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Conlin: Phils Have Enough For 88 Wins

Bill Conlin, master of foresight that he is (he’s still using 1993 as proof of his talents), is predicting the Phillies will win 88 games in 2008.

“You’re on your own for the rest.”

He also has this mock headline to throw out there:

“Howard Blasts No. 60 as Phils Clinch 3rd Place”

Conlin cited the Phils’ lack of a fifth starter (and potential troubles at No. 3 and 4) and lack of bullpen depth as reasons for 88 in the year of Jimmy Rollins’ prediction of 100 wins.

Can I disagree? No. But I can make the case that Conlin is underestimating the club just a bit. I do feel they upgraded the pitching (just a little) from the end of 2007. They added Brad Lidge and subtracted Kyle Lohse. That’s a victory. They’ve added Travis Blackley and Chad Durbin and subtracted Jose Mesa and Antonio Alfonseca. Right now, that’s a victory.

I wouldn’t go too far over 88, mainly because Blackley, Durbin and Lidge aren’t exactly favor tilters. But I could give the team 92, maybe 93 wins. It’s imperative they get off to a hot start, however, and we can only hope that’s the case.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.