[BSgutshot]

Their staff is not that good, but their offense should make up for it just like last year. Their oder is one of the best in the yeague.

Rollins
Rowand
Abreu
Burrell
Howard
Utley
Bell/Nunez
Leiberthal/Ruiz
Pitcher

granted Bell, Nunez, Leiberthal, and Ruiz all suckm they should be able to provide some offense from time to time. Rollins is "not the typical leadoff hitter" mainly becasue he's impatient and tries to hot for power more than a leadoff hitter should. I'm not a big fan of his, but he gets the job done. Rowand is a decent CF, should be a good addition and a guy who can play everyday unlike Lofton or Michaels. Abreu has been one of the best RFs the last few years. He constantly hits .300, 20 HRs, 100 RBIs, and 20 SB. Burrell has showed inconsistancy in the past, but if he is productive like last year he can be a threat as one of the best power hitters in the game. Howard and Utley both are young guys with pop. Howard has more power and Utley has more speed. Both should show that last year was not a fluke.

The pitching staff is not so impressive with

Leiber
Myers
Lidle
Floyd
Madson

Madson and Floyd have a combined 5 starts in the major leagues and both are very young and promising prospects. Madson has pitched in the Phillies bullpen for 2 years, but he was a starter before that. Hopefully he can show that he is ready to start and will do well. Gavin Floyd has been one of the Phillies best prospects for some time now. He's fianlly getting his chance. Leiber and Lidle are inconsistant veterans, but both will be okay. Myers should be the Phillies' ace, but Charlie Manuel is a dolt and win't start him as an ace. Myers is primed for a break-out year. Phillies fans have been waiting for him to develop into a top pitcher and this could be his year. He will have the confidence of last year's 3.86 ERA.

Overall I say same old Phillies. Contend, but fall just short of the playoffs due to weak pitching. I hope they make it to the playoffs so they erase my last playoff memory of them when Joe Carter hit one to win the World Series.