Right now I have to go with the phillies. They have a new-found fire for the game since Bobby Abreu got traded, and,except for the Mets, the Phillies don't play any clubs over .500 the rest of the year. I think Cinncinatti is a good story but they are starting to struggle.I've watched the Phillies for a few years now, and they are starting to get that swagger they had last year in August and September, when teams really don't want to play them , with the offense clicking like most people thought it would all year They also have a solid top three starters in Myers,Hamels and Wolf and their bullpen is also solid. I think right now they're the favorite in the NL Wildcard. Who do you think is the wild card favorite ?
I still think the Reds are going to take it simply because they improved in their greatest weakness which was their bullpen. They added solid bullpen help and they still have that electrifying offense with a solid starting staff. The Phillies are too far out and they'll sink as soon as they get off the hot streak led by Utley. The Phillies have no leaders which makes it very hard for a team to succeed.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (6footbird @ Aug 4 2006, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Right now I have to go with the phillies. They have a new-found fire for the game since Bobby Abreu got traded, and,except for the Mets, the Phillies don't play any clubs over .500 the rest of the year. I think Cinncinatti is a good story but they are starting to struggle. I've watched the Phillies for a few years now, and they are starting to get that swagger they had last year in August and September, when teams really don't want to play them , with the offense clicking like most people thought it would all year They also have a solid top three starters in Myers,Hamels and Wolf and their bullpen is also solid. I think right now they're the favorite in the NL Wildcard. Who do you think is the wild card favorite ?</div>-Phillies also went 13-1 from April 30th - May 14th and faded once. -They traded away half their roster. -Solid 1-2-3 punch?Myers - 7-5 3.83 ERAHamels - 4-5 5.27 ERAWolf - 0-0 6.48 ERALieber - 4-8 6.09 ERAFloyd - 4-3 7.29 ERAWhere is it? You have one pitcher that is pitching DECENT and 4 that are downright terrible so far.Who wins the Wildcard? San Diego after Los Angeles wins the AL West.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Aug 5 2006, 03:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (6footbird @ Aug 4 2006, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Right now I have to go with the phillies. They have a new-found fire for the game since Bobby Abreu got traded, and,except for the Mets, the Phillies don't play any clubs over .500 the rest of the year. I think Cinncinatti is a good story but they are starting to struggle. I've watched the Phillies for a few years now, and they are starting to get that swagger they had last year in August and September, when teams really don't want to play them , with the offense clicking like most people thought it would all year They also have a solid top three starters in Myers,Hamels and Wolf and their bullpen is also solid. I think right now they're the favorite in the NL Wildcard. Who do you think is the wild card favorite ?</div>-Phillies also went 13-1 from April 30th - May 14th and faded once. -They traded away half their roster. -Solid 1-2-3 punch?Myers - 7-5 3.83 ERAHamels - 4-5 5.27 ERAWolf - 0-0 6.48 ERALieber - 4-8 6.09 ERAFloyd - 4-3 7.29 ERAWhere is it? You have one pitcher that is pitching DECENT and 4 that are downright terrible so far.Who wins the Wildcard? San Diego after Los Angeles wins the AL West.</div>Myers is pitching GOOD he has given up 3 or less runs in 7 of his last ten games.In Hamels last 5 starts he is 3 and 1 and has only given up more than three runs in one of those gamesPicthing a gem in his last 2. Wolf is coming off an Injury and has pitched okay pitch counts have kept him down in his first 2 starts.Scott Mathieson has pitched okay.And leiber is playing like crap Gavin Floyd is in the minors so why is he even on your list?I?m not saying that the phillies have a good staff I?m just saying they are solid
Brett Myers is a solid pitcher, but is still young and really and really should be a teams #2 Starter as by what I've seen of him he doesnt appear ready (Physically or Mentally) to be a teams ace. Cole Hamels has been average at best over the course of the season. Yes hes gotten better his last 2 starts, but to count on him to be your #2 starter when hes been average at best is what has ruined many top prospects from teams like the Pirates over the years. He should be in a less pressured situation towards the back end of the rotation. (PS: You really shouldnt be too excited when hes giving up 3 Runs over 5 Innings because that is a rather average start, but his last 2 are good starts). Randy Wolf is clearly still playing hurt or rusty, he was pulled because he couldnt keep anybody off of the basepaths and every single batter went deep in the count against him. I know because I was at the game. 10 Baserunners in 4 Innings is Jose Lima-level bad and if the Mets could have hit with RISP he would have been looking at 6 or 7 runs given up. He needs to pitch better then what we've seen his first 2 starts. Maybe he can regain that #3 pitcher form, but he has yet to show it this season.Mathiason is a young pitcher who should be in AAA to refine his game as I dont think hes ready to be in the Major Leagues yet, much like how the Mets did with Mike Pelfrey, call him up for a tryout and then send him down to work on his game once we realized he isnt quite there yet. In 2007 though he could be a nice pitcher, I just dont feel he is ready yet and is playing more because of need then anything else. .....and Lieber sucks this year, my guess is old age finally got to him because he doesnt look like the same pitcher, and Floyd belongs in AAA (And aparantly the Phillies got that one right)What the Phillies rotation needs is either a combination of Hamels/Wolf/Mathiason/Lieber to either step it up or for the Phillies to dump Lieber already and get a legit ace for their rotation like a Zito or Oswalt, but playing with 4 pitchers having an ERA over 5 isnt going to cut it unless you have an offense like either of the NY Teams, which you dont now that Abreu is gone....
I think the Marlins will win it. And then win they win the world series, the Breakup version 3.0 will occur :LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO:
