2012 - Philadelphia Phillies, At Least Cole is Staying

[Sgt PSN]

I don't think there's any way Howard comes back by June.  It's possible he misses the entire season, although I think Jul is probably when we see him again.  And regardless of when either player comes back, I don't think either will be "every day" players.  Especially Utley.  He's going to get more than his fair share of days off to help keep him from completely breaking down.  So even if he comes back with 100 games left to play, I'd be amazed if he plays in more than 80 of them. 

[SunMo]

Utley should be back by end of may and Howard by mid June

[Munson]

Amaro was even mentioning the west coast swing at the end of April I think for Utley.

[Don Ho]

Sunny, always look forward to my favorite thread of the year.  Love bums opening day

Wins 91
Marlins Wins 87
Nationals Wins 70
Where do the Phillies finish in the final division standings 1st
Big 3 Wins (Roy, Cliff, Cole) 49
Runs scored for season 616
Papelbon Net Saves (Saves - blown saves) 36
How many ABs does Dom Brown get. 75
Games played Utley 81
Games played Howard 81
Does Cole sign an extension before end of season Yes
Hunter Pence HR/RBI  25/92
When does season end for Phils NLCS

[ice grillin you]

being back in baseball doesnt really mean much...it takes like a month to get in the groove even when you do return...esepcially so when you dont ever start the year before you get hurt....so earliest either will produce anything is all star break but probably august

i also have to laugh when people say GRIT will be back _________ (fill in random time period)

dook had knees that are are slowly dying...its a chronic injury that some days feels ok and other days feel like youll never be able to walk again...i like to say he has a double knee concussions...because as with a concussion you have no idea when the player will return....he might be back never....he might be back in two weeks....he might be back in three months then find out he cant play and be back out again

choke at least has a defined injury that comes with a timetable

[Don Ho]

Amaro was even mentioning the west coast swing at the end of April I think for Utley.

Wow, that would be shocking.

[Don Ho]

dook had knees that are are slowly dying...its a chronic injury that some days feels ok and other days feel like youll never be able to walk again...i like to say he has a double knee concussions...because as with a concussion you have no idea when the player will return....he might be back never....he might be back in two weeks....he might be back in three months then find out he cant play and be back out again

choke at least has a defined injury that comes with a timetable

I just can't see this ending well for Lord Grit.  He'll be in and out of the line up all season.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Jayson Stark said on 97.5 that for the first time he believes they will not sign Hamels.

[Rome]

Wins  95
Marlins Wins  87
Nationals Wins  84
Where do the Phillies finish in the final division standings  1st
Big 3 Wins (Roy, Cliff, Cole)  54
Runs scored for season  729
Papelbon Net Saves (Saves - blown saves)  37
How many ABs does Dom Brown get  300
Games played Utley  100
Games played Howard  100
Does Cole sign an extension before end of season  No
Hunter Pence HR/RBI  27/110
When does season end for Phils  World Fugging Champions, Bitch.

[Geowhizzer]

Wins  92
Marlins Wins  90
Nationals Wins  87
Where do the Phillies finish in the final division standings  1st
Big 3 Wins (Roy, Cliff, Cole)  51
Runs scored for season  645
Papelbon Net Saves (Saves - blown saves)  28 (34-6)
How many ABs does Dom Brown get  125
Games played Utley  80
Games played Howard  95
Does Cole sign an extension before end of season  No
Hunter Pence HR/RBI  22/90
When does season end for Phils  Division Series to whoever becomes the WFC

[QB Eagles]

i also have to laugh when people say GRIT will be back _________ (fill in random time period)

dook had knees that are are slowly dying...its a chronic injury that some days feels ok and other days feel like youll never be able to walk again...i like to say he has a double knee concussions...because as with a concussion you have no idea when the player will return....he might be back never....he might be back in two weeks....he might be back in three months then find out he cant play and be back out again

He might also be "back" in the sense that he takes every third game off to rest his knees. Can't see how anyone can feel comfortable pencilling him in for 100 games.

[Geowhizzer]

My opinions regarding the NL East:

This year the Phils definitely fall back to the pack a bit.  Unlike last year, where there was pretty much no doubt from day one about who would win the division, this year some begins to creep in.  Not to go all IGY, but anyone that says that there is no chance the Phils fall this season just isn't looking at the totality of the situation.  It's not just that the Phils are weaker - they are, especially offensively.  The rest of the division (sans the Mets) are just getting better, particularly the Marlins and Nats.  The Braves might be stagnant or a little better - the severity of the injury to Hudson will go a long way in determining their fate.

