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 In looking ahead to all 30 clubs in Major League Baseball, David has now wound his way through all the American League with the AL East (see the Yankees - Red Sox - Rays - Orioles - Jays) , the AL Central (see the Royals, - White Sox -Twins - Indians - Tigers) and AL West with (Angels - A's - Rangers - Mariners). As begins his look at the National League, he's beginning with the NL East (see the New York Mets, the Washington Nationals and Florida Marlins), and today, the team that has the highest expectation for the 2011 season, the Phillies - Maury Brown
Team: The Philadelphia Phillies
2009 Total Attendance: 3.6 million
2009 Average Attendance & Sell-Thru: 44,453 (over 100%)
2009 Record: 93-69, Lost in World Series
2010 Total Attendance: 3.64 million
2010 Average Attendance & Sell-Thru: 45,027 (over 100%)
2010 Record: 97-65, Lost in NLCS
Looking ahead to 2011……
Notable offseason addition/subtractions: Signed Cliff Lee
Interleague LY: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, & Cleveland Indians
Interleague TY: Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, & Oakland A’s
April/May Games: 14 in April, 16 in May in 2011 vs. 7 in April and 16 in May in 2010
Holidays: Home 5/8 Mother’s Day (Night Game) & 9/5 Labor Day Road 4/24 Easter 6/19 Father’s Day 7/4 Independence Day
Overall Outlook: Just like the Twins and Red Sox, this exercise is a moot one. The Phillies enter their 8th year at Citizens Bank Park this season. The Phils have had 6 years of rising attendance and signed the best free agent on the market in Cliff Lee. The team just gave out extensions to manager Charlie Manuel and GM Ruben Amaro. The Phillies enter the season as the Vegas favorite to win 97 games and the National League. The team is faced with injuries to Domonic Brown and Chase Utley. The Phillies are fortunate in that they play 7 out of their first 31 games against teams under .500 from last year. I expect the Phillies to continue their unparalled run (sans Yankees late 90’s) in the free agent era this year. Some are worried about the injuries, but they will actually drive attendance as it will make their more competitive than expected in the division. The team will once again have a record year at the box office and the bottom line.
 David Simmons is a graduate of the University of Central Florida who worked in the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers over 4 seasons. He has a decade of ticketing experience and currently resides in Baltimore. You can follow David on Twitter @davidesimmons
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David Simmons 
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