Philadelphia Phillies 2010 preview
Article By rfagan.tsn on 22nd February, 2010
No National League franchise has made three consecutive trips to the World Series since the St. Louis Cardinals turned the trick from 1942-44. With the league's best lineup and Roy Halladay added to the top of the rotation, this year's Phillies squad is a serious threat to duplicate the Cardinals' feat. Philadelphia also should challenge the 100-win plateau, which it has reached just twice in franchise history (1976-77).
Brad Lidge is looking to bounce back after struggling in 2009. Three questions
1. Will the bullpen be better?
It isn't that the bullpen as a whole was bad last season -- the 3.91 ERA ranked ninth among 16 NL teams -- but closer Brad Lidge must be much better than he was in 2009. Manager Charlie Manuel stuck with Lidge, who was nearly unhittable in 2008, despite his 7.21 ERA, 0-8 record and 11 blown saves. Lidge converted all three of his save chances in the postseason, though, and will have a good-sized leash as he attempts to prove 2009's disaster was a fluke.
As for the rest of the bullpen, 2009 mainstays Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey and Chan Ho Park are gone, and veterans Danys Baez and Jose Contreras are in. Baez, the more known quantity of the two, had a 4.02 ERA in the Orioles' bullpen last season. Contreras has only made five relief appearances -- all last year after he joined the Rockies -- since his rookie season. There could be an adjustment period as he settles into the 'pen full-time.
2. Which Cole Hamels will show up?
The lefthander failed to meet expectations created by his dominant performance in the 2008 postseason, posting a middling 4.32 ERA and 1.29 WHIP -- both career-worsts -- last season. Hamels can relax now that Halladay is in town to take that "ace" designation away from him.
"I believe that Cole Hamels will be much better than he was in 2009, though it will be very hard to match his 2008 season," an NL scout said. "He began last ye...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Brad Lidge is looking to bounce back after struggling in 2009. Three questions
1. Will the bullpen be better?
It isn't that the bullpen as a whole was bad last season -- the 3.91 ERA ranked ninth among 16 NL teams -- but closer Brad Lidge must be much better than he was in 2009. Manager Charlie Manuel stuck with Lidge, who was nearly unhittable in 2008, despite his 7.21 ERA, 0-8 record and 11 blown saves. Lidge converted all three of his save chances in the postseason, though, and will have a good-sized leash as he attempts to prove 2009's disaster was a fluke.
As for the rest of the bullpen, 2009 mainstays Scott Eyre, Clay Condrey and Chan Ho Park are gone, and veterans Danys Baez and Jose Contreras are in. Baez, the more known quantity of the two, had a 4.02 ERA in the Orioles' bullpen last season. Contreras has only made five relief appearances -- all last year after he joined the Rockies -- since his rookie season. There could be an adjustment period as he settles into the 'pen full-time.
2. Which Cole Hamels will show up?
The lefthander failed to meet expectations created by his dominant performance in the 2008 postseason, posting a middling 4.32 ERA and 1.29 WHIP -- both career-worsts -- last season. Hamels can relax now that Halladay is in town to take that "ace" designation away from him.
"I believe that Cole Hamels will be much better than he was in 2009, though it will be very hard to match his 2008 season," an NL scout said. "He began last ye...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Readers Comments
Related News
Featured Sponsors
Interested in getting MLB Tickets for this coming season? The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get your New York Yankees Tickets today!
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
The Baltimore Orioles Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. Since 1992, the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
New York Mets Tickets: The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Get your Minnesota Twins Tickets today!
The Toronto Blue Jays Tickets are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners Tickets are looking to be a good team this year.
Detroit Tigers Tickets: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises.
The Philadelphia Phillies Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. One of the biggest games of the season are the Phillies Red Sox Tickets. Another long time rival in the same state is Phillies Pirates Tickets.
The Chicago White Sox Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division.
The Atlanta Braves Tickets are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in Texas, representing the Dallas-Ft.Worth metropolitan area. Get your Texas Rangers Tickets today!
San Diego Padres Tickets: The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California.
Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
The Florida Marlins were established in 1993 as an expansion franchise, the Florida Marlins Tickets are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League.
San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland Indians Tickets are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League.
