Are the Phillies the Best Team in the East, Regardless of League?

Are the Phillies the Best Team in the East, Regardless of League? - March 18th, 2009

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For the last few years the focus for the best baseball has been on the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox, but with the Philadelphia Phillies winning the World Series the baseball dominance of the region by the AL East’s (and arguably all of baseballs) two signature teams has to be reevaluated.

Last postseason the Philadelphia Phillies won with a good pitching staff and a power hungry batting lineup. They also beat a team, the Tampa Bay Rays, which surprised everyone by winning the Red Sox and the Yankees respective division. The question is then did the Phillies beat the Rays who were the best team in the American League during the regular season or the Rays that had finally come to their senses and realized they were over their head.

Meanwhile the New York Yankees bucked the thought of the time and returned to the excessive spending habits that defined the team for so long. The addition of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Mark Teixeira is sure to breath some life into a team that running on the expensive fumes of Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte (whose back), and Johnny Damon. Does this influx of talent return them to the best in MLB or simply make them competitive again.

The Boston Red Sox had a very offense and defense last season. They return with the risky addition of Brad Penny to Josh Beckett, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Jon Lester, and the immortal knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield. The trade that brought them Jason Bay does not fully replace Manny Ramirez, but Bay joins Kevin Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, J.D. Drew, David Ortiz, and speedy Jacoby Ellsbury in a still very loaded offense.

The returning Phillies were far from the best contact hitters in either league, but they managed to drive the ball out of the park when they were able to catch a piece of the pitch. Chase Utley, Jayson Werth, and Ryan Howard are all back. Jimmy Rollins could come back to the sluggers club after a meager 11-home run 2008. The starting pitching is iffy with Cole Hamels as the only real sure thing. Brett Myers and Joe Blanton have their moments and I am waiting for Jamie Moyer’s arm to simply become unhinged (the man is 46 years old!).

The other two teams vying for a spot in the discussion are the young Tampa Bay Rays and the always second-thought New York Mets. The Rays still have a solid staff with James Shields, Scott Kazmir, and Matt Garza taking the front three and the bats have a whole lot of potential.

The Mets have been waiting for the Phillies to start faltering again. The team has a great pitching staff led by starter Johan Santana and newly-signed closer Francisco Rodriguez and plenty of offense with David Wright, Carlos Delgado, and Ryan Church. They are still the Mets though, and that bothers me.

I have to say that the Red Sox look the best on paper and somehow I cannot bring myself to accept the Phillies as the best team, coming off a World Series or not. I think it is this unshakeable vibe that always has me doubting Philadelphia sports teams.

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