6 Keys for the Philadelphia Phillies to Be a Contender Next Season

81-81.

The definition of average.

The 2012 Phillies underachieved. Bad defense, poor situational hitting, injury, bad luck and poor relief pitching all contributed to the team’s demise.

Can they bounce back in 2013? Can they contend with young teams like the Washington Nationals and the Atlanta Braves in their own division?

They can, but there are six key areas where things must go right for the Phillies in order for the team to make this season just a blip on the radar and return to the playoffs once again.

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2012 MLB Trade Market: Could Dexter Fowler Be the Next Phillies Center Fielder?

The Phillies will be testing the free-agent market hard in 2012 to find their 2013 center fielder.

If they cannot lock down a free-agent signing like Michael Bourn or B.J. Upton, the Phillies may have to look into making a trade to acquire a player to fill the hole Shane Victorino left.

A team that matches up perfectly with what the Phillies need and what they have at their disposal are the Colorado Rockies.

The Rockies are in desperate need of starting pitching depth, and that is exactly what the Phillies have in their farm system.

The Phillies’ minor league affiliates are loaded with pitchers who are only a year or two away from contributing at the major league level.

They also have pitchers on the current major league roster who are now disposable because of that depth. Vance Worley and Kyle Kendrick could both be made available if necessary.

Right now, the Phillies have prospects Tyler Cloyd, Jesse Biddle, Brody Colvin, Trevor May, Jonathan Pettibone, Adam Morgan and Ethan Martin who will fill up the rotations for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading. That is some serious depth.

Biddle, Martin and Pettibone will most likely not be traded. The three of them and Cloyd will battle out for the last two spots in the rotation next season if Worley and Kendrick struggle or find themselves traded.

Kendrick’s value may be the highest it ever will be, so moving him now isn’t the worst idea. Worley will be a much tougher sell since he is coming off an injury that will require offseason surgery. 

If a combination of two of these pitchers and some other player of a lower tier can score a major league talent like Dexter Fowler, the Phillies may want to consider it.

Fowler is coming off his best season as a professional. He hit .300 with 13 HR, 53 RBI and 72 runs scored. One issue with Fowler is that his splits playing at home in Colorado are much better than his splits on the road.

If the Phillies can’t land a big-time free agent, they may have to take a long look at Dexter Fowler and other trade possibilities.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Fans Rooting Against Yankees, Cardinals, Giants

In 2010, after having the sickening privilege of watching the favored Phillies lose a deciding Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at home to what seemed like an only decent San Francisco Giants side, I tweeted “I’m not a baseball fan. I’m a Phillies fan.” I did not see a single pitch of the 2010 postseason after that game. I heard it went pretty well for the Giants though.

In 2011, I again lucked into watching the Phillies’ playoff demise. This time, the Phillies managed to lose 1-0 in Game 5 of the National League Division Series. Ryan Howard folding up in a pain-wracked ball while making the last out was just icing on the putrid cake. Phillies fans did not know for certain then that Howard’s injury would impact the 2012 Phillies. But we had a sense it would not help.

And now here we are. The playoffs are well underway and the Phillies, for the first time since 2006, are nowhere to be found. With reference to playoff baseball, I find myself struggling to find a reason to watch or to care. Maybe you have a similar problem.

So I am turning to the oldest and best-known cure for this sort of malaise. If I cannot watch the Phillies win, at least maybe I can watch some teams I don’t like lose.

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20 Best Bloopers of the 2012 Philadelphia Phillies’ Season

After watching the Washington Nationals celebrate a National League East title from the opposing dugout, the entire 2012 season must have felt like one giant blooper for the Philadelphia Phillies. 

They came into the season as a favorite to win not only the NL East, but contend for a World Series as well. With the regular season in the books, the Phillies were one of the season’s biggest disappointments, barely finishing above .500. 

Well, they say laughter is the best medicine. 

The 2012 regular season was full of memorable moments for the Phillies and their fans and we’ve collected the best of them to brighten your day. 

Here are some of the funniest, strangest or just plain weird moments from the Phillies’ season.

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A Potential Replacement for Every Aging Philadelphia Phillies Star

Professional sports are one of the few jobs in which a person’s career is nearly over by the time they reach their mid-30’s.

For the Philadelphia Phillies, this means that the progression of the next batch of stars must be well underway.

Although the average age of the team’s 40-man roster is 28.5, nearly every one of the Phils’ current starts will be 33 years or older by the start of next season.  These players still have the chance to have several more productive seasons, but are “aging” stars rather than “bright young prospects.”

A number of these aging stars have spent considerable time on the disabled list while battling injuries, making it even more important for the Phils to be grooming potential replacements to take over during the next few seasons.

Some of these potential replacements have already made their major league debuts, while others have yet to play above High-A ball.  Regardless of the level they’ve reached so far, each of these players are seemingly in line to be the team’s internal option for one day taking over for a current star.

Here is a potential replacement for every aging Phillies’ star.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Predictions for the Offseason

Yes, the Major League Baseball postseason is just getting underway, but in Philadelphia, the attention is already focused on the offseason.

The Phillies finished the regular season with a .500 record at 81-81. After winning the National League East five years in a row, 81-81 is not an acceptable record and the Phillies fan base is expecting big moves and new faces before spring training.

The most noteworthy free agents are Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke, B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher, and it’s possible that the Phillies could land one of these guys as well as a few other pieces to make the 2013 season yet another World Series or bust year.

So, for the time being, enjoy the playoffs because after all, it is playoff baseball. But once the World Series champion is crowned, keep an eye out for the Phillies to make these moves.

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Why the Phillies Will Find Their Way Back to the Top of the NL East in 2013

It’s been a year now since the Philadelphia Phillies have won their fifth consecutive NL East division title. And next year, should they win it again, the count starts over.

2012 was a year of change for the Phillies. It signified that if they weren’t at full strength, they no longer possessed what it takes to win. In the past, losing players such as Chase Utley for a few months or Jimmy Rollins for half the season may have knocked a couple of wins off the board for the Phillies, but now it’s clear that missing more than one of these guys at a time is detrimental.

However, as is the case with each new season, 2013 will be a fresh start, a new leaf turned over. Players such as Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Roy Halladay and Vance Worley are all expected to be at full strength heading into next season. That, along with a revamped coaching staff that has Hall of Fame second baseman and former Triple-A Lehigh Valley coach Ryne Sandberg as the third base coach, should bring not only hope for Phillies fans, but excitement as well.

The offseason is only beginning. The Phillies could make a move to sign an outfielder, trade for a third baseman, ink a bullpen arm. While some of these are more likely than others, who knows what will happen?

Phillies fans, there’s a lot of reason to think that the Phillies will win the NL East once again in 2013. And here’s why.

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25 Most Talented Philadelphia Phillies Rosters Never to Win a World Series

Talented teams miss the World Series all the time. It’s a common occurrence. In any one season, you’re going to have at least six very good teams capable of playing in the Fall Classic. Simple math tells us that there isn’t enough room for all of them in the end. Just one. 

So while the 2012 Philadelphia Phillies are unique in the fact that they were so talented—on paper—at the beginning of the season, but missed the postseason all together—they certainly aren’t alone.

They’re not even alone in their own history. For the simple fact that there are a lot of good teams playing for one prize every season, a lot of talented rosters are kept from a World Series title. 

The ’12 version of the Phillies are just one example. Including the train wreck that was the Phils this season, here are 24 others. 

Follow @Greg_Pinto

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Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Reasons Phils Should Not Overspend in the Offseason

The Philadelphia Phillies‘ 2012 season didn’t pan out how anybody expected, but that shouldn’t cause panic among the Ruben Amaro front office.

The Phils still have a lot to look forward to in 2013, but writing more checks to go along with their already bloated payroll wouldn’t make anything better.

The answer for Philadelphia is largely in-house. They certainly have the pieces to compete again next year and beyond, but overspending would blow their chances to pieces. 

As long as the Phillies play it cool this winter, there’s reason to believe they won’t have a bounce-back campaign next season.

Here’s why we think Amaro shouldn’t even think about inking any big names this offseason.

