Today the Phillies are the defending National League East champions, just as they have done the last five years.
Tomorrow they will be just one of many teams seeking the 2012 crown.
Can they make it six in a row? That is the question that continues to grip Delaware Valley sports fans.
They will start the season – just as they did last year – without their starting second baseman Chase Utley.
But this year they also will have to contend – for how long no one is really sure – without their signature slugger. Ryan Howard continues to rehab from Achilles surgery. The image is now burned into Phillies fans’ psyche. It is the last thing we saw last October. Howard grounding out to end the series against the Cardinals, and collapsing along with first base line as his Achilles exploded.
Luckily, the Phils still have three of the best starting pitchers in baseball.
Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels are enough to make the Phils’ the favorites again.
But an injury to any of them could be fatal.
So one day before the Phils and Pirates kick things off for real in Pittsburgh, let’s play a little over/under.
I’ll put the line at 95 wins. Do you go over or under.
I’m going under.
They still make the playoffs, they still win the division. But this won’t be a cake-walk.
Not by a long shot.
And should complications delay the return of Howard and Utley, you might want to hedge those bets.
For now, as it does every year, hope springs eternal.
Then there’s Ryan’s hope. At best it appears Howard might return in June, perhaps after the All-Star break.
Bring on the regular season.
Oh, and make sure you pick up a copy of the print edition today to get a full color centerspread post and complete Phillies 2012 schedule.
Comments