[Marano 20]

Roy Halladay
Cole Hamels
Roy Oswalt


World Series.

[Carl Gerbschmidt]

3 pitchers that have to pitch shut outs to win. The team needed another bat more than pitching. Seriously a team batting average 258 on base 327 with 661 team strike outs 107 by the star alone? not so good.

[Gunzaan]

I have cole hamels on my fantasy team... he isn't that great, so I would brag about an amazing 2 headed monster, not 3.

[Marano 20]

Gunz, the Phillies possess 3 starters that would be any teams excluding a fews Ace.

Now let me drop some knowledge on you

A) The Phils have had their projected starting lineup 5 times the entire season

B) Cole Hamels has thrown 7+ IP and less than 3 runs in 10 out of his last 13 starts. He's allowed more than 4 earned runs TWICE ALL YEAR

C) Roy Halladay has thrown 10 complete games

D) Raul Ibanez is batting .338 in July since being inserted in the 3rd slot

E) Ryan Howard is batting .300 and leads the NL in RBIs

F) They are starting WILSON VALDEZ at 2nd base due to Chase Utley injury

G) Dominic Brown was just promoted last night, went 2 for 3, 2RBis and 2 runs. The Phillies most hyped prospect. They wouldn't involve him in either trade for Lee or Halladay, thats how good he is.

H) 8 game win streak, 11 game home win streak

I) After all-star break they were 7 1/2 back..they are now 2 1/2 games back

J) The Phillies do this every season. They suck in the first half and dominate the second.

K) Polanco is 2nd in the NL in batting average

L) Jayson Werth is back to form

M) Chase Utley returns in a couple weeks

Boom. World Series. 3 Aces on one team.

[Gunzaan]

Dude, I follow baseball religiously, I have Halladay, Hamels, and Howard on my fantasy team... I am well aware of their team. They are an amazing team when everyone is healthy and right and Oswalt will be huge, IF, they make the playoffs. There is a reason they are going for their 3rd World Series appearance in a row.

Unfortunately, Utley is as frail as my grandmother, Polanco has been hurt along with a bunch of other guys as well. The Phillies bullpen doesn't impress me at all and since coming back from injury (key theme there), Brad Lidge has looked very hittable. I haven't even mentioned the other teams involved. The Braves look like very good. While the Phillies have potentially better hitting and starting pitching, the Braves are above average in both areas and have a better bullpen. Not to mention they are playing inspired ball for the last year of Bobby Cox. Wild Card? Whoever doesn't win the NL Central has a HUGE scheduling edge vs. the Phillies. The Brewers, Cubs, Pirates and Astros all suck monkey balls. While the NL West might beat each other up, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dodgers or Giants (who have better or similar starting pitching depth as the Phillies) make it either.

Are the Phillies good? Yup, better then good, they are an elite team. But injuries and a shaky bullpen have made them a second place team this season and I'm not so sure if Oswalt is going to solve everything. Calling a World Series already is a bit pre-mature, if you ask me

[Carl Gerbschmidt]

The Phillys are a good team playing against better teams. 3 games out of the div lead, 3 games out of the wild card, weak bullpen. The NL is like the AFC, flashy but weak.

[Gunzaan]

No, Cole Hamels is not an ace and I would take any of these guys over Hamels.

Yankees - Sabathia, Hughes, Pettite
Red Sox - Lester, Buchholz
Tampa Bay - Price, Garza
Tigers - Verlander
White Sox - Floyd, Danks (my team )
Royals - Grienke
Twins - Liriano
Seattle - Felix Hernandez
Rangers - Lee, CJ Wilson
Angels - Santana, Weaver

Cardinals - Wainwright, Carpenter
Brewers - Gallardo
Giants - Lincicum, Cain
Dodgers - Kershaw
Rockies - Jimenez
Marlins - Johnson, Nolasco
Phillies - Halladay, Oswalt
Braves - Hudson
Mets - Santana
Nats - Strasburg
Pades - Latos

Hamels is a good, solid pitcher... don't get me wrong. He should be a great #3 starter... but he is certainly no ace.

[Carl Gerbschmidt]

Garza? The guy throws 1 no hitter and he gets a pass being called great. He gives up way too many steals because he can't throw to first, other than that yes I would select the best pitchers in the league that you listed with a few exceptions, I look at the last 5 starts and the quality on the success ration vs team faced in the last 5 games. It also depends on the fielding percentage the pitcher has behind him. Betting on baseball has much better formulas for success than football. I love the game when NFL football isn't being played.

[BradyPopped-Inga]

Why the fuck did the Phillies trade Cliff Lee last off-season? Was it $$$ to free-up to sign Halladay long-term or just a dumb move?

At any rate, they have been major players w/r to payroll the past several years and have a pretty good team on the field. A little short in the pen and an unreliable closer in Lidge, but definately contenders.

It's funny to walk around Seattle's Saturday Market (OK, a tourist area for sure) and see some wingnuts wearing Phillie colors and that ugly logo cap. Band-wagoners for sure. As with any team from the "City of Brotherly Love," unless it's your hometown (Phlyers, Eagles, Sixers) awfully hard to root for their success.

How did you become a Packer (instead of Eagles) fan Marano>

[circasurvive]

I had 1st row tickets for the game Dominic Brown started. I recorded all his hits and after his first double when he scored he ran by and gave me a high five. I got all his hits on tape.

[Trudge_34]

Man, Oswalt is really lighting it up tonight.

Wait...I mean...getting lit up tonight. By the Nats of all teams too.

[Marano 20]

[get louder at lambeau]

[Carl Gerbschmidt]

What a bunch of jackasses. You clowns didn't think to puke on them too?

[Marano 20]