Slumping Phils.

It’s clear to say that Philadelphia Phillies are at the weakest part of their season. After losing the series with the Red Sox the Phillies got sweaped by their division rival the New York Mets. Still somehow the Phillies lead their division by 1.5 games over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. After the Phillies took game 1 in a 3 game series with the Red Sox last Friday the Phils haven't answered back, last Saturday they were shutout 5-0 by Daisuke Matsuzaka who had a no-hitter going into the 8th inning and that would be the only hit the Phils would get off him. On the other hand Kyle Kendrick was roughed up for 5 runs in just 4.2 innings work. We move on to last Sunday were the Phils would send out their ace Roy Halladay who at moment didn't have his best stuff in his last previews start. Halladay again would get roughed up for 8 hits, 6 earn runs and going just 5.2 innings of work and that would bring his ERA up to 2.22. That would be Halladay first shortest outing of his career since 2003. The Phillies also had 2 ears behind him making Halladay’s record now 6-3 on the year. Boston's pitcher Tim Wakefield had no trouble with the Phils line-up going 8 innings and allowing no hits. The Phillies would get 3 hits and 3 runs off the bats of Raul Ibanez who would double and scored a run, then Ross Gload would hit a 3 run home run in the 9th inning but the Phillies would still end losing the game 8-3 and also lose the series 2 games to 3 against the Red Sox who at point came into the series dead cold.


The Phillies would now head into New York to take on their division rival the Mets. The Phillies came into play with a 26-17 record and the Mets came into play with a 23-23 record. So on Tuesday the Mets would send out R.A. Dickey to slow down the Phils bats and he sure did going 6 innings no runs, and 7 strikeouts. The Phillies left hander Jamie Moyer only went 5 innings, 7 hits, and giving up 4 runs with his ERA now being 4.55. The Phillies would be shutout 8-0 and with 9 hits from the Phils and couldn't get in one single run, Jamie Moyer's record is now 5-4. So we move over to Wednesday, the Mets send out Hisanori Takahashi who shut down the Phillies going 6 innings, no runs, and 6 strikeouts. For the Phils Joe Blanton would only go 5.1 innings, 6 hits, and giving up 5 runs with now an ERA of 5.63. Phillies again would be shutout with 7 hit and would still not get one run in. Phillies would lose by a score of 5-0; Joe Blanton's record is now 1-3 on the year. So now to Thursday where the Mets are looking for the sweep they send out one of the best in Mike Pelfrey would did a great job going 7 innings, 3 hits, and 5 strikeouts but would it be enough? The Phillies send out their other left hander Cole Hamels who at one point was doing very well in till the 7 inning. Hamels would leave the game going 6.1 innings, 9 hits, and giving up 3 runs with now an ERA of 3.82. The Phillies would yet again be shutout and lose 3-0 and get sweaped by the New York Mets.


It has been the first time since 1983 that the Phillies would lose 3 straight games in row by being shutout and who would have thought it would happen to this Phillies team? They have by far one of the best line-ups in the National League but lately it hasn't shown in their last 5-10 games hitting only .203, 282 OBP, and a .309 SLG. They have only scored 15 runs in the last 10 games which isn’t that good when you have guys like Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Jayon Werth on your team. They key is that their missing Jimmy Rollins who is the leader of the ball club and yes the Phillies for the first 29 games did okay without Jimmy but now that he’s back on the DL it doesn’t good look good for the Phillies. He is what gets this team going. Yet it is still early in the year you have to wonder what is going on with the club? I mean their pitching and bull pen has been so-so but not great and their line-up is falling into a slump all together. I think when everything is said and done the Phillies will still end up winning their division for the 4th straight year but if you look at the NL East every team is right there with the Phillies, even the Nationals are only 3 games back of the division. So the NL East is pretty tight going into the month of June. The Phillies will be happy when the end of May hits because it has been awful for the club and they hope the month of June will be a bit nicer to them.


The Phillies will start a weekend series against division rival who find themselves only 3 games back of the division the Florida Marlins who come in play with a 24-24 record. They will send out Chris Volstad with an ERA of 4.31, 3 wins, 5 losses, and 34 strikeouts. As for the Fightin' Phils who are coming off a 5 game losing streak who needs a win big time coming into play with a 26-20 record, they will send out young Kyle Kendrick with an ERA of 5.66, 2 wins, 2 losses, and 22 strikeouts. Phillies - Marlins on tonight at 7:10, big weekend series.


