2012 Philadelphia Phillies Predictions
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Philadelphia Phillies won their fifth consecutive NL East division title with a franchise-record 102 win regular season, but all that is remembered is how this team failed to even make it to the NLCS. The Phillies lost 0-1 in Game 5 of the NL Divisional Series against the St Louis Cardinals. The heartbreaking finish to last year doesn’t seem to have the Phillie fanatics doubting their team in 2012. With what is regarded as the best pitching staff in baseball, the expectations in Philadelphia remain at an all-time high. Here is a quick look at the Phillies projected starting line, starting rotation, and closer situation.
Projected Lineup
Carlos Ruiz (Catcher) – Ruiz is one of the more underrated catchers in the game today. The veteran has done an amazing job handling the Phillies starters, and he hasn’t been all that bad offensively. Last year he hit .283 with a .371 OBP. Ruiz rarely swings at a bad pitch. The guy struck out just 48 times in 410 at-bats last season.
Ryan Howard (First Base) – The Phillies will be without the services of their All-Star first basemen until early May, as he recovers from an Achilles injury suffered on the final out of the NLDS against the Cardinals. The big concern is whether or not his power will suffer as a result. Veteran Ty Wigginton is expected to start in his place.
Chase Utley (Second Base) – Utley missed the first 46 games of the 2011 season with chronic knee tendinitis. The injury seemed to take its toll on his offensive numbers, as he hit just .259 (career-low) with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 103 games. Hard telling if the Phillies will get the Utley of 2011 or the Utley who hit .282 with 31 home runs and 92 RBI in 2009.
Jimmy Rollins (Shortstop) – Injuries have really slowed down Rollins career, but I don’t think we have heard the last of him. Rollins managed to hit .268 with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in just 142 games last year.
Placido Polanco (Third Base) – The 36-year-old veteran is still a rock defensively, but his offensive numbers are starting to regress. Polanco’s .277 batting average was a career-low for a season in which he played at least 100 games.
John Mayberry Jr. (Left Field) – The Phillies are really excited about what Mayberry Jr. can do offensively. The 28-year-old hit .273 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI in just 267 at-bats last season.
Shane Victorino (Center Field) -Thumb and hamstring injuries really put a damper on a great 2011 season. Victorino hit .279 with 17 home runs, 16 triples, and 61 RBI in just a 132 games.
Hunter Pence (Right Field) – Pence really caught fire after a mid-season trade from the Astros landed him in serious playoff contention. In 100 games with the Astros Pence hit .308 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI, in just 54 games with the Phillies he hit .324 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI.
Projected Rotation
Roy Halladay (RHP) – Halladay showed no signs of slowing down in 2011. The 34-year-old ace went 19-6 with a 2.35 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. He set a career-high with 220 strikeouts, and is as motivated as ever to win a World Series.
Cliff Lee (LHP) – Lee had a stretch in 2011 where he allowed three runs in a span of 10 starts. He threw a ridiculous six shutouts and also set a career high in strike outs with 238. Lee ended up 17-8 with a 2.40 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.
Cole Hammels (LHP) -When Hammels is the third best starter in your rotation, you know you have one of the best staffs of all-time. Hammels went 14-9 with a 2.79 ERA and 0.99 WHIP. The 28-year-old lefty is just now entering the prime of his career.
Vance Worley (RHP) – If having a starting three of Halladay, Lee and Hammels wasn’t enough, the Phillies got a huge surprise out of their rookie. In 21 starts, Worley went 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. The kid has all kinds of potential at just 24, but a lot of good young pitchers struggle in their second season.
Joe Blanton (RHP) – Blanton was limited to a career-low 8 starts because of elbow problems in 2011. He is the one guy opposing teams will be excited to see. In his career Blanton has a 4.32 ERA and 1.35 WHIP.
Projected Closer
Jonathan Papelbon (RHP) – The Phillies went out and signed the former Red Sox closer to a four-year $50 million contract this offseason. Papelbon averaged 36 saves over the last six seasons in Boston. With the starting pitching the Phillies have, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Papelbon saved 45+ games in 2012.
| 2012 Philadelphia Phillies Odds | |
| World Series | +550 |
| NL Pennant | +225 |
| NL East | -250 |
| Total Regular Season Wins | O93.5 (-110) |
| U93.5 (-120) |
Over/Under Total Home Runs in the 2012 Regular Season
Hunter Pence – 23.5
Over/Under Total Steals in the 2012 Regular Season
Jimmy Rollins – 29.5
Shane Victorino – 25.5
Over/Under Total Wins in the 2012 Regular Season
Roy Halladay – 17.5
Cliff Lee – 15.5
Cole Hamels – 14.5
Over/Under Total Saves in the 2012 Regular Season
Jonathan Papelbon – 37.5
MLB Predictions by Team
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