Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training Secrets: Top 10 Ways To Get Autographs

Spring Training is the best time to add to your autograph collection.  The atmosphere is laid back, everyone is relaxed and enjoying themselves and you can find many unique, up-close opportunities with the players.

If you are lucky enough to be in Clearwater, Florida from mid February to late March, chances are good that you will get some autographs.  But to make it easier, you will need to know a few autograph-hunting secrets specific to the Clearwater area.

From specific locations to proven methods, the following is a list of the top 10 ways to get Phillies’ autographs at Spring Training.

 

Photo: Jenn Zambri

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Jimmy Rollins or Shane Victorino: Who Leads Off for the 2011 Phillies?

The 2010 season was certainly a down season for Jimmy Rollins.  This was almost predominately due to the fact Rollins suffered an injury plagued season that kept him on the bench for nearly half the season.  Even when he was not on the disabled list, he was not playing at his peak performance, which caused him to have his career low batting average of .243.

Rollins has career numbers showing a batting average of .272, with a .328 on base percentage and a .435 slugging percentage.  However, his 2010 numbers were .243, .320, and .374, respectively.

Rollins has been the leadoff hitter for the Phillies for basically the past decade but seemed to fade away from that role last year.  When he was injured, he obviously was not leading off, but even when he came back to playing full time, he was not a lock to leadoff the lineup.

The Phillies were still able to have the best regular season in 2010, having a record of 97-65.  It had often be said the Phillies win games when Rollins is hitting, and I do not want to take anything away from that or Rollins, but they had to and were able to win many games without the help of Rollins on the field or in the lineup.

Shane Victorino was able to fill the role as the leadoff hitter for a large portion of the 2010 season and was the best one at doing so last year.  Victorino for the 2010 season as a whole batted for an average of .259 with an on-base percentage of .327 and a slugging percentage of .429, but at leadoff, those numbers were .276, .345, and .466, respectively.

Now, Victorino’s numbers at leadoff were not much more impressive than his overall numbers, but his numbers at leadoff were easily the best of the rest of the team at leadoff. 

Of course, the real contest for leadoff is only between Rollins and Victorino, although for the 2010 season, Rollins was third best in the spot, trailing Placido Polanco as well as Victorino.

Rollins in 2010 batted for an average of .241 with an on-base percentage of .322 and a slugging percentage of .378 at leadoff.  Overall for the 2010 season, Rollins batted best at the fifth spot in the lineup, where he hit for an average of .400 with an on-base percentage of .417 and a slugging percentage of .700.

Now that happened to be with only 10 at-bats, but if that trend were to continue, Rollins batting fifth would be a good strategy.  He did bat at the sixth spot 14 times in 2010 for an average of .357 with an on-base percentage of .400 and a slugging percentage of .429, so perhaps it is best that Rollins no longer bats leadoff and finds himself in the middle of the lineup.

during an interview this week, Rollins spoke of this issue claiming he would bat fifth if he wanted to but wants to be the leadoff hitter and that’s where he feels he belongs.

He said, “I’m a leadoff hitter.  In the five-hole, I can’t be all that I am.  I can’t get out there and steal bases and run wild like I want to… I’m not going to have the impact on the team that I want to in the five-hole.”

His numbers at leadoff have steadily declined since his 2007 MVP season, but he could very well return to that form this coming season.  Rollins has put himself through new training to help himself avoid injury for this season and has the desire to be the leadoff hitter. 

If he can return to his former leadoff ability, he will likely be the man to fill that hole in the lineup, especially since Charlie Manuel is backing him for that position.

Perhaps Victorino will be the best man for the five-hole, as he batted for an average of .313 with an on-base percentage of .353 and a slugging percentage of .438 in the 2010. The fifth spot was the best spot that Victorino batted in 2010, so he may be the best option to bat there, as it is likely that Rollins will win the leadoff race.

