Phillies Host Red Sox in 2015 Opener

Cole Hamels will be the Opening Day starter. Is this his last hurrah for Philly?

We are done waiting ’till next year: It is next year. It’s Opening Day in Major League Baseball, and the Phillies start the season with a home interleague game against the Boston Red Sox. Cole Hamels starts for the Phils.

So what kind of day is it going to be? What kind of year is it going to be?

MLB.com:

The Phillies, on the other hand, have been upfront that they view this as a rebuilding season.

Club president Pat Gillick candidly said on multiple occasions that he doesn’t expect the Phillies to contend in 2015 or ’16. “I don’t think it’s in the cards. I think somewhere around 2017 or 2018,” he said.

AP notes that the Red Sox are viewed as one of the big bidders for Hamels’ services, should he be traded, which seems probable:

For now, the three-time All-Star and 2008 World Series MVP remains on the rebuilding Phillies. By October, he could be pitching at Fenway Park.

“It is what it is,” Hamels said about trade talk. “I don’t get to control it as much as people actually think. It’s not my decision. It’s ultimately an organizational decision. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to go out there and play baseball and do it for as long as I can, and that’s all I can hope for. Whoever really wants me to pitch and go out and help the team win, that’s all I can do.”

The Good Phight analyzes the Phils’ roster:

Guys, I’m not going to lie to you. It could be very ugly this year.

But you know this. You know this is a team in transition, and you know that Hamels and Papelbon could both be gone sooner rather than later. You know the team is itching to trade Howard, and you know it’s possible Utley could, at some point, decide he’ll waive his 10-5 rights in order to play for a winner one more time.

But even if you are a bit depressed by this roster, just remember… it’s baseball.

The 700 Level makes its prediction:

This is a team right now that lacks any sort of identity. The Phillies are not a team built on power, or on speed, or on solid infield defense, or solid outfield defense. They will struggle to score runs and to prevent runs.

We know that 2015 will be about development and asset collection rather than on-field results. So fans should embrace the process and consider anything above 65 wins a bonus.

Wait ’till next year?