Are The Philadelphia Phillies Quietly Sneaking In Under Everyone's Radar?

[PhillyFlyers]

Nobody is saying anything about this team. Everybody talking about the Nationals and Braves in this division.

They are under everyone's radar for some reason.

Have the Phillies quietly built themselves into a contender once again with their offseason bullpen acquisitions and the return to full health of Chase Utley and Ryan Howard?

Remember, this is a team that still has a starting rotation of Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Roy Halladay.

Did the Phillies just swerve the entire National League?

[DrStale]

Yeah I can't believe people are counting out a bunch of guys on the downslope of their careers who'll probably hurt themselves stepping off the team bus.

[stevenash]

^
They never left my radar.

When you have Hamels, Lee, and Haladay on top, you are capable of winning three straight.

Howard has been seeing the ball, and more importantly hitting the ball great all spring.
Utley is ready, every time I look up this spring, Revere is on base..........

Know this though, Nats are the cream of the division, and if the Braves keep pace until Beachy comes back, they'll be there too.

[innovation]

you still have the queer pucker lipped closer?

[innovation]

<!-- /storypackage --><!-- Article -->Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon feels his team lacked leadership last season, and made it known to reporters today.
On the day that the Phillies began exhibition play with an intrasquad scrimmage, Papelbon, who left the Boston Red Sox for Philadelphia in time for last season, reiterated his stance from earlier in the week that says: "Since I've been here, I haven't seen any leadership."

[stevenash]

Yeah I can't believe people are counting out a bunch of guys on the downslope of their careers who'll probably hurt themselves stepping off the team bus.

Hamels is 29, Halladay and Lee are in their mid 30's, Howard is 33, Utley is 34.
You make it sound like they are the AARP squad

[PhillyFlyers]

^
They never left my radar.

When you have Hamels, Lee, and Haladay on top, you are capable of winning three straight.

Howard has been seeing the ball, and more importantly hitting the ball great all spring.
Utley is ready, every time I look up this spring, Revere is on base..........

Know this though, Nats are the cream of the division, and if the Braves keep pace until Beachy comes back, they'll be there too.

Yeah well, the Phils creamed the Nats just yesterday and the atmosphere wasn't that of a spring training game either. The Nats pitcher threw at and hit Utley in the leg and then Halladay came out the next inning and threw at the first batter he faced. Phils won the game though.

[SamDiamond]

Utley is a shell of his former self, and the Phillies are hoping/praying he gets 350 ABs this year.

And Ruiz is on the deck for the first 25 games.

Halladay is as tough as they come, but he's still getting old.

The Braves and Nats are younger and just better. Look at the Braves lineup---they are better at every position. Which Phillies' player could/would start for Atlanta right now?

It is really laughable when you look at the OF positions.

Atlanta has Upton/Upton/Heyward. The Phillies have Ben Revere/Dom Brown/Darin Ruf.

That's just not fair.

[PhillyFlyers]

Hamels is 29, Halladay and Lee are in their mid 30's, Howard is 33, Utley is 34.
You make it sound like they are the AARP squad

Don't forget about Domonic Brown either. The kid is having a monster spring. Looks like he finally could be breaking out and be that five tool guy he was always projected to be.

[PhillyFlyers]

Utley is a shell of his former self.

And Ruiz is on the deck for the first 25 games.

Halladay is as tough as they come, but he's still getting old.

The Braves and Nats are younger and just better. Look at the Braves lineup---they are better at every position. Which Phillies' player could/would start for Atlanta right now?

It is really laughable when you look at the OF positions.

Atlanta has Upton/Upton/Heyward. The Phillies have Ben Revere/Dom Brown/Darin Ruf.

That's just not fair.

First of all, Domonic Brown is having a monster spring. Darin Ruf has showed consistent power throughout his time not only in the minors but also at the big league level too. Ben Revere is finally that leadoff hitter they have lacked. If this comes together the Phillies could be monsters this season.

[InTheDrink]

if only....

85-88 wins is the ceiling this year

[SamDiamond]

Don't forget about Domonic Brown either. The kid is having a monster spring. Looks like he finally could be breaking out and be that five tool guy he was always projected to be.

It is spring training. Brown has had 26 ABs---- TWENTY SIX, and from that you conclude he is going to have a monster year?

Seriously?

[SamDiamond]

First of all, Domonic Brown is having a monster spring. Darin Ruf has showed consistent power throughout his time not only in the minors but also at the big league level too. Ben Revere is finally that leadoff hitter they have lacked. If this comes together the Phillies could be monsters this season.

