FOR A TEAM that has been to the World Series each of the last 2 years, bringing home one world championship, the Phillies haven't been afraid to shuffle the deck. While the lineup remains unchanged except for Placido Polanco replacing Pedro Feliz at third base, the bench has been almost totally revamped, the bullpen has seen several changes and, oh yeah, Roy Halladay is now at the top of the rotation. Here, then, is a look at the areas where the defending National League champions appear to have improved, regressed or stayed the same in the last year.
Comparing '09 roster with men of 2010
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Starting rotation
Spring training 2009: LHP Cole Hamels, RHP Brett Myers, RHP Joe Blanton, LHP Jamie Moyer and LHP J.A. Happ, RHP Kyle Kendrick, RHP Carlos Carrasco or RHP Chan Ho Park.
Currently: RHP Roy Halladay, Hamels, Blanton, Happ and Kendrick or Moyer.
Analysis: At this time last year the Phillies' rotation looked set. It included Hamels, who seemed to have come into his own in the postseason the previous fall. The seemingly ageless Moyer, who had gone 16-7 in 2008. Myers had been the Opening Day starter the previous 2 years and, with free agency looming, appeared poised to have a big season. Blanton was an above-average No. 3 starter. It didn't take long for things to change. Hamels never hit his stride. Myers needed hip surgery. Moyer looked every bit of his 46 years. Chan Ho Park, who won the fifth spot, needed just eight starts to pitch himself back into the bullpen. And the Phillies needed a bold trade for lefthander Cliff Lee, the emergence of Happ and the improbable acquisition of Pedro Martinez to make it back to the World Series. So you never know what's going to happen with pitching. Except for one thing: Halladay is one of the best pitchers in baseball, so putting him at the top of almost any rotation makes it better.
ARROW: UP
Bullpen
Spring training 2009: RHP Brad Lidge, RHP Ryan Madson, Chad Durbin, RHP Clay Condrey, LHP Scott Eyre
Currently: Lidge, Madson, RHP Danys Baez, LHP J.C. Romero, RHP Jose Contreras, Durbin
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