Obviously, the biggest news in Spring Training yesterday was the bearded monster that is Jayson Werth. After an offseason spent back home in Illinois, Werth showed up to camp looking like Falkor from The Neverending Story, as Mistertug pointed out.
While the beard is impressive. the bigger news is that everyone is in camp and accounted for. There were a few stragglers showing up “late” yesterday, but they were still in before the official reporting time. When you have players like Roy Halladay and Chase Utley on your team, you’re late if you’re not 2 weeks early.
In somewhat of a surprise move, former Phillies reliever Chan Ho Park took less money than the Phillies offered him to sign with the New York Yankees, signing with the defending World Series champion for the second straight season. The money that the Phillies were offering to Park instead went to Danys Baez, who will likely fill the same role that Park held last season. The major reason I bring this up is because now that he’s in NY, he’ll have to shave that awesome facial hair he was sporting last season. I guess Werth knew that the team was going to lose the Bearded Wonder Eric Bruntlett and possibly Park, so he decided to make up for those losses himself.
Overall, the roster is pretty much set at this point. No real bench competitions to speak of. The only real competition is for the 5th starter’s spot. Jamie Moyer has been appointed the spot by Ruben Amaro early in camp, saying it was Moyer’s to lose, but there is going to be an open competition. Kyle Kendrick looks to be the other horse in the race, with a few other long shot possibilities. As it was last season, I don’t see one person holding down the 5th spot for the entire year. I think Moyer breaks camp in the 5th spot if he is healthy, and if not, Kendrick gets it. A combination of those two will hold down the spot for the majority of the season, barring injury to either one.
Now that everyone is in camp, the real work begins. The Phillies look to become the first team to win 3 straight National League pennants since the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals. Adding the best pitcher in baseball was a great start, but it’s a long season.
I’ve got the Phillies over the Yankees in the 2010 World Series, 4 games to 2. Now make it happen boys.
Featured image credit: Yong Kim, Philly.com staff photographer
