BREAKOUT PLAYER / / SHANE VICTORINO
Team / / Philadelphia Phillies
Position / / Outfielder
Comment / / Victorino, 26, can play any spot in the outfield and is one of the fastest players in the league. Now, he has a full-time spot in the lineup and a new coach, Davey Lopes, who is working with him on stealing bases. If he sticks around for two more full seasons, the Flyin' Hawaiian will likely pass Orioles fan favorite Lenn Sakata for second in major league at-bats by a Hawaii native.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
LAST SEASON / / 85-77 / / SECOND PLACE
LINEUP 2006 STATISTICS
SS Jimmy Rollins .277, 127 runs, 36 SBs
RF Shane Victorino .287, 6 HRs, 46 RBIs
2B Chase Utley .309, 32 HRs, 102 RBIs
1B Ryan Howard .313, 58 HRs, 149 RBIs
LF Pat Burrell .258, 29 HRs, 95 RBIs
3B Wes Helms .329, 10 HRS, 47 RBIs
CF Aaron Rowand .262, 12 HRs, 47 RBIs
C Rod Barajas .256, 11 HRs, 41 RBIs
ROTATION
RHP Brett Myers 12-7, 3.91 ERA, 189 K's
LHP Cole Hamels 9-8, 4.08 ERA, 145 K's
RHP Freddy Garcia 17-9, 4.53 ERA, 135 K's
LHP Jamie Moyer 11-14, 4.30 ERA, 108 K's
RHP Adam Eaton 7-4, 5.12 ERA, 43 K's
BULLPEN
RHP Tom Gordon 3-4, 3.34 ERA, 34 saves
RHP Ryan Madson 11-9, 5.69 ERA, 2 saves
RHP Geoff Geary 7-1, 2.96 ERA, 1 save
Manager / / Charlie Manuel, third season with the Phillies, sixth overall
Payroll / / $95 million
X-factor / / After a fruitless offseason attempt to move his fat contract, left fielder Pat Burrell will be under the microscope.
Best case / / The right side of the infield continues hitting at a ridiculous pace. ... General manager Pat Gillick is able to move extra starter Jon Lieber for much-needed bullpen help.
Worst case / / Another slow start dampens the optimism and puts good-guy Manuel's job in danger. ... Closer Tom Gordon's arm troubles grow more serious, putting his setup crew on the spot even more than it already is.
CAPSULES FROM THE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL