Predicting the No. of Games Started for Every Phillies Position Player

The Philadelphia Phillies are still in the process of filling out their roster after the acquisitions of Jonathan Papelbon, Laynce Nix, Ty Wigginton and Jim Thome. The thought of Ruben Amaro as GM of this ball club makes many wonder if there is more exciting news on the horizon.

Can the “Riverboat Gambler” find another diamond piece to add to the puzzle? We have a pretty good idea of who will be in the Philadelphia Phillies lineup in 2012, as it looks pretty similar to the team that couldn’t score a run in the NLDS against Chris Carpenter.

Ryan Howard and Placido Polanco are coming off serious surgeries and you can bet that both players will miss some time recuperating.

Here is a prediction of the number of games started by each Phillies’ position player.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking Jimmy Rollins’ 7 Greatest Philly Moments

Ruben Amaro of the Philadelphia Phillies was able to lock up the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia for another three years at a price that seems fair for all parties. Jimmy Rollins may not be the MVP-caliber player from the plate and on the base-paths that he once was, but he still has a slick glove and pop in his bat that will be needed with Ryan Howard on the mend and Chase Utley in decline.

Rollins will now have the opportunity to climb the Phillies record books and establish himself not only as the best SS in team history, but as one of the all-time greats to ever lace up the cleats for the Phightin’s.

The voice and swagger of the greatest era of Phillies baseball ever has had some pretty remarkable moments. Here are just seven of J-Roll’s most memorable moments.

Begin Slideshow

MLB Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Players Who Must Be Kept Happy at All Costs

The Philadelphia Phillies are currently in the midst of the greatest era of baseball to ever be played in this city by a pro sports team. Five consecutive NL East Division titles, two National League pennants and one World Series title have led to happy times in the City of Brotherly Love.

Citizens Bank Park is filled beyond capacity night after night by the loudest and most loyal fans in America. Players like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee came to Philadelphia to play in that type of atmosphere.

Here are five Philadelphia Phillies who must be kept happy at all costs.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 4 Reasons Not to Fret the Free-Agent Signing Frenzy

The Philadelphia Phillies made a splash when free agency began by signing the best closer on the market in Jonathan Papelbon to a lucrative deal that is the highest in league history. Since that signing, Ruben Amaro Jr. has quietly gone about his business and improved this team with the acquisitions of Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton, Laynce Nix and possibly the re-signing of Jimmy Rollins.

The Phillies have been the talk of MLB the past three seasons with the acquisitions of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence and Roy Oswalt, but teams like the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels have stolen their thunder during the MLB Winter Meetings.

Don’t worry, Philadelphia, because there is nothing to fear. Let those teams spend ridiculous wads of cash on a few players, because they still have a long way to go before being a blip on the Phillies NL East champion radar. 

Here are four reasons why Phillies fans should not worry about the free-agent frenzy in MLB.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 6 Prospects Who Could Surprise in 2012

The Hot Stove is in full effect as we speak, and the MLB Winter Meetings are pumping out trade rumors and potential free-agent signings faster than Andy Reid can eat a hot dog.

The Philadelphia Phillies have already “hit a snag” in talks with Jimmy Rollins, and they are reportedly interested in power-hitting Aramis Ramirez.

The Phillies clearly have the core of this team already entrenched for 2012, but there is an opportunity for some of the organization’s top minor league talent to show their stuff this season.

Jimmy Rollins, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt and others may all be lost via free agency, and you can always expect injuries during a 162-game season.

Here are six Philadelphia Phillies prospects who could surprise in 2012.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking Ruben Amaro’s 6 Best Trades

The Philadelphia Phillies have gone from perennial cellar-dweller to the year in and year out odds-on favorite to win the World Series under Ruben Amaro’s watch.

Amaro took over as GM of the Philies after serving as Assistant GM to Hall of Fame inductee Pat Gillick, who also happened to bring a World Championship to the City of Brotherly Love.

It is incredible to look back at this point and realize that Amaro has been able to bring in the top player(s)  available each year. The man clearly values pitching above all else, but this past year at the trade deadline he showed that he is willing to make a big move for a bat.

