2009 Philadelphia Phanatics Season Preview

By Mike Orenstein

The Phanatics are in the 2^nd year of their 3 year re-build project.  Frustrated with weak year-end performances & early play off exits, after the 2007 season Philly management decided that change was needed.  Some fan favorite players like Cabrera, Hunter, Washburn, Guillen, Dye, Putz, Vazquez were sent packing. 

For the 2^nd year in a row the Phanatics did not participate in the Free Agent Draft.  Management decided to save dollars for the 2010 Free Agent Draft.

 The Phanatics are still beaming from landing top Rookie pitching prospect,  Stephen Strasburg.  The draft also netted some fine young talent in Galarraga, Joyce & Anderson Hernandez to help fill some current holes in the lineup.

 Forecast: This year’s Phanatics won’t be competing for the division title.  They will be building the foundation for 2010 & beyond.  They only thing they will be competing for is the 1^st pick in the 2010 Rookie Draft.  A team must have goals.  LOL

 The 2009 Phanatics:

 C – Catching duties will be split between Gerald Laird & Carlos Ruiz.  Both provide solid defense & can handle a young pitching staff.

 1B – Paul Konerko will be the starting 1B for the Phanatics.  Konerko provides some needed power & the Phanatics are looking for him to bounce back from an injury plagued year.  Swisher, Bautista & Cuddyer will be adding in any needed ab’s.  The Phanatics are looking for big things from Kendry Morales in the Minors & are hopeful he will compete for the starting job next year.

 2B – Dan Uggla, the Phantics 2008 team MVP, will be back at 2B looking to repeat his 50+ HR season.  Alberto Callaspo will see some ab’s against lefties & will be a late inning defensive replacement.  Anderson Hernandez will start the season in the Minors but a late season call up is not out of the question.  Uggla may end up as trade bait mid-year depending on the development of Callaspo & Hernandez. 

 SS – Newly acquired Ryan Theriot will be the starting SS & leadoff hitter for the Phanatics.  His .387 OB% will help set the table for batters down the line. 

3B – Ty Wigginton & Joe Crede will split time at 3B.  Both are place holders for Andy LaRoche who the Phanatics have high hopes for.  The former top prospect certainly has talent and this spring might be the precursor of a breakout season. 

OF – Shane Victorino anchors the Phanatics OF defensively in CF.  Swisher, Ross, Joyce, Gonzalez Buck, & Cuddyer will round out the rest of the OF for the Phanatics.  Swisher, Cuddyer, Gonzalez & Buck spent a lot of their off season time with hitting coach, Larry Walker, working on the fundamentals of hitting.  He also entertained them for a weekend of fishing up at his lakeside cabin in Victoria, BC.  The Phanatics are counting on all of them to get the springs & pops back in their bats.

 SP – Arroyo, Galarraga & Bergmann will fill in the top 3 slots of the rotation for the Phanatics.  Backe, Bonderman, Sampson & Hampton will round out the rest of  the starting rotation.  Hampton was a acquired as a late round draft pick.  He could end up being the sleeper pick of the year with his impressive Spring Training.  Strasburg will be closely watched & monitored in the Minor Leagues.  Eric Hurley & Claudio Vargas will start the season in the Minors as well. 

RP -  Roy Corcoran & Mike Adams will assume co-Closer roles.  Jensen Lewis, by the end of the season, may end up as the Phanatics Closer.  Rounding out the rest of the bullpen will be Beimel, Lyon, Pinto, Thompson & Britton.