Can the Phillies do it again this year?
COLIN GERRITY
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Sports
The Phillies championship season
of 2008 took a city and its
diehard fans on an exhilarating
rush of sporting ecstasy.
That was last year. This is now.
So how do the Phillies repeat?
With only two unrestricted
free agents, Pat Burrell and Jamie
Moyer, the club did not have to
face the uncertainty of multiplayer
departures. The club
acted quickly to lock up the 46
year old Moyer to a two-year
deal after he had a solid 2008 season,
leading the team in wins
and posted a 3.71 ERA.
Burrell's departure was stinging
at first because he was such a
big fan favorite. It became more
tolerable after the club signed 36
year- old left fielder Raul Ibanez
from Seattle.
Ibanez, a former player under
Phillies current special advisor
Pat Gillick when they both were
with the Mariners, was targeted
early as the man to replace
Burrell, and his career numbers
of 251 homeruns, and 827 RBI
impressed many. Last year,
Ibanez played in all 162 games,
and hit 23 home runs and drove
in 110 RBI for the Mariners.
Ibanez brings solid power to
the middle of the order and
despite being on the left side of
the plate, hasbeen known to hit
lefthanders well.
With Ibanez teaming up with
power king Ryan Howard, and
superstar Chase Utley, a big concern
going into the season is the
middle of the order and its ability
to hit tough left-handed pitching,
particularly left handed
starters.
With Burrell's right handed bat
out of the lineup, this could
develop into a disruptive
dynamic. Manager Charlie
Manuel may have to juggle his
lineup if this problem arises.
Management may have to seek
some right handed options to
correct this flaw.
Manuel's' lineup for 2009 will
be relatively the same, aside
from the addition of Ibanez. The
offense looks poised so far this
spring to have another big year.
The lineup will be speedy and
consistent at the top of the order
of 2008 took a city and its
diehard fans on an exhilarating
rush of sporting ecstasy.
That was last year. This is now.
So how do the Phillies repeat?
With only two unrestricted
free agents, Pat Burrell and Jamie
Moyer, the club did not have to
face the uncertainty of multiplayer
departures. The club
acted quickly to lock up the 46
year old Moyer to a two-year
deal after he had a solid 2008 season,
leading the team in wins
and posted a 3.71 ERA.
Burrell's departure was stinging
at first because he was such a
big fan favorite. It became more
tolerable after the club signed 36
year- old left fielder Raul Ibanez
from Seattle.
Ibanez, a former player under
Phillies current special advisor
Pat Gillick when they both were
with the Mariners, was targeted
early as the man to replace
Burrell, and his career numbers
of 251 homeruns, and 827 RBI
impressed many. Last year,
Ibanez played in all 162 games,
and hit 23 home runs and drove
in 110 RBI for the Mariners.
Ibanez brings solid power to
the middle of the order and
despite being on the left side of
the plate, hasbeen known to hit
lefthanders well.
With Ibanez teaming up with
power king Ryan Howard, and
superstar Chase Utley, a big concern
going into the season is the
middle of the order and its ability
to hit tough left-handed pitching,
particularly left handed
starters.
With Burrell's right handed bat
out of the lineup, this could
develop into a disruptive
dynamic. Manager Charlie
Manuel may have to juggle his
lineup if this problem arises.
Management may have to seek
some right handed options to
correct this flaw.
Manuel's' lineup for 2009 will
be relatively the same, aside
from the addition of Ibanez. The
offense looks poised so far this
spring to have another big year.
The lineup will be speedy and
consistent at the top of the order
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