The 2010 Philadelphia Phillies: The Team To Beat, Again.

Another year and the end to another Spring Training. So, what’s in store for the Fightin’ Phils this year? Well, Phils fans hope it’s a fourth consecutive division title for the first time in franchise history as well as a third consecutive trip to the World Series. While the team does look very well equipped to get there, there are definitely a few areas of concern.

If the Phillies are going to make another run at the World Series it all boils down to that age-old problem for just about every team: Pitching. The bullpen appears to be a mess already. The additions of veterans Danys Baez and Jose Contreras appear to be nice ones but who really know what these two will bring to the table? Baez has had a sensational Spring Training thus far, posting a 0.77 E.R.A. in 11.2 innings while Contreras has not been good at all, sporting a not-so-fancy 9.00 E.R.A. in 12 innings pitched.

Brad Lidge will miss at least the first two weeks of the season due to injury and in his place as closer to start the season is Ryan Madson. In 2009 Madson blew six saves in sixteen chances, not exactly the picture of confidence. J.C. Romero, who has basically not pitched since 2008 after spending the majority of ’09 either on the disabled list or suspended for testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, is once again starting the season injured and stands to miss even more time.

As for the starters, sure Roy Halladay is a great addition to the club. While it would have been great to keep Cliff Lee and still add Halladay, it just was not to be and between the two, Halladay is the better pitcher. With that said however, after Halladay in the rotation, the Phils have four huge question marks.

Cole Hamels is, at least as far as the starting pitching goes, the key to the season for the Phils. If he comes out and posts a year similar to his 2008 season (14 – 10, 3.09 E.R.A., 227.1 innings pitched), a year which ended with him nabbing the NLCS and World Series MVP awards, it stands to reason that the rotation will look very solid. If he looks more like the disaster he was in 2009 (10 – 11, 4.32 E.R.A. in 193.2 innings pitched) it means that the Phils have no real number two starter.

Similar question marks are attached to J.A. Happ as he is still not a proven starter in the big leagues. It is so often that guys who have sensational rookie seasons like Happ did in ’09 (12 – 4, 2.93 E.R.A., 166.0 innings pitched) come back to reality in their sophomore year. Jamie Moyer is one hundred and twelve years old. Well, maybe not quite that old, but he’s close at forty-seven and is coming off of a horrible season. Kyle Kendrick looked excellent in the Spring, but who knows if he can keep it up all season long, or at least while he fills in for the already injured and out three to six weeks Joe Blanton.

Again, the key is Hamels. If he pitches effectively, it makes the one and two spots in the rotation extremely strong. If he is as bad as he was last year however, it means that the Phils may have to rely on unproven commodities like Happ or Kendrick as their number two starters, which is never a good sign for a contending club like Philadelphia.

All in all though, the 2010 Phillies look very strong. They will score runs, there is no question at all about that. The bench is much stronger with a healthy Greg Dobbs and the addition of Ross Gload. Placido Polanco brings so much to the table as the number two hitter and moving Shane Victorino to the seven spot in the order breathes some much needed life into the bottom of the order. If the pitching holds up, and it very well may, the Phillies may very well find themselves back in the driver’s seat in the National League on their way to a third consecutive World Series appearance.