The Phillies

Finally! I had visions of 1964 all over again! Just keep Brad Lidge on the bench during the playoffs and the Phils will be fine! It's a good day to be a Phillies fan!

 

Other than the starting pitchers are inconsistant or hurt

 

Yeah! I haven't been able to find out if Martinez is hurt or was just working with a pitch count last night. We'll see! My guess is the rotation will be:
Hamels, Lee, Blanton and hopefully Pedro! If Pedro can't go then I would think you move Happ into the rotation. As long as he's healthy! If not, the Phils are going to have an issue come time to play a seven game series! I like the idea that Happ might pitch out of the bullpen. He did it earlier in the year and was effective, so why not again! All in all, it should be interesting! Once again, ............ keep Lidge away from the field!

 

No way martinez is in rotation. Happ has been a lot more consistant than him. Myers will return to closer next year probably

 

With Park hurt, then who do you go to for middle innings? Please don't say Kendrick! While I agree that Happ has had a better year than Martinez, Happ (IMO) is still the better option to come out of the bullpen, especially now with Moyer done for the year! Keep in mind that Myers is a free agent after the season is over. He has been getting paid starter money from his last contract, so it's not a lock that he will be back with the team! Before Lidge blew up (earlier in the year) the talk in Philly was that Myers was gone after the season. Now, with Lidge having his problems, the Phils might want to rethink that! I personally would like him to be the closer! But we're getting way ahead of ourselves here, the team will address that after the WS!

 

I heard on the radio that the Phillies team era has gone down a full run since Cliff Lee was traded for. Moving Hamels to the 2, JA Happ to 3 and Blanton to 4 helps

 

Phils have a new/old 3rd baseman. Placido Polanco comes back to the Phils after signing a 3 year deal at 6 mil a year. He'll strike out a whole lot less than Feliz and play slightly less defense. Plus he can play 2nd in case Utley needs a day off.

 

Polanco is a good sign. He is solid and can play a few different places. Phillies will be busy trying to get some bullpen help. Rafael Soriano could end up a Phillie IMO.

 

I like the move! A .303 career hitter who as you say doesn't strike out a lot. Has a little bit of pop in the bat and should increase that at Citizen's Bank. Don't forget that he won a Gold Glove! I know that he won it at second base but a fielder is a fielder. Where do you think he will bat in the order? My Philly sources are saying the thought might be second and move Victorino down. I hope not!

 

From ESPN Insider:
Thursday's signing of Placido Polanco fills the void at third base for the Philadelphia Phillies. Could it also mean that Polanco will replace Jimmy Rollins atop the batting order?

Paul Hagen of the Phily Daily News writes that the idea makes sense, even if general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. gave a politically correct response to that option.

Rollins was briefly dropped a few spots in the order and had the lowest average of any Phillies regular position player. While Rollins has potent offensive numbers, Hagen wrotes that "the trouble is that some of these attributes aren't commonly associated with leadoff hitters."


Buster Olney
Could end up batting second

"The Phillies believe that if Polanco bats second, behind Jimmy Rollins, this will give Rollins a better chance to run after reaching base, and that Charlie Manuel will have more options at his disposal, given that Polanco is one of the best hit-and-run

If all this happens Rumor has Victorino sliding down to 7th in the order. That I would not want