I'm Back

So - The beginning of the season was real "Up-and-Down".

The starting pitching has been awful (8.75 ERA) and the bats after the first couple games have come alive. One run in the first 2 games - says it all. Since then they have sored 39 runs in 5 games (Almost 8 runs a game)

The Bullpen is doing OK with a 3.81 ERA. They are keeping the team in the games after the starters blow it, and the hitters pick up their steam in the later innings.

Forecast: Blanton will do well tonight, Hopefully Hamels will pick it up.

Where is Rollins? - He did so well in the WBC.

I like to play the Blame game and here are my results so far for the 3 losses.

1st game = Lineup

2nd game - Lineup

3rd loss - Hamels

HARRY!! RIP! We will miss you.

Time To Roll

Well the roster is set, one more exhibition to play. It will be interesting to see how Hamels does in today's game. He is really the only question mark going into the season.
I am off on a 1 week vacation to Arizona. Terrible timing with Villanova in the final 4 and the Phils opener. I don't know how many posts I will be able to make over the next week, I guess the hotel will have service - I will see.
Go get em' Cats and Phils!!

Big News

Well - it all fell into place yesterday, as Jenkins was released, Meyers was named opening day starter and Park was given the 5th starter assignment. Tough day for Jenkins and Happ, but they will survive. Someone will pick up Jenkins for the lousy 400,000 dollars it will cost them. Happ will probably pitch out of the pen I am hearing, and if Park fails a couple times Happ will be the guy. I heard Happ was kind of violent, throwing things and banging walls etc...
The other bit of news was that the Phils are interested in Shefield and/or Andruw Jones for the right-handed pop off the bench. I am not really interested in either one, since Shefield is a complainer and Jones is done. Both of them may have drank too much bug Juice.
The last couple roster spots will be interesting to see - whom they choose (See my last post)

Roster is Close

Now that Corrasco and Mayberry have been sent to the minor league complex, the roster is pretty much set,
As I said earlier, they would pretty much go with the same bench as last year. Unless they trade Stairs or Jenkins, it will be Coste, Dobbs, Bruntlett, Stairs, and Jenkins.
Starting pitcher should be Park, he has earned it and deserves the shot. Happ will go to the pen or even be sent back to AAA.

I think relief may be the only surprise. Again, thinking Happ may go to the minors, they may keep Majewski on the roster. It was interesting to see Mosebach not sent away - He is a rule 5 - which needs to stay on the roster all year or be offered back to his original team. I hear he has a High-Speed fastball.

Interesting!!

Stuff

Nice to see Rollins play so well in the WBC over the last couple of weeks. He topped it off by going 4 for 4 in the loss to Japan.

Nice to see Utley playing and hitting a home run.

The Drama of Kendrick is over and now it is down to 3 pitchers for the 5th spot.

Hamels pitched 3 and change innings in a minor league game - that is a good sign.

Update on 3 Open Positions

Not much has changed in the battle for the open roster spots.

5th Starter
Looks like it is down to Happ and Park. Park has had some great outings, and I hear he has learned an excellent changeup from Jamie Moyer. As I said before It looks like Park gets the job and Happ becomes the much needed lefty in the Pen until Romero gets back from suspension.

Bench Players
Looks like Coste will be gone. After coming back from injury, he has done nothing and is 0-8 for the spring. It is kind of looking like the same 5 coming back other than Coste. Lefties, Stairs, Dobbs, and Jenkens. Righties Paulino and Bruntlett.

Bull Pen - Lidge, Durbin, Madson, Eyre, Condrey
As stated above I feel Happ will take one of the 2 remaining spots
I am thinking it will be Koplove or Majewski to take the last spot.