Well, while we all might expect a last place finish for the Phillies in the NL East, at least we can hold our heads high about something. Today, ESPN's Paul Lukas released the MLB Uni-Watch power rankings and the Phillies were slotted at the second spot on the list, two spots higher than last year. They sit behind the Cardinals, who defeated the Phils in the 2011 NLDS. The Cubs, Blue Jays and Dodgers round out the top five.
Here's what Lukas had to say about the red and white pinstripes:
Sometimes you can make progress by standing still. That's the case with the Phillies, who've moved up to the second spot by sticking with the tried-and-true while the teams ranked above them last time around have indulged in ill-advised tinkering. This is how it's done, kids: First-rate home and road unis and a very solid retro alternate. Fun fact: The Phils have never worn the word "Philadelphia" on their jerseys, although they were considering it in the early 1990s.
Meanwhile, you have to scroll down all the way to the 19th position to see the next NL East team, the Mets, who are followed at 20th by the Braves. The Nationals sit at 27th while the Marlins were ranked last. Miami changed their logos in 2012 and ESPN was clearly not impressed by the redesign from Florida's National League team.
