Look at the Starting Lineup #6
Each day I will take a look at one of the 9 starting positions and evaluate
it. I
will also list the positions in the order in which I think the 2009
Lineup should be set.
#6 Centerfield
Shane
Victorino has been my favorite player for awhile now. It wasn’t until
recently that he won over a ton of Philadelphia phans. With his hard
work and hustle he’s developed into a clone of Jimmy Rollins. If
Charlie decides to let Shane bat 6th in the lineup, that will add speed
and an offensive threat after all the big hitters are done. Although if
he does get inserted in the two hole he has been known to have some success.
If he can continue the type of baseball he played during the playoffs
he could set career numbers in all categories. I’m looking for Shane to
hit close to .300 while adding more power to his offensive game.
Overall Grade: B+
Look at the Starting Lineup #5
Each day I will take a look at one of the 9 starting positions and evaluate
it. I
will also list the positions in the order in which I think the 2009
Lineup should be set.
# 5 Left Field
For the first time in a longgggg time we will not hear the name Pat Burrell called out on Opening Night. Instead we’ll hear Raul Ibanez. Not many people know much about Ibanez other than he’s from Seattle and he produces a lot of RBI’s. These are his averages the past 3 seasons: .291 average, 26 home runs, 113 RBI’s.
Not bad for a guy who played a on Seattle team that won and average of
75 games in those 3 years. He will fit in perfectly with this Phillies lineup. I expect him to hit about 28 home runs and 120 RBI’s while keeping his average around .300. If he can do that the Phillies chances of winning 112 games increase. This is going to be a real good year for Ibanez, he will surprise a lot of people as soon as we get used to the fact that Pat the Bat is gone.
Overall Grade: B+
Look at the Starting Lineup #4
Each day I will take a look at one of the 9 starting positions and evaluate
it. I
will also list the positions in the order in which I think the 2009
Lineup should be set.
#4 1st Base
In the off season Ryan Howard signed a 3 year $54
million dollar contract. This locks up the position until 2011. With
Howard now having the money under his belt I expect him to work hard
and get that batting average number up. When he won MVP he was batting
above .300, this past year he just got it above .250. He is a run
producer though, and that is why he will stay in the 4th spot. There is
not many people waiting in line to back Howard up. Dobbs would be the
first one to fill in. Howard really needs to cut down on his strikeouts
in order for this team to be successful again this year. If he can get
his SO down to about 150 I would be happy. We all know the home runs
and RBIs will be there, but if the SO are high and the average is low
it will be another frustrating year for Howard fans.
Overall Grade: A-
Look at the Starting Lineup #3
Each day I will take a look at one of the 9 starting positions and evaluate
it. I
will also list the positions in the order in which I think the 2009
Lineup should be set.
#3 Second Base
You’ve
all heard by now about the amazing feat of Chase Utley playing the
whole 2nd half of the season on a bad hip. Unfortunately that might
cost us come spring. Personally, I think he will be in the starting lineup on Opening Night, but there is always that chance of a little tweak that could push him back a little bit. I know that man will do anything
possible to be there, yet he is also smart enough to know that if he’s
not ready then to not push anything. With or without Utley for the
first few weeks the Phillies should be able to cover that spot. Jason
Donald will get a try out at 2nd base along with Marcus Giles. Second
base will not be the strongest position to start the year but as soon
as Utley is back in the lineup he’ll pick things up right where he left
off last year before the injury. If Utley misses little to no time he could be a MVP canidiate come October.
Overall Grade: A
Look at the Starting Lineup #2
Each day I will take a look at one of the 9 starting positions and evaluate
it. I
will also list the positions in the order in which I think the 2009
Lineup should be set.
#2 Right Field
Jayson
Werth came up huge last year. He put up solid numbers even though he
didn’t start the first few months. This year will be his first year
with the starting job in Philly. I expect him to have an even better
season and to put up higher numbers than most people think he is
capable of. Backing him up will be Jenkins who is a solid player. With
Werth batting #2 in the lineup, it will show off his speed and bat a
little more. It worked well in the playoffs, why change it for this
season?
Overall Grade: B+
Look at the Starting Lineup #1
Each day I will take a look at one of the 9 starting positions and evaluate
it. I
will also list the positions in the order in which I think the 2009
Lineup should be set.
