A Fanspeak Guest Blog By Corey M. Schwartz

Up to about 48 hours ago I would have started this section by talking about what an x-factor is and how there are really only a select few teams each year that have this intangible aura. Unfortunately, just two weeks into the Phillies camp this spring, that aforementioned x-factor that the Phils have carried with them over the last several years has suddenly turned into a new meaning. As in, how many times will Phillies players have to be x-rayed during spring training?

What was poised to be one of the most interesting position battles at Clearwater, FL this spring has sadly come to an abrupt end. In an exhibition game against the Pirates on Saturday, Domonic Brown fractured the hook of the hamate bone in his right hand while fouling off a pitch during his first at-bat in the second inning. A sport notoriously known, as “a game of inches” just became a game of stitches as Brown will head back to Philadelphia this week for what looks like surgery to repair the fractured bone. Talk about a tough break for the kid.

It looks like the timetable for Domonic if he needs surgery will be a 3-6 week recovery and then probably a 2-week extended spring training to get him back into the swing of things. That means Brown would not be eligible/ready to play for the Phils until about mid-May at the earliest in 2011. So what does that mean for the “fight for your right field” competition for the Phillies?

Well, although there is still technically competition between Ben Francisco and John Mayberry Jr. for the right field position, almost everyone now sees the battle as Ben’s position to lose. So far Ben is hitting .364 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI’s, which puts him as the hottest offensive player in camp this spring. If you ask me, he is definitely making his voice heard. John is holding his own too with a .300 average and 2 home runs and 2 RBI’s this spring. The question becomes, is their room on the opening day roster for both?

Unfortunately Domonic Brown’s visit to radiography department is not the only one for the Phils this spring. The grit, the heart, the quiet storm of intensity for the Philadelphia Phillies – Chase Utley, is now one cortisone shot deep this spring. In fact, Chase has not registered a single at-bat this spring for the Phillies due to Patellar tendonitis. In my opinion, coming from a strong health background, this is not a good sign at all regarding seeing Chase’s name on the opening day lineup.

Coming off a season low in games played due to multiple injuries, tendonitis is not an acute injury or one that just sneaks up on a player. If you read some of the recent articles published by baseball journalists around the world, many are now stating that Chase went into spring training with this issue. If that’s the case, why wasn’t the injury treated more proactively (I am looking at you Chase and the Phillies)?

The Phillies had a few extra weeks off this off-season that rounded out to almost four months. I am guessing that this injury either developed during his off-season conditioning or is still lingering from the end of last year. If that’s the case, why was he not resting and receiving treatment for it prior to spring training?

Chase, I get it. The Phillies fans and practically the entire world realize it. You are a badass hard-nose team player that leaves it all on the field. I have the utmost respect for your playing style and the city of Philadelphia has practically enshrined you after becoming “freaking” world champions. However, there is a fine line between being a team player by playing through pain and being stubborn and potentially hurting your team.

The city of Philadelphia and Phillies fans across the world are begging you Chase, don’t try to push through the pain again. Rest your knee, fix what ever it is that needs to be fixed and come back when you are strong. I rather have a healthy Chase in October then a Quasimodo in March.

As it looks right now, the Phillies may be starting the season without their all-star second baseman Chase Utley and rookie sensation in the making Domonic Brown. Does this mean Phillies fans alike need to start popping their Brad Lidge influenced anti-anxiety pills earlier in the season? Honestly I see no need to start waving red flags as of yet.

If you ask me, the Phillies are on the X and they have been for several years now. No, not that kind of X that everyone in baseball assumes SF Giants closer Brian Wilson is on, but instead, that intangible factor that allows teams to embrace adversity in order to continue to win and prevail. In 2007 the Phillies overcame a 7 game deficit to win the NL East crown to the demise of the self-imploding Mets. In 2010 everyone except Jaysen Werth in the starting lineup spent time on the DL and nevertheless the Phillies still found ways to win.

So how exactly do we quantify this x-factor? Simply put, it’s not necessarily being able to win games, but collectively, as a team, the ability to know how to continuously win games regardless of the kind or amount of adversity faced. Point blank: the Phillies know how to win. They have too much talent, too much experience, and too much drive to falter in the face of adversity. The x-factor is not a player, coach or even management style, instead, it’s the summation of all three. My prediction: 2011 Phillies 107-55, World Series Champions over Boston Red Sox in 6.

Corey, an avid Phillies fan, will be analyzing the Phillies chances at another ring through a 3-part series looking at their offense, pitching, and the x-factor. Part I Part II

Corey is also the Founder and CEO of RemixYourHealth, a grassroots and social media based health promotion initiative. Visit RemixYourHealth.com for more information or e-mail Corey at corey@remixyourhealth.com. Also check out the RemixYourHealth Group on FanSpeak!

A Guest Blog By Fanspeak contributing writer Kyle Howard:

Just about a month away from the offical start of the MLB 2011 season. Many offseason publicity and free agency moves make this year in the MLB very interesting. Crawford to the Red Sox, Cliff Lee back to the Phillies, Werth to the Nationals, and Rafeal Soriano are only some of the new faces, in new places from this years offseason transactions. Here is my run through on my projections for this year:

AL East:

1) Red Sox; It kills me to put the Soxs as my division winners being a diehard Yankees fan but the Red Sox really beefed up their line up with the acquisitions of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. Their line up is as good as any in baseball and their pitching staff when healthy is top 5 in the league. Look for the Sox to make it back to October with either a division title or a wild card spot.

2) Yankees; Many Yankee fans look at this offseason as a failure. Not being able to convince Cliff Lee or Zach Greinke to come to New York was a tough pill to swallow. Their line up is still as lethal as any in the game and with the acquisition of Rafeal Soriano to help set up Rivera in the 9th really helped the needs of the bullpen. The starting pitching is going to be the real question mark throughout the season. If Burnett can turn his season around, Nova can turn into an every 5 day starter and the Mark Prior project can make strides, the Yankees will be pushing for yet another division title. Look for them to contend with the Sox until the last month of the season and either walking away with a wild card spot or best case scenario a division title.

3) Orioles; The Orioles are my surprise team of the league this year. They have done a great job of loading up on young talent and I feel that 2011 is the year they start making some noise. With Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, and Matt Wieters being the focal points of this team, the pitching talent needs to step up and you may be looking at a very dangerous team in the next few years. Look for the Orioles to have an above average year and finishing 3rd in the AL East.

