You would’ve thought the Philadelphia Phillies lost a loved one when Veterans Stadium had been demolished (March 21, 2004). The implosion signaled the beginning of the Citizens Bank Park era, a ballpark also located on Broad and Pattison (CBP’s parking lot is where the Vet stood).
This Phillies team came into the 2004 season with high expectations. However, the anticipation became derailed by inconsistencies and injuries. Newly-acquired closer Billy Wagner found himself on the disabled list twice while appearing in 45 games. Starters Vicente Padilla, Randy Wolf, and 2003 no-hitter achiever Kevin Milwood also missed chunks of the season.
Still, the Phillies were able to finish 10 games back of the Atlanta Braves as the second place finisher in the National League East at 86-76. It marked the first time the Phillies strung back-to-back winning seasons since 1982 and 1982. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to prevent fourth-year manager Larry Bowa from being fired with two games to play.
Offense seemed to put the Phillies into potential promise land. Philadelphia’s offense batted .267 (1,505-for-5,643) with 840 runs, 303 doubles, 23 triples, 215 home runs, 802 RBIs, and 100 stolen bases (caught stealing 27 times).
Right-fielder Bobby Abreu led all position players in average (.301), walks (127), doubles (47), and runs batted in (tied with 105). Abreu also collected 30 home runs, one triple, and 118 runs.
First baseman Jim Thome pumped up the volume in terms of power hitting for the second consecutive season. Thome batted .274 (139-for-508) with 97 runs, 28 doubles, one triple, 42 sayonaras, 105 RBIs, 104 walks, and 144 strikeouts. His future successor, Ryan Howard, started his big-league career by appearing in 19 games with 11 hits in 39 at-bats, five runs, five doubles, two long-balls, two walks, 13 strikeouts, and five RBIs.
Second baseman Placido Polanco also spent a little time patrolling third base, batting .298 (150-for-503) with 74 runs, 21 doubles, 17 jacks, 39 strikeouts, and 55 RBIs. Reserve second baseman Chase Utley compiled 71 hits in 267 at-bats (94 games) with 11 doubles, two triples, 13 four-baggers, 57 RBIs, 40 strikeouts, and 15 walks.
Third baseman David Bell stayed healthy for most of the season, batting .291 (155-for-533) with 67 runs, 33 doubles, a triple, 18 four-baggers, 75 strikeouts, and 77 RBIs. Bell hit for the cycle in one game, the first Phillie to record a single, double, triple, and homer in the same game since Gregg Jefferies in 1995.
Shortstop Jimmy (J-Roll) Rollins showed he had been a threat on the bases after hitting .289 (190-for-657) with 119 runs, 43 doubles, 12 triples, 14 round-trippers, 73 RBIs, and 30 base thefts.
Primary catcher Mike Lieberthal hit .271 (129-for-476) with 58 runs, 31 doubles, one triple, 17 long-balls, 61 RBIs, and 37 walks. Backup catcher Todd Pratt was 33-for-128 with 16 runs, five doubles, three home runs, 16 RBIs, 38 strikeouts, and 18 walks.
Left-fielder Pat Burrell batted .257 with 66 runs, 17 doubles, 24 sayonaras, 84 RBIs, and 130 strikeouts. Ricky Ledee played left field as well, going 35-for-123 with 19 runs, seven doubles, seven homers, and 26 RBIs.
Center-fielder Marlon Byrd hit .228 in 106 games with 48 runs, 20 extra-base hits, and 68 RBIs. Doug Glanville also played center-field (87 games) by providing 21 runs, a double, one triple, two round-trippers, 14 RBIs, and eight steals.
Phillies pitchers posted a 4.45 Eaened Run Average in 1,462.2 innings with five shutouts, 43 saves, four complete games, 1,488 hits, 781 runs, 724 earned runs, 502 bases on balls, and 1,070 strikeouts.
Eric Milton stayed healthy by demonstrating a 14-6 mark in 34 starts (201 innings) with 196 hits, 110 runs (106 earned), 75 walks, one hit batter, and 161 strikeouts. Brett Myers went 11-11 in 32 games (31 starts) with one shutout, one complete game, 196 hits, 113 runs (108 earned), 31 gopher balls, 62 walks, a 5.52 ERA, and 116 strikeouts in 176 innings.
Milwood (9-6 in 25 starts) issued 51 walks, fanned 125, surrendered 81 runs (76 earned), and posted a 4.85 ERA in 141 innings. Padilla (7-7, 20 starts, 115.1 innings, 4.53 ERA) permitted 119 hits, issued 36 walks, struckout 82, and surrendered 63 runs (58 earned).
Wolf started 23 games (136.2 innings), going 5-8 with a 4.28 ERA, 145 hits, 73 runs (65 earned), 20 homers, and 80 strikeouts. During his turns to swing the bat, Wolf collected 12 hits in 45 at-bats with six runs, two doubles, three goodbye balls, and eight RBIs.
Cory Lidle had been dependable in his 10 starts by posting a 5-2 record and 3.90 ERA in 62.1 innings with 54 hits, 28 runs (27 earned), three long-balls, 17 free passes, and 33 strikeouts. At the plate, Lidle tallied two doubles and a fence-clearer in 20 at-bats with four RBIs. Lidle came to the Phillies from Cincinnati during the latter part of the season.
While being able to pitch, Wagner (4-0, 48.1 innings, 2.42 ERA) notched 21 saves in 25 save opportunities, walked six, punched-out 59, gave up 16 runs (13 earned), and scattered 31 hits. Tim Worrell assumed the closer’s role in Wagner’s absence, posting a 5-6 record in 77 games (78.1 innings) with 19 saves, 75 hits, 36 runs (32 earned), 64 strikeouts, 21 walks, and a 3.68 ERA.
Rheal Cormier (4-5, 3.56 ERA) could’ve been restless because he hurled 81 innings in 84 games with 46 strikeouts, 26 free passes, 70 hits, and 32 earned runs. Roberto Hernandez (the reliever, not the starter/reliever formerly known as Fausto Carmona) worked 56.2 frames in 63 games with a 3-5 record, 4.76 ERA, 29 walks, and 44 strikeouts. Ryan Madson posted a 2.34 ERA in 77 innings (one start, 51 relief appearances) with one save, nine wins against three losses, 23 runs (20 earned), 55 strikeouts, and 19 walks.
Amaury Telemaco (0-2, 42 games, 54.1 innings, 4.31 ERA) walked 19 and fanned 32. Geoff Geary (1-0, 5.44 ERA) entered 33 games and allowed 52 hits, 29 runs (27 earned), and 16 walks while striking out 30 in 44.2 innings. Todd Jones (3-3, 27 games, 25.1 innings, 4.97 ERA) earned one save with eight walks, 22 strikeouts, and 13 earned runs.
The Phillies displayed the league’s second-ranked defense (.987 fielding percentage) with 81 errors and 142 double plays. Polanco impressed his peers by showcasing a .995 fielding percentage (three errors) with 287 putouts.
Citizens Bank Park counted 3,250,092 tickets at the gates. Abreu and Thome represented the Phillies in the 2004 All-Star Game. The top minor leaguers in Philadelphia’s farm system to receive the Paul Owens Award were pitcher Scott Mitchinson and Howard (first base).
Calling the action on radio and television broadcasts were Harry Kalas, Chris Wheeler, Larry Anderson, Scott Graham, and Tom McCarthy.
