Philadelphia Phillies 2003 Season Preview

Rising star Jimmy Rollins

Which team went 80-81 and finished in fourth place last but is being touted by many as the team to end the Braves' 11 year ride atop the NL East? The new look Phillies, that's who. Before shaking your head in disbelief (can you say Jimmy Rollins?), did you know that the Phils (...and Mike Lieberthal...) went 41-34 after the break last year (...and Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell...), posting a 3.77 ERA in that stretch (...don't forget Randy Wolf and fireballer Vicente Padilla)?

And do you remember that to this scrappy, solid bunch was added Jim Thome (.304, 52, 118), David Bell (.261, 20, 73, but more importantly with the knack of coming through in the clutch) and the Mazzone-Glazine-Maddux and Smoltz-trained Kelvin Millwood (18-8, 3.24, with 178 K's and only 65 walks in 217 workhorse innings?

Don't Believe the Hype: That's what I thought, too, when I started hearing all the blather about the 2003 Phillies. But remember that as well as being a talented club, they play in a division with the Marlins and Mutts, Expos and a newly tight-fisted Atlanta club that is minus Tom Glavine and Millwood.

Check 'Em Out: This is a pretty damn good ballclub. SS Jimmy Rollins willl be leading off. One of the better defensive shortstops around, his offensive numbers fell off last year as he tried too hard to swing for the fences. The Phils were notorious for leaving runners on base, so it is not surprising that a young player with Rollins' star quality would over-compensate. With Thome in the order he won't have to this year. Mike Lieberthal is one of the better defensive catchers and a great pitcher handler. Injuries slowed his offense last year but he reported to camp in good shape and should be good for 20 homers and 70 RBI. Bobby Abreu also struggled a little at the plate last year, falling from 31 to 20 homers, 110 to 85 RBI--but he also led the NL with 50 doubles and 31 steals so his wheels are still good, and he hit .308, a point above his career average. Pat Burrell, who at 6' 4", 222 pounds is built burly like his name, is the LF and with Thome could provide one of the best one-two tandems in the game. He smacked 37 long flies and drove in 116 and is just entering his prime so there is no reason he can't hit 40 or more homers. Other everyday players besides newcomers Thome and Bell are 2B Placido Polanco, a .290 hitter with pennant-chase experience in St. Louis and CF Marlon Byrd, a potential Rookie of the Year candidate taking over from the disappointing Doug Glanville, who plays for Texas now.

Milwood was the big winner on Atlanta's staff, but he was not the ace. He'll have to step into that role here, although Randy Wolf (11-9 on the year but 9-2 during their hot streak) and all-star Padilla are right behind him. Not quite the A's, but an exciting, talented young rotation. One of the Phils' potential weaknesses is that the quality of the staff falls quickly after the "big three." Brandon Duckworth disappointed big time in '02 and may become trade bait if he isn't the #4 hurler a contender needs. Sophomore Brett Meyers, pencilled in as the fifth starter, still has a lot to learn.

The bullpen is anchored by 36-year-old Jose Mesa, who has staged a dramatic comeback the past two years in Philly. His pitching personna ia also dramatic, getting in and out of jams virtually every time out (despite his club record 45 saves he never once retired the side in order last year.) But his critics forget he was like that a decade ago when he starred for those great Cleveland clubs. He's a competitor who should rise to the new expectations.

Besides Mesa, the bullplen consists of Carlos Silva (5-0, 3.21 as a rookie in '02), Terry Adams (converted to relief he had a 2.38 ERA in 27 bullpen appearances) and 41-year-old lefty Dan Plesac, who at 41 seems intent on becoming the next Jesse Orosco.

Manager Larry Bowa is a fiery, stubborn hardhead who got rid of players like Scott Rolen and Glanville who didn't fit his mold. Newcomers Thome and Bell do and the rest of the club already knows both Bowa and Philadelphia, two entities that don't suffer fools readily. This clubs needs to get off to a good start for that very reason. Last year they started 9-19, but the returning players don't want to experience that again. Whatever happens, this should be one of the most interesting teams in the majors. And one, I predict, that will be in it to the bitter end.