High Hopes: For the Phillies, Anything but a World Series Title Is a Failure

Despite reaching the National League Championship Series for the third consecutive year in 2010, the Phillies had one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory.

After appearing in two consecutive World Series, Lady Luck turned on the Philadelphia Phillies in a big way. Throughout the duration of the regular season, they battled with the rest of the National League’s competition with a battered, injury-torn offense, and persevered on the strength of a fantastic trio of starting pitchers. Even those three, however, were not enough, as the Phillies’ offense limped through the first round of the postseason, and was no match for the pitching of the San Francisco Giants in the League Championship Series. For the second straight season, the Phillies went home empty-handed.

Before Spring Training even began in 2010, the Phillies were still recovering from a long 2009 season. The team’s top reliever, closer, Brad Lidge, went under the knife in January of 2010, as doctors repaired several injuries in both his right knee and elbow. He missed a majority of the team’s training in Clearwater, Florida, and despite a return to his 2008 form at the end of the season, saw his fair share of struggles.

Spring Training was not good to the Phillies, either. In the time that spans the months of February, March and April, the Phillies saw injuries to several key players. Left handed reliever, JC Romero, saw more than one setback as he recovered from offseason surgery. The biggest Spring Training injury, however, occurred to big right handed starting pitcher, Joe Blanton, who strained an oblique muscle during an outing, and spent the entire first month of the season, and time in May, on the Disabled List.

The Phillies hoped that their injury bug stayed in warm, comfortable Florida as the team migrated north to Philadelphia, but that simply was not the case. During the month of April, the Phillies saw three huge contributors hit the Disabled List: Jimmy Rollins, JA Happ and Ryan Madson. After the first few games of the season, Rollins had fans believing in a return to his MVP caliber form. Over the first six games, he got off to an incredible start, posting a slash line of .391 / .516 / .739. Of course, he’d hit the Disabled List with a hamstring injury, and never get back on track during the regular season.

Happ, who broke camp in the Phillies’ rotation for the first time after a breakout 2008 season, strained his left forerarm, and missed several months. On the other hand, Madson gave himself a self-inflicted injury. After blowing a save while covering for Lidge, who was not available, Madson entered the dugout in a rage, kicking a steel chair and breaking the big toe on his right foot. After surgery, he would miss eight weeks as well.

It was all downhill from there.

After April, the Phillies had a plethora of injuries to nearly their entire team, the four most prominent of which could have crippled their season. In a division that seemingly needed the Phillies to stay healthy, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Shane Victorino and Jamie Moyer all took some time on the Disabled List. Victorino strained his oblique muscle, and would return after a stint on the 15-Day Disabled List. On the other hand, Moyer, Howard and Utley would all miss extended periods of time. Moyer, who last pitched on July 21 in St. Louis, would miss the remainder of the season with several injuries to his pitching arm, and has since had Tommy John Surgery. Though he hopes to pitch again, his career may still be in jeopardy. Howard and Utley would both have freak injuries that lingered over the course of the season. Howard missed significant time in August with several ligament injuries in his right ankle, and, after missing about two months with an injury to his thumb received while sliding into second base, Utley never got back on track.

That was far from the last, however. Though not all spent time on the Disabled List, Placido Polanco, Domonic Brown, Scott Mathieson, Ross Gload, Danys Baez, Carlos Ruiz, Roy Oswalt, Wilson Valdez, Brian Schneider, Chad Durbin and Antoinio Bastardo would all appear in the Phillies’ injury report in some way, shape or form.

In short, it’s simply a miracle that the Phillies, with a record of 97-65, were able to finish with baseball’s best record. All things considered, they turned in a respectable seasons, and the best regular season in baseball. However, for both the Phillies and their fans, the 2010 season was a complete failure.

After acquiring Roy Halladay in the offseason, the Phillies were favorites to win their division for the fourth consecutive season, and to most people, appear in the World Series for their third consecutive year. With all of the injuries the team sustained, at some points during the regular season, the future seemed bland. The Phillies’ most productive hitter, by most measures, was being shopped by the trade deadline, and the city of Philadelphia seriously doubted their team’s chances. By the end of June, and moving into July, the outlook seemed bleak.

