Philadelphia Phillies

Previous Team Analyses

Did you realize the Phillies have the past two National League MVPs? If they can best the Mets and win another division title, they could easily make it three in a row - stranger yet, they could make it three different infielders in a row [Chase Utley could certainly challenge Rollins and Howard for the title of Most Valuable Phillie]. If their pitching can keep up with their hitting, it could easily be three MVPs in a row.

Lineup:

• SS Jimmy Rollins
• CF Shane Victorino
• 2B Chase Utley
• 1B Ryan Howard
• LF Pat Burrell
• RF Geoff Jenkins/Jayson Werth
• 3B Pedro Feliz
• C Carlos Ruiz

Rotation:

• Cole Hamels
• Brett Myers
• Kyle Kendrick
• Jamie Moyer
• Adam Eaton

Closer: Brad Lidge/Tom "Flash" Gordon

Thoughts...

This team has three fantasy superstars, and a couple more than aren't far from it. Chase Utley is far and away the best second baseman - although Brandon Phillips and BJ Upton often go one round later, the gap between those two and Utley is much greater. Jimmy Rollins is the team's emotional sparkplug; unfortunately, this is not a measurable stat for fantasy. His statistics keep up, though, and put him in the first round. Ryan Howard might be the best pure power hitter in the game - I would take him ahead of Fielder. 

The guys that aren't far behind: Shane Victorino and Cole Hamels. I've seen Victorino called Carl Crawford Lite, but I'd take him eight rounds later. He'll have higher power numbers, and with a healthy Utley and Howard behind him, his run totals ought to rise. He could easily mature into a stud this year and I love him in middle rounds. Hamels is a fantasy ace, but he's a tier down from the top guys. Another season or two of age and experience could put him above 200 strikeouts, but the ERA probably won't get below 3.00 because Citizen's Bank Ballpark is a modern Coors Field. 

Pedro Feliz was a nice pickup to round out the Philadelphia infield. He won't be the stud his counterparts are, but he can absolutely be counted upon for a minimum of 20 home runs and 80 RBI. In the new ballpark and improved lineup, his power numbers could easily improve to 30 homeruns. The RBI may not jump to 100 unless he hits higher in the order, but it's a reasonable ceiling. The only question with Feliz is his average - it hasn't yet reached the Adam Dunn plateau. He's not being drafted, so keep your eye on him and see if he can put it all together. If so, he'll be a nice option at third base for those who miss out on A-Rod, Wright, and Cabrera.

I'm hoping that Philadelphia won't abuse Brett Myers the way they did last year. Brad Lidge's presence should ensure that Myers remains in the rotation (although he will start the season on the DL, Flash Gordon should hold down the job until Lidge is healthy). In '05 he struck out 208, following with 189 more in '06 before his shuffles to and from the bullpen last year. I look for him to return to those strikeout numbers and win 15 or more as a top pitcher with this lineup behind him.

The rest of the rotation looks awful. Kyle Kendrick has been getting hit hard throughout spring training, Jamie Moyer is ancient, and Adam Eaton may not break camp with the team. Kris Benson also looms as a possibility for one of these spots. None of them are worth owning at this point, and I doubt this will change anytime this year.

Philadelphia has the studs worth owning and little else. It's tough to draft Lidge to be a top closer knowing he's recovering from injury, and it's impossible to draft these starters in a pitcher's park. Philly's success this year, and your fantasy team's, will be thanks to Utley, Rollins, and Howard, or probably won't be achieved at all.