***Official 2007 Philadelphia Phillies Thread***

[.Alex.]

There was a lot of Phillies discussion in the other thread, so I figure we can get enough contributors here to warrant our own thread.

I think we have a good chance at the NL East, and possibly even the World Series. We have the second best lineup in the NL, and a top 5 rotation with 6 solid starters. Yes, I know they've been predicted to do well for the past few years, but they've been coming very close, and I believe this is our best team to date.

Lineup:
Rollins SS
Victorino RF
Utley 2B
Howard 1B
Burrell LF
Rowand CF
Helms 3B
Barahas C

Bench:
Carlos Ruiz C
Jayson Werth OF
Michael Bourn OF
Abraham Nunez IF
Greg Dobbs IF



Rotation:
Myers R
Hamels L
Garcia R
Moyer L
Eaton R

Bullpen:
Lieber R
Gordon R CL
Alfonseca R
Madson R
Geary R
Smith L
Condrey R

[Sluss]

Bullpen has looked shaky this spring. I liked Smith alot last year, but he is throwing BP out there right now. Gordon has looked solid.

The starters will be good, plus I love Moyer in Hammels's ear. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

The line-up is still one of the best and if Burrell starts hitting... Sorry got to optimisic there for a minute. In all reality I just hope Burrell can get hot when Howard is in one of his cold streaks. Right now Howard looks uncomfortable at the plate. But you still have to figure nobody will pitch to him to start the year.

Lot of people seem to be off the Phillies bandwagon this year (4th biten twice shy?) I'm just hoping that means it's their year. I think 91 wins this year. See where that drops them. I'm sure one game out of the wildcard. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[PokerFink]

I agree with Alex that it's our best team of the last couple years. Howard can't match his second half numbers, but he should be able to improve on his first half numbers. If he puts together two solid halves, his overall numbers shoulden't drop that much. I love our rotation, but obviously our pen sucks and we have absolutely no depth whatsoever. I'm hoping Lieber sticks around, because I think he can help our pen and you know a starter will get hurt somewhere along the line.

90 wins and hopefully the wild card.

[.Alex.]

I actually think the bullpen is a little underrated (which isn't saying much). Gordon, Alfonseca, Madson and Geary are all decent. If Lieber can stay happy pitching out of the pen for a while, that's not an awful group.

I do think it'll be very important for our hitters to stay healthy, because as PF said, our bench blows. I wouldn't be comfortable with any of those guys starting for an extended period of time. Manuel also likes to liberally use his subs late in games for defense and pinch-running, which occasionally ends up costing us if the game goes to extras. He'll have ease up on that this year.

Btw, I have no idea why I only listed first names for the bench guys.

[Sluss]

Of course being the Phillies they are suposed to start the season with 6 starting pitchers and 2 of them will start the year on the DL.

[Hoya]

[ QUOTE ]
I do think it'll be very important for our hitters to stay healthy, because as PF said, our bench blows. I wouldn't be comfortable with any of those guys starting for an extended period of time.


[/ QUOTE ]

Don't agree entirely - I'd rather start Ruiz than Barajas, for example. I also think Werth could fill in for a bit in RF in Rowand goes down again without a huge dropoff.

[hoyasnaxa]

Id rather start Coste ahead of Ruiz and Barajas. I dont get why he isnt taken seriously considering how good he was last year.

[TheGrasshopper]

I don't like Barajas. I wish they would have gone with a Coste/Ruiz combo.

I think this team can win 95.

[Skittles]

[ QUOTE ]

I think this team can win 95.

[/ QUOTE ]

i agree. i am quite bullish on the phillies this year. i see them as being > the braves, and a toss up with the mets. hopefully burrell starts off the year hot, and the pen holds up

[DemonDeac]

1 O'clock baby!!

Opening Day!!

Brett Myers taking the hill against the Braves. I'll be watching on MLB.TV. Should be a good series.

We gotta come out hot.