|
Moving right along in our 2010 Phillies predictions, we change our sites to the infield. Injuries have just killed the Phillies infielders. Ryan Howard is the only infielder who has not missed SIGNIFICANT time on the DL. How about this for a number: The Phillies infield has missed a total of 96 games on the Disabled List.
Click here for a link to the original 2010 Phillies infield predictions.
Infield
First Base
Prediction:
SAME
Result: SAME...kind of
The results for Ryan Howard have been basically the same, but in a very different way. The difference is very clear: Howard has hit 5 less home runs but has a 42 point higher batting average. Despite less power, Howard managed to have just 2 less RBI's. I like what I've seen from Howard. He put up pretty darn decent numbers without hitting his hot streak yet. You never know, we might be watching Ryan Howard evolving in front of our eyes.
Click here to view all of the career stats for Ryan Howard.
Second Base
Prediction:
BETTER
Result: WORSE
This part is embarrassing. You have to look at my original predictions for Utley. It wasn't enough for me to pick him to have a career year; I had to pick him to win NL MVP.
Not only will Utley not be either of those, but he could end up being the main reason why the Phillies miss the playoffs. Who would have thought that Wilson Valdez would be not much different in our lineup than Chase Utley? Here are his first half numbers (but keep in mind he missed 15 games with the thumb injury): .277 batting average, 11 homers, and 37 RBIs. Those aren't the worst numbers in the world, but they are for your number 3 hitter and for a guy that is making a ton of money.
If you want a good laugh, take a gander at my final prediction for Utley. "..in 2010 Utley will hit above .300 with 30+ homers, 100+ RBIs, and 100+ runs scored. Mark it down, this is Utley's year to follow Rollins and Howard as the Most Valuable Player."
Click here to view all of the career stats for Chase Utley.
Shortstop
Prediction:
Slightly Better
Result: N/A
If you doubted the effects of Jimmy Rollins' leadership before, you are crazy if you aren't a believer now. When the Phillies were going through a historic offensive slump, you had to wonder what would Jimmy have done to make things better. Two separate calf injuries took Jimmy Rollins out of over half the games this season, and boy did that hurt.
Outside of his leadership in the clubhouse and in the field, Jimmy has already made his presence felt even further. In just a couple weeks since his return from the DL, J-Roll has not one but two walk-off hits. Do you think it is a coincidence that we are getting clutch wins now? I think not.
Jimmy spent too much time on the DL for prediction yet. We will have to see how it plays out at the end.
Click here to view all of the career stats for Jimmy Rollins.
Third Base
Prediction:
Much Better
Result: Much Better
Anybody but Pedro Feliz. Thank god that guy is outta here. We traded in terrible at-bats, wild swinging, zero emotion, and double-plays galore for the dream #2 batter. Polanco has missed 25 games this year, but no matter what he is still better than Feliz (who is hitting .220 with 3 homers and 26 RBIs by the way).
Polanco has been everything we asked for when he played. Polanco hit .318 with 5 homers, 27 RBIs, and 39 runs scored. And he brought with him tremendous plate discipline. Despite lots of time off, still MUCH better than last year.
Click here to view all of the career stats for Placido Polanco.
|
