TWIOT: Opening Day, Or How I Learned Not to Be Like Bill Simmons

How badly will the Phils miss Utley?
Photo Credit: Philly Sports Central

Major League Baseball's Opening Day is today. Of course, it may not seem like it in a few locales, given the dreariness of the day and the rain, but it is here. It's a season of great anticipation for fans of many teams, myself included. The Phillies went all in and decided they didn't want to wait another 28 years for another title. They went out and added Clifton Phifer Lee BACK to their rotation, in addition to the three aces already in tow – Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt.

Normally, this is where I would make predictions, but I'm just not in the mood for prognostication today. Is it the rain? No, well, not in a literal sense, it's not. However, the weather in Philadelphia matches the mood, as injuries and uncertainty around the offense have plagued the team this spring. Chase Utley, the proverbial straw that stirs the Phillies' offense's drink, has not seen any meaningful reps yet this year, and he'll start the season on the disabled list. Meanwhile, the team will soldier forward with Ben Francisco replacing Jayson Werth in rightfield. Werth was arguably the Phils' most valuable offensive player last year, and Francisco has never been more than a platoon player in his career, so to say this is a new frontier is an understatement. Francisco did have a scorching spring, but a lot of times, that can end up being a smokescreen.

In addition to the offensive uncertainty, Brad Lidge, a.k.a. the number one reason why Phillies fans consume Tums in the late innings, will miss at least six weeks, thrusting Jose Contreras into the closer's role. While the bullpen will hopefully not need to be used much this year with the four aces and a more-than-capable fifth starter in Joe Blanton (who I'd imagine most teams would LOVE to have as their third starter, let alone fifth) in tow. However, no matter how much we'd all like to believe it, none of the starters are infallible, not even Halladay. (Sorry, Zoo With Roy)

So, while I'd be uncertain in most seasons pre-2008 because I'd be rooting for a team that was an unknown quantity with a longing for a title, this year it's different. My anxiety is because we're the favorites and I don't want to know what it's like to epically choke. I know, I know, boo-hoo you're all saying. No one wants to hear rich people whine, and I get that. Hell, I even called Bill Simmons out on that in a guest blog at The 700 Level. With a title so close in the rearview, I'm not in a position to cry woe is me. I'm not about to shed tears though. I'm just saying that I don't want to be that guy, the guy who is on the perch and crowing about his team like a jackass. And really, if we don't win it all this year, because 2008 is still fresh in my mind, then I promise you, I will spare you the emo.

So what's my point? I don't know what it is. I know, I know, it's par for the course according to the peanut gallery. I guess it's that the Phillies aren't exactly the favorites to win the NL in a walk, but at the same time, I still think that we're going to do some damage, whether Utley comes back next week, next month or even never. If Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Placido Polanco and most importantly, Ryan Howard all produce at a level expected of them, the offense will be just fine. And yeah, five solid starting pitchers are a LUXURY. Some teams would kill for Blanton as their ace, and he's our fifth starter. I'm still going to pick us to win the World Series, winning the NL and then beating the Chicago White Sox in the final series to take home our second title in four years.

However, if I were going to assign a confidence level to that pick? It would be somewhere around a 5 out of 10. I know you don't care if you're not a Phillies fan, and you probably relish the fact that I'm worried. However, I think it's worth putting out there. But I will promise this. If the ship does sink and we drastically underperform, I won't expect any of you to feel sorry for me, and I will leave myself open for mockery. You know why? Because I would deserve it.

That's my word.

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