Offseason

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Phillies have not won the offseason. They have, in fact, finished third in the National League East, the same position they were stuck in when time expired on the 2012 season. The events that have transpired since the Phillies' final game in Nationals Park in October have been fascinating but not at all fulfilling for fans thirsty for one more championship from an aging core of players. With center field identified as their greatest need before the season ended, the Phillies made an offer for free agent B.J. Upton, but it was reportedly $20 million less than the $75 million over five years he'll be paid to play for the Atlanta Braves.

Andrej Meszaros, whose health is one of the keys to the Flyers defense this season, passed his first test in Saturday's season-opening, 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. "Actually, I felt better than I thought I would feel, so that's a good sign," Meszaros said. "Unfortunately, it doesn't matter how I felt because we lost. " Meszaros had offseason Achilles ligament surgery, and the Flyers weren't sure until Saturday whether he would play in the opener. Used on the third pairing with newcomer Kurtis Foster, Meszaros logged 19 minutes, 54 seconds - Kimmo Timonen (23:52)

It is too soon to fill out the final scorecard on this offseason, but we can take a look at what has transpired so far - with the focus for this exercise narrowed to the National League East, since that's the division the Phillies will try to reclaim in 2013. In order of finish in 2012, here's a look at what each team in the division has done so far this offseason. Washington Nationals (2012 record: 98-64; N.L. pitching ranking: 1st, 3.33 ERA; N.L. runs scored ranking: 5th, 731)

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding the Eagles entering the offseason is whether Nick Foles can be a starting quarterback. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie said former coach Andy Reid was high on Foles, but the next head coach must determine whether Foles will start. "Nick has every opportunity, and everyone in the building thinks the world of him in terms of his promise and potential," Lurie said. "This is going to be a decision made by the new head coach, not by the owner. " Foles did not want to reveal where he'll work out during the offseason, but said he will be close to family and will return to Philadelphia for the offseason program.

FOR THE first time in 10 years, the Phillies of 2012 failed to finish a season with a winning record. In the days following the season finale, manager Charlie Manuel was placed squarely into the crosshairs of outsiders seeking a fall guy. Manuel, whose contract expires after the 2013 season, watched his bosses promote Triple A manager and rumored major league manager heir apparent Ryne Sandberg to the Phillies' coaching staff. In a news conference days after the season ended with a series of coaching changes, Manuel answered all of the questions correctly, and with confidence, too. He isn't worried about his job security.

  NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In his first four offseasons as a general manager, Ruben Amaro Jr. attacked the free-agent and trade markets like a man who believed he was in complete control of his team's destiny. He identified his targets, and then he acquired them: Raul Ibanez, Roy Halladay, Placido Polanco, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon. Amaro's track record is the biggest reason why the Phillies continue to be labeled by national pundits as a potential suitor for Josh Hamilton. People like to believe in legends, and Ruben the Conquerer has built himself into one. But the GM who sank into a sofa in the Phillies' suite at the Opryland Hotel on Monday afternoon did not talk like a man with a secret plan.

TEMPLE COACH Steve Addazio wants it known that offseason boot camp is officially open for business. And he's playing the role of bad cop. That's what happens when you don't make it to a bowl game, even in a year when logic suggested you probably weren't supposed to. The Owls, after being picked to finish last in their first season back in the Big East since 2004, went 4-7. They lost five of their last six. The end came Friday, at home against Syracuse....

        Like all of you I have a blueprint of what I think the Phillies should do in an effort to return to the top of their division and become a World Series contender again in 2013. The Phillies' greatest needs are known to all. As general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said last week, "I've been thinking about next season since September. " Let's start with some contract information. For luxury-tax purposes, the Phillies have a little more than $138 million tied to 10 players.

In more than any other professional sport, soccer coaches have more say about the makeup of the roster that they go into a season with. Soccer coaches aren't even called coaches. They are "team managers," and their responsibilities are as much about putting a team together as they are about directing one. If former NFL coach Bill Parcells had been a soccer team manager, he would have never had to of made his famous comment, "They want you to cook dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.

WASHINGTON - Benjamin Cooper Utley had not taken his first step as of Tuesday afternoon. But the 10-month-old son and first child of Chase and Jen Utley will most likely be on the move before the holidays. And that actually works out pretty well for his soon-to-be 34-year-old dad. "It's probably not going to hurt," Utley kidded before Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Nationals. The Phillies' season will come to an end on Wednesday afternoon, but Utley has no plans of slowing down.