Great signing for the Phillies. Thome is going to stop hitting at some point, of course. Let’s just hope it’s not in 2012. I’ll be pretty pleased if Thome can just party like it’s 2011.

I am not as sanguine about things as Greg is. “If Cliff Lee had” is just one more in a long line of “ifs” that the Phillies have strung together in the post season in the last couple of years. “If Howard does not swing at a 3-0 pitch” is another. Regular season stats (since 2007 – I think – every year the number of wins have gone up) are not as happy a thing as post season decline (every year losing out earlier and earlier, not to mention that the last 5 post season series have sub-230 batting averages). Things are not just fine. The Braves and Nats are serious comers. And one could argue that 102 wins are not all that wonderful given the starters we had and the level of players we are supposed to have.

Blow it up? Nope. No way. But 2011 was no success. 2012 wants for consistent offense.

If you want to improve the offense, I think it’s very unlikely the Phils bring in another player to be the primary guy at catcher, first, second, center or right. That leaves short, third and left. They have to pay Polanco next year anyway and Mayberry looks like he’s part of the answer in left.

I agree that Rollins is an above-average SS. I don’t think he’s a good offensive player, though. If the choice is Rollins back to play short or not spending that money on the offense I’d rather have Rollins. But I’d really rather have a good hitter that helps the offense more overall than Rollins does.

I also don’t feel sure we’re not going to see significant time for Galvis/Martinez at short next year. I think it would be a mistake, but I think some people would look at .278 between AA and AAA last year and his good glove and think Galvis is ready to help. Given that the Phils are likely to win a lot of regular season games, I also think it’s more important who’s playing shortstop at the end of the year than it is who’s planning short at the start of the year.

1) The team won the most games in the majors in 2011 – 102
2) They outscored their opponents by two runs in a five game series. If Cliff Lee had just held a 4-0 lead in Game 2, they sweep the NLDS and the sky may not be falling right now.

If Rollins can get a five year deal somewhere, then let him walk. Otherwise, he should be back in Philly. He is still a well above-average ML SS. The closer market is flooded, but Madsen is the only one that is reasonably young and doesn’t appear to be in decline phase. Oswalt seems to be the odd man out, but would still be nice to have on the team. They CAN afford it (if you actually look at the numbers for last year, they can add about $10M from last year’s salaries before hitting the luxury tax).

Time has given me some perspective on this team, and it isn’t as bad as it looks. I still wouldn’t mind having Reyes as he is both younger and better than Rollins, but will also be much more expensive. No matter what happens, there is no way that the Phillies go into 2012 with Galvis as their starting SS.

And I am beginning to get that same feeling about Ruiz. man, I hope Amaro can find someone who is more than a place holder as a back up, someone who can take some games off Ruiz’ shoulder.

I sure would like to see the starting eight next year start more than a dozen games together. Doesn’t that probably mean a lot younger? Hell, I don’t know.