NL West Moves Impacting the A’s: Philadelphia Phillies

Feb 26, 2014; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Phillippe Aumont (48) throws as the Toronto Blue Jays play the Philadelphia Phillies in a spring training exhibition game at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

The Oakland A’s are facing the NL East in 2014, which includes the Philadelphia Phillies. If you know anything about the Oakland Athletics and their history, you know these teams have a lot of history together, at least in the first half of the 20th century they did. If you don’t know much about their history, then read this here. The basic story between these teams is that the A’s used to be in Philadelphia when they first started as a team back in the early 1900’s. The A’s were created as an American League counter part to the Phillies. Until the A’s moved in the 1950’s, both teams were in Philadelphia and fought to be the best team there. But enough of the past, we’re looking at the future here.

The Phillies have made moves this offseason that have made them the source of a lot of jokes. The Phillies have a lot of older veterans on their team, leading many to call them a retirement home right now, but the A’s know full well that you can be 40 years old and still perform well. Just ask them about Bartolo Colon. So the A’s won’t take this team likely.

That being said, the Phillies don’t seem like a big threat to the team this season. Older players are more prone to injury, and odds are at least one of their guys will be on the DL when they play. The A’s have a veteran sprinkled in here and there, but the oldest guy in their rotation is 30. So it’s a game of complete opposites here. Overall I think the A’s will be able to overcome the Phillies with ease and get some games in the win column when they square off against the Phillies. The A’s are a younger, more talented team with the hunger and the drive to win after going through two devastating losses in game 5 of the ALDS two years running. The moves the Phillies have made won’t phase the A’s, their going to win these games and keep on winning that division title.