Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Preview, Predictions & Odds

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Philadelphia Phillies 2009 MLB Record: 93-69
Philadelphia Phillies 2009 MLB Home Record: 45-36
Philadelphia Phillies 2009 MLB Away Record: 48-33

Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Betting

Philadelphia Phillies Odds to Win the National League: 3/1
Philadelphia Phillies Odds to Win the World Series: 6/1

Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Preview & Prediction

The days of small crowds watching bad baseball at cheerless Veterans Stadium are long over. The Phillies, and their fans, are enjoying the best run in franchise history: Three straight National League East titles and back-to-back trips to the World Series. These are the franchise’s glory days, and Citizens Bank Park is the place to be for sports-crazed Philadelphians. The memory machine should be humming again in 2010. The team sent five players to the All-Star Game in 2009, and now Roy Halladay has been added to the mix.

Sure, it would have been nice to have kept Lee. But the Phils have added one of the best starters in the game in Halladay, their offense remains explosive and there’s no doubt they’ve learned to win. If Hamels rebounds and that bullpen holds up, the Phils have a realistic shot at being the first NL team to make three straight World Series since the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals.

Philadelphia Phillies Manager: Charlie Manuel (8 Seasons) Record: 667 – 554

Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Projected Batting Order: SS Jimmy Rollins (S), 3B Placido Polanco (R), 2B Chase Utley (L), 1B Ryan Howard (L), RF Jayson Werth (R), LF Raul Ibanez (L), CF Shane Victorino (S), C Carlos Ruiz (R)

Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Projected Rotation: RH Roy Halladay, LH Cole Hamels, RH Joe Blanton (R), LH J.A. Happ (L), LH Jamie Moyer (L)

Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Projected Closer: RH Brad Lidge

2010 Philadelphia Phillies Rotation:

In Halladay, the Phillies have one of the rarest and most valued commodities in the game: An indisputable No. 1 starter. The 6’6″ right hander brings excellence, consistency and durability to the top of the rotation. Halladay won the American League Cy Young Award in 2003 and has finished in the top 5 in voting four other times. He was a top 5 ERA finisher in the AL five times. Of course, Halladay can only pitch every fifth day. Much of the team’s success will hinge on whether Cole Hamels can bounce back from a disappointing season and be the pitcher he was in 2008, when he was MVP of the NL Championship Series and World Series. Hamels will look to sharpen his curve ball or add a cutter to his fastball repertoire in spring training. He has the talent and pedigree to be a co-ace with Halladay. If he rebounds, the Phils could be tough in October. To get there, they will need innings from two solid mid-rotation guys, right hander Joe Blanton and lefty J.A. Happ. Blanton has much to pitch for in his final season before free agency. Happ finished eighth in the NL with a 2.93 ERA as a rookie and could be better in 2010 as he focuses solely on starting. Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick are the lead candidates for the fifth starter’s job, though Moyer (knee, groin) might not be ready for Opening Day. The Phils may need to add another arm to the back end of the rotation before the trade deadline, but with Halladay and Hamels, they have a good place to start.

2009-2010 Philadelphia Phillies Bullpen:

Looking for this club’s biggest concern? Stop right here. Brad Lidge followed his storybook 2008. (48-for-48 in saves, including postseason) with a nightmarish 2009 that included major league highs in blown saves (11) and ERA for a reliever (7.21). Ouch. The Phils hope that off season elbow surgery will put Lidge back on track. If it doesn’t, Ryan Madson could get a quick shot at closer. He gained valuable experience in the role in 2009 and has the stuff to do it. Lefty J.C. Romero, a valuable setup man, is also coming off elbow surgery. Chad Durbin and newcomer Danys Baez will help bridge the way to the late innings. Consistency from Lidge is crucial. The Phils are at their best when he’s closing and Madson is working the eighth.

2010 Philadelphia Phillies Middle Infield:

Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins comprise one of the best second base shortstop tandems in the majors. Both are top defenders and dangerous hitters. But both are 31 and transitioning to mid-career. Rollins suffered through a hellacious first-half slump in 2009, and Utley finished the regular season in a rut – though he did blast five homers in the World Series. Both players would love to have a quick start. Rollins survived his slump and scored 100 runs for the fifth time in six seasons. Never a high on-base percentage guy (.329 career), he will score more if he improves a career-worst .296 OBP. Rollins’ defense never wavers. He made only six errors, fewest in the majors, while winning his third straight Gold Glove in 2009. Utley is a strong fielder, but his bat gets him the most notice. He led NL second basemen with 63 extra-base hits in 2009.

2010 Philadelphia Phillies Corners:

Placido Polanco was just leaving as Ryan Howard was arriving in 2005. Polanco was traded to Detroit in June 2005, so he missed Howard’s winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award with a strong second half that season. He also missed Howard’s MVP season in 2006 and top-5 finishes in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Polanco will get to see Howard’s run production skills up close this season. The steady infielder, a two-time Gold Glove winner at second, is back to play third base with the Phils. Known for his bat control, Polanco will likely hit second behind Rollins. Howard, of course, will hit fourth He leads the majors with 635 RBI’s from 2005-09 and has improved his once-leaky defense.

2010 Philadelphia Phillies Outfield:

How good is this unit? The answer came last July when Raul Ibanez, Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth all made the NL All-Star team. Center fielder Victorino and right fielder Werth are two of the NL’s top on the rise talents. Both can run and throw. Victorino, whose 181 hits were eighth best in the league, could deepen the batting order and drive in a bunch of runs if, as expected, he moves from second to seventh in the order. Werth, a patient hitter who had a career-high 36 homers in 2009, is one more strong season away from a big free agent payday. Ibanez was a valuable 2009 addition in the lineup and clubhouse. He was on his way to a career year before suffering an abdominal tear at midseason. He played through the injury and finished with 34 homers and 96 RBI’s before off season surgery.

2010 Philadelphia Phillies Catching:

Eleven years after signing for $8,000 as a converted second baseman, Carlos Ruiz has blossomed into an invaluable member of a championship club. There is nothing flashy about him. He just gets the job done, particularly behind the plate, where he has the trust of the pitching staff Ruiz’ strength is following a game plan and adjusting it from inning to inning, batter to batter. He threw out 23 of 84 would-be base stealers (27.3 percent) in 2009 and raised his batting average 36 points to .255. He is a fearless blocker of balls in the dirt. Veteran Brian Schneider gives the Phils a top backup capable of extended work.

2010 Philadelphia Phillies Bench:

On paper, the Phils appear to have strengthened what was a major weakness in 2009. The team’s pinch-hitters ranked 25th with a .186 batting average in 2009, down from .253 the year before. Newcomer Ross Gload, who led the majors with 21 pinch-hits and 15 RBI’s in the role in 2009, should help. Greg Dobbs had a down year in 2009, but he has the swing and resume to rebound. New infielder Juan Castro will be important in getting Rollins and Utley occasional rest. Outfielder Ben Francisco impressed during a half-season with the club last year. He’ll be the first right handed bat off the bench.

Philadelphia Phillies 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Philadelphia Phillies will finish 1st in the NL East Division .

Philadelphia Phillies 5-Year Win Trend

2009: 1st NL East 93
2008: 1st NL East 92
2007: 1st NL East 89
2006: 2nd NL East 85
2005: 2nd NL East 88

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