winsumbuc

Months after digesting the Phillies collapse this year, I keep coming around to the same conclusion. I have to place it squarely on the shoulders of Cliff Lee. sure the bats went silent and the bullpen burped, but, Lee has to carry the torch for the Phillies abrupt stop in 2011's post season.

All the  moves the Phillies have made during the off season, have been to support a nucleus that will eventually win it all again in 2012. More big bats and live arms would be great, but to tear this team down would be a mistake. Keep the head cases out and bolster the roster with "lunch pail" players that will bring a renewed hunger back the club.

Rueben Amaro has spent the owner's money wisely. It will serve everyone well in the end. Prediction for 2012 (not going way out on a limb here) Phillies will win it all in 2012, wild card will come from the East, and the Cardinals will finish just ahead of the Astros in the Central.

Phils opened spring training with great optimism. A great concern this year is keeping the bullpen healthy. Brad Lidge has been given a clean bill of health from his two off season surgeries. J.C. Romero will throw off the mound for the first time this spring today, he says he feels great and has also been given the OK by team Dr.s. Jamie Moyer is feeling great and will be the favorite to regain his spot on the roster as the teams 5th starter.

Ryan Howard has dropped another 20 pounds and is in high gear, ready to start taking cuts from live pitching already in the early spring. Raul Ibanez is fully recovered from the nagging injuries that plagued him in last season's final months. Jimmy Rollins has high expectations for his new teamate Roy Halladay, and the squad, but, has pulled up just short of making any predictions for the 2010 campaign.

As always the Phillies will open the preseason with a scrimage game vs Florida State University.

Battles for bullpen spots and the teams fifth starter heading north should be this preseasons' hot topics and major concern area's. The regular "8" are set, the bench has been solidified, so there will only be a few roster spots up for grabs.

The Phightins are primed for a pennant "three-pete", and hopefully a rematch against the defending WS champion Yanks. Were the Phillies to win the NL pennant in 2010 they would be the first NL team to do so in 66 years. Go Phillies!

 I wouldn't expect anything different from the Phillies this year, than what we saw last year. Not (of course) that is to say, is a bad thing, but they are showing the same tendencies, and patterns as last year. The veterans are a year wiser at the plate, they have always had trouble with getting big hits early against strong starting pitching. The big hits generally come late in games when the game is in the hands of the opposing teams bullpen.

I believe however, that the Phillies hitters realize this to a higher degree, and, are already showing more patience and disaplain at the dish. They know if they work their opponents starters into high pitch counts, no matter how dominating that starter my be against them on a particular day, they can and (historically) will feast on any team in the league's relief pitching. They are a veteran club now. They know when to turn on a pitch and drive it. They understand when just contact will produce the nesscessary results.

There will be no runaway in the NL East this year, and, most likely things will not be decided until late in September, but I look for the smarter, veteran Phillies ballclub to prevail in the long haul. Here's to looking foward to an exciting, edge of our seats summer. Go Phillies!

MLB has gone through some crap in the past ten years or so. Screw the proof readers bay the way I don't care. Let me qualify myself first by saying that I am a baseball purist, take the DH, and instant replay and shove it! Baseball is #1 Football is #1A ... I work part time in a sporting goods store, anyone who thinks Football is bigger that base ball is a FOOL. But, thats not the point I'm trying to make here.

At the begining of the '08 season we had BONDS, we had STEROIDS, we had ESPN telling us that basesball was #2 in our hearts. BULLBLEEP. I'ts hard to "fix" a baseball game, let alone a whole darn season, But let me put this to you,

I'ts the last week of the season, the top four markets for basesball are hopping, attendence is WAY up, and baseball is alive and well in the good ole US.Any service man, businessman, or even a barfly, Could tell tell you whats going on the pennant races today!!!

Hats off to MLB, don't know what they did, but they did it right!

-----Just a thought

Ok. The last time I posted a thread, I didn't think anyone would bother to dig it out of the bottom of the threads. But they did. So, in creating this my first blog, I will consider that someone may see it, and comment. My last thred had a few visitors who found ecception to what I had to say, however they were civil in their remarks. HERE IS MY BREAKDOWN OF THE NFC "BEAST"

Lets start with the world champions!

Giants: Jints fans are very learned, and believe it or not "down to earth about thier club. Talking to a NY fan, one hears and feels the smuggness just oozing out of them. Why not NY teams have so many "everythings". The good old North Jersey, New York (Metro) and CT crowd can play that game. They play it well. They talk trades. they toss stats, they "think" every other team in the division is a "W" for them, even while calling for their coached head, and goinfg 6 and something ... dosn't matter who, dosn't matter when, WE ARE ALL 'W's" in their eyes.

Cowchips: The people I know in Texas (that are Dallas fans). Are very much like all the rest of the country with thier passion for the game and their team. ...I't basically Go 'Boyz ... and the the 'ell wit da rest Y'All. It's the Troy, Michael. Emmett, loving "bandwagoneers" that kill it for me. They lost their last game of the season last year, but that didn't stop=em from telling EVERBODY and ANYBODY how many Superbowl rings they have. Thse fans which I speak of are like ants at a picnic Heck even  the finest looking woman in the world wearing a #8 Jersey is desirable, but wjen she starts tossing stats and "superbowl" rings around, she becomes just another "SIX PACK"

Redskins: Not much gouing on in our nationa capitol these days ('cept for the usual). I mean since the death of the Hogs, and the birth of Danial Snyder, Washington is becoming the "LA" of the east. (no offense Bingo if you read this). Granted they sell out their stadium at a record pace and "will" there tickest to the next unlucky family member, but, where are you in the 4th quarted? You don't hear-em snot-in, or woofin, you very rerely see anyone own up to the fact that the forskins even excist. ... Hey Man Surf's Up!!

Eagles: Ahhhh the cradle of Liberty, birthplace of America, ... wait cowchip "wagoneers" have claimed all the patriotic stuff. The fans in Philadelphia, know what they like, and they Know what they don't like, they let you hear it either way. No rings to toss around, maybe we'll never see one, but it won't keep the Philly faithful away, although not complacent with "just misses" the Fans in Philly like the fact they can beat anyone, anyday,....unless it's an AFC team who is not as good on paper as we are.