However, instead of moving his healthiest hitter, General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. dialed up an old friend, Houston Astros’ General Manager, Ed Wade, on the phone, and the teams agreed to a deadline deal that sent longtime face of the Astros’ franchise and ace, Roy Oswalt, to the Phillies for a healing Happ and prospects Anthony Gose and Jonathan Villar. On the day after he arrived in Washington to join his new teammates, Oswalt lost his first decision against the Nationals. That would be the last decision he would lose in a Phillies’ uniform. Oswalt would go on an absolute tear, posting a record of 7-1 with the Phillies, and an ERA of just 1.74. The revitalized ace gave a Phillies’ rotation that was looking awfully overworked a necessary boost.

The rotation would get a second boost, from within. After the All-Star break, the best homegrown Phillies’ pitcher in recent memory managed to rediscover himself. After, at the suggestion of league veterans Halladay and Moyer, adding a cutter, left hander Cole Hamels took the National League by storm. From mid-July onward, Hamels, who received little run support, posted a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 2.23.

Overcoming their injuries, the Phillies would win their division with a six-game cushion over the Atlanta Braves. Entering the playoffs, the Phillies’ featured a trio of “aces” that were feared in a short series—Halladay, Oswalt, and Hamels. With the latter two having proved themselves with World Series experience, the only “question mark” in the rotation was Halladay’s playoff presence, which would shortly be answered, as the Phillies took on the Cincinnati Reds in the first round. Though just about everyone with knowledge of the game of baseball expected postseason rookie, Halladay, to do well, no one foresaw the history he would make coming. In Game 1 of the National League Divisional Series, Halladay threw just the second no-hitter in the history of postseason baseball.

Though the Phillies’ offense would limp through the first round of the playoffs against an inferior Reds’ staff, Oswalt and Hamels dialed up excellent performances of their own, and the Phillies cruised through the divisional series, and awaited their next opponent, the San Francisco Giants, in Philadelphia for Game 1 of the NLCS.

The series featured the National League’s two most fearsome rotations. Even with their struggling offense, the Phillies were heavy favorites to win the series against the Giants’ staff, anchored by two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Tim Lincecum. The series was easily the most exciting of 2010. One of the most anticipated pitching matchups ever saw Halladay and Lincecum each best each other once, while Oswalt, Hamels, Blanton, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and rookie Madison Bumgarner each traded blows.

In the end, the battered, injury-riddled offense was simply no match for the Giants’ pitching. Even though the Giants’ offense was lackluster over the course of the regular season, they were at least one thing that the Phillies simply were not—healthy. The series would reach an entertaining six games, and the Giants would go on to defeat the Texas Rangers in the World Series.

For Phillies’ fans, the series loss was simply devastating. The roster featured the league’s best pitcher in Halladay, who would go on to unanimously win the Cy Young award, ending Lincecum’s reign, and career years from Oswalt and Hamels. That didn’t soften the blow, however. After the season-ending Game 6, Phillies’ manager, Charlie Manuel, summed it up best by saying, “We had injuries, and stuff like that, but in this game, that don’t hold up. It just didn’t happen for us. We had a great season, but we didn’t generate the offense that I know we’re capable of.”

That sentiment was echoed through the Phillies clubhouse. “I felt like we had the best team in baseball this year, and everything doesn’t always work out. We seemed to run into a team that is doing everything right right now,” said Lidge. That thought was heard around the city of Philadelphia. With huge names like Halladay, Oswalt, Howard, Rollins and Utley, the Phillies, and their fans, expected to bring another World Series title back to Philadelphia. For both the team and the fans, anything less than a World Series championship is a failure.

That thought will move straight into the 2011 season. Despite losing their top right-handed slugger, Jayson Werth, to the division rival Washington Nationals, the Phillies made their own gigantic splash this offseason, throwing down the red carpet, and $125 million, to welcome left-handed ace, Cliff Lee, the man who pitching himself into Philadelphia lore in the 2009 postseason, back into the rotation. Now, with Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels and Lee under contract, expectations in Philadelphia have never been higher. Though there has been much ado about the strength of the Phillies’ rotation, the fact remains that each of their top four starters have the potential to win 20 games, and Blanton, who will drop all the way to fifth, isn’t too shabby in his own right.

