Philadelphia Phillies: More Than Just "Paper Champions?"
The Philadelphia Phillies have re-raised the bar for their own expectations in the coming 2011 season. As if expectations hadn't already been sky high over the past few years, 2011 may be the most hyped season in team history.
With the signing of yet another ace in Cliff Lee, it's safe to say that the Phillies are the "paper champs." But where does this get them ultimately you ask? Nowhere. There's still 162 games to play and a lot is able to happen during that six-month window. Then of course, you can include the playoffs, which the Phillies are a shoo in for at this point.
Roy Halladay was OUTSIDE! running on Monday in shorts and a tee-shirt in NINE degree weather at Citizens Bank Park. Does that make you believe in how much this team wants this?
They have a plethora of talent on offense too which people tend to forget. It's rather been their "Fab Four" pitching rotation that's gotten a bulk of the credit and deservedly so. But don't discount this offense. When they turn it on, they can hit with anyone in the league. Consider 2010 a collective slump and floundering for the offense. Now a bounce-back 2011, as a whole offensively, could be instrumental to the team's success.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies.
Catcher: Carlos Ruiz
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Carlos Ruiz is the rock of the Philadelphia Phillies. As the main backstop and among the best in the league, "Chooch" has become a household name in Philadelphia. He was able to translate his playoff success at the plate into the regular season in 2010. He led the team by hitting .302 and may have been the only Phillie hitter that didn't slump.
Ruiz is known for his defense and is a special presence for the rotation. His handling of the pitchers is admirable, not to mention that he caught both of Roy Halladay's no-nos in 2010 (one Perfect Game.)
The Phillies wouldn't be able to function without Senor Ottobre. He's a much more important part of this team than people think. Many have felt that he hasn't had to worry about offense at the No. 8 slot as the rest of the lineup would suffice. That wasn't the case as "Chooch" put up career numbers and flipped the lineup over many times.
First Baseman: Ryan Howard
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Ryan Howard is still Philadelphia's "Sultan of Swat." His numbers dropped off in 2010 and he ended the Phillies' season looking at a Brian Wilson fastball. Howard is due for a big year in 2011 in hopes of living up to his new contract. If he lives up to this hefty contract, the Phillies just might be staring at a World Series Title.
Howard is one of the premiere power hitters in MLB and is what's good about the game of baseball. Howard is looking to return to the .270-45-140 range where he belongs. Last year's numbers weren't bad by any means. They just weren't Ryan Howard-like numbers.
Now at age 31, Howard remains right in the midst of his prime. Another NL MVP Award might be in his future on his current contract.
Second Baseman: Chase Utley
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Chase Utley is one of the best all-around players the Phillies have had in quite some time. His hard-working, blue-collar style is deeply admired in the City of Brotherly Love. No one in baseball works harder than Utley and it shows. The 2010 season was a major downturn for him but there's still a lot of baseball left in him.
Utley is a Gold Glover and can hit for power, average and can even run a good bit. The Phillies' lineup needs Utley's bat regardless of where he places in the order. Another year without his "typical" production could be detrimental to the team's success.
Ultimately, Utley is due for a huge bounce-back year in 2011 and will respond that way. Perhaps most importantly, Utley must stay healthy, which is pretty hard to do with his rugged style.
Shortstop: Jimmy Rollins
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As always, Jimmy Rollins is again the x-factor. If the Phillies are going to succeed, they will need Rollins to be the catalyst and spark the offense. In the past, they've enjoyed lineup wealth with Rollins leading the way at the top spot.
His 2007 MVP season is long behind him, but Rollins can still be effective and find his niche in the order. Rollins is still an exceptional fielder and a veteran leader that's now due for a big year in his "contract year."
No matter where he hits in this ever-flexible lineup, Rollins must produce. If he sticks to his advantages (putting the ball on the ground and using his speed) he will benefit himself and the rest of the lineup. Rollins better not go Willie Mays Hays Major League 2 version on us.
Also, Rollins will look to get his legs back and spark the Phillies on the base-paths again. Even without Davey Lopes' assistance, someone will need to steal bases to keep the Phillies' running game moving along.
Third Baseman: Placido Polanco
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Placido Polanco is a professional hitter in every sense of the word. The things that he does are so important for his part in the lineup. Polanco is clearly a very large part of the offense and is a durable hitter out of the two-hole.
The interesting part is that Polanco too can hit even better than he did in 2010. Even though Polanco hit .298 last season, he usually tops off at somewhere around the .305 and above range.
Polanco seldom strikes out and is always there to do exactly what's needed to make the offense click. In many ways, he's the most important hitter in the lineup. You can count on Polanco to do anything to help the offense out.
Polanco's defensive move to third base went smoother than anticipated. He committed only five errors at the hot corner and improved his range.
Why couldn't the Phillies have kept him all along and put him at third instead of trading him when Chase Utley came up?
Left Fielder: Raul Ibanez
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Here's another question mark in this order that could turn some heads once again: Raul Ibanez. He's turned into a fan-favorite with the patented "RAUUUUUUUUUULLLLLL" chant running rampant at Citizens Bank Park. Now it's time for Ibanez to hit like he did in the first half of 2009.
Ibanez is a defensive liability sure, but Shane Victorino is covering centerfield remember. Victorino basically covers more ground than any outfielder in baseball, so Ibanez is okay there.
Ibanez had a better year than people give him credit for in 2010. His second-half was rather impressive as he hit .309.
