KTE ... So what do we know about this year's Phillies ???

[Frayed Knot]

... aside from the fact that we stand a decent chance at being rained on, rained out, rain delayed, or rain interrupted in one if not both games of this two-game series.

Between them being the last NL East opponent we see this year, and them spending so much of their time not only on the road but largely out of the time zone (trips already to Arlington, Chicago, Arizona, Denver & LA) I basically haven't seen more than a pitch or two of Phightin Phils ball this year and have read even less. I'm not usually as ignorant of our closest neighbor as I feel right now.

I think part of it also is that their lineup has stayed virtually the same seemingly for the last decade, with maybe a change per season at most, so we don't feel the need to scout them.
So, looking through the stats we find ...
C - Carlos Ruiz ... Yup, still there
1B - Ryan Howard ... still
2B - Chase Utley ... still
SS - Jimmy Rollins ... still
3B - something named Cody Asche replaces Michael Young who replaced Placido Polanco in the one Phils position that seems to resemble a game of musical chairs
LF - Domonic Brown ... now 26 y/o and seemingly a prospect since forever, has been playing pretty much full time since last year
CF - Ben Revere ... former Twin now in his 2nd season in the city of Brotherly somethin' or other
RF - Marlon Byrd ... off-season FA signee is playing every day and has relegated John Mayberry Jr to the bench


Bench:
John Mayberry Jr
Tony Gwynn Jr
Freddie Galvis Jr
Jayson Nix Jr
Wil Nieves Jr
Cesar Hernandez Jr