Fantasy Baseball: 2 Philadelphia Phillies to Watch in the Second Half

The Phillies offense has been much maligned over the course of the first half of the season.

However, the trend over the last five seasons with this club is that their second halves are much stronger than their firsts.

There are a few players on this ball club that bear watching down the stretch. 

Here are a selection of a few Phillies that fantasy baseball players need to keep an eye on in the second half.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 10 Moves to Get the Phillies to the World Series

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, there are moves to be made for teams all across baseball, including the one with the best record: the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Phillies are in need of offensive help and need an arm or two in an injury-depleted bullpen.

Here are ten moves that the Phillies could make to ensure a trip back to the World Series in 2011.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 5 Ways to Keep Up the Momentum for the Rest of 2011

A vaunted pitching staff. An anemic offense. Which part of this equation will determine the Philadelphia Phillies‘ success?

The Phillies have not started out slow in the traditional sense of wins and losses. However, parts of the team have not fulfilled their obligations to a winning club.

Here are five ways to fine tune the Phillies club going forward.

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Roy Halladay: Could His Dominance Result in Both the NL Cy Young and MVP?

Phillies ace Roy Halladay is a vital piece to Philadelphia’s vaunted starting rotation.  Not only that, but Halladay is showing in the early going of 2011 that he is also the most valuable player to this Phillies team, if not the most valuable in the entire National League.  

In 2010, Halladay took the reigns as the de facto ace of the staff on the way to compiling 21 wins, as well as a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds.  His impressive National League debut led him to his second career Cy Young award.  

Thus far in 2011, Halladay is 6-3 with a 2.21 ERA, 80 strikeouts, and four complete games.  Compared to 2010, the numbers are very similar except for allowing nine less hits, three less runs, and, most impressive of all, recording 21 more strikeouts in the same amount of innings (77IP) as a year ago.  That is a jump of 6.5 K’s per nine innings in 2010 to 8.8 K’s per nine innings in 2011. 

Halladay’s dominance comes at a time when the Phillies offense is struggling to find an identity.  Every fifth game, Halladay is expected to turn in a stellar performance each time he takes the mound.  Each start, it is reasonable to expect 7, 8, and when he’s on, 9 innings of baffled swings and weak outs, accompanied by 1-3 runs allowed in any given start.

With the offense struggling, Halladay’s performance every fifth day is the most crucial to the team’s success.  Following a fifth starter of the likes of a Joe Blanton or Vance Worley, Halladay is the stopper.  Much like four-fifths of the Phillies rotation, Halladay gives the team a chance to win every night.  With an average of three runs being scored by the offense, Halladay accepts the challenge and bears down every time he takes the mound to limit the damage, while having little room for error. 

Other position players across the league may mean more to their team, but a special exception must be made in this era of the pitcher.  Halladay proves how much a great starting pitcher not only means to a team’s pitching staff, but to the entire ball club. 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Roy Halladay Deal Will Pay Immediate and Long-Term Dividends for Phillies

The hand-wringing that has occurred over the last three days across the Philadelphia region has now subsided. The deal is done, and now all that is left is the debate over whether it was the correct one.

For all of the complaints about the enormity in terms of prospects given up and the departure of Cliff Lee in the process, this deal is positive for the Phillies‘ future.

By acquiring Halladay and placing him on top of the rotation for the next four to five years, the Phillies have installed a bona fide No. 1 starter. Perhaps, most important in that sense, Halladay’s presence will take some of the pressure off of Cole Hamels to be his 2008 self.

By alleviating the mental anguish that plagued Hamels in 2009, he can focus on pitching like he knows how and not trying to become a perfectionist on the mound. With a clear mind, Hamels can only contribute to what, on paper, is a great 1-2 starting pitching punch.

The outrage over dealing prospects is understandable. Prospects hold promise for a bright future. However, promises can be broken.

