Philadelphia Phillies: Projecting the Opening Day Bullpen

Believe it or not, sources have confirmed that the Philadelphia Phillies actually do plan on using relief pitchers this season.

Though most of the talk about the Phillies pitching is usually focused on the starters, guys with names other than Roy, Cole, Cliff and Vance will be on the mound at some point in 2012.  And while the starters should have another great season, the bullpen is going to have to pitch some meaningful innings to prevent Roy Halladay’s arm from exploding.  

With that in mind, let’s take a glance at how the Phils’ Opening Day bullpen will probably look.  Though the Phillies might decide to keep an extra bench bat and only carry six relievers, for the sake of this article we’ll assume that they opt to open the season with seven guys in the bullpen.  

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Philadelphia Phillies 2012: Can This Roster Contend for a World Series?

Boy have the expectations changed around here.

Who would have thought 10 years ago that a season where the Phillies won a franchise-record 102 games could leave fans with a bittersweet taste in their mouths?

The reality is that ever since the Phils reached “team to beat” status in 2007, expectations have been steadily climbing. That’s not to say the Phillies haven’t been meeting them, though. After being World Champions in 2008, we could deal with a loss in the 2009 World Series.

The 2010 NLCS loss hurt a bit more, but it was understandable.

Last year, though, was not OK. Losing in the first round of the playoffs after having the best regular-season record? Cliff Lee blowing a four-run lead and the offense wasting Doc Halladay’s gem were incredibly agonizing to watch.

No amount of Philly Phanatic belly-shaking could cheer me up after those performances.

Needless to say, anything less than a title this year will fail to fully satisfy many of us. So, is this roster good enough for the Phillies to get back to the top? 

Before making my verdict, let’s take a quick glance at each facet of the 2012 Phillies. We’ll discuss the Phils’ projected lineup, bench, rotation and bullpen.

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Philadelphia Phillies: 6 Realistic Moves Phils Should Still Consider for 2012

This photo is where we last left the Phillies.

This is Ryan Howard, who, just before the moment of this photograph, was the proud owner of two healthy Achillies tendons.  This was the final at-bat of Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS, and even up until the final batter that night, the Phillies still had hope to pull that game out and advance.

That’s because the Philadelphia Phillies were, and remain, a very, very good team.  And so, as the Fightin’ Phils head into 2012, most of the pieces are already in place for another run at a World Series.

There are, however, a few minor moves the Phillies should still make to bolster their bench and bullpen and a few bigger ones to look into for the continued success of this franchise.

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Jonathan Papelbon: Did Philadelphia Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jump the Gun?

Since assuming the role of general manager following the Philadelphia Phillies‘ 2008 championship season, Ruben Amaro has made the team anything but boring.  

Rube’s consistent, bold moves have brought the Phillies into the pantheon of such big-market, big-spending teams as the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.  

As evidenced by his acquisitions of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Hunter Pence: when Ruben Amaro wants a player, Ruben Amaro gets a player.

While Amaro has proven to be an excellent, merciless tradesman, he does have one recurring flaw as a baseball executive: a lack of patience.

The “I see that toy, I want that toy, I’m going to throw a tantrum until I get that toy/lollipop/middle-reliever” thought process that a five-year-old goes through when taken to the store is the same thought process that afflicts Rube when he goes to the bargaining table with free agents and players with expiring contracts down the road. 

We saw it when he outbid himself super-early on Ryan Howard (back when he still had two intact Achilles tendons), and when he pounced on the elderly Raul Ibanez for more than 10 million a year over three years (when Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu later got deals for two years, $8 million per year and one-year, $5 million, respectively).

You can add this offseason’s blitzkrieg signing of closer Jonathan Papelbon to that list.

Don’t take that the wrong way, though; Papelbon is one of the best closers in the game right now, and a guy I’m thrilled to know will be wearing a Phillies uniform next year.  

However, Cinco Ocho signed for a guaranteed three years and $41.5 million more than ex-Phillies closer Ryan Madson got just two months later.  

This comparison looks even worse for the Phillies when you consider that closer is a volatile position, where players usually have short peaks, only pitch around 60-70 innings a year and are routinely replaced during the regular season by guys who go on to become the next big thing.  

Case in point, Madson, who entered the offseason as one of the most sought-after free-agent relievers, likely would have entered last season as the set-up man if Brad Lidge were healthy.

Another tidbit to think about: before Papelbon, B.J. Ryan previously received the largest contract ever for a relief pitcher.  It’s not a good thing that you’re saying “Oh yeah, that guy, whatever happened to him?” 

Exciting as it was that Amaro locked up his new crush early, it would have been more prudent for him—and the Phillies’ future financial flexibility—to have waited until the market thinned out.  

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