It should be safe to assume Rollins will be leading off for this season, but if he shows signs of slipping, Victorino will be there to pick up the slack.  Victorino can easily be a great leadoff hitter, but for 2010, the Phillies will have the rejuvenated Rollins leading off their lineup.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 10 Prospects Not Named Domonic Brown Who Could See MLB

With spring training having begun, some of the prospects will be trying to earn their spot on the starting lineup, or at least their spot in the 25-man roster.

Yesterday we saw the Cole Hamels is due to start the spring training game against the Yankees in Tampa, FL, and Vance Worley is to be the long reliever for that game. With the rotation and bullpen stocked the way that it is, how likely is it that Worley will see major league play time during the regular season?

Besides Dominic Brown, how likely is it that any of these young prospects will see major league playing time in the 2011 season?

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Philadelphia Phillies Preview: Will Roy Oswalt Struggle in ‘Lame Duck’ Year?

Philadelphia assembling their four aces over the last seven months they are early favorites to win the World Series this season.  Considering that Oswalt is 33 and turning 34 in August he is getting up there in age for a pitcher, and he might be going on the decline soon.

The Phillies are due to owe former National League MVP Jimmy Rollins AND former World Series MVP Cole Hamels huge contracts at the end of the season and there might not be enough room to pick up Oswalt’s $16M option for 2012.  If Oswalt’s option is not picked up then this could potentially be his last chance at getting a ring.

If Oswalt does not win with the Phillies this season he will most likely be let go into free agency and be signed by a mediocre team who has a lot of money.  This means that this is most likely Oswalt’s best and last shot at winning the World Series and capping off a stellar career.

When looking at the Phillies’ rotation it seems that Halladay and Lee are the front runners and Oswalt and Hamels are the wild cards and the deciding factors.  If Oswalt pitches well he very well may attain h the coveted World Series ring for the first time.

With all of this pressure on Oswalt’s shoulders the question is: will he sink or swim?

These ten reasons prove why Oswalt will rise to the occasion this season.

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5 Reasons the Phillies’ Big Four Cannot Compare To The 90’s Braves Staff

The Phillies staff this year—if they play the way sports commentators and analysts predict they will—will be great. I am not knocking on their 2011 pitching rotation. They have Roy Halladay (two Cy Young Awards), Cliff Lee (one Cy Young Award), Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels as their projected 1-2-3-4 starters.

If one of them does not win they Cy Young Award this year, then I will be shocked. They should be able to win many games and help the Phillies make the playoffs. 

However, when people say that this staff will be better than the Atlanta Braves‘ legendary rotations in the 90’s and early 00’s, I disagree. Here are the reasons the Fab Four is not as good as the Braves’ rotation was from 1993-2003:

5. The Division

In my opinion, the NL East is the most underrated division in baseball. The division has produced four World Series champions in the past fifteen years, which is second only to the AL East, the best division in baseball.

This year the division will be interesting with three potential playoff teams: the Braves, the Marlins and of course the Phillies. This competition is rare for the NL East, which usually has only one good team.

The Braves won the division 10 straight times, and the Phillies have won it recently four times in a row. The Mets won it once, sandwiched between the Braves and the Phillies’ reign.

Last year, though, the division was very interesting because three different teams held the top spot. Eventually the Phillies held the lead and won the division and the Braves became the Wild Card winners.

This year should be just as close due to the new players added to the contending teams and the returning players. This should make life a little harder for the Phillies pitchers.

Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz, Avery, Neagle and Millwood did not have to face the same competition that the Phillies will, which helped them to achieve more. The division will not be friendly to the Phillies’ rotation.

4. Longevity

What is very impressive about the Braves’ rotation was the length it stayed together. Their fourth starter changed from time to time, but the core three starters stayed together for ten years, something that is unheard of today.

The Braves’ front office was able to keep these amazing pitchers together on the same team for such a long time, and I do not believe the Phillies can replicate that. They signed Lee to a five-year contract, Halladay has two years left on his, and Oswalt and Hamels have only one year left.

Even if the Phillies somehow are able to keep all four or just three I still cannot see them staying for too long. That is another thing that separates the Braves’ rotation from the Phillies’. 

