In Amazement: Phillies 13-Games Over .500
Posted by Pat Gallen, Mon, August 09, 2010 11:20 AM | Comments: 108
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Excuse me if I’m a bit stunned by this seemingly underwhelming stat, but the Phillies are at a season-best 13-games over the .500 mark. It’s a plateau some believed would not come this year with the way things had been progressing.
Consider this: They are two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, but if you’ve been paying attention to the rest of the league, they are also two games behind the Texas Rangers who have been one of the most productive teams all season. Hell, a little over a month ago – July 7 to be exact – the Phillies sat six back in the division and were three behind the second place Mets. Now, the Mets are nine back in the NL East, SEVEN games behind the Phillies. Amazing.
Obviously, everyone should be enthralled by the team at this point. They’ve overcome adversity at every stage of the season, only to position themselves for a playoff run. A month ago, few believed a rebirth like this was possible, but here we are – witnessing an epic revival of a team gasping for air, hooked to a ventilator a mere 30 days prior.
With the good news of being just two behind the Braves comes more good news. Shane Victorino is about to begin a rehab assignment and could be back by Friday. Chase Utley has stated he should be back by months-end and has actually added three or four pounds of muscle since hitting the DL. Ryan Howard has been walking with a bit of a limp and still has swelling, but he too believes he can be back quickly. The makeshift roster will soon turn into a full collection of the talent that made back-to-back World Series appearances. Add them to a red-hot Raul Ibanez and Carlos Ruiz, a .300-hitting Jayson Werth, and a pitching staff that has more than held it’s own – both starters and relievers, and you’ve got yourself a contender.
So, pardon me if I’m a little thrown off by their 62-49 record, which is just one game off the pace of a year ago and a game better than their record in the World Series winning season of 2008. Perhaps I shouldn’t be so caught off-guard by what has occurred. This is a team that has scratched and clawed for three-plus seasons, I guess we shouldn’t have expected anything differently this time around.
Posts: 0 Manny
I don’t know what to make of that Oswalt story… the guy may be nuts. Seems like living in a NE city will be quite the adjustment!
Posted: 04:24 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
Francisco, Brown and Raul?? THAT’S your outfield for next year?1?!
I don’t think so. Either Werth or Vic would have to be in that mix….and play CF.
Personally, I hope it’s Werth. But, I understand the economics and I’ll have to be ok with Vic…..as long as the dude stops trying to chase the HR record and just tries to put the freaking ball in play…or work a walk.
Posted: 05:02 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
The one problem with trying to figure out how to play the outfield without Jayson is who is your right handed bat? And if you keep Brown up he needs to play more games then not. I really do not think you want to have Brown in a platoon role at the age of 22 or 23. And Gload can not play the outfield very well so he is not platooning with anyone. Can you live with Vic in center Raul in left for one year and Brown in right with Ben Fran getting playing time against lefties once in a while. I say maybe if Rollins, Vic and Utley hit more consistantly then they have this year. And who knows maybe Chooch can bat fifth maybe he figured something out and will be the next Mauer and bat 300 with 25 HR and 100 RBI’s in the 5 hole(there is some sarcasim there)
Posted: 05:06 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 shag beta sigma delta
Maybe Valdez can teach Vic and JRoll to bunt like him, and then they can get one hit each a night by bunting. Is it just me or Valdez come from nowhere, I don’t care that he hits .250, he has a canon for an arm and can play an above average defense at 2nd 3rd or SS, and if given the time I would put money that he could play the corner outfield spots. As much Sh*t you people like to five RAJ this was a pretty good pick up, along with Gload. For this team to be where it is right now with 60% of the everyday players spending some significant time on the DL. 3/5 of your starting rotation and a bunch of bull pen guys on the DL for some time, some credit has to be given RAJ for the part time players he filled this roster with
Posted: 05:11 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 Chuck
I would buy a Valdez jersey.
Posted: 05:13 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 psujoe
I’m not worried about the pen next year except Lidge. I expect Scwimmer, Bastardo and Mathiason to contribute in 2011. An outfield of Brown, Ben Fran and Raul would be a huge drop off from what the Phils have now. Ideally Raul or Vic will be moved to free up money for Werth.
Posted: 05:14 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
I would like VIC BROWN WERTH we all that speed in the outfield we have on dynamic defense. Then we have Gload an Francisco to Platoon. In my eyes this on paper sounds like the best. This is assuming Vic starts batting what he normally does. With those 3 right there you could have 80 stolen bases a year. The could manufacture runs learn how to Pinch Hit. PsuJoe a bullpen of Rookies with Lidge, Madson an Baez sounds scary to me. They would have to pick up a Veteran or 2 reliever in my eyes. Im thinking they hope Baez returns to a respectable form next year or they would likely dump him.
Posted: 07:21 PM on August 10, 2010
Posts: 0 bacardipr05
ps….meant learn to Bunt…
Posted: 07:22 PM on August 10, 2010