The 2008 Phandom 25: Sweet Lou!

Posted by Tim Malcolm, Mon, December 29, 2008 11:46 PM

Last year I wrote a series of posts chronicling 2007’s 20 greatest moments in Phillies Phandom. Each game had a special “wow” factor, whether it was an insane comeback, an awesome feat or a trademark moment. And each game was a Phillies win, of course.

For this year, clearly, you know the top moment. But ranking the rest was very difficult. Do I rank the NLCS second just because? Is the NL East clinching victory as important as other postseason moments? I used some heavy discretion, but I believe I came up with a pretty solid list.

Each moment has an attached video link, if you’d like to go back and reminisce.

Like the 100 Greatest Phillies countdown, I’ll be posting one per day. I swear, you won’t get any more countdowns this offseason.

***

25. Welcome to the show, Lou Marson!
Date: September 28, 2008

We at Phillies Nation suggest Lou Marson is the Phillies catcher of the future. In fact, we’re already getting in line for Marson’s 2030 Hall of Fame induction. And when that occurs, we can always look back to Marson’s fourth major-league at bat. Already 1-for-3 with a single, Marson faced down Nationals pitcher Marco Estrada, and tattooed him with a big fly into the left field seats. Returning to the dugout, Marson high-fived the air as a response to the first home run silent treatment. Before long, Geoff Jenkins, Jimmy Rollins and friends were congratulating the youngster. With the Phillies clinching a postseason berth the day before, this game was more of a relaxing, tension-free event. Marson’s homer capped the feel-good atmosphere, and the Phils finished off the Nationals for a 92-70 regular season, their best since 1993.

And yes, that day was even better because of the accompanying Mets choke-job.

 

From the comments:

CT: NICE FIRST HOMER FOR MARSON!

Chase Mutley: Home Run Wes Helms!!! Makes up for all the times you didn’t come through in the clutch for the Phillies.

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20 Responses to “The 2008 Phandom 25: Sweet Lou!”

  1. Greg V. Says:

    I really loved this game and thought Marson was fantastic. He’s got the right attitude and backs it up with performance. I think he’ll be able to hang in the bigs just fine.

  2. nate Says:

    Was there. A little disappointing after being at last year’s finale (I was half hoping that they would lose the second last game this year so they could clinch the division when I was there), but this, Matt Stairs mooonshot immediately after, and So Taguchi’s surprisingly big day were worth it. Got my picture taken with the East pennant and moved up to the lower deck for the end and the Mets’ loss celebration. A good day.

  3. Phillies Phan SC Says:

    Wife and I went up to Philly for the final three games. This one was great, actually, as I got to see a bunch of people play that do not get to play a lot, so it was interesting…

  4. Jim Says:

    This day was special. We had already won the divison and we ahd sparkels in our eyes. But even so, all of our little guys had great days. Happ, Marson, Stairs, Taguchi, all guys that had not provided bvery big roles all year.

  5. Chuck P Says:

    Lou Marson’s first MLB HR…? Not sure if this is a top 25 moment for the 2008 WS Champs. I mean, the day was pretty sweet because of the mets-choke celebration and what-not but this is “drink the Lou Marson kool ade” propaganda.

  6. Tim Malcolm Says:

    First off, it’s Kool-Aid. Second off, seriously? It’s a year-end happy moments list.

  7. Chuck P Says:

    I was joking about the Kool-Aid propaganda… admittedly, you are pretty high on Marson and that’s cool (most of us are). If it makes your list, I’m ok with that… I’m just not sure if the Sweet Lou HR makes my list. You may feel like the game is special for reasons listed. I was at the game the night before and honestly I didn’t even watch this game (the starters didn’t play, it didn’t matter… I needed a break from the tension that we all experienced the night before (it was a beautiful day so I was outside with my three sons)… I’m sure it was a great, relaxing day at the park (which is a rare feeling at CBP).

  8. fred Says:

    I think it probably warranted a top 25 moment, although if he becomes a huge bust then in 2030 people will look back and say ‘who the hell was Lou Marson ?’. But i’m pretty sure he’ll turn into a decent player, although not a star due to his lack of defensive prowess or power. Kinda like a Paul Lo Duca type in his prime is a good projection, with Joe Mauer being the best case scenario.

  9. NJ Says:

    It’s definately one of the memorable moments of the Championship campaign. The way so many of our fellow fans jump on our prospects It’s so rarely we can enjoy one of them having an early success. If Lou Marson can be the second coming of Mike Lieberthal then the Phils have hit gold, not what a lot of fans want to hear but that kind of stability behind and at the plate for that long would be incredible.