I'm Seth Lempert,
For Beyond Baseball.

Rays Are the Team to Beat?

It's funny when I say this but the Tampa Bay Rays are once again the team to beat in the AL East. It was 2 years ago that the Rays were better than the New York Yankees and made it to the 2008 World Series but came up short to the Philadelphia Phillies. This year it seems that history is once again repeating itself as the Rays lead the AL East division over the defending 2009 World Series Champs the New York Yankees by 5.5 games with a 32-12 record, the best in baseball.

Earlier this year I put the Rays in my Top 12 Teams to win the World Series but I didn't pick them to win division or to even be this good. I know it’s early but the way they are playing I think right now no team can stop them. The reason between their early successes is their pitching, it has been lights on. They have "BIG GAME JAMES" who is their number 1 starting pitcher with an ERA of 3.08, 5 wins, 1 loss, and 66 strikeouts. The guy is nasty and is a big key for them. Next is the young gun and a big surprise in David Price who has pitched like a 10 year vet for this team. The kid is really helping out this ball club and has proven that he can play in this level where as to last year he was still going through the growing pains as a rookie. Price has the second to lowest ERA on the team with a 2.41 ERA, the most wins on the team with 7 wins, 1 loss, and third most strikeouts with 46 K's. The kid is the future of this team. Next is Jeff Niemann who is really the one guy who is really underrated as a pitcher and is very good. He carried this whole team last year and helped them make a run for the postseason but came up 3 games short of the AL Wild Card over the Boston Red Sox. This year his same momentum has carried over and has helped this team once again, Niemann is third on the list with the lowest ERA with a 2.54 ERA, 4 wins, 0 losses, and 36 strikeouts. Watch out for him for the rest of the year. Then they have Matt Garaz who last year didn't really have a great year but this year he really put it in fifth gear and has stepped up with game leading the team in ERA with a 2.37 ERA, 5 wins, 2 losses, and second in strikeouts with 54 K's. Garaz seems to show that he will hope to have a bounce back year and if he does he is going to be hard to face down the road. The last guy in this rotation is Wade Davis who has really done a nice job at the back off the pitching staff. Davis last year wasn't really what the Rays would hope he would be but this year he is everything the Rays have asked him to be and that is being consistent. Davis has an ERA of 3.35 with 4 wins, 3 losses, and 34 strikeouts. He has been somewhat of a surprise on this team.

Next is the Rays bull pen which has pretty good as well as their pitching staff. We start with Dan Wheeler who has been outstanding for the Rays and done his roll very nicely and has pitched great when being used. Wheeler has an ERA 2.45, 4 HLD and 16 strikeouts. Then there is Joaquin Benoit who has really proven that he could maybe someday be a starting pitcher for this team with a good fast ball and an ERA of 0.00, 1 save, and 13 strikeouts. Then they have another very good outstanding relief pitcher in Grant Balfour who has done a great job pitching having the same numbers as Wheeler just Balfour as 19 strikeouts in the pen. Last but not least is the Rays new closer who has been lights out and that's Rafael Soriano who came over from the Atlanta Braves. He has been one of the reasons why the Rays bull pen has been so good this year. He has an ERA of 1.40, 13 save in 13 opportunities, and 16 strikeouts.


