PHILLIES PHODDER

A weekly- if not more- column about all things Phillies Baseball...

Here is my Opening Day line-up:

2B Cesar Hhernandez
LF Howie Kendrick
CF Obdubal Herrera
3B Michyal franco
RF Michael Saunders
1B Tommy Joseph
C Cameron Rupp
SS Freddie Galvis
P Jeremy Hellickson

By the end of the season- or at the start of spring training next year- the line-up could look like this:

1B Rhys Hoskins
2B Scott Kingery
SS J.P. Crawford
3B Mychal Franco
LF Nick Williams
CF Obdubal Herrera
RF Dylan Cozens
C Jorge Alfaro
P Jered Ickhoff

The changes will happen gradually, unless there are injuries. Franco seems the most set for years, because he is still a highly-regarding young player and because the Phils don't have a third base prospect who might push him. Herrera is safe for 2 years. By then, hopefully CF Micey Moniak will be knocking on the major league door. Since Moniak is a # 1 overall pick and has lots of money invested in him, I would expect the Phillies to give him every chance to succeed. If so, Herrera could be traded, if Moniak isn't dealt before then in a deal for Mike Trout.

The Phils have positions players ready at Lehigh Valley and Reading, something they lacked only a few years ago. The rotation looks good too..

RH Aaron Nola
RH Jered Ickhoff
RH Clay Bucholtz
RH Jeremy Hellickson
RH Vince Valasquez

The rotation will have some big-time changes as well. Hopefully, Nola's elbow is OK. A flair-up of his injury would mean a call-up of the following..

RH Jake Thompson
RH Zach Eflin
RH Alec Asher
RH Ben Lively
RH Nick Pavetta

One thing apparent is the lack of left-handed starting pitching. Bucholtz and Helleckson, unless the team is in contention in the summer, will be traded before the July 31 deadline. This will allow more young pitchers to come up to Philadelphia, and add more prospects as well.  The other key piece missing is the lack of an ace, a # 1 starter. With so much money to spend in free agency the next several off-seasons, expect the Phils to sign a stud pitcher to anchor their staff via free agency.

The bullpen was an albatross the last few years. Jeremere Gomez did a good job in the closer's role last year until he ran out of gas at the end of the season. I would like to see Hector Neris get a shot at being the closer. He has an above-average fastball and a devastating splitter, and can get strike-outs more easily than a Gomex. Neris could be another potential trade chip down the road, but sooner or later the Phils will need a permanent closer to lock down games.

Another trade chip in July could be catcher Cameron Rupp. He's a good, if not spectacular catcher, fair defensively, with good power. Everyone knows that Jorge Alfaro is the man of the future, perhaps taking over the majority of catching duties as soon as late summer. A quality catcher like Rupp could bring back even more young talent.

Will the Phillies be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? Both. They have Hellickson, Bucholtz, Kendricks, Saunders and Rupp to deal, but if they find a player who is young and would help the club for years to come, a player another struggling team can't afford, the Phils need to look. They even have some young talent to trade lower than Lehigh Valley and Reading, so getting a stud pitcher or a power hitter for years to come would make sense.

My first game back at Citizens Bank park will be May 10 vs. Seattle. CBP is a great ballpark. It could be even greater, with an improved sound system. For the fans' enjoyment, a new and improved home run celebration should be considered. Right now, having a gigantic Liberty Bell, flashing red, white and blue lights and swaying back and forth, is pretty stupid and boring. At least set off some fireworks. The old Philadelphia Phil and Phyllis display at the Vet was pretty lame too. The Phillies are pretty creative, so I trust they could dream up a new home run celebration if they wanted to.

The nomination of Pete Rose to the Phillies Wall of Fame this summer should be a for-gone conclusion. It is long over-due. CPB should be sold-out on August 12. Rose is 76 years old. Despite his failings off the field, no one can contest what a great player he was on the field.

For the Phillies, he really did get them over the hump in the early 80s. The Phils had tremendous teams in the mid-to-late 70s, winning 3 straight Eastern Division championships, but they failed to advance to the World Series each year, losing to Cincinnati and LosAngeles, and losing the East to Pittsburgh in 1979. Rose gave them the leadership and fiery aggressiveness and confidence they needed to take that final step to their first world championship in their history.

If you have any doubts, watch the NL Championship series vs. Houston in 1980. He gave the Phillies the toughness and never-give-up spirit they so-badly needed.

The Wall of Fame should fill up quickly in the years ahead, with the likes of Howard, Rollins, Utley and Hamels on the horizon. The Phillies will know early where they stand in the NL East race as they play both Washington and the New  York Mets 12 times in April alone. In fact, the Phillies play the Nationals 12 times before early May. If the Phils could hold their own, as they did last year until Memorial day, it could be an interesting summer as the kids blossom in Lehigh Valley.

Finally, I think the team can , and will, win at least 75 games this year. Another year of improvement.81-81 would not only give fans' hope, but would keep interest all summer.

Mike Trout will be a year closer to coming home ...

ADDENDUM:

I just heard New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's comments about the Phillies, their fans, their ballpark and the city of Philadelphia.

Basically, he and other loser Mets fans are mad because the Phils have the old Tug McGraw saying "Ya Gotta Believe" on the walls of their spring training facility in Clearwater, Fla. First, McGraw's quote is McGraw's quote, not the Mets' quote. True, it was about the Miracle Mets , but the Phillies aren't "using" or promoting this slogan as an official team banner in commercials or ads.

Chris Christie is...
1- a terrible governor
2- a loser Dallas Cowboy fan
3- a fat slob

It's OK to object to the Phillies  using the Tugger's inspirational words, but why rip the entire organization and their fans?

Mets fans are easily the most obnoxious fans just they invade Citizens Bank Park. They have been living high recently, but every dog has it's day, and once the Phillies get good again-soon- Mets' fans will take it on the chin.

Citizens Bank Park has way more charm and class then the cold, sterile environment of New York's Citi Field. The fans aren't angry and bitter. Even IF they were, better than being apathetic. Philly fans care and are passionate about all their sports. Can you say the say for New Yorkers?

There's a rumor that once he's finished as governor, Christie may hook onto one of the sports radio stations in New York. Why? He knows nothing about sports, but then again, he would fit right in with the rest of those dopey New York media clowns.

Just another reason to root against the Mets this season and for years to come.