If I Were The Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies

The 25 men that will lead the Phillies to the National League Championship and further should be as follows:

Starting pitchers: Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer, Kyle Kendrick, and Travis Blackley.  Travis must make this team, he should not be optioned back to Los Angeles.  Travis could be moved to the bullpen if they needed to and Chad Durbin will make the team as either the fifth starter spot or in the bullpen.  

Bullpen: Lidge is a lock, barring any setbacks.  Ryan Madsen and Tom Gordon will help the Phillies get to Lidge.  Gordon will be closing if Lidge can't. Francisco Rosario must make this team, he is throwing the ball very well.  And the last lock would be JC Romero.  He is a stud. 

That leaves two spots open for pitching.  Kris Benson will fill one of those spots, but he should open the season on the DL.  Benson will one day move back to the starting rotation and the person who is struggling the most either Kendrick or Blackley would be optioned down or go to the pen. 

For argument's sake I am going to give a spot to Benson though. That leaves one last pitcher spot open and I would love for Mike Zagurski to get it, but it will have to go to J.D. Durbin until Zagurski is ready.  Other options will sit in the minors for a bit and wait for these guys to work themselves out. 

Infielders:  Let's lock up the starters with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Pedro Feliz all getting on as locks.  The two back-up infielders will have to cover a lot of ground. 

Eric Bruntlett can play the whole infield and has played outfield too.  I am not in love with him, but he makes it on the team.  Eric Dobbs will work a little at first base, but start mostly at third and can fill and outfield void that really is not needed.   

Catchers:  Starter Carlos Ruiz and Chris Coste are locks.  Coste can play first too for Howard should and injury occur. 

Outfielders:  The five spots for the outfield are filled.  Chris Snelling would actually look nice as a No. 5, but could be traded since Dobbs can be fifth if they need it.  They also have a nice prospect in AAA should something happen. 

Pat the Bat, Shane Victorino, and Geoff Jenkins look like the starters.  Jason Werth can play both corners and So Taguchi can play all three.  Truthfully, as of now,  Taguchi would be starting in right even though I like his bat off the bench.  I would make the starter in right field earn it. 

Can't wait for the season to start.  Looks like the pitching is a little bit of an issue.  But someone will step up and Carlos Carrasco could be a stud pitcher eventually. 

Here is to the 2008 National League Champions.