Now the finals reason why the Rays are very good is because of their infield and outfield, also their beach isn't too bad. The Rays know they have a young team and their oldest Tampa Bay Ray on the team is left fielder Carl Crawford who is the leader of this ball club who has been playing with the Rays since 2002 when the Rays were a laughing stock and were never really good. But Crawford stayed with the team and it’s payed off in the end. Winning a division title, an American League Pennant, and making it to World Series in 2008. Crawford in 2010 is hitting .324, 3 HR, and 21 RBI's. Then there's the best third baseman in the league with Evan Longoria leading the team in home runs and RBI's. He is hitting .319, 9 HR, and 38 RBI's starting 2010 on a good note. The catcher John Jaso have been a big big surprise and taking over that roll. This kid is only 26 years old and this is second time in the big's since 2008 and boy he has done a nice job batting .349, 2 HR, and 18 RBI's. Next on the list is first baseman Carlos Pena who in the beginning was off to a slow start but has really picked it up and is improving every game. He's second on the team in home runs and RBI's. Pena is hitting .187, 7 HR, and 27 RBI's hard to believe that he has such a low batting average with all those RBI's. Now to right field with Ben Zobrist who started the year over at second but has really fitted well over in right field. It’s very hard from being an infielder your whole career to being moved to the outfield. Zobrist's numbers haven’t changed though hitting .309, 2 HR, and driving in 23 RBI's. We move over to center field to the speed man B.J. Upton who has started off a little slow himself but yet still has to batting average over .200 and will soon I think will be batting at least .260 by the end of the season. But as of right now he is batting .214, with 5 HR, and 19 RBI's. So no worries I hope for the Rays sake. Now to the short stop roll in Jason Bartlett who has been doing really well after coming a great year in 2009 and seems to keeping it rolling. He is batting .246, 1 HR, and 22 RBI's. Over to his right is second basemen Reid Brignac who has filled his roll nice at second and has proven he is an everyday player hitting .306, 2 HR, and driving in 16 RBI's. To the DH is Willy Aybar who is not bad to have at this spot. He hits for average and can steal a dew bags here and there. Aybar is hitting .243, 4 HR, and with 11 RBI's.

Now over to the Rays beach that is pretty good I mean not guys that are outstanding but players who can hit, field, and catch. We start with backup catcher Dioner Navarro who in the beginning of the season was the starting catcher but lost his role as it seems he just can't get out of the whole he's in batting .188 with 0 HR and 4 RBI's. Next is infielder Sean Rodriguez who plays at second but can really play anywhere in the infield. Rodriguez is batting .214, with 1 HR and 10 RBI's. Then there's outfielder Gabe Kapler who is a good hitter and a pretty good fielder. He mainly plays right field but he will take any spot you ask him to fill. In 2010 he is hitting .270, with 1 HR, and 7 RBI's. Last on this Rays team is DH and new comer Hank Blalock who isn't the player he once was when he was the Texas Rangers but still has some pop in his bat hitting .313, with 1 HR and 2 RBI's.


So there you have it. Are the Rays the team to beat in the American League or is this just one of those teams that is hot at the right moment? Seems as lately that this team is for real and ready to take on any team that stands in their way of winning their first ever World Series title.

For Beyond Baseball,
I'm Seth Lempert.

What is The Hardest Thing to do In Baseball?

It has been an argument said for hundreds of years that the hardest thing to do in baseball is pitch a perfect game, a no-hitter, hit for the cycle and hit for the triple crown. Well clearly I think throwing a perfect game and hitting for the triple crown are probably the two hardest thing to do in baseball because throwing a perfect game has been done 20 times in the history of the game through 1876-2010. No hitters are probably just as hard but that has been done 269 times through 1876-2010. Hitting for the triple crown has only been done 13 times in baseball. The first hit cycle in major league baseball was back in May 25th, 1882. The cycle is going 4 for 4 in a game with a single, double, triple, and a home run. A perfect game is the pitcher being perfect, giving up no hits, no walks, and no earn runs, and no ears in the game in 9 innings of work, something that only 19 pitchers have done. A no-hitter is not really the same thing; a pitcher can allow walks, an unearned run (not a hit) and still have a no-hitter. But in that case the whole point in the matter is not giving up a hit in 9 innings of work. Hitting the triple crown is leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBI's. In the past few years lot more of these these have happened accepted the triple crown hasn't happen since 1967 almost 43 years was the last time a player would hit for the triple crown. Last year in 2009 where history was made for the second time in history eight players hit for cycle in one season since 1933. Only 1 time 7 players hit for the cycle back in 1890 and only 3 times has 6 players hit for the cycle back in 1940, 1976, and 2004. It’s seems’ at one point hitting for the cycle might have been one of the hardest things to do.