One of the most positive outcomes of Lee’s return has been the diversion of attention from the bullpen and offense, whose prides are slowly recovering. Two of the most damaging memories from the 2010 postseason, in the minds of Philadelphians and Phillies’ fans everywhere, are Juan Uribe taking the dominant set-up man, Madson, deep, and Phillies’ slugger, Howard, left at the plate looking.

In a lot of ways, both areas of the team have actually improved. By adding Lee, the Phillies have allowed themselves to max out their greatest relievers, Romero, Madson, Lidge and Jose Contreras. The offense, on the other hand, has literally been recovering. When the team arrives in Florida for Spring Training, Lidge, Howard, Utley, Rollins and the lot will all be healthy, a statement that wasn’t heard much in 2010. Though no one expects an aging Phillies’ core to have career years, or some combination of Brown, Ross Gload and Ben Francisco to create a super outfielder in Werth’s absence, a healthy Phillies offense is an improved Phillies’ offense, and one that can provide the league’s best rotation with a bit of run support. As with any team, health will be key.

So, as we look forward to the 2011 season, fans of the Phillies and baseball fans alike wonder what we can expect out of this loaded rotation, a healthy offense, and an NL East that has improved largely in general. While most of us are hoping for a Phillies-Giants rematch down the road, anything less than a World Series title will be, once again, a failure for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

2011 National League East Pitching Preview: Cliff Lee and the Phillies

In preparation for the 2011 MLB Fantasy Baseball season, The Fantasy Fix team will preview a team’s pitching rotation each day. Tyler starts the series with the National League East’s Philadelphia Phillies.

The Fantastic Four have come together to defeat the evil competition in the NL East.

In 2009, we saw the first glimpse of Cliff “Mr. Fantastic” Lee. He made 12 starts going 7-4 with 79.2 IP, a 3.39 ERA and struck out 74 during his successful stretch with the Phillies. Lee was this offseason’s most coveted free agent, and stunned the baseball universe with his decision. However, getting a taste of World Series savor with the Texas Rangers, Lee now joins the rest of his super hero friends in the City of Brotherly Love to try yet again to win it all.

Last year, Mr. Lee won 12 games in 28 starts while posting a 3.19 ERA, striking out 185 and walking only 18 batters in 212 innings. In 2011, Lee should see an increase in wins with all the same stuff: many strikeouts, few walks and a solid ERA in the low to mid three’s.

Beginning with opening day, Cliff will find himself in the midst of a friendly competition with superhero friend Roy “The Thing” Halladay as they dual it out for the title of ace of the rotation.

In his first year in Philly, Roy “The Thing” Halladay used his super-human arm and strength to take down any hitter in his sight. Five complete game shutouts, one perfect game, a no hitter in his first postseason start and a Cy Young to cap it off, Halladay was easily baseball’s top pitcher in 2010.

As 2011 approaches, there is no reason for him to lose his title as the games best arm. His health is no longer a concern as he is about to enter his sixth straight season of 30+ starts. Despite allowing 24 home runs last year, we can say the hitters’ advantage at Citizens Bank Park is not a major liability. Halladay posted a stellar 2.44 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.

Cick Here To Continue Reading>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Predictions: Picking Cliff Lee and the 2011 NL East Preseason All-Stars

When the Phillies, to the surprise of many, re-acquired Cliff Lee last December, many pundits conceded the NL East (and beyond) to Philadelphia.

But where would Cliff Lee rank on an all-NL East team?

Which other pitchers would join him in the five-man rotation, and indeed, who would be flashing him signals from behind the dish?

Brain McCann of the Braves, his own catcher, Carlos Ruiz, or the future surefire Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez of the Nationals?

My goal for this presentation was to pick the mythical All-NL East team. Unlike the real All-Star Game, I view this as more of a seven game series, with this squad battling stars from the other divisions.

Call it east coast bias, but I’d probably give the Al East and the NL East byes if there were to be an actual clash of the six division all-star teams. One could also make a case for the NL West getting a bye, but let’s leave that discussion for another time.

So, here we go starting with our catcher.

Let the games and the debates begin!

Begin Slideshow

Stepping Up To The Plate: Can Ryan Howard Recapture The Magic In 2011?

Only a chosen few minor league baseball players from each team earn the opportunity to play in the big leagues. Of these, only a select few rise to the upper echelon of the Majors.  Ryan Howard earned just this opportunity in 2005 to play in the Majors as an everyday starter after Philadelphia Phillies‘ first baseman Jim Thome became injured and was out indefinitely.  