4) Tampa Bay; Tampa Bay is in a transitioning period. They lost Crawford, Garza, and Soriano to free agentcy/trades and that leaves some big holes to fill for some young talented players in their farm system. With the acquistion of Manny and Damon, the Rays bring in some experience to their club with a more risk/reward mentality. The Rays staff is still a dangerous one lead by David Price and Evan Longoria will only improve and maybe a darkhorse candidate for MVP this year. Give the Rays some time to develop and they will be back in the postseason within the next couple of weeks.

5) Toronto; With still lingering questions on what Toronto’s next move is going to be, look for them to have a down year this year. Jose Bautista coming off a 54 home run year campaign and getting an extention I could see having a downer year. With some young potential pitching talent, look for the Blue Jays to use those as trade bait especially strikeout specialist Brandon Morrow.

AL Central:

1) Twins; It is difficult for me to pick a winner in this division being as the parity is so well distributed, so I will take experience and choose the Twinkees as the division winner. With Morneau coming back and the ability to resign Pavano, who is an innings machine, the Twins are poised to be the front runners of this jam packed division. If Nathan comes back healthy from his season ending surgury last year look for the Twins to be the winners of this division.

2) White Sox; Last year was a disappointment for the White Sox. With much publicity hovering over Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox struggled for most of the season. With the key offseason acquistion of Adam Dunn and resigning Paul Konerko this team will have quite a powerful 4 and 5 spots in their line up. Also, Buerhle leading the staff followed by Floyd and Danks, look for this team to contend with the Twins for the division title and the loser will be in the wild card hunt.

3) Tigers; The Tigers 2011 season is on the shoulders of how healthy/sober Miguel Cabrera can be. The man has as much talent as their is in the MLB but, off field troubles have put the Tigers in a spin. Offseason acquistion Victor Martinez adds some power to a line up that was in desperate need for help around Cabrera.  Verlander leads this young staff, and when he is on is one of the most powerful pitchers in the league. A sophmore slump from promising young star Rick Porcello was a key difference maker in the Tigers 2010 season. If Porcello can get over his 2nd year struggles, look for the Tigers to contend for a majority of the season, but I feel the off the field publicity and inexperience in pitching will lead them to a 3rd place finish.

4) Royals; Its been a bad decade for the Royals but, this year,  I can see them making some strides to becoming a better squad. Alex Gordon needs to become the player we all thought he would become when he was drafted 4th overall in 2005. Luke Hochevar splashed onto the scene last year with a decent season and showing signs he could become a decent starter at the Major league level. The Royals still have a long way to go but, if their draft picks start stepping up the next 5 years could look promising for this squad.

5) Indians; The Indians are in the rebuilding stage as an organization. With many young prospects gained from the Cliff Lee trade and Victor Martinez trade, look for this team to show a lot of new faces this year. Shin soo Choo is a rising star in the outfield showing signs of power and batting average and a good piece to build around. This will be a struggling year for the Indians and will stay that way unless they make some noise at the trade deadline.

AL West:

1) Angels; Coming off a very disappointing season last year look for the Angels to make it back to the postseason this year. With a star studed staff lead by Jared Weaver, Scott Kazmir, and Ervin Santana look for the pitching to help carry this team into October. Kendry Morales maybe the biggest difference maker on this team this season. If he comes back as healthy as he was before his ACL accident, look for him to be another darkhorse MVP candidate.

2) Texas; Losing Cliff Lee to free agency crippled this teams potential for years to come. Coming off of the organizations first World Series experience the sky was the limit for this team. Led by MVP Josh Hamilton and power slugging OF Nelson Cruz, this team will go as far as these 2 stars can stay healthy. With questions surrounding the starting staff, look for the Rangers to pick up an arm at the trade deadline in hopes of making another push into October.

3) Athletics; The Athletics have one of the best young pitching staffs in baseball and they live and die on how well these young guns can do. Grant Balfour, Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill,  Brett Anderson, and Andrew Bailey are the cornerstones of this young franchise. Dont be surprised if they A’s make a push at the deadline by moving one of these players for a bat in an often weak line up with an aging Eric Chavez. Look for the Athletics to continue rebuilding and continue improvement for years to come.

4) Mariners; The Mariners need power and they need it fast. The Mariners were last in almost every statistical batting category last year and they need to add some power to that line up. With much promise in former 2nd overall pick Dustin Ackley from UNC, it wont be a surprise to see him starting by mid season. Felix Hernandez is just a decent offensive team away from being arguably the best pitcher and baseball and look for him to continue his dominence in 2011.

NL East:

1) Phillies; Many analyst have it already penciled in that the Phillies will be holding up another World Series Title come October in 2011. With possibly the best 4 starters ever to be assembled on a single team, look for them to dominate most of the teams in the NL. Additions such as Cliff Lee only make this team even stronger and a star studded line up to back him up it will be quite a challenge to take this team in a 7 game series. With Werth gone that opens up the spot for top prospect Dominic Brown to take the rains of right field. The Phillies will walk away with this division and by July be focusing on the Playoffs.

2) Braves; The Braves suprised many of us last year and this year are a team not to mess with. With Hudson, Hanson, and Lowe leading the staff and the emergence of Jason Heyward becoming a star in the MLB, and the acquisition of Dan Uggla,  look for the Braves to win a wild card and being on an upset alert come playoff time.

3) Marlins; The Marlins have been trying to develop young talent for most of the past couple of years in hopes of turning into a legit playoff squad. Lead by MVP candidate Hanley Rameriz and pitching stud Josh Johnson, the Marlins are looking for an additional bat and arm to help make a charge at a competitive East division.

4) Mets; I really do not know where to start with Los Mets. They have as much talent as a team would need to make an apperance in the postseason but, for some reason they never seem to all click at the same time. Look for this years Mets team to be centered around David Wright and a healthy Jose Reyes. Pitching is very suspect due to Johan having elbow surgery. Look for the Mets to try and compete but come up short in the East race.

5) Nationals; Being from Northern Virginia and having been to multiple Nats games its difficult for me to put them in this position. Strasburg is what brought this team alive and made them play with passion and pride but, with Tommy John Surgery dont look for Strasburg to be throwing until September, if they even decide to let him throw at all. With key acquistion of Jayson Werth, the Nats will be along the same lines of production as last year. The future looks bright in Washington and if Strasburg can come back as good as he left, and Harper doesn’t disappoint down in the minors, this team will be fun to watch in the coming years.

