1. What is your reaction to the Cliff Lee/Roy Halladay trades?
Jeff
I understand why they made the two deals, and in his brief time in Seattle, Cliff Lee has already gotten injured, so it’s hard to argue against the two deals. The presence of Roy Halladay atop the rotation legitimizes the team as a true power in the National League. I’m not terribly intrigued by the prospects they got for Lee. It really seems like they could have gotten more – a major league ready young bullpen pitcher would have been nice. Ultimately, as much as I appreciate what Lee did in the World Series, I almost wish they would have bit the bullet and made Drabek available at the deadline so that they could have acquired Halladay then.
Charles
A rotation that started with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee could have been one of the most devastating things a baseball team ever employed. I would have loved to have kept them
both. That said, I can understand the reasoning for letting Lee go, considering the resources available to the Phillies and how much, comparatively, Lee was going to want (to say nothing of the legitimate demands that were being made on the farm system). Would I have jumped for joy at a situation that left us with both Halladay and Lee? Obviously. So would any other Phillies fan. But I'm still happy with the situation we finally ended up with.If it's a question of Roy Halladay locked down for a number of years, versus Cliff Lee – potentially as devastating but less established and about as old – for only one season after which we'd be unlikely to be able to re-sign him, you have to go with Halladay. Amaro doesn't want to deplete the farm system too much, and that's not a bad thing considering the Phillies are a team that's built to win now.
Brian
It's a tough call. On the one hand, I'm thrilled to have Roy Halladay. He's arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now and by making the switch from the AL East to the NL East, his already incredible numbers stand to improve. I'm disappointed to lose Cliff Lee, who was brilliant in the regular season for the Phillies and otherworldly in the playoffs, but there was a good chance we would have lost him in a bidding war after this season anyway. The trades allowed us to be assured that we'll have an elite pitcher (at a bit of a discount) for several years. It would have been great to have both Lee and Halladay, but it's also nice to have some semblance of a farm system. Personally, I would have gone for broke and tried to win a World Series this year with Halladay/Lee/Hamels/[who cares] as my playoff rotation, but I can understand the long-term concerns that led Ruben Amaro to make these deals.
2. How has Ruben Amaro done so far as the GM?
Jeff
Amaro seems committed to making this team older by signing veterans to long-term deals. I understand why they signed Polanco and Ibanez, but in a couple years they could be in trouble, having to start players who may not be able to produce anymore. Jamie Moyer’s performance last year is an example of this. The Halladay/Lee situation could have been handled better – Kyle Drabek suddenly moving out of untouchable status was kind of strange, and it begs the question of why he was completely unavailable at the deadline. Now that Amaro has depleted the farm system, in a year or two we’ll see how good a GM Amaro really is when it comes time to use it to fill in the gaps.
Charles
Overall, I give him a thumbs up. He has curiously tended towards going almost uniformly with moves that have brought older players to the Phillies, and that is odd and a little questionable. However, most of these moves to bring in older players have worked out so far, so it's hard to pick at them individually. As has been pointed out by others, it is rare for a team to make it to a second World Series in a row, but even rarer for it to do so with an almost entirely different front-end of the rotation. Amaro deserves some credit for making that happen. Cliff Lee was possibly one of the most successful mid-season acquisitions of all time last year. Amaro simply seemed to have pulled one of the best pitchers in the game out of a hat, and the way he's been semi-swapped for Roy Halladay this year is controversial, but, I think, ultimately wise. The signing of Pedro Martinez last year did just what it needed to, just when it was needed to provide late-season help from an experienced hand, and so far having Ibanez in left field instead of Pat Burrell is something most Phillie fans seem to agree is a good thing. I also see Polanco over Feliz as an upgrade, but the results of that do still remain to be seen.
My main criticism of Amaro would be in the seemingly illogical ways that he let guys like Brett Myers and Chan Ho Park go after last season. I think a little more patience in dealing with Park would have been rewarding, considering his current role with the Yankees. Overall, though, with some reservations over a couple off choices and the trend towards age, I approve of the largely effective moves Amaro has made, and the pennant they helped get us.
