MLB Spring Training 2012: Philadelphia Phillies Debut a Fast Outfield

Even though the Phillies lost their Grapefruit League opener to the New York Yankees on Saturday, there was a lot to like about the afternoon.  

For one thing, it was awesome to just see baseball on TV again—I can only watch so many How I Met Your Mother marathons in the offseason before I lose my sanity.  

More specifically, Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon pitched well, Hunter Pence hit an opposite field home run and Sarge Matthews continued his drastic improvement as a member of the Phils’ broadcast team since his bumbling first year.

One thing that really stood out though, so much so that Tom McCarthy made a note of it almost every inning, the Phillies have a lot of outfield depth and those guys are fast.

The following players played in the outfield during the Phillies’ first spring game: Domonic Brown, Tyson Gillies, Hunter Pence, Juan Pierre, Scott Podsednik and Shane Victorino.  If you need any convincing of their speed, consider the following:

• Domonic Brown was recruited to play wide receiver at the University of Miami.
• Tyson Gillies stole 44 bases in the minor leagues in 2009.
• Hunter Pence actually has the least impressive high steal total of anyone in the bunch (18 in 2010), but is a freakish athlete and a great fielder.
• Juan Pierre has stolen over 60 bases three times in his career, most recently when he stole 68 in 2010.
• Scott Podsednik once stole 70 bases in a season.
• Shane Victorino’s nickname is the “Flyin’ Hawaiian,” how many slow dudes do you know who can be described as “Flyin?”

Since he played first base during the Phils’ opener, none of this even takes into account that John Mayberry Jr., another freakish athlete that has stolen 20 bases in the minors, will be playing a lot of outfield for the Phillies this year.  

Not only should the Phillies outfielders be able to run down plenty of balls in the gap and go first to third on more singles this season, but they’ll be able to maintain the ability to do it even if someone gets hurt.   

However, not all of the cheetahs that played in the outfield during the Phils’ Grapefruit League opener are going to make the opening day roster.  Dom Brown really has to impress to start the year as the Phils’ left fielder, Scott Podsednik and Juan Pierre are probably fighting for the same spot and Tyson Gillies probably doesn’t even have a shot for a couple more years.

But if someone gets hurt or even traded, Brown, the Podsednik/Pierre loser and Gillies will all be there to step in.  

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com