NL Central:

1) Cubs; I know its as shocking to you as it is to me that the Cubs are going to finish first in the division. The Cubs made a key move in acquiring Garza this winter, and if their young talent continues to produce look for them to be a sneaky good team come playoff time. This pick is definitely a stretch and my upset of the year.

2) Reds; The surprise team of the year in 2010, the Reds will be looking to capitalize on thier run last year and continue it into this year. Joey Votto is the leader of this squad and looks to duplicate is MVP year last year and transition it to this year. Pitching was a strong point for the Reds last year but, I feel that they will struggle this year with to much inconsistentcy. Look for the Reds to make it back to the post season and be a contender as a wild card.

3) Cardinals; The Cardinals would be first in the Central if it werent for the staggering news on Adam Wainwright out for the season. The loss of Wainwright equals trouble for this club. With the huge injury to the staff and an unhappy Albert Pujols, look for this club to have a difficult time with all the distractions and end up chasing a wild card spot.

4) Brewers; The Brewers have 2 young stars in Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder, arguably 1 of the best tandems in the league. With the line up set up to produce runs the Brewers made a huge trade in aquiring Zack Greinke to help with the staff. Look for the Brewers to improve and possibly take the Cardinals spot and fighting for a spot in the post season.

5) Astros; It is easy to say that the Astros are in a rebuilding year. Losing Roy Oswalt to a trade pretty much sums it up. With young talent in the minors and an aging outfield minus Hunter Pence, look for the Astros to struggle most the year and look to being sellers at the deadline

6) Pirates; This team is the only team that manages to get great prospects and trade them away. The Pirates have not had a well established club since the 80′s and I don’t see that happening this year. Their one true star Andrew McCutchen is a lead-off hitter and you can’t build a team around that. Zack Duke will finish with a sub .500 win record and they will use many new arms from their farm system this year. Sorry so called “City of Champions” but you may want to concentrate on NFL happening in the fall and Crosby recovering over watching this squad this year.

NL West:

1) Giants; The defending World Series Champions have to be the favorites to come out of this jam packed West division. Offseason loss of World Series MVP, Edgar Renteria, leaves a big hole at shortstop and Juan Uribe’s departure to division rival LA leaves a big spot open at the utility role. With the young guns on the pitching staff such as Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner leading the way and crazy Wilson closing out games, look for this team to make it back to the Postseason in a coinflip of a division.

2) Rockies; the Rockies struggled last year despite the fact they are known as being a second half team only 2 years removed from their prolific playoff run. With flame thrower Ubaldo Jimenez leading the staff and Troy Tulowitzki the captain of the team. Look for the Rockies to make some noise and be a strong challenger for being the wild card team come October.

3) Padres; the Padres had a banner of a year last season coming down to the wire last season with the Giants going into the last game of the season. The Padres have an underrated pitching staff lead by rising star Mat Latos, with verterans such as Jon Garland to help mentor the fire baller. Free Agency hit the Padres hard by losing their superstar first basemen Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox. I can see the Padres relying on their arms to keep them in the race but with no one significant to replace Gonzalez, runs are going to be hard to come by for this club.

4) Diamondbacks; This team is tricky to pick. One day their hot the next day their not. After giving up Dan Haren to the Angels in return for some prospects, the diamondbacks are clearly a process in the making. Relying heavily on star outfielder Justin Upton is going to be too much for this team to overcome.

Playoff Predition:

AL                                           NL                                         World Series

Red Sox                              Giants                               Phillies vs. Red Sox

Yankees                            Cubs                                         Phillies win 4-2

Angels                               Phillies

Twins                                 Rockies

A Guest Blog By Corey M. Schwartz

Pitching is often touted as the essential ingredient for winning championships while offense is often referred to as the entity that fills the seats. You would think that with a lineup consisting of players by the names of Howard, Utley, Rollins, and Victorino would be the guaranteed magnet that continues to draw consecutive sellouts to Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia this summer. However, in 2011, we may hear about another foursome that overtakes that throne.

Historically, if you ask any merchandise director of a professional baseball team what position sells consistently the most, I guarantee their response will be an offensive player. However, for the first time in franchise history the pitching staff of the Philadelphia Phillies might legitimately outsell the rest of the team as the city of brotherly love shows they also <3 their pitchers.

I could honestly spend the next five years discussing how R2C2 (commonly known as Halladay, Oswalt, Hamels, and Lee) may in fact be the best starting four pitchers any rotation, yet alone the Phillies, has ever embraced in baseball. However, rather than spending several paragraphs gushing like a school girl over how much talent the Phillies starting rotation presents this year. Instead, I will just share some statistics that will concisely express the awesomeness that is about to embark in the city of Philadelphia. Enjoy:

Wins – Loss ERA CG K
481-275            3.47  105   5,362

Low and behold, the above statistics are the combine career stats for Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels. Without jinxing the Phillies pitching staff, I think the biggest concern this year for the Phantastic Phour is not their impending success, but who will come out at the end of the season as the statistical ace of the staff. Keep an eye on this starting rotation as it seems for this deck of arms, aces will be wild.

Loudly heard, the biggest concern for the Phillies pitching staff going into the 2011 baseball season is the current state of their bullpen. After spending close to 100 million dollars on their fierce starting rotation over the last two years, the Phillies have unfortunately neglected the one area on their team that needed the most attention – middle relief.

Inadvertently, the Phillies pitching staff is exceptionally strong at the front (Oswalt, Halladay, Hamels, Lee, Blanton) and at the rear (Contreras, Madson, Lidge), but like an Oreo, they currently have a very weak middle. Even more troublesome the most consistent middle reliever of the Phils pitching staff over the last several years – Chad Durbin – has still not re-signed with the club in 2011. As it looks right now, the bullpen lines-up like this on Opening Day 2011:

Middle Relief:
Danys Baez, David Herndon, and Kyle Kendrick

Left-Handed Specialist:
JC Romero, Antonio Bastardo

Setup:
Ryan Madson, Jose Contreras

Closer:
Brad Lidge

Excitingly for the Phillies this year, Madson came off an impressive year in the setup roll in 2010, Jose Contreras was very consistent last season, and for the first time in three years Brad Lidge reported to spring training this year healthy and probably in the best shape of his career. On the flip side of that coin, JC Romero walked more people than he struck out in 2010, Antonio Bastardo has very little major league experience and Baez, Herndon, and Kendrick are inconsistent at best.

