2011 Phillies Preview

By Michael Rushton

Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Phillies fans weren't too happy with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. last offseason when he traded away pitcher Cliff Lee on the same day he acquired another former Cy Young Award winner, Roy Halladay.

Amaro couldn't please the fans with another World Series title so he did the next best thing: he brought back Lee.

That could end up being the move of the offseason given the Phillies' questions on offense.

Arguably the top free agent available this past winter, Lee seemed destined to either wind up back with the Texas Rangers after he helped pitch the club to the World Series, or be wearing Yankee pinstripes in the Bronx. However, a dark horse team entered into the mix for the free agent and that club was revealed to be the Phillies after they signed the lefty to a five-year, $120 million contract with a vesting option for a sixth season.

With Halladay and Lee heading a rotation that also includes Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, the toughest thing for Philadelphia's rotation this season may be figuring out a clever nickname for the group that also includes forgotten fifth starter Joe Blanton.

Lee's deal put Philadelphia's payroll over $160 million, so it was no shock that he was the team's only big free agent addition this season. Bringing back the beloved hurler also came after the Phillies lost one of the better offensive free agents, with right fielder Jayson Werth leaving the City of Brotherly Love for a seven-year, $126 million deal with the National League East-rival Washington Nationals.

With arguably the top rotation in baseball, it could be offense that prevents the Phillies from claiming their second World Series title in four seasons.

After finishing with the best record in baseball (97-65) for the first time in team history, Philadelphia rolled through the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Divisional Series, a three-game set that was kicked off by Halladay throwing just the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history.

However, the Phils lost to the Giants in six games in the NLCS, dropping three one-run games while hitting just .178 with runners in scoring position during the series. The final stamp on the disappointing run was slugging first baseman Ryan Howard striking out looking on a 3-2 slider with two on and two out in Game 6 of a 3-2 loss that prevented the Phils from reaching a third straight World Series.

Reward still came to manager Charlie Manuel and Amaro this March, with the duo signing two-year and four-year extensions, respectively. Manuel has flourished since taking over for Larry Bowa in 2005, while Amaro has made a habit of acquiring big name after big name since taking over his role following the 2008 World Series.

One change to watch will be on the basepaths as Philadelphia could not agree on a new contract with former first base coach Davey Lopes, who helped develop the club into a dangerous running team. Coach Sam Perlozzo will shift to first base, with Juan Samuel taking over third-base coach duties.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2011 edition of the Phillies, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2010 FINISH (97-65) - First Place (NL East)

KEY OFFSEASON ADDITIONS: Cliff Lee (LHP), Delwyn Young (INF/OF), Luis Castillo (2B)

KEY OFFSEASON SUBTRACTIONS: Jayson Werth (RF), Chad Durbin (RHP), Mike

Sweeney (1B), Greg Dobbs (3B), Jaime Moyer (LHP)

PROJECTED LINEUP: Jimmy Rollins (SS), Placido Polanco (3B), Chase Utley (2B), Ryan Howard (1B), Raul Ibanez (LF), Shane Victorino (CF), Ben Francisco (RF), Carlos Ruiz (C)

PROJECTED ROTATION: Roy Halladay (RHP), Cliff Lee (LHP), Roy Oswalt (RHP), Cole Hamels (LHP), Joe Blanton (RHP)

PROJECTED CLOSER: Brad Lidge (RHP)

MANAGER: Charlie Manuel

INFIELD

The Phillies were already looking to replace Werth's bat from within, so a knee issue with second baseman Chase Utley is the last thing the club needs. The 32-year-old is battling patellar tendinitis in his right knee, which kept the tough slugger on the bench during the spring. Though surgery is the last option, when he will begin his 2011 season is unknown and a stint on the disabled list to begin things is likely.

A right thumb injury cost Utley 43 games last season and his batting average decreased for a third straight season, down to .275. He also hit just 16 homers after topping 30 in three of his previous four seasons.

Wilson Valdez was the obvious in-house candidate to take over for Utley, but the Phillies did add Luis Castillo in late March, signing him to a minor league deal after his release from the Mets. Castillo, though, is expected to be released if he does not make the club by the end of Spring Training.

While it is unknown when Utley will return, the Phillies are going to have Jimmy Rollins at shortstop and at the top of the batting order come Opening Day. They would like to keep him there all season after the former MVP had trouble shaking off a nagging calf injury in 2010. He also missed time with a hamstring injury late in the season and set career lows in average (.243), RBI (41), stolen bases (17) and games played (88).

Rollins has implemented a yoga regimen to try and stay healthy as he approaches free agency at season's end.

Even without Werth, the Phillies' lineup remains a powerful one with Howard at the cleanup spot. Another former MVP, Howard hit a solid .276 last season in 143 games -- missing some time with an ankle injury -- but his 31 homers and 108 RBI were his lowest totals in five seasons. Howard is usually good for 40- plus homers and about 140 RBI, and the Phillies will need that this season without Werth.

