2012 MLB Season Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

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Offseason Subtractions

RHP Roy Oswalt, RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Ryan Madson, OF Ben Francisco, OF/1B Ross Gload, IF Wilson Valdez

Offseason Additions

DH Jim Thome, RHP Jonathan Papelbon, RHP Chad Qualls, OF Laynce Nix, OF/IF Ty Wigginton

Projected Lineup

What you’ll notice here is that the second baseman is batting last, and oh yeah, the second baseman is Chase Utley. Also Ty Wigginton is in there somewhere. Also Hunter Pence is hitting in place of Ryan Howard, rather than in front of Ryan Howard, who should maybe return in May if he feels like it. Frequently injured and often in his late 30s Placido Polanco is hitting second, and as of the middle of Spring Training, second base will be manned, again, by an unproven rookie.

“Wow, it’s really charitable of sportswriters to say the window of opportunity is closing and not already slammed shut,” you’re saying. Well… you could argue that’s true. But what the Phillies have done in the last five years has been amidst a sea of injuries before. Their penchant for filling in background roles with minor, yet critical defense, relief pitching, or… sometimes.. clutch hitting has allowed them to survive.

Meanwhile, Jim Thome will try to play first base too. You can see in his face how seamlessly he has transitioned back onto the field since his last stint several years ago.

Projected Rotation

And this is the part that no one is afraid to talk about. Yes, Roy Oswalt is no longer a part of this rotation. But that leaves it with a surprisingly satisfying number of aces. There’s already so much out there about Halladay, Lee, and Hamels, all you need to know is that 1.) They are great 2.) They want (in some cases more) rings 3.) We love them. The real pressure is on Vance Worley, to maintain equal levels of quirkiness and talent, and Joe Blanton, to be something other than an injury or the butt of jokes about cheeseburgers.

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