The familiar smell of hot dogs and peanuts will again succumb the Phillies’ phaithful as they make their way through the turnstiles of Citizens Bank Park for Opening Day 2005 when the Phightin Phils take on the Washington Nationals.
Coming into the 2005 season, the Phillies look to improve on last years 86-76 mark under the reigns of new laid back skipper Charlie Manuel. From the moment they signed Jim Thome and hired the former Cleveland Indians manager as a special advisor, it was apparent Larry Bowa’s job was his for the taking.
Joining Manuels staff as first base coach is Mark Bombard, the former manager of the triple-a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons; Rich Dubee, Bombards pitching coach at Scranton, is taking the same position with the big club and Bill Dancy, long time coach and manager in the Phillies minor league system assumes the responsibility of third base coach.
Returning to the staff from last season are Milt Thompson, who will assume the position of hitting coach, Ramon Henderson as bullpen coach, Gary Varsho as bench coach and Mick Billmeyer as catching instructor.
The Phillies were very quiet this past off-season. The most notable moves they made were acquiring two former New York Yankees. They signed starting pitcher Jon Lieber and traded for aging centerfielder Kenny Lofton. The organization also signed Terry Adams to his second tour of duty and purchased the contract of Jose Offerman from triple-a Scranton.
Gone are Eric Milton to the Reds, Kevin Millwood to the Indians, Roberto Hernandez to the Mets and Todd Jones to the Marlins.
Jim Thome returns for his third season as the Phillies anchor. The biggest thing that the first baseman can do is stay healthy and produce. But if he goes down, hard-hitting prospect Ryan Howard will be waiting in the wings at Scranton. Expect him to be called up for interleague play and start in place of Thome, who will assume the designated hitters spot.
Chase Utley came into Spring Training as a lock for second base. That was until Placido Polanco followed the advise of his, now former, agent and accepted arbitration; a move that surprised the Phillies, who offered in an attempt to receive a draft pick as compensation. Manuel is expected to essentially platoon the pair.
A fragile David Bell, who was sidelined in the beginning of Spring Training with a bum back, returns to play third base this season if he can stay healthy, Polanco acts an expensive insurance policy if Bell does not hold up.
Jimmy Rollins returns to shortstop and leadoff position. The switch-hitter begins his fifth year and has proved that he would be the complete player that the Phillies had hoped he would become. Rollins is looking for a contract extension that will pay him as much as the players he is often compared to, Boston’s Edgar Renteria and Anaheim's Orlando Cabrera.
Two of the biggest concerns in the outfield are left and center. Pat Burrell needs to regain his rookie form at the plate and hitting coach Milt Thompson believes he can help the left fielder get back on the right track. The position of centerfield has been a problem spot for a while now since once prized prospect Marlon Byrd began to slump. In the past the Phillies have relied on that of Jason Michaels and a favorite of the Phillies ownership, Doug Glanville. Kenny Lofton will patrol center for his former manager in Cleveland.
Byrd had a great spring and was trying to send the Phillies a message that he belonged but the last sppt on the team was won by Offerman. Byrd was sent down to Scranton where he will play everyday. With prospect Michael Bourne skipping Single-A Clearwater and going right to Double-A Reading, Byrds future in the Phillies organization is in question.
Bobby Abreu rounds out the outfield returning to right field and looks to put on the same performance that won him a spot on last season’s All-Star team.
Mike Lieberthal returns to duty as starting catcher with Todd Pratt as his backup. Pratt will also occasionally give Thome a rest at first. AJ Hinch and Carlos Ruiz are with Triple-A Scranton lying in wait in case anything happens to Lieberthal.
Gone are supposed staff ace Millwood and his inflated stomach and Milton and in are Lieber and Cory Lidle to join Randy Wolf, Vicente Padilla and Brett Myers in the starting rotation. The ground ball throwing Lieber went 14-8 with a 4.33 ERA last season in the Bronx. Lidle joined the Phillies in the middle of the 2004 season and he was shaky at beginning but proved his worth towards the end of the season.
The Phillies are hoping that Wolf and Padilla can stay healthy, although Padilla will open the season on the 15 day disabled list. Rookie phenom Gavin Floyd will join the rotation in his place and wet the appetites of Phillies fans around the world.
The Phillies are also hoping that Myers can get his act together and become the pitcher that the organization hoped he would become when they drafted him.
Aaron Fultz and Terry Adams join a returning Rheal Cormier, Ryan Madson, Tim Worrell and closer Billy Wagner to solidify an impressive bullpen. Fultz joins the team after playing the 2004 season in Minnesota and Adams was an integral part of the World Champion Boston Red Sox. A healthy Wagner is the major key to success for the Phillies this season.
The bench remains a strong area and only improves with the signing of Offerman, who signed a minor-league contract in the off-season and had his contract purchased by the Phillies on Friday. He batted .300 (14-for-47) with six RBIs this spring.
Offerman joins Michaels, Polanco and Tomas Perez on the bench.
With a new manager, a revamped coaching staff and adding a few new pieces to the puzzle, the Phillies hope that - barring injuries - they can better their record and battle for the division. To stay competitive offensively they need a healthy and productive Thome and a sharp Burrell. The pitchers have to stay healthy and keep the ball inside the confines of Citizens Bank Park. Gone are the days of Bowa and Joe Kerrigan and the pressure cooker that was the Phillies clubhouse. There simply are no more excuses. If the Phillies fail again, this time general manager Ed Wade’s job will be in jeopardy.
