Two killer quotes found in the Associated Press from the Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins and the third pitcher in their highly improved rotation, Cole Hamels:   

Rollins: “I think we are the team to beat in the NL East—finally.  But that’s only on paper.”

Hamls: “My goal every year is to try to make the All-Star team, to win as many games as possible, to be in a competition for, oh, a trophy or an award.”

Wait a minute guys, not so fast.  Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?  To be the best team in the NL East Jimmy, you’re going to have to win at least 100 games.  Last season the Mets won 97 and had the best record in the NL.  You boys fell two games short of the Wild Card for the second consecutive year, and only started to play with fire in August.

The Philadelphia front office is much better than it has been in the past.  GM Pat Gillick’s resume speaks for itself. After working as a Yankee scout and a nine-year stint in Toronto, where he won five division titles and two World Series championships, Gillick moved onto Seattle for three seasons and developed an AL powerhouse.  He has been able to restore fan excitement for Phillies baseball, making smart and efficient moves that will only improve the team long-term.  After all, he did take over a salary cap mess left by Ed Wade and his lack of baseball knowledge.    

On paper, the Phillies do have a damn good case in competing with the Mets and that team from Atlanta.  The Braves streak of 14 straight division titles is over and the Phillies have made strides to improve their Achilles Heel, starting pitching.

Brett Myers is the Phillies projected ace.  He just signed a three-year extension that finally solidifies him as their guy.  Last season he posted a 12-7 record with a 3.91 ERA and 189 batters.  Don’t be deceived by the record though, he also had 12 no decisions.  His control is always a problem both on and off the mound.  Let’s not forget his domestic violence incident in Boston last season.

You put Freddy Garcia next to horse, you can’t tell the difference.  An ace in his own right, the Phillies acquired Garcia in an offseason move that sent once-prized pitcher Gavin Floyd in to the White Sox.  Gillick clearly believes in Garcia; this is the second time he’s traded for the big right, the first was when he brought him to Seattle in the 1998 Randy Johnson deal with the Astros. Garcia is durable too; you can pencil him in for 30 starts and 200 innings right now.

Cole Hamels is a 23-year-old who expects to win 20 games every year.  He’s only had 23 career starts, but was the Phillies go-to pitcher down the stretch last season.   Many writers are becoming wary of a setback, however.  Call it a sophomore slump if you’d like, but history is rife with young pitchers breaking down in their second year of action.

Jamie Moyer is, like Garcia, a Gillick favorite from Seattle.  The lefty is 45 now, and one wonders if he has enough in the tank to produce the innings and wins the Phillies need in that fourth spot.  Adam Eaton, a free agent signing, is projected to be the fifth starter.  He comes from San Diego where he’s posted an ERA of 4.00 or higher the past three seasons.  Now the biggest question of the Phillies pitching staff comes into play.  What’s going to happen to Jon Leiber?  Is he an insurance policy for Moyer, Eaton and Hamels?  Is he trade bait for a much needed setup man?  My guess is his name will be floating around by July as teams are always looking for veteran pitching.