Philadelphia Phillies-Florida Marlins: More Surgeries on Tap This Week

As we found out last week, tis the season for surgeries.

This week there are three more surgeries set for some notable players. Let’s take a look at who is going under the knife.

Raul Ibanez – Ibanez had surgery today to fix a sports hernia. This is not surprising as Ibanez was playing in pain the entire second half of the season.

This was evident by Ibanez’s rather poor second half.

In the first half of the season, Ibanez was a legit MVP candidate. He was hitting .309 with 22 homeruns and had an OPS of 1.015. However, in the second half, Ibanez was a shell of himself. In the second half, Ibanez hit just .232 with 12 homeruns and had an OPS of .773.

As long as he is healthy and surrounded by an excellent Phillies’ lineup, fantasy owners should expect another solid season from Ibanez in 2010.

Expect a .285 BA with 25-28 homeruns and 80-90 RBI for Ibanez in 2010. He is expected to be healthy by spring training.

Brad Lidge – Lidge will have surgery on his pitching elbow on Wednesday to remove a “loose body.” Can someone please explain to me what a loose body is in a person’s elbow? It sounds like something out of Total Recall.

Perhaps whatever this loose body is was the reason for Lidge’s dreadful season. As we all know, Lidge suffered through a season where he had a 7.71 ERA, had a WHIP of 1.81, and the majors in blown saves.

I don’t think Lidge will ever come close again to his perfect 2008 season. I fully expect the Phillies to add free agent closer in the offseason like Billy Wagner to be an eighth inning/insurance guy just in case Lidge’s problems persist.

Draft Lidge as a No. 2 closer next year. His days of being a No. 1 closer are over.

Lidge is expected to be ready by spring training.

Cameron Maybin – Maybin had surgery today to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. Maybin had high expectations going into 2009. I even picked him to win the NL Rookie of the Year award.

But after an April where he hit .209 and a May where he hit .176, Maybin was sent to the minors. He came back in September and hit .293 with three homeruns in 103 ABs.

Maybin is expected to be the Marlins’ starting center fielder in 2010 and I think this is the year that Maybin breaks out.

.275 with 10-15 homeruns and 20-plus stolen bases is my prediction for Maybin in 2010.

Like Ibanez and Lidge, Maybin is expected to be ready by spring training.

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