Some Clouds Clearing

The Phillies continued Wednesday night's celebration of the walk-off home run by Jimmy Rollins with a 12-3 pounding of Cleveland Thursday afternoon to sweep the series. The mood surrounding the Phillies-- unlike the weather-- has definitively lightened. Amidst apocalyptic weather-- 96 degrees, rain, lightening and darkness in the middle of the day-- Chase Utley, Placido Polanco and Jayson Werth put on a display of bat thunder. Werth went 3-4, Utley finished 3-3, while Polanco was 4-5.

The offense, which has been so timid for so many weeks, appeared to finally be coming to life, summoned by team captain Rollins' unlikely heroics at the end of a game where he had looked more lost at the plate with each successive at-bat, until the last when it counted most. Everything was coming up figurative roses in front of the home crowd, most of whom poured out instead of being poured on during a lengthy rain delay late in the game.

However, there were dark clouds on the horizon-- well, in addition to the actual ones. First off, the Indians are a dismal last place team that can make any foe appear menacing. Furthermore, Cleveland's Shortstop, Jason Donald, was also 3-3 (HR, 2B). It was a breakout game in the stadium where he probably imagined himself coming into maturity-- only as a Phillie, not as an opposing player. The Phillies traded homegrown Donald (along with a plethora of other stellar prospects) to get Cliff Lee. Little did they know then that Jimmy Rollins would be injured for much of the 2010 season. Fans would have been seeing much more of Donald this year than management could have ever realized while bundling him away with the rest of their seemingly unneeded prospects in 2009.

Irrationally and regrettably, they flushed away Cliff Lee for Phillippe Aumont, a minor leaguer, who is 1-6 with a 7.43 ERA for the Reading Phils and who was just demoted to Clearwater. Aumont has a 10.73 ERA in his last 49 2/3 total innings, having struck out 38 and walked 38. Opponents are hitting .284 off of him.

Meanwhile, his major league counterpart Cliff Lee, who led the Phillies to the 2009 World Series and went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 postseason appearances and 2-0 against the Yankees in the World Series has faired much better. In his latest gem on Wednesday, Lee S.O. 9 over 9 innings, while walking none and allowing only 1 run. His control has been so masterful this season that he has miraculously S.O. 76 batters while walking just 4. You read that correctly. In 87 innings, Lee has walked 4 batters.

In June, Phils' former ace Lee has gone 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA, while their current ace Roy Halladay is 1-3 with a 3.72 ERA.

Halladay is 8-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 2-5 since May 6th this year for the Phils. Lee is impressively 6-3 with a 2.39 ERA for a last place team that is one of baseball's worst.

The thing that hurts the worst is: the Phillies HAD THEM BOTH.

It was said at the time that Seattle would have accepted Blanton, who came cheaper and with more years left on his contract, instead of Lee in the deal that sent Aumont to the Phillies minor league system. What if Lee's 8-6 record and 2.39 ERA were in the Phillies rotation now instead of Joe Blanton's 3-5, 6.53 ERA (10.20 in June)?

The Phillies might look like a contender for the big stage, where Lee shined last year. Instead, they're lucky that-- in spite of weeks of woeful play-- after winning a series against the Yankees and this sweep, they've now won 7 of 10, they're merely 2 1/2 games out and still in the playoff hunt. Still, if the season ended today, the Phils would miss the playoffs by a shave.

It's now a 3-team race in the NL East-- and Atlanta is for real. Former Phillie Billy Wagner, 5-0 with 14 saves and a 1.23 ERA, 43 S.O. in 29 innings has helped secure that. The Phillies passed on Wagner when he was released during the '09 season, despite their desperate need for a closer at the time. Why? Now, they may look to Pedro to clean up the mess that has become the back end of their rotation. Pedro, at 40 years old, is unlikely to shine, let alone save the day.