Brian
It's hard to argue with the results, as the Phillies won the pennant in his first season and are considered favorites to win a fourth straight division title (if not more). That said, I haven't been overwhelmed by his performance. There has been a clear contrast in style from Pat Gillick, who never seemed to make splashy moves, but had a good enough eye for talent that he was able to acquire role players who could get the job done without commanding huge
salaries or egos. For example, in 2008 Gillick's big late-season acquisitions were Joe Blanton and Matt Stairs. In 2009, Amaro added Cliff Lee and Pedro Martinez. Both were valuable additions, and yet the Phillies were stymied in the World Series. Was this due to bad luck or playing a superior World Series opponent? Or did these acquisitions have a negative impact on the psyche of Cole Hamels and others? Who knows, but it's a question that warrants asking.The bottom line with Amaro is that his moves have seemed fairly short-sighted. Case in point, the Cliff Lee trade. At the time, it looked like a great move. The Phillies acquired an elite pitcher without giving up their most prized prospects. And it worked out, as Lee was phenomenal. Only one problem...Amaro then turned around and traded his previously "untouchable" prospects for Halladay, while swapping Lee for some prospects who are widely considered to be inferior to the ones the Phillies gave up. If we were going to have to trade Kyle Drabek/Michael Taylor/etc for Halladay anyway...why not just do it at the deadline last year, lock him up, and be done with it? Was it really that unpredictable that Lee would want to test the free agent market in his one true chance for a massive payday?
And then there's his handling of arbitration...or lack thereof. Rather than take good-but-replaceable players such as Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, and Carlos Ruiz to court, he simply awarded them 3-year deals. Maybe that's great for morale (Mrs. Ruiz can finally afford those new kitchen cabinets!), but it won't sound so good next year when we can't afford to re-up Jayson Werth. If the team can win another pennant then no one will be complaining, but these sorts of decisions (and his strange fascination with making the team older) have to make you question the team's long-term prospects.
3. Who was the most important off-season acquisition, aside from Roy Halladay?
Jeff
Danys Baez. The bullpen was the biggest issue last year and coming into this off-season. Brad Lidge struggled last year, and when he got injured, Ryan Madson was erratic. Baez gives them another veteran option at the closer position, he can be a setup man, and he can be an extremely valuable seventh inning guy. The bullpen may still be an issue this year, but Baez should be a big help.
Charles
I know I'm not going to shock anybody with this answer, but it's Placido Polanco. The one change in the Phillies' regular starting nine is a big deal, and to my mind it's an upgrade. He'll hit for a better average than the man he's replacing, and he's much more of a contact hitter who will try to fight his way onto first base. That's key in the Phillies' lineup of power hitters, and if he plays up to potential Polanco could very well change the tenor and strategy of the whole lineup. His presence and the kind of hitter he is necessitates some awkward and controversial changes to the batting order. These may or may not work out, but either way Polanco's presence will be felt in a big way.
Brian
Placido Polanco seems like the obvious answer here, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Jose Contreras. Chan Ho Park did a tremendous job last year out of the bullpen as a versatile middle reliever. To win a championship, you need a guy like that. Last year it was Park, the year before it was Chad Durbin (and, yes, I know we still have Durbin, but 2008 seems to have been a career year for him as he fell off considerably in 2009). The primary concern about Contreras should be that his groundball-to-flyball ratio isn't great, but the same could be said of Park last year, who fared well. Not to mention, Contreras has been in the AL for virtually his entire career.
4. How much of an upgrade is Placido Polanco at third base?
Jeff
I think he’ll be a big upgrade offensively. He’ll provide consistency at the top of the batting order; something that we haven't gotten from the combination of Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino. I also thing moving Victorino lower in the lineup will help Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez. Adding Polanco gives them almost undoubtedly one of the scariest lineups in the Major Leagues. On the field I’ll miss Pedro Feliz’ glove, but I don’t think Polanco will have a huge problem shifting from second back to third base. Polanco is a good fit for the ballclub in general.
Charles
I expect him to do well, although there is no way to be sure. Placido played a good third for us in the past, he's played a good second since. He's a versatile fielder, and he's spent all
Spring Training working on the new position rather than jumping into it mid-season. His arm looks strong. I really doubt he will be much a downgrade from Feliz who seemed to be losing a step, and was mostly in there for his glove at that. I for one will still be thanking my lucky stars that at least we don't have to endure any more of Abraham Nunez.Maybe the Phillies have been affected by the Curse of Mike Schmidt. We've had the best third baseman ever, but the Phillies' only two other star-quality third basemen (Dick Allen and Scott Rolen) have left fantastically unpopular after asking to be traded.
