So here it is boys and girls, the opening day roster of your Fightin' Phils!
I've included each players line from 2013 (hitters AV/OBP/OBS, pitchers WL/ERA/WHIP)
Hitters
C Wellington Castillo (.275/.327/.785)
1B Brandon Belt (.232/.327/.698)
1B Ryan Howard (.227/.304/.729)
2B Chase Utley (.268/.357/.777)
3B Matt Dominguez (.268/.305/.742)
SS Jimmy Rollins (.256/.316/.682)
SS Brandon Crawford (.230/.338/.666)
LF Ezequiel Carrera (.293/.346/.749)
CF Ben Revere (.289/.324/.653)
CF Jorge Soler (.198/.224/.507)
RF Roger Kieschnik (.233/.301/.612)
Pitchers
SP Cliff Lee (12-6/2.95/0.95)
SP Roy Halladay (18-9/2.92/1.09)
SP Cole Hamels (10-12/3.86/1.12)
SP Carlos E. Martinez (2-3/6.83/1.79)
SP Brett Myers (2-1/4.63/1.46)
MR Michael Stutes (2-3/4.05/1.44)
MR Justin DeFratus (1-1/3.45/1.05)
MR Joe Smith (1-3/3.28/1.50)
MR Jeremy Affeldt (6-6/2.28/1.18)
MR Antonio Bastardo (3-2/3.24/1.09)
MR Mike Adams (6-5/3.11/1.12)
CL Jonathon Papelbon (6-8/2.74/1.12/34 Saves)
The obvious stories on the offense are the departure of Eric Chavez as a free agent to the Yankees, putting all the responsibility of the Catchers role on Wellington Castillo after his breakout 2013, the passing of Jimmy Rollins as the Phillies starting Short Stop leaving Chase Utley as the sole representative of the 2008 World Series side in the starting 9 and the retention of the hotly rated and oft trade- for youngster Jorge Soler despite an uninspiring debut season with the bat.
Skipping to the pitchers we can see that the nucleus of last years starting rotation has been retained with Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels returning. Carlos Martinez has been entrusted with a place in the rotation after getting traded in midway through last year and struggling to adapt to the demands of the big leagues. In the bullpen, last year widely credited with letting slip at least the 2 losses that seperated the Phillies from the post-season, has seen the addition of 2 arms in the shape of Joe Smith and Jeremy Affeldt.
