The Phillies officially begin their second-straight National League-title defense when pitchers and catchers start practicing Thursday.
Since its only Wednesday it’s the perfect time to examine the position battles (or lack thereof) that could be playing out over the next six weeks.
Most of the rotation, bullpen and bench positions are set but some openings could exist.
Who could close until Brad Lidge returns and could that guy be the seventh reliever?
Who is going to round out the bench?
Who could be the fifth starter?
Let’s start with the Lidge situation. It looks unlikely that Lidge will be ready to pitch come opening day and who knows how effective he could be once he actually gets out on the mound.
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The likely candidate to fill in would be for newly acquired righty Danys Baez. The 32-year-old already has 114 saves under his belt so he knows what it takes to finish games.
Don’t count on Ryan Madson closing this season. He was terrible in that role last season blowing six of 16 chances and those mishaps could have thrown off his usual set-up routine.
Another closing candidate, lefty JC Romero, could also possibly miss Opening Day. So, there could be an opening for a dark horse candidate to possibly close in Lidge’s absence.
Look for newly acquired righty Jose Contreras to possibly enter the conversation.
The 38-year-old Cuban has almost exclusively started but brings reliever’s stuff to the Phils. He throws hard and even looked good in brief relief stints over his career posting a 3.90 ERA and 2-1 record with 28 strikeouts in 27.1 innings in 16 relief appearances.
Also, an unproven hurler like lefty Sergio Escalona (who has 18 minor league saves) could possibly step in. Escalona along with other young lefties Mike Zagurski and Antonio Bastardo should also be battling it out for the final spot in the bullpen -- possibly serving as left-handed specialists.
The bench, unlike the pen, is mostly set with veterans like catcher Brian Schneider, infielders Juan Castro and Greg Dobbs and outfielders Ben Francisco and Ross Gload.
Schneider, Castro and Gload should be an upgrade over Paul Bako, Eric Bruntlett and Matt Stairs.
But, if anyone of the vets gets injured or really under performs young outfielders Dominic Brown or John Mayberry could get the call to step up.
The most intriguing battle in Clearwater, though, remains the fight to be the fifth starter.
Four-fifths of the starting rotation is set with new ace Roy Halladay old ace Cole Hamels, Joe Blanton and J.A. Happ.
The battle for the fifth spot should be between 47-year-old Jamie Moyer, coming off surgeries on his knee and for a sports hernia, and Kyle Kendrick.
The job is likely Moyer’s to lose despite his age and recent injuries. The veteran lefty could be valuable in the rotation especially if he pitches between righties Blanton and Halladay.
Kendrick, though, likes to keep the ball on the ground -- a necessity in Citizens Bank Park. He pitched well in the minors last season and would want to prove that his 2007 success really was no fluke.
Also, another candidate could step up including young hurler Andrew Carpenter or another Ruben Amaro discovery in the vein of Pedro Martinez of Rodrigo Lopez.
Come April these questions should be settled. In the meantime let’s just hope that we will all be out from under the snow by the time the boys of summer arrive.
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