Brian
Feliz was a superb fielder and delivered some clutch hits, but let's face it: he basically morphed into Abraham Nunez. What happened to all that power we were supposed to get? And just when it seemed like he was turning things around at the plate last season, he goes and posts a .625 OPS in the 2nd half of the season. His 82 RBI were impressive, but his poor foot-speed and lack of power made the bottom of the order a double play waiting to happen. Polanco probably won't be as good in the field, but he should be a major upgrade offensively. His ability to make contact and move runners should be a huge asset, especially for such a strikeout-prone lineup. More importantly, Polanco will bat 2nd, which moves Victorino to the 7-spot. Here he'll provide Raul Ibanez with some protection and should form an excellent hit-and-run combination with Carlos Ruiz, who, like Polanco, does an excellent job of putting the ball in play.
5. Which Cole Hamels should we expect this year?
Jeff
I think he’s going to be good, but it may take him some time for him to get into a groove. He’s been working on his secondary pitches this spring and coaches have been impressed. Some of those adjustments may take time for him to get comfortable with during the season, but as long as he stays healthy he’ll have breathing room pitching behind Halladay. He also has Halladay as an influence, not to mention Jamie Moyer is still there. As long as he stays healthy, I think he’ll have a successful season.
Charles
I see him being somewhere in between his 2008 and 2009 campaigns. I do buy that psychology and stress were issues that weighed on Hamels last season and affected his
performance on the mound. I buy that he'll be able to work on these and regain the poise that helped him so much in 2008. However, hitters will now be more confident against him and he won't be surprising anybody with his stuff. I look forward to a productive, helpful year from Hamels, but until he fully develops another pitch and can throw all his pitches with pinpoint control, he won't regain the total dominance he had in 2008. That's not to say he won't get those, but I don't think he'll be there yet. That said, I think the lowered pressure from having Halladay there and not having just won the World Series -- as well as hopefully some hard work -- should help him keep it together after he gives up a run or two. And that should make a huge difference considering the particular ways he tended to become unravelled last year.Brian
Not quite the 2008 edition, but close. Hamels has got to have a chip on his shoulder coming into this year, as he was effectively blamed for the Phillies' loss in the World Series. Last year was the perfect storm of awfulness for him. He pitched far more innings than ever before in 2008, came into the season out of shape and saw limited Spring Training action, as the Phillies coddled him. Then he had to deal with being replaced as the staff ace by Lee and even being bumped down to #3 starter by Martinez. So it's no surprise that he struggled. Now he has to prove once more that he can be an elite pitcher...and I think he will. He's still very young, still has tremendous stuff, and will have had the benefit of learning from the likes of Jamie Moyer, Pedro Martinez, Cliff Lee, and now Roy Halladay.
6. Who should be the fifth starter?
Jeff
With Joe Blanton’s injury, both Jamie Moyer and Kyle Kendrick will start the season in the rotation, and both of them deserve it. However, had Blanton not been injured, I would have said that Moyer should be the fifth starter. Halfway through spring training, I would have said Kendrick. Kendrick had a fantastic spring training and Moyer had some rough starts in the Minor League camp. I was surprised to see Moyer almost dominate when he started pitching in the Major League camp, but he did and earned his spot back from Kyle Kendrick. Now the two pitchers get to continue battling for the spot during the season.
Charles
I think with Blanton now out of commission for some time, the Phillies are going to have to use both Moyer and Kendrick. The silver lining on that cloud is that, with a chance to see
both of them starting in real-game situations this year, the Phillies will get a chance to pick out who has the hotter arm and use him. And that's really the way to go. At this point, though, I'm leaning towards Kendrick for one simple reason. Moyer may do as well as ever as a starter this year, but last year when he was placed in the bullpen he actually improved and became quite successful. The Phils have a questionable bullpen this year, and it would be helped out a lot by having somebody there pitching like Moyer did out of the bullpen in 2009. We already know that as a soft-thrower he doesn't tire as quickly as his age would suggest so he can eat innings, and we well know from 2008's World Series that he can sit around (in his locker if need be) and then pick up and pitch when needed. He might want to start, but we have to use Moyer where he'll have the best chance to help the team most.Brian
Jamie Moyer. I know Kendrick has looked great and Moyer [insert old-age joke here], but bear with me. Moyer's value to the team goes beyond wins and losses and ERA. He's been a tremendous asset to the young pitchers on the team (and next to him, everyone is a young pitcher). Nothing made me feel better about Cole Hamels' future than having him chatting with Moyer constantly on the bench. Having him is like having a second pitching coach and, much as I'd like to see if he work his magic on Brad Lidge, I'd much rather have him imparting his wisdom on Hamels and J.A. Happ and anyone else willing to listen.
