Is this Philadelphia Phillies Team Too Old To Win?
Spring training games start Saturday for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Bright House Field is the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
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They may not be like the 1983 team dubbed "The Wheeze Kids."
But the Philadelphia Phillies squad that takes the field Saturday to start a month's worth of spring training games before Opening Day is getting a little grayer around the edges.
These aren't your World Champion Phillies of five years ago.
Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz and Cole Hamels are seasoned veterans now who have gone through the past few years nursing injuries and massaging egos after a season last year that put them out of playoff contention for the first time in a half-dozen years.
Throw in Roy Halliday and Cliff Lee and this roster is really starting to look on the long side of 30.
But don't tell Ryan Howard that. The Big Fella basically has been telling anyone within earshot that the Phils will be Fightin' once again -- and showing the rest of the NL East that they're not dead yet.
Maybe, just maybe the baseball will bounce the right way this year, like over fences or over the plate for lots of strikes.
Maybe, just maybe, Howard and Utley can bounce back from major injuries and show off the form that made them MVP winners and candidates.
Maybe, just maybe, Halliday and Lee will shine as the starter studs they once were, when batters feared to even step into the box against these two great competitors.
Maybe. A lot of maybes.
The Phils even acquired a fellow named Young to play third base.
But ex-Texas Rangers star Michael Young is old too, like 36. Rollins is no spring chicken anymore either.
So this might just be the last chance -- the last stand -- this bunch can make before the Phils go the route of youngsters like new centerfield Ben Revere, outfielder Domonic Brown, Darin Ruf and a whole bullpen full of up-and-comers.
Anyway, like any baseball team, hope springs eternal and spring training offers that hope -- a rebirth -- a new season where the possibilities are endless.
Could another World Series championship be one of those?
It all depends on whether Howard and Utley can play a whole year injury-free, whether Hamels can take charge as the staff ace, whether Rollins can get this party started at the top of the lineup and whether Halliday and Lee can hold up their end of the bargain. And, then, of course, can the bullpen back it all up.
Maybe, just maybe.
David Franklin
2:42 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
"Is this Philadelphia Phillies Team Too Old To Win?"
Yes.
Ground balls, line drives, and fly balls are going to be ricocheting off of all the walkers in the field whenever the Phillies are on defense.
Mike Shortall
11:29 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Not yet
Starship Trooper
12:06 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
To all you naysayers and the bandwagon crowd ....ALL ABOARD .. The resurgence of the Phillies is about to unfold. : WHY ???
-Halliday/Lee/Hamels..still best 1,2,3 rotation in MLB. Halliday IS healthy.
-Bullpen better than last years disaster, Charley uses them often to preserve his rotatation.
-Howard injury is completely healed. Utley is in great shape.
- Bench has been solidified .Howard/Utley/Rollins get rested.
- Mike Young two years ago posted big numbers and was a Gold Glove 3rd baseman not that long ago.
- Charley has option to platoon LF & RF . If combined output gets .260- 80 RBI's they will be fine.
- Chooch has developed into top tier catcher and can call a game like no one else.
- Core of this team knows how to win in the playoffs.
- Analysts of written off this bunch . Predict 83 wins. Lst years rag /tag group had best 2nd half in MLB to salvage an otherwise miserable season.
Prediction: 89 -90 wins and a wildcard birth.
David Curran
12:56 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
I share your enthusiasm Joe, but they are in a hard division. Definitely ready for some baseball though.
james koslosky
3:16 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
they're definitely post season bound. i like there make up.
Richard Weisgrau
4:55 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
I went to my first Phillies game in 1947. I was 5 years old. I watched the Whiz Kids and Wheeze Kids over the years. I watched Charlie's gang sang all those titles. I watched last year's horrible season. I have no idea how they will do this season. I hope for the best, but even if it turns out bad, the Phillies have been my team for 66 years. I guess that is why I don't see the oldest of them as too old to play. Here's hoping.
Carol DiJoseph
6:40 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Staying healthy is a huge key and injuries can happen to anyone anytime so that always remains an dangerous unknown. In the meantime I take some solace in the knowledge that age brings sagacity, and being savvy frequently trumps youth and inexperience. 2012 did end on a hopeful note; enough of a good note to make any fan anxious to see if they can keep it going in 2013.
Harry
12:01 pm on Thursday, February 28, 2013
As long as they stay healthy can't see why they shouldn't be in the running. Their talent level is as good as any.
Starship Trooper
10:45 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
I love what I'm seeing in Clearwater .Quiet Confidence amongst the core players. Rotation is pitching well already.D. Brown coming alive. For what its worth ...The Analysts have been wrong about this team for the last couple of years. They will be wrong again this year thinking their age will ultimatley do them in. Phillies are ranked 16th amongst the 32 ML teams. Take a look at the rosters of those teams from 1-16 and tell me that the analysts have their heads screwed on straight. All of this outside negativity will fuel this teams desire to win. In addition. This is Charley's final year of his contract . The players love playing for Charley and I believe will bust it to insure a successful season.