MLB 30 Teams Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

[Frank Stallone]

Manager:

Ryne Sandberg (2nd season in PHI)

Last Season:

73-89, 4th in NL East, 13th in NL

Key Additions:

C Wil Nieves
SS Ronny Cedeno
RF Marlon Byrd
CF Tony Gwynn Jr.
RF Bobby Abreu
SP Roberto Hernandez (Fausto Carmona)

Key Departures:

C Erik Kratz
CF Roger Bernadina
RF Casper Wells
UTIL Michael Martinez
SP Roy Halladay
SP John Lannan
SP Tyler Cloyd
RP Joe Savary

Projected Lineup:
(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: AVG/OBP/SLG HR-RBI-SB)

CF Ben Revere (.288/.326/.345 1-31-34)
SS Jimmy Rollins (.256/.319/.384 12-52-20)
2B Chase Utley (.260/.338/.445 15-59-9)
1B Ryan Howard (.238/.310/.453 18-67-0)
RF Marlon Byrd (.276/.325/.441 16-73-3)
LF Domonic Brown (.272/.333/.497 24-74-9)
C Carlos Ruiz (.274/.343/.406 9-51-2)
3B Cody Asche (.246/.296/.388 15-70-7)

Projected Rotation:
(ZIPS PROJECTIONS: W-L, ERA)

Cole Hamels (13-9, 3.31)
Cliff Lee (12-7, 3.04)
AJ Burnett (11-10, 3.94)
Kyle Kendrick (10-10, 4.23)
Roberto Hernandez (Fausto Carmona) (6-9, 5.02)

Projected Bullpen:
ZIPS PROJECTIONS: W-L, ERA, WHIP)

CL Jonathan Papelbon (4-2, 32 saves, 3.04, 1.08)
RH Mike Adams (4-3, 3.63, 1.23)
LH Antonio Bastardo (4-2, 3.14, 1.21)
RH Brad Lincoln (4-3, 4.07, 1.34)
LH Jake Diekman (2-2, 4.21, 1.61)
RH Justin De Fratus (4-3, 3.92, 1.35)
RH Ethan Martin (6-12, 5.73, 1.80)

Best Case:

Everyone stays healthy. Utley continues to build a case for the Hall of Fame while Howard and Rollins rebound from rough stretches. Hamels, Adams and Martin all return quickly from the DL with Martin developing into Adams' successor as the setup man. Young bullpen arms like Diekman and De Fratus find consistency. Freddy Galvis heals quickly from MRSA. Ryne Sandberg and Larry Bowa get off their high horses and don't alienate players. Ruben Amaro doesn't do anything stupid at the trade deadline. The team has a desperately needed second good draft in a row.

Worst Case:

Utley's knees flare up like it's 2011/12 or he has another freak injury. Sandberg refuses to platoon Howard and he doesn't get a hit off a LHP for two months. Hamels has setbacks and the team cannot find a fifth starter due to injuries to Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Jonathan Pettibone, and Adam Morgan. Rollins continues to regress, butts heads with Sandberg and Bowa, and hits his vesting option, bringing him back for 2015 at $11 million despite being in constant battle with his coaches. An oblique injury for Darin Ruf and MRSA for Freddy Galvis leaves the Phils' bench totally barren for major stretches, relying on Bobby Abreu and Ronny Cedeno for pinch-hitting situations. Cody Asche fails to develop. More minor leaguers get major injuries. The team drafts several top college prospects who all refuse to sign because the Phillies are now known for snitching.

Prediction:

The worst case scenario.