7. What can we expect from the bullpen this year?
Jeff
I think Lidge will be much better than last year once he returns from the DL, though that’s not saying much. I love the addition of Baez and I think it makes the absence of Lidge a little more bearable, and as long as J.C. Romero takes the time he needs to truly come back healthy, I think they’ll be fine. I’m not sold on Jose Contreras. He’s supposed to fill the role Chan Ho Park did last year, and I doubt he’ll be as successful. He hasn’t been terribly successful in a while, and he hasn’t looked great so far as a Phillie. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a bullpen addition around the trade deadline.
Charles
Some trouble, unfortunately. The bullpen was an issue last year, and the main difference this year is that the more reliable guys are gone. Scott Eyre has retired. Chan Ho Park is a Yankee. Condrey is a Twin. The Phillies wanted nothing to do with Brett Myers, who was arguably a better bullpen pitcher than starter. There are going to be a lot of young question marks out there, and a couple of old question marks in Jose Contreras and Danys Baez. Lidge is coming on a year and injuries that make him a question mark. Some of those guys will work out fine, but if you go with all question marks you are going to run into problems.
Brian
It's difficult to say until we know how it's going to shape out, but I would expect it to be slightly better in the long run. Brad Lidge isn't going to repeat his 2008 season, but he can't be as bad as he was last year. And if he is, he'll be replaced by Ryan Madson or Danys Baez. The man can only get so many chances. The bullpen lost Scott Eyre and Chan Ho Park, but a healthy J.C. Romero can replace Eyre and Contreras can take over for Park. Baez should also be a nice addition. The wildcard for me is Antonio Bastardo. He had a couple impressive outings last year and seems to be destined for a relief role, as he basically has two pitches. I see him as the next J.C. Romero. Of course, all that changes if Romero and Lidge battle injuries all year.
8. How does the bench compare to last year?
Jeff
They’re a lot better. They have the same kinds of players, but they’re all upgrades. Juan Castro replaces Eric Bruntlett, Brian Schneider replaces Paul Bako and Chris Coste (Schneider isn’t great, but he’s certainly better than Bako and Coste), and as much as I’m going to miss Matt Stairs, Ross Gload is younger and more versatile. I’d still like to see them deal Greg Dobbs if they can and fill his slot with a speedster since Dobbs and Gload are very similar and the Phillies could use a pinch runner. Also, Ben Francisco was a fantastic pick up in the Cliff Lee deal, and having him as a fourth outfielder for the full year should be big.
Charles
Bit of a step up. Ross Gload was an acquisition I liked; he looks to provide a strong bat off the bench. Brian Schneider is no superstar to be sure, and Mets fans got tired enough of him, but he looks to provide stable backup to Ruiz and is an upgrade over Paul Bako. There are emerging prospects like Domonic Brown who may do well as bench support this year, and I think John Mayberry will improve after some seasoning. The Phillies' bench wasn't actually as big an issue last year as it would have been with many other teams, since the regulars played so often. There was very little variation in the starting position players, and since the Phillies' core is starting to settle into its collective thirties, it might be a good thing to rest them a bit – especially since some attributed a drop-off in Utley's performance to an unwillingness to take a rest. If the bench can take some of the pressure off this season, that might be a big deal.
Brian
The bench should be an improvement over last year's, as it appears that everyone on it provides considerable value. We'll miss Matt Stairs, but Ross Gload should be an adequate replacement for him, while also having the ability to play in the field now and again. Juan Castro should easily replace Eric Bruntlett, and might even be able to get a hit once in a while. Brian Schneider is basically Paul Bako plus a little offense, so he's a slight upgrade. Greg Dobbs is still a competent pinch-hitter and can start an occasional game. And Ben Francisco is a great right-handed bat and a very good fielder. The bench was a strength the last two years, but this year it's deeper than ever.