In 2005, Howard seized the moment and won the NL ROY award appearing in only 88 games.  He subsequently won the first base job, and in 2006, he had to follow through with a good season.  He did just that and far beyond.

In 2006, he took Philadelphia and the majors by storm batting .313/.425/.659 with 58 home runs and 149 RBI’s and in the process capturing the NL MVP Award.  In one fell swoop, he had established himself as one of the elite talents in all of the Majors.

While still putting up MVP-caliber numbers from 2007-2009 by crushing at least 40 home runs and 135 RBI’s in each season, the young slugger seemed to fall a notch in comparison to his stellar 2006 full year debut with his batting average dropping under the .280 mark in each of those years aside from his drop in power production.  

In 2010, a further production falloff was evident whereby Howard went though long episodes without hitting a single home run. Although he was still driving in runners and his batting average was higher, his power numbers were falling off further.  Coming out of the all-star break, nevertheless, Howard was in position to have a strong second half by maintaining his high average while boosting his power production.  

Suddenly in early August, Howard went down with an ankle sprain which landed him on the 15-day DL, and lets face it, upon his return to the line-up after missing 16 games, Howard struggled to regain the momentum he had had.  Scott Butler pointed out in a recent blog that “After July and before the injury, Howard had a .292 average with 23 home runs and 91 RBIs. That would have put him on pace for 36 homers and 127 RBIs, which would have been 11 less HR than his 162 game average, but 13 points above his normal batting average and 15 RBIs below his normal RBI totals* Howard just wasn’t the same for the first couple weeks after the injury, batting just .125 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs in 10 games in August.

The Phillies still made the post-season with barely any offensive contributions due to the outstanding pitching displayed by 2010 MVP Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels. 

They had made it past the first round with a complete lack of hitting, but they finally paid the price for their slumbering offense as the Phillies fell to the San Francisco Giants in game four of the NLCS.  The loss was crippling and to make things worse for Ryan Howard, he was the last strikeout of the game, yikes! 

The 2010 season was disappointing for the Ryan Howard and the Phillies offense as a whole.  A lot of questions linger for Ryan Howard this coming season.  Will his power come back, will his batting average get higher, and will The Big Piece stay healthy? 

Ryan, you have done a lot for Philadelphia.  You’ve won an MVP award, you have made three all-star appearances and doing so while St. Louis Cardinals‘ first baseman Albert Pujols has dominated baseball as the most consistent, offensive player, making it difficult for Ryan or anyone else to compete for any awards in the NL.  You have led Philadelphia to a golden age with four post-season appearances, three NLCS appearances, two WS appearances, one title and one season having the best record in the majors.  Yes, we owe a lot to you Ryan, but we frankly expect more.  

Your numbers have been respectable in the past few seasons, yet you have simply not returned  to your 2006 MVP form.  Do fans have the right to expect you to have future seasons where you again hit in the range of 58 homers and 149 RBI’s, while still batting .313?  I would respond yes, that it is reasonable to expect you to once again put up such numbers.  At 31 years old, you are in your athletic prime and your ankle injury of the previous season will be completely behind you.  Further, coming out of the 2009 season, you committed yourself during the off-season to shedding much of your excess pounds in order to be in better shape.  You successfully achieved a significant weight loss in a relatively short time frame, and this rapid weight loss arguably could have compromised your stamina and your strength and been the cause for your drop in power production.  At this stage, your body has likely adapted to the weight loss, and thus you should now be physically poised to perform at a high offensive level for this coming season.    

Additionally, with the long-term signing made in mid-2010 that will keep you in red pinstripes through 2017, you should now be able to devote your full attention to focus on simply playing baseball, with the mental distraction of your career path uncertainties now laid by the wayside.  

The table is now set for you.  Nobody believes that the numbers you put up in 2006 were a fluke and that you do not have the capability to put up such numbers once again.  If anything, your five years of major league experience and accumulated knowledge should theoretically propel you to even more outstanding offensive accomplishments than those of any year of your career, including 2006! 

Your team has a lot riding on you for you to perform like the MVP-caliber player you once were, and we are all pulling for you to put it all together for this coming season.  Good luck Ryan- we are all watching. 