In 2009 a lot of history was made with all three changeling things being done in the game. We start with the perfect game that was thrown from White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle on July 23rd, 2009 as he threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays and became the 18th player in history to do so. Before he threw his perfect game the last one thrown by a pitcher was Diamondback BIG UNIT Randy Johnson in 2004 against the Atlanta Braves. Johnson made history two ways by throwing a perfect game and being the oldest player to throw one at the age of 40. Mark Buehrle is also on the list as one of many pitchers to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter in his career. He threw his first no-hitter back in April of 2007 against the Texas Rangers. After Buehrle threw his perfect game we wonder when will this heroic defeat ever happen again? Few weeks before the perfect game was thrown Jonathan Sanchez from the Giants became the 263 pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the San Diego Pardres on July 10th, 2009. Before Sanchez threw his no hitter Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox was the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter on May 17th, 2008 against the Kansas City Royals. So two pitchers, from two different divisions, from two weeks apart did two of the hardest things in baseball, throw a no-hitter and a perfect game.

The cycle on the other hand made worldwide sports news because in 2009 eight players hit the cycle in one season and only once has that happened before. It started with Orlande Hudson from the Los Angeles Dodgers who is now with the Twins hit the first cycle in 2009 on April 13th, 2009. Two days later Ian Kinsler from the Texas Rangers hit for the cycle on April 15th, 2009. Two days later, again Jason Kubel from the Minnesota Twins hit for the cycle on April 17th, 2009. Never has the cycle been hit in a week’s time by three players from three different teams in one month has that happened. Almost two months later the cycle appeared again hit by another Minnesota Twin and not Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau did that feat, it came off the bat of Michael Cuddyer on May 22nd, 2009. Three months later, Yankees outfielder Melky Cabrera who is now with the Braves hit for the cycle on August 2nd, 2009. Eight days later Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies also hit for the cycle on August 10th, 2009. Four days later the cycle would happen once again off the bat of Felix Pie from the Baltimore Orioles on August 14th, 2009. Once again three different players in one month hit for the cycle, something that has never been seen in baseball where three different players in one month hit for the cycle twice in the same year. At the this point seven players have hit for the cycle and that has only happened once back in 1890 and only once has eight players hit for the cycle in history back in 1933, but B.J. Upton from the Tampa Bay Rays was on the verge to tie history and welcome the baseball Gods to the 21st century as on October 2nd, 2009 B.J. Upton tied major league baseball history being the 8th player in one season to hit for the cycle! Those eight men became the second group in baseball history to hit for the cycle in one year where that feat happened only once back ages ago. Its sure 2009 was indeed a history year also the New York Yankees made history by winning their 27th World Series Title.


In 2010 history was made once again. On April 17th, 2010 Colorado's Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez threw a no-hitter with six walks and became the 264 man to throw a no-hitter against the Atalanta Braves. Something that people have seen more of in baseball but still it’s a fact that throwing a no-hitter doesn't come very easy, but something more was about too happened. One month later on May 9th, 2010 on mother’s day Dallas Braden from the Oakland A's was pitching like he was CY Young on the mound and in the 9 inning fans knew that if he could get just 3 outs without walking batter or giving up a hit he would be the 19th players to throw a perfect game. On 109 pitches Dallas Braden would indeed become the 19th player in history to throw a perfect game and become the 265 man to throw a no-hitter as well. The team that he went perfection against was the Tampa Bay Rays, the same team the Mark Buehrle threw his perfect game against. I don't think history like this has ever been made where in back to back years four pitchers from two different divisions threw no-hitters and perfect games back to back years. Without that being said both pitchers who threw no-hitters are from the National League and the two pitchers who threw perfect games are from the American League. But the crazy thing about this whole article is that is has happened BACK to BACK years never has that ever happened in baseball history. Almost two weeks later on May 29th, 2010 Phillies new ace Roy Halladay pitched perfection against the Florida Marlins and became the 20th pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game and 266 pitcher to throw a no-hitter and it wouldn't be the last time Halladay would make history in 2010. It’s funny how the perfect game wasn't even seen since 2004 and people said I don't know or see any other pitcher besides Randy Johnson doing that. You might have said maybe Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia, or even Johan Santana would be the next pitchers to throw no-hitters or perfect games and Halladay was next on that list. One month and four days earlier Diamondback's pitcher Edwin Jackson on June 25th, 2010 became the 267 pitcher to throw a no-hitter and would become the fourth pitcher in 2010 to have a no-hitter. Jackson threw a no-hitter with 159 pitches thrown in the ball game and he threw it against who but the Tampa Bay Rays who were once again no-hit against another team. One month and one day later on July 26th, 2010, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garaza would throw a no-hitter and became the 268 pitcher to do so and the fifth pitcher in 2010 to throw a no-hitter. So for once the Tampa Bay Rays were on the other side of having a no-hitter and not being no-hit against. Now remember how I said Roy Halladay would make history one more time in 2010, well on October 6th, 2010, Game 1 of the NLDS, Halladay threw his second no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds and would become the second pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter in the postseason since Don Larsen threw his perfect game in the 1956 World Series. Halladay became the 269 man to throw a no-hitter and the fifth pitcher in baseball history and the first since Nolan Ryan to throw multiple no-hitters in the same season. He would also be the sixth man in 2010 to throw a no-hitter, 2010 was the year of the pitchder. As for the cycle in 2010 only one player has hit for the cycle and that was Jody Gerut from the Milwaukee Brewers on May 8th, 2010. It seems as right now that eight players in one season won't hit for the cycle again in the next 40-45 years. That's just something that you will never see again. Hitting the cycle has to be one of the hardest things to do in baseball. I mean hitting a triple and a home run in one game are just two of many hardest things to do in baseball. But to hit a single, double, triple, and a home run is whole different story in its self.


