It's that time of year again. After a painful fall and winter of Phillies and Eagles' playoff losses, there is something to finally look forward to. On Sunday, February 13th (this Sunday!) pitchers and catchers finally report to Phillies' spring training in Clearwater, Florida. I am already starting to get excited for the season, and couldn't be any more optimistic than I am right now.
Our pitching rotation this year is going to be phenomenal. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels, and a wild card, either Big Joe Blanton or Kyle Kendrick, is a pretty solid starting rotation to say the least. It's going to be the best starting rotation in the history of baseball! I guarantee it, when the year is over, this rotation will go down in the history books. Their achievements are outstanding, with a few Cy Young awards, World Series MVPs, perfect games, no-hitters, and outstanding ERAs and records. No big deal. Too bad that we have to put up with Fat Joe, unless he gets traded, in which case Kendrick will get the nod probably....uh-oh. But I'm just being selfish, since I'm used to being spoiled in the past few years...a luxury that almost all Philly fans of any sport have never had. We aren't New York. On that note, to all the haters from the Yankees, you can't say that we bought Cliff Lee. HE TOOK A PAY CUT TO COME TO PHILLY BECAUSE WE ARE THAT MUCH BETTER! After that statement, I've angered about half of my readers, since the Yankees have been able to buy so many fans all across the world. Sorry guys, I have to fill the shoes of being a bitter, spiteful Philadelphia fan.
Our bullpen is going to be solid, as it has been for the most part. Lidge is an amazing closer when he brings his A-game (as in the 2008 season when he didn't blow a save). We just have to hope he gets off to a good, healthy start. Madson is also a good set-up man, and the rest of the bullpen shouldn't be a problem. I'm pretty sure that with the rotation that we have, our mid-relief men won't get too many opportunities to pitch.
My final comment is about the offense. I look back to the 2008 season when our offense carried us with the clutch bats of Rollins, Utley, Howard, and the like. I can only hope that we can get back to that level. Last year we had some health issues, and I really hope that age isn't becoming a factor. I believe that we can become the powerhouse offense that we one were. Look out for catcher Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz to have a huge year. Also, it will be interesting to see who gets the job in right field...either Ben Francisco or Dominic Brown, one of the top prospects in baseball. My vote is for Dom, who I believe has a great future ahead of him.
Well, that's it for my pre-season pep-talk in the spirit of pitchers and catchers reporting in a few short days. Sorry to the New York fans who I've ticked off. But not really.
So again I'm not a baseball fan and definitely not a Phillies fan, but I like that I can read and understand your blog without being either of those things. You're really knowledgeable and passionate about the Phillies- I'm sure they'd be glad to know they have a fan like you out there. I may not know a lot about the Phils but FUN FACT: Halladay pitched a no-hitter on my birthday. Probably as something of a birthday present to me, so I think you Phillies fans have me to thank for your win against the Cincinnati Reds :-P
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