Cliff Lee is a stud. There should have been no doubt he would pick up in 2010 where he left off in 2009. If the Phillies had him now, they would not only be well ahead in first place, but would pretty much have the NL wrapped up already. Fans and baseball minds are starting to understand why Curt Schilling called the move, "The stupidest thing the Phillies have ever done." When the Phillies traded Lee, Shane Victorino and I were shocked and dismayed-- and vocal about it [See my 12.15.09 post: Phillies' Colossal, Irrevocable Error.]

Still, as a fan, one hopes for the best: that the Mets fade (as they have done better than anyone), that Atlanta's roller-coaster ascension continues its current balancing trend (they were just swept by the ChiSox) and that Rollins' 9th inning heroics Wednesday were in fact the wake-up call they presently appear to be in light of today's series sweep. The Phillies have 17 games left in the 1st half of the season. 10 of those games will be against first place teams. July 5th-7th they host the Atlanta Braves in a series that may decide who leads the division heading into the All-Star break. The Phils must stay loose, remain focused and build on their momentum.

Where Are We Now?

While the baseball world is still abuzz with the amazing accomplishment of the Phillies' ace pitcher, a disconcerting trend in the team's batters box is certainly keeping hitting coach Milt Thompson and his manager Charlie Manuel up at night.

"I used to think I got to the park early," Phillies hitting coach Milt Thompson said of Halladay this spring. "But I get here at 6:15 [a.m.], and he's already on his second shirt."

Milt might be out-sweating Halladay pretty soon if the Phils don't start hitting. In 6 out of their last 8 games the Phils have NO earned runs-- even the lone run they mustered in Hallday's perfect game, 1-0 win was unearned.

They are now 4 wins and 8 losses in their last 12 games and have scored a sum of 5 runs in those 8 losses, a staggering 1.6 runs per game for one of the most menacing lineups in baseball!

Granted, injuries to Carlos Ruiz, Jimmy Rollins, Placido Polanco and even Chase Utley's flu haven't helped, but things have gotten totally out-of-hand. Even Charlie Manuel's closed door meeting last week didn't seem to make a dent in the armor of offensive futility.

The Phillies knew they'd be reliant on hitting this year, even before injuries to key pitchers Joe Blanton, J.C. Romero, J.A. Happ, Brad Lidge and Ryan Madson.

The exciting success of Roy Halladay thusfar and the reassuring commitment to Ryan Howard for the next several years shouldn't cloud the goal: to win baseball games and pennants.

Are we in the next era of team greatness or the post-achievement chapter of individual accomplishments?

Is this season about winning or about the Phils twin towers of 'H' power: Halladay chasing the Cy Young and Howard going for (literal) gold?

What made the Phillies so endearing and so near to our hearts was the nucleus of home-grown organization guys making good, culminating into a surprisingly talented and capable core: Rollins, Hamels, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Ruiz, Madson, Myers and Shane Victorino (save 36 games) had only ever played major league ball with the Phils. These guys jelled and emerged at the same time to form a fierce new Phillies attitude of winning and enthusiastic competitive edge.

Now, a little older and with nothing left to prove, they have to dig deep and find motivation once again.

This time 2 years ago, from May 25th-30th, the 2008 Phils were on a 5-game winning streak. That streak concluded with a 12-3 pounding of Florida and included a 20-5 stomping of Colorado, who had knocked them out of the playoffs the year before. That Phillies team scored 60 runs in those 5 games (12 per game) and won 12 of 14 during this stretch exactly 2 years ago. They went on to win the World Series, ending the worst drought among professional sports cities. I was there when they clinched the title. It felt like fate, like the culmination of enthusiastic competition blended beautifully with talent. It was the transformation of heartache and losing into something wonderful, totally fresh and new.

The 2010 Phillies, some richer and some new, have 113 games to define themselves and their season. Is this team hungry for more glory or an echo in the tailspin of the glory days?