So, as a die-hard Phillies fan, we can only hope that the work ethic, competitiveness, and energy surrounding the Phillies starting rotation will rub off on the rest of the pitchers this spring. Yes, pitching can and will win championships, but only if their whole is stronger than the parts that makes up its’ composition. With young pitchers waiting in the wings like Vance Worley, Michael Zagurski, Brian Schlitter, and Justin De Fratus, I expect no less than an arms race this spring for the middle relief spots on the opening day 25-man roster. Let the games begin…

Corey, an avid Phillies fan, will be analyzing the Phillies chances at another ring through a 3-part series looking at their offense, pitching, and the x-factor. Corey is also the Founder and CEO of RemixYourHealth, a grassroots and social media based health promotion initiative. Visit RemixYourHealth.com for more information.

A Fanspeak Guest Blog By Corey M. Schwartz

There is a certain glow around the Phillies spring training camp this year, and it’s more than just Jimmy Rollins 10K diamond earrings or Ryan Howard’s White Escalade with 26” Chrome Asantis Rims. In fact, the glow surfaces primarily from four individuals who do everything they can to hide from the limelight, and honestly, show less emotion come game time than a British Royal Guard. However, is that really where we should be focusing our attention regarding the Phillies?

Philadelphia is a city poised for greatness and triumphed battles (see Rocky I-VI, Liberty Bell, Pat’s vs. Geno’s, the film Philadelphia, Invincible, Tasty Cakes, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Transformers, etc.). Embarking on the 2011 baseball season, the Philadelphia Phillies will head to the table with four aces, $161 million payroll, and a potential wild card in Domonic Brown. Does this guarantee to be a winning hand? Honestly, I am not convinced.

What MLB coach wouldn’t want to wake up in the morning and hand the baseball over to their 4th starter, an individual that will either have a Cy Young, NLCS MVP, WS MVP, or comeback player of the year award under their belt? Don’t get me wrong; the Phillies starting rotation will win this year – a lot of games too. In fact, I predict that in 2011 their starting rotation will have at least two, 20 game winners. The last time Philadelphia witnessed that occurring was almost 100 years ago in 1916 when Grover Alexander (32) and Eppa Rixey (22) accomplished the feat.

Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hammels, and Cliff Lee – now referred to as R2C2 by the media world – would make any coach giddy about the upcoming baseball season. In fact, the great prophet Jimmy Rollins just announced his prediction for the 2011 baseball season – 100+ wins and possibly the most wins in baseball history. It’s true, offense attracts the fans, but pitching will always win championships. But the bigger question here is, can these four high-profile pitchers be enough to overcome some glaring holes in the Phillies lineup and an overall aging team (average age = 30+)?

With the departure of the power hitting right-handed bat of Jayson Werth to the Nationals during the off-season, the first major question I must present is “Who’s in right?” At a glance, the obvious solution here would be the Phillies Top 25 MLB prospect Domonic Brown. Brown’s ability to hit for average and power and his often-touted speed and arm make him a potential 5-tool super-star in the making. Unfortunately there are two problems’ with this solution: 1.) Did anyone else watch Brown’s swing disappear like a Harry Houdini act last fall? And 2.) He’s another left-handed bat.

Nevertheless, it seems Domonic will be Philadelphia’s go to guy. The Phillies have stated emphatically over the last two weeks that he’s been working extremely hard this winter to correct some major flaws in his swing that showed face late last season. Essentially, it’s Domonic’s position to lose this spring. Trust me, everyone especially Charlie and Domonic hope that this means the return of his double threat attack of power and hitting for average that he showcased in the minors. The reality of it all, however, is even if his swing returns; can he handle the rigors of a full major league baseball season?

Mechanically, Brown may be back to the feared hitter he was in the Phillies farm system. Unfortunately for him, and the Phillies, is the fact that he is another left-handed bat in an already extremely heavy left-handed lineup. Does being left-handed mean being left-out come opening day? I guess we will just have to wait and see how well downtown Brown performs this spring.

As it sits right now, the projected lineup for the Phillies come April 1st, 2011 will look something like this:

SS Jimmy Rollins S
3B Placido Polanco R
2B Chase Utley L
1B Ryan Howard L
LF Raul Ibanez L
CF Shane Victorino S
RF Domonic Brown L
C Carlos Ruiz R

With not one right-handed power bat, yet alone right-handed bat period in the middle of that lineup, any team with a left-handed pitcher who can break 80 on the radar gun and throw something that resembles a breaking or off-speed pitch can potentially handle the meat of the Phillies lineup with relative ease. This-is-not-good!

How can the Phillies ratify this issue? There options as of right now are slim to none with bringing in either Ben Francisco or John Mayberry off of the bench. At best, Ben (4yr exp., .263, 39, 140) has been very streaky with his productivity in a Phillies uniform but has shown promise when given the opportunity to play regularly. John (2yr exp., .232, 6, 14), although showing promise as a potential power hitting outfielder, has very littler major league experience and has seemed to adopt Ryan Howard’s philosophy on off-speed pitching – swing often, swing hard, swing and a miss.

The haunting question becomes, are the Phillies setting themselves up for yet another epic fail offensively come playoff time (see: 2010 NLCS vs. Giants)?

In my opinion, one of two things needs to happen in 2011 in order for the Phillies to return to the World Series. Either Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez invest their combined $30+ millions dollar salaries this year in an off-speed pitch hitting coach, or the Phillies need to hope and pray that Domonic Brown will be productive against both left and right –handed pitching in his first full year of major league service. Oh yeah, and if the Phillies can find Ponce De León’s “Fountain of Youth” while in Florida this spring, that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Viva la Moyer!

I guess what it will really come down to for the Phillies this year is being able to win with the cards that they are dealt, and not necessarily just having the best hand in the deck. Even if the Phillies really do have four aces in their hand.

(Corey, an avid Phillies fan, will be analyzing the Phillies chances at another ring through a 3-part series looking at their offense, pitching, and the x-factor. Corey is also the Founder and CEO of RemixYourHealth, a grassroots and social media based health promotion initiative. Visit RemixYourHealth.com for more information or check out the RemixYourHealth Group on FanSpeak!)

A Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Corey Schwartz

Saturday morning when I woke up I was a tad giddy. Not because I defeated a hangover, not because I lived to see another day, but for the first time in my life, I was going to see a playoff baseball game. This wasn’t just any game, but game one of the National League Championship Series between the San Francisco Giants and my favorite team – the Philadelphia Phillies.

I’ve been to hundreds of games at Citizen Bank Park. Many of which took place in the not-so-hay-days of the Philadelphia Phillies in the early to mid 00’s. I’ve also been at games that were so loud that my hearing was muffled for the next few days. What I endured last night, however, is nothing I could have imagined. And not in a good way…

Over the last several years Philadelphia Phillies fans have been very passionate about their team in red. Understandably so, with four straight years in the playoffs, three straight NLDS titles, three straight NLCS appearances, two NLCS titles, two consecutive world series appearances, and one world championship. They Phillies may or may not be on the cusp of a baseball dynasty, but they are sure as hell making a case for one.

The pitching matchup for the game had the potential to be one for the ages. Roy Halladay – Mr. Incredible himself; faced off with Tim Lincecum – a guy if met on the streets would never take the appearance of a 2-time Cy Young award winner with a fastball in the mid 90’s. These two stallions were more or less mustangs than anything else last night.

Although the game ended with a relatively low score, I think the world, especially Philadelphia fans, did not witness the perfection they expected. I think this concept goes well beyond the pitching matchup of elite.

I found it quite frustrating to witness such a lack of emotion and intensity from a set of fans that I’ve come to love and expect to be pretty damn annoying. Throughout several innings I found my friend and I standing, yelling, and cheering while surrounded by a sea of relatively quite sitting phanatics. In fact, there were a couple of instances in which we were even asked to take a sit by surrounding “fans.”

I don’t know about you but when I pay good money to be part of something very few people through support of very few teams get to achieve, I want to give my team my all in return. Philadelphia fans, except for a handful of outbursts, were uncharacteristically quiet last night. In all honesty, quietly sitting during a semi-final playoff game is like doing the wave at a funereal. There’s no place for it, and to be quite frankly, it is incredibly embarrassing for everyone.

Phillies fans, you disappointed me last night.

Anyone can look-up the box score from last night’s game and get a pretty good understanding of the underlining pulse of baseball played. What you can’t receive from the box score is the borderline flat line felt throughout the stadium last night. Phillies fans, you are better than this. I whole-heartily believe that the success of a team leans heavily on the support it receives from its fans. Last night we let down our men in red.

Wake up Philadelphia, the Phillies need you. Let’s get in gear, let’s get into our notorious obnoxiousness, and let’s beat those Giants. We want another freezing parade down Broad Street, we want another World Phucking Champions by Chase Utley, and we want our title back.

Stand up Philadelphia, pound that beer, inhale that cheesesteak, be obnoxious, and be loud. For a city that has never had an issue with speaking up, now is not the time to be quiet.

A Guest Blog By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Willypops

Certainly the major sports news topic in recent days has been the no-hitter tossed by the Phillies Roy Halladay against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of their National League Divisional Series matchup.  I’ve listened to quite a bit of debate on where Halladay’s feat ranks against previous individual postseason  performances.  Since I’m a “mature” sports fan, I always like to look at how things used to be.  Indeed, I’ve posted a few  blogs here on fanspeak under the heading “Nostalgiaspeak” (found under the “More” tab).  So I think it’s only fitting that I take a look at some other past outstanding performances in MLB postseason play.

I took a cursory look at the information on Baseball Reference.com, limiting my review from 1940 to the present.  Not that I go back that far – I was born in 1953.  And not that there is any other particular significance to 1940.  I just thought, what the heck, 70 years is a pretty good sampling.  I also limited my review to one-game pitching performances.  I realize there have been individual at-bats (World Series-ending homers by Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 and Joe Carter in 1993 and Bobby Thomson’s 1951 playoff game  ”shot heard round the world”) or great fielding plays (catches by Willie Mays and Ron Swoboda) that were truly spectacular.  Numerous players have put up amazing numbers, either hitting or pitching, throughout a particular postseason or series.  But I think that it’s the single game, dominating pitching performance of the nature of Halladay’s, that stands out above the rest.

Taking a look at Halladay’s no-hitter, it almost seemed effortless.  The only thing that kept him from throwing a perfect game was an 5th inning walk on a 3-2 count.  He almost always pitched ahead in the count and rarely even went to three balls in any count.  It didn’t seem like any extraordinary fielding plays were needed to preserve the no-hitter as is often the case.  In short, it was a brilliant performance.  What is truly amazing is the fact that this gem was thrown in his first-ever appearance in the postseason!

In the debate over whether Halladay’s no-hitter was the most spectacular individual postseason performance, the first comparison drawn is to Don Larsen’s perfect game for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.  Before Halladay’s game, it was the only no-hitter ever thrown in postseason play.  With the Series knotted at two games apiece, there was some question if Larsen would even be given the start in Game 5.  He had only lasted 1.2 innings in his previous Game 2 start.  But Manager Casey Stengel decided to go with Larsen and the rest, as they say, “is history”.

But no-hitters aside, there have been plenty of masterpieces thrown in the postseason.  There’s one game in particular that some people are suggesting was even more impressive than Larsen’s or Halladay’s.  That is Jack Morris’ performance for the Twins against the Braves in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.  It was a 10-inning, complete game, 1-0 shutout.  While he did give up 7 hits, it is argued that to go out in the 7th and deciding game and pitch 10 innings of shutout ball, giving his team the opportunity to clinch the series in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 10th, puts his performance right up there for consideration as the best postseason performance ever.

But going back a bit further in history, a compelling argument could be made for another 10 inning, complete game, 1-0 shutout.  It also occurred in the 1956 World Series, in Game 6, one day after Larsen’s perfect game.  Unheralded Clem Labine got the start for the Dodgers with his team now trailing the Yankees in the Series, three games to two.  Similar to Morris’ game, Labine scattered 7 hits and kept the Dodgers in the game.  What was really impressive was the fact that he had to out-duel Bob Turley of the Yankees, who himself pitched 9.2 innings of shutout ball until Jackie Robinson hit a single to drive in Junior Gilliam to give the Dodgers the win.  The win kept the Dodgers’ hopes alive, although the Yankees did prevail in Game 7.

When considering other memorable World Series games, near the top of the list has to be the one-hitter turned in by Jim Lonborg of the Red Sox against the Cardinals in Game 2 of the 1967 Series, a 5-0 shutout win for Lonborg .  He took a no-hitter into the 8th inning, giving up a double with two outs in that inning.  His only other blemish in that game was a 7th inning walk.  Of course the Cardinals went on to win the Series four games to three, keeping the “Curse of the Bambino” alive.