Kyle Drabek may be a future All-Star, or he may become the next Gavin Floyd. Michael Taylor could be Jermaine Dye or become Reggie Taylor. The possibility of a prospect becoming what he is projected to be is very slight . 

Parting with Cliff Lee is the price that had to be paid to replenish the farm system. Lee’s contributions down the stretch and in the postseason were, for the lack of a better word, epic. The same word can be applied to the contract Lee would be seeking to stay in Philadelphia beyond 2010. 

Halladay signing for almost a third of the price of the $160-$180 million that Lee would command is the best move financially when considering that Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Jayson Werth, and Shane Victorino hit free agency in coming years.

Philippe Aumont, the Mariners‘ top pitching prospect, could essentially either replace Drabek in the long run or even Brad Lidge in the future. Aumont is currently being used as a reliever, primarily a closer, in the minors. It is not much of a stretch to believe Aumont’s inclusion in this deal would spell the end of Lidge in two years when his contract expires. 

Centerfielder Tyson Gillies has the tools to become the center fielder of the future, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Gillies could be in development to take over for Victorino in 2011 and beyond. The Phillies front office must choose between re-signing Werth or Victorino after the 2010 season. 

By keeping top prospect Domonic Brown in the system, it is apparent that the organization is leaning towards giving Werth a new deal over Victorino. Brown would be the eventual replacement for Raul Ibanez when his deal expires.

This deal benefits this club not only in the short-term, but in the long-term as well. The initial pain of giving away a fan favorite and promising young players will subside by the time No. 34 takes the mound on opening day.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Roy Halladay Deal Will Pay Immediate and Long-Term Dividends for Phillies

The hand-wringing that has occurred over the last three days across the Philadelphia region has now subsided. The deal is done, and now all that is left is the debate over whether it was the correct one.

For all of the complaints about the enormity in terms of prospects given up and the departure of Cliff Lee in the process, this deal is positive for the Phillies’ future.

By acquiring Halladay and placing him on top of the rotation for the next four to five years, the Phillies have installed a bona fide No. 1 starter. Perhaps, most important in that sense, Halladay’s presence will take some of the pressure off of Cole Hamels to be his 2008 self.

By alleviating the mental anguish that plagued Hamels in 2009, he can focus on pitching like he knows how and not trying to become a perfectionist on the mound. With a clear mind, Hamels can only contribute to what, on paper, is a great 1-2 starting pitching punch.

The outrage over dealing prospects is understandable. Prospects hold promise for a bright future. However, promises can be broken.

Kyle Drabek may be a future All-Star, or he may become the next Gavin Floyd. Michael Taylor could be Jermaine Dye or become Reggie Taylor. The possibility of a prospect becoming what he is projected to be is very slight . 

Parting with Cliff Lee is the price that had to be paid to replenish the farm system. Lee’s contributions down the stretch and in the postseason were, for the lack of a better word, epic. The same word can be applied to the contract Lee would be seeking to stay in Philadelphia beyond 2010. 

Halladay signing for almost a third of the price of the $160-$180 million that Lee would command is the best move financially when considering that Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Jayson Werth, and Shane Victorino hit free agency in coming years.

Philippe Aumont, the Mariners’ top pitching prospect, could essentially either replace Drabek in the long run or even Brad Lidge in the future. Aumont is currently being used as a reliever, primarily a closer, in the minors. It is not much of a stretch to believe Aumont’s inclusion in this deal would spell the end of Lidge in two years when his contract expires. 

Centerfielder Tyson Gillies has the tools to become the center fielder of the future, according to general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., Gillies could be in development to take over for Victorino in 2011 and beyond. The Phillies front office must choose between re-signing Werth or Victorino after the 2010 season. 

By keeping top prospect Domonic Brown in the system, it is apparent that the organization is leaning towards giving Werth a new deal over Victorino. Brown would be the eventual replacement for Raul Ibanez when his deal expires.

