2008 Philadelphia Phillies
Written February 23, 2008 by Jack Jones
While this team needed all the help it got from the Mets to make the playoffs last year, they were playing some of the best baseball out of every team in the league. While their first round match up with the eventual NL representative in the World Series didn’t go to well, the team is hoping that they can get back to the playoffs in 2008. The Phillies looked primed to have the edge over the Mets for division favorite, but that all changed when the Mets signed Johan Santana. Manager Charlie Manuel will have pretty much the same team that took the field in 2007. The team brought in Brad Lidge to be the new closer allowing Brett Myers to move back to the starting rotation. The team lost some of its chemistry when CF Aaron Rowand signed with the Giants as a free agent. The team tried to help the loss of Rowand with the signings of OF Geoff Jenkins and 3B Pedro Feliz.
Pitching:
The team will count on emergence of ace Cole Hamels to continue to grow and get even better in 2008. The move of Myers back in the rotation gives them a very solid 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. Veteran Jamie Moyer will likely get the nod to be the 3rd starter. While Moyer won 14 games, he lost 12 and had a terrible ERA over 5. Kyle Kendrick could very well be the number 3 starter before its all done he looked great last year going 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA in just 20 games. Adam Eaton will wind up the rotation and while he isn’t that impressive the offense should help him reach double digit wins again in 2008. The bullpen is led by the acquisition of Lidge to be the new closer. Before Lidge gets in the game the team will send out very quality setup men in former closer Tom Gordon and Lefty J.C. Romero. Also, Ryan Madson should be back at full strength and will add even more depth to the bullpen.
Offense:
The offense pretty much put this team on its back and took them all the way to a division title. The team scored the most runs in the National League with 892 and had the second highest homerun total behind the Brewers with 213 long balls. The offense is led by a three-headed monster in 2006 MVP 1B Ryan Howard, 2007 MVP SS Jimmy Rollins, and potential MVP 2B Chase Utley. Howard led the team in homeruns with 47 and RBIs with 136, Utley led the team with a .332 average, and Rollins just did it all hitting .296 with 30 HRs 41 SB and 94 RBIs. They don’t have to bad of a supporting cast as new 3B Feliz hit 20 HRs for the Giants last year and LF Pat Burrell hit 30 HRs himself. Not to mention new RF Jenkins hit 21 HRs with the Brewers. So the team will have no trouble taking pitchers deep and throwing up some big numbers on the scoreboard.
Defense:
Did we mention Rollins did it all? He was also the 2007 winner of the Gold Glove at shortstop. The team was pretty solid as a unit too as they only had 89 errors last year. While Shane Victorino is going to play a pretty solid CF, he won’t be able to match the defense of departed Gold Glove winner Aaron Rowand.
Prediction:
While we don’t think that they will be able to win back-to-back division titles, we do like them to win the NL wild card spot for the 2008 playoffs. Unless this team picks up a big time starter we just don’t see them getting past the first round. They will most likely have to go up against much better pitching from the Cubs or Diamondbacks.
2008 Philadelphia Phillies Odds to Win World Series 20 – 1
For every team’s odds head over to Sportsbook.com and check them out. You can also go to Sportsbook.com to look at the odds for teams to win their division or league pennant. Feel free to leave any comments in the comment section.