9. What is the biggest flaw in the current Phillies team?
Jeff
The biggest flaw is the bullpen, especially with Lidge and Romero starting the season on the DL. I doubt that Lidge will have as bad a year as last year, and hopefully he and Romero will take as much time as they need to get completely healthy, but they and Ryan Madson need
to anchor the bullpen the way they did in 2008. The presence of Baez should help, and hopefully Chad Durbin won’t be overworked. The last two slots belong to Jose Contreras, who has quite a lot to prove, and (until Kyle Kendrick goes back to the bullpen) David Herndon, a Rule 5 Draft Pick from the Angels. Herndon has had a good spring, but that’s all we know about the 25-year old. Antonio Bastardo will be the sole left-handed reliever until Romero returns.Charles
All-around lack of pitching depth. The top of the rotation has the potential to be phenomenal, but the temporary sidelining of Blanton has eliminated a lot of margin for error with Kendrick and Moyer probably both starting, and has laid bare the lack of depth. That also takes an arm away from an already uncertain bullpen. There are a lot of mound factors that are big unknowns right now – including whether the number two starter and the closer will be effective at all, and there doesn't really seem to be an iron-clad backup plan for a lot of these contingencies. There are not a whole lot of Major League-ready arms hanging around in the farm system at the moment either.
Brian
Rotation depth. We know (or have been told, anyway) that Halladay will be a Cy Young contender and there's reason to believe that Hamels will bounce back. But after that? Joe Blanton is alright, but little more than an inning-eater. J.A. Happ was superb last year, but it seems like every five minutes a sabermetrician writes about how bad his 2010 projections are. And our fifth starter is either a 47-year old or a guy who barely outperformed Adam Eaton the last time he was a fixture in our rotation. I don't feel too bad about our postseason rotation of Halladay/Hamels/Happ/Blanton, but what if there's an injury? We don't have any stud pitchers waiting in the wings (cough, Kyle Drabek, cough), so an injury to even a guy like Blanton can prove costly.
10. Will the depletion of the farm system last year be an issue in the long run?
Jeff
The farm system needs time to restock. As long as Amaro doesn’t need to use it to make more trades, the farm system should be in decent shape by the time veterans like Ibanez, Polanco, and Contreras are at the end of their contracts. Domonic Brown is nearly ready to take one of the outfield positions. But if one of the Phillies’ key players gets injured this season, they may have a hard time finding a suitable replacement. If Utley or Rollins get injured, they don’t have anyone ready to step in and they don’t have the depth to justify trading for a short-term solution.
Charles
Hard to tell for sure, since the fact is that prospects are always a crap shoot to some degree or another. It's entirely possible that every player the Phillies have had to trade away will turn out to be a wash. The Phillies have a solid system, though, and by and large Amaro has made sure to replenish the system with prospects of a value in a league somewhere in the vicinity of what he's traded away. That was a large portion of the reason why Cliff Lee was traded away – and that demonstrates a certain amount of dedication to the farm system. That said, though, and not to rehash answers, but it's possible that with 2010's particular pitching situation, some of the young pitching phenoms formerly in the system might have come in handy this season.
Brian
It's hard to see how it won't be. Maybe Amaro has a great eye for talent and the Seattle prospects will develop nicely. But aside from Domonic Brown, who do we have to look forward to? (Admittedly I am excited about Tyson Gillies, who strikes me as a Michael Bourn clone.) Most concerning is that we managed to trade both stud catcher prospects (Lou Marson and Travis D'Arnaud) in the past year, so who's going to replace Ruiz in a few years? And if we're going to lose Werth (which seems likely), then why trade our best right-handed outfield prospect (Michael Taylor)? Maybe Domonic Brown (left-handed) is just that much better but you'd have a difficult time proving it. Time will tell, but I'm concerned.
11. Which Phillies prospect might emerge this season?
Jeff
Not many Phillies prospects will have the chance to emerge this season. Most of the top prospects in the system aren’t ready to contribute at the Major League level, and even if they were, there aren’t roster spots for them to fill. Antonio Bastardo and Sergio Escalona could emerge as second left-handed options in the bullpen, and Bastardo or Drew Carpenter could find their way into the rotation should injuries arise. However, for this question I’m going to pick outfielder Quintin Berry. If the Phillies decide they need a pinch runner type, Berry could get the call. He stole 48 bases last year, over 50 in 2008 and 2007, and he might get the chance to become the new Michael Bourn. There may be a Berry Pickers fan group soon enough.