This deal benefits this club not only in the short-term, but in the long-term as well. The initial pain of giving away a fan favorite and promising young players will subside by the time No. 34 takes the mound on opening day.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Roy Halladay Would Cure Phils’ Pitching Woes

Forget mortgaging the future, the future is now for the Philadelphia Phillies.

The delicate dance that is being performed by every media expert known to man is wearing thin.  To trade young pitching prospect Kyle Drabek or not seems to be on par with all of the eternal questions asked throughout the ages. 

One thing is lost in the shuffle in this anointing of Drabek as the second coming of Cy Young is that he is young and unpolished.

Sure, Drabek is intriguing as to how his talent and skills will progress in the next two or three years. 

However, if the opportunity exists to add an established top of the rotation pitcher such as Roy Halladay, even if it is for the next year and a half, an organization would be crazy to pass up the chance to be a legitimate World Series contender for the next two seasons.

For the Phillies, now is a better time than ever to take that chance.  With the core group of players that this club possesses, the championship window is wide open. 

Would a Kyle Drabek be a great addition to this club in the future?  Possibly so.  However, consider a scenario of a rotation void of the addition of Halladay that falls short of repeating as world champions in 2009 and becomes the main fault for not returning to the postseason in 2010. 

Drabek, by all accounts, would not be a significant part of the major league club this season and more than likely for most if not all of 2010. 

Sacrificing an unknown future for a sure-fire one seems to be in many ways the safer bet.

Prospects come and go and the success rate on them is not exactly a favorable one.  Dealing Kyle Drabek could prove to be the wrong move, a stellar success, or a push. 

However, when a substantial talent like Roy Halladay can be added to help a club right now, the questioning of whether or not a prospect is worth sacrificing should not be such an agonizing contemplation.

2009 Philadelphia Phillies Midterm Grades/Review: The Starting Eight

The Major League Baseball season has passed the halfway mark, so I thought it would be appropriate to assign midterm grades to the entire Philadelphia Phillies roster, no matter how much of a contribution the player has made.

 

1B Ryan Howard .253, 21 HR, 63 RBI

Grade: A-

Howard earned his second All-Star nod in 2009.  His defense has improved by leaps and bounds.  At the plate, he is having the year that one would expect from him.  His average could be higher, but it is apparent that his .300+ average from his MVP year was an illusion.

 

2B Chase Utley .307, 20 HR, 61 RBI

Grade: A

What is there to say about Chase Utley that has not already been said countless times?  He has having another great year that has been rewarded with his fourth consecutive All-Star Game start.  He is far and away the best second baseman in the game. 

 

SS Jimmy Rollins .227, 7 HR, 34 RBI

Grade: C+

Rollins has turned around his struggles at the plate recently.  For the first half, he earns a C+ due to his previous hitting struggles, but redeems himself for what he provides defensively. 

All indications are that his approach at the plate has changed for the better, which can only mean good things for this club in the long run.

 

3B Pedro Feliz .292, 5 HR, 41 RBI

Grade: B+

Perhaps the most underrated player on this roster.  Feliz has batted for a significantly higher average than in 2008.  Also, he has become more dependable with runners in scoring position. 

Providing stellar defense at the hot corner is an irreplaceable aspect for any club.

LF Raul Ibanez .312, 22 HR, 59 RBI

Grade: A+

Ibanez exceeded all expectations with his performance thus far.  Earning his first All-Star appearance at age 37, Ibanez is having a career year.  He brings consistency at the plate and with the glove. 

It begs the question: Pat who?

 

CF Shane Victorino .309, 6 HR, 42 RBI

Grade: A

The Flyin’ Hawaiian is quietly having the best year of his career.  The Phillies center fielder is second in the NL in hits and runs scored, but needed the 33rd man vote to make his first All-Star team. 

The speedy Victorino is one of the best in baseball in terms of ability to cover ground out in center field.  His swing has leveled off and, as a result, produced more in the way of line drive hits that are finding holes as opposed to the more prominent upper cut swing he has fallen in love with in the past that produced pop outs.