  10. Amanda Says:

    I was there. That was pretty sweet. Love Marson already.

  11. Chase Mutley Says:

    Today rules because:

    a) I got a FAT year-end bonus at work.
    b) My sister just delivered my A&E 8-Disc Phillies World Championship DVD set that didn’t make it in time for Christmas.
    c) I was quoted on the home page of philliesnation.com!

    I love this video. Marson’s fake high-fives going into the dugout was classic. I was still hungover from going to the clinching game the day before and just chilled on the couch watching this game.

  12. Matt Kwasiborski Says:

    You would think Marson is the next Johnny Bench when he isn’t the highest rated C prospect in our system and I will bet that by the time Marson is finished, Liberthal will still have caught more games as a Phillie than Marson will have, take it to the bank!

  13. Don M Says:

    Wasn’t Paul Lo Duca an All-Star??? so its somehow safe to say that Marson will be at least an All-Star… and maybe the best all-around catcher in baseball like Joe Mauer … ?????

    He’s JUST become the top-rated catcher in OUR farm system… and I think Travis D’Arnaud has overtaken him already depending on what prospect rankings you trust.

    Marson has the looks of a solid player.. a good contact hitter with not much power.. I hope he’s the greatest catcher in the history of the game, but lets be serious before we call him anything close to Lo Duca and Mauer

  14. Brooks Says:

    I too was at that game, what a shot by Marson! This is a guy definitely with the size but he has never hit with even average power while in the minors.
    My hopes for Marson grew every atbat for Carlos Ruiz.
    Is Marson the real deal? Who knows! What I do know is how tired we all were of seeing the same, predictable outcome from Carlos Ruiz, night after night, it got downright boring. Unfortunately, Chris Coste has had his time as well. Coste did not have a hit in the regular season from mid-August on. Ugh! Between Ruiz and Coste, there was not a lot to cheer, just a lot of hope that built up for Lou Marson.
    Is he the real deal? I dont know. Will he be an improvement over this years “no-hit Nunez”, Carlos Ruiz? Anything, please anything.
    Of course, after what Carlos displayed in the WS, it leaves me with believing the best course of action would be to have Ruiz start the season, and his back be Lou Marson. Once Ruiz displays 2008 tendencies at the bat, let our own Sweeet Lou take his shot. Why not?

  15. Phils Are joedaddy Says:

    Not a good start to the list. a meaningless home run in a meaningless game. Come on now man, we are champions. If we were the 1988 Phillies and had nothing to live for as fans other than to hope this guy was the second coming of Michael Jack, this would be a top 25 moment. Aim higher Tim.

  16. Tim Malcolm Says:

    That’s why it’s No. 25 on a 25-part list. The aim actually does get higher.

    Yikes. I could rate the shoes I’ve owned in my life and get barbs thrown at me for putting some Adidas above Pumas.

  17. fred Says:

    Lo Duca was an all star, but he had a short shelf life at the top and not all players who make the mid-summer classic are actually any good. Case in point: Brian Wilson made the team this year, Pat the Bat did not. Lo Duca NEVER hit for power, was poor defensively and was only valuable when he hit at least .310. If that’s what Marson turns into then he’ll be an upgrade on Ruiz, but no superstar. If he ends up worse than Lo Duca, you’re looking at more of a Johnny Estrada type. And i said BEST CASE SCENARIO was Mauer, which is like saying best case scenario for Greg Golson is Carlos Beltran. Highly unlikely, but the potential is there, like alot of prospects.

  18. Phils Are joedaddy Says:

    Tim Malcolm Says:

    “Yikes. I could rate the shoes I’ve owned in my life and get barbs thrown at me for putting some Adidas above Pumas.”

    This has me lauighing.

  19. phils 50+ Says:

    But I’m sure you have Chuck Taylors at the top of that shoe list, Tim. I was at that last regular season game and enjoyed the ambience, soaking in the division title with hopes of bigger things to come. And I LOVED scoreboard watching as the Mutts dissolved.

  20. Brooks Says:

    Why all the hope in what Lou Marson flashed at us? Because we suffered, tremendously for an entire season of Carlos Ruiz at bat. We are aching for a bat, a better than decent bat behind home plate as well as third base. Having the best second baseman in all of baseball, the best ss in all of baseball, a first baseman that could be on the way to a HOF career, what appears to one of the greatest pitchers of this decade on one team. To compliment this all with a third baseman that can bring fear to opposing pitchers and a firey catcher would be awesome for years to come.

    I had a thought the other night I wanted to discuss. What is the mold for the ultimate Baseball legend?

    I have some ideas and I think this is fair wintertime fodder. Care to bring it up guys?

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