3. Age

One factor that played a part in the longevity of the Braves pitchers was age. Greg Maddux was 27 when he joined the club, John Smoltz was 26 at that time, and Tom Glavine was 27.

They all were able to play for the Braves during their prime. On the other hand, three of the four Phillies pitchers are over 31 years old. Now this does not mean they won’t pitch as well, but it does mean that they will have a lower chance to perform consistently over a long period of time like the Braves pitchers were able to do.

The Braves pitcher were able to stay together for ten years because they were young when they united. The Phillies pitchers are in the middle of their prime right now, which generally means that in five or six years they will begin to decline.

While this sometimes is not true,  it is very likely that it will happen to at least one of them. Just one of them declining would almost erase the need for this entire article. Age is significant in this comparison, and the Braves have the Phillies beat in that aspect. 

2. Skill

Individually, the Braves’ pitchers generally beat the Phillies’ pitchers stat-wise. I will go more in depth in this by doing side by side comparisons for the four starting pitchers of both rotations:

Roy Halladay vs. Greg Maddux

	Roy Halladay	Greg Maddux 1993-2002
Season Pitched	13	10
Games Started/Season	25	33
Career ERA	3.32	2.51
Career WHIP	1.18	1.04
Winnings %	66%	70%
Avg. Wins/Season	13	18
CG/Season	5	6
Innings/Season	177	231
SO/Season	132	170
SO/9	6.7	6.5
BB/9	1.9	1.4
SO/BB	3.53	4.87
SHO/Season	1	2

 Cliff Lee vs. Tom Glavine

	Cliff Lee	Tom Glavine 1993-2002
Season Pitched	9	10
Games Started/Season	24	33
Career ERA	3.85	3.25
Career WHIP	1.27	1.30
Winnings %	63%	67%
Avg. Wins/Season	11	17
CG/Season	2	3
Innings/Season	157	223
SO/Season	121	141
SO/9	6.9	5.7
BB/9	2.2	3.2
SO/BB	3.1	1.79
SHO/Season	1	1

Roy Oswalt vs. John Smoltz

	Roy Oswalt	John Smoltz 1993-1999*
Season Pitched	10	7
Games Started/Season	30	30
Career ERA	3.18	3.24
Career WHIP	1.18	1.16
Winnings %	64%	63%
Avg. Wins/Season	15	14
CG/Season	2	3
Innings/Season	202	205
SO/Season	167	194
SO/9	7.4	8.5
BB/9	2.1	2.6
SO/BB	3.6	3.2
SHO/Season	1	1

*After 1999 he became a relief pitcher

Cole Hamels vs. Fourth Starters

	Cole Hamels	Steve Avery1	Denny Neagle2	Kevin Millwood3
Season Pitched	5	4	2	6
GS/Season	30	28	32	27
Career ERA	3.53	3.92	3.25	3.73
Career WHIP	1.18	1.24	1.15	1.22
Winnings %	57%	56%	69%	62%
Avg. Wins/Season	12	10	18	12
CG/Season	1	2	4	1
Innings/Season	189	170	222	167
SO/Season	179	118	168	140
SO/9	8.5	6.3	6.8	7.5
BB/9	2.4	2.5	2.2	2.7
SO/BB	3.62	2.49	3.09	2.77
SHO/Season	1	0	3	0

¹ 1993-1996  ² 1997-1998  ³ 1997-2002

Although the stats for the Phillies’ pitchers are from their entire career, I wanted to compare their career stats to the numbers made by the Braves’ rotation during their time in Atlanta. As you can see, most of the time the Braves’s pitchers beat out the Phillies’ in most categories.

Oswalt and Smoltz are pretty even, but Maddux is better than Halladay and Glavine is better than Lee. The Braves’ fourth starters were slightly better than Hamels, but only slightly. The Phillies’ pitchers are great, but the Braves’ nineties pitchers are even better.

One of the three Atlanta pitchers took home the NL Cy Young Award five out of the first six years they were together. The three pitchers combined in their careers won seven Cy Young Awards, which beats the three that Halladay and Lee have won combined.