Charles
Well, if we are still counting Antonio Bastardo as a prospect, then it's pretty certain that he will be seeing a lot of playing time out of the bullpen, since Ruben Amaro has told us so. Aside from Bastardo, OF Domonic Brown looks likely to make an impact. He's got a lot of potential with his speed, size, and bat, and he's been essentially designated the heir apparent in right field if the Phillies can't re-sign Jayson Werth for 2011 or beyond. Since that is a definite possibility, it's likely the Phillies will want to prepare Brown by working him into some Major League games. Brown tore up in Spring Training, and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Brown in the Majors and playing a fourth-outfielder type of role by the end of the season.
Brian
Tough call because, barring injuries, no prospects are expected to get major playing time. Domonic Brown is our most impressive prospect, but a couple of guys would have to go down for him to crack the lineup. My money is on Bastardo, who I mentioned earlier. I think he has a bright future as a middle reliever or at least a left-handed specialist, and has a good chance to get into the bullpen this season, especially if J.C. Romero isn't 100%.
12. Which NL East rival is the biggest threat?
Jeff
The Marlins could be in position for another big year. Josh Johnson established himself as one of the best young arms in the game last year, Ricky Nolasco has looked good this spring, and Hanley Ramirez remains one of the best players in the game. The Marlins have a lot of question marks, but if more of their young pitchers emerge and young position players are able to support Ramirez and Dan Uggla offensively, they could be a nuisance this year.
Charles
The Braves are the popular pick in this category and I won't try to deny they are a dangerous team going into 2010. However, I want to use this space to point out that I think it would be a big mistake to write off the Mets too easily. Yes, we beat heavily-favored Mets teams in the division races of 2007 and 2008. And yes, the Mets were miserable last year. However, there were reasons they were so favored in 2007 and 2008, and they were so miserable in 2009 because of a rash of injuries. They're left with a lot of problems to address, but they also still have some very strong core players and they still have Johan Santana. Jason Bay may not be the Mets' all-time savior, but he is still a dangerous offensive player. So are Jose Reyes and David Wright. I don't think the Mets have a great shot at the division, but I also think most people have grossly underestimated them.
Brian
The Braves. Atlanta looks the most dangerous on paper, given their deep lineup and some outstanding prospects in Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward. Plus the team will have extra motivation to make the playoffs in Bobby Cox's last season as manager. The Marlins are also a young and dangerous team, but I don't think they're quite there yet.
13. Which NL team has the biggest chance of keeping them from their third World Series appearance?
Jeff
The Rockies have been very good in the past few years, and they seem to keep getting better, finding out what works, who to keep, and having fewer and fewer holes to fill. They have great pitching, headed by Ubaldo Jiminez, and they’re developing a great young offensive core with Troy Tulowitski, Carlos Gonzalez, and Ian Stewart. The rest of the NL West could also be trouble. The Giants have a stellar pitching staff and solidified their offense, the Diamondbacks made some great moves in the off-season and could be dangerous if Brandon Webb is healthy (big if), and the Dodgers field more or less the same team as last year. The Padres may appear so helpless that teams have no choice but to take pity on them. But the Rockies are establishing themselves as one of the top NL teams in recent years and this year they look even better.
Charles
The Division Series is always a little like Russian roulette. Last year the St. Louis Cardinals had the misfortune to pull the trigger on the wrong chamber, but this year they will once again have a strong, balanced team and a very good shot at winning the NL Central. If the Phillies have to face them in either round of the playoffs, they could present more well-rounded opposition than the Dodgers have for the past two years.
Brian
The Dodgers. LA has played us well in the postseason for the past two years and they feature a strong, balanced lineup, a solid rotation, and a deep bullpen. It doesn't hurt that they're got one of the best managers in the game and some rising stars in Jonathan Broxton, Clayton Kershaw, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp.
14. Which player is most likely to improve/bounce back?
Jeff
Brad Lidge. He just can’t be that bad again. Last year I picked Lidge to regress only because he couldn’t possibly be perfect again. Regress would be an understatement for what happened last year. Now I’m saying he’ll be better, secretly hoping he’ll improve as much as he regressed last year.
Charles
Brad Lidge, when he gets back on the mound. He had a much publicized uncharacteristically bad year last year, but has proven his ability to bounce back in the past (after a little-known home run incident rattled him when he was with the Astros). It has emerged that he was playing injured for much of last year, which I for one strongly suspect contributed to his troubles. I'm upset he didn't reveal these injuries sooner so Charlie Manuel could manage with them in mind, but I think that once they're dealt with we're likely to see a Brad Lidge who actually pitches like an effective closer (even if he isn't the 100% perfect Lidge we saw in 2008) which would be a big step up.
