Sorry for the lack of Phils articles. I realize I have really neglected the Phils so far in Spring Training. So, in that vain, please find the latest yearly prediction article from everyone's favorite Daily News heavyweight columnist, Bill Conlin. Sadly, Conlin is not as bullish as most Phils' phans. He claims that we are all suffering from "irrational exuberance", a phrase used by Alan Greenspan - former head of the Federal Reserve. Anyhow, here's the Fat Man from Turnersville's prediction:
Bottom line? These Phillies will be a dangerous, interesting and frequently electric team. They will merit your support. Just strap yourself in for a wild, bumpy ride.I think the Phils can finish in the 90 win range, but I'd feel a hell of a lot better with a more dependable bullpen. I just hope Gillick doesn't make a panic move and gives someone away to pick up the next Mike Williams or Ugeth Urbina.
Gillick has upgraded Charlie's coaching staff, which underlines the inadequate job of teaching by the organization men the College of Coaches have replaced.
A blow-the-doors-off trade - Aaron Rowand and/or Jon Lieber - could change some things. But buy into the hype at your peril. Exuberance is OK, but be rational. This is, after all, a franchise that will suffer its all-time record 10,000th loss this season.
It will take a little of the 1993, go-to-hell attitude for this team to smooth its rough edges and dethrone the Mets and fight off the Braves - don't forget them. But winning the East is a must. The Cardinals will not stumble to 83 wins this time around and manage to win a World Series.
Mid-to-high 80s appears about right for this team. Nobody said it would be easy to get out of this not-quite-enough rut and end a cruel streak of six straight seasons with between 80 and 88 victories.
3 comments:
Conlin could be right, mostly because this bullpen is horrible. Rheal Cormier, where have you gone? Let's also not forget that Rollins, Utley, and Howard all just possibly had career years last year. Can we really expect the same numbers from all of them again?
Christ, Cormier?!?! Cormier is a first ballot member of Hayes' Mediocre Athlete Hall Of Fame, along with Trent Klatt, Chris Coste, Ricky Rudd, and Glenn-bo Wilson...Am I missing anyone?
Do people know how hard reliable left handed relievers are to find?Do people realize that your choices for a LHP coming out of the Phillies bullpen are a guy with two months of big league experience along with an astronomical spring ERA and another guy who they wouldn't let near the mound last year unless there was more than an 8 run differential and is now busted up from a car accident? (Matt Smith and Fabio Castro) Except for 2005, Cormier was a solid middle inning guy for years.
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