The Phillies starting rotation appears to be set for 2005, at least in the eyes of Ed Wade. It would be fair to say it is a staff built largely on hope: that Vicente Padilla and Brett Myers find their composure; that Randy Wolf finds his fastball; that Cory Lidle keeps the ball down; and that John Lieber’s Tommy John arm holds up for the entire season.
This is not a rotation that should strike fear in opposing batters.
How the Phillies came up with a three year, $21 million contract for Lieber is beyond me. With the $20 million they saved letting Eric Milton and Kevin Millwood walk, they should have done better. There is nothing wrong with shrinking the team’s overall payroll, but not at the expense of treading water.
The Phils have not improved themselves. Indeed, they have signed two guys, Kenney Lofton and Rheal Cormier, who will be 38 years old in April and May, and Lieber, who will be 35 in April. The club has gotten older, perhaps even wiser, but not better.
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