If.. If... If.

[PhillyFlyers]

If.. If... If.

Yeah, and it's if if if for every other team too. What's your point?

[SamDiamond]

First of all, Domonic Brown is having a monster spring. Darin Ruf has showed consistent power throughout his time not only in the minors but also at the big league level too. Ben Revere is finally that leadoff hitter they have lacked. If this comes together the Phillies could be monsters this season.

This wouldn't be you being blinded by homerism would it?

I'm curious.

The Giants have a guy named Francisco Peguero. He's batting .550 over the same number of ABs as Dom Brown. So, I guess we shoud start getting his spot ready in Cooperstown, because after all, according to you, 26 ABs tell us soooo much about a player.

[PhillyFlyers]

This wouldn't be you being blinded by homerism would it?

I'm curious.

The Giants have a guy named Francisco Peguero. He's batting .550 over the same number of ABs as Dom Brown. So, I guess we shoud start getting his spot ready in Cooperstown, because after all, according to you, 26 ABs tell us soooo much about a player.

Boy, you are a genius. Homerism for the Phillies FROM A YANKEES FAN!

That'll be the day.

[SamDiamond]

Yeah, and it's if if if for every other team too. What's your point?

My point is--- all you can do is hope and pray guys like Brown and Revere have career years.

The Braves don't need that. There isn't anyone outside Philadelphia that would take Brown/Revere/Rufin over Upton/Upton/Heyward.

You hanging your hat on Brown's first 26 ABs of spring training. Which may be the dumbest thing ever posted on SBR, and that says a lot.

[SamDiamond]

Boy, you are a genius. Homerism for the Phillies FROM A YANKEES FAN!

That'll be the day.

You didnt answer my question.

So, Peguero from the Giants, and his .550 average. Should we get his spot in Cooperstown ready?

After all, 26 ABs mean SOOOO MUCH.

[PhillyFlyers]

This wouldn't be you being blinded by homerism would it?

I'm curious.

The Giants have a guy named Francisco Peguero. He's batting .550 over the same number of ABs as Dom Brown. So, I guess we shoud start getting his spot ready in Cooperstown, because after all, according to you, 26 ABs tell us soooo much about a player.

Brown has 3 homers, 4 rbi, 6 walks, 10 hits, with a slugging pct. of .808, an ops of 1.323, an obp of .515 to go with a .385 avg. in 26 at bats so far.

What's Peguero's numbers?

[ZetaPsi808]

spring training means nothing

[stevenash]

^
It's not totally meaningless

[SamDiamond]

Brown has 3 homers, 4 rbi, 6 walks, 10 hits, with a slugging pct. of .808, an ops of 1.323, an obp of .515 to go with a .385 avg. in 26 at bats so far.

What's Peguero's numbers?

Oh, I have even better for you.

Ryan Raburn. A guy who will see very little time with Cleveland this year.

He has 18 ABs-- 8 fewer than Dom Brown. Raburn has 4 Home Runs. He is batting over .500, has 9 RBI, an OPS of 1.792, and an OBP of .571.

He destroys Brown in every single category.

Here is the link to his spring stat line.

And yet, it will mean absolutely dick when the season starts.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=430605#gameType='S'&sectionType=career&statType=1&season=2013&level='ALL'

[SamDiamond]

^
It's not totally meaningless

26 spring training ABs doesn't carry much weight either.

[PhillyFlyers]

Oh, I have even better for you.

Ryan Raburn. A guy who will see very little time with Cleveland this year.

He has 18 ABs-- 8 fewer than Dom Brown. Raburn has 4 Home Runs. He is batting over .500, has 9 RBI, an OPS of 1.792, and an OBP of .571.

He destroys Brown in every single category.

Here is the link to his spring stat line.

And yet, it will mean absolutely dick when the season starts.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/tea...13&level='ALL'

Now you're trying to change the argument by switching players?

[InTheDrink]

Now you're trying to change the argument by switching players?

seems like his point is pretty clear

and peguero has 2 more rbi than brown in 21 ab's

[SamDiamond]

Now you're trying to change the argument by switching players?

No, quite the opposite. I proved I can take the AA 2nd basemen of the Indians and he too can have a "monster" spring training. Doesn't mean dick.

I am showing you I can roll out absolutely meaningless players and use limited ABs AND find players having better STs than Brown.

