2011 Philadelphia Phillies MLB Preview (2010 record: 97-65, first place in NL East)
If you’re going to make a single offseason move, it might as well be the one that has everyone talking. When the Phillies picked up superstar pitcher Cliff Lee off Free Agency, the team created the rotation that many are calling “The Four Aces.” Those aces being Lee, Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels (fifth starter Joe Blanton’s pretty good, too). However, for a team built like the Phillies, they’re going to need those aces to beat the hand dealt them in the batting department.
Not to say that Philadelphia has no offense. They still have a monster in Ryan Howard, but the sparks that propelled the team to two World Series are hurt or gone. Jayson Werth now calls Washington D.C. home, and Chase Utley, Raul Ibanez and Jimmy Rollins are trying to keep healthy to last the 162-game season (and it’s not looking good for any of them).
So it’s up to the Phillies pitching staff to see the team through to the playoffs. If any staff was up to it, it would be this one (Halladay alone has more complete games in a season than some rotations). It will be exciting to see if the Phillies can overcome some injury hurdles and become that World Series contender people are expecting.
2010 Philadelphia Phillies MLB Preview:
For diehard baseball fans, November through March can be the longest months of the year - and for fans of the Philadelphia Phillies, the offseason was likely one of the more tedious in recent history.
After battling to a World Series Championship in 2008, the Phils came close to an encore performance last season, winning the National League East Division for the third straight year, claiming the NL title for the second consecutive season, and coming just games of capturing another World Series victory.
While their championship defense came to a bitter end last year, manager Charlie Manuel ended the season by saying that the Phightin' Phillies would be back in 2010 to make another run at the title, giving fans plenty of reason to head to the ballpark this summer.
When Philadelphia takes the field this season, a few new faces will greet the fans. Roy Halladay, a former Cy Young award winner and one of the most dominating pitchers over the past few years, will take the mound for the squad this year.
In addition, the Phillies welcome back third-baseman Placido Polanco to join All-Star infielders Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.
2009 Philadelphia Phillies MLB Preview:
Philadelphia Phillies fans are thinking about back-to-back World Series championships as their team starts 2009. The Phillies surprised a lot of people in 2008 by winning the World Series, but now the challenge will be defending their title. The Phils return a ton of talent and should be able to make the National League playoffs in '09, the only question will be whether they have the stamina to go back-to-back in the World Series.
2008 Season
The Philadelphia Phillies are one of the top teams to watch and the toughest to beat in the National League this season. In 2007, the Phillies came out on top of their division but lost in the National League Division Series to the eventual National League Champion Colorado Rockies. The Phillies hope to extend their playoff run this season behind the leadership of National League MVP shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Tens of thousands of fans will pack Citizens Bank Park this season to support the Phillies and their playoff hopes.