Phillies play-by-play broadcaster Tom McCarthy was on 610-WIP this morning being interviewed by Angelo Cataldi and he made some interesting predictions. McCarthy shocked Angelo, Rhea Hughes and rest of the show’s hosts by predicting that the Phillies would win 107 games.
McCarthy felt the comments by Phils Hall of Fame third baseman, Mike Schmidt, about shortstop Jimmy Rollins and centerfielder Shane Victorino, were understandable because Schmidt is at a time in his life where he’s willing to tell you exactly how he feels. The broadcaster thought the statements had a lot of truth in them.
He thought the Phils should leave Rollins in the leadoff spot because he has been successful hitting there and the team has won a championship with him being the guy that starts things off. McCarthy feels Charlie Manuel should let Rollins begin the season as his leadoff guy and keep him there, until he can see that it’s not working then he could change the lineup.
McCarthy also feels they should let Rollins play the game the way he always has done. He conceded that Rollins isn’t the kind of lead off hitter who is going to go up the plate thinking of getting a hit, walk or anything else which would get him on base.
He also feels they should let Victorino continue to play the game the way he has done in the past. We all know that he like Rollins isn’t a guy who goes to the plate looking for walks and other ways to get on base. Victorino has some pop in his bat and likes to go up hacking at whatever the pitcher is throwing.
He feels Ben Francisco will be the guy batting fifth and playing in rightfield when all the smoke clears.
Phils 97 Wins and take 1st Place in the NL East for the Regular Season
(in MLB’s weakest Division)
They beat the Brewers in the WIld-Card Round 3 games to 1.
They lose to the Reds in the NL Championship Series in an exciting 7 game
sereis which LHP A Chapman of the Reds is unhittable and the Series MVP.
The Reds throw 3 Starting LHP’s at the PHils who end up batting a paltry .182 for the Series and go quietly into the nigh wasting another great opportunity to go to the WS… (the Window is rapidly closing as Phils have a lot of players and contracts that are up after the 2011 Season and the break-up of the so-called Dynasty begins..)
Phillies will win 95-100 games.
Milwaukee will beat them begind their rotation of Greinke, Marcum, Gallardo.
Red Sox will lose to Milwaukee and the mascot will die of alcohol poisoning.
No, not the “Sausage Guys”… A real tragedy..