Phillies 2012

[Hospitalitygirl]

Unless I've missed something, this thread is long overdue!

Thoughts on what Utley might say today? Retirement?

I am prepared for an enjoyable season, but one that probably won't end up in a pennant pursuit unless we can shore up the infield.

[Gladys]

I absolutely agree.

Utley is my absolute favorite. A FB freind and i are constantly typing UTLEY IS STILL HOT whenever he's on TV. (stupid inside joke)

I thought he really played well last year, one of the most consistently solid players and the strongest link.

But, knee injuries are hideous. I hope it's just a matter of time. For all of our sakes. But if he decides it can't be, well I think he should make it into the baseball hall of fame for being my 1st baseball crush, if nothing else.

What an incredible player.

yeah the in season has got to go and well Howard has just had the worst luck under pressure the last few years. I'd like to see him make a high profile come back, like be the wining run in the world series but after what's happened I don't know if any one can handle that kind of pressure. I don't know.

[five apples]

Unless I've missed something, this thread is long overdue!

Thoughts on what Utley might say today? Retirement?

I am prepared for an enjoyable season, but one that probably won't end up in a pennant pursuit unless we can shore up the infield.

I would be surprised at this point if he said anything other then I am retiring. A shame, 33 is not young for a baseball player, but to already be retiring because of injuries is a tragedy.

[Gladys]

YAY!!!! JUst in from FB.

Philadelphia Phillies
Chase Utley talks w/ media about not needing surgery and his new training regimen.

[Hospitalitygirl]

So...get rid of one of the top 3 pitchers to get more infield help?

Ruben's got to stop raiding the farm system.

[raider.adam]

So...get rid of one of the top 3 pitchers to get more infield help?

Ruben's got to stop raiding the farm system.

A shame he didn't raid Dom-Brown out of our farm system.

[Hospitalitygirl]

A shame he didn't raid Dom-Brown out of our farm system.

Tell me about it!

[lewblum]

Hindsight's 20/20. Everyone thought Dom Brown was going to be a stud and that we should've kept him.

Braves and Marlins are going to present some of tough competition. However I think the Guillen-Zambrano-Reyes-Ramirez experiment is doomed to self-destruction. Zambrano won't make it past July.

I think it'll be between the Braves and the Phils again. As a long as we have Roy, Cliff and Cole getting 200+ innings each we're all good. I like our 1B options with Howard out, so hopefully having Utley gone won't be as bad as everyone is making out to be.

[raider.adam]

Hindsight's 20/20. Everyone thought Dom Brown was going to be a stud and that we should've kept him.

Braves and Marlins are going to present some of tough competition. However I think the Guillen-Zambrano-Reyes-Ramirez experiment is doomed to self-destruction. Zambrano won't make it past July.

I think it'll be between the Braves and the Phils again. As a long as we have Roy, Cliff and Cole getting 200+ innings each we're all good. I like our 1B options with Howard out, so hopefully having Utley gone won't be as bad as everyone is making out to be.

I do think we will be fighting for pennant, but unless something works out with hitting, I don't see a far playoff progression. Still should be a good season though.

[Outlaw Star]

Hindsight's 20/20. Everyone thought Dom Brown was going to be a stud and that we should've kept him.

Hey now, that's a little presumptuous. He still could be. The problem is his atrocious defense, which hasn't been enough to offset a very promising bat. That was a driving factor in trading for Pence, because he is / was better defensively. He's also been bitten by some bad-luck injuries, bad FO management and the emergence of RFD last year, who coupled a hot bat with gifted OF defense.

Re: Utley, the guy is cooked. He's been my favorite Phillie of the current era, and it hurts to say that. But the all-out way he plays is not sustainable over the long run, and you're seeing the results of it now. Nagging injuries and slipping production. He came back last year and was never really the same player, and now he's starting this year hurt again. Unless he finds a regimen that turns back the clock on his chronic knee and hip conditions, he'll never again be what he was, or really even close to it.

[HomeInspectorBC]

Unfortunately this squad will be hard pressed to win 86 games this year as they have not shown either a willingness or ability to manufacture runs and this year there is no one that puts fear into an opposing pitcher. Lots of 2-1, 3-2 games are in store for this season, but somehow I have faith that Ruben Amaro and the Phillies ownership will step up and make something happen to get a lively bat to go yard on a regular basis.