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Phillies May Need to Look at Other Options for 2013

When you hear opinions about the Philadelphia Phillies, similar complaints usually arise: the displeasure with Charlie Manuel, the lack of a decent third baseman, and the ineffectiveness of the outfield. 

The first issue has been addressed, to an extent. With Ryne Sandberg now lurking in the dugout shadows, Charlie Manuel may not be able to get away with his inept decision making.

Sandberg, a Hall of Famer, will not tolerate Manuel’s lack of game strategy and his poor handling of the pitching staff. Sandberg will let his feelings be known—that the dugout dynamics are dysfunctional.

Despite his allegiance to Manuel, Ruben Amaro will feel pressure to make the change. I would not be surprised to see Sandberg take over the helm by the All-Star break. Amaro could add Sandberg’s former teammate, Jaime Moyer, as the pitching coach to replace the equally ineffective Rich Dubee. 

The third base situation will be difficult to solve. The free agent pool is not strong. 

David Wright will probably remain with the Mets. I’m not sure he would be able to land a long term deal, with his propensity to strike out alongside home run and RBI totals that don’t really prove worthy of the megabucks. 

Kevin Youkilis—who is a well known clubhouse lawyer—has seen his stock drop the last two years. At 33, and seemingly injury prone, Youkilis hit .235 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI in 2012. He too may not be able to secure the big dollars. 

The Padres‘ Chase Headley (.286, 31 HR, 115 RBI) should be nearly untouchable now that he has emerged as one of the best third basemen in all of baseball. 

Seattle’s Kyle Seager has also proven to be a strong young third baseman (.259, 20 HR, 86 RBI), but the Mariners have not made any trade overtures.

So who do the Phillies put at third base? 

With Cody Asche waiting in the wings for 2014, next season I would give the position to Kevin Frandsen. He proved to be capable both offensively and defensively. It would make the most sense to pay Frandsen a minimal salary and go after two outfielders, since the free agent pool for outfielders is much more appealing.

So who should patrol the outfield for the Phillies? 

Left field should be easy.

Despite only 33 at-bats, Darren Ruf smacked six extra base hits—three homers, one triple and two doubles. He hit .333 with 10 RBI. 

Obviously, 33 at-bats is not enough to truly evaluate a player, but we are talking about a guy who led the minors in home runs with 38 and has hit .300 each year as a professional. In his short MLB call-up, Ruf showed excellent poise on both offensive and defensive. 

In center field it would be nice to land Josh Hamilton, but it is unlikely the Phillies would be willing to shell out enough cash and offer a long term deal for a 31-year-old outfielder with health concerns.

A more likely choice for the Phillies to go after would be speedster Michael Bourn.

Bourn, 29, is an outstanding defensive player and a true leadoff hitter. With him in the lineup, the Phillies could drop Jimmy Rollins to second or maybe even fifth or sixth in the batting order. 

The right field spot could go to either Dom Brown or John Mayberry, but if the Phillies are serious about contending in 2013 they will need to seek another outfielder.

Neither Brown or Mayberry have shown they can be an effective starter.

But in order to sign Bourn, the Phillies will need to pay out some serious cash, so they may be reluctant to pay more cash for an additional outfielder. 

Though with Frandsen playing third, Philadelphia would still have enough to possibly land someone like Torii Hunter to play right field. The Angels might not want to give Hunter another big contract with Trout, Trumbo and Pujols being the new faces of the Anaheim Angels. 

The 37-year-old Hunter wants to play a couple more years, and although he has lost a step or two, he is still a great right fielder. He and Bourn would provide excellent defense. Hunter also hit .313 with 16 HRs and 86 RBI in 2012. Hunter is a likeable veteran who would blend in nicely in the Phillies clubhouse.   

The nucleus of Howard, Utley, Rollins and Ruiz would do well with Bourn, Hunter, Ruf and Frandsen. 

The starting pitching is still strong with Halladay, Hamels and Lee (providing Halladay is healthy come spring), and the bullpen has turned around nicely with Horst, Aumont and De Fratus. 

A possible lineup for 2013: 

Bourn CF

Rollins SS

Utley 2B

Howard 1B

Hunter RF

Ruf LF

Ruiz C

Frandsen 3B

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