3 Pitchers, 1 Night

3 Starting pitchers took the mound for their respective teams in 3 separate MLB games Friday and the results may be telling about the future of the Phillies' season:

1) Barry Zito for S.F., 2) Cliff Lee for Seattle and 3) Kyle Kendrick for the Phillies.

1) Stacked Deck:

Barry Zito is off to the best start of his career and with Friday's 8 inning, 2 run win over Colorado improved to 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA. What could that possibly mean to the Phillies, who were playing nearly 3,000 miles away in a different time zone? What Zito means for S.F., if he can maintain anything resembling this pace, is presently the premiere rotation in the NL with Lincecum (2008 & 2009 CY Young, 4-0, 1.27), Cain (1-1, 2.84), Jonathan Sanchez (2-1, 1.85) and Zito (4-0, 1.53). That spells trouble for the competition, especially in a postseason series, where no 5th starter is needed.

2) Remember Me?

Cliff Lee, the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner, struck out 8, walked none, went to a three-ball count just twice in 25 batters and threw a first-pitch strike 19 times in his season debut for Seattle. The Phillies who chose to look over their shoulder at their former comrade got a glimpse of the professionalism and control they gave away for a few 2nd-run prospects, a move former Phil and future Hall-of-Famer Curt Schilling called, "The stupidest thing the Phillies have ever done." If the playoffs started today, instead of Halladay-Lee, which they had in their hands, the Phillies rotation would be: Halladay (5-1, 1.47), followed by... Cole Hamels (2-2, 5.28)... ? In short, Friday's season debut was a reminder to Philly fans how much gold the Phils flushed away in Clifton Phifer Lee, last year's postseason superstar and World Series Yankee killer. Remember, whether the Phils' front office wants you to or not, Lee's '09 postseason performance: 5 games, 2 complete, 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA, 33 S.O. and 6 BB.

3) The Case of the Wrong Kyle:

Kyle Kendrick was slaughtered by the Mets Friday for 4 runs in 5 innings ballooning his ERA to 7.61. Curiously, the Phils chose to turn back the clock in re-employing Kendrick as a starter after pulling the plug on him late in '08 and banishing him to the minors for the '09 season. Rather, they could be looking to the future with rising star Kyle Drabek, who they traded this off-season. Drabek dazzled with 5 2/3 innings of scoreless work in his latest minor league start and did not allow a hit until the 4th inning. Drabek struck out 7 and allowed 2 hits to pick up his 3rd win this year. Kyle Kendrick has none.

note: Madson's Postgame Outburst Costly

Madson injured the toe after he blew a save Wednesday in San Francisco. He said he slipped walking down a flight of stairs leading from the dugout to the clubhouse. He then kicked a metal folding chair. He said he felt like he stubbed his toe, but realized it was worse when he woke up Thursday morning and had difficulty walking.

Phillies Eye 3rd Straight World Series

These are the great years to be a Phillies' fan, the years that make up for so much heartache, for so many low points we and our fathers and their fathers suffered through for 100 + years of predominate futility.

The Phils have every reason to feel confident and Phils' fans can rest assured that they have a competitive team, yet again, to begin the 2010 season. Let's take a brief look at the roster and some of its bylines as spring training commences:

Roy Halladay- Everyone expects him to be the 2nd coming of Sandy Koufax for the Phils. Why is that? Can he-- or anyone-- really live up to the expectations? The answer is "yes." If he can stay healthy-- and at his immodest age it is a legitimate "if"-- Halladay's shift to the NL could boost his already glowing resume to CY Young levels (after all, he won the award in the AL in '03, finished 2nd in voting for it in '08-- to winner Cliff Lee-- and 5th in '09).

