Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Prospects Having Monster Springs

If the Phillies struggle with their health again this season, guys are going to have to step up besides Wilson Valdez.  A couple of prospects have shown some rather nice signs in camp. 

At the start of spring training, there were approximately 12 pitchers fighting for two to three spots in the bullpen.  A few have emerged.

Let’s take a look at five prospects who have caught my eye in spring training.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Is Luis Castillo the Man To Replace Chase Utley?

Chase Utley‘s Bum Knee

In spite of the positive spin the Philadelphia Phillies and Chase Utley are putting on his pained knee, he has been diagnosed with patella tendinitis, chondromalacia and bone inflammation, and is now heading to see a rehab specialist because the team is afraid to have his knee cut open—and rightly so. 

Anyone who has ever had knee surgery will tell you how, no matter what work is done inside, the knee is never the same.  Rehab is always a good first choice.

However, the fear is that this is nothing more than a continuation of the injury from last season, and the knee will never be the same anyway. 

Knee issues caused the Phillies’ star second baseman to miss 47 games last season.  This injury is likely to cause Utley to miss several weeks of the season in the most optimistic of estimations.

So what is the answer for the Phillies?

 

Is Luis Castillo the Man To Fill the Utley void?

Wow.  I’ll respond with a huge “maybe” and a quick follow-up of probably not! 

The New York Mets released Castillo on Friday, and as soon as Castillo cleared waivers, the Phillies pounced with a minor-league deal that offers him the opportunity to win the job but doesn’t leave him a lot of time to do so. 

It’s a good news bad news kind of situation.

The good news is, at the very least, Castillo can offer some bench help in the infield and possibly reclaim his swagger in the infield.  He has 370 career stolen bases and is a .290 career hitter.  

The bad news is that he hit .235 last season in only 86 games and has a recent history of knee issues.  Scouts who have been watching Castillo say he’s lost his speed and quickness, which are essentially his strengths. 

He did, however, hit .302 only two seasons ago.  What it boils down to is a low-risk, possibly high-reward situation for the Phightins. 

 

Why Not Michael Young? 

There were some rumors swirling about a Joe Blanton for Michael Young trade to fix the Utley gap.  It’s a great idea, and I thought of it too.  Word from the Phillies’ camp was that the biggest issue was salary. 

The Phillies structured Cliff Lee’s deal so that they would just stay under the luxury tax threshold.  If the Phillies traded away Blanton and his $8 million, they would still have to assume the $16 million owed this year (and for two more years) on Young’s contract, which would push them over the limit and mean they would be saddled with the luxury tax, costing them millions more on top of it all. 

It comes down to economics.

 

Other Options

My opinion is that Wilson Valdez should be the favorite to be the opening day second baseman.  He has hit .439 (18-for-41) with three doubles, one home run and six RBI this spring.  He also played well last season, filling in for the injured Phils.   

Other guys vying for the job this spring include: Josh Barfield, Pete Orr, Michael Martinez and Delwyn Young.  

Barfield has hit .344 (11-for-32) with three doubles, one triple and three RBI.  Orr has hit .333 (12-for-36) with three doubles, three triples and two RBI.  Martinez has hit .292 (14-for-48) with three homers, two home runs and six RBI.  Young—who is more of an outfielder than a second baseman—has hit .292 (14-for-48) with two doubles, one home run and three RBI.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Signing Luis Castillo Is Low-Risk, Average-Reward

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Luis Castillo to a minor league deal and it makes perfect sense to do so.

Castillo, a second baseman, will either make the major league roster or will be released according to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro. If he makes the roster, the Phillies will only be on the hook for $414,000 (major league minimum) while the New York Mets, who released Castillo on Friday, are paying him $6 million this season.

Castillo is hoping to enter his 16th season in the big leagues after spending the previous 15 seasons almost entirely in the National League East between the Florida Marlins and Mets.

Castillo spent part of 2006 and 2007 in the American League with the Minnesota Twins. Castillo hit .286 this spring with the Mets.

If Chase Utley is to miss a significant amount of playing time at the beginning of the season, having Castillo around may not be a bad option.

Castillo will have to win a roster spot against guys like Wilson Valdez and Josh Barfield. Valdez appears to be the leader for the starting job with Utley out at second base and the signing of Castillo does little to change that.

But having Castillo on the bench looks to be a better option that putting trust in an unproven player like Barfield, despite a very good spring.

In fact, every player this spring who can play second base has been performing well at the plate. Barfield (.344) and Pete Orr (.333) have done well for themselves.

So, where does Castillo fit on the major league roster? It depends on Utley’s status for 2011.

“You know what? [Utley]‘s getting a little better,” manager Charlie Manuel said.

“It’s not coming real fast, but he’s showing — according to the doctors and trainers — he’s starting to get better. It seems like it’s going to take a while, though.”

The reports coming from Phillies suggest that Utley will play in 2011 and he just recently returned to training camp to take batting practice. He has not played in a single spring training game this year and concerns about his health have grown among fans in recent weeks.

If Utley is going to miss some time, the Phillies feel confident in the players they have on board, but if the worst case scenario takes place and Utley is out for the season, having a veteran player at second base like Castillo could prove to be valuable.

Castillo is not Utley and today he may not even be Valdez. His speed has diminished in recent years and his health has been a concern, but he could be a good option for Charlie Manuel to split time with Valdez through a majority of the season.

Valdez can’t be played every day, so somebody needs to be ready to take some time in the field and at the plate.

Castillo could realistically be that guy.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Possible Chinks in the Perceived Armor

Much like the Miami Heat when they signed the triplets, many in the sports world had them winning it all, including 70 games.  Now, they will be lucky to get to 60 games on the season and winning it all doesn’t seem so likely anymore.  

When the Phillies signed their stellar rotation, most in the sports world had them winning the World Series.  People thought that they had it all sewn up—ready to hand them the trophy.  Not so fast my friends, not so fast.

Apparently, there are a few more chinks in the Phillies’ armor than one might have expected at first glance.

Starting with Chase Utley and his knee injury.  Utley and the team keep saying that he is progressing and on the right track, but taking ground balls while sitting in a chair is not progressing unless they mean he isn’t lying down to take them, so that’s progress.  

Utley will likely be out for months, not weeks.  The Phillies just signed veteran Luis Castillo to a minor league deal.  They also have several candidates who can play second on their own roster.  

But replacing Utley and his defense isn’t going to be that easy and also working into a new around-the-horn chemistry.  It is not as easy as people might think.

Next, the Phillies are going to miss Jayson Werth’s bat.  A lot of people like to dog on Werth and his attitude, but he provided the Phillies hits in key situations.  That will be gone this season and they do not have a solid replacement in the lineup for what he contributed.  

It’s all well and good if your pitchers can hold down the other team’s runs, but your team has to put some on the board to win.

On to the pitching, it is a great rotation, no doubt about it, but it is not invincible.  Over spring training, almost all the pitchers in the rotation have had bad outings and some of them have had more than one.

Hamels has not been particularly stellar.  Blanton has given up a lot of runs.  Even Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee have given up more runs than one would have thought.  

In total, the Phillies starting five have given up 41 runs over 73 innings of work.  They have given up 11 homers and 74 hits.  They have had 57 strikeouts.  The starting five have a win/loss record of 5-4.  Their average ERA is 3.89.  

Do I think the Phillies will make the playoffs?  They should.  Do I think they win their division?  Perhaps. Will they win the World Series? We will find out in about eight months.  

For now, it might be wise not to put all the World Series eggs in one basket. 

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Philadelphia Phillies and Luis Castillo: Pros and Cons

Well, it looks like it may be a reality: Luis Castillo is reported close to signing a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Quite frankly, I am not sure how I feel about this. One would assume that there are some pros and some cons so let’s take a look at some of them

One major pro is that he is most likely going to be very, very cheap. He is already guaranteed $6M from the NY Mets, so the Phillies would be able to sign him for his qualifying league minimum, approximately $485,000. Cheap labor of this caliber is always a good thing and of course it makes it a very low risk/high reward proposition for the Phillies. Added Bonus: how great would it be to watch Castillo play against the Mets while they are paying him? Does it get any better than that?

