Would the Phillies be the best team in the NL if  they had a pitching staff?
396831
to the dude above me: you dont know anything bout baseball, your just a frontrunner who likes the Yankees cuz they win more often than not.\n\nHe doesnt even know the Yankees are in the AL not the NL, FRONTRUNNER!\n\n\nto answer the question, DEFINITELY YES! Chase Utley, Howard, J-Roll, Lieberthal (get fasano outta there), burrell, rowand, MADSON (yes, a pitcher lol), David Bell once in a while, Victorino, and Bobby Abreu.\n\nThey need some quality pitchers such as:\nJohn Lackey\nJake Peavy\nThey need Randy Wolf back from surgery\nand maybe a pitcher like a Tim Wakefield
281383
Ever? Yes. This year? Doubtful. Dusty Baker polarizes his players by playing favorites. They will never win a title with Neffi Perez as a regular. They will start the season with  a rookie in left and an over the hill has been in right.  Kerry Wood and Mark Prior may never pitch a complete season again.  Greg Maddox is 83 years old. Sean Marshall is 12 years old.\n\nBy the way, I love this team and I'll listen to or watch every game. But, I won't have my heart broken by believing they are capable of winning a title this year.
270946
I'm not sure what they are thinking.  If Sexson has as good or better year than last year and if Beltre gets hot along with Ibanez and Ichiro doing well, they should have a solid hitting team.  Pitching has improved since last year with Appier joining and Fernandez should shine.  They should be very competitive.  It is a tough division and it's a long season.  We'll have to see how good these phophets are with their predition wouldn't we?
465243
I think so. They got a great pitching staff, good bullpen(jenks). Then their hitting lineup aint too shabby. Thome, and konerko carries the load. Crede is getting better by the year. iguchi and posednik can get on base and steal some too. overall, solid team all around. Got a good shot, better than any other team.
637675
No, I don't think they are actually a bad hitting team they have some quality players. (Gomes, Huff, Lugo, Crawford). They do need help with the pitching though. They only have one good pitcher (Kazmir). I think it has to do with the league they are in in having to play the Blue Jays, Red Soxs and Yankees so often.
246799
Yes. Despite Kerry Wood and Mark Prior's injuries, the Cubs are my sleeper team. Their hitting is good, and they still have some pitching left.
660831
THE CARDINALS ARE THE BEST NL TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL.  As for this year, they will win 100 games and take the division.  Cinncinatti will cool off, and the cubs will choke like they always do.  The Cards will win the N.L. central, but who knows what will happen in the playoffs with Tony LaRussa as the coach.  MVP=Pujols CY Young=Carpenter  Pitching Sliver Slugger, Marquis, Gold Gloves C Molina, 3b Rolen, CF Edmonds, SS Eckstein.
1013362
Uggla all the way in the National League assuming he doesn't get hurt again.   Papelbon seems to be the odds-on favorite in the American League, but he's a pitcher and a lot can happen during the second half of the year.   And have you looked at the Marlins pitching staff lately?  Lot of young talent there, but none good enough to take it from Uggla.  Kind of reminds me of the Braves pitching staffs of the '90's when they were just coming around.
512966
I really think and hope they will.\n\n\nGo Phillies!!!
19889
I am afraid they will struggle around .500 this season, falling between 3rd and 4th place unless some major roster moves are done before Feb. They are very weak at 3rd base and with their pitchers, especially starters.  No one is a true Ace, and they could very easily have two rookies in the rotation on opening day.  Meanwhile the Mets have spent like crazy and the Braves are the Braves.
289798
They should finish in first place this year. But that will depend on the pitching staff. They have a great ace in Pedro but the rest of the rotation could be kinda shakey espically Zambrano. They have upgraded their bullpen by getting Billy Wagner who is a top notch closer but they have to be able to get the ball into his hands. Their lineup has the potential to put up alot of runs and they have 4 players who have a good chance of hitting 30 hr ( Floyd, Beltran, Delgado, Wright) They also have the ability to steal bases with reyes and beltran But for them to be able to steal those bases Reyes will have to get on base more by taking more walks. They upgraded in the catcher department with Lo duca who is a huge defensive upgrade over piazza he wont provide as much power in the lineup but he has a good bat. They will need to bolster up the second base position sometime during the season as Kaz Matsui dosent have what it takes to be an everyday player in the major leauges and they right field platoon of Diaz and Nady should be adequate and they both also provide some pop in the lineup. Overall the Mets 8 position players have the talent on paper to put up tons of runs which should allow the pitching staff to get the ball into the hands of billy wagner. The Marlins have sold off the bulk of their talent and will likley be a non factor this season. The Phillies have a decent team this year but i dont think they will be able to keep up with the mets. and the braves are gonna be tough again they have a good mix of veterans and young players but the loss of furcal does hurt them. This is the best chance the mets have had to take the division in a long time but than again the games are played on the field so we will see what happens
1123388
Chris Reitsma was the hopeful closer but has not followed through.  Now he is on the DL because of numbness in his fingers.  Ken Ray has been the best one so far that they've used.  Villareal has been the best set up man.  Hopefully the bullpen will improve soon, as the Braves just fell to last place in the NL East and the bullpen lost the game for the fifth time this season for John Smoltz.  Otherwise, Smoltz would have nine wins and be right up there with Schilling, Glavine, and Kenny Rogers.
1030228
Adding a power bat isn't out the question, but they are probably looking for pitching to shore up the back end of the bullpen and rotation. Relievers like Scott Williamson and Steve Kline can be had. Their surplus OFs are expendable as well as relievers like Lance Cormier and Oscar Villareal.
847667
Of course they can. The biggest problem for the pitching staff has been resolved. The bullpen blew close to 29 leads late in games last year. They've inked Wickman, a proven closer, to an extension. Smoltz and a healthy Hudson will certainly help. They're also getting Mike Hampton back from Tommy John surgery and Glavine may make a return. With a rotation of Smoltz, Hampton, Hudson, Glavine and John Davies, they'll be alright. Middle relief and set up are where they need to improve, but the farm is deep and talented. Now if we can only get a quality lead off man. Look at the offense. Renteria, Chipper, Andruw, LaRoche, McCann, Francouer (very low average and still close to 30hr and 100 rbi) and Giles. Productive lineup-if healthy.
329432
They should be better this year, with more speed and better pitching staffs.  But they would probably still finish last in AL west.  Athletics, Angels and Rangers are still better teams.
279593
They were very surprising to me last year. Chad Cordero will convert over 50 saves this year, and if they give Alfonso Soriano what he wants, he will get around his career high last year, 104 RBI's. Their starting pitching lineup is good, but I will just say this. When Livan Hernandez and Russ Ortiz are not pitching, the batting must do the work. My Washington Nationals prediction:3rd in the NL East, with a 87-75 record. Playoff birth will come soon. Please give me more of your team prediction questions. Football, Basketball, and Baseball.
1072658
Tough call to make. They have some good young arms on that staff but the hitting needs to keep up. Losing Maroth may hurt them but the biggest worry for them is Ozzie and when he gets the Sox on the tear they've been just missing so far this year.