*Reflects corrected data from Scott Butler’s original blog.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Worth Mad Money? Why the Phillies Should Extend Ryan Madson Now

When the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series in 2008, they did so primarily on the strength of their bullpen. With a weak starting rotation, the Phillies shortened games by bringing in reliever after reliever that could shut down the opposition for a single inning. One of those relievers was right-hander, Ryan Madson.

Since then, Madson has honed his skills and continued developing into an elite reliever. Under the tutelage of pitching coach, Rich Dubee, and fellow relievers like closer, Brad Lidge, Madson has developed into one of the game’s most dominant set-up men. Regulated to the eighth inning, Madson has become the major foundation for a bullpen that was once known as “the Bridge to Lidge.”

With free agency looming in the near future, the Phillies find themselves in a peculiar situation. With the potential of losing both Madson and Lidge after this season, the Phillies need to act now and sign Madson to a contract extension sooner, rather than later.

In 2010, Madson was easily one of the league’s most effective set-up me. He posted a record of 6-2 with an ERA of 2.55 and dominated nearly every controllable aspect of the game when he was in it. He struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings, while walking just over two. In fact, his 10.87 K/9 was the 12th best in the National League, and he matched that with a BB/9 of just 2.21, 10th best in the National League. Plain and simple, it was just a challenge to hit him. Opponents hit just .219 against Madson, and over the course of the entire season, he logged a WHIP of just 1.04, 10th best in the National League among relievers.

What makes Madson so good? On the surface, it seems to be the natural progression of a professional ball player. As he’s garnered experience at the major league level, he’s become one of the league’s top relievers. However, Madson boasts an impressive repertoire of pitches, the best of which is a fastball / change-up combo.

The most common use of his fastball is of the four-seam variety, averaging 93mph in the strikezone, with the ability to touch anywhere between 95-98mph on the gun. Mix that in with a phenomenal change-up that, at one point in time, was classified as a curveball, and it becomes simple to see why Madson has become a strikeout artist.

However, a further look at the data collected on Madson’s pitches from 2010 may explain the boost in his numbers.

In 2009, a season that saw Madson post a record of 5-5 with an ERA if 3.26, Madson threw his fastball a career high 65.5 percent of the time and mixed in his change-up 25 percent of the time. Having thrown just two pitches a total of 90.5 percent of the time, it’s simple to see why opposing hitters were able to sit on one of his two best pitches—the fastball or the change-up.

In 2010, he made a complete change to his style, lowering the use of his fastball to just 39.8 percent, while continuing the use of his best pitch—the change-up. At the suggestion of Dubee, Madson began using two other pitches in his arsenal—the slider and cutter—with more frequency. Now having above average control over four pitches, as opposed to two, Madson was able to post a career high in his rate of strikeouts and FIP and generate 1.3 WAR as a reliever.

With the Phillies potentially losing their strongest relievers after the season, they should implore to offering Madson a contract extension now. But where should they begin?

In 2009, Madson agreed to sign a three-year, $12 million contract with the Phillies, so in any deal, he will look to top that. Represented by Scott Boras, Madson will not be an easy sign and even tougher to convince to sign a contract extension. With one of the craftiest agents in baseball in tow, and by taking a quick glance at his career numbers, Boras would have no problem marketing his client as a closer, raising his value considerably. The Phillies, when negotiating a contract extension, would have no part of that.

When Lidge went down with several injuries in 2009 and 2010, Madson became the team’s closer by commission. Many within Philadelphia questioned the reliever’s mental make-up, as he blew an incredible 11 saves in limited opportunities over that span. While he has been, without a doubt, one of the best set-up men around, the Phillies would not entertain the fact that Boras will attempt to market him as a closer. Before he hits the open market and has the opportunity to close elsewhere, the Phillies would be wise to offer him a lucrative contract extension. There are no guarantees in the open market, as Lidge has proved.

One of the most notable comparisons was a deal signed this offseason. As the best set-up man on the market in 2010, Joaquin Benoit cashed in with the Detroit Tigers, signing a three-year, $16.5 million deal. Though the deal was seen as an overpay by the Tigers, Benoit posted many stats that almost mirror Madson’s 2010 season and may have set his market.

With the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, Benoit posted a record of 1-2, with an ERA of 1.34 as the Rays set-up man. Though he posted K/9 (11.19), BB/9 (1.64), FIP (2.43) and WAR’s (1.5) that were all superior to Madson’s numbers, the Phillies’ right hander has one thing that Benoit did not—Boras.