Another pro would be that Castillo was, at one point, a very good hitter. His last full uninjured season was as recent as 2009 and he managed a very respectable .302 avg, .387 OBP and 77 runs scored. He has a very low strike out rate which would help what is currently a very K-prone lineup. His ability to put the ball in play could come in handy on a team like the Phillies who put a lot of runners on base and often only need a ground ball out or sacrifice fly to score a run. Also, he can still run, swiping 23 bags in 2009. Whether or not he can regain that form remains to be seen, but for $485K, don’t you almost have to take that shot?

He was hurt most of 2010 so any numbers from that year may be skewed but I assure you they are not good. Also, you have to take into account he was a Met and quite frankly it really seems as though most of those guys, especially the veterans, just flat out gave up.  

Let’s throw in a con: Wilson Valdez won’t get the much-deserved shot he has earned at second base. Valdez has been on fire this spring playing nearly every day and hitting over .400. He is playing several positions defensively and has been really impressive at all of them. He has even played some outfield this spring and done a very fine job at it. I personally would be slightly upset if Valdez didn’t at least get the opportunity at the job. The only thing that scares me about Valdez is his propensity to hit into the double play.

Another con is no one really knows his clubhouse attitude. The Phillies are known to have one of the best clubhouses in all of baseball; just ask Cliff Lee. They have taken tremendous care in achieving this chemistry. When Pat Gillick took over the team in 2005 he made it a point of contention to trade away great talents that were disruptive clubhouse members and it’s a philosophy that appears to have really worked. There is a rumor that the Phillies grade clubhouse attitude in their scouting reports and very seriously consider that grade when deciding on a player. There are many who believe, myself among them, that this is the reason the Philles are as successful as they are, despite injuries, despite slumps, despite poor outings–the Phillies always endure.

How about a pro: he hits from both sides of the plate. He could offer a right-handed bat in what is considered a very heavily weighted left handed lineup. Similar to Shane Victorino, he hits about equally from both sides; with a career .298 as a right-handed batter and .294 as a left-handed batter. Given the fact that most of the teams in the NL East have adjusted their bullpens to deal with the Phillies left-handed attack, this could prove extremely valuable.

All in all I would have to say it’s a good move for the Phillies however it is totally dependent on what they will pay him. As Ruben Amaro has recently been quoted as saying the team is completely tapped out financially, my guess would be the only way he becomes a Phillie is at the bare minimum price. I would further assume that Castillo would take that. He is, after all, still earning his $6M from the Mets this season and he would be playing for a contender. So if it happens: Good for you Luis Castillo, and welcome to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Let me know what you think. Is signing Luis Castillo a good move? Do you have another pro or con? Leave a comment and let me know.

UPDATE:  It’s a done deal.  Minor league contract which minimizes financial damage if t doesn’t  work out.  Good move by Ruben Amaro as he has managed to put the team in a win/win situation.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Whom Do They Turn to in the Absence of Chase Utley?

With the injury to Chase Utley, a hole is left in the Phillies infield. How the Phillies will fill this hole is still unknown. In fact, the significance of Utley’s injury is not yet known either.

Wilson Valdez, who filled in for the injured Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins last season, can be a quick fix for the Phillies. Valdez did a great job filling in for these two key players and did a great job as a bench player as well, hitting .258 over the entire 2010 season.

Valdez is also a great fielder. Last season, he only committed two errors and assisted on 35 double plays.

However, if Utley’s injury is severe, it is likely the Phillies will try to sign an infielder. With the tight budget and lack of prospects, Ruben Amaro has already stated no trade will be made for an infielder. 

Who else is available for the Phillies to play second base? Michael Martinez, the rule 5 draft pick from the Nationals, could play some games at second. He is a utility player who can play both outfield and infield. But, like Valdez, if Utley’s injury is serious, Martinez is a long term fix. Martinez will be a great bench player, but cannot play everyday. 

So who can fill in for Chase Utley everyday?