Philadelphia Phillies
No Howard until probably June, maybe July.  No Utley until   Aging lineup.  Hamels in contract year - contract year or distraction?  Juan Pierre the starting LF on opening day?!?!?!?  This team may be weaker offensively than the 2010 Giants.  Of course, that team won the World Series.

Halladay.  Lee.  Hamels.  Three stud pitchers that each would be the head of 90% of the pitching staffs in baseball.  Can Worley have continued success or a sophomore slump?  Will Blanton be around for the end of the season?  A definite area of strength, but still weaker at the start than last season.

Papelbon should be OK, though there were some velocity issues last season.  The rest of the bullpen could be questionable.  Will Qualls survive CBP as a flyball pitcher?  Can Contreras still go?  Stutes on the DL with shoulder issues.  basticho with velocity problems.

I think they're still the class of the division, but there isn't the air of invincibility that there have been the past few seasons. 

Record: 92-70


Miami Marlins

Adding Jose Reyes will add some spark to a lineup that has potential.  Love Mike Giancarlo Stanton - could easily go 35/100 this year.  Can Ramirez learn a new position and still rebound from a disastrous 2011 offensively?  Can Logan Morrison learn to be more consistent?  Not an offensive juggarnaut by any means, but could be more consistent than the Phils.

Adding Mark Buehlre adds some veteral depth to the staff.  If Josh Johnson can stay healthy (a questionmark) he is one of the best in the league.  Nolasco and Sanchez are decent, not great.  Zambrano is the question mark:  can he even approach what he once was, or will be mentally collapse once more?

The Marlins will be entertaining in 2012 - they will either succeed mightily or fail spectacularly.

Record:  90-72


Washington Nationals

Washington is up-and-coming.  Offensively, they have some pieces.  Love Ryan Zimmerman.  Will Bryce Harper (recently sent down) make a contribution this season?  Can Jayson Werth bounce back and be more of the hitter he was with the Phils?  Will Brett Carroll really be the opening day left fielder?  REALLY?

They have a young and talented pitching staff.  Stasburg will be limited in innings, which will be a handicap for the Nats.  We'll have to see how Gonzalez can adjust to being a #2.  The rest of the staff is rather pedestrian to me.  Will Lidge be the closer? Can he be effective once more?

They're improving, but still a year or so away.

Record:  87-75


Atlanta Braves

The Braves will be mostly depending on improving from within.  Can Uggla not be a disaster for a full half-season?  Can Heyward bounce back from a sophomore slump?  Can Freddie Freeman build on 21/76?  Like Bourn, like McCann, but they can't be counted on to carry an offense.  Chipper seems to finally be cooked (cue celebration here).

Two fine young arms in Jurrjens and Hanson.  Hudson's injury will go a long way in determining the fate of the pitching staff this year.  They miss his veteran presence as well as his pitching.  Great bullpen arms, but can Kimbrel repeat his stellar rookie season?

Record: 82-80


New York Mets

Ha ha ha ha ha.  Not worth breaking down.  Maybe David Wright becomes a Phillie in August?

Record:  65-107

[MDS]

i love the when howard gets back and when utley gets back talk. its a yearly april tradition. and yet you guys never seem to learn where it leads.

anyway...

Wins = 89
Marlins Wins = 88
Nationals Wins = lol
Where do the Phillies finish in the final division standings = 1st
Big 3 Wins (Roy, Cliff, Cole) = 50
Runs scored for season = 669
Papelbon Net Saves (Saves - blown saves) = 40
How many ABs does Dom Brown get = who cares hes terrible
Games played Utley = 50
Games played Howard = 88
Does Cole sign an extension before end of season = no
Hunter Pence HR/RBI = 25/100
When does season end for Phils = NLDS

if this division wasnt full of small time loser teams they wouldnt even make the playoffs

[PhillyPhreak54]

Phillies Interested In Mike Fontenot
By Mike Axisa [April 4, 2012 at 5:49pm CST]
With Chase Utley on the shelf for the foreseeable future, the Phillies have shown interest in Mike Fontenot according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Giants released Fontenot last week.

Philadelphia has been looking for infield help over the last few weeks. Fontenot, 31, posted a .227/.304/.377 line in 252 plate appearances at second base, shortstop and third base last year The Fielding Bible Volume III suggests he provides adequate defense around the infield.[\quote]

[MDS]

when utley gets back __________

a: fontenot will move to the bench