more keeps the Phillies on the market for top talents like Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon, who come to Philly for the "best chance to win it all."

12. No Trouble in the Offseason

This is something that may not seem incredibly important but it is. The Phillies front office has enough to worry about in the offseason as it deals with signing and re-signing players, making trades and more. It doesn't need to worry about taking disciplinary actions against players being reckless in the offseason.

The Phillies can be thankful that they have not has this problem and this bad press. The group of players on the team is full of high character and you never hear anything about players getting into trouble in the offseason. There is not a worry that a player will have to be suspended or fined and that is something the Phillies certainly can be thankful for.

13. Jim Thome's Career as a Phillie

Jim Thome is going to be warmly welcomed back come April but it may not be for the reason that people think. Yes, Thome had a great career in red and white pinstripes but the effects of his time here are part of what gives him so much value now. He was a fan favorite and without Thome signing with the Phillies in 2003, it is a safe bet that the success since then, may not have happened.

Look at it this way if you doubt me. Thome was really the first bona fide All-Star free agent in recent memory to choose to come to the Phillies, who at the time of his signing, were not a playoff team. Thome opened and the success he brought and led to, opened the flood gates to the Phillies signing big names and if it wasn't for Thome, none of those names may have come to Philadelphia.

Thome also was the predecessor to Ryan Howard. His career in Philly was only so short because of the emergence of the rookie phenom. Thome gave Howard the time to develop and became a beloved Phillie in the meantime. He is the one player who could come in an opposing uniform and never get booed.

His role in 2012 is uncertain but even if he doesn't contribute in a big way, the Phillies will always be thankful for what he did in a Phillies uniform and what he helped the Phillies to be able to do after his departure. 

14. Ed Wade and Hunter Pence

Hunter Pence was really the missing puzzle piece for the Phillies outfield in 2011. Not only did he give them a proven outfielder, but his bat and power against lefties was something that the Phillies lineup was missing.

The Phillies can be thankful not only for Pence's production but for the fact that current Astros and former Phillies GM Ed Wade practically gave him to the team only asking for a few prospects, not even the top Phillies prospects, in return.

The fact that Pence is going to be starting the season with the team is something the Phillies can look forward to. His numbers will be good especially considering the fact that Howard will most likely miss time and Rollins may not be re-signed. Pence will likely start the season in the clean-up spot unless the Phillies sign someone else but nevertheless he will be looked on heavily for big production and a stellar season.

15. Having an All-Star Closer the Team Can Trust

Losing Madson to free agency is something a lot of Phillies fans didn't want. That is until they learned that the Phillies had signed a historically better and more proven closer in Jonathan Papelbon.

Papelbon had his struggles in recent years but he is an All-Star closer and a personality that the Phillies should be thankful to have landed. For really the first time since 2008, the Phillies are going into the season with a closer who has actually made his living as a closer. Last season was really Madson's first as a closer and even then he did not close the entire season because of injury. With one full season as a closer, Madson hasn't really proven that he can be a major league closer like Papelbon has.

There is no question mark at the closer position for the Phillies as Papelbon has the job and will be starting and finishing the season as the closer, permitting no major setbacks or occurrences. This is something to be thankful for as the Phillies can now fill out the rest of their bullpen knowing that they have a closer.