With the Mets releasing Luis Castillo, there may be an answer to that question. Castillo has failed to fulfill expectations with the Mets, but still is a talent the Phillies could use with he absence of Utley. Castillo is a good fielder, only committing two errors last season and assisting on 38 double plays. He also still has above average speed, stealing eight bases and only being caught three times.

Most importantly, he’d be seeing good pitches hitting at the bottom of a Phillies lineup with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino all hitting ahead of him. Castillo can be a great asset to the Phillies until Utley returns and also can be a great bench player later in the season. Look to see the Phillies sign Castillo in the near future. 

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Philadelphia Phillies: World Series Favorites for Good Reason

This letter is intended for all players, coaches, trainers and fans of the National League, but most importantly for the Phillies Phaithful:

Dear National League,

Phillies Nation is becoming more amused by the day of your tireless efforts to spark fear into the most anticipated sports season in Philadelphia history. Whether it is the loss of Jayson “I can’t hit with RISP” Werth, Chase Utley’s knee or players being in their low-30’s (that’s a bad thing in baseball?), reports are coming out daily on why the Phillies are overrated.

Journalists, save your time and efforts.

I can understand why you have dedicated so much of your time into proclaiming why the Phillies will not win the World Series. If I had to face the rotation they had, I would be worried as well.

“The pitching is old and one of them will most certainly go on the DL.”

National League, is this really an accurate statement? The team has three pitchers who have consistently logged over 200 innings and another who is in the best shape of his life and has done so twice already.

Since when is 32-35 years old a liability in baseball? I will give you Jaime Moyer being old and frail, but Roy Halladay? Sorry, I don’t buy it.

Are we really that scared that we have to make outlandish comments such as, “one of them will get hurt?” I had to look at it from an outsider’s perspective and I realized that this must be the case. National League, think about it, in any given series, you could be facing two to four pitchers who will make it very difficult for your team to score over three runs against them.

In fact, if your team does score three or more runs, the offense will probably feel like they have done their job. Three runs against Halladay, Lee, Oswalt or Hamels is a pretty tough thing to do.

“Werth is gone and Utley will be out all year, so your offense blows.”

National League, I would like to point out that Mr. Utley is currently taking batting practice and grounders, and all eight position players on the Phillies spent time on the DL last season, with Rollins missing almost half of the season and Chase having surgery on his right thumb.

That didn’t stop the Phil’s O from having the best team batting average in the NL East (fourth in NL), the most runs scored in the NL East (second in NL) and the most home runs in the NL East (fifth in NL).

Sorry, National League, I still fail to see your point on why Phillies fans should be panicking.

“Lidge is inconsistent and the bullpen is shaky, and your starters can’t pitch complete games every time out.”

The bullpen and starting rotation had their share of injuries as well with Brad Lidge (15 day DL twice), Ryan Madson (60 day DL), Jaime Moyer (60 day DL), J.C. Romero, J.A Happ, Joe Blanton, Antonio Bastardo, Chad Durbin, Danys Baez and Scott Mathieson (all 15 day DL stints).

The Phillies still led the majors with 97 wins and had the second best team ERA in the NL East. Add a teaspoon of Roy Oswalt (Phil’s best pitcher down the stretch, who went 7-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 13 games with the Phillies) and sprinkle in former Cy Young winner Cliff Lee (Yankees fans, whose your daddy?) and I’d say Vegas is right on in naming the Phillies the favorites to win it all.

“The Braves, Red Sox, White Sox and Athletics all have starting rotations that can match up in a playoff series with Philadelphia’s.”

Again National League (and American League), I fail to see your point/reasoning/logic on that one either. None of those other rotations can boast a resume that includes 10 top five finishes in Cy Young award voting, three actual Cy Young awards, 13 All-Star selections, six 20-win seasons, three postseason MVP awards and a 20-8 postseason record.

Not even close.

“The Giants beat you guys in the NLCS and they will do it again.”

