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Hot on the heels of the Cliff Lee acquisition, the Philadelphia Phillies entered spring training as favorites to reclaim the National League crown. With Lee joining Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Roy Oswalt, and Joe Blanton, the Phillies should have the rotation locked down.

Unfortunately for the Phillies, the team isn’t without questions as it prepares for the regular season. Turnover in the bullpen, spring training injuries, and the loss of key players and coaches during the off-season has left the team with several potential headaches to sort out.

The better the Phillies do at sorting out these five key issues now, the easier that long-projected path to the World Series will be.

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The Philadelphia Phillies announced earlier today that they have inked manager Charlie Manuel to a two-year extension that will keep him at the helm through the 2013 season.

While the exact terms have not been released, both mlb.com and phillynews.com expect Manuel to earn between $7 million and $8 million for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

Reportedly, the team has also sweetened the payout to Manuel for the 2011 season, the last year remaining on his former contract.

This season will be the seventh for Manuel as Phillies skipper, in which time he has compiled a 544-428 win-loss record in the regular season.

More importantly, the Phillies have won the National League East the last four seasons, advancing to two World Series and winning in 2008 under Manuel.

As a reward for his success, it is reported that Manuel’s new contract will pay him as a top five Major League manager.

It would appear that most Phillies fans would applaud the move that will see Manuel hold the reins through his 69th birthday. The franchise and the manager will have a chance to reassess his future during the next three years, but without the cloud that would hang over Manuel if he were managing as a lame duck.

It would be an understatement to say that the Phillies—despite some recent uncertainty over the health of star second baseman Chase Utley—are built to win right now.

Having the services of a manager who has taken them to the top of the mountain for at least three more years seems to be a sound decision, baseball-wise and business-wise.

Manuel’s Transformation and Journey

While no public figure, in sports or out of sports, is universally liked, Manuel has become one of the more popular sports figures in Philadelphia during his six years in town.

However, it wasn’t always that easy for him to win over Philly’s demanding, outspoken fanbase.

Manuel started his current job in South Philly in 2005, taking over for franchise hero Larry Bowa, who was still popular with much of Phillies Nation. Popular as Bowa was with his fans, the fiery former shortstop had a bellicose manner that tended to alienate most of his players.

His teams also tended to finish in second place (if not third) in the NL East behind the perennial champion Atlanta Braves.

Of course, Manuel promptly started out with two second-place finishes, managing teams that would be just good enough to not make the playoffs. It is hard to remember now, but the Phillies did not qualify for the postseason between 1993 and 2006.

With his redneck, southern drawl and penchant for sounding like a rube in postgame press conferences, the moniker Uncle Cholly was not uttered in an endearing fashion.

Although Manuel had just a little success in his two-and-a-half years managing the Cleveland Indians (winning one AL Central title), he was regarded by many as a glorified hitting coach who could not even master the NL art of the double switch.

Perception started to change in 2007, when the Phillies staged a furious comeback to wrest the division from the favored New York Mets. In retrospect, it was a combination of a Big Apple collapse and a South Philly hot streak that got the job done.

By the time, the Phillies took the baseball world by storm and became—in the words of immortal broadcaster Harry Kalas—world champions of baseball in 2008, Manuel had improbably won over the hearts of most of Phillies Nation.

The inept, poor communicator became lovable and truly avuncular.

While not considered a master strategist, it was apparent that the team clad in red pinstripes fought to the finish on a nightly basis for Uncle Cholly.

And yes, Uncle Cholly now connotes a loveable, wise baseball man who loves his team and his fanbase.

For Manuel, his managerial second life mirrored his renewed life as a player. Born on January 4, 1944 in Northfork, West Virginia, Manuel mostly collected splinters (and only 384 at-bats) as a left fielder for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers. Manuel packed up his career .198 batting average and two homers and headed to Japan.

From 1977 through 1981, Manuel terrorized Japanese baseball, becoming a .300-plus hitter who belted close to 40 homers a year for the Yakult and Kintetsu franchises.

After returning to the States, Manuel paid 17 years of dues as a scout, hitting coach or minor league manager before the Indians gave him a shot to manage the parent club in 2000.

The rest is the history that most of us have witnessed.

The man with the Southern drawl and the ability to speak Japanese is now beloved by most Philadelphians.

If he helps to usher in another parade or two in the next few years, Uncle Cholly Manuel just might become a bonafide legend.

For more information on Matt Goldberg’s new books, other writings and public appearances, please e-mail matt@tipofthegoldberg.com or contact him via his Bleacher Report homepage.

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After thumb surgery in July of 2010, Chase Utley was limited to only 115 games last season.

This is a bit of a concern because, prior to becoming a significant part of the Phillies in 2005, Utley had only played in 137 games through his first two seasons.

From 2005 though 2009, Chase averaged 150 games per year, so a 35-game drop in 2010 definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Heading into 2011, Utley has yet to play in a spring training game after receiving a cortisone shot in his right knee.

The reason for the shot was the abnormal longevity of pain that Chase has felt in his knee.

In an article by the ESPN.com news services, Utley said:

“I’ve had it maybe in terms of pain here and there. But this is lingering longer than it has in the past. So with that said, there is a little bit of level of concern. But I think we’re doing the right things to try to get it better.”

So, baseball fans, has the City of Brotherly Love seen the best of Chase Utley?

Well, we need not worry about the glove, because the Phils’ starting pitching staff (Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt and Blanton) makes his job that much easier.

However, Utley’s bat may be of concern since his average has been gradually on the decline since 2008.

He has also seen a decrease in home runs, doubles, hits and RBI since 2008 as well.

With all this being said, it is expected that his numbers will also decrease in 2011, especially if his knee doesn’t get better.

But, even in that event, his intangibles are second to none, which play a pivotal role in the dugout.

At age 32, Chase Utley may be on the back nine of his career; however comebacks can happen, and don’t be surprised if 2011 acts as a lead into a healthy/sensational 2012.

Therefore, how will Chase Utley fare in 2011 Philly fans? Play ball! (Or, I mean, debate.)   

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The Philadelphia Phillies’ prospect Domonic Brown recorded his first hit of spring training today against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The at-bat was bittersweet, however, because Brown fractured his wrist, an injury that will most likely require surgery.

Brown saw some action up in the Majors in the second half of the 2010 season, batting .210 and recording three doubles and two home runs in only 62 at-bats.  Brown was in a fight for the right field spot in the Phillies’ outfield this season, and it looked as though Brown would platoon with Ben Francisco, but with the injury Francisco should win the position outright.

With this recent injury, the Phillies and their fans are all disappointed, since Brown is the No. 4 prospect in the MLB according to ESPN.

Although many people believe it a tragedy, Brown’s injury is actually a good thing for the Phillies.

Brown is an underdeveloped player at this point, and he is not ready to come into the MLB.  Brown struggles mightily against left-handed pitchers, hitting a pathetic .077 against them.  Brown was absolutely terrible against lefties, and he did not have enough time to work against them last season.

If Brown and Francisco were to platoon as planned, Brown would have only batted against right-handed pitching.  While he may have done better against those righties, he would not have had any time to develop against lefties, and there would be no way that he could develop further like that. 

If that situation were to occur, Brown would not be able to become a better player.  Brown would have been talent wasted.

Because Brown broke his wrist, he will have to recover, and then rehab in the minor leagues.

The Phillies will not rush Brown back, and he will learn to hit those pesky lefties while in the minors again.  When Brown can hit both types of pitchers, he will have the potential to become a great player…the type of player everyone expects him to be.

In the meantime, Ben Francisco will take over the position.

Francisco has the potential to bat .275 and hit 20 home runs if he plays every game of a season, and he is a good right-handed bat…something that the Phillies are missing since Jayson Werth left.

Overall, from Domonic Brown’s injury, Brown will get more time to develop, Francisco will get the chance to be an everyday starter, and the Phillies will gain a powerful right-handed hitter.

While Brown’s injury seemed devastating, it helps the Phillies more than it hurts them.

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Spring Training is finally in full swing, which means the regular season is just around the corner.  For some players, Spring Training is just a time to fine tune their skills before the season. But for others, it’s a chance to earn a spot on a big league roster.

From rookies to free-agent signings, there are many players battling for positions around the majors this spring.  Here is a breakdown of the six most intense outfield position battles.  

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Former Philadelphia Phillie Jayson Werth signed with his former division rival Washington Nationals for $126 MM over seven years, which allowed Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. to offer a contract to the much-coveted Cliff Lee.

In a deal that shocked baseball where Lee left millions of dollars on the table, he decided to return to a team where he enjoyed the city, the team and the fans.

Lee decided that his comfort and the chance for history and a championship was more important than the money the Yankees offered him.

As a Phillies fan, I am extremely excited to have Lee back on the team, especially since I spent 12 months criticizing Amaro for getting rid of Lee to begin with. Werth, unlike Lee, decided that he would rather have the money than an immediate chance to become a world champion yet again.

With Werth missing from the roster, there has been a great deal of discussion as to who will replace him. Werth was the second best hitter on the Phillies who ranked towards the top in home runs and RBI. He was also a smart baserunner and a great defensive player.

Werth was certainly a productive player and helped the Phillies earn their four consecutive NL East championships and the 2008 World Series victory. Werth was a key asset to these accomplishments, but he did not solely earn these accomplishments, as baseball is, after all, a team sport.

Werth will be 39 years old at the end of his contract. He may still be a productive player, but it is unlikely that he will be as productive in the latter years of the contract as he has been in the past few years, especially if he is injured again or as he becomes slower with age.

With Werth gone, however, who will be his replacement in right field and as a right-handed hitter? Discussions have surfaced about a platoon in right field consisting of Ben Francisco and Ross Gload or Domonic Brown. However, I think that splitting right field with either Gload or Brown leaves much to be desired since they both are left-handed hitters, and Brown also had very disappointing numbers at the plate in the winter league.

Why not just use Ben Francisco as the starter? He may not have as much power as Jayson Werth, but he can produce offensive numbers that are very comparable to what Werth did in 2010. Francisco was largely used as a pinch hitter and not a starter. If he had chances to start every day, he could find a rhythm and become more productive than an off-the-bench player.

Comparing Francisco’s stats to Werth’s stats for 2010, we can see there is not a big difference in the ratio of their stats between these two players.

In 554 at-bats for 2010, Werth batted for an average of .296 with 27 home runs and 85 RBI. Werth’s on-base percentage was .388 with a slugging average of .532. Werth did lead the league in doubles with 46 and had 13 stolen bases, but he had 147 strikeouts. Doing the math, that means that almost 27 percent of the time that Werth was batting, he struck out.

Francisco had 179 at-bats in 2010, which is just shy of a third of the at-bats that Werth had. During those 179 at-bats, Francisco batted .268 with six home runs and 28 RBI. Francisco had an on-base percentage of .327 with a slugging average of .441, which is not much less than Werth’s relative numbers. He also had 13 doubles and eight stolen bases.

If we were to adjust Francisco’s numbers to make it comparative to having played a full season, his numbers would be equivalent to 18 home runs, 84 RBI, 39 doubles and 24 stolen bases, assuming that Francisco’s numbers were directly proportionate through the season.

If Francisco’s adjusted numbers proved to be his true production over the whole season, he would be a perfect replacement for Werth.

Francisco is a better player than he often gets credit for. He has not played full-time since before he came to the Phillies with Cliff Lee the first time Lee became a Phillie. Francisco batted one-third of the number of times that Werth did and produced exactly one-third of the RBI. That means that over the course of a full season, both of these players will have the same run-producing ability.

The one thing to mention about Francisco is that his home-run-producing ability is less than Werth’s, but as already mentioned, his RBI-producing ability is exactly the same. How can there be this paradox in numbers? The answer to that question is that Werth struck out about 27 percent of the time he batted, whereas Francisco only struck out 19 percent of the time he batted. Therefore, it is clear that Francisco strikes out eight percent less frequently than Werth.

Another answer to this question is that Werth bats for a much lower average when runners are in scoring position than Francisco does. Werth’s batting average with runners in scoring position was only .186, whereas Francisco’s average with runners in scoring position was .306. It can be seen here that Francisco is much better at producing runs when runners are on base than Werth is.

Francisco is a favorite to win Werth’s spot this spring because he will have a chance to shine and prove that he is better than many people expect him to be. Many people beyond myself claim that he is underestimated, including Werth himself and Brad Lidge.

Werth in an interview spoke of Francisco, saying, “I think Ben Francisco is a better player than people realize.” Werth does believe that the Phillies should have Francisco be the man that fills the hole he left. Charlie Manuel also claimed that Francisco is a primary candidate and said, “I think it’s time we give Ben a chance.”

Lidge also spoke of Francisco, claiming that he thinks Francisco is the Phillies’ best option to fill in for the loss of Werth. He said, “In my opinion, if Ben Francisco plays the way I think he can, if he delivers like a lot of guys on our team think he can, the blow of losing Jayson won’t be as big as it appears on paper.

“We’ll need Domonic Brown at some point and Ross Gload could be an everyday player. But to me, Ben is the key. He’s a right-handed hitter with 20-plus home run potential and he can play good D. You look at last year and guys like Ryan [Howard] and Chase [Utley] and Jimmy [Rollins] were hurt. I think we’ll be healthier and that will make up a lot for the loss of Jayson.”

Francisco should be the favorite to earn the starting right field spot this year. He can replace the defense that Werth once added to right field, and Francisco can also make up for Werth’s run-producing ability in the fifth spot in the lineup. Francisco is the answer to how the Phillies can replace Werth in all ways.

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Earlier this week it was reported that Cliff Lee, one of four Phillies aces, suffered a mild side strain. Lee stated that he was behind “5-10 pitches.”

In other words, he didn’t miss much time.

Sure, this may sound like news that doesn’t really matter, but this shouldn’t be brushed away. This is a very serious matter that the Phillies need to look into.

Lee should be monitored and checked frequently at practices. It may be a side strain now, but the next thing you know, he pulls his ACL or needs Tommy John Surgery. Lee was shut down for only a week, but this could turn into being shut down for multiple months.

The fact of the matter is that Lee is 32, and will be 33 at the end of the season. By these days’ standards, he might as well be 52.

It’s not just Lee, either.

Now that Shane Victorino is 30, that means the whole starting lineup is in their 30s. The majority of the starting lineup is in their lower 30s. That is a starting lineup that is just too old to be competing.

Last season was an example.

The 2010 campaign for the Phillies was plagued with injuries. Most of the injuries were not age-related, but they are still in trouble.

This injury could be an omen to the 2011 season for the Phillies. The management and coaching need to act soon. There should be a mandatory medical evaluation that will take place after ever practice, warm-ups and games. Lee and the Phillies are in some deep trouble.

It was being mentioned since the end of last season. The Phillies are old. Plain and simple. