At This Rate

Following last night's win over the Rockies, we have now played 32 games, which is roughly 1/5 of our season. If the other 80% of the season follows the current pace the Phillies are on, here are some things that we can expect:

-The Phillies will finish with 100 wins, winning the NL East by 10 games over the Nationals. Yes, the Nationals, who will also finish 2nd for the NL Wild Card.

-Roy Halladay will earn a decision in each of his 35 starts this season, going 30-5. This will include 15 complete games, 10 of them shutouts.

-Speaking of 30-5, Jimmy Rollins will only play in 35 games this season. On the bright side, we will win 30 of those, and Jimmy will finish with a .391 batting average and .516 on-base percentage.

-The NL record for most GIDPs (ground into double play) in a season is 30 by Brad Ausmus in 2002. He did so in 447 at-bats. Impressively, Wilson Valdez will do this 20 times in just 170 at bats. Meaning he could reach Ausmus' mark if he manages to get 255 at-bats.

-Antonio Bastardo will compile a 1.69 ERA in 35 appearances this season. Sometime between those appearances, he will be sent to the minors 15 times.

-Jose Contreras will give up 5 walk-off home runs this season. On the bright side, those will be the only 5 earned runs he allows.

-Jayson Werth will hit 85 doubles this season, shattering the previous record of 67, and most likely helping to earn him an MVP award.

-The Phillies will have 3 players with over 100 RBI this season: Werth - 130; Victorino - 125; Howard - 105

-Ryan Howard will have career lows (for a full season) in home runs (25), RBI (105), and strikeouts (170). He will have a career-high 5 triples, though.

-Chase Utley will have a career-high 40 home runs (half of them against the Nationals), yet a career-low 90 RBI.

-Jamie Moyer will win 20 games and throw 5 shutouts, giving him 278 career wins and most likely causing him to pitch at least two more seasons to reach 300.

-Chad Durbin's mother will do a better job in the broadcast booth than Thomas McCarthy and Christopher Wheeler ever could. Five times.

-The Phillies will have 4 players hit .300 or better, after having 0 in the last 2 seasons combined.

-Only 4 players in history have had a quadruple-20 season (20 doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases). They are: Frank Schulte (1911), Willie Mays (1957), Jimmy Rollins (2007), and Curtis Granderson (2007). Shane Victorino will add his name to that list with 20 doubles, 20 triples, 35 home runs, and 20 stolen bases.

-Cole Hamels will match his career high in wins with 15 despite only pitching 10 quality starts and having an 0-5 record in those starts.

-Ryan Madson will give up 35 earned runs in 45 innings. By comparison, Halladay will give up 45 earned runs in 280 innings.

-Carlos Ruiz will finish with a batting average (.354) 100 points higher than his current career average. He will also have a career high in hits (145), runs (60), home runs (10), RBI (55), and walks (105)

-The Phillies will finish with 3 players in the top 6 in the NL in on-base percentage (Utley, Werth, Ruiz)

-Brad Lidge will return to his 2008 form and be perfect in save opportunities. Unfortunately, he'll only have 5 of them.

As for the rest of the league, Andre Ethier of the Dodgers will end up winning the NL Triple Crown. This most likely proves that these predictions are complete crap, so everyone will have to pay attention to the other 130 games to see how things play out.