At least now, National League, we are admitting that no one in the NL East will stop the Phillies (if the Braves actually had fans, they might respond to that statement, but oh well). But I would like to point out that Pat Burrell (10 K’s in World Series) and Cody Ross (who?) played out of their minds to carry the offense through the series, and the Padres had to lose 10 consecutive games in September for you to even MAKE the playoffs.

National League, I still feel pretty confident with the Halladay vs. Burrell or Ross matchup. The Lee vs. Burrell or Ross ain’t too shabby either. Oswalt, Hamels vs….well you get the pitcher, excuse me, you get the PICTURE.

“Other teams in the NL have gotten younger while the Phillies have gotten old really quickly.”

Chase Utley does not play in spring training and all of a sudden the Phillies are old? Or is there so little to worry about that something like this gets MAGNIFIED?

National League, Wilson Valdez showed last season that he is more than capable of holding down the fort while an accomplished starter goes down. He will do the same again this season if he is needed.

A healthy, happy and motivated Jimmy Rollins has shown over his illustrious career that when the lights are brightest, his light shines the most. He is entering a contract year and will likely be looking for the last contract of his career. He (finally) has entered camp in terrific shape and will be motivated to stay on the field and produce all season long.

“The Braves have the offense, pitching and right mixture of veterans and young players to win the NL East this season.’

National League, even in the NFL, NHL and NBA, the same teams are consistently at the top. Heck, Tom Brady led a team that had a defense of nobodies to a 14-2 record. That was in the ultimate team game of football.

Baseball is the one major sport in America where one player can single-handedly dominate any given game. The Phillies have a TEAM of those type of players. There is a reason that they still led the major leagues in wins last season. A season in which they could have missed the playoffs and have had a perfectly logical explanation for why that happened.

You seemed to overlook the fact, National League, that the Phillies clubhouse would not let something like that happen. In fact, they left no doubt by flipping a seven game deficit in early July to winning the NL East by six games. There is something to be said about the chemistry and make up of this team.

Whether it is the warrior-type mentalities of Utley and Halladay, the “just get me to the plate” mentality of Ryan Howard, the “we’re the team to beat” attitude of former MVP Jimmy Rollins or the laid-back confidence of skipper Charlie Manuel, the team quite simply knows their goals and knows how to get there.

Phillies fans can still remember where they were the night the Phillies beat the Rays in 2008 and the most ridiculous parade down Broad Street that ensued. They can still picture what they were doing when they woke up on that Tuesday morning of Dec. 14 and heard that Cliff Lee spurned the Yankees (Bankees) to rejoin our beloved ballclub and give us the greatest Christmas present we ever could have dreamed of.

National League, these are the things the Philly Phaithful care about. There is a reason why Vegas picked Philadelphia as the team to beat this season. There is a reason Citizens Bank Park has sold out over 100 consecutive games. There is a reason Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Roy Halladay all CHOSE to play for Philadelphia. They are the team that gives them the best chance to win it all, something they so badly want to achieve.

Spring Training is a time of preparation for the long, grueling season ahead. A season that has not even started yet, and we are being told that it’s time to push the panic button.

I say to hell with that. Let us continue to enjoy the fact that we have the team that has won the NL East four straight seasons, and has the type of pitching rotations that the rest of Major League Baseball is drooling over.

The spotlight is on the Phillies this season and they will not disappoint, no matter what your friends try to tell you.

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Philadelphia Phillies Spring Training: Sizing Up the Potential 2011 Roster

As spring training winds down with under two weeks to go, the Phillies 2011 roster is starting to come into focus.  The chart on the bottom right is a look at 24 of the 25 available roster spots as they may unfold.

The list right now has 12 pitchers, although the Phillies could add David Herndon and go with 13.  Kyle Kendrick has not had a good spring, but the Phils are paying him too much to send him back to Triple-A.  It could happen, as Herndon has been pretty good, but it is unlikely.

What is more probable is that the Phillies will choose to carry an extra infielder or utility player because of the Chase Utley situation.  Odds are very good that Utley will start the season on the disabled list with Wilson Valdez filling in at second base.  However, this still leaves an extra roster spot open.