There is no question the Phillies overpaid to get him (having depleted their entire minor league system and discarded Ace and playoff MVP Cliff Lee, who analysts and fans alike equate to Roy). However, the question of whether Halladay will excell in a Phils uniform is answerable as resoundingly. In 2009 he was named #7 on the Sporting News' list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball (behind teammate Utley #6, but ahead of Howard #11) by a panel of 100 baseball people, many of them Hall of Fame members. His ability to win with a losing team can be likened to Steve Carlton's tenure with the Phils. Halladay finished 17-10 for the 75-87 Blue Jays, giving him a career win percentage of .660, which ranks 18th all-time. The Phils and their fans can expect Roy Halladay to shine big today, despite the shadow his acquisition is guaranteed to cause their future.

Chase Utley-- Perennially priceless to his team, Utley is always one injury away from an MVP award. The question is: "Will he be healthy come October?" The answer may finally be "yes" since the Phils beefed up their bench with some infield assistance to buffer Utley, among others.

Jayson Werth-- In his last year with the Phils, Werth can be expected to showoff for the big contract heading into 2011. Werth also, as always, leads the injury-likely list, the story of his career. When healthy, he can pound it and grow hair with the best of them.

Ryan Howard-- The Yankees threw him a big curveball and shelved him for the World Series. Will he learn from that crushing blow? With Charlie Manuel and Ryan Howard shedding pounds like it was bathing suit season, will they team up to make a few extra bucks advertising for Weight Watchers?

Raul Ibanez-- He will turn 38 this year. His productivity in the 2nd half of the season was not Major League worthy. In the 1st half of '09, he hit .309 with 22 HRs and 60 RBI. During the 2nd half, he batted .232 with 12 HRs and 33 RBI. Look for that trend to continue. While Ibanez may have a quick sprint out of the shoot, his overall numbers will continue to decline with age, which may mean we will see a lot of Dominic Brown, the Phils lone Minor League stud, last man standing in their depleted farm system.

Plácido Polanco-- That big lifetime batting average and low strikeout ratio could sweeten up the top of the Phils' batting order. Alternatively, Polanco's declining numbers of late could be an indication that the 35 year-old is slowing down. Time will tell on both accounts. It's a long season. 2 things are certain: 1) Polanco is a tremendous fielder, who will allow the club to not miss the sure footed Feliz at 3rd, which is saying a lot and 2) LF Raul Ibanez is thrilled to have a teammate to reminisce with about the good old days!

Cole Hamels-- Hamels on Philly fans: "40% Passionate die-hards, 60% crazy lunatics and fair-weather fans." Hamels and Manuel's reliance on him in the '09 playoffs are major contributors to the fact the Phils seek to regain, rather than retain, World Series Champion status in 2010. Hamles has new pitches, but does he have a new work ethic? Truth is that teams have caught up to his fastball, which is more disconcerting than any status of his pitch array. His velocity and control may return, but it will be hard to regain that newbie status that brought out his best in '07-'08, when he went 29-15. Still, it shouldn't be hard to better '09's startling 10-11 W-L, 4.32 ERA. In 193 innings, opponents hit 206 hits off of him. Facing him was less like opposing a menacing dominator and more like taking batting practice. Hamels is no Cliff Lee, but he has the potential to prove he's more than a one-hit wonder. He has risen and fallen. This juncture is where the great ones separate themselves with big-time performance. This pivotal crossroads is the crucial year in Hamels' career.

Over Their Shoulder

The competition? The NL East boasts the improved Braves, whose potential is ever-great as their arms. Since their arms are young and gaining ground, they should make a run-- for the wild card. The Marlins are young and good, but not great. The Mets are still in the major leagues-- for now, while Washington has one foot out already.

The rest of the NL? St. Louis, S.F. and Colorado all have true potential to win the NL. St. Louis and S.F. still boast the league's best 1-2 starting pitching punch. Colorado played the Phils tougher than the 1 win they got against the fightin' in the '09 playoffs. The Dodgers faded this offseason, due to the McCourt's (married couple owners) divorce detouring their funds.

All this adds up to a 4-team race for the NL World Series birth with the Phils the heavy favorites, due to the sum of their parts and that intangible: experience. After all, they've won the National League 2 years running, compiling a postseason record of 14-4 against the rest of the NL. That's dominance. There's no reason why it shouldn't continue. S.F. and Colorado are for real, however, and season-ending injury is that 'X' factor the Phils have managed to dodge. The bullpen is a giant question mark and the starting pitching isn't the league's best. The hitting, though, is. It has been the Phils' staple throughout this awesome run. That core is intact-- for one more year. Consequently, the present looks bright and another title run begins.

Phillies' Colossal, Irrevocable Error

Kyle Drabek, the Phillies "untouchable" future ace, major league ready and dazzling to all baseball experts, has been cast off. Cliff Lee, the Phillies 2009 postseason hero, has been permanently discharged.

"It's sad to see him go. A guy who wins 5 games for you in the postseason, you don't want to see him go," said Shane Victorino.

In today's 'live for today, get fired tomorrow' coaching & managerial sports climate, it's understandable Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. would sacrifice everything the Phillies weren't willing to give up to get Cliff Lee at mid season, since he made it perfectly clear then-- and even more clear now-- that Halladay is the player he has pinned his Championship hopes on.

It is exciting to add Halladay, one of the best pitchers in baseball today, to the top of our rotation.

However, when you take a step back from the excitement, once the smoke clears, Keith Law of ESPN is right (for once): the Phillies got robbed-- and, in classic Phillies fashion, they did it to themselves.

They had Cliff Lee, they had acquired him a few short months ago for less than anyone thought they could. It appeared that Amaro Jr. was picking up where Pat Gillick left off, making smart moves to strengthen the Phillies. Now, he went and undid all that.

In trading away 2nd tier prospects for Lee, then trading Lee + top prospects for Halladay + a couple low end prospects who aren't even worth mention by name, the Phillies essentially sold their entire future and their current best starting pitcher for... another team's best starting pitcher. It was 1 for 1 + the Phils future, the equivalent of trading one star child for another + all future children.

Philadelphia POLL:

Who would you rather have, Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee?
Roy Halladay
	8697 (52.2%)
Cliff Lee
	7951 (47.8%)
Total votes = 16648 What the Phillies really did was trade: 2008 Cy Young Cliff Lee, who just went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 postseason appearances and 2-0 against the Yankees in the World Series + future all-star ace Kyle Drabek, the prize of their farm system, their "untouchable" player + future all-star outfielder Michael Taylor + future and present major leaguers Lou Marson (catcher), Carlos Carrasco (pitcher), Jason Donald (pitcher), Jason Knapp (pitcher) and Travis d'Arnaud (catcher). What they got was a 2003 Cy Young winner who is debatably better than Cliff Lee. If you look at the [above] poll, over 16,500 people are virtually split when appraising who is better. The Phils spent an additional 7 players getting him. The Phils loss in this deal is titanic in acquiring Halladay, who ESPN says is "slightly better" than Lee. It is an epic loss for Phillies' fans, who are finally enjoying a winning era, one of the precious few in team history. As Victorino pointed out in his ESPN interview, this is a team with great chemistry, a team that had embraced Lee as one of their own, a team that could've beaten the Yankees any given week, but fell 2 games short of another title. There is no question the price wasn't worth this trade. They had Lee, a top pitcher and ace. What they now have is Halladay, a top pitcher and ace. What they gave up was their future-- and we're not talking distant future. Taylor, Drabek and others are major-league ready. They will be beating the Phillies very soon at the major league level. Surrendering Drabek will haunt the Phillies as he ascends to greatness over the next 2 years. He shined in the Futures Game this past season and is a future Cy Young. He is major league ready now (see my 8.1.09 post: lee nearly perfect in debut projected 2010 rotation of 1) cole hamels 2) cliff lee 3) joe blanton 4) ja happ 5) kyle drabek). The Phillies signed their own death warrant when they made this trade, appearing desperate when they held all the cards. They just won the NL twice in a row. Now was not the time to hit the panic button, sell the farm and swap top pitchers by surrendering the guy who contributed as well as Halladay could have. Lee was 2-0 in the World Series in 2 games, you can't beat that. Even if Halladay is better next year, the price was so high you'd have to be Amaro Jr. to even understand it. This is a sad day for Phillies' fans. NOT INCLUDING (DETAILED ABOVE) PLAYERS THEY TRADED TO GET LEE 4 MONTHS AGO: PHILLIES GET … RHP Roy Halladay (from Toronto) *RHP Phillippe Aumont (from Seattle) *OF Tyson Gillies (from Seattle) *RHP Juan Ramirez (from Seattle) $6 million cash (from Toronto) MARINERS GET … LHP Cliff Lee (from Philadelphia) BLUE JAYS GET … *C Travis d'Arnaud (from Philadelphia) *RHP Kyle Drabek (from Philadelphia) *1B/3B Brett Wallace (from Oakland) A'S GET … *OF Michael Taylor (from Philadelphia via Toronto) * -- minor leaguer

Phils' Holiday Starts with Halladay

Ruben Amaro Jr. wanted only one thing this holiday season, he's wanted it since the summer and he finally got it: Roy Halladay, who just arrived in Philadelphia in preparation for moving day.

Yesterday, there was talk that the Phillies offered Rookie of the Year runner-up JA Happ (who in '09 replaced Pat Burrell as the player the front office most desperately wants to shed) and #1 prospect Dominic Brown for Halladay. Today, they've thrown in staff ace Cliff Lee, who is headed to Seattle as part of a 3-team blockbuster mega-deal. Apparently, Lee dazzling the world on baseball's biggest stage in October wasn't enough to satisfy the Phils' Halladay-hungry cravings. The hunt for Roy was on, once again, and the Phils can finally rest, because they got the biggest holiday gift of all, their dream player.

One inspiration for the trade was Lee's refusal to receive anything less than top-dollar when his contract expires at the end this coming season. Contrastingly, Halladay has said he would not only wave his trade clause to join the championship contending Phils, but would a agree to a long term contract extension and be paid for less than market value in order to compete for a ring.

Halladay and the Phils are presently in Philadelphia preparing a deal that would start after the coming season in which the Phils would pay Halladay $60 million for 3 years: 2011-2013. While that sounds like a whopper, and it is, compare it with Santana or Sabathia, who are each paid $23 million per year, a figure Halladay is easily worth on the open market. Lee seeks a similar deal at the end of 2010 and the Phils don't want to pay it. Meanwhile, Toronto will send the Phils cash with Halladay to help offset his salary this coming season.

Halladay is right-handed, which will give the Phillies balance in the rotation, and he has as good a reputation as any starter in baseball. Still, he is injury-prone, something Cliff Lee is not. He's also a year older than Lee. Lee gave the Phillies all they could hope for last season, when they acquired him at mid-season. However, he saved best for last, posting a record of 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 5 postseason appearances and went 2-0 in the World Series.

All that is said and done, because Lee-- in his brief stint of a few memorable months as a Phillie-- is now team history.

Halladay, 32, is 148-76 lifetime with a 3.43 ERA. It remains to be announced what else the Phillies gave up (it's rumored stud minor league outfielder Michael Taylor, a top prospect) or acquired in the deal.

Phils Swap Aces

Gone today Here tomorrow

	Halladay	Lee*
W-L	17-10	14-13
ERA	2.79	3.22
K	208	181
Opp BA	.256	.272
CG	9	6
*7-4, 3.39 ERA with Phillies

Polanco and Phils Renew Vows

[Picture: GM Amaro Jr. and old/new Phillie Polanco laugh it up.]

At the same time that the 76ers reacquired Allen Iverson after exactly 3 years of separation, the Phillies again teamed with Placido Polanco after precisely 4 1/2 years apart.

Former 76ers coach Larry Brown said of A.I., "I'm thrilled... I don't think there's any athlete in Philly more loved than him." Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't go quite that far in embracing Polanco as his new 3rd baseman (supplanting Pedro Feliz): "He's not only a tremendous professional and a championship-type player, but he's a championship-type person."

It's unclear (other than $, which the Phils claim to have more of to spend) why they didn't sign Chone Figgins (114 runs, .298 Ave., .395 On Base Percentage), the superstar 3rd baseman on the market who just left Anaheim for Seattle to the tune of 4 years, $36 million. Figgins is soaring at age 31, while Polanco is slowing at 34, coming off the least productive complete season of his career (.285 Ave.).

Polanco is clearly a better choice than the underwhelming Mark DeRosa, who the Phils were seriously considering and probably a wiser pick than Adrian Beltre (48 HR, 121 RBI, .334 in '04), who-- despite his significant power-- S.O. 74 times to 19 walks in '09, when his numbers dipped to a new low at 8 HRs and 44 RBIs. Polanco also offers a better S.O.-BB ratio than Feliz, who the Phils let go, but hasn't played 3rd base since 2002, something Feliz did as well as anyone in the league-- not to mention the camaraderie he earned while winning the World Series with his Philly teammates.

In his statement, Amaro Jr. said of acquiring Polanco: "He changes the structure of the lineup."

Does that mean they might move sacred Rollins off the leadoff spot, which has often enabled his success in short stints, but which the team has refused to consider long term?

Victorino (.292, .358 OBP) is an obvious leadoff man, Rollins (.250, .296 OBP, 70 S.O.) not so much. The Phillies would be better served to bump Rollins to the 7 slot, but faithful Charlie probably will not do that to his team captain-- unless maybe Rollins privately acquiesces to his manager in hopes of benefitting the team and winning another ring.

How potent would this lineup look (provided Polanco returns to form and potential in '10)?:

1) Victorino
2) Polanco (618 at-bats, just 46 S.O. in '09, lifetime .303 Ave., .348 OBP)
3) Utley
4) Howard
5) Werth
6) Ibanez
7) Rollins
8) Ruiz

Polanco, for his part, is saying all the right things:

"Whatever Charlie [Manuel] wants me to do, I'd be more than happy to do it. I just know everyone here plays to win. Chase, Victorino, Rollins, Howard, everybody."

However, he also said, "It seems like you could flip this lineup around and it would still be good, you know?" Hopefully, Rollins hears that as a message to him, which it surely wasn't, but should be.

Utley might be thinking, 'I beat this guy out for the 2nd base job in 2005 (when the 2 began the year platooning), I make a couple costly errors in the playoffs and now he's back?!'

Just kidding. Manuel's love for Utley is often professed, highly warranted and well testified. Although, as a competitive mental note, Utley's defense might be inspired by the man who he had to win a big league position from playing one base over in the infield all season. After all, Polanco is a 2-time Gold Glove winner at 2nd ('07 & '09), one of the only things Chase has never accomplished.

[Picture: You can't win 'em all. Utley gets licked by his dog.]

Polanco had nothing but love for the team that cast him out and the teammates who went on to win it all in his absence:

"The Phillies were always my first choice," he said Thursday. "I played here, I know most of the guys here, I know the city. And they have a pretty good team that's committed to win. I thank all of the other teams that expressed interest in me, but the Phillies were always my first choice."

"I always wanted to be here, I never wanted to leave," Polanco said Thursday. "One of the reasons I wanted to come back is because it's pretty obvious the team is committed to winning. And I want to win. That's it. They asked me if I was willing to play another position and I was like, 'Sure.' I can play third base. I played in college, in St. Louis and I also played some third here. I feel pretty confident about it."

Time will tell.