The expectations are high. The excitement is felt. And for the first time since 2007 there is significant concern among this avid fan base.
Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, out. Freddy Galvis and Ty Wiggington, in. Jimmy Rollins is batting third, Hunter Pence in the cleanup spot, and John Mayberry is manning left field.
Its a lineup none of us would have envisioned when the season ended in October against the St. Louis Cardinals in game five of the National League Division Series, but its something we as fans cannot change.
One thing remains imminent. The Phillies still have a high arsenal of pitching, and an above average lineup that gives this ball club a chance year in, and year out.
Timing is running out though. The lineup is aging, Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are another year older, with more pitches and innings wearing on their arms. Cole Hamels is in the final year of his contract, and with Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants just signing a six year $127.5 million dollar contract, the highest ever in the history of baseball for a right handed pitcher, Cole Hamels might demand even more.
Hamels is arguably a better pitcher, has accumulated an almost identical ERA to Cain, and is just one year older (28 years old) bringing up the possibility that if the Philies organization doesn't ink up Hamels to a mega-deal adding more dollars to an already high payroll.....The youngest ace could be gone.
Shane Victorino is in the final year of his contract. With his mixture of prominent play, a five-tool player, Victorino will be demanding big bucks. He himself, could be playing his last year in Phillies pinstripes.
Enough with the negativity.
This team, like it has since 2008 has a fabulous chance to capture a title, filling the cities void and starvation for a championship trophy and another populated parade down Broad Street.
As fans, we can only hope that hoisting a World Series Trophy is the final outcome of the 2012 season. But we all know that gutless, heartbreaking feeling because in fact, every single Philadelphia sports fan has felt it before.
Philadelphia is indeed the city of brotherly love, but sometimes that love can't always be returned and instead, we receive something that our hearts never desire...Disappointment.
The boys of summer are back. We can now spend our summer nights doing what every baseball fan loves: Watch this roster full of talent win ball games at a rapid rate, and even though the regular season is going to be full of highlights, the playoffs is what matter this year because time for another World Series run is running out.
As fans, we must enjoy this ride all the way from April to September, and hopefully cruise all the way through three rounds of playoff baseball in October and capture another World Series Championship that this classy organization and die-hard fan base is starving for. The city of Philadelphia as a whole deserves another gift for being the most loyal fans in sports.
Go Phillies
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