***Official 2012 Still Best Rotation in Baseball Phillies Thread***

I like what I have seen Brown so far. Still no HR, but getting clutch hits clearing the bases yesterday and 2 run double tonight giving them the lead for good. Showing good patience too with an OBP around .350. Mayberry hitting well too with 3 RBI including 2 run bomb. I can live with Brown/Mayberry platoon in RF. Main position is CF as you can go with power in Hamilton or speed in Bourn. Talks of BJ Upton, but I want nothing to do with him. Hamilton more upside, but big risk with injury and past with drugs. 3B only real option is Youkilis, but they'd probably try Polanco for another year. Get right handed bat to play LF someone like Cody Ross.

Bourn, Rollins, Utley, Howard, Ruiz, Brown, Ross, Polanco. Should leave them some money to sign a legit 8th inning man and lefty specialist.

Onto tonight good to see the offense pick up Doc who at least gave them 7 innings. Howard heating up raising his average from .191 to .254 in about 2 weeks. Utley average still weak, but producing runs with 2 RBI.

Lee tomorrow as he will have a tough test against their right handed dominant lineup.

Polanco seems done, how pathetic that he might be the best option. Rollins shouldn't be a top of the lineup hitter, he's a perfect 6 or 7 hole guy, so Bourn would be a great pickup. I like Ross, but he's as suspect defensively as Brown, can't have both of them out there. Seems like we'd be going backwards both offensively and defensively compared to what we had to start the season, jmo.

I think they need 2 stud position players or they're going to be an also ran next yr too. How about trading Halladay to Texas for Olt and a few marginal prospects, then use Roy's money to sign Hamilton. Bourn will get the 15 mill they would have had too pay Pence, still have enough to get a no 3 pitcher and improve the bullpen.

I only like Rollins at top of the lineup because his speed. Granted he doesn't get on base alot, but when he does he makes things happen case in point his 22 steals. You can move down Rollins and put Brown or Utley in the 2 hole, but you need a right handed #3 hitter which they don't have. Ruiz coming off an injury and probably a fluke season as I'd rather him in the 5 spot. Ross can make the routine plays as you can't expect them to sign Hamilton and Bourn. Torri Hunter is out there too much better defender, but probably more money. Third base maybe they have something in Frandsen as he had his best game tonight. Three hits including RBI triple to tie in the 8th then two great plays in the infield including one that saved Lee for the time being with bases loaded. Limited at bats, but hitting .350 can't complain about that.

If they trade anybody its Lee as I still think Halladay can be an elite pitcher. You saw tonight with Lee when he loses command he gets lit up as he was dominating then boom 3 runs in matter of seconds. Still think he throws too many strikes as he has Cosart and Stubbs two young hitters that strikeout alot down in the count instead of junk in the dirt throws flat pitchers with no movement.

Main problem showed up again with the bullpen. Bastardo is fine as lefty specialist as he limits to under .200 average for his career, but nothing more. Just another poor managing by Manuel as you don't let him face potential ROY in Frazier who kills lefties. Once again Papelbon blows it a tie game in the 9th as the book says use your closer in a tie game at home, but it hasn't worked out all year. I would have liked to seen Aumont thrown in the fire who was the center piece in Lee deal with Seattle. Major league debut in a tough spot, but we already know Papelbon sucks in non save situations lets see what the young guy can do. Its Triple AAA, but he strikes out 12 batters per 9 and has 15 saves this year. If anybody is going to set up and be their 8th inning man this is the guy. Too bad they don't have Chapman as he is unhittable and you can argue is having the best season ever for a reliever with 112K in 61 innings.

Expect a slugfest tomorrow with Worley and Arroyo.

the 2012 Rollins is a long time away from the 2008 version. the Phillies need to target a legitimate leadoff hitter this off season.

I don't disagree that Halladay can still be elite, but having 75 milling invested in 3 starters when the offense is so anemic doesn't make sense to me. They need to be more balanced, hell I'm not opposed to moving Papelbon too.

old, overpaid players now, I will take years

Saw up and downs of Brown in OF in about 5 seconds. Loses ball letting Bruce get triple then guns him down with laser to end the inning. Making Arroyo look like Cy Young though after destroying him last year.

Phillies best years are over, hope you enjoyed that brief stint of relevance. Overpaid, overrated

the only chance they have is that for the most part the NL East is garbage

Best years they will reload next year and be back in the race. With an unlimited payroll this team won't go back to the old shit Phillies. Core pieces are still there as they just need to add 1-2 big bats and 8th inning man.