Unless the Phillies are willing to offer a deal that pays his client market value, he won’t be interested in signing. Having previewed the market, however, he will have noticed the relief class of 2012 is extremely strong, featuring more closers than teams in need. Anyone that even remotely understands business knows that a greater supply than demand does not usually mean good business.

The Phillies could offer Madson a deal of three years, $17 million; a deal that is almost exactly the same as Benoit’s deal. Both parties benefit from a contract extension. Madson is comfortable going into the season, and the Phillies have some consistency going forward. With Lidge’s 2012 contract option surely to hefty to exercise, the Phillies have a safety net should their venture for a closer on the open market fail.

If the Phillies are going to compete moving forward, Madson is a much more valuable commodity than originally meets the eye, and the Phillies could benefit by extending him a contract offer now.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Just 29 Days Till Pitchers and Catchers Report

Don’t despair Phillies fans. What has all of the makings of a long, frigid, snowy winter will soon be interrupted with this announcement: “Pitchers and catchers report today!”

Okay, Phillies’ pitchers and catchers don’t report to Clearwater, Florida, until February 13, which is still 29 days away. But consider this: It has now been 83 long, cold, unforgiving days since Ryan Howard infamously struck out looking against Brian Wilson to end the National League Championship Series, and with it the hopes of another world championship.

Phillies fans have now weathered almost 75 percent of their annual baseball vigil, and what a season this promises to be.

This past fall got a little darker when Jayson Werth defected to D.C. for oodles of cash, and then got immeasurably brighter when Cliff Lee returned to the fold.

Although hot stoves have been firing—mostly with optimism—in anticipation of an amazing 2011 season, there are days and evenings when such heat cannot mitigate the realities of winter in the Northeast. There have already been a few cruel days when the number of inches of snow was greater than the number of degrees in the wind chill reading.

The late A Bartlett (Bart) Giammati, once commissioner of Major League Baseball, and former president of Yale University, probably best captured the eternal promise and heartbreak of baseball when writing the following for his Yale Alumni Magazine.

“It [baseball] breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone.”

To paraphrase Giammati, the heartbreak is almost over, and presumably there are less than 30 shoveling days till baseball.

Others may prefer Groundhog Day as their personal harbinger of spring, and they long to see what those little rodents (the most famous one being Punxsutawney Phil) will do when the bright lights descend upon their winter burrows on February 2 each year.

“Groundhog Day,” of course, was also the title of a 1993 comedy starring incurable Cubs fan Bill Murray. Ever since that movie, Groundhog Day has entered our pop-cultural lexicon as the epitome of doing the same thing over and over and over and over again.

It was not that long ago that the Philadelphia Phillies staged their annual version of Groundhog Day each season from the end of 1993 until the watershed 2007 season. After the strike of 1994, the Phillies—whether or not they used the same formula each year—never qualified for the postseason. At the same time, the Atlanta Braves were winning the pennant, if not the World Series, every year.

A little known fact is that on every February 2 between 1994 and 2006, a suburban woodchuck named Paunchatiny Phillie would emerge from his burrow just long enough to read that season’s baseball forecast. Once he read the prognostications, he would crawl back into his hole after proclaiming that six long months of baseball were in the offing for Phillies fans.

Indeed, was the heartbreak of the offseason that much worse than the disappointment of the actual baseball played by the Phillies during those drought years? I would still contend that a bad day at the ballpark still beats a day without baseball, but those Phillies squads, run by the likes of John Felske and Lee Elia, were no match for skipper Charlie Manuel’s men.

Indeed, Phillies fans should appreciate the rarified near-dynasty (by modern standards anyway) of the new type of Groundhog Day that has unfolded the last four year and counting:

2007: 89 wins, NL East Champions

2008: 92 wins, World Champions of Baseball (in the words of the immortal Harry Kalas)

2009: 93 wins: NL Champs, runner-up to Yanks

2010: 97 wins; best record in baseball, lost in NLCS

2011: ?

 

Many Phillies fans and non-partisan baseball pundits alike accept as a foregone conclusion that the team in red pinstripes will return to the postseason in 2011, and barring crippling injuries, will be the favorite to return to the World Series.

