The 2007 Philadelphia Phillies won the NL East last year but it wasn’t by how well they played, it was more how poorly the New York Mets played. The Mets lost 12 of their last 16 games on their way to their monumental collapse. This year the Phillies are 20-16 through May 8 leaving them a game behind Florida for the top spot in the NL East. The above numbers might make a Phillies fan feel pretty good about things. Last year’s MLB Jimmy Rollins has had only 39 at bats as he recovers from an ankle injury, former MVP Ryan Howard is hitting just .165 with 51 strikeouts in 127 at bats, while Chase Utley is the best second sacker in the league batting .345 with 13 homers and 28 RBI's. If Rollins can produce big numbers when he comes back and Pat Burrell can continue to put up the big numbers he has posted to date which are a .305 batting average with 9 homers and 30 RBI's this team will a very formidable offensive team. There are still many questions regarding the Phillies pitching staff. Their ace Cole Hamels looks to be the real deal. Number two starter Brett Myers fastball has been clocked at 83 miles per hour in recent starts and sports a 5.33 ERA in 8 starts this year. Rounding out the rotation are Kyle Kendrick, Adam Eaton and the ageless Jamie Moyer. A real bright spot regarding the bullpen is closer Brad Lidge who has not allowed a run in 16 innings of work this year. In the end the Phillies will score a lot of runs at home in Citizens Bank Park which is a hitters paradise, but when the smoke clears the Phillies look at best to be a Wild Card team, but I wouldn't put any real money on it.

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