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Anticipation builds as Opening Day approaches

When Cliff Lee was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2009, Phillies fans across the country were completely taken by surprise. This was the guy who posted one of the best postseason records in the history of the game and took us back to the World Series for the second consecutive year.

We traded the best pitcher in baseball for Roy Halladay -- the best pitcher in baseball -- but Lee was just such a great fit for this team and city.

Everyone knows what Halladay accomplished last season in winning the National League Cy Young award, but… we wanted our boy back.

This past offseason was our chance at redemption.

In what seemed the be a two team race between the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, the Phillies made the biggest signing of the offseason when they reacquired Lee for five-years, $120 million.

The city went wild.

With that re-signing, the 2011 season instantly became the most anticipated season in Phillies history. Fans came out in droves, gobbling up 3.3 million tickets by Feb. 25 as well as 70,000 the day they went on sale.

Even with the re-signing of Lee, there were still some questions about this team, the main one being who would replace the recently departed Jayson Werth in right field? There were really only two options: Domonic Brown or Ben Francisco.

Francisco, who was a starter in Cleveland before the Phillies acquired him in a trade in 2009, is a right-handed bat that would fit nicely in the Phillies lefty heavy lineup. Brown, who was just named the fourth best prospect in baseball by MLB Network, struggled in limited time last season and during winter ball this offseason.

While Francisco flourished in the beginning of spring training, Brown continued to struggle, going just 1-16 before fracturing his hand March 5 in a game against the Pirates. Brown will be out for at least four to six weeks, which would likely make Francisco the opening day starter.

This past offseason, the Phillies “kicked the tires” on a possible deal for Rangers’ third baseman Michael Young, but at the time it didn’t seem to be a necessary move. With the announcement of Chase Utley’s patellar tendinitis, maybe the Phillies should start kicking again.

Utley is the best second baseman in the National League when healthy. The problem is, he is rarely 100 percent. Michael Young would give the Phillies another power right-handed bat and someone who could play second, third or shortstop.

Placido Polanco is a fan favorite and possibly the best number two hitter in the major leagues, but Young is no slouch. He is a career .300 hitter and has the ability to drive in 100 runs a year and provide some protection for Ryan Howard in the five-hole.

Surgery seems inevitable at this point, so the Phillies should highly consider a deal that would bring in another veteran who could take over. I hate to say it, because Utley is one of my favorite Phillies of all time, but I think it might be what’s best for the team at this point.

On a lighter note, we do have what could be the best starting rotation ever assembled. It’s truly astounding what GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has been able to accomplish in his tenure with the Phillies. In 2009 it was Lee, in 2010 it was Roy Oswalt and Doc and this offseason, it was Lee again.

The 1971 Orioles pitching staff is the only other staff in history to have four 20-game winners. This rotation could be joining them in a few short months.

There are four legitimate number one starters on this team, all of whom have postseason experience and genuinely like being around each other. There are no egos on this team and that’s why I think they will be so successful together.

Now there are some out there who say the Phillies couldn’t possibly live up to all the hype and they couldn’t possibly have four guys win 20 games. They are getting older, the bullpen stinks, they can’t hit curveballs, and the list goes on and on. Well -- you’re wrong.

The Phillies still have one of the best offenses in baseball and certainly in the National League even with the departure of Werth. Yes, they are a little lefty heavy at times but Francisco would alleviate some of those tensions.

As far as age goes, outside of Raul Ibanez, most of these guys are still in the prime of their careers. The last time I checked, MLB was not the NFL where once you’re on the wrong side of 31 you are considered old. Last year was definitely a down year offensively, and they still won 97 games. Oh yeah – did I forget to mention we got Cliff Lee?

The bullpen is basically the same as it was last year, minus Chad Durbin. Brad Lidge had an incredible second half and I can only expect him to pick up right where he left off. Ryan Madson is the best setup man in the National League and we have a nice veteran core with Jose Contreras and JC Romero.

With the starting rotation being what it is, I don’t think the bullpen will be a real issue anyway. Obviously, the starters aren’t always going to throw complete games, but they are going to throw a fair amount of them.

It’s safe to say that I’ve never been more excited for the start of a Phillies season. And I’m definitely not alone.

Contact Andrew Wiley at communitarian@mail.dccc.edu

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