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1990 Recap
97-65; lost in first round
3.45 ERA
.260 average
Optimal Lineup
1. SS Raul Carbajal - R
2. RF Pat Gibson - R
3. 2B Geoff “Don’t Call Me George” Scott - L
4. 1B Joe Seagarra - R
5. 3B Jim Newlin – L
6. LF Orinosuke Takahashi - R
7. CF Raul Velez - L
8. C Victor Alvarez - R
9. Pitcher
Is this the year that Carbajal lives up to the hype? Acquired in the trade that sent staff ace Joe Aurillo to Syracuse, Raul has yet to become the player everyone expected after his ridiculous minor league numbers and top prospect ranking. Behind him is Pat Gibson. Who? Exactly. Rarely, do you want someone who hits just .227 this high in the lineup, but Gibson has the potential to do much more. He has a great eye, .344 OBP in ’90 and the Freedom don’t have a lot of “table-setter” types. Batting third is arguably the best hitter in all of baseball, George Scott. I mean, Geoff. Seagarra can be penciled in for a .280 average, 15 homers, 90 RBI. Fifth, the tragically underrated Newlin. Last year he had 94 RBI, a .297 average, .375 OBP and only struck out 35 times. You could argue that was a down year, for the newly 31-year-old. Takahashi hit 103 RBI last year with just 13 homers. He will still get a ton of RBI even in the 6th hole. In the 7th and 8th spot, it’s doubtful Velez or Alvarez hits over .270 nor has a .700+ OPS. This lineup does have a very good balance of lefty-righty.
Projected Rotation
1. Ben Irvin - L
2. Doug Miles - R
3. Joe Arredondo - R
4. Dan Jones - R
5. Trevor Broomfield - R
The strength of this team lies in the rotation. Irvin and Miles are both front-line pitchers…and they are 12 years apart. Arredondo is starting to show his age, giving up his highest ERA and WHIP since ’84, but he still should compete. In a surprise move, the Phillies traded for Hyundai starter Dan Jones, at the deadline last year, despite the fact they didn’t have a need in the rotation. In even further surprise, after Jones decided to explore Free-Agency, he was brought back by Philly on a three-year $20,000,000 deal. He went 7-6, with a 4.72 ERA, and a -4.2 VORP during his 16 starts with the Freedom. Last, is Broomfield, the former reliever who spent his first year in the rotation and flourished. His job is secure.
Spring Training Position Battle
CF: Gary Lippincott vs. Raul Velez
Lippincott was brought in via Free-Agency and is expected to compete for the CF job with incumbent Velez. Odds are, they will very likely platoon, with Velez (lefty hitter) playing versus RH-pitching and Lippincott (righty hitter) playing versus LH-pitching. But don’t be surprised to see one of them win the job completely.
Prospect Watch
C Renaldo Dominguez
No, he isn’t top 100. He is actually only Philadelphia’s 8th best prospect, but he has a chance to make an impact this season. Dominguez still has a lot to learn at the plate but the guy is great defensively behind it. Alveraz, the current Philly starter, has not shown a lot with the bat despite the Freedom’s patience. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them turn to Dominguez, won the 1989 best C defense in Single-A, and reap the benefits of the defensive catcher.
Season Projection
It’s going to be more of the same in Philly. Veteran pitching and clutch hitting. Speaking of which, the way it is shaping up, it looks like Joe “Magician” Ponte is going to pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. After 413 career games, and starts, the Freedom are going to try him in a set-up role. Anyways, this is a very solid club. If the pitching (old) stays healthy and they get something out of their #1 and #2 lineup spots, I think they will compete down to the final weeks of the season with the Kodiaks for the Porter crown.
1990 Recap
97-65; lost in first round
3.45 ERA
.260 average
Optimal Lineup
1. SS Raul Carbajal - R
2. RF Pat Gibson - R
3. 2B Geoff “Don’t Call Me George” Scott - L
4. 1B Joe Seagarra - R
5. 3B Jim Newlin – L
6. LF Orinosuke Takahashi - R
7. CF Raul Velez - L
8. C Victor Alvarez - R
9. Pitcher
Is this the year that Carbajal lives up to the hype? Acquired in the trade that sent staff ace Joe Aurillo to Syracuse, Raul has yet to become the player everyone expected after his ridiculous minor league numbers and top prospect ranking. Behind him is Pat Gibson. Who? Exactly. Rarely, do you want someone who hits just .227 this high in the lineup, but Gibson has the potential to do much more. He has a great eye, .344 OBP in ’90 and the Freedom don’t have a lot of “table-setter” types. Batting third is arguably the best hitter in all of baseball, George Scott. I mean, Geoff. Seagarra can be penciled in for a .280 average, 15 homers, 90 RBI. Fifth, the tragically underrated Newlin. Last year he had 94 RBI, a .297 average, .375 OBP and only struck out 35 times. You could argue that was a down year, for the newly 31-year-old. Takahashi hit 103 RBI last year with just 13 homers. He will still get a ton of RBI even in the 6th hole. In the 7th and 8th spot, it’s doubtful Velez or Alvarez hits over .270 nor has a .700+ OPS. This lineup does have a very good balance of lefty-righty.
Projected Rotation
1. Ben Irvin - L
2. Doug Miles - R
3. Joe Arredondo - R
4. Dan Jones - R
5. Trevor Broomfield - R
The strength of this team lies in the rotation. Irvin and Miles are both front-line pitchers…and they are 12 years apart. Arredondo is starting to show his age, giving up his highest ERA and WHIP since ’84, but he still should compete. In a surprise move, the Phillies traded for Hyundai starter Dan Jones, at the deadline last year, despite the fact they didn’t have a need in the rotation. In even further surprise, after Jones decided to explore Free-Agency, he was brought back by Philly on a three-year $20,000,000 deal. He went 7-6, with a 4.72 ERA, and a -4.2 VORP during his 16 starts with the Freedom. Last, is Broomfield, the former reliever who spent his first year in the rotation and flourished. His job is secure.
Spring Training Position Battle
CF: Gary Lippincott vs. Raul Velez
Lippincott was brought in via Free-Agency and is expected to compete for the CF job with incumbent Velez. Odds are, they will very likely platoon, with Velez (lefty hitter) playing versus RH-pitching and Lippincott (righty hitter) playing versus LH-pitching. But don’t be surprised to see one of them win the job completely.
Prospect Watch
C Renaldo Dominguez
No, he isn’t top 100. He is actually only Philadelphia’s 8th best prospect, but he has a chance to make an impact this season. Dominguez still has a lot to learn at the plate but the guy is great defensively behind it. Alveraz, the current Philly starter, has not shown a lot with the bat despite the Freedom’s patience. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them turn to Dominguez, won the 1989 best C defense in Single-A, and reap the benefits of the defensive catcher.
Season Projection
It’s going to be more of the same in Philly. Veteran pitching and clutch hitting. Speaking of which, the way it is shaping up, it looks like Joe “Magician” Ponte is going to pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. After 413 career games, and starts, the Freedom are going to try him in a set-up role. Anyways, this is a very solid club. If the pitching (old) stays healthy and they get something out of their #1 and #2 lineup spots, I think they will compete down to the final weeks of the season with the Kodiaks for the Porter crown.
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