Center Fielder: Shane Victorino
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Shane Victorino is among the best all-around centerfielders in baseball. He's now won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards and is a valuable weapon to the offense wherever he hits. "The Flyin' Hawaiian" must get back to his roots in 2011, though. His average and runs score were on the decline last year while his power numbers rose. That seems to be just a bit backwards for the speedy dynamo.
Victorino should be able to return to his standard .290 average this season and complement the lineup well at the top. He may lead-off or hit second, or even possibly lower in the lineup at around seventh.
Wherever he hits is anyone's guess. The lineup is sure to be shuffled many times this season as Charlie Manuel has a ton of options. That's not necessarily a bad thing either.
Right Fielder(s): Domonic Brown/Ben Francisco
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The Phillies are sitting much nicer in right-field than many people think. Even in losing Jayson Werth's production out of the five-hole, how much will he hurt them in Washington? It may take two guys, or even several more, but I'd bet that they collectively replace Werth's production.
Domonic Brown would benefit by starting down in AAA but likely won't. He will be one of several men called on to fill Werth's shoes in right. Brown is a five-tooler that will be fun to watch in Philadelphia for years to come. Consider 2010 just mere flashes of brilliance for now. Brown has power, can run and throw and has said all the right things thus far. While Brown still needs some work, particularly on his swing, he could factor into the Phillies' plans in a big way in 2011 and beyond.
Ben Francisco may finally get the sufficient at-bats that he needs. Francisco hasn't proven himself yet as a Philly simply because of limited opportunity. Granted, if you give Francisco about 250 at-bats per year, his value goes up. Not to mention that he's relatively sound defensively.
Ace One: Roy Halladay
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Once again, Roy Halladay proved to the world why he's the best pitcher in the game today. His banner 2010 season didn't end the way he'd hoped, but it was still magical. Halladay pitched a Perfect Game and Playoff No-Hitter last year which led to a decisive NL Cy Young Award.
It will take hitters quite some time to figure out "Doc." They haven't done so yet and 2011 may be even harder with Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels behind him.
Halladay brings with him an extraordinary work ethic that is unmatched. Nobody wants to win more than Halladay and he's constantly shown that.
Even in his 10 losses, Halladay was sharp in many of them as oftentimes the run support simply was not there. Halladay could have won about 27 games and lost maybe four if all went accordingly in 2010. In 2011, though, he may be even tougher to defeat.
Ace Two: Cliff Lee
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This is what we've all been waiting for. Cliff Lee has returned to the Phillies. Whether it's because his wife Krista just HATES the Yankees or because the Lees love Philadelphia is immaterial. When 2011 commences, Clifton Phifer Lee will be the second member of the deadliest rotation in baseball.
Philadelphia loved Lee for all the right reasons in 2009. We loved his competitive edge, nonchalance and sprint off the mound. In many ways, Lee was blue-collar and embodied Philadelphia. Having him taken away was a bitter pill to swallow, but the Phillies acquired Roy Halladay, the best pitcher in the game.
When Lee was re-acquired this past December, Philadelphia and the baseball world was left in utter amazement. Who shuns the Yankees? For Philly, nonetheless? Well, Cliff Lee did, in "unbeLEEvable" fashion.
Ace Three: Roy Oswalt
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To some, Roy Oswalt is the x-factor. He's been the one that noone's really been talking about. But that's just the way Oswalt prefers it. Oswalt was probably the best NL Pitcher of the 2000s and is still at the top of his game. While in Houston the last few years, he was simply a very good pitcher on a bad team.
Oswalt is the third starter in line. This subsequently means that he will be facing the opposition's third starter. Advantage Phillies! How many teams have an ace like Oswalt, let alone a No. 3?
Oswalt should be every bit as solid in 2011 as he's been throughout his career. He pitched remarkably after being traded to Philadelphia last July by posting a 7-1 record with a 1.74 ERA.
Ace Four: Cole Hamels
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For once, Cole Hamels won't have as much pressure on him. Unless of course he creates his own which he so often does. Hamels at No. 4 in this "once-in-a-lifetime" rotation is scary. A former World Series MVP is now the fourth pitcher in his rotation.
Hamels' 2010 numbers did him no justice. Statistically, he went 12-11 with a 3.06 ERA, which was absurd. Realistically, Hamels should've won about 18 games or so. In so many instances last season, Hamels received little, if any, run-support.
Lack of run-support was clearly the story of Hamels' 2010 campaign. Otherwise, he flourished and looked to be back at his 2008 form. Hamels can go with the best of them and if his NLDS start is any indication, 2011 will be even brighter for him.
Fifth Starter: DOES IT MATTER?
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Kyle Kendrick? Possibly.
Joe Blanton? Likely will be traded to free up some money.
Vance Worley? You never know.
What does this add up to, you ask? Who the hell cares! The Phillies have possibly the best four-man rotation of this era, or maybe ever.
Yes, maybe I just did anoint them "paper champs."
Final Predictions
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Record: 100-62 (Win NL East by 11 games.)
Team Leaders
Average: Placido Polanco .315
Home Runs: Ryan Howard 46
RBIs: Howard 138
Runs Scored: Shane Victorino 112
Stolen Bases: Victorino 39
Wins: Roy Halladay 24
Strikeouts: Cole Hamels 221
Saves: Brad Lidge 31
ERA: Halladay 2.23
All culminating in a joyous Red October send-off on the Clydesdales on South Broad St.
