TBOH Midseason Free-for-all, Episode 1: “Amaro will do something and it will be brilliant.”

With half the season behind us, it’s easier than ever to make predictions.

TBOH staffers will be making their picks known during the All-Star break so you may laugh/cry/shout at/with them/us.

Say hello to the opinions of Alex Christy (@cachristy1)

The Phillies are .500 at the break. This makes me (choose one): Confused/angry/pleasantly surprised/pleasantly confused/hungry

Pleasantly surprised. All hope had looked lost in May. Now the team is 5.5 games out of first place. I mean what the hell, let’s win some some baseball games.

Sep 30, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. (R) talks with manager Charlie Manuel (L) during practice the day before game one of the 2011 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

“Ruben Amaro will find a suitable replacement for center field.” Is this a true belief, or something muttered over and over again by someone rocking back forth in the dark?

Ture belief, however he will overpay for the replacement with some sort of package of Jesse Biddle, Maikel Franco, and a PTBNL which we will later discover to be another organizational top ten guy.

The most exciting thing about Phillies baseball in the near future:

Domonic Brown. He has been so awesome and will continue to be. I think he goes on another home run hot streak and makes a push for some postseason hardware.

The most unwatchable portion of Phillies baseball in the near future:

Delmon Young. He has had some nice throws this season, but he runs like a major dope. Oh, and he sucks as a person.

The bullpen will get (choose one) better/worse/depressed/hungry

Better. Especially when the Phillies trade Michael Young for a reliever who somewhat sucks but will have a career revival with his new team. The Phillies get a decent pitcher and Young won’t be at third base kicking balls into the outfield.

Jul 6, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Michael Young (10) during game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. The Braves defeated the Phillies, 13-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Charlie Manuel’s job security – stronger than ever, like Utley’s knees, or weakened and fragile, like Ben Revere’s foot bone?

Stronger than ever is a bit much. The fan in me wants the team to make a run for the playoffs. And what the heck, why can’t they? The Braves and Nationals are not very good either. If the Phillies get a bit lucky Charlie looks good and he sticks around for another year. May the best worst team win.

Ruben Amaro will do (choose one) something/everything/nothing and it will be (choose one) brilliant/terrible/emotionally exhausting

Amaro will do something and it will be brilliant. My gut tells me my pals here at TBOH will all choose depressing answers. I chose not to go that route. I won’t be surprised if the wheels fall off, but until they actually do I will hold off on calling for Amaro’s head to hang above the walls of King’s Landing or wherever we are hanging heads nowadays.

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies

NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals

NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers

NL Wild Cards: Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates

NL MVP: Domonic Brown

NL Cy Young:  Clayton Kershaw

NL ROY: Yasiel Puig

AL East: Boston Red Sox

AL Central: Cleveland Indians

AL West: Texas Rangers

AL Wild Cards: Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles

AL MVP: Chris Davis

AL Cy Young: Felix Hernandez

AL ROY: Wil Meyers