The list above includes Michael Martinez, who has played well enough to earn a spot and he plays multiple positions.  Plus, Martinez is a Rule 5 player.  If the Phillies do not put him on the roster, they have to offer him back to the Nationals.  With the way Martinez has played, the Nationals would probably take him back.

Also on the list is John Mayberry Jr. who is batting .319 with five home runs so far this spring.  He is also very versatile and can play first base, as well as the outfield.

That leaves one bench spot for either Pete Orr, Josh Barfield or Delwyn Young.  Barfield has been very good at the plate, hitting .355 with three doubles and a triple.  He is also speedy, which is a plus.

But Barfield’s main weakness appears to be defense.  While he has not committed any “official” errors, Barfield has fumbled the ball more than once.  In Saturday’s matchup with the Orioles, Barfield dropped an easy double play ball, did not get any outs and left Cole Hamels hanging.  Hamels was having a rough day to begin with, so this did not help.

As for Orr, he is experienced and can play second, third and a little outfield.  Orr is batting .343 with three doubles and three triples this spring.  Orr also strikes out less than Barfield and Young, but his fielding is average.

That leaves Young, who is intriguing because he can play almost anywhere.  However, his fielding is not very good.  A lifetime .258 hitter, Young is batting .298 with one home run, seven RBI and two doubles this spring.  He is probably the least likely to make the team.

However, there are still nine games left in Florida and two exhibition games in Philadelphia before the season begins.  Each player still has time to make a big push towards earning a roster spot.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Players Who Could Fill In for Chase Utley

News of Chase Utley’s tendinitis in his right knee has spread around the baseball world over the past few weeks. While Utley doesn’t look like he’ll need any serious treatment, he’s already received a cortisone shot in the knee, but it didn’t have any effect.

He’s rested and stayed off the knee as much as possible, but that was to no avail. He’s even suggested that he could receive either a steroid injection or lubricant injection to speed up the process, but neither are certain as of yet.

Regardless of whether it’s been because of being hit by a pitch or simply overworking himself, Chase Utley has definitely felt the impact of an injury on playing time. Over the last few seasons, Utley has been riddled with injuries, from the broken hand to the torn thumb ligament last season and now the tendinitis.

ESPN’s SportsCenter recently showed a statistic about second basemen that displayed the amount of additional wins a team has when a second baseman plays every day over his replacement. Chase Utley led this statistic with roughly 21 wins. Boston’s Dustin Pedroia came in second, but by a long shot, only providing roughly 14 wins.

Even though this statistic is both astounding and heartbreaking to Phillies fans, it’s not like they’ve seen replacements at second base in the past. If Utley won’t be ready for Opening Day or even beyond, someone will have to replace him temporarily.

Utley is doing all he can to avoid surgery to help his tendinitis, chondromalacia (cartilage deterioration), and bone inflammation.

But if surgery becomes inevitable in the future, which is still extremely rare, who would fill his shoes?

In no particular order, here are five players who are the most likely to fill in for Chase Utley if needed. 

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Philadelphia Phillies 2011: No Chase Utley, No Jayson Werth, No Problem

Everyone is gunning for the Phillies. 

A quick look at any sports news outlet and you will see a myriad of “doom and gloom” scenarios all pointing to why the Phillies won’t contend in 2011. 

You’ll read about Chase Utley’s injury and how the Phillies are doomed without him; how age will be their undoing and you’ll read a lot about Jimmy Rollins and how he has “seen better days” and that without him there is no way they can win. 

Well, I‘m here to tell you, don’t believe any of it.

The Philadelphia Phillies will win the NL East; they will win the National League Championship and they have the best chance of winning the World Series. In fact, they will have a better chance than who ever happens to win the American League Pennant (insert Boston Red Sox-sounding cough here).

Utley is an amazing player but he does not hold the fate of the Philadelphia Phillies in his hands…or his knees for that matter. He missed almost half of the 2010 season with a broken hand and yet the Phillies managed to finish with the best record in Major League Baseball. 

You can also add Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and catcher Carlos Ruiz to the list of players who missed significant playing time in 2010. 

