Phillies Preview
January 27th 2009 10:00
CATCHER: Carlos Ruiz was one of the few downsides to the World Series champions. In 119 games he hit .219 with four home runs and 31RBIs. This will be only his third season, but don’t be surprised if prospect Lou Marson gets a chance to show his abilities in spring training. He might be a year away from the big leagues, but could challenge Ruiz for the catching duties.
FIRST BASE: Ryan Howard … enough said. He started slow last season but still managed to hit 48 home runs and 146 RBIs. He has struck out 199 times in each of the last two seasons so it shows a poor strikeout total doesn’t affect his production.
SECOND BASE: Chase Utley is the man at this position, but it’s still unclear if he will be ready for Opening Day. Eric Bruntlett will replace Utley until he returns. It will tough to replace Utley’s .292 batting average and 104 RBIs, but speculation is that he will be ready by April after it was reported he would miss the majority of the first half of the season.
THIRD BASE: In his first season in Philadelphia, Pedro Feliz was projected to increase his yearly totals by playing in Citizens Bank Park, but that was not the case. His home runs, RBIs, runs scored and batting average all decreased from a year ago. Nobody will challenge Feliz in spring training so he will be the starting third baseman despite his poor 2008 season.
SHORTSTOP: Jimmy Rollins missed some time last season in April and never got going. He was not able to come close to his 2007 totals when he was the National League MVP. He is 30-years-old but if he stays healthy look for his numbers to be around 15 home runs, 70 RBIs and over 100 runs scored.
OUTFIELD: Jayson Werth became a fixture in the everyday batting order and set career highs in home runs and RBIs. He batted .273 in 134 games. Shane Victorino will once again be the leader of the outfield in center field, and newly acquired Raul Ibanez will be in left field. Victorino batted .293 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. He scored over 100 runs for the first time in his career and should continue that with Howard and Utley behind him in the lineup. Ibanez comes to the Phillies after spending five seasons with the Mariners. He has a .286 career batting average and has hit 20-plus home runs in four straight seasons in a pitcher’s ballpark. He also recorded 100-plus RBIs the last three seasons so look for his numbers to increase playing in Citizens Bank Park.
STARTERS: This position was the reason the Phillies come into 2009 as the defending champions. Cole Hamels was dominant in the postseason going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer are locks for the other spots in the rotation. Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park and Adam Eaton will compete for the fifth and final spot.
BULLPEN: Brad Lidge proved last season that some players just need new scenery to resurrect their careers. After losing the closer’s role in Houston in 2007, Lidge found his calling in Philadelphia. He recorded 41 saves and allowed only 15 earned runs in 69-plus innings pitched. In the postseason he had seven saves in nine games and only allowed one run. His supporting cast in the bullpen includes Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey.
OUTLOOK: The Phillies will be in the hunt for the NL East all season long. All their weapons are back, including their pitching rotation, and Ibanez is an upgrade from Pat Burrell. If Utley can return at the beginning of the season and stay healthy throughout the season, look for the Phillies to make the playoffs again.
FIRST BASE: Ryan Howard … enough said. He started slow last season but still managed to hit 48 home runs and 146 RBIs. He has struck out 199 times in each of the last two seasons so it shows a poor strikeout total doesn’t affect his production.
SECOND BASE: Chase Utley is the man at this position, but it’s still unclear if he will be ready for Opening Day. Eric Bruntlett will replace Utley until he returns. It will tough to replace Utley’s .292 batting average and 104 RBIs, but speculation is that he will be ready by April after it was reported he would miss the majority of the first half of the season.
THIRD BASE: In his first season in Philadelphia, Pedro Feliz was projected to increase his yearly totals by playing in Citizens Bank Park, but that was not the case. His home runs, RBIs, runs scored and batting average all decreased from a year ago. Nobody will challenge Feliz in spring training so he will be the starting third baseman despite his poor 2008 season.
SHORTSTOP: Jimmy Rollins missed some time last season in April and never got going. He was not able to come close to his 2007 totals when he was the National League MVP. He is 30-years-old but if he stays healthy look for his numbers to be around 15 home runs, 70 RBIs and over 100 runs scored.
OUTFIELD: Jayson Werth became a fixture in the everyday batting order and set career highs in home runs and RBIs. He batted .273 in 134 games. Shane Victorino will once again be the leader of the outfield in center field, and newly acquired Raul Ibanez will be in left field. Victorino batted .293 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs. He scored over 100 runs for the first time in his career and should continue that with Howard and Utley behind him in the lineup. Ibanez comes to the Phillies after spending five seasons with the Mariners. He has a .286 career batting average and has hit 20-plus home runs in four straight seasons in a pitcher’s ballpark. He also recorded 100-plus RBIs the last three seasons so look for his numbers to increase playing in Citizens Bank Park.
STARTERS: This position was the reason the Phillies come into 2009 as the defending champions. Cole Hamels was dominant in the postseason going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Brett Myers, Joe Blanton and Jamie Moyer are locks for the other spots in the rotation. Kyle Kendrick, Chan Ho Park and Adam Eaton will compete for the fifth and final spot.
BULLPEN: Brad Lidge proved last season that some players just need new scenery to resurrect their careers. After losing the closer’s role in Houston in 2007, Lidge found his calling in Philadelphia. He recorded 41 saves and allowed only 15 earned runs in 69-plus innings pitched. In the postseason he had seven saves in nine games and only allowed one run. His supporting cast in the bullpen includes Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, Scott Eyre and Clay Condrey.
OUTLOOK: The Phillies will be in the hunt for the NL East all season long. All their weapons are back, including their pitching rotation, and Ibanez is an upgrade from Pat Burrell. If Utley can return at the beginning of the season and stay healthy throughout the season, look for the Phillies to make the playoffs again.
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