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In 1855, poet Robert Browning penned the sentiment “Less is more.” In 2012, Phillies’ manager Charlie Manuel may argue against the Englishman as he enters his eighth year at the helm with stars Ryan Howard and Chase Utley on the disabled list.
Last year’s squad claimed the franchise’s fifth-straight National League East title and scored a team-record 102 wins but fell to the eventual World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals in a heartbreaking five-game division series. To reduce the playoff sting, this year’s team must deal with these 12 inquiries.
1. Will Howard be any sort of offensive force upon his return? The 32-year-old has 286 home runs, all of which came without the thought of a rehabbed Achilles tendon on his mind.
2. Is Chase Utley close to retirement? For the sake of the local ladies, I hope not. For lovers of sweet swings, I hope not even more.
3. Will Freddy Galvis prove a decent hitter? Everyone expects solid defense from the rookie second sacker, but hits, especially ones off tough curveballs, keep fans from groaning.
4. Will Jim Thome’s acquisition yield anything more than increased jersey sales? Thome has launched 604 home runs, but at 41, he has begun to look more like Humpty Dumpty than a lusty slugger.
5. Is John Mayberry Jr. destined to be a star? He has the physical tools, but, as Yogi Berra said, 90 percent of the game is half mental.
6. Will the outfield miss Ben Francisco and Raúl Ibáñez? Laynce Nix and Juan Pierre are not enough for you? Here is hoping Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino have career years.
7. Will Vance Worley have a sophomore slump? The Vanimal finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting after going 11-3 with a 3.01 ERA, yet hitters may be eager to tame his repertoire.
8. Does Cole Hamels deserve a contract akin to San Francisco Giant Matt Cain’s $22.5-million-per-year deal? Not according to the Miami Marlins.
9. Will Roy Halladay need to pitch his right arm off again? The Doc logged 484 and 1/3 innings the last two years. More runs mean more rest for the magician.
10. Will Joe Blanton make a solid fifth starter? The better question might be “Could Blanton even strike out Joe Myers?”
11. Will Jonathan Papelbon be a lights-out closer? Familiar with pressure from filling the same role in Boston, the 31-year-old hurler needs to keep the ball low in Citizens Bank Park to avoid becoming a new client for an area psychologist.
12. For how much longer will Manuel manage the team? At 68, he continues to have a brilliant mind. Putting it to other uses could become more probable if the Phils falter.
Bonus: Five certainties
1. Pence will challenge for the batting title in his first full year in South Philly.
2. Cliff Lee will win the Cy Young Award.
3. Jimmy Rollins will continue to be averse to walks.
4. Carlos Ruiz will win the Gold Glove Award, ending Yadier Molina’s four-year run as the league’s best backstop.
5. Halladay will pitch another no-hitter.
Contact Staff Writer Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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