The Phillies signed Placido Polanco to take over third base and hit second in 2010 and he did both jobs well despite battling a left elbow issue.

Carlos Ruiz is the club's much-respected catcher and he has drawn praise for how he handles the pitching staff. Halladay gave his catcher much credit after his perfect game last April and Ruiz didn't slouch at the plate either, hitting .302 while batting mostly out of the eighth spot.

OUTFIELD

Werth won't be easy to replace as he was arguably the Phils' most consistent hitter a season ago. He hit .296 with 27 homers and 85 RBI and it was thought that it might take two to replace him in right.

Philadelphia figured to be going with highly-rated prospect Domonic Brown, a lefty, and last year's fourth outfielder Ben Francisco in a platoon situation, but Brown suffered a fractured right hand in early March that is expected to sideline him for 4-to-6 weeks. That makes Francisco the starter and he hit .268 with six homers and 28 RBI in 88 games last year.

Center fielder Shane Victorino is coming off his third straight Gold Glove, but saw his average dip 33 points in 2010. He was expected to hit in the sixth and seventh spots, but moved to the top of the order when Rollins was hurt. He will hit lower in the order again this year as long as Rollins stays healthy and that could impact how much damage he can do on the basepaths with his speed.

Left fielder Raul Ibanez, entering the final season of a three-year contract, will be one of the players moving up in the lineup with Werth's departure after hitting .275 with 16 homers and 83 RBI a season ago.

STARTING ROTATION

Even with Lee's arrival, Halladay remains at the head of the table in the Phillies' rotation. The 33-year-old went 21-10 with a 2.44 earned run average, leading the NL with 250 2/3 innings pitched while becoming an unanimous choice for the league's Cy Young Award. Halladay, the fifth pitcher to win the award in both leagues, became the Phillies' first right-handed 20-game winner since Robin Roberts in 1955.

Lee will slot in right behind Halladay after splitting time with the Mariners and Rangers a season ago. He did miss some time with an oblique strain and went just 4-6 in 15 starts with Texas after going 8-3 with the Mariners. He posted a combined 3.18 ERA in his 28 starts, but lost both of his World Series outings.

Halladay and Lee figure to shorten Philadelphia's bullpen as the two combined for 16 complete games in 2010.

Looking for pitching help at the trade deadline a season ago, Amaro grabbed Oswalt from the Astros and he was excellent down the stretch, going 7-1 in 13 games with the Phillies with an outstanding 1.74 ERA.

Not many teams have a former World Series MVP as their fourth starter, but that is what the Phillies possess in the left-handed Hamels, who was 12-11 with a 3.06 ERA in 33 starts while going over 200 innings pitched for the second time in his career.

Blanton could also be the best fifth starter in baseball. Though he struggled at the onset of last season after missing the first 24 games with an oblique strain, the righty went 6-0 with a 3.42 ERA in his final 14 appearances, all but one of those starts.

Due to make $17 million over the next two years, Blanton could be the first to get dealt if the Phillies need to improve in another area.

BULLPEN

This season could be an audition to see who will close for the Phillies in 2012.

The incumbent is Brad Lidge, who has a team option for 2012 but battled injury last year and has blown 16 saves in two seasons since his perfect 41-for-41 regular season in 2008. Lidge did bounce back a little last year, posting a 2.96 ERA in 50 games after having a 7.21 ERA the previous year over 67 games.

Ryan Madson is also in the final year of his contract and is the eighth-inning guy. Madson is thought to have closer stuff, but he blew five saves when Lidge was hurt. In 55 games last year, he went 6-2 with a 2.55 ERA.

The rest of the bullpen are all holdovers from last year. The Phillies opted to re-sign both right-hander Jose Contreras (two years) and lefty J.C. Romero (one year), bringing the latter back after deciding not to exercise a $4.5 million option. Romero opted to return for less.

Though Philadelphia lost set-up man Chad Durbin, righty Danys Baez and southpaw Antonio Bastardo also return, while Kyle Kendrick will likely be the long man after getting squeezed out of the rotation.

BENCH

The injuries to Utley and Brown opened up additional bench spots, likely to be filled by outfielder John Mayberry Jr., infielder/outfielder Delwyn Young or Rule-5 pick Michael Martinez.

Catcher Brian Schneider (.240, 4 HR, 15 RBI) returns for his second season as Ruiz's backup, while Ross Gload (.281, 6 HR, 22 RBI) can fill in at first and right field.

Barring injury, the Phillies' bench isn't likely to get much work as Manuel has a tendency to ride his starters for long stretches.

OUTLOOK

While the Phillies did fail to claim their third straight NL pennant, they have captured the last four NL East titles and figure to be the favorites to win both again this season. Few teams can match up with their rotation, but the pressure will be on Lidge and Madson to hold the leads that the staff gives them. Even without Utley, the Phillies still have a very capable lineup and some weight will come off the bats if the rotation dominates like it is built to. Philadelphia's core is starting to show its age a bit with recent injury and the offense can't afford to be without too many players at once. Still, it is World Series or bust for this club.