Brown is the stunner for me so far. I’m afraid to believe, almost, but on both sides of the ball he has never looked this good before.

Kind of bummed about Ruf, but if Brown is a player, we don’t need Ruf to be special.

Howard and Utley being able to play is HUGE. Hard to overstate how huge.

I know today’s game doesn’t count. But beating the Nats is ok with me anyway.

Howard crushing the ball seems like a good sign. I guess you can make up scenarios where the Phillies are good this year. I think it’s hard to make up a scenario where they’re very good without Howard. His fWAR went from 4.6 in 2009 to -1 in 2012. That’s a swing of 5.6, which is the same as Halladay’s from ’11 to ’12 (8.1 to 2.5).

I agree on the streakiness, but he really didn’t have any stretch in 2012 when he was non-terrible. August was his best month and he hit 255/314/472. August 4 to August 19 he had 83 plate appearances in which he hit 316/373/539 with four home runs. I think that’s the closest he got. This seems better than that if not as long.

He seems like a lock to be terrible on the bases and bad defensively. So let’s hope he hits a whole lot.

Halladay has notably not been dominant yet. I assume his fWAR is going up this year. But it’s not going up to 8.1 or anywhere near it. The Phillies need a lot of things to get back in 2013 — I think two of them are Howard and Halladay. Howard’s been great, but I think we should be worried about Halladay. Maybe he looks great this afternoon.

I agree on Brown. Still think he’s going to be very good. Maybe not this year, but it sure looks like it can be a big step forward. I think it’s a real good sign we’re not spending a lot of time talking about his defense.

It seems to me that Inciarte really might make the team. That is almost unbelievable to me. The idea that you’re going to build a team based on a formula that has you picking from guys other teams thought weren’t among their 40-best players seems flawed to me.

I’m starting to finally get excited about Brown. Well, I shouldn’t say finally. I’ve been a believer in him from the beginning. But, he’s starting to justify my faith. I’m trying to temper my enthusiasm on Howard as he is notoriously streaky and it is still a month from opening day. Utley, just nice to see him on the field at all this early.

From what I’ve been hearing/seeing, it looks like some of the guys have a chip on their shoulder, which may just be what this team needs. We shall see. Anxious for the games to count.