2010 Record: 97-65
Lineup:
1 Jimmy Rollins SS
2 Placido Polanco 3B
3 Raul Ibanez OF
4 Ryan Howard 1B
5 Ben Francisco OF
6 Shane Victorino OF
7 Carlos Ruiz C
8 Wilson Valdez 2B
The Phillies lineup has taken a hit with Werth going to the Nationals and Utley out for the start of the regular season. There is no timetable for Utley's return, and this lineup doesn't look every good without him in it. When he does return they should be OK though. Howard has worked to bring his big stance closer to the plate, which should help lower his strikeouts, which hopefully bringing his power numbers back up. The Phillies are going to need Ibanez to squeak out one more solid year. Overall, even with Utley in this lineup they aren't that great, and are aging by the day (unless Domonic Brown turns into something special).
Pitching
1 Roy Halladay
2 Cliff Lee
3 Roy Oswalt
4 Cole Hamels
5 Joe Blanton
CL: Brad Lidge
Oh shit I must have posted the All-Star rotation instead of the Phillies. What? That's really their rotation? Oh good God. This might be the greatest rotation in the history of baseball. Halladay is the best pitcher in baseball. Cliff Lee was the biggest free agent this offseason, and both can with 20 games, and both pitch complete games whenever they damn well please. On top of that Oswalt and Hamels can both win 15 games easy. You add that up that's 70 games one just from 4 pitchers. It's just crazy. One top of that I like their bullpen with Lidge and Madson leading the way.
Overall:
Their lineup is average at best, but when you have the best rotation in the history of baseball you are going to be damn good. Look at what the Giants did last year with no offense, and the Phillies lineup is way better then theirs. I am not going to go too crazy with the prediction, but this is going to be a special year in Philly.
2011 Record: 102-60
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