Full squads report today, though all are in camp but reigning MVP Jimmy Rollins, and he always shows up on the last day. So spring training is in full swing. It's great if you're in Florida or Arizona, but up north it's just a long teaser till the start of the real season. Each year the Phillies have had terrible starts to the season, no matter what their spring training is like. For now, though, all is well with the Phillies and every other team. All are 0-0 and every rainbow has a championship at its end.
Last year the Phillies started the season with six starting pitchers and in no time at all were scraping the minors to fill gaps created by season-ending injuries. As always, the big questions facing the team revolve around pitching. Will Cole Hamels stay healthy? Will Brett Myers fare well in his return to starting? Will Jamie Moyer, at 45 the oldest player in the majors and an invaluable mentor on and off the field, be able to hold up? Will Kyle Kendrick improve on his good rookie year? And what about Adam Eaton? Then there is the bullpen. Will Brad Lidge again be lights out? Will Tom Gordon stay healthy? Will J.C. Romero stay in his comfort zone? Will Ryan Madson step up? Can only hope that the injury bug that ran through the squad last year has gone somewhere else. 41 days till opening day.
