During the course of the spring I have been trying to project the Phillies Opening Day Roster. Today before their final Spring Training Day they announced their current roster. 

Catchers (2): Kratz, Quintero
Infielders(6): Howard, Utley, Rollins, Young, Galvis, Frandsen
Outfielders(5): Brown, Revere, Mayberry, Nix, Inciarte
Starters (5): Hamels, Halladay, Lee, Kendrick, Lannan
Bullpen (7): Papelbon, Adams, Bastardo, Durbin, Aumont, Horst, Valdes

Over the last week I have found that the excitment from Spring Training was starting to wear off and I was ready for the season to start.  Watching Dom Brown crush the ball has been great but its time to see if his great spring means anyting. Its crazy to think that next week this time we will be 2 games into the 2013 season. For a team with championship aspirations  there are still a  few roster spots up for grabs as we are just 5 days away from the first pitch. 

Tomorrow will be three weeks until the Phillies open the season in Atlanta. It doesn't seem like a lot of time but there are still a few jobs left to be won. I think the final few spots in the bullpen will be the most intriguing. The day after former Rule 5 draftee gets sent down, the 2013 edition now seems to have the inside track on a roster spot. 

All he does is strikeout. That's what the haters say anyway. Ryan Howard has 4,054 regular season Major League at bats with the Phillies. In those 4,054 AB's Howard has struck out 1,306 times. That equates to roughly 31% of the time that Howard steps to the plate it ends in a strikeout. 

It is easy to look at the strikeouts and criticize the Big Fella. It is easy to remember the end of the 2010 season and the painful end to the 2011 season. Both ending abruptly on the bat of Ryan Howard. I was at the Bank in 2011 when Howard ruptured his achilles tendon in the final at bat of the season. The silence in the ballpark was that of disgust and frustration. Fans wondered if the 6'4 242 pound slugger would ever return to form. They wondered if the bad outweighed the good. 

We are now 9 games into Grape Fruit League action and the calender has turned to March. There have been a few suprises in the first week and half of spring games. Some players have cemented there place on the team while others slim chances may be fading away. Every spring there are some surprises and underdogs who make a run at the one of the final roster spots and I don't think 2013 is any different  Hear is my updated look the Phillies Opening Day roster. 

A few years ago we would have laughed at the thought of the Nationals winning the NL East and being one of the Phillies biggest challangers. But heading into 2013 the Nationals are the reigning division Champs and are favored to repeat by many. For years they weren't even good enough to gain our attention, but now it is time for Philadelphia fans to learn to hate the Nationals. Here are ten reasons why you should!

2008 is a season that will forever be etched in my mind. I can remember growing up as a Phillies phan listenting to the home run calls of Harry Kalas "Michael Jack Schmidt!" They are some of my earliest, fondest Phillies memories. My dad let me stay up late to watch Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, hoping that the '93 Phillies would find a way to bring another championship back to Broad Street. He would always reminisce about the 1980 Phillies down to the tiniest detail. It wasn't until October 29, 2008 did I understand it.