MLB Team by Team: 2008 Philadelphia Phillies

Last season, the Philadelphia Phillies did a much less funny version of "Major League," starting out poorly (These guys ain't too frickin' good), but behind a young pitcher, a power-hitting giant, and a flashy leadoff man, all came out well when the underdog Phillies upended the New York Mets to win the National League East Division. (No word on whether or not they had a naked cutout of the owner.)

This year, the Phillies would much rather get ahead and stay ahead, and with only minor changes, the party that only Cinderella (the Colorado Rockies) could stop is back. Are they going to take it all?

OFFENSE: A

The Phillies, with the possible exception of shortstop Jimmy Rollins, the National League's MVP for 2007, lived by the mantra "Go big or go home." Five players in the projected lineup, counting new third baseman Pedro Feliz, hit at least 20 home runs, led by first baseman Ryan Howard's 47. They have the top leadoff talent in Rollins, the best offensive second baseman in Chase Utley (.332, 22 homers, 103 RBI), and Pat "The Bat" Burrell in left. Look for more moon shots coming for Citizens Bank Park this season.

PROJECTED LINEUP: 1 Rollins SS 2 Utley 2B 3 Howard 1B 4 Burrell LF 5 Jenkins RF 6 Feliz 3B 7 Victorino CF 8 Ruiz C 9 Pitcher's spot

STARTING PITCHING: B-

And the starting pitching, while not stellar, held down opposing offenses just enough for the offense to beat them into submission. Cole Hamels was great last year (15-5, 3.39 ERA, 177 strikeouts in 183.1 innings), and should be even better with another year's experience under his belt, a scary thought indeed. Kyle Kendrick won 10 against only four losses last season, and Jamie Moyer was Jamie Moyer (14-12, ERA a bit bloated at 5.01, but still ate nearly 200 innings). Here's where some problems arise, albeit it small ones: Moyer is 45, and pretty near the end of his great career, Brett Myers is going to give starting another go after being a very effective closer last year, and that could be a tough transistion, Adam Eaton needed all the run support he could to be a .500 pitcher (10-10, 6.01 ERA), and that can't continue. But, some small tweaks could change things just enough to let the offense roll like ogres yet again.

PROJECTED ROTATION: Hamels, Myers, Kendrick, Moyer, Eaton

BULLPEN: C-

If there is a real weakness in the Phillies machine, it may be in the pen. Newly acquired closer Brad Lidge is coming off surgery just this spring, and he wasn't the most consistent cat in the world before that (19 saves in 27 opportunities last year, 123 of 150 career). Tom Gordon is the set-up man, did good work in that role last year for Myers, but he's entering his 20th season in the bigs, so time is starting to creep up on him (seven homeruns in 40 innings last year). J.C. Romero did a good job holding down lefties, Ryan Madson is solid as well. The big problem may just be at the end of games, not getting there.

CONCLUSION

The Phillies should more than hold up their end of the bargain in making this year's NL East race one of the most compelling stories in baseball. Rollins will continue to electrify and inspire, Howard will continue his quest to hit one off the moon, and Hamels should continue to roll on. But with the National League itself improving greatly this season, and the Mets in particular, the Phillies will find themselves just short of the division title, but in just the right place to take home the wild card. Then the real fun begins.

PREDICTION: 92-70, second in National League East, National League wild card winner