My how the Phillies have fallen. Around this time last year everyone was talking about how Philadelphia would have the best record in the NL, have the best rotation in MLB with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee headlining the lineup, and be a World Series from day one. Well none of that happened. The Phillies finished 3rd in the NL East behind Atlanta and Washington, were plagued by injuries to Halladay, Hamels, and Lee, and were so far out of the NL East race by the trade deadline that they traded key pieces of their organization (Victorino, Pence) away to build for the next season. So now that it is that "next season" the Phillies are looking to start anew. They still have Halladay, Hamels, and Lee to build around, but other than that the Phillies are now a young team. Although the Phillies are a young team, they are still a talented team. With the talent Philadelphia possesses I see them being in contention for a wild-card spot, but I do believe they'll return to NL East contenders in a few years. In the meantime I believe they'll finish 3rd in the NL East, slightly behind Atlanta and Washington, thoroughly ahead of New York and Miami.
Potential Opening Day Lineup 1) Jimmy Rollins SS 2) Chase Utley 2B 3) Michael Young 3B 4) Ryan Howard 1B 5) Laynce Nix OF 6) Domonic Brown Of 7) Ben Revere OF 8) Erik Kratz C | Potential Starting Rotation 1) Cole Hamels 2) Roy Halladay 3) Cliff Lee 4) Kyle Kendrick 5) John Lannan |