Manuel offered the stories of Michael Stutes and Antonio Bastardo, key relievers from last season, who "came out of nowhere" and "were like icing on the cake." He also mentioned how important it is for those two to continue progressing this season to prove that their reliability in 2011 was more than beginner's luck.
"That's what's going to [be proven] this year," Manuel said. "They got to come and pitch like that if our bullpen's going to be strong."
Papelbon is the newcomer at the back of the bullpen. Bastardo, Stutes and David Herndon are holdovers from last season, while Kyle Kendrick is a swing-pitcher between the starting rotation and a long-reliever spot. Manuel said the Phillies need to get veteran Jose Contreras healthy, and once that happens, he'll take a spot. The Phillies inked former All-Star starter Dontrelle Willis to become a lefthanded reliever. But after those names, there is much uncertainty.
"We're going to have six starters, probably one of those guys will be our long guy, spot-starter," Manuel said. "But there's going to be some openings. If we carry 12 pitchers, there's going to be three or four openings in our 'pen."
Manuel just returned from a minicamp in Clearwater, Fla., where he watched Willis, the two-time All-Star and 2003 National League Rookie of the Year. At one point, Willis was among the finest young pitchers in baseball, finishing No. 2 in the NL Cy Young voting as a 23-year-old in 2005. Willis experienced a dramatic regression, but the Phillies are hoping the 30-year-old can reinvent himself as a situational lefty.
"If he can pitch in a situation where he's our first lefty out of the 'pen, in a situation early in the game, if he can pitch like that, he might even work his way into being in the back or work his way into being a starter," Manuel said.