Speaking of World Series 1-hitters, there was the performance turned in by Claude Passeau (who?) of the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the 1945 Series.  He pitched a 3-0 shutout against the Tigers, giving up the only hit in the 2nd inning.  He also walked a batter in the 6th inning who was immediately erased on a double play so Passeau only faced 28 batters that day, one over the minimum.  The Tigers went on to win that Series and what is additionally noteworthy is that it is the last time that the Cubs appeared in the World Series.

Another pitcher who tossed a 1-hitter in a World Series game was Bill Bevens of the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers.  He threw it in Game 4 of the 1947 Series.  But this wasn’t your ordinary 1-hitter type of game.  For starters, Bevens lost the game on the only hit he gave up, a two-out, two-run, walk-off double by Cookie Lavagetto.  Why was it a TWO-RUN walk-off double you say?  It turns out that Bevens gave up 10 walks that day!  The Dodgers were able to manufacture a run in 5th inning on two of those walks, a sacrifice bunt and a fielder’s choice.  Nonetheless, the Yankees took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th.  It was the first time (and the only time other than Larsen’s game) that a pitcher took a no-hitter into the 9th inning in a World Series game.  Two walks by Bevens set the stage for Lavagetto’s game winning hit.   The Yankees did however go on to win that Series in 7 games.

Some other impressive World Series pitching performances, albeit not quite up to the challenge of those games discussed above, include 2-hit shutouts thrown by Warren Spahn of the Braves against the Yankees in Game 4 of the 1958 Series and Whitey Ford of the Yankees against the Reds in Game 1 of the 1961 Series.  Additionally there was the Game 1, 4-0 shutout of the Tigers turned in by Bob Gibson of the Cardinals in the 1968 series.  While he did give up 5 hits, he struck out 17 batters that day.  A truly dominant performance.

In addition to Halladay’s no-hitter, there have been some impressive non-World Series performances as well.  Chief among those would be the Braves’ Kevin Millwood 1-hitter against the Astros in Game 2 of the 1999 NLDS, and Bobby Jones’ 1-hitter for the Mets against the Giants in Game 4 of the 2000 NLDS, which clinched that Series for the Mets.  And who can forget the 1-hitter tossed by Roger Clemens of the Yankees against the Mariners in Game 4 of the 2000 ALCS in which he struck out 15 batters.  Some have argued that, taking all factors into consideration, that stands as the most dominating postseason pitching performance.  Not being a Clemens fan, I of course would discount that one since we really don’t know how much “help” he had that day??

So, which one deserves to be considered the most spectacular postseason performance?  In my mind, I think that the two no-hitters and the Morris and Labine 10-inning complete game shutouts are the top candidates.  Two games are in the more current time frame and two were from a different era.  Three of the games were World Series games and Halladay’s was the first game of the postseason.  It all depends on how you weigh the different factors applicable to each game.  To me, a World Series game carries greater weight than a non-Series game.  Vitally important too, is what that particular performance meant to the pitcher’s’ team at that given point in time.  And I think you have to give great weight to how the accomplishment relates to baseball’s established standards of excellence (ie. no-hitter vs. 7-hit shutout).

Which is the best?  While Labine’s 10-inning, 1-0 shutout win kept his team alive in the World Series it does not equal Morris’ similar shutout that gave the Twins the title.  And although in most any other scenario, a no-hitter trumps a 10-inning complete game shutout, I think the fact that Morris performed his feat under the pressure of pitching in the 7th game of the World Series makes his accomplishment just a little more impressive than Halladay’s postseason-opening no-hitter.  I know that Larsen’s accomplishment “only” gave his team a 3-2 lead in the Series, but I have to go with his performance as being the best of the bunch.  After all, what is better than perfection?

A Guest Blog by Fanspeak Contributing Writer Andrew Chubb

Cincinnati Reds (91-71) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)

The Philadelphia Phillies are the prohibitive favorite to represent the National League for the third consecutive year in the World Series. The Phils’ 2010 season was anything but expected as they endured injuries to almost all their core players from the 2008 and 2009 teams. Every positional player with the exception of Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez served stints on the Disabled List, including former NL MVP’s Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. Even after having to rely on bench players like Ross Gload and Wilson Valdez, and having an underwhelming bullpen, the Phils still find themselves with the best record in the MLB heading into the postseason. The Phils also endured one of their worst offensive slumps in recent memory, which led to the firing of hitting coach Milt Thompson. The real story for the Phillies in 2010 has been their triumvirate of starting pitching in NL Cy-Young Favorite Roy Halladay, 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels, and 3-Time All-Star Roy Oswalt (H20). Since Oswalt was acquired on July 30, the front end of the pitching staff has been absolutely phenomenal, helping the Phillies to achieve a 21-7 record in September. Even the bullpen, including the oft-shaky Brad Lidge, has been surprisingly consistent since the All-Star Break with Lidge converting 18 of his past 20 saves. Lidge also seems to have found his trademark slider, and his fastball location seems to have improved from last year.

The Cincinnati Reds have been one of the more surprising teams this year. Having not been to the playoffs since 1995, and returning basically the same roster from the year before, not much was really expected out of the Reds in 2010. But the emergence of NL MVP favorite Joey Votto (.324 BA, 1.024 OPS, 37 HR, 113 RBI) and the stellar offensive and defensive play of lead-off man Brandon Phillips has propelled the Reds to the top of the NL Central Division. The other big story for the Reds in 2010 was the arrival of the Fire-baller Cuban Defector, Aroldis Chapman. The 22 year old phenom has hit as high as 105 MPH on the radar gun, and serves as a dangerous left-handed weapon in the bullpen for the Divisional Series. While starting pitching has been shaky, and an issue all year (Starters ERA of 4.05), they greatly benefited from the re-insertion of starter Edinson Volquez after undergoing ligament replacement surgery. The bullpen will also benefit from being able to utilize young starters in left-hander Travis Wood (who one-hit the Phillies earlier in the year) and right-hander Homer Bailey.