 

RF Jayson Werth, .264, 20 HR, 54 RBI

Grade: B+

Werth is one of many players in this lineup putting up career years.  The only drawback about Werth is his hitting against right handed pitching, but he has proved that he is an everyday player. 

Defensively, he has a superior glove and brings great athleticism to be able to make the tough plays.

 

C Carlos Ruiz, .239, 3 HR, 18 RBI

Grade: C+

At the plate, Ruiz leaves something to be desired.  However, he has shown flashes of becoming a serviceable hitter in the eighth spot in the lineup. 

What cannot be denied is his worth to the pitching staff.  Ruiz’s defensive contributions make up for his lack of offense.

 

How Sweet It Is: How K-Rod Made Phils’ Loss Bearable

I think the picture above says enough about Mets closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez.  To call him over dramatic is an understatement.  To treat every completed save like it’s game 7 of the World Series, that’s just ludicrous.

While the Kyle Kendrick experiment version 2.0 blew up in the 13th inning last night against the Boston Red Sox, a cheer rose from the crowd at Citizens Bank Park.  The outfield scoreboard showed a familiar sight; a blown Met lead in the ninth inning.  Sweet, but as the details came in, it became even sweeter.

Watching K-Rod point to the sky after closing out the first game of the recent Phillies-Mets series, the despise I had for his antics grew exponentially. 

It was a welcome sight to see how the latest in the long line of New York Mets collapses unfolded.  With two outs, two men on base, and a 7-6 lead, the Mets stole defeat from the jaws of victory with Luis Castillo’s dropped pop fly, allowing the Yankees to score two runs in a walk-off victory.

However, the icing on this cake was the aforementioned K-Rod pointing to the sky and yelling “Yeah!” as Alex Rodriguez popped up to Castillo.  Oh, how sweet it is.

Being presumptive and bold can get you a beat down from the sports gods.  Consider this K-Rod’s. 

I know its only June, but the Mets are providing September-quality entertainment.

Have All The Lights Burned Out?: Brad Lidge Has Lost His Edge

The optimist in me wants desperately to believe that Phillies closer Brad Lidge is still the same pitcher that was absolutely perfect in 2008.  However, this part of me is being shouted down by the raging pessimist in me that cringes every time an opposing batter connects with a Lidge fastball.

Last year, even early on in his perfect season, Lidge produced a confidence that no matter the situation; he would rise to the occasion.

In 2009, that fire and determination seem to be no longer there.  And so goes the confidence as well.

His slider is still a formidable pitch, but he has become far to predictable in his repertoire to be pitch like the 2008 version.  Repetition in a game like baseball will eventually catch up with a pitcher.

It is unreasonable to ask that Lidge perform as he did in 2008.  To ask of perfection is insane wishful thinking. 

For Lidge and this ball club to be successful in the long run, stability in the closer’s role is a must.  Perfection is not a requirement.  Realistically, an 85-90% success rate would make for a well above average year for a major league closer.  This is the kind of ratio that Lidge would ultimately need to fall into.

To kick a player to the curb that brought a city its first championship of any kind in twenty-five years is the most unreasonable thought of all.  Lidge had a year that no closer will ever have again in a single season.  It is expected that the following year would pale in comparison; which is why a grace period should be implemented until things get way out of hand.

Many believe Ryan Madson has closer-type stuff.  In a pinch, Madson can assume Lidge’s duties when called upon.  When this may happen is anybody’s guess. 

Do not be surprised that Lidge’s recent struggles result in a mysterious disabled list stint with Madson taking over at closer.  This may be necessary to get either Lidge’s head or suspect knee cleared up for the time when the games start to count even more down the stretch. 

Lidge needs to bare down to silence the critics that say he has reverted to his post-Albert Pujols home run days.  2008 is over.  2009’s script is yet to be finished.  Will Lidge make the final draft?

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