I meant to write this after the tenth game of the season, however, couldn't bring myself to do it after the way that met's game ended.  So, this is post on the state of the union of your Philadelphia Phillies, after eleven games.  This isn’t about me talking as much as it is a community project to get people’s thoughts relative to opening day expectations.  I will give my random thoughts on the offense, defense, starting rotation, and bullpen.  Hopefully, everybody else will chime in as well.  Without further ado, I present the State of the Phillies.

    The offense has been a bit, well, offensive in my opinion.  Through eleven games, the Phils have put 47 runs on the board, or 4.27 per game.  However, in ’07, the Phils only put up 53 runs through eleven games, and we all now how many runs were scored by the end of the season.  This season, we have seen a good Rollins before being injured, frustrating Victorino, typical Utley, flailing Howard (but that is usual), smokin’ hot Burrell, nice Jenkins/Werth platoon, horrible but sadly typical Feliz, and a slow start by Ruiz.  All in all, I am still confident in the offense.  We have several slow starters on the team which is causing our offense to sputter a bit, however, the bats should heat up with the weather.  I know I am still confident, and I think many of you agree, that Rollins, Victorino, Utley, Howard, Burrell, Jenkins/Werth, and Ruiz constitute the best offense in the NL.  The offense is playing the usual LOB game, which in my opinion is the one negative of a lot of strikeouts.  But, I don’t see this team cutting down on strikeouts anytime soon, and we all knew that would be an issue at the beginning of the year.

    Sadly, and unexpectedly, our defense has been offensive as well.  I really did not see this team committing a comedy of errors.  Our starting outfield has been solid, Burrell catches what he can, and will hold runners; Victorino has been amazing, and far, far, far better than Rowand ever was; while Jenkins/Werth provide solid if unspectacular defense.  This is what I assumed out of the trio, and it is what I have gotten.  Sadly, I also assumed Taguchi could catch a ball, while Ruiz, Feliz, Rollins, and Utley could field and throw.  This has not been the case.  I don’t know why, but this team is committing an unsightly number of errors.  Errors from players I felt were quality with the glove.  Fortunately, all of the trouble spots in our defense have proven track records defensively, and so, should rebound nicely.  I hope so, because if it doesn’t, our pitching will not be what dooms us this season.

    Speaking of pitching, I am feeling giddy, especially after I choose to wait until the eleventh game of the season to write this, so that I can talk positively about Myers.  Now, our staff as a whole has given up 55 runs in 11 games, or 5 runs per game, or 810 runs over the course of a 162 game season.  Not great.  But, there is a lot to feel really good about.  Hamels is continuing to establish himself among the best in the game.  Myers, while concerning (especially the fastball) in his first two starts, put together the complete package in last night’s win.  He was much more aggressive with his fastball, plus it had some giddy-up and life.  He pitched like the number two starter I envisioned him to be in ST.  I am also really happy with both Moyer and Eaton.  The concern with Moyer was that he might have finally reached the end of the road in professional baseball, however, he looks like his old self.  I never expected great stuff from Moyer and I doubt anybody else did either.  In two starts, both Phillies wins mind you, Moyer has a 4.66 ERA.  4.66 isn’t great, but it isn’t bad either, plus Moyer looks like the same pitcher he has been for the past two seasons.  I know the concern with his age might not show up until the second half of the season, but what will he lose?  Might his fastball drop a tick or two in velocity.  Oh no, not that.  Even though Hamels is proving to be a stud, Myers looked great last night, and Moyer is his old deceiving self, I am most pleased with Eaton.  I grant you, two starts, make a season, do not (or something like that).  But, Eaton has looked more like the average pitcher he has been over the course of his career, rather than the train wreck the Philadelphia fans were subjected to last season.  Some people might say that it is a telling statement of our staff that I am so thrilled two of our pitchers our league average.  Well, what did you expect?  Moyer and Eaton were not going to transform into top of the rotation starters, so lets be happy they are pitching to the best of their abilities, even if that isn’t sky high.  Finally, we have Byle Bendrick.  It is a shame, but I think most of us saw this coming.  Luckily, Benson continues to rehab in Florida and our young guns are pitching away in Reading and Lehigh Valley. 

    I am similarly happy with the bullpen.  The results have not been their for Condrey, but the tag team of him with Durbin (very good so far, as long as Charlie remembers he is not a late game reliever) provides the Phils with some nice options for multiple innings of relief duty.  Meanwhile, it looks like the Tommy Gun is still loaded with a few bullets, Romero has picked up where he left off the ’07 season (I think that is with runners on first and third with two outs), Seanez is a nice veteran addition that is pitching well, and Lidge has been very effective, even though he has suffered from a terrible STG.  Madson is a bit of a worry.  I expected better things that what I have seen thus far.  Also, he continues to be bothered by injuries.  All in all, I like our bullpen.  It has been a long time since I felt confident in the Phils when a game is a battle of the ‘pens.

    Well, there you have it.  Those are my thoughts on the Phils through the first eleven games.  The defense has been a disappointment, the pitching has been a pleasant surprise, while the offense is somewhere in between.