Per your logic, Brown should be an MVP candidate for Philly this year, and Raburn should be heading to the fuking HOF.

Want more players having better springs than Brown?

Here is another.

Nolan Arenado. Scrub 3B for Colorado.

He has 17ABs (9 fewer than Brown), 4 HRs, .482 BA, 1.235 Slugging, 1.637 OPS, and .512 OBP.

[PhillyFlyers]

No, quite the opposite. I proved I can take the AA 2nd basemen of the Indians and he too can have a "monster" spring training. Doesn't mean dick.

I am showing you I can roll out absolutely meaningless players and use limited ABs AND find players having better STs than Brown.

Per your logic, Brown should be an MVP candidate for Philly this year, and Raburn should be heading to the fuking HOF.

Want more players having better springs than Brown?

Here is another.

Nolan Arenado. Scrub 3B for Colorado.

He has 17ABs (9 fewer than Brown), 4 HRs, .482 BA, 1.235 Slugging, 1.637 OPS, and .512 OBP.

The difference is your AA scrubs weren't ever projected to be the player Brown was when he was in the minors. You're comparing apples to oranges here.

[SamDiamond]

The difference is your AA scrubs weren't ever projected to be the player Brown was when he was in the minors. You're comparing apples to oranges here.

Wait, now you are saying what?

Because Brown was "projected" to be a player, his stats carry more weight?

Is that what you are saying? Seriously?

Brown has spent the part of 3 seasons in MLB, and he's a .235 hitter.

That's it. You think he's going to take a leap to the .290/.295 range? If you're offering that up in a bet, I am in.

[InTheDrink]

Lol browns projections were at least three years ago. Everyone has pretty much given up on him being what he was supposed to be. 26 ab's doesn't change that

[PhillyFlyers]

Wait, now you are saying what?

Because Brown was "projected" to be a player, his stats carry more weight?

Is that what you are saying? Seriously?

Brown has spent the part of 3 seasons in MLB, and he's a .235 hitter.

That's it. You think he's going to take a leap to the .290/.295 range? If you're offering that up in a bet, I am in.

Your comparing apples to oranges. A bunch of scrubs who have never played in the big leagues to a starting outfielder who already has big league experience who was projected to be a complete five tool player in the majors.

You telling me you don't understand the difference?

[InTheDrink]

Philly fukkin give it up

I'm a Phils fan and Dom Brown isn't worth a shit

In fact I'd rather take a younger unknown producing great numbers than his sorry ass

[PhillyFlyers]

Philly fukkin give it up

I'm a Phils fan and Dom Brown isn't worth a shit

In fact I'd rather take a younger unknown producing great numbers than his sorry ass

How can you say this? Let the kid be the starting outfielder for a whole season before you make a judgment.

[stevenash]

26 spring training ABs doesn't carry much weight either.

Carries some weight.
How are the pitchers mechanics? How are the hitters mechanics? How's the bat speed? You can tell a lot in spring training.

[ZetaPsi808]

Oh, I have even better for you.

Ryan Raburn. A guy who will see very little time with Cleveland this year.

He has 18 ABs-- 8 fewer than Dom Brown. Raburn has 4 Home Runs. He is batting over .500, has 9 RBI, an OPS of 1.792, and an OBP of .571.

He destroys Brown in every single category.

Here is the link to his spring stat line.

And yet, it will mean absolutely dick when the season starts.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/tea...13&level='ALL'

exactly

ryan raburn for MVP lmao

[SamDiamond]

Your comparing apples to oranges. A bunch of scrubs who have never played in the big leagues to a starting outfielder who already has big league experience who was projected to be a complete five tool player in the majors.

You telling me you don't understand the difference?

You're about to lose this argument from both sides of the coin.

Actually Raburn has more ML experience than Dom Brown, my notation of him as a Double AA player was sarcasm, but the guy has bounced around between the minor/major league level as Brown has.

In fact, Raburn has played about the same number of games Dom Brown played in 2012.

Now, do you want to talk projections?

Raburn was a 5th round selection, Dom Brown was a 20th round selection.

So, now what? Still think we're comparing apples to oranges?

Raburn has done more in the majors than Brown has, food for thought.

Using your logic, Raburn's breakout spring should carry more weight, but it doesn't. Why? Because 26 ABs are worthless. Absolutely worthless.

At least wait till March 28th before proclaiming Brown has a "monster" spring.