#1 Shortstop
Jimmy
Rollins will once again be handling the duties at SS. Last year was an
up and down season for Jimmy. Although he was only out for a month when
he hurt his ankle against the Mets, an injury like that tends to linger
for a few more months. Luckily Eric Bruntlett filled in and did a great
job while Jimmy was gone. This year I expect Jimmy to start off hot.
Especially if he wants to live up to his prediction of 112 wins. This
might be the most dependable position the Phillies have this year.
Jimmy will be starting, Bruntlett is currently the backup and Jason
Donald is just making a name for himself. That gives the Phils a lot of
depth and talent at the SS position.
Overall Grade: A
Past few days
The Phils beat the Blue Jays on Monday, team Canada on Wednesday and then loss to team USA today.
John Mayberry Jr. has continued his hot spring. He had another home run today against team USA. If he continues to play like this it will be tough to keep him off the 25 man roster.
In the 5th starter race the candidates are starting to become clearer. Happ had an okay outing against the Jays allowing 2 runs in 3 innings. Carrasco let up 5 runs in 3 innings during the same game. Kendrick retired the first 7 of 8 batters against team USA today, and looked to be in control. Then he blew up and ended up allowing 4 runs in the 3rd inning.
In other news around the clubhouse Chris Coste has been nursing a hamstring injury. Hopefully this won’t affect him getting a roster spot come April 4th. I would hate to see him go back down to the minors after all he has done.
Jayson Werth has been taking it slow with his shoulder injury. He plans on taking BP today and being in the lineup tomorrow.
That’s all for now. Now that Spring Break has finally started I hope to have some new material on this blog. Stay tuned for in depth looks at each position and also a closer look at the 5th starter race. So make sure to bookmark this page and continue to check back to see whats new.
Phillies are Golden
I saw this in Uni Watch today. Then I saw it on various blogs. The Phillies will be wearing a jersey on Opening Night with a gold trim around the names and numbers as well as on the front. They will also have the World Series Champions patch on the sleeve. I think it looks pretty cool.
Recap of the last 5 days
I’ve been busy with work for school so I haven’t been able to update this in a little while but I’m going to catch you up on the last 5 days.
The Phillies went 2-3 in the past 5 days down in Florida. Beating Tampa Bay yesterday and Atlanta today. Solid play so far by Raul Ibanez and also a pleasant surprise in John Mayberry Jr.
To the delight of many Phils fans Adam Eaton was released on Friday. He was also picked up by the O’ s today and signed to a minor league deal worth $400,000.
The Race for 5th starter is still up in the air. Carrasco and Happ and solid outings this week. Kendrick also had a solid outing despite giving up a home run. Park threw a perfect 4th inning in today’s game.
Also, the battle for 2nd base is heating up. Jason Donald has flashed the leather a few times this week while Marcus Giles had a great day at the plate today in the win against Atlanta.
Not only will Pat Burrell be honored at the on deck series on April 3rd but he will also be at the ring ceremony. Phillies have a day game that day while the Rays have a night game in Boston. Pat will be at the ceremony then jump on a plane right back to Boston.
That’s all I have for now. Should be another big week for the Phils. I have another week packed with school work so I may not be able to update again until Thursday.
“The Cole War”
Really New York? Really????
I’m fed up with the Mets.
For those of you who haven’t heard
The New York Post published
an article about Cole Hamels calling the Mets choke artist. Not only did
they write and article about it, they had a nice big banner across the top of
the page entitled, THE COLE WAR. Isn’t Jose Reyes who said, “I don’t know
why they always focus on us.”
The Mets are looking for a fight.
Cole further explained his words last week while talking with Howard Eskin.
Eskin asked him why it was such a big deal to use the word choke.
Hamels replied by saying, “The word choke means you
weren’t able to fully come through when you were supposed to. I think the Mets
had the top teams, they pretty much had the championships in the bag and they
weren’t able to come through. A lot of guys will perceive them as choking in
the end and not fulfilling their end of the bargain because they should have
taken it. You know what? It really does show the strength and hard work and I
guess the deep down guts that we have to take it away from them.”
That is the perfect definition of the word choke.
Hamels did no wrong. If the New York media wants to blow simple words up to
create a giants controversy then let them. When late September rolls around and
the Mets are looking up at the Phillies in the standings, that’s when Cole,
along with all the other members of the Phillies, can look at all the New
Yorkers with their middle fingers held high and continue to call them choke
artists.
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