2012 MLB Handicapping: Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have ruled the roost in the NL East for the last five seasons, but this team was not put together just to win division titles.
MLB Team Betting Previews- Philadelphia Phillies
Odds to Win the NL East: -250
Odds to Win the National League Pennant: +200
Odds to Win the World Series: +500
2012 Projected Win Total: 93
It has its sight set on getting back to and winning the World Series in 2012 The odds clearly state that they are the team to beat, but the memory of two early exits from the postseason in 2010 and 2011 are a constant reminder that nothing is a given in this sport.
The main firepower behind the Phillies chances still rest in a starting rotation that features Roy Halladay as its ace, followed by a very small drop-off in Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. The rotation is rounded-out by Joe Blanton and Vance Worley, who would actually be a pretty good one-two combination on a number of other teams.
Overall, the Phillies led the NL in pitching in 2011 with a team ERA of 3.02 and a 1.17 WHIP and should do so again this year.
The one key addition to the bullpen was Jonathan Pabelbon to fill the role of last season’s closer, Ryan Madson. The Phillies still have Kyle Kendrick, Antonio Bastardo, and David Herndon among others to handle middle and late relief.
Philadelphia comes into this season with some genuine concern over the health of its All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard, who is expected to miss the first month or two of the regular season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Hunter Pence will most likely take over Howard’s fourth spot in the lineup and John Mayberry Jr. or Ty Wigginton will handle his duties at first base.
The rest of the lineup remains intact with Jimmie Rollins back in the leadoff spot and Shane Victorino, Chase Utley, and Placido Polanco filling-out the rest of the batting order.
The Phillies overall production dropped-off last season with a total of 713 runs after scoring 772 in 2011 and 820 runs in 2009, but injuries throughout the batting order kept a number of the players mentioned above out of the lineup for extended periods of time.
If this group can stay healthy for the better part of the season, you can fully expect the overall run production to go right back up.
2012 Outlook
There is little doubt that this team is going to win a heck of a lot of more games than it will lose, but catching last season’s lofty 102 win total may be a bit out of reach.
None the less, the Phillies should coast to their sixth-straight NL East title by at least five or six games in preparation for the real test for this team; the postseason.
Prediction: 95-67 and first in the NL East
