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I actually think the Phillies are starting to get a lot of respect (finally), and it was making a second straight World Series appearance that gave it to them IMO, even though they lost.
I guess it depends on where you live. Around New York they're not getting the respect they deserve. I know you might expect that to be the norm, but most of the baseball fans I know around the city have a lot of knowledge when it comes to the game. Generally they're ready to give an out of town team it's due. Take the Red Sox... Sure, Yankee fans are quick to say "The Red Sox Suck!", but if you really sit and talk baseball with them, you know they don't really believe that.
The Phillies haven't gotten that kind of respect yet, from my experiences. Honestly, the Mets fans around here think the Phillies are horrible and they've been riding a wave of incredible luck for over three years now. They believe the Phillies are keeping their place on top of the division warm, and that the Mets can take it back whenever they're ready. OK, they did feel that way until very recently. It looks like reality is finally starting to set in around Queens.
Yankee fans who haven't yet learned to respect the Phillies will probably have another chance to see them in October. I think we'll see a rematch in 2010. Maybe with different results, maybe not, but I think we're going to see these two teams battle it out again this year with everything on the line.
My assessment of the team early into the season is this. You can just about bet the house that this team will lead the NL in total offense this season. It will be the pitching that decides how far this team can go. As long as Halladay stays healthy, you can count on him as a superior number 1.
But, they do have some issues 2-5. Hamels still looks shaky and Kendrick and Moyer should be battling for the number 5 spot. I don't believe they should both be in the lineup. Hopefully, Blanton can return as an effective number 3 as he was last year. As far as Happ...everyone's waiting for his eventual demise, but so far he's held up well.
The bullpen should be ok, but the closer position remains an issue. Bottom line, the offense will win many games for this team.
My assessment of the team early into the season is this. You can just about bet the house that this team will lead the NL in total offense this season. It will be the pitching that decides how far this team can go. As long as Halladay stays healthy, you can count on him as a superior number 1.
But, they do have some issues 2-5. Hamels still looks shaky and Kendrick and Moyer should be battling for the number 5 spot. I don't believe they should both be in the lineup. Hopefully, Blanton can return as an effective number 3 as he was last year. As far as Happ...everyone's waiting for his eventual demise, but so far he's held up well.
The bullpen should be ok, but the closer position remains an issue. Bottom line, the offense will win many games for this team.
I agree. What is wrong with Hamels? Man if our offense wasn't so explosive we would have probably loss that game.
My assessment of the team early into the season is this. You can just about bet the house that this team will lead the NL in total offense this season. It will be the pitching that decides how far this team can go. As long as Halladay stays healthy, you can count on him as a superior number 1.
But, they do have some issues 2-5. Hamels still looks shaky and Kendrick and Moyer should be battling for the number 5 spot. I don't believe they should both be in the lineup. Hopefully, Blanton can return as an effective number 3 as he was last year. As far as Happ...everyone's waiting for his eventual demise, but so far he's held up well.
The bullpen should be ok, but the closer position remains an issue. Bottom line, the offense will win many games for this team.
Pretty spot on. To me, so much depends on whether Hamels can be more like 2008 Hamels than 2009 Hamels. If it's the former, look out- they'll have pretty much turned MLB into a two-team league.
WRT to the rest of the rotation, Blanton will do fine as a 3 when he returns, and Happ is a solid 4 at worst IMO (I think he will regress, but he's not garbage). If KK and Moyer can't get their acts together, and to be honest I think Kendrick IS garbage no matter what nice things have been said about the "new" him, Pedro will step back in and be the 5.
I think if Madson were outright given the closer's role, he'd do great. He has two plus pitches and if he sticks to them and doesn't try to get cute he'll do a great job.
These are golden days for Phillies phans. I never knew rooting for them could actually be this much fun
Pretty spot on. To me, so much depends on whether Hamels can be more like 2008 Hamels than 2009 Hamels. If it's the former, look out- they'll have pretty much turned MLB into a two-team league.
WRT to the rest of the rotation, Blanton will do fine as a 3 when he returns, and Happ is a solid 4 at worst IMO (I think he will regress, but he's not garbage). If KK and Moyer can't get their acts together, and to be honest I think Kendrick IS garbage no matter what nice things have been said about the "new" him, Pedro will step back in and be the 5.
I think if Madson were outright given the closer's role, he'd do great. He has two plus pitches and if he sticks to them and doesn't try to get cute he'll do a great job.
These are golden days for Phillies phans. I never knew rooting for them could actually be this much fun
I forgot about Pedro. I wouldn't mind seeing him come back as the fifth starter. Was there any particular reason Philly didn't bring him back for 2010?
I forgot about Pedro. I wouldn't mind seeing him come back as the fifth starter. Was there any particular reason Philly didn't bring him back for 2010?
It's still very likely that he wouldn't hold up over a whole season. The way he and the Phillies came together last year was perfect for both. It might be something worth exploring again later in this season.
Honestly, the Mets fans around here think the Phillies are horrible and they've been riding a wave of incredible luck for over three years now. They believe the Phillies are keeping their place on top of the division warm, and that the Mets can take it back whenever they're ready. OK, they did feel that way until very recently. It looks like reality is finally starting to set in around Queens.
No offense to any Mets fans who may be peeping in on this thread, but my experience is that most of them are a special blend of delusional and slow on the uptake. That organization is a total mess- I hope they give Minaya a ten-year extension If anyone is going to take over when the Phillies are ready to abdicate the top of the NL East, it'll be the Braves.
Though most Met fans I think, like you said, have finally accepted the reality of the situation (albeit a couple of years late).
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