With Cole Hamels finally hitting his stride when it counts (17+ innings of no runs allowed) and Cliff Lee being virtually untouchable since coming over from the AL, this team is setting itself up nicely for another October run. Throw in the NL ROY for 09 in J.A. Happ (10-3, 2.69 ERA) and a possible 4th spot in the rotation for none other than Pedro, that's the best rotation by far come playoff time. Their lineup is solid. Ibanez needs to get his act together and I am not sure if that will happen. He is key in that 5 hole protecting Howard. Lidge might as well be renamed Ledge, as in come off from there. He is a head case and has had his problems all year long. Can he turn it around this late into the season? My guess is no, but we shall see. Their setup man is not doing much better lately (Madson). The only thing that could save them is complete games from Hamels and Lee come playoff time (which is entirely possible). But in the end they have to get the back end of this bullpen situation squared away.
Phillies, indeed, look like they are primed for a serious run. Watch the Yanks, though. The rotation is solid and CC/Burnett make a good one-two punch in a short series. I realize Burnett has faltered of late but the Yanks' bats 1 through 9 make up for a bad outing. The pen is lights out and Mo in preseason is...well fugheddaboutit.
I do agree the Yanks stand a pretty decent chance of winning it all. Burnett has never been under playoff pressure. CC sucks come playoff time, that is a problem in and of itself. So there is lots to prove and some big hurdles to overcome in that regard.
That's a valid concern. A-Rod hasn't shined in October either. Didn't Burnett have post season success with the Rays?
maybe with the fish but i dont remember him. he was with toronto the last couple of years. burnett is one of those dudes whos out there. surfer type who tatted himself with some weird ink one spring, pretty isolated. knock on him is weak mentally--cant play through pain and will likely shrink come postseason. still super talented of course.
The key truly is Hamels, but I'm not as sold as Phillies fans are. Those starts came against AAA San Fran and AAA Pittsburgh -- two of the most anemic offenses in the bigs.
San Fran is at #19 in runs scored out of 30 teams, so more of a middle of the road offense and has certainly been better since Sandoval got his bat started in the middle of May. I do agree we need to see him against a better offense.
yeah i shoulda said the same thing. not sold on hamels this year. something is off although i havent seen even highlights of his last few starts. not sure if his velocity is back yet or if he made an adjustment but he hasnt been the same guy most of the season. happ is legit/smart pitcher but postseason is a diff animal. pedro? come on. and if i remember, cliff lee got shelled last time out i think. not really any overpowering guys you look for going up against a dh team in october. the key to the phillies is rollins and ibanez i believe to go along with simply above average pitching.
