Really, Raul Ibanez?

Really, Raul Ibanez? - May 22nd, 2009

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Who the hell is Raul Ibanez? The guy with a career high of 33 homeruns already has 15 this season through 39 games. He is also batting .349 and has driven in 40 runs in a super-infused Philadelphia Phillies batting order. He is well on his way to an MVP season.

Who would have thought that in a lineup that included Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth, and Jimmy Rollins that a guy who has spent his career playing for the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals is the most feared bat on the team.

I remember this past winter looking at the available free agents and blanking on this guy’s name. He was supposed to be a slow outfielder who could maybe get you near 20 home runs in the number six spot.

Now he is rocking the National League in part thanks to the loaded Phillies lineup. At first he was getting the junk pitches after pitches got through Utley (3), Howard (4), and Werth (5). Recently Ibanez has been moved to the number three spot and is continuing to torment pitchers at the age of 36

I dare say that he has been the difference between the Phillies and the rest of the National League East. His offensive prowess has assuredly enabled the team to overcome a slow start by ace pitcher Cole Hamels and the overall dreadful performance by the Phillies “pitching” staff. The team ERA is 5.33, good for 15th in the National League, other teams are hitting an absurd .276 against them, and the starters have only had 15 quality starts. Basically, the only worse pitching staff in the NL is that of the Washington Nationals.

Somehow this Phillies team is in first place over one of the most balanced team in MLB in the New York Mets and the resurgent Atlanta Braves. If the Phillies end up winning the division again Ibanez will have to be the fourth serious MVP candidate in four years (Howard in 2006, Rollins in 2007, Utley in 2008).

Now I get to kick myself when I passed over Raul for my fantasy team. He probably will not keep up this torrid pace, much like Utley last season, but he will end up with a career high in home runs, RBI, runs, and perhaps RBI as the Phillies front office looks like geniuses after signing him to a 3-year, $31.5 million contract.

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