Domination

Hello, my name is Mike Inacio. I will be posting exclusively on the Philadelphia Phillies. Why? Because over the last three years the Phillies have emerged as "MLB's Best". Sure, you can make an argument for the Yankees but for this article.. Its all Philadelphia.

Leading off, I will say that the Phillies have the best lineup 1-8 with versatility up and down it. You have your 8 basic terms 1-8 you need to have a championship caliber team:

The All-Star

The Speed Demon

The Pure Hitter

The Big Man

The Late Bloomer

The Veteran Lefty

The Sometimes Brilliant

The Ridiculous Defensive Catcher

Im sure you can figure out who all of them are but just in case you don't, I'm going to break down just why the Phillies are the pulse of the MLB.

-Jimmy Rollins - SS- #11

Jimmy consistently posts what you expect him to post. Even with his down year this year, he managed to put up some impressive numbers:

.250 Batting Average
21 Homeruns
77 Runs Batted In

31 Stolen Bases

Even with the .250 Batting Average those are still some pretty impressive numbers that a number 6 hitter should be posting.

-Shane Victorino - CF - #8

Shane posted up All-Star numbers this year and continued to lead the Phillies in batting:

.292 Batting Average

10 Homeruns

62 Runs Batted In

25 Stolen Bases

Sir, I'd like to order a prototypical, All-Star, #2 Hitter please?

One Shane Victorino coming right up.

-Chase Utley - 2B - #26

Now, to the best hitter in MLB. Sure you have Albert and Joseph but Chase Utley may have the best mechanicalized swing in the whole MLB. He has continued to receive endless praise from managers and front office members for his work ethic.

.282 Batting Average

31 Homeruns

93 Runs Batted In

23 Stolen Bases (caught 0 times)

Chase Utley is perfect. Metaphorically and Literally. He seems to do everything perfect and deliver in clutch situations. not to mention he was not caught one time during the 2009 campaign.

-Ryan Howard - 1B - #6

Nothing much to say about this guy. Except for the fact he has hit at least 45 Homeruns and knocked in over 130 runs in the last 4 years. Potential Hall-of-Famer at this point? Debatable.

.279 Batting Average

45 Homeruns

141 Runs Batted In

8 Stolen Bases

A couple things to address with Howard also. Howard dropped 20+ lbs in the winter of '09. This allowed him to dramatically increase his fielding ability and steal 8 bases! Not to mention he is the fastest in MLB history to 100,150, and 200 homeruns.

-Jayson Werth - RF - #28

Jayson blossomed on to the MLB scene with amazing power and speed. He was coined as a Dodger top prospect at one point but suffered wrist injuries. He has left the fans in awe with some of his gargantuan homeruns and mind-blowing throws from right field.

.268 Batting Average

36 Homeruns

99 Runs Batted In

20 Stolen Bases

Werth compiled a classical 30/30 type potential season and it only seems he is growing closer to a 40 homerun season to compliment Howard. Jayson looks to be in pinstripes for a while.

- Raul Ibanez - LF - #29

Raul was welcomed into Philadelphia with lukewarm feelings, just simply because of the departure of Pat Burrell. Some "experts" called it the "worst signing in 2009". It was a 3-Year $30,000,000 contract that sure did not disappoint.

.272 Batting Average

34 Homeruns

93 Runs Batted In

0 Stolen Bases

Raul Ibanez was half-man, half-who the **** is this guy throughout the whole season and proved to be extremely helpful. He went down from June to July with a groin strain and missed 15+ games which surely cost him 6+ homeruns. he was also playing hurt though out most of his time from July to November, limiting his ability

-Placido Polanco - 3B - #27

POLLY! Placido "Eggshell" Polanco is back and is being welcomed back with open arms. His potential to hit up to .330 is quite an exciting thought given his sick fielding abilities and phenomenal hand-eye coordination it looks like we will forget about Pete Happy very soon.

.282 Batting Average

10 Homeruns

72 Runs Batted In

7 Stolen Bases

Placido Polanco is making the shift to 3B. The first time since 2005 with the Phillies. Polanco is slated to bat 2nd in the lineup behind Jimmy Rollins.

- Carlos Ruiz - C - #

Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz had a breakout year in 2009, emerging not only as a great backstop for the pitchers, but also a solid #8 force behind the plate. He raised his average over 35 points from a year ago.

.255 Batting Average

9 Homeruns

43 Runs Batted In

3 Stolen Bases

Chooch will almost certainly start the season out as the backstop. He and Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina share the throne for best defensive NL catcher.

The Phillies, with the addition of Pollyanco have greatly upgraded their offence. But they also added an OK player into their pitching department as well.

-Roy Halladay - SP - #34

17W-10L

2.79 ERA

208 K

Roy Halladay. Roy Halladay. Roy Halladay. Yeah go ahead keep saying it. Roy Halladay. Roy Frickin' Halladay. We got him. The best pitcher in baseball is ours and will win the NL Cy Young award pitching in the inferior NL East compared to the strong AL East. While the AL East is compromised of the Bombers, the Beans, the Rays, Jays and O's the NL East is constructed of the Phillies, Mutts, Fish, Bravos, and Knats. Halladay will certainly get over 20 wins with his new team.

- Cole Hamels - SP - #35

10W-11L

4.35 ERA

168 K

The former pitching Phenom has been under some heat for his '09 performance but expect a bounce back year from the ace. We have 2 aces in Hamels and Halladay. HH. The Boys. We have a great 1-2 punch in them two.

- Joe Blanton - SP - #56

12W-8L

4.05 ERA

163 K

With his new contract extension he seems to be a Phillie for the next 3 years. Big Joe. He is average but you know what you'll get which is good. He will deliver a 4.00 ERA and we will like it because we need a SP that we know that were getting.

- JA Happ - SP - #43

12W-4L

2.93 ERA

119 K

JA Happ burst onto the Major League scene with his dynamic 2009 season filled with 2 complete games and a World Series appearance. Other than half-a-year of Cliff Lee, Happ was the Phillies best pitcher during the 2009 season

The Philadelphia Phillies have a world-class team, stocked with All-Stars and look like the favorite to return to the World Series..yet again