While backup catcher Brian Schneider managed to avoid the DL, he was virtually unplayable for a good two weeks when Ruiz was out, leaving the Phillies to rely on Dane Sardinha, a call-up from the minor leagues. All those injuries to all those players and still, the best record in baseball.

They were able to overcome these injuries for a very simple reason: the bench, and in particular, Wilson Valdez—who was a New York Mets throwaway picked up by the Phillies in the offseason prior to the start of the 2010 season. 

Valdez didn’t make the team initially, but when Rollins got hurt early in the season he was called up to replace him. Oddly, he was soon designated for assignment and after clearing waivers landed back on the Phillies’ minor-league affiliate. He was soon brought back and filled a huge void for the team for the remainder of the season. 

So far this spring Valdez is on fire, playing every day and hitting well above .300. He is the main reason the Phillies are not looking elsewhere to fill the void of an injured Utley. 

The main knock on Valdez is his propensity to hit into the double play. If he can manage to improve that aspect of his game he might qualify as one of the best bench players in baseball.

Yes, the Phillies are the oldest team in baseball. If you add the age of every player on the major-league roster and then divide that sum by 25 (number of roster spots) you will in fact have a higher number than any other team in baseball. 

Why? 

Most of these guys have proven that they can perform and there was no need to call up young talent from the system. 

Does that make their combined average age a negative or a positive? 

Well, you figure it out. Is the fact that they have a 31-year-old first basemen who is so good he manages to be among the league leaders in production every year a good thing or a bad thing? Sure, once these guys start to decline the age will become a factor, but at this particular juncture in time, this has not really happened.

Which brings us to Jimmy Rollins. 

There is no doubt about it, his numbers are falling rapidly. 

But why? Is it because of his age? 

I don’t think so and I watch every Phillies game, all year long.

What I see in Rollins is extremely poor decision making at the plate with poor at-bats. He swings at bad pitches, he swings early in the count, he seems to always be trying to hit the long ball and he flat-out refuses to walk. Pitchers aren’t getting him out, he’s getting himself out. 

Rollins actually started last season off on a tear, hitting over .350 when he injured himself. When he returned to the lineup it seemed as if he was trying to get all his production back at one time, typically on the first pitch. Unfortunately, this is only a problem Jimmy can fix. 

From what I have seen of him in spring training, it doesn’t look as though he is on the right path. I really don’t know how long he will last in 2011 if he cannot become a more disciplined, smarter hitter. The bright side is the team was without him for a majority of 2010 and, as mentioned above, they still managed the best record in all of baseball.

Another adage you’ll hear from the naysayers’ mouths refers to the loss of Jayson Werth and how ultimately he was the glue that held the team together and he was the key to the Phillies success and other nonsense. 

I guess no one bothered to look at Mr. Werth’s average with runners in scoring position (RISP). 

I did. It was .186. Werth came through with the all-important hit with a runner on second or third 19 times out of 100. 

As we know these hits almost always result in the true objective of the game—scoring runs—and .186 is a miserable number. 

The biggest factor in the Phillies’ offensive woes of 2010, besides the injuries, can be attributed to Werths’ poor RISP percentage. While he may be missed defensively, his production on offense should be fairly easy to make up. 

Despite Werth’s inability to come through with a run-scoring hit, the Phillies still had the best record in all of baseball? 

Most likely the Phillies will replace Werth with a platoon consisting of Ben Francisco, Ross Gload and John Mayberry. All three have had fantastic springs and should easily be able to adequately replace the .186 avg. with RISP brought to you by the good folks at Jayson Werth. Enjoy D.C. and your $126 million, Jay.

The addition of Cliff Lee clearly makes them a better team than they were last year.  And they only had ace Roy Oswalt for half of the season in 2010. No other team in the National League has made improvements as significant as the Phillies did by adding Lee. 

The mainstream media is pandering with their knocks on the Phiillies, but can you blame them?  

We all read the stories and ultimately that is their goal. I usually just think about last year when they had the…you know. So, if you’re still worried or if you still don’t believe the Phillies will have a more than successful year, I welcome your explanations of how and why.

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