The triple-crown is last on this list because it is known as one of the hardest thing ever to do in baseball. You have to lead the whole league in average, home runs and RBI's. It's something that hasn't been seen in 42 years. Only 13 players have hit for the triple crown and they are Paul Hines in 1878, Hugh Duffy in 1894, Nap Lajoie in 1901, Ty Cobb in 1909, Rogers Hornsby in 1922 and 1925, Chuck Klein in 1933, Jamie Foxx in 1933, Lou Gehrig in 1934, Joe Medwick in 1937, Ted Williams in 1942 and 1947, Mickey Mantle in 1956, Frank Robinson in 1966, and last but not least Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. It's been since then that no other player will ever do that again. In today's game it's so much harder to do all three of those things and if you had point two possible players to do so they are Ryan Howard from the Philadelphia Phillies and Albert Pujols from the St. Louis Cardinals. The problem with both of these players are that Howard has only batted over .300 once in his career but he has lead the league in home runs and RBI's in the past two years. Pujols on the other hand has batted over .300 in his career in the past few years but he has never leaded the league in homes or in RBI's. So it’s said that both these player will probably never hit for the triple-crown and if they do well more power to either Howard or Pujols if they do so. But as for that happening I don't think any player will ever hit for the triple-crown again and that feat will live on and never be broken. You never know though what can happen in this game of baseball, Americas past time.


I'm Seth Lempert,
This is Beyond Baseball.

Pink Bat Day.

Today all around major league baseball every team will support the fight in breast cancer by using a pink bat during today's games at the ball park for mother’s day. Some teams even wear pink uniforms by supporting the cause in the fight of breast cancer. Breast cancer is one the oldest known forms of a human tumor and it dates back to 1600 B.C. and to this date millions of women around the world are effected with breast cancer. So every year major league baseball comes together to support this cause in the fight of finding the treatment that women need. So if you’re a fan and you are going to the ball game today please support the ones who are in need of help and just supports the cause for a good reason on mother's day at the ball park. It's something that has been issue for millions of years and it's time to fight back and give back, so please help major league baseball in the fight for breast cancer.


This Beyond A Pink Bat, this is Beyond Baseball.
Seth Lempert.

HAPPY HALLADAY!! 6-1

Well today's last game of a 4 game match up with the St. Louis Cardinals would be an emotional one as long time Phillies right hander and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts had passed away at the age of 83 years old of natural causes. Roberts was part of the 1950 Phillies Whiz Kids team who won the National League Pennant. He was probably the best Philadelphia Phillies right handed pitcher and he won 286 games as Phillie. Robin Roberts will never be forgotten as a Phillie and a great ball player, R.I.P. #36. But on other hands and on the mound for the Phils is their newest right handed ace Roy Halladay who would be going for his 6th win for the 2010 season. Pitching for the Cards was former Phillie Kyle Loshse.