There’s a famous saying, “Hater’s gonna hate,” and that clearly applies to Ruben Amaro. He has built a team that is loaded with aces and is solid from the back end of the bullpen.

That rotation will continue to make them extremely difficult to beat in a playoff series, whether they’ve come up short in the playoffs or not.

Vegas is in the business of making money and they seem to agree that it’s smart money to make the Phillies the favorite again in 2012.

If you are still questioning whether or not Ruben Amaro is a force in the MLB, then look no further than the boss to the devil himself. The GM of the New York Yankees Brian Cashman told Ken Rosenthal, “I’m not Ruben Amaro,” referring to the Phillies GM and his affinity for blockbuster trades.

Take a look at this ranking of Ruben Amaro’s six best trades as GM of the Phillies.

Some of them are in the remember-where-you-were-and-exactly-what-you-were-doing-when-that-trade-happened variety.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 20 Most Emotional Players in Franchise History

Philly fans and the word emotional are one in the same. It’s common belief in the City of Brotherly Love that the fans care more about the outcome of a game than the players.

The most passionate sports fans in America obsess over the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers 365 days a year. Any athlete that is blue-collar and leaves it all on the field/rink/court will forever endear themselves to Philly Nation.

The Philadelphia Phillies have a long and rich history and have been fortunate (and unfortunate) enough to have some really emotional players wear the red pinstripes. Locker room leaders, on-field generals, a temper tantrum waiting to happen are all fair game in this list.

Here are the 20 most emotional players in Philadelphia Phillies history.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: 6 Prospects They Should Never Have Traded

Regret.

GM Ruben Amaro doesn’t seem to care to much for that word. He has pulled off some of the biggest blockbuster trades in team history during his brief tenure as head honcho of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee, Hunter Pence and others are all top talent that have been acquired via trade. Talent like that doesn’t come cheap.

The Phillies have dealt some of their top prospects in the hopes of winning another World Series. That obviously hasn’t happened yet and we are left with a staggering payroll loaded with some of the worst contracts in baseball (see: Howard, Ryan). 

What prospects would look great in Phillies pinstripes at this point or in the future? Here are six prospects the Philadelphia Phillies never should have traded.

Begin Slideshow

Roy Oswalt: 5 Possible Replacements If Philadelphia Phillies Let Him Walk

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Roy Oswalt would retire after this season due to his lingering back problems and his desire to be with his family. Oswalt’s conversations throughout the season with Philadelphia Phillies beat reporters also made it seem as if his mind was made up. 

Oswalt has made it clear since the end of the regular season that he is indeed intent on playing at least another three seasons.

The Phillies have players like Jimmy Rollins, Brad Lidge and Raul Ibanez coming off the books, but the team will need to either re-sign Ryan Madson or acquire another closer via free agency. A new contract for Cole Hamels is also looming.

Oswalt has a club option for next season at $16 million, with a $2 million buyout. It seems likely that the Phillies will buy out Oswalt, but that doesn’t mean they will not bring him back at a lesser price.

Oswalt showed at the end of the season that his arm is still lively and he still has the action and life in his fastball that has made him the fifth active pitcher in career winning percentage.

Philadelphia still may have to deal with the possibility that Oswalt may be gone. Here are five possible replacements for Roy Oswalt if he is gone in 2012.

Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia Phillies: Ranking Their 6 Most Important Championship Pieces

Philadelphia is still reeling as the best team in baseball and arguably best roster ever assembled was upset by the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The Philadelphia Phillies have quickly gone from a team loaded with superstars to an assembly of overpaid and over-aged players.

2011 was clearly a World Series or bust year but there is still reason to not jump off the bandwagon. The Phillies have the best rotation in baseball locked up for next season and they have a lot of money coming off the books.

A tweak here and there and this team could be even stronger in 2012. Players like Jimmy Rollins, Brad Lidge and Raul Ibanez could all have played there last game’s in Phillies pinstripes, but there are other players on this roster that are crucial to the Phightin’s World Series chances.

Here is a ranking of the Philadelphia Phillies six most important championship pieces.

Begin Slideshow

« Previous Page — Next Page »