With Domonic Brown’s hand injury, another opportunity presented itself as an extra roster spot opened up. Who knows when Brown gets called up this season, if he even gets called up at all?
Ben Francisco continues to hit the ball hard during spring training, and he’ll be the starting right fielder.
Nobody knows what’s going on with Chase Utley’s knee, and this will play a role in regards to whom the Phillies will select to make the Opening Day roster as well.
We’re well into spring training, and some story lines with the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged.
Ben Francisco has been stellar and is ready to replace Jayson Werth in right. We may even see Francisco in Werth’s 5-hole slot by season’s end.
Domonic Brown broke his hand at the wrong time. He’s been in free fall in camp, and he needed as much spring training as possible. He needs to regain his confidence.
Chase Utley’s knee has raised some concerns.
Other than that, everything’s just dandy.
Heading into the start of last season, the Cubbies had the third largest payroll in baseball, but had just 75 wins by the end of the year to show for it.
During the offseason, Chicago went out and got a power pitcher and hitter in Matt Garza and Carlos Pena. They also added Kerry Wood to provide punch in the back of the bullpen.
This is a squad that won 97 games just three years ago. They’re capable of making a run, but inconsistency has hampered their chances the past two years. Plus, the NL Central has improved dramatically since 2008.
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2011 Philadelphia Phillies Preview
Prior to the start of the 2009 season, the Yankees made a huge splash in free-agency by landing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. They won 103 games and the World Series. Looking back, the Sabathia signing sent shock waves, but nothing like the Cliff Lee spectacle this past offseason.
The Phillies won a MLB high 97 games a year ago, and it was a down year. Players were falling down like flies, and many fans were doubting if the team could even make the postseason. During the summer, the Braves held a large lead in the NL East.
Now with the signing of Lee, the fans are dreaming big and rightfully so. In the end, the Phillies may be the World Series Champions on paper, but now they have to go out and earn it.
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In the most anticipated spring training in Phillies’ history, the Phightins opened up Grapefruit League play Saturday and Sunday against the Yankees.
Let’s take a look at what we’ve learned so far…
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So the starting rotation isn’t the worst, but ultimately it won’t matter how dominant the rotation is if the bats stay quiet once again in October.
In last year’s NLCS, the Phils hit an abysmal .216. The Giants weren’t much better, .244, but they got the timely and clutch hitting from Cody Ross, Juan Uribe and Edgar Renteria that Philadelphia was looking for all series.
The big boppers, Utley, Howard, Werth and Ibanez were just 19-for-82 with 27 strikeouts.
With Werth now in Washington, someone needs to step up and protect Howard in the fifth spot in the lineup. At times, Werth single-handidly carried the Phightins last postseason.
The Braves sent long-time manager Bobby Cox out in style with a playoff appearance. Cox spent 25 years in Atlanta winning five pennants and a World Series in 1995.
Dan Uggla and Fredi Gonzalez have reunited. Atlanta acquired the power hitting second baseman via a trade during the offseason.
At 38, Billy Wagner walked away from the game despite a dominant 2010 campaign. He saved 38 games to go along with a minuscule 1.43 ERA. We’ll see if Craig Kimbrel is ready to fill in and close games.
My plan is to do one of these for all 30 teams so we’ll see if I can get that done. This is the first of many previews to come. I hope you all enjoy them!
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