some red scattered in there...
PITTSBURGH, PA -- High expectations are a relatively new thing to most Phillies fans. If you're like me, you never had them prior to the team making the move a couple hundred feet over to Citizens Bank Park from Veterans Stadium. Even then, it took until the 2008 season for many of us to really believe that a championship was a goal a Philadelphia sports team could actually accomplish.
Ruben Amaro Jr. used that amazing run as generator to continue to build this franchise in to a National League powerhouse. They had one of the sickest teams we've ever seen in Philadelphia last season, a team that won 102 games, and they still fell short.
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They didn't really improve upon that roster in any significant way this season. They got a little older in many places, have a couple of key injuries in others, and are going to be leaning on youngsters like Freddy Galvis and guys new to a Phils' opening day like Hunter Pence.
My point is last season we expected a world championship and didn't get it. This season many are predicting the end to the Phillies dominance over the NL East. A team fronted by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels is a force. If they're going to fall from their perch atop the NL East, somebody is going to have to go out and beat them. Are my expectations as high as they were last season? No. Do I expect another division title? Yes.
Teams on paper don't mean squat. They've got to go out and do it. That all starts with Roy Halladay on the mound this afternoon.
The lineup cards are in and the season gets under way in just about an hour. A few more thoughts below.
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After looking at Charlie's first lineup of the season, the only thing that sticks out to me aside from Utley and Howard not being in it is the presence of John Mayberry Jr. After all of the chatter about Juan Pierre potentially playing his way into the leadoff spot, I'm glad Charlie opted to get Mayberry on the field for opening day. Talking with Mayberry at CBP during the On-Deck series, he said all the right things and is willing to help this team in any way possible. Mayberry had a pretty rough spring, including a paltry .042 batting average against lefties. That said, I think penciling him in today sends him a message that he has the potential to be the everyday player. Plus, why not try to make him the hero two opening days in a row? Even if Charlie does intend to use Juan Pierre quite a bit this season in left, today was a day to send Big John a message.
[UPDATE: after writing the above graph, I see that Jim Salisbury basically agrees with me, but in more eloquent terms. So there's that.]
Roy Halladay pitches today. I think we all know what to expect from Doc this season. But who better to explain that than Zoo with Roy:
A billionty strike-outs, like seven or eight walks,pitches, eleventy-billion stairs climbed, face-breaking cutters, a low ERA, a miniscule WHIP, perfectly-timed death stares, humanity-affirming selflessness, and a tireless work ethic that can’t help but to lead and motivate teammates … that’s what you’re going to see from Roy Halladay (again) this year. Important parenthetical.
91 wins and another division crown. It all starts today.
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Here's the Phils full lineup: 1. Victorino, 2. Polly, 3. Rollins, 4. Pence, 5. Wigginton, 6. Mayberry, 7. Ruiz, 8. Galvis, 9. Halladay