2012: Fall From Grace
Main article: 2012 Philadelphia Phillies season
In the 2011–2012 off-season, the Phillies re-signed Jim Thome and signed closer Jonathan Papelbon and Laynce Nix, as well as obtaining Ty Wigginton via a trade with the Colorado Rockies.
During the season, the Phillies put up a sub-par performance during the early and middle months of the season, and fell into last place for much of the season. The Phillies traded away Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton and Hunter Pence during August, as team management did not see the possibility of reaching the post-season.
In August, not long after the trades, the Phillies caught fire, and finished with an 81–81 record, after being 14 games below .500 at mid-season. The Phillies finished in 3rd place in the NL East, 17 games behind the Washington Nationals and 13 games behind the Atlanta Braves, who went on to win one of the wild card spots. The Phillies finished 7 games out of contention for the wild card.
Read more about this topic: History Of The Philadelphia Phillies
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