To conclude the PhilliesNation All-Decade series, we are releasing all of our choices that combine to create the entire Phillies All-2010s roster.
Catcher: Carlos Ruiz
“J.T. Realmuto may have had a stellar first season as a Phillie, but it doesn’t outweigh what Ruiz has meant to the organization throughout the decade. He was worth 11.1 fWAR and was the franchise leader in doubles in the 2010s. It’s also important to mention that Ruiz was behind the plate for all four no-hitters thrown by Phillies pitchers in the decade.” – Destiny Lugardo
First Baseman: Ryan Howard
“It wasn’t a great decade for Phillies first baseman. However, Howard will get the nod for the All-Decade team, despite being worth less in fWAR than players such as Ben Revere, Cameron Rupp and John Mayberry Jr. The Big Piece finished in the Top 10 in MVP voting in both 2010 and 2011, which is worth something.” – Destiny Lugardo
Second Baseman: Chase Utley
“Despite multiple stints on the injured list, Utley was still the most valuable second baseman that the Phillies had this decade. He was able to continue to produce late into his Phillies career, which not every star from the previous decade did. Utley led the team’s position players in total fWAR in the 2010s.” – Ty Daubert
Third Baseman: Placido Polanco
“Polanco’s defensive presence and value to two postseason teams get him the nod as the Phillies All-Decade third baseman. He was the only Phillies third baseman to be selected as an All-Star or Gold Glover in the 2010s. His second stint with the ballclub was as good as anyone could have expected as Polanco cemented his role in team history as an important contributor for two of the franchise’s greatest teams.” – Ty Daubert
Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins
“Rollins’ longevity compared to the other candidates is what gets him the nod. He was a starter for five seasons this decade and gave the team the most value of any shortstop. Although his best seasons were behind him, Rollins still gave the team some vintage moments in the 2010s.” – Ty Daubert
Outfield: Bryce Harper, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth
“Harper was just about everything that Phillies fans had hoped for in 2019. Although he only played one season with the club this decade, it was one of the better seasons of any Phillie in the 2010s. Harper’s impressive season gave hopes for what could be to come in the next decade of Phillies baseball.
Victorino was a valuable contributor on two playoff teams this decade, something not too many other Phillies can say. He manned center field for some of the most iconic moments in Phillies history during this decade such as Roy Halladay’s perfect game, Halladay’s postseason no-hitter and the Phillies’ fifth-straight National League East title. Victorino had an fWAR of 5.6 in 2011, the best of any Phillies outfielder in the 2010s.
Werth gets the nod here for similar reasons to Harper, who was coincidentally his teammate from 2012-2017 after Werth left Philadelphia to play for the Washington Nationals. He had lacked longevity this decade but posted an incredible 2010 season for the Phillies. He joins Victorino as one of the only two Phillies outfielders with 5-fWAR seasons this decade.” – Ty Daubert
Rotation: Cole Hamels, Aaron Nola, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Vince Velasquez
“Hamels is one of the best pitchers in Phillies history, and much of his success with the team came during his first five plus seasons this decade. Over 178 starts, Hamels accumulated 25.6 fWAR and pitched to the tune of a 3.06 ERA.
Nola was first called up to the major league rotation just months after Hamels’ last start in a Phillies uniform, and has solidified his place at the top of the team’s pitching staff since. His best season came in 2018, when he finished with 3rd in NL Cy Young voting with a 2.37 ERA. While he was not the same pitcher in 2019, he has still proven himself the act of the Phillies and a key piece in their core moving forward.
Lee’s first stint with the Phillies came in 2009, and he returned to the team in 2011 and pitched until an injury mid-way through the 2014 season. In 106 starts with the team this decade, Lee pitched to a 2.89 ERA and racked up 19.6 fWAR, the fourth highest total in baseball during that period. But despite his consistent brilliance, Lee was never on a winning team after 2011 and ultimately retired in 2016 after failing to return from the elbow injury that shortened his 2014 season.
In 2012, Halladay hit a wall, and he never pitched again following 2013. However, his success in 2010 and 2011 was so great that he easily slots into the all-decade rotation. During those two seasons, Halladay led the majors in innings pitched, ERA, and fWAR, among several other categories. He was great.
Due to his (relative) longevity and mild success at points during his career as a Phillie, Velasquez gets the nod as the fifth starter for the all-decade rotation. While he has certainly been frustrating throughout much of his career as a Phillie, he is top-6 among all Phillies starters in starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts, and he had some mild success at points in his Phillies career. Velasquez is also the all-time franchise leader in strikeouts (minimum 400 innings pitched), which solidify his position ahead of the aforementioned Eickhoff and Kendrick on this list.” – Jonny Heller
Closer: Jonathan Papelbon
“Papelbon was nowhere near a fan favorite, but he was undoubtedly the best reliever on the Phillies during the fast decade. He is the all-time franchise leader in saves, and certainly played to his 4-year, $50 million contract that he received prior to the 2012 season. The Phillies never had a winning season with Papelbon, and ultimately traded him to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Nick Pivetta during the 2015 season.” – Jonny Heller
Other entries this series:
