Opening Day Around the Corner

With Opening Day quickly approaching there are some question marks the Phillies need to start answering. Just like the entire off season pitching has been the biggest question mark for a repeat of the 2007 season.
Ace Cole Hamels has never pitched a full complete season without being sidelined for some time. The true test will be if he has the endurance to pitch the entire season and rack up over 200 innings.
Next on the list is Brett Myers. He is comming off a season in which he was asked to change roles from opening day starter to closer. He did this with much success last season, but now he is asked again to return to the rotation as the number 2 starter on the ballclub. Is Myers able to handle the new bulk load of innings as well he was injured at some point during last season with an ailing shoulder problem.
The three spot currently belongs to Kyle Kendrick, but if you see his spring training numbers he is not looking like he did in his rookie campaign. He needs to make a complete turn around in the next few weeks before the regular season.
The four spot in the rotation is owned by the ageless wonder 45 year-old Jamie Moyer. He will always be out there that fifth day creating havoc for opposing hitters. I give him 14-15 wins this season.
The final spot on the rotation is still up in the air; J.D. Durbin pitched well when I saw him pitch vs. the Tigers only surrendering home runs to Gullien (2) and Ordonez in 5 innings, but however the former first round pick Kris Benson could be the fifth starter by late May early June after coming back from injury. Chad Durbin is also in the mix along with Adam Eaton whos back has been bothering him.
The bullpen is a small question mark as well. Can Ryan Madson come back from injury and be the right handed set-up man like he once was? Or take over the long relief role vacated by Geoff Geary who was traded in the off season. The next question can J.C. Romero put on a repeat performance this year like he did when the Phillies acquired him last season being a dominate left handed set- up man.
Brad Lidge was suppose to come in to Philadelphia and shut the door on opponents, but now the door is shut on him. Lidge had to get his knee scoped after hurting it pitching BP. He was slated to be out 3-6 weeks which means he could miss opening day, and the Phillies will have to turn to former Phillies closer and now set-up man Tom "Flash" Gordon to take on the closer role once again until Lidge is ready to go.
So one can see the Phillies have a lot of things to worry about when the season rolls around. Considering the Mets acquired Johann Santana to the rest of their pitching staff. Pedro is health this year, so he will be a force. They also have a boat load of young talent on their ballclub.
The sleeper team in the NL East might as well be the young Atlanta Braves. They have a great veteran pitching staff this year including; John Smoltz, Tom Glavine (back after a few years with the Mets), Tim Hudson, and Mike Hampton (back from injury)??? and they too have a good core of young talent. Watch out!