The Philadelphia Phillies were a powerhouse outfit as recently as four seasons ago but the franchise once again has fallen on hard times. Their story is a cautionary tale for other franchises because they are proof that it can all fall apart in a hurry without constant renewal.
The Phils are no strangers to struggles. Prior to 2007, they made the playoffs exactly once in the previous 24 seasons. That one season was 1993 when they lost the World Series to the Blue Jays. It is no coincidence that, just as he put together the back-to-back World Series winners in Toronto, Pat Gillick was the architect of the Phils juggernaut that dominated the NL East from 2007 through 2011.