Optimism on Opening Day

Being a die-hard Philadelphia Phillies fan, it almost seems like every year is going to be “the year”. When Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies on March 2, 2019, I was convinced that the team was going to be playing in October. Unfortunately, it has been two years and still no playoff baseball for Philadelphia. Over the course of the past two years, however, there have been a lot of changes in the Philadelphia Phillies Organization. Fans said goodbye to Gabe Kapler and welcomed Manager Joe Girardi with open arms. Top prospect, Alec Bohm, was finally brought up from the minors to showcase his skills. General Manger Matt Klentak reluctantly stepped down from the position, so the Phillies could officially declare “win-now mode”. And John Middleton backed up his talk by hiring Dave Dombrowski this past off-season. Although it is too early to tell, these changes all point in the same direction towards the ultimate goal: winning a World Series. On paper, the Phillies lineup is extremely deep. With McCutchen leading off, the rest of the lineup will have more time to study the pitchers. McCutchen is good at working the counts, and always finds a way to get on base. Following McCutchen, will be Rhys Hoskins as he looks to get back into his comfort zone. Before he went down, Rhys was gradually turning his play around, but it might take him some to get re-acclimated to the speed of big-league pitchers. The 3,4, and 5 holes are going to be a problem for pitchers around the league. Harper, Realmuto, and Bohm will be a very tough out. I expect the trio to combine for 75-plus homeruns and at least 215 RBIs. Following this trio, will be Didi Gregorious and Jean Segura. I loved having Didi on the team last year. I am very excited to see what he can do in a full season. When it comes to Jean Segura, I do not think his play in Philadelphia has been as successful as it was with other teams. I believe the unknown of where he would play in the field or be in the lineup had some effect on his mentality. If the lineup stays healthy, I think the seventh spot will really benefit Segura. He will most likely have a runner on base, and there will not be as much pressure to get on. Rounding out the lineup, Adam Haseley will need to show the organization that he can maintain a certain level of play in the big-leagues. I have always been a fan of Haseley’s, but I do not think he has been given enough at-bats to truly contribute. This eighth spot will definitely see a rotation of the center fielders. Roman Quinn, Odubel Herrera, and Scott Kingery are all options for this ballclub. Like I said earlier, this lineup is loaded with talent. I am not worried about this team producing runs. What I am worried about is this team giving up runs. Our defense has to be much better than it was last year. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler will definitely do their part; however, they cannot pitch every inning of every game. The bullpen has to step up. I look forward to seeing Archie Bradley in a Phillies Uniform, and I think Hector Neris will have a 2019-type season. As a fan, it is difficult to not get caught up in the emotion and talk of a great Phillies season. The hype videos and player interviews always give Philly fans a reason for optimism on Opening Day. The NL East is arguably the best division in baseball this season. The Braves, Mets, and Nationals are all expected to have winning seasons. We also cannot sleep on the Marlins who found a way into the playoffs last year, and now have a true ace. But as a die-hard fan, I will get caught up in the hype. I expect the Phillies to win 88 games this year and sneak into the playoffs. Have a great Opening Day everyone… the Phillies and I will see you in October.

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