Obviously the pitchers on the Phillies have not finished their career and can still win that prestigious award, but it will be very hard to match what the Braves did. Overall, it will be hard for them to replicate the numbers that Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz made in their career together. 

1. Playing Games

The most obvious reason the Big Four cannot compare with the Braves’ legendary rotations in the 1990’s is they have not even played a single game together in the same uniform. 

It is ridiculous to make comparisons between a team on paper and a team that actually played. Even if the team on paper performed exactly as they are supposed to then the Braves’ staff still is better. But they haven’t yet, so do not make such judgements until the facts are in. The Braves’ rotation played ten seasons together, and the Phillies’ acclaimed rotation has played zero games on the same team.

The Phillies have a great bunch of starters that should help get them deep in the playoffs, but they have not become legendary yet. Comparisons cannot be made between them and any good rotations in history until they have actually played together for a reasonable amount of time. When that day comes, I will reassess, but until then the Braves’ rotations in the nineties are better than the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies’ Big Four. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: Being a Fan Is About More Than Just Winning and Losing

There is a reason that the Philadelphia Phillies have now sold out 123 consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park.

Many people believe that it is because the Phillies have become one of the premier teams in all of Major League Baseball, and there is some truth to that.

Others believe that there are a lot of people who have jumped on the bandwagon or are fair-weather fans, and there may be some truth to that.

However, there is a much deeper reason, and any diehard Phillies fan knows that reason to their very core.

Phillies fans have gotten a pretty gruesome reputation over the years in large part due to a few idiots who do not know how to act like adults in public. The truth is that there is a reason that players want to come to Philadelphia and play for this so-called “rabid” fanbase. If you do not believe that to be true, ask Cliff Lee.

Phillies fans are passionate, knowledgeable and expect nothing but the best from their team. Since when is booing a poor performance considered taboo? Why is it not okay for Phillies fans to hold their team accountable?

Many people in the sports world believe that fans in Philadelphia will turn on their teams faster than any other place in America. Not only is that untrue, it is also offensive and hurtful. The people of Philadelphia love their teams, so much that it becomes a part of their lives.

Phillies fans do not just root for their hometown team; they embody every characteristic that the Phillies display. While a victory at the end of the day is all that really matters, how the game is played matters almost as much.

To Phillies fans, it’s about Jimmy Rollins backhanding a grounder deep in the hole and firing a missile to first base to get his pitcher out of a jam. It’s about Shane Victorino running down a gapper, slamming into the wall and still holding on.

It’s about Ryan Howard stealing second base, when no one in their right mind would think that he would, to get into scoring position in the late innings. It’s about Carlos Ruiz standing strong at the plate, even though he knows that the incoming runner is going to slam into him like a freight train.

Aaron Rowand will forever be a legend in Philadelphia for this very same reason. Everyone will remember him smashing his face into the fence, turning his nose into a jigsaw puzzle, and still holding on to the ball. That is the kind of thing that Phillies fans go crazy about. They want their players to be as blue-collar as they are on a daily basis, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Phillies fans are not “rabid.” If anything, they care too much, if that’s even possible.

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2011 MLB Preview: Power Ranking Roy Halladay and The Best Pitchers In Baseball

Check out last week’s rankings here.

In the year of the pitcher, the Giants proved that they had the best overall staff in baseball by winning the World Series.

The Phillies counter-punched in the offseason with the acquisition of Cliff Lee.  On paper, the Phillies now have the best starting rotation in baseball.

Depth-wise, the Yankees starting rotation is pitiful.  

After Lee signed with Philadelphia, the Bronx Bombers instead addressed the bullpen with the signing of Rafael Soriano. 

With a solid pen and a deadly lineup, Yankee starters won’t have to do much.  Soriano and Mariano Rivera shorten the game.