The current line up is very weak. 1b Mayberry-average hitter/power unproven and is an overall unproven commodity, 2b no clue, SS Rollins-old below average offensive skills, 3b Polanco old average hitter no power, C Ruiz, no offensive skills to speak of, LF Platoon, no power or average, CF Victorino, average hitter, no power, RF Pence better then average hitter and power. The whole starting line up will probably not produce a 300 hitter or have a 30 homer and 100 rbi man.

[#1MetsFan]

What's the point of even watching this season, since the Phils have no shot, eh?

The season hasn't even started yet. Relax.

[#1MetsFan]

Unfortunately this squad will be hard pressed to win 86 games this year as they have not shown either a willingness or ability to manufacture runs and this year there is no one that puts fear into an opposing pitcher. Lots of 2-1, 3-2 games are in store for this season, but somehow I have faith that Ruben Amaro and the Phillies ownership will step up and make something happen to get a lively bat to go yard on a regular basis.

The current line up is very weak. 1b Mayberry-average hitter/power unproven and is an overall unproven commodity, 2b no clue, SS Rollins-old below average offensive skills, 3b Polanco old average hitter no power, C Ruiz, no offensive skills to speak of, LF Platoon, no power or average, CF Victorino, average hitter, no power, RF Pence better then average hitter and power. The whole starting line up will probably not produce a 300 hitter or have a 30 homer and 100 rbi man.

Mayberry is unproven, but he could take a big step forward this season as a full-time player. Fangraphs is predicting 25 hrs, 90 rbis for him.

Galvis will save runs with his defense, and he could surprise people with his bat. I don't expect much power, but he's improved his approach at the plate the last two seasons. He's only 22. There's no reason to think he can't continue to improve at the major league level.

Polanco if healthy, is a .300 hitter. Very little power, but he'll hit.

Dom Brown will be called up at some point this season, and he is a potential 30 hr/100 rbi guy.

And seriously, Ruiz has no offensive skills? You're just wrong about that.

Bottom line is the Phils will score runs. They won't mash like the 2006-2009 Phils used to, but they'll score their runs.

And if they struggle early on, I trust Amaro to make whatever moves he has to in order to get the team to score more runs. They're in win-now mode, and Rube is not afraid to pull the trigger on a deal when he needs to.

Plus, Utley and Howard will both be back by June. Utley may not be the player he used to be, but he's still a top 5 2B in baseball. (It's a weak position in general).

[HomeInspectorBC]

Metsfan, I like your optimism as there are a lot of if's, potentials, may surprise and unproven fangraphs predictions in your assessment. I don't understand counting on a supposed 5 tool guy who didn't make the major league team yet again for a potential 30 homer and 100 rbi's, by the way Polanco hasn't hit 300 since 2008. I hope I am wrong, it is just an honest assessment of the team as I see it now. This team will have to manufacture runs and has shown an unwillingness or inability to do that in the past. If this team is willing to play small ball with this pitching staff they could win in the low 90's if they continue with the same mentaility of the recent years past this team will win in the mid 80's becaue of the pitching staff if it stays healthy.

Relaxingly yours,

[#1MetsFan]

I have less faith in Polanco than I do in Domonic Brown. Polanco hasn't been healthy since 2008, but he looks healthy now, and he's been hitting well this spring. Hopefully, with more days off this season, they can keep him healthy all season.

Dom Brown can rake. Period. The reason they sent him down was to work on his defense.

[sometimesilie]

My rather pointless prediction is that the Phil's will win 88-92 games this season.

I actually prefer that this season will likely not be a coronation for the Phil's in the NL East like the last one.

For their potential play off hopes (I believe they're still a safe bet for the post season) this may actually help, being in a real race at the end of the season. Look at how the Cards and the Giants before them hit the post season running because they had to play for their lives late in the regular season.

The one potential disaster would be their starting rotation going down to injury. I'm not sure who is going to be the "go to" middle relief guy- Bastardo maybe? But they've got great starting pitching and a major closer. Bats will come around enough.

Can't believe opening day is almost here. It's going to be a fun season to watch, IMO.

[Gladys]

I don't care how many games they win as long as they win the world series. YA GOTTA BELIEVE!

[Swinefeld]

Play Ball!!!

[Geno]

8 two hit shut out innings from Halladay, a 1-2-3 9th from Papelbon, and a sac fly by chooch. looks like the blueprint for the season.

[Hospitalitygirl]

8 two hit shut out innings from Halladay, a 1-2-3 9th from Papelbon, and a sac fly by chooch. looks like the blueprint for the season.

Works for me.