Predicting Philadelphia Phillies Starting Lineup Halfway Through Spring Training
March 5, 2013 by Alec Snyder
Filed under Fan News
While spring training games still have a ways to go before Opening Day, spring training itself is just about at the halfway point now.
As we begin to enter the home stretch, more and more roster spots will be named as more and more cuts are simultaneously made.
In the meantime, it’s all about speculation.
For the Philadelphia Phillies, most of their starting lineup is admittedly set in stone. Carlos Ruiz will be suspended for the first 25 games of the season, rendering Erik Kratz the starting catcher. Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and Michael Young will make up the infield barring any injuries.
The outfield is a little more unclear at this point, though opposition faces a starting three of Domonic Brown, Ben Revere and Darin Ruf.
Pitching-wise, the Opening Day starter has yet to be named, but heavy speculation—including an endorsement by teammate and incumbent Opening Day starter Roy Halladay, according to CSNPhilly.com—leads to Cole Hamels earning the nod.
Will manager Charlie Manuel change his ways and give Hamels the first ball, or will he opt for Doc, who has started for the Phillies for the last three years?
Could Cliff Lee even garner consideration?
With most of the lineup itself intact and predictable, all that’s left is guessing the order Charlie’s going to pencil them in on April 1, against the Atlanta Braves.
Halfway through spring training, we’ll do our best to get it right.