HSH: Philly Fever

Projected Record: 86-74

Key Additions: Prince Fielder

Key Losses: BB Boo-Ya, Jimmy Tubular, Tom Radical, Jack Psyche! (I’m running out of 90s catchphrases)

Eighty-eight wins was good enough for second place in every division in 2016. Every division except the North, that is. That was good for Philly, because the Fever won 88 games and won their division for the third time.

A lot went right for Philly last season. Its offense was outstanding, finishing first overall in most offensive categories. Miguel Cabrera finally had the year that everyone has been waiting for. And while he was the headliner of the SLB’s best offensive unit, he was hardly alone. Will Hunting was quite good, as well. His .348 batting average actually bested Cabrera’s mark (.346) and he hit 29 homeruns, his highest total since 2011. Jay Bruce (.317, 29 HR) continued his ascension as did Andy Hunter, who hit 49 homers despite playing in just 114 games. Overall the offense was incredibly balanced. So why just 88 wins?

In a word, thepitchingstaff. The top three (Wade Miller, Rich Harden and Tadeshi Kawabata) did well, all posting ERAs of 3.60 or lower. It was everyone else that dragged them down. A bullpen is the hardest aspect of a team to build, as evidenced by the dregs that came on in relief for the Fever last year. The unit was “led” by Robert Rohrbaugh, whoever that is, who threw 40.2 innings of 3.54 ERA ball. Everyone else was terrible, Mark Romanczuk was allowed to throw 62.1 innings despite his 7.80 (not a typo) ERA, and Josh Hancock pitched like he was dead, allowing 18 homeruns in 94.1 innings pitched. Just terrible.

But that offense, ooooohhhhh that offense. It was good last year and it should be again in 2017. B.B. Boo-Ya took his wheels to Kyoto in a trade for big Prince Fielder. Subtract speed and on-base ability and add more power. The only question is, which Prince will show up? The 2014 Fielder that won the North MVP for Halifax or just about any other version that’s fat and sucks?

Philly is looking for its third North title in as many years, and they’re in what is shaping up to be an odd division. Cleveland and Bedford really don’t have a shot, unless you could combine their rosters, which means that it’s between the ever-confusing Halifax Sailors and the Fever.

Philly has a better offense. Halifax added Justin Verlander, while Halifax lost Tadeshi Kawabata. The Sailors have a better bullpen. What does all this mean? I’m not sure, but I still think that I’m picking Philly to win the division. No wait, Halifax. Errr, Philly.

It’s really a toss-up, but in the end, I value offense over limited bullpen innings, so I’m picking the Fever! It’s probably telling that as soon as I typed out that last sentence, I immediately felt like retracting it and picking Halifax. Truth be told, who knows what’s going to happen? Just shut up and watch them mash the ball.

Note: I just typed out Philly’s projected rotation, and I changed my pick to Halifax.

Projected lineup

2B Harrison, Guy

LF Hunter, Andy

3B Cabrera, Miguel

RF Hunting, Will

CF Bruce, Jay

1B Fielder, Prince

C Buhner, Frank

SS Miller, Ed

Projected Rotation

R Harden, Rich

R Miller, Wade

R Wainwright, Adam

L Buehrle, Mark

R Hancock, Josh

Closer

L Rohrbaugh, Robert