STARTING PITCHING

As I said earlier, the starting pitching ERA for the Reds this season was 4.05, tenth best in the National League. The Phillies, on the other hand, had a starters’ ERA a half a run lower at 3.55, good for third best in the NL. I think the Reds’ decision to pitch all right-handers when they have a left-handed starter who quite frankly befuddled the Phils’ offense the last time they played, is questionable at best. Even though Wood lacks the experience of Arroyo or Cueto, he is an invaluable left hander against a left-handed heavy lineup. If the Reds can prevent the Phils from scoring in bunches by keeping the game close and making the Phillies rely on their bullpen, they could have a shot to win the series. An interesting statistic here is Cole Hamels ERA against the Cincinnati Reds lifetime: 1.07 in seven starts. Only once has he gone fewer than seven innings or given up more than a run in a single outing against the Reds. If the Phillies want to go deep in the postseason, once again, they will have to get a strong performance from Cole Hamels. It looks as though Hamels has returned back to his 2008 form (3.06 ERA in 2010) after adding a sharp curveball to go along with his excellent changeup and plus fastball. Roy Oswalt has posted a 7-1 record with a 1.74 ERA since joining the Phils in July, and Roy Halladay will be well rested and ready to go.

ADVANTAGE: Phillies.
BULLPEN

The Phillies were able to compile such an excellent record in September due in large part to the bullpen’s ability to hold leads late in games, and more specifically the consistency of setup man Ryan Madson and closer Brad Lidge. Much like the rest of the team, the bullpen really gelled in the last few months of the season. The Phillies will also benefit from having starters Joe Blanton and Kyle Kendrick available to throw from the bullpen. The Reds ranked eighth in the National League in bullpen ERA, but do have a left-handed All-Star setup man in Arthur Rhodes. The wild-card here is the aforementioned Aroldis Chapman, who could bridge the gap nicely between starting pitcher and setup man, or even starting pitcher and closer. Closer Francisco Cordero compiled 40 saves in the 2010 season, and has been reliable for much of the season.

ADVANTAGE: Even.

LINEUP

The Reds lead the NL in homeruns, slugging percentage, and runs scored. They have a number of players that are capable of hitting the ball out of the park, and have some offensive veteran leadership in Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen, and Johnny Gomes. Young players like Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs are also making their marks on a deep Reds lineup that, like the Phillies, can score runs in bunches. The Phillies, while wildly inconsistent for most of 2010, are swinging the bats well at the right time. Jayson Werth, in the midst of a contract year, has underperformed, although he has come on as of late. The Phillies need their lone right handed power option to be swinging the bat well in order for the Phillies to avoid falling prey to the Reds left-handers in the bullpen. If Jimmy Rollins can be a factor, whether it’s as the leadoff or further down in the order, the Phillies lineup will be dynamic and hard to stop. Catcher Carlos Ruiz has been incredible in the playoffs, batting .303 in the Phillies three past postseason appearances.

ADVANTAGE: Phillies.

SERIES OUTLOOK

The Reds have sort of taken the National League Central by surprise this year, knocking off the very talented and very much favored St. Louis Cardinals. They did it behind the sensational play of first baseman Joey Votto, and a consistently explosive offense. The attitude of the team, behind Manager of the Year candidate Dusty Baker, has also seemed to become more confident in its youth and talent. However, there is a reason the Phillies are the favorites to reach the World Series for the third straight season. Their starting pitching has been fabulous down the stretch with Halladay, Hamels, and Oswalt; the team has displayed a tenacious resilience and desire to win after being nearly depleted by injuries. The Phillies also have the experience of playoff baseball, whereas an overwhelming majority of the Reds do not. How the Phillies come out in Game 1 will be very indicative of how the series will play out and if they can get to the starters early, the Reds will be in trouble. I look for the Phillies to continue their playoff run into the NLCS and win in 4 games.
GAME 1: Edinson Volquez (4-3, 4.31 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (21-10, 2.44 ERA) at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
GAME 2: Bronson Arroyo (17-10, 3.88 ERA) vs. Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.76 ERA) at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
GAME 3: Cole Hamels (12-11, 3.06 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.64 ERA) at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
GAME 4: TBD (If Necessary) at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH
GAME 5: TBD (If Necessary) at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA

Phillies Retake The Lead In the East: With yesterday’s win over the Marlins and the Braves losing to the Pirates, the Phillies have reclaimed 1st place. It has not been an easy year in Philadelphia, one that has been filled with injuries to a number of their top players and questionable decisions like the trading away of Cliff Lee. But through it all the Phillies have remained in the mix and the playoff hunt. Now they need to hold off the Braves for another 22 games, to win their third straight division title, and have the chance to redeem themselves in the postseason. While the Phillies are healthier now and have a little momentum, holding off the Braves won’t be easy. And the Wild Card race will likely go down to the wire as well, so if the Phillies don’t win the East there might not be a consolation prize.

Rays Knock Off Boston, And Close the Gap on the Yanks: With last night’s shellacking of the Red Sox and the Yankees loss to the Orioles, Tampa moved within a game and a half of the A.L. East lead. Also with the win over the Red Sox and the White Sox falling to the Tigers, the Rays are comfortably in the driver’s seat for the Wild Card. The Rays now hold at least a 7 game lead over both clubs, and it is now almost a guarantee that the Wild Card will come from the loser of the Yanks-Rays fight for the A.L. East. While the Yankees have more offense, I think the Rays’ pitchers will carry them down the stretch and they will edge out New York for the title.

Broncos Get Both Good and Bad News: Finally it appears as though 1st round pick Demaryius Thomas is healthy and ready to contribute as he returned to practice yesterday. While it remains to be seen how much of an impact he can have Week 1, he has the talent and potential to be something special this year for the Broncos. He is still raw, but there isn’t much talent ahead of him on the roster, and I do expect big things from Thomas. With all his missed time it might take awhile for him to adjust to the NFL, but his return to practice, and potentially being able to play this weekend is a great sign for Denver. On the negative side it appears as though RT Ryan Harris is definitely out this Sunday, meaning that rookie Zane Beadles will start in his place. Beadles has some talent and potential so it isn’t the end of the world, but boy are the injuries piling up for Denver. This could be a rough season to overcome for the Broncos, but the AFC West is a poach-able division.

The Deals: The Phillies acquire Roy Oswalt and $11 million from the Astros for LHP J.A. Happ (MLB), OF Anthony Gose (A+) and IF Jonathan Villar (A-)

The Astros acquire 1B Brett Wallace (AAA) from the Blue Jays for OF Anthony Gose (A+)

Phillies: Philadelphia did a great job in this deal, not only acquire Oswalt for a third N.L. Title run, but to get him at the price they did. Happ is a nice back of the rotation starter, who gets by because he is a lefty (and quite a bit of luck). The fact that he headlines this deal is a huge steal for the Phillies. Gose and Villar are nice young prospects but they weren’t going to be in Philly for another 3-4 years. Neither player is going to help the Phillies win these next two seasons, but that is exactly what Oswalt will do. The best part of this deal is the fact that the Astros kicked in $11 million of the $23 million owed to Oswalt, which means the Phillies have another ace at half the price. The fact that the Phillies didn’t have to give up any more or better prospects to get that amount of money shows just how desperate the Astros were to move Oswalt.