Arroyo was unhittable as Brown was the only guy to hit him well. First HR of the year as he destroyed it almost upper deck then next at bat hit one off the wall as I thought that was gone too. You can see he is improving each game and hopefully putting everything together to be an everyday RF. Made it interesting in the 9th getting to Chapman as could have been a tie game if Lindbomb didn't live up to his name giving up another HR. Still no clue why Manuel let him face Bruce who kills righties and on fire this month. Valdes limits lefties to .146 average and pitched scoreless 9th as he should have been used that inning. Polanco did nothing again as its clear he is done meanwhile Frandsen got a pinch hit off Chapman as he should start full time. Schneider is an automatic out too and its clear Kratz is the backup next year so I'd like them to call up Valle who is swinging a hot bat lately with 7 RBI his last 10 games. I guess that will come though with September callups soon.

Hamels owns the Reds 7-0 1.44 career era and 3 straight wins so hopefully he can get them the series split, but it won't be easy against Cueto probably the front runner for Cy Young.

Brown has done this before=shown flashes, but then reverts back to his old self. I've watched probably 90% of the games he's played and I don't like him even a little bit.

As far as Sept callups in addition to Valle I wanna see Ruf, Pettibone and Cloyd

Brown has shown alot of patience at the plate and doesn't look like he is pressing like in the past. He knows the RF job is his and taking advantage of it.

Ruf has been on fire with 14 HR his last 19 games, but looks like a DH to me.
Pettibone has added a cutter and been lights out lately.
Cloyd has lights out numbers, but still no call up.

They should shutdown Worley and let him have surgery for next year. Use Kendrick out of the bullpen as he know what he is. I'd like to see Pettibone and Cloyd get some starts down the stretch. De Fratus is another guy as he probably makes the Phillies bullpen without getting hurt early in the year.

Well Ruf has been getting some time in LF and he is supposed to play that position in winterball too. Luzinski, Burrell and Incaviglia weren't out in left for their defense prowess and considering how awkward Brown and Pence looked in the outfield this yr, I say give Ruf a shot.

If you can have a bum like Nix playing CF then Ruf can't be much worse. Martinez makes great play to save run in the first then can't make routine play to turn double play. Regular CF at least holds to 1 run instead Nix plays it horrible letting another run score. Hamels deserved better with run in first due to rain then 2 runs due to poor defense. Had ton of guys on base against Cueto, but nobody gets the clutch hit.

Brown needed to be more aggressive there. Hanging curve first pitch then settles for fastball down for double play. Still productive game with two hits and two runs, but doesn't deliver in the clutch to end it.

Brown still has alot to learn, but Mayberry picks him up to walkoff and split the series.

Bullpen did a great job as Aumont looked good in his debut and others scoreless innings. Next up Nationals to hopefully continue spoiler role.

If Brown was not on the Phils, ALC would have been calling him a bust a long time ago.

Brown has at least shown potential unlike Mutts bums in Milledge and Martinez.

I don't know how Kendrick is doing it as he has average stuff, but location is the name of the game. Almost had 22 inning scoreless streak till gave up cheap CBP HR. Rollins clutch two run single to extend lead for good. Patch work bullpen came through in 8th as he used 4 guys with Rosenberg blowing away Werth to end threat. Papelbon 2k in 9th as they have alot of power arms out of the bullpen now.

Doc tomorrow against Gio who they never hit so hopefully Doc has his A game.

Compare the numbers, they are not THAT different. Yet because one is a Phils, you have a different opinion. You are so predictable.

It's the ALC Effect;
Bum Kendrick against Johnson who they never hit so I'll definitely be betting on the Marlins.

Too bad they couldn't stay in the race till reinforcements got back as you see they still have alot of talent. Doc back to his old self as he should have had 7 shutout innings, but for some reason Utley goes home instead of the easy double play. Now 4-1 with a 2.75 era his last 5 starts. Mayberry continues to swing a hot bat with 3 RBI including GW HR.

Only team in the 2nd half to take a series from Nationals which they have now done twice with a chance for a sweep if Lee can step up.

Where is that Nationals fag now. Take that Natitude bullshit back to Washington with their fake fans.

Lee takes matters into his own hands with RBI double and Rollins puts the game away following up with 2 run bomb. Lee has caught some bad luck this year so good to see something bounce his way as LaRoche thought he had 2 run HR instead off the fence resulting in an out. 7 strong innings and bullpen continues to dominate with 2 scoreless innings with Lindblom getting 5 out save. He was blowing guys away with 95 as I guess he was tired of sucking the past couple of games.

Cut the wild card race down to single digits so who knows crazier shit happened just last year. Day off then the shit Mutts up next.

Guess the bandwagon fans can spot eachother, go Pats!

they're getting closer, but i'm sure the bullpen will stop all this winning shit.