Phillies HAVE to be my early favorite but I thought they were winning it last year so you never know. I love what the Sox did offensively so they would be my #2 choice. Lee vs Beckett Halladay vs Buchholz Hamels vs Lackey Oswalt vs Dice K Rollins, Vic, Utley and Howard vs Pedroia , Papi, Gonzalez, Crawford and Youk Should be fun.
Going on rosters as of this moment, I don't see how anyone can bet against the Phillies. They have 4 #1 starters in the same rotation, a very good bull pen, and an offense that that has Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins among others. The only issue I see them running into is whether they have hit their internal salary cap before the season started. Will they have the ability to take on more salary should they need to make a mid-season trade? Right now, losing Werth does hurt them. I don't know what they have as far as prospects go to replace his production. The other key is which Brad Lidge shows up for 2011. If it's the good Lidge, they could win 120+ games and clinch the NL East in August. If it's the other Lidge, they'll manage but things will be closer in the division.
pre trade and FA signings: Yankees 4:1 Phillies 6:1 Red Sox 10:1 now: Yankees 6:1 Phillies 3.5:1 Red Sox 5:1
I have no idea. Baseball is so difficult to predict when you start talking about playoff outcomes. Who in the world had the Rangers winning the pennant before the season started? Having said that...the best teams on paper are the Phillies and Red Sox...but Phils will need to address the lost of Werth in that lineup. I know they have the young kid they're high on (whose name escapes me)....but he's going to have to match Werth's productivity.
I think you are referring to Dominoc Brown. Yea, on paper it has to be the Phillies and Red Sox, but how many times have we seen that the 2 best teams on paper, especially in December are the ones playing for the WS 10 months later? Not very often - nonetheless, it should be an unbelievable series if it does play out that it is Boston and Philly but remember injuries can wreak major havoc here. I will say this, not as a Red Sox homer, but because I really believe it: the Phillies definitely have the edge on the rotation but their offense cannot compare to the Sox especially if they replace Werth with the rookie Brown. The Sox starters aren't that far behind Philly in Lester, Beckett (if he is right), Lackey, and Buchholz. I have no doubt that the Sox starters can shut down the Phillies and then it will be who can touch up the others' pen the best.
On paper Phillies and Red Sox But then again on paper means nothing in the playoffs as last yea showed
You guys are insane... Giants can/will win in 2011. Even though they just won it a month ago people still don't give them respect. You have a young starting rotation that beat the Phillies in 6 games vs 3 old guys (Lee, Oswalt, Halladay) and 1 inconsistent (Hamels). You guys are living in the past it's time to past the torch over to the studs (Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, Bumgarner). Phillies lineup took a huge hit when Werth left - he is their only power right hander and was the only one hitting against the Giants.
You are the only guy of whom I know has to root for professional teams from different cities. And I wouldn't mind it.
Yeah I'm not sure why everyone is jumping on the bandwagon for the Phillies though. They will have the pitching but they don't have the hitting like they did. They still need a bat. I'm also not sold Roy O will be healthy next year. I heard the Phillies were looking at making a trade for a bat with a pitcher to be named later. Like I stated before, I like the Giant's rotation but I don't know if they will the bats either to win. The bats came alive during the playoffs but there's no guarantee that will happen again.
Uh, what about me? MLB - Boston Red Sox NFL - Denver Broncos NBA - Houston Rockets NCAA Football - University of Georgia, University of Miami NCAA Basketball - Kansas State University
