Philadelphia Phillies

Manager: Don Mattingly
Stadium: Citizens Bank Park
2007 Record: 89-73 (1st in NL East)
Team Page | Roster | Schedule

2007: Batting Stats | Runs Scored (ranked 1st in NL)

2008 FANTASY PROJECTIONS
PLAYER B POS AB HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Jimmy Rollins R SS 702 26 85 40 .291 .341 .504
Shane Victorino R CF 593 11 72 42 .275 .334 .398
Chase Utley L 2B 639 29 118 13 .321 .398 .556
Ryan Howard L 1B 547 49 136 1 .283 .395 603
Pat Burrell R LF 480 35 119 0 .271 .404 .544
Geoff Jenkins R RF 452 21 69 2 .265 .339 .473
Pedro Feliz R 3B 569 25 84 1 .264 .301 .464
Carlos Ruiz R C 468 12 68 5 .261 .331 .412
OFF THE BENCH
So Taguchi R OF 266 3 27 7 .282 .342 .368
Eric Bruntlett R INF -- -- -- -- -- -- --
-- = unavailable

STRENGTHS

Where to begin? The Phillies are an opposing pitcher's nightmare: They led the NL in runs last year with 892 and finished second in homers with 213. Howard hit 47 homers -- his average dropped 45 points from '06 -- yet he batted .377 with runners in scoring position and two out. Rollins, the reigning Most Valuable Player, will be under pressure to duplicate his historic '07 numbers (he was the first ever to amass 200 hits, 30 doubles, 15 triples, 25 homers and 25 stolen bases), but the shortstop doesn't lack confidence. Utley's .976 OPS was by far the best in the league.

WEAKNESSES

It's hard to fixate on the flaws here; it's like staring at a scratch on a Rolls. Still, Howard has to mix in a little more discipline in that long, powerful swing, at least to contain his growing appetite for strikeouts. Last year he led the majors with 199 whiffs. Burrell has a similar all-or-nothing profile, striking out a whopping once every 3.93 at-bats. But he batted .337 with 20 homers over a 60-game stretch after July 1 while the Phillies were getting ready to topple the Mets, so it's a poison the franchise obviously can live with.

 
-- Bob Klapisch

PROSPECTS

HITTER TO WATCH:

Nobody. The hitting side of the Phillies' roster is set, and their nearest hitting prospect is Jason Donald, who projects as a utility player and has yet to reach Double-A.

PITCHER TO WATCH:

Keep an eye on Scott Mathieson, who had a plus fastball/average slider combo and a lot of success as a minor-league starter before missing 2007 due to elbow surgery. He could be ready by May or June.
-- Keith Law, Scouts Inc.

ESPN Conversations

Comments

You must be signed in to post a comment

Already have an account?

You are fully responsible for the content you post. Content that includes profanity, personal attacks or antisocial behavior (such as "spamming" or "trolling"), or other inappropriate content or material will be removed. We reserve the right to block any user who violates our terms of use, including removing all content posted by that user.

JUST THE FACTS

• Shane Victorino loves the glove. "Aaron Rowand was good in center, but Victorino will get to many more balls," says a teammate. "It's not even close."
• Brett Myers helps a rotation that needs it. Cole Hamels is the ace, but his veteran teammate, the ex-closer, draws the Opening Day start.
• Brad Lidge is on the ledge. Forget his 4.37 ERA and 19 homers allowed the past two years. Worry about this: The new closer had his right knee scoped this spring.
• Pedro Feliz can pick it. His .290 OBP was second-worst in the NL last year, but he's an upgrade at third. With Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley around, Feliz won't have to hit.

HEARSAY

"Hamels has never been healthy for a full season," an opposing scout says of Philly's pitching. "Kyle Kendrick has half a year in the big leagues, and Jamie Moyer is 45. Plus, their closer is hurt, and he lost his job the past two years."

HOUSE CALL

"I don't think Johan Santana makes the Mets that much better. I mean, I wish we had him, but I don't think he's a dominant pitcher." -Robert Andrews (D-N.J.)
-- Tim Kurkjian

SPORTSNATION

Can the Phillies hold off Johan Santana and the Mets in the NL East? Which team has the best lineup? Who made the best offseason moves? Register your vote.

NL East poll page

Featured Comment

After years of being tortured, the Philadelphia Phillies win it all.


schierbaum20

Phillies fan previews

FANTASY

SLEEPER

It's easy to forget about Shane Victorino, who's surrounded in the lineup by Rollins, Utley and Howard, but that protection will help net Victorino approximately 100 runs and 40 steals.

BUST

By the time Kyle Kendrick gets removed from the starting rotation, the Phillies will wish they actually had traded him to a team in Japan.
-- A.J. Mass

INJURIES

Brad Lidge has made a nice recovery from his second right knee surgery in a year, and although he will begin the season on the DL (primarily to allow him time to get his velocity back), he should return to the lineup within the first week or two.
-- Stephania Bell

PREDICTIONS

  • Jayson Stark

    Stark
    88-74
    3rd in
    NL East

  • Tim Kurkjian

    Kurkjian
    91-71
    2nd in
    NL East

  • Buster Olney

    Olney
    86-76
    3rd in
    NL East

  • Keith Law

    Law
    83-79
    3rd in
    NL East

  • Steve Phillips

    Phillips
    88-74
    3rd in
    NL East