I like the fact that Phillies star shortstop Jimmy Rollins has enough guts to say that the Phillies are going to win 100 games. The rest of the team had better have the same belief whether they say it or not.
The Phillies have a bullseye on their backs whether they say anything or not. They are the team to beat in the National League, in fact they are the team to beat in Major League Baseball.
Let me make it plain for all of you Philadelphia sports fans, “The Phillies Are the New Yankees”. They are the bullies on the block who have loaded up on pitching and should blow away the competition.
To have four of the top ten starters in baseball, but be unable to win 100 games would be a disappointment. In fact it would be a major disappointment. I don’t know about you, but they should win the World Series and win 100 games with room to spare.
The only thing that causes any doubt from my perspective is injuries. If they stay healthy, they’ve got to win a 100 games and the World Series.
They got close to doing both of those accomplishments last year and then they added Cliff Lee, who is the best post-season pitcher in baseball. If the Yankees had the same ballclub the Phillies have, they would be expected to win 100 games and win the World Series. Think about that. The Yankees would be expected to accomplish the same feats despite playing against the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles; instead of the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins.
Are they going to have some tough times? Yes, sure they are. But there’s no way this baseball team should come up short.
I don’t even know why it’s a big thing that Rollins says they’re going to win 100 games. How could he not say it? Rollins has the cockiness which the rest of the team depends on when their confidence is challenged. Rollins knows he’s good and expects to win.
He’s not intimidated by loud critics here in Philadelphia or the naysayers who are always eager to start panicking about something. J-Roll doesn’t let anybody throw off his groove and the rest of this team must follow his lead.
Let’s see if they can win some World Series first..
4 straight NL East Divisions is great, 3 Championship Series in a row is great..
They need to win the World Series this year if they stay healthy but it will not be a cakewalk.. They will get good competition from the Red,Giants,Braves,
Cardinals, Brewers,& Padres in the NL and then have Red Sox,Yankees,Rangers,White Sox, Twins,Tigers all positioned to make run this year..
4 Key players will be Rollins, Victorino,Utley and Ibanez.. If 2 or 3 of these players have their normal career #’s, they will be fine, If 3 out of this 4 struggle
(like they did last season) then the Phillies will struggle come playoff time..
100 or not, just have to win more than the rest of national league
Paul, phillies do not have to worry about any of those teams if they play like the numbers on the back of their cards. Yankees? What about starting pitching?
Remember those Braves rotation of the 90s. They had 3 HOF pitchers and only won 1 WS. Need a clutch back end of the bullpen for the playoffs. The Yankees of the 90s didnt have as good rotation as those Braves teams but the back end of the pen was lights out. Lidge needs to have a huge year.
ozz, agree, phillies will be in a lot of low scoring games and Lidge has to be the ’08 version.
They are the New Yankees in terms of being able to outspend the competition.
TO Jake,
Many clubs in the NL improved their rosters..the Reds,Brewers,Braves,PAdres
to name a few.
Outside of adding C Lee, the Phils Roster is weaker offensively and defensively and the Bench is still “minor league” in my opinion..
To Jonathon..
Do you mean outspend other teams in the NL, but still lose when it counts..