 

I give each player a number. Here’s the layout:

10: Best player/pitcher in baseball

9-plus: Superstar, MVP/Cy Young Candidates

8-plus: Consistent All-Star

7.5: Periodical All-Star

7.25: Solid Starter

7: Average Player

ALSO CHECK OUT

10 Reasons to Take Halladay over Lee in a Game 7

Top 25 Underrated Starting Pitchers

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Power Ranking the Top 100 Philadelphia Phillies of All Time

Presidents Day has passed.  Pitchers and catchers have reported.  Soon there will be cracks of the bats and gloves in Clearwater, Florida, and the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies will take the field with a view to making history.

For years now, Philadelphia has enjoyed the services of several of the finest players ever to put on the Phillies uniform—guys like Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels.

But in the last couple of years, the Phillies have really upped the ante, acquiring Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee again in an effort to put together the finest rotation in not only Phillies history, but perhaps baseball history as well.

What better time, then, to take a look at the history of the Philadelphia Phillies and reflect upon the top 100 Philadelphia Phillies of all-time.

It is a list that could very soon be turned on its ear.

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Power Rankings: 5 Things To Love and Hate About the Philadelphia Phillies

“Love” and “hate” are strong words. This past offseason, Phillies fans loved the astonishing acquisition made by Philadelphia Phillies’ GM Ruben Amaro Jr. to sign starting pitcher Cliff Lee, keeping him in a Phillies uniform until at least 2016 (with the exception of trade).

Now I’m sure there are many baseball fanatics that can think of countless reasons, practical or not,  to hate the Phillies. Here are five things to love and hate about the Phillies through the eyes of a diehard Phillies fan. Hope you enjoy! 

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MLB Rumors: Will the Phillies Replace Jimmy Rollins With Jose Reyes in 2012?

Jimmy Rollins has transformed into a huge fan favorite in Philadelphia over the past few years with the team. However, after an increase in injuries and a decrease in numbers, is his time in Philadelphia coming to an end?

Rollins has a lot to prove in the upcoming 2011 season. Known for making his bold team predictions, Rollins might want to focus more on himself this season rather than the team.  

Philly fans are beginning to face the harsh reality that Rollins just might not be what he used to be. After his huge season in 2007 in which he won the NL MVP award, his performances have dropped severely. After a season featuring 20 triples and 30 home runs, Rollins has had only 17 triples and 40 home runs in the past three seasons combined. His speed has also noticeably dropped in the past few seasons.

After a career-high 47 stolen bases in 2008, Rollins has just 48 stolen bases in 2009 and 2010. His run average has dropped severely as well. From 2004-2007, Rollins averaged 125 runs scored per year. From 2008-2010 however he is averaging just 75.  

This is a huge difference for the man who was supposed to set the table for one of the league’s most explosive offenses. This is a major part of the idea of moving Rollins out of the leadoff spot and into the fifth or sixth spot in the offense.

Ironically, ever since Rollins’s numbers have dropped since 2007, the Phillies have won three more NL East titles, two pennants, and a World Series.

So the real question remains: are the Phillies ready to move on and replace Jimmy?

Better yet, are the Phillies willing to replace Rollins with Jose Reyes?

Reyes is a player much like Rollins in many different ways. When comparing stats, Reyes is nearly identical to Rollins in all major offensive categories. While he has slightly less power, he does have more speed than Rollins.  

Rollins has a career average of 37 stolen bases per season, with 47 being his career high. Reyes, on the other hand, averages 58 stolen bases per year with 78 being his career high. Imagine the numbers he could put up if Davey Lopes was still around.

And oh, did I mention that Reyes is five years younger than Rollins?

The only other true factor separating these two All-Stars is their fielding. Reyes has tended to be somewhat of a streaky fielder at shortstop. Reyes averages a few more errors per season than Rollins and has never won a Gold Glove award. Rollins, on the other hand, has three Gold Gloves.   

Again, with Rollins’s contract expiring after the 2011 season, he has a lot to prove to both the fans and the organization in the upcoming year to give it a reason to resign him. Are Philly fans willing to let go of their hometown hero? If that answer is yes, then are they willing to bring in a rival player to fill that role?  

Both these questions will have to be answered after this season, but the Phillies could surprise a lot of people if Rollins has another disappointing season in 2011.     

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