We start things off in the bottom of the 1st inning with 2 outs and runners on first and second and Jayson Werth would go deep and hit a 3 run home run (5) and put the Phils up 3-0. Then in the 2nd score is now 3-1 and Ryan Howard would hit a 2 run RBI single to put the Phillies up 5-1 and at this point Loshes day would be done. He went 4 innings, 9 hits, 3 earn runs, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts not a good game at all for Loshse. As for Halladay he did what he always does and that's go deep into the ball game going 7 innings, 7 hits, 1 earn run, 3 walks, and 9 strikeouts. Also Raul Ibanez hit a solo home run and his 2nd of the year and that has to be a good sign as his average improves each game. The Phillies would end up winning this game 7-2 and would win the series over who was the hottest team to come into play in the NL the St.Louis Cardinals their record is now (18-11).


As for Roy Halladay he improved his record to 6-1 on Thursday afternoon and has an ERA of 1.61 with 48 strikeouts. This guy is what you call a gamer and is always ready to pitch. When it’s his turn to pitch he gives you everything you ask for as a manager, player, and fan, he is the real deal and I'm happy his on my team. Halladay is just someone that you know he's going win every time he goes out there to pitch not only that but he knows this team can score runs for him fast which Jayson Werth did for him in the 1st inning. I mean he's not going to be perfect all the time but 98% of the time he will be and will give you 7, 8, 9 innings of work, that's just what kind of pitcher he is. Roy Halladay and Ubaldo Jimenez are the only two pitchers who have 6 wins on the season already. Jimenez is the only pitcher who is 6-0 for the Rockies this year with a 0.87 ERA. But none the less Halladay is right on his tail to be the best pitcher in the National League. The Phillies will host the (12-15) Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park for a 3 game series and pitching game 1 for the Braves is the right hander Derek Lowe who has a 5.18 ERA with 4 wins, 2 losses, and 21 strikeouts. Pitching for the (17-11) Phillies is the ageless 47 year old lefty Jamie Moyer who has a 5.70 ERA with 3 wins, 2 losses and 15 strikeouts. Phillies - Braves tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m.

I'm Seth Lempert, for Beyond Baseball.

The Return of Blanton.

Well the Phillies will be happy to say that their second big right hander Joe Blanton is back and ready to go. For the first month of April Joe Blanton was placed of the DL with a left oblique strain and from there the Phillies knew their pitching rotation was going to be tight. Filling Blanton's shoes was young Kyle Kendrick who will still be in this rotation with the injured J.A. Happ with a sore forearm. Kendrick's ERA is a 7.61 which isn't what the Phillies were looking for after looking pretty good in spring training. Now that Blanton is back that is just a step the Phillies will need to remain in first place (14-10) in the NL East by a half game over the New York Mets.

Now everyone I have no idea what Joe Blanton will bring to the table tonight. After an injury with what Blanton is coming off of you never know what you’re going to get from him. He hasn’t pitched a big league game since last October in the fall classic and in 2009 he was one the Phillies go to guys with an ERA of 4.05, 12 wins, 8 losses, and 163 strikeouts. I'm sure pitching coach Rich Dubee and manager Charlie Manuel would like to see Joe Blanton go about 6 innings with close to 100 pitches and maybe 1 earn run and 5-6 strikeouts. Just have to hope for the best in this stage and see what happens because this game won't be easy to pitch in.

Blanton's come back will not come easy on Monday Night going against the first place St. Louis Cardinals (17-8) in the NL Central by 4 and half games over the Chicago Cubs. Blanton will have to deal with a monster line-up with catcher Yadier Molina, center fielder Colby Rasmus, right fielder Ryan Ludwick, left fielder Matt Holliday, and the best player in the game big boy first baseman Albert Pujols. Pitching for the Red Birds is Jamie Garcia with a ERA of 1.04, 2 wins, 1 loss, and 17 strikeouts and his start won’t be any easier then Blanton. Pitching against probably the best line-up in the NL with besides the loss of short stop Jimmy Rollins, center fielder Shane Victorino, left fielder Raul Ibanez, right fielder Jayson Werth, second baseman Chase Utley, and the Phillies top gun that they locked up for 5 to 6 years for 125 million first baseman Ryan Howard. Don't miss the Phillies - Cardinals at 7:05 p.m. It’s going to be a show down in Philadelphia!


Seth Lempert, for Beyond Baseball.