The Phillies championship season
of 2008 took a city and its
diehard fans on an exhilarating
rush of sporting ecstasy.
That was last year. This is now.
So how do the Phillies repeat?
With only two unrestricted
free agents, Pat Burrell and Jamie
Moyer, the club did not have to
face the uncertainty of multiplayer
departures. The club
acted quickly to lock up the 46
year old Moyer to a two-year
deal after he had a solid 2008 season,
leading the team in wins
and posted a 3.71 ERA.
Burrell’s departure was stinging
at first because he was such a
big fan favorite. It became more
tolerable after the club signed 36
year- old left fielder Raul Ibanez
from Seattle.
Ibanez, a former player under
Phillies current special advisor
Pat Gillick when they both were
with the Mariners, was targeted
early as the man to replace
Burrell, and his career numbers
of 251 homeruns, and 827 RBI
impressed many. Last year,
Ibanez played in all 162 games,
and hit 23 home runs and drove
in 110 RBI for the Mariners.
Ibanez brings solid power to
the middle of the order and
despite being on the left side of
the plate, hasbeen known to hit
lefthanders well.
With Ibanez teaming up with
power king Ryan Howard, and
superstar Chase Utley, a big concern
going into the season is the
middle of the order and its ability
to hit tough left-handed pitching,
particularly left handed
starters.
With Burrell’s right handed bat
out of the lineup, this could
develop into a disruptive
dynamic. Manager Charlie
Manuel may have to juggle his
lineup if this problem arises.
Management may have to seek
some right handed options to
correct this flaw.
Manuel’s’ lineup for 2009 will
be relatively the same, aside
from the addition of Ibanez. The
offense looks poised so far this
spring to have another big year.
The lineup will be speedy and
consistent at the top of the order
with shortstop Jimmy Rollins
and centerfielder Shane
Victorino getting on base and
being aggressive on the base
pads. This should set up nicely
for the big three of Howard,
Utley and Ibanez, the meat of the
order, to have big RBI seasons.
Sprinkle in the steady bats of
third baseman Pedro Feliz, catcher
Carlos Ruiz, and right fielder
JasonWerth, and the Phils lineup
is as good as any in MLB.
The bench should be solid
again with the addition of second
baseman Marcus Giles joining
infielders Greg Dobbs, Eric
Bruntlett, and Matt Stairs. Geoff
Jenkins, who signed last year to a
two-year deal worth $8 million a
year, was released to give the
Phillies another right-handed
option off the bench. But as with
every team the bottom line
toward making the playoffs and
ultimately winning a championship
is pitching.
The offseason indicated how
much pitching was in demand
by the mega deals that CC
Sabathia (signed by the Yankees
for seven years and $ 161 million)
and A.J Burnett ( signed by
the Yankees for five years and
$82.5 million) both starting pitchers,
received.
The Phillies consistency last
year was directly mirrored by
the success of their pitching staff
and bullpen, front lined by staff
ace Cole Hamels, (14-10, 3.09
ERA, 227 innings) and star closer
Brad Lidge (41 saves).
Hamels will be followed in the
rotation again by Brett Myers, a
solid no. 2 starter, and late season
acquisition Joe Blanton.
Blanton pitched superbly last
season after coming over from
Oakland at the trade deadline,
going 4-0, and pitching solidly in
the playoffs. All indications are
that Blanton will be the team’s
third starter, followed by Moyer.
Rounding out the rotation in
the fifth spot will be Chan Ho
Park, who the club signed from
the L.A. Dodgers.
The bullpen should continue to
be strength of the team. A major
blow this offseason was the news
that late inning gem J.C. Romero
will be out for the first 50 games
of the season due to testing positive
for performance enhancing
drugs.
If they can remain healthy, the
Phillies look to be a strong contender
again.