Phillies featured on cover of SI
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Phillies featured on cover of SI
Daily News staff
The Phillies' starting rotation is featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's baseball preview.
Not much of a surprise, but you might have been hoping to avoid the cover jinx.
It is the 24th time the Phillies have appeared on the cover — eighth most among MLB teams — and their second consecutive appearance on the MLB Preview.
Inside, SI the Phillies to win the NL East by four games over Atlanta with a 93-69 record but will fall to the Giants again in the NLCS.
Other Phillies predictions:
• Chase Utley is the NL East’s “Star in Decline”
• Best Case scenario: The offense rolls early; Domonic Brown, John Mayberry Jr. or Ben Francisco flourishes in right; Phab Phour is as good as advertised; and there’s another Philly parade next fall.
• Worst Case scenario: Cole Hamels regresses to his 2009 form, Ryan Howard still can’t hit the breaking balls, and Chase Utley misses much of the season. Even that may not keep them from the postseason.
In addition, senior writer Gary Smith (formerly of the Daily News) profiled Philly’s five starting pitchers in The Legion of Arms, assigning each of them a superhero alter ego:
• Cliff Lee, aka Loose Laser: “Nearly saved the metropolis in 2009; he’s back to finish the job”
• Roy Halladay, aka Tunnelman: “Defeats hitters in a dark chamber, where his focus can’t be shaken”
• Roy Oswalt, aka Late Riser: “Bedazzles enemies with lightning bolts that elevate and explode”
• Cole Hamels, aka Kid Quantum: “Is able to bend time and distance with his bionic left arm”
• Joe Blanton, aka The Sidekick: “The mere mortal among the five, bolstered by his superfriends”
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They should have put the logo in front of Blanton's head.— Mr. Underhill- Actually, JB isn't the second coming of Robin Evan Roberts, but you are an IDIOT, Mr. Underground! — BEMiller
Comment removed.- Blanton is a good pitcher and I think he will do very well this year. But to compare his accomplishments with the other four is really to grant his so-far mere-mortal status. Also, putting Halladay off to the side was probably his own idea.
- where did you get 24 covers for the phillies? it's not even close.— jameseckhouse
- There are 24, the man knows what he's talking about. — phillyboy88
- At least we don't have to worry about whether or not there will be a no-hitter this year. That cover guarantees it - no no-hitters.
Instantly becomes my all-time favorite SI cover!
...on a side note. Cole, I love ya dude, but the mean face is not a good look for ya...- Comment removed.
- any lefty-heavy rotation should frighten the phillies. or did you put october out of your memories that quickly?— jameseckhouse
- Comment removed.
- Simply beautiful— shawnmac
- Ugh, I stopped my SI issues two weeks to early!— phigglesfan75
- I would associate "growing pains" with a young team with a couple of young prospects and some players coming into their own. What I see in the Phillies is an old team slowly breaking down, bit by bit. It's more likely to get worse than better. In spite of the seemingly daunting starting pitching, it looks like the window of opportunity is sadly gone...— Charidan
- The things we write about and read before the season finally begins. The most boring sports time of the year.— orange rhino
