The Philly Minute: The Placido Effect

I said it in 2005: “Just move Polanco to third and keep Utley at second.” I’ll take my just-dues now. Returning to the Phillies as a third baseman and replacing defensive specialist Pedro Feliz, Polanco is hitting .484 and showing no signs of slowing down. Now, with an offensive presence at third, let me go on the record again: the Phillies have the best offense in the National League, if not all of the Majors.

Try to find a hole in their roster (hint: there isn’t one). The reigning back-to-back NL Champions have 2 MVPs in their first four, and the remaining seven spots are loaded with All-Stars. And it’s not like the defense took a hit with the acquisition of Polanco; the 2009 Gold Glover is a utility infielder capable of playing on any bag.

Polanco has hit as high as .341 in his career, prompting Charlie Manuel to bat him second in the order. As a result, opposing pitchers can look forward to the second half of the Phillies’ order being as intimidating as the first. After Howard comes Werth, whose seven homers in the 2009 postseason was a league best. Then comes Raul Ibanez, who looked like the MVP up until the All-Star break last year. In the seven-hole is Shane Victorino, who would likely lead off on any other club in the world, followed by Carlos Ruiz, who proved a clutch hitter toward the end of last season with two postseason bombs and a playoff batting averages of .341.

The result is a team that you can’t count out of any game, a dynasty in the making. With the league’s best record at 6-1, this offense should coast to another division title (knock on wood). The biggest challenge facing the fightins’? Keeping all the pieces in place for years to come.