Those Phightin' Phils

OK, so the Phillies haven't exactly lit the league on fire...yet. But I do predict big things for them this year. Let me explain why.

First of all, they are notorious slow starters. What's the big deal? The MLB season is a marathon, not a sprint, and I would rather finish strong than start strong (unless finishing strong means going on a late-season tear to fall one game short of the playoffs...but that would never happen).

I think this year is no different, and doesn't need to be. We start slow, we break even by the All-Star break, and then we play real good baseball the second half.

What will be different is the outcome, since I believe we have enough talent to take care of business at the end of the year and actually make the playoffs (as you all know, something that hasn't happened since 1993).

The line-up is the big reason why I will be proven right. Their normal, everyday line-up is very solid. You've got some speedsters in Jimmy Rollins (heretofore known as J-Rollin' Blizzunts) and Victorino, big bats in Utley, Howard, and Burrell and a back of the order that has some veteran presence in Rowand and Helms as well as an upstart in Carlos Ruiz (plus when Cole Hamels is pitching, you've got another sweet swinging lefty in the line-up).

But the best part of the line-up is the diversity. Caucasians, Afro-Americans, Hispanics, Hawaiians...no, that's not what I'm talking about.

Witness the day game against San Fran when they rested Howard:

Victorino
Rowand
J-Rollin' Blizzunts
Utley
Burrell
Helms
Nunez
Barajas
Pitcher

Rowand has been on fire lately, and really fit in well in the 2-hole, and J-Roll is leading the NL in homers and fit in nicely batting third. So that's a great line-up.

Also witness the next game, when Helms started at third, Burrell in right and Barajas at catcher. Late in the game Burrell walked and Michael Bourn pinch-ran, stole second, stole third, and basically stole home (short pop-up where he tagged up and knocked the catcher's foot off the plate). Also, Nunez and Ruiz came in for defense/speed in that game as well. So we've got that late inning speed to add to the line-up and sure-handed fielders to protect leads.

You know it's gonna be clutch come playoff time.

You have to give Charlie Manuel some credit, and Pat Gillick. They have a very solid, versatile line-up that they can use to exploit match-ups all season long. And that can be so valuable come playoff time when each pitch is so important. Gillick put it together and Manuel is doing a nice job of getting guys in the game when they can be effective. For instance, he benched Victorino for a few games, which allowed Jayson Werth to get some playing time and not get rusty and/or dissatisfied (that is almost like Kobe being a distributor for 3 quarters to get his team in the game so they will have confidence down the stretch). When Victorino came back, he was red-hot, getting like 10 hits in the Giants series, including a home run, a stolen base or two, and the greatest defensive interference call of the season.

So I think this line-up is going to be able to do some damage this year.

All we need is the rotation to settle in (which I think will happen pretty soon now that Lieber is officially a starter and Freddy Garcia is building up some velocity on his fastball), and for the bullpen to get squared away (which has been, and probably will be, our achilles heel all season). If Myers becomes a stud closer, or Tom Gordon (he won't be known as Flash around here until he proves it) gets his groove back, and Madson returns to form, we get Matt Smith back up, and add a guy before the trade deadline, things will be looking good.

Now, that is a lot to rely on from the bullpen, and if we end up blowing games late in the year, I'm not gonna say I told you so. But I will be thinking it. And probably cursing to myself.

That's all I have to say about that.

And furthermore Susan, let's all just take a deep breath and ponder for one moment the entirity of the Ugueth Urbina situation. From the fact that we traded Placido Polanco when he could have played third instead of David Bell, to the fact that Polanco went on to win ALCS MVP and post the most ridiculous RISP numbers (something the Phillies suck at) to the fact that the player we got out of the deal is now serving time in a freaking South American prison for attempted murder with gasoline and/or machetes....just think about that, please for one moment. I say good riddance. I never could pronounce his name anyway.