Thursday, April 5, 2012

Opening Day preview

April 5, 2012
faniq.com

It's finally here. Opening day.

The Phillies, who have consistently been one of the best teams in baseball for the past five years, will begin a 2012 campaign that is already filled with many questions.


How badly will they miss Chase Utley and Ryan Howard? When will they both be back? When they are, will they even be that helpful? Can the team get Cole Hamels an extension before the end of the season? Is this team too old now? Are they still the best team in the NL East? Do they have one more World Series run left?

These answers will not be answered until further into the season, but today marks the point were we all start to figure them out.

Without question, the Phillies are starting the season banged up already. The club is missing two players who have proven to be key parts to their lineup over the past few years, and they have no idea when they will be ready to play again.

This team is getting older, and the other teams in the division are getting better.

However, there are still a few things that are going in the Phillies favor, as they start off the 2012 season.

Even though they are an ace short now, the Phils still have one of the best rotations in baseball with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Vance Worley, and Joe Blanton.

Plus, there is Kyle Kendrick, who showed a lot of improvement last year as a starter and a spot reliever. There is no reason to think that Kendrick will not continue his improvement.

The bullpen is stronger this year, with a new and proven closer in Jonathan Papelbon and a solid set up man in Chad Qualls.

Joe Savery, who is on an opening day roster for the first time in this career, is no slouch either. Expect him to pitch well in relief over the course of the season.

As far as hitting goes, Hunter Pence is still a very strong hitter in the lineup, Shane Victorino has the ability to hit .300 if he can stay consistent, and Placido Polanco can as well as long as he can stay healthy.

John Mayberry Jr. will be given the chance to be the everyday leftfielder, but remember that Juan Pierre is there to fill in if things do not immediately go well.

Mayberry will also be able to handle first base along with Ty Wigginton and Jim Thome, until Howard gets back from injury.

Finally, prospect Freddy Galvis will be making his major league debut earlier than expected, and it will not be at shortstop either. Galvis will be filling in at second until Utley is healthy again.

The 2012 Phillies are still a very talented baseball team, and still have what it takes to get back to postseason.

Philadelphia's road to October starts today in Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia Phillies (0-0) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (0-0)
1:35 PM at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA.

Probable Starters

PHI: Roy Halladay (2011: 19-6, 2.35 ERA, 233.2 IP)
- Hallady will be making his 10th straight opening day start.

PIT: Erik Bedard (2011: 5-9, 3.62 ERA, 129.1 IP)
- Making his first opening day start since 2008 (w/SEA), making NL debut.

Lineups

Philadelphia Phillies
     1. Shane Victorino CF
     2. Placido Polanco 3B
     3. Jimmy Rollins SS
     4. Hunter Pence RF
     5. Ty Wigginton 1B
     6. John Mayberry Jr. LF
     7. Carlos Ruiz C
     8. Freddy Galvis 2B
     9. Roy Halladay P

Pittsburgh Pirates
     1. Jose Tabata RF
     2. Alex Presely LF
     3. Andrew McCutchen CF
     4. Neil Walker 2B
     5. Garrett Jones 1B
     6. Pedro Alvarez 3B
     7. Clint Barmes SS
     8. Rod Barajas C
     9. Erik Bedard P






No comments:

Post a Comment