I'm going to predict the Phillies will win 88 games this season. And, not because I don't think they can't win 90 to 95 games or 100 games (a long shot). But, I am realistic. Look at their starting rotation.
Hamels and Myers are the only proven, dependable options. After that you have an aging Jamie Moyer who leaked oil at times last season. Then, you have Kyle Kendrick, who is a low strikeout pitcher, and young pitchers who can't strike batters out historically don't fare to well. And, the 5th starter, whoever that may be is a bigger disaster than the delapidated column under the I95 bridge on Port Richmond.
2/5 of their starting rotation you can truly count on. You can count on Moyer about 60% of the time because he is no spring chicken. And, Kendrick you really have no idea what you'll get. So far this spring he's showing serious signs of an impending sophomore slump. And, Kris Benson is being held back a week now because of soreness in his bicep-never a good thing this early on.
We didn't even get to the bullpen yet. Brad Lidge, while very talented and capable, did get injured on the first pitch of spring training. And, Tom Gordon's labrum is hanging together by threads. Ryan Madson has only been consistent for one season (2004) and a stretch of 2005. This leaves J.C. Romero as the only true, dependable option. And, remember he was a train wreck before last year.
I have serious concerns about the pitching staff as a whole. And, I don't see this ownership ponying up any more money, because their payroll is approaching $110 million, which all but means they won't be guaranteed a precious profit over this season no matter what.
Again, they should win at least 88 games because they have so many elite players, but they have a lot of holes too. Don't forget that Santana guy in blue and orange who resides up the turnpike. He's going to make the Mets an immediate World Series contender, because he is the best pitcher in the bigs right now.
Many things will have to go right for the Phillies to win above 90 games and they've been looking for that every year since 1993.
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Klecko to be a fullback experiment
Ok, all of you who love smash mouth football, don't count your chickens before they hatch.
The Eagles and Dan Klecko both admit this will be an experiment. This will mark the first time in his career he'll be a full-time NFL fullback.
And, we all know that experiments don't go so well sometimes with the Eagles (i.e. Jeremy Bloom).
Let's see how he does in camp before annoiting him the next 4th down masher.
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Sixers set to raise ticket prices
Well, you knew this would eventually come. The Sixers wouldn't dare raise the already high prices on their tickets during the past four seasons because people were walking away.
Now, that the interest is starting to perk up and people are coming back they're raising prices of season tickets an average 4.4% and floor seats will go up an average of 8.9%.
Chances are they wanted to raise prices for a while now because the team has been losing tons of money, thanks to Billy King's foolish spending. I'm willing to bet they waited until a good feeling started to abound. Why would you raise ticket prices when your team is at rock bottom like it was last season and into early this season?
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