Such projections make the chilly temperatures, icy roads (and perhaps, even an Eagles playoff loss) a little easier to take. The chatter from the hot stove has a certain warmth, even as we pose some of the following questions:

• Who is the fifth starter?
• What about our corner outfielders?
• Will Jimmy Rollins be, well, Jimmy Rolllins again?
• What about the bullpen?

The suspicion is that with the four-headed R2C2 monster of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt leading us, the Phillies will sprint to the division title, even if these questions aren’t answered definitively.

There will be time to examine these developments and more, and this columnist will try to do his part to add to the conversation. But for now, I am encouraged that in only four weeks, I can say “Pitchers and catchers report tomorrow.”

That five-word sentence—especially when “tomorrow” truly means only 24 hours away—is one of my favorite sentences in the English language.

It is a declaration so life-affirming that it must be warming the hearts of all true baseball fans. One suspects that even the late A Bartlett Giamatti (to say nothing of Paunchatiny Phillie) is starting to crack a warm smile.

 

For more information on Matt Goldberg’s new books, other writings and appearances, please e-mail: matt@tipofthegoldberg.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

MLB Rumors: Philadelphia Phillies Interested in John Maine?

It was announced yesterday that the Philadelphia Phillies have shown interest in signing right handed pitcher John Maine.  The team has allegedly had discussions with Maine’s agent Rex Gary. 

Maine is a decent pitcher in the back end of rotations.  Over his career Maine has posted a 41-36 record with a 4.35 ERA in 105 starts. 

Maine suffered a major setback when he was removed from just his ninth start last season and missed the remainder of the season after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery.  Maine’s agent reported however that his recovery was going well and that there is no question that he will be ready for Spring Training.

The Phillies have made it clear that they are looking to move Joe Blanton after signing Cliff Lee this offseason.  Blanton is due $17 million over the next two seasons.  Maine on the other hand has made about $six million the past two seasons.  By signing Maine and moving Blanton the Phillies could potentially free up $10 million.

The Phillies have also had other prospects make a few starts the past few seasons but the team is not confident in these young guys contributing to the team just yet. 

Pitchers such as Kyle Kendrick, Vance Worley and Nelson Figueroa have struggled in their fill in roles in the starting rotation and the team is looking for a more experienced and proven player to fill that fifth rotation spot. 

If the Phillies were to sign Maine, it would most likely be a one-year deal with a club option for 2012.  Given his track record, Maine would most likely earn around $four million in 2011 which is a deal the Phillies would definitely be able to afford. 

Let’s not forget either that Jamie Moyer has already said he is looking to make a return in 2012 and the Phillies could pursue a one year deal with him after the season so any long term deal with Maine is out of the question. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Will Jimmy Rollins Be Sparkplug For Philadelphia Phillies In 2011?

It’s been hard to read or hear anything about the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason without the words “Cliff Lee” or “four aces” or something of the sort attached to it. Oops, it looks like this isn’t helping.

There is plenty of excitement surrounding the Phillies’ star-studded pitching rotation, but the underwhelming offensive output in 2010 might concern some, at least a bit. Forget about the departure of Jayson Werth for a moment and realize that 2010 featured below-par offensive seasons from Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins.

There is a lot to prove in 2011, at least amongst the veteran core position players on this squad. Nobody will have more to prove than Rollins. It’s not his defense that anybody is worried about. Rollins posted a UZR/150 of 12.3 last season, which, had he qualified, would have been second in the major leagues. 

While he is still an elite defensive player, Rollins’ offensive numbers have declined in the past two seasons. In 2009, he put up an ugly .250/.296/.423 season in which he temporarily lost his lead off spot in the order. Now in the final year of his contract, Rollins has a lot to prove.

He will have to prove he can still hit, run and field with the best of them. You can probably check two of those three off the list, as J-Roll can still play his position well and can still swipe a bag. What Rollins will have to prove is that he can still be worth the salary he will make this season, which comes in at $8.5 million.

To be fair, the Phillies got more than they could have hoped for when they signed Rollins to a market-friendly five-year $40 million deal prior during the 2005 season. That deal included 2011’s club option at the aforementioned $8.5 million.

In all likelihood, Rollins does not have to prove anything to anyone else. He is the second-longest tenured athlete in Philadelphia, and after Sunday’s sub-par performance by Eagle David Akers, he could find himself as the longest-tenured athlete before too long.

