Though Sean may not want to admit it, the Phillies have to be the favorite to win the NL East this season. The addition of Cliff Lee to an already superb rotation featuring reigning Cy Young winner Roy Halladay and stars Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels does that for them. However,this team is not as perfect as it may appear on paper, especially on offense, and there are still 162 games to be played before we crown the Phillies division champs.
Projected Lineup:
- Shane Victorino (CF)
- Placido Polnco (3B)
- Chase Utley (2B)
- Ryan Howard (1B)
- Raul Ibanez (LF)
- Jimmy Rollins (SS)
- Dominic Brown (Ben Francisco on Opening day due to injury)
- Carlos Ruiz (C)
Starting Rotation:
- Roy Halladay
- Cliff Lee
- Roy Oswalt
- Cole Hamels
- Joe Blanton
Strengths:
Starting Pitching: I guess I could rattle off stats and try to prove that the 2011 Phillies Rotation could be the best in decades if not ever but we’ve all heard that too many time the last couple months and I’d be boring myself and you. Instead, I’ll talk about something different. Has there ever been a bigger fifth wheel than Joe Blanton? I think not. While the top four Phillies starters are being interviewed and ogled over and put on the cover of magazines and what not, Blanton sits quietly to the side. He has been subject of trade rumors and just about zero reporters’ questions ever since Lee signed with the Phils. I would feel much more sympathy for Blanton if it was not for that dopey facial hair he’s been sporting for as long as I remember. Has no one really told him how terrible that looks?
Catcher: Carlos Ruiz has quietly developed into a top catcher in the NL. He hit .302 last year and will look to replicate that success this season.
Bullpen: With Jose Contreras, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson leading the staff, this is one of the top bullpens in the NL, that is if they ever need it. JC Romero and Kyle Kendrick (who would likely be the 5th starter if Blanton is dealt) are also very capable pitchers.
Weaknesses:
Offensive consistency: Chase Utley is coming off his worst season since he became a full time starter in 2005 and Jimmy Rollins has never hit .300 in his career and is coming off an injury plagued 2010, his second down year in a row. Ryan Howard had his lowest homer and RBI totals since he became a starter in ’06 and Jayson Werth, last year’s number five hitter, is a member of the Washington Nationals. Raul Ibanez will be 39 this season and his production has slipped with age. The top prospect, outfielder Dominic Brown has struggled in the pros so far (small sample size, however) and is recovering from hand surgery and will be out until at least late April.
Storylines:
Utley’s knee: Chase Utley, a 5-time All-Star (the last five years), will start the season on the 15-Day DL with what is being called “mild patellar tendinitis” but is being treated as a major injury. The Phillies have to face the reality that they may be without Utley for the indefinite future. This could have major implications on the Phils season. Utley is the three hitter and starting second basemen and without Jayson Werth, he is being counted on to pick up the offensive slack. The way the Phillies GM Ruben Amaro is talking, the focus is more on Utley’s long term career rather than the first month of the season. Bad news for the defending NL East champs.
Prediction:
95- 67, 1st Place, NL East. The super starting rotation will adequately compensate for the potential offensive problems. This team will be really tough to handle for opposing offenses and the four aces should have enough run support and win enough games for the Phils to coast into the playoffs.
Bold Prediction:
- Cole Hamels will win more games than Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee this season
- Roy Halladay will win his second straight NL Cy Young
- Carlos Ruiz will hit .310 with 80 RBIs and start the All-Star Game for the NL
- The Phillies realize early on that life without Chase Utley is no life at all. They will trade for Michael Young of the Texas Rangers by the end of May.
- The Philadelphia Phillies will win the 2011 World Series
And Now Something Completely Different:
Japan is on the verge of becoming a nuclear wasteland. Its important to keep up with your current events.
The NCAA March madness brackets are out.
Cool trick shots from a long snapper.
Here is a cool trailer for the upcoming movie Super 8.
The Smurfs movie looks absolutely terrible.
As always, comment below or write to offthebench@offthebenchbaseball.com
-Max Frankel
