T-minus 24 hours before I'm "outta here." (Sorry, Harry Kalas literally just walked by)

Spring training officially ends today. On Sunday, the regular season finally begins.

To satisfy your Phillies' appetite, we've got a nice preview section in today's paper. On the website, you can check out a column from Jack McCaffery, a profile on Charlie Manuel from Bob Grotz and a story on the team's task of repeating from yours truly.

While scouring the internet to check out what others think of the upcoming season, I can't say I was stunned to see Sports Illustrated picking the Mets to win the World Series, bodog.com has the Mets (8/1) better odds than the Phils (15/1) to win it all and Baseball America has the Mets in the World Series.


Everyone loves the Mets in March, hates them in September.

And then today, I read the following from former Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser at ESPN.com:

The Phillies' big problem this year is probably their starting pitching. It could be vulnerable, and it is worth keeping a close eye on. Everyone is worried about Cole Hamels' elbow, and Brett Myers definitely has been exceptional at times but certainly has not been consistent. The Phillies need him to emerge as a real workhorse. He can come through for them, but he also can disappoint at times. He just doesn't project the image of a guy you can really count on to go deep every start.

Call me crazy, but wouldn't one consider the Phillies' rotation more reliable than the Mets' as the season begins?

To be clear, everyone is not worried about Hamels' elbow. I watched him throw a bullpen yesterday, he looked completely fine. He's scheduled to start a week from tomorrow in Colorado.

And wasn't Johan Santana's elbow also an issue this spring?

I agree with Hershiser's take on Myers... but, can't you say the exact same things about Oliver Perez?

I understand the Mets have talent; but, personally, I couldn't pick them to win the division or the NL pennant or the World Series, because, in the last two years, they haven't shown the know-how or ability to come through in the pressurized games of September, let alone October.

But apparently, among media types, I'm in the minority.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few weeks back, I posted a photo of Rachel McAdams because, while searching for a photo of Phils third base coach Sam Perlozzo on google images, McAdams popped up among the results.

So, to continue that tradition.... while searching for a Charlie Manuel photo to post on the blog, Bond girl Eva Green was randomly among the results. Odd.



Now I'm quite certain while searching for a photo of Kyle Kendrick next week, I'll find a pic of Kate Beckinsale.