Astros: The Astros sold low on Oswalt and only saved half the money that was owed to him so they didn’t really help their bottom line. Happ and two low minors prospects is a weak return for Oswalt, not to mention the $11 million they kicked in. While Astros fans will talk about the $12 million they saved, I don’t think it will amount to that much, because I imagine they will lose some money at the box office. Now I fully believe they should have traded Oswalt and use that money in other areas, but they will lose fans and money by making this move. The Astros should have acquired 1-2 additionals prospects or one other top prospect to even begin to get to even value for what they gave up. The only positive is they were able to flip Gose to the Blue Jays for Brett Wallace. Wallace who has already been traded for Matt Holliday and former Philly prospect Michael Taylor in the past 12 months, is a quality 1B prospect. Wallace for Gose is a great deal for the Astros since it gives them not only the higher rated prospect, but the one closest to the majors. Wallace profiles as a solid defensive 1B, who has good plate discipline and 30 HR power. He should be starting for the Astros no later than the beginning of next season, and gives Houston a quality piece to build around for the future.

Blue Jays: Toronto made a bit of a strange move by making the side deal for Gose. Wallace was a top prospect and should have commanded a similar return or could headline a major trade. Gose could profile as a high quality center fielder, but they paid a high price for him. Wallace is basically major league ready and with Lyle Overbay moving on next season (earlier if they trade him), there is a starting spot for Wallace on the Jays. While they have some other nice 1B prospects, none are as good or ready as Wallace. The Blue Jays did seem to be poised to contend by the start of the 2012 season, but now I would begin to question that timeline.

Winner: The Phillies are the big winner in this deal, not only getting Oswalt but getting money in this deal as well. As for the Astros, they soundly lost the Philly portion of this trade, but helped offset that with a big win in the Toronto side of this deal. The Blue Jays made a strange move here selling low on Wallace, who seemed like a major part of their future.

NL East:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

2. Atlanta Braves

3. New York Mets

4. Florida Marlins

5. Washington Nationals

The Philadelphia Phillies look poised to make their third straight trip to the World Series. Trading for Roy Halladay gives the Phillies one of the 3 best pitchers in the game. Though trading away Cliff Lee was still a bit of a head scratcher, and made the Halladay trade more of a lateral move. Top to bottom the Phillies have the best lineup in the National League, and should have no trouble taking the East. The Braves, Mets and Marlins will all be fighting for the 2nd spot (and quite possibly the Wild Card), with Atlanta likely to come out the victor in that race. The Braves will have a bit of a revamped bullpen, and a deeper team then last year. Also, top prospect Jason Heyward should make a nice impact this season and give the Braves the power bat in the outfield they’ve been lacking. The Mets just don’t have the talent right now as they are currently constructed to win the East. They will pretty much have to gut the farm system if they are to make the trades needed to put them over the top. The Marlins are a young team on the rise still and could always put it together. The real question with them is if they add additional talent or trade away what they have. Cantu will be a free agent, and Uggla and Ross will be in their last arbitration year next season. All three are likely trade targets during the season giving their impending free agency/price tag. The Nationals like usual will be bringing up the rear. They probably won’t be the worst team in the league this year, but could be close. They are another team that could sell off some top players during the season, though luckily for them they should have a much stronger pitching staff by June to soften the blow.

NL Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Milwaukee Brewers

3. Cincinnati Reds

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

5. Chicago Cubs

6. Houston Astros

This is the year things get turned upside down in the NL Central. St. Louis should win this division easily. They have two ace pitchers and two of the best bats in game. Unfortunately, they don’t have too much else in their lineup, which is why I don’t like them as a serious World Series contender. The Brewers are a very good team, but lack a true ace in their rotation. I think they will need to add at least one more starter, to make a Wild Card run, but if they do they should be a dangerous team in the playoffs. The Reds are my surprise team this year. They have perhaps the best starting pitching depth in the majors and that doesn’t even include Edinson Volquez who will miss most of the season with Tommy John surgery. They have a very good lineup, with one big hole in left field. A deeper bullpen and bench could help them as well, but the Reds have the ability to make some major trades during the season if they are competitive. The Pirates should find their way out of the cellar this season, with a stronger young team that should get some mid-season improvements, in the way of some young prospects. There could still be some trades made of some of their veteran players, but I wouldn’t expect the fire sale we saw last season. The Cubs I think are in trouble, and could be a huge bust this season. They are a very old team and I don’t think their players will age well this season. I’d expect a drop off from a couple of their top guys which could lead to disastrous results. I think the Astros are pretty much in the same boat as the Cubs, though they have even less Major League talent and don’t even come close to having the talent the Cubs have in the minors. It’s going to be a long haul for the Astros and the best thing they can do is start to move some of their veterans to get younger.

NL West:

1. Colorado Rockies

2. San Francisco Giants

3.Arizona Diamondbacks

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

5. San Diego Padres

The Rockies look like they will take the West this year, despite losing a few key contributors. Their deep farm system allows them to handle a few defections, so don’t be surprised if the Rockies don’t miss a beat. They have a very good lineup which is a great balance of offense and defense, and finally have a pitching staff that can survive in Colorado. It should be a close race, but I like them down the stretch. While any of the top 4 teams will be competing for this division, I think it will come down to the Rockies and the Giants. San Francisco has an elite pitching staff that has always carried them far. This year their offense will be more than just Sandoval, which should at least give them the chance for a Wild Card run. The Diamondbacks are a very much improved team, with a good everyday lineup and a quality pitching staff. The real question for their success is how soon does Brandon Webb come back and how effective will he be? If he can return to form for the majority of the year then the Diamondbacks could be a good sleeper team, if not they will likely fall to 4th in this division. The Dodgers had a bad off season where a number of key contributors were lost without getting anything in return.  They still have a very talented everyday lineup, but their bench took a hit. If any of their starters get injured for a significant time it could be a big problem. The Dodgers biggest question will be how their starters will hold up, last season they had plenty of depth in their rotation and it was a major strength. Now that rotation looks like their biggest liability and there isn’t anyone I’d count on beyond their top two guys. The Padres are in serious rebuilding mode and this season could get ugly in the short term if they trade Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell. While those are the right moves for long term success, San Diego could be looking at this season’s worst record.