Brian
Jimmy Rollins. Cole Hamels and even Brad Lidge are also candidates but Rollins was able to put together a strong 2nd half of the season, after struggling before the All-Star break. Having Polanco hitting behind him should help, plus with the revamped bottom of the order, he'll have a few more RBI chances than usual. He's never going to hit like he did in his MVP season again, but he could easily hit in the .270-.280 range with another 20 home runs.
15. Which player is most likely to regress?
Jeff
J.A. Happ. While Happ was great last year, there were a lot of mixed reviews as to whether he would be able to sustain his success. Some people compared him to a young Andy Pettitte, while others thought he was mostly lucky. Last year’s success was so unexpected and I wouldn’t be surprised if some teams are able to figure him out this year. He seems primed for a sophomore slump, though I still think he’ll be good
Charles
Raul Ibanez. I expect a productive year from Ibanez, but the left fielder is aging and his abilities may start to decline. He virtually carried the Phillies on his shoulders during the first half of last year, then evened out to produce season stats that were about average for him because his second half was relatively poor. While I'd love a repeat of that first half performance (and there's some indication that the drop-off may have been contributed to by injury), there's a strong possibility that was an aberration.
Brian
Raul Ibanez. Most would probably say J.A. Happ, but it's hard to argue with Ibanez, who tailed off in the 2nd half after playing like an MVP in the first few months. Oh, and did I mention he'll turn 38 this year? The one thing going in his favor is that he should be hitting in front of Victorino, instead of Feliz, so he should see some better pitches to hit.
16. Who will be the team MVP?
Jeff
While Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, and Ryan Howard will be the heart and soul of the team as they have been for the past few years, Roy Halladay will be their MVP. Halladay gives them a presence at the top of the rotation that they haven’t had since Curt Schilling was their ace. Halladay legitimizes the team as an MLB power, and he should also be a positive influence to the rest of the rotation – young starters like Hamels, Happ, and Kendrick.
Charles
Unless somebody really clears ahead of the field with his bat, I think it has a strong chance of being Roy Halladay. If he pitches as consistently as he has for the Blue Jays (or maybe even moreso, considering he is moving to the National League), that's one really good shot at a win in every start. In short, he could be even bigger for the Phillies than Hamels was in 2008. Quite simply, starting pitchers have a bigger shot at impacting games than offensive players on a given day, and Halladay is a proven ace.
Brian
The early pick has got to be Ryan Howard. He was superb again last season and showed improvement in the field and on the basepaths due to his slimming down in the previous off-season. Now we're told that he's continued to work on his svelte figure and has also retooled his swing to improve his plate coverage. Does that mean he won't strike out 150+ times? Probably not, but it could push his average and OBP up a few points. Every little bit helps.
17. With Matt Stairs out of the picture and Michael Bourn long gone (we still miss him), which normally underappreciated player will become the new People’s Phillies Blog favorite?
Jeff
Ben Francisco. He’s the best fourth outfielder we’ve had in a while (Michael Bourn and Matt Stairs were really fifth outfielders) and we will get excited every time he comes into the game. If we ever see Dewayne Wise or Quintin Berry in the majors, they’ve also got a major shot to become the new favorite.
Charles
Based purely on their names, I would say that Antonio Bastardo and Brian Bocock are the top candidates right now. Since I'm not sure Bastardo will stay underappreciated enough, and I like Bocock's underdog biography (he was a regular with the Giants for two weeks in 2008, hit under .200, then was later claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays and the Phillies). So I am going for Brian Bocock at the moment.
Brian
Always difficult to predict, but there are some strong candidates. Antonio Bastardo has a
good shot, if only because of the name. We've already kicked around the idea of the fan group name "Bastardo's Children Born Out of Wedlock" (no offense, Antonio). My sleeper for this honor is Tyson Gillies, who, if given a chance, could be Michael Bourn-lite (I can't bring myself to call anyone the next Michael Bourn. Blasphemy!) But my pick is going to be Dewayne Wise. He has a good shot to be our token 'pinch-runner/defensive replacement in a tight game which sorta makes sense at the time until he comes up with two on and two out in the bottom of the 12th'. But mostly, he's that guy who saved Mark Buerhle's perfect game. What's not to like? 
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