Rollins isn’t going anywhere. He is a Phillie for life, and he has earned it. He has been good to the Phillies on and off the field, and he has developed a unique bond with manager Charlie Manuel over the years. While he may not be the player he once was, the alternatives are clearly much worse.

The Phillies have no immediate replacement for Rollins in the minor leagues, as their top shortstop prospect Freddy Galvis is still at least two years away from contributing anything to the major leagues. His defense also makes some of Hanley Ramirez’s worst defensive seasons look Gold-Glove worthy.

The question now becomes: Can Rollins stay healthy? If so, can he contribute? Rollins endured the toughest season (medically) of his career last year, which included two trips to the disabled list for his injured right calf and another injury to his right hamstring that caused him to miss most of September.

When he was healthy, he hit a pedestrian .243 with a .320 on-base percentage and a career-low .374 slugging percentage. The silver lining may be the fact that his right side simply bothered him all season long. The switch-hitting Rollins hit a hard-to-believe .218/.297/.360 vs. right-handed pitchers, but a respectable .297/.368/.405 versus left-handers.

It’s entirely possible that Rollins just couldn’t drive the ball against his front foot from the left side last season. His low .246 BABIP might not have helped him either. If his luck improves, his numbers will likely improve as well.

By now, we know Rollins isn’t going to increase his walk rate substantially at this stage in his career, although last season’s was actually the highest of his career. He simply might just need his heath to get him going once more. At the age of 32, it would be hard to think of Rollins’ career as being near its end.

He’ll need his legs as well. He stole just 17 bases last season thanks to the injuries. As a team, the Phillies will need to run more, and Rollins is a big part of that.

Most importantly, the Phillies can ill-afford another offensive disappearing act in the postseason in 2011. The pitching will certainly help carry them, but the offense will have to do its part. The veterans have a lot to prove.

What does Rollins have to prove in 2011? We already know the Phillies will be the “team to beat.” Rollins doesn’t have to proclaim such anymore. He should start with being the shortstop to beat in 2011.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Bullpen Bonanza: Projecting the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies Bullpen

Winning the World Series requires the perfect balance between pitching and hitting.

When the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series in 2008, they did so on the strength of their bullpen, anchored by Brad Lidge, and an offense that went unrivaled in the National League.

When they returned to the World Series in 2009, the balance wasn’t perfect. Lidge crumbled, and the bullpen followed suit. The powerful offense wasn’t able to keep up with the bullpen’s woes.

In 2010, the tide turned. The bullpen was strong, at least at the back end, by the time the playoffs rolled around, but the injured, slumping offense drifted into oblivion.

What will the balance look like in 2011?

The offense will gain some internal boosts. Despite losing Jayson Werth, perennial All-Stars like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins look to stay healthy and return to form. Players like Shane Victorino and Raul Ibanez look to capitalize on healthy seasons once again, and Carlos Ruiz looks to continue his 2010 success.

Though the right field puzzle remains in pieces, the Phillies play host to a few breakout candidates in Ben Francisco and Domonic Brown.

Health will be the key, and if the Phillies remain healthy, the offense will not be a concern.

The rotation, with aces galore, has already taken shape, and the bullpen is beginning to follow suit. With many roles already filled, health will play a major role in this area as well. Relievers like Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson, who had great success during last year’s stretch run, will look to solidify a bullpen that has been somewhat of an Achilles heel in the past.

In order to obtain balance, the Phillies’ bullpen must match the strength of a healthy offense. Can it be done?

Here is an in-depth look at the Phillies’ bullpen as it projects to shape up in the 2011 season.

Begin Slideshow

RHP John Maine Targeted by Philadelphia Phillies

According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, former New York Met and current free agent pitcher John Maine’s agent Rex Gary has been contacted by NL East rival Philadelphia Phillies along with a few other teams.

Gary has said, “We have spoken to a lot of teams and there is a lot of interest.”

Maine was non-tendered by the Mets in early December before the hot stove began heating up. There has not been a lot of news on John Maine until now. Rubin did not name any other team that was interested.

Maine is only likely to get a minor league deal. He only pitched in nine games last season and went 1-3 with a 6.13 ERA. 

If Maine joins Philadelphia, he could join a rotation that includes Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and maybe Joe Blanton.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »