Rollins the MVP...And some offseason concerns

Congrats to Jimmy Rollins for winning the NL MVP award. He is the second Phillies player in a row to win the award and the Phillies need to build on this. I for one think Rollins deserved the award..Holliday had a great season, Rollins a historic one, my vote goes to Rollins for that reason.

While I am very happy for Rollins I am not sure he can have the same type of season again and if he doesnt have that type of season, do the Phillies win the division again...probably not.

The Phillies are going for pitching, pitching and more pitching (though have only gotten Brad Lidge so far) but I think their offense will suffer.

Think about this...last year the Phillies pen was horrible.

It consisted of: (2007)
Madsen, Romero, Gordon and Myers.

This offseason so far here is the pen now (2008)
Madsen, Romero, Gordon and Lidge

All they have done to the pen is switch Myers with Lidge...is the pen really better ?

I know the Rotation is better with Myers...but I was never sold on him as a great starter....just an OK one.

Offensivly, it will be tough for Rollins to duplicate what he did, now I expect they will be losing Rowand, thats a lot of production the Phillies are losing.

Think about it...

Last seasons line-up: This season so far looks like this:

1. Rollins 1. Rollins
2. Victorino 2. Victorino
3. Utley 3. Utley
4. Howard 4. Howard
5. Rowand 5. Burrell
6. Burrell 6. Werth/Snelling
7. Helms/Dobbs 7. Helms/Dobbs
8. Ruiz/Coste 8. Ruiz/Coste

Is this years line-up going to produce as many runs as last years? Now way, but are they going to be able to get enough pitching to make sure they dont have to...I dont think so.

Here are some other questions to ponder...

This is Pat Burrell's last season under his current contract. If Burrell has the same season he did during the second half of last year and hits say .285 with 35 home runs and 115 RBI...Do you re-sign him again and roll the dice?

If it comes comes down to re-signing Rowand or signing another pitcher either a starter or reliver (maybe Hiroki Kuroda) which one would you sign?

Are the Phillies going to assume Adam Eaton will be ready and if he is are they going to assume he is going to be better then last season?

Thats just some...more to come...talk to you on the radio....