All that offense stuff is proven over and over to be insignificant in winning games. Consider how much better an offense that Philly had versus Atlanta last year. But the pennant race wasn't even close.
I like the way Philly looks next year. I could see them making a run.
I would have to say that your rotation is way off. Just my opinion.
For me, I could make a stretch and put Padilla as a number one starter. He has little ways to go, but on this team he should be the #1.
1- Padilla
2 & 3 Myers and Duckworth
4 - Wolf (I like him as #4 -- eat innings and compete. He doesn't have the stuff to be a 2/3 starter in my opinion)
5- Roa, Coggin, whoever..... I think some teams may go back towards the 4 man rotation. Save money and really give a better product every four days unless you need a 5th starter for 15-20 starts per year. But in any case, who knows. A 5th starter is suspect no matter what team he is on.
I also like Eric Junge. He is underrated because he had a strange history. But he's got some talent and has cleaned his image up. Nothing really to speak of off the field, but he didn't used to present the most 'baseball oriented' image in his early years.
Their lineup as you said is great. Rollins isn't the player that people thought he'd be, but he's better than FUrcal in most instances. I guess you have Polanco going to 2b, but him or Anderson is really indifferent. Thome and Burrell should be outstanding. Burrell is one of the best players that I've seen but that might be slightly skewed because I played him some in college and just the whole Burrell mystique with the girls and whatnot. But he's got a chance to be something good. Abreu is an underachiever but has the talent. Byrd same way -- he plays better than he looks. Lieberthal is a stretch now but, regardless, they have the offense to get it done.
Pitching will be a questionmark. braves might slip a little but they're in a great position to rebound and dominate again. maybe your phillies can seize a brief opportunity
anyway. good to see some baseball talk.
