Phils are a good bet to win less than 102 this year, but I think they’re still real good. A big year from Mayberry would be nice to have, but I think the guys they really need are Howard, Utley, Victorino, Pence, Halladay, Lee and Hamels.

To tell the truth, I think that the Phillies are in real trouble. I think the team looks weaker than last year. I think that the rest of the NL East looks much stronger. I am not one who thinks thst the 3 aces are the guarantors of the NL East title in 2012. I am concerned.

Going into the offseason, I thought that either left or third had to be seriously upgraded for us to win this year. Instead we got a closer who is a fly ball pitcher to replace a closer who is a ground ball pitcher. I think we made a bad acquisition here.

If Mayberry isn’t the real deal in left, I do think we are in trouble. As you know, I do not think that Dom Brown is the answer to anyone’s problem.

I do think Mayberry will get nearly everyday time while Howard is out, though. If he continues to pound the ball and get on base, the Phils are going to find a way to get him into the lineup. I’d guess not too often at first when Howard’s healthy, though. I do think he can see some time in center — hopefully he can help prevent a massive slowdown by Victorino at the end of the season in 2011 by giving Victorino some time off.

I’ve also read in several places that the Phils would prefer to play Mayberry in left rather than first. I think the real question is how much they play him against right-handed pitching early in the year. Between left and first, he seems like a near lock to play every day when there’s a left-handed pitcher on the mound for the other team. Let’s hope for the best, but I think over enough chances he’s going to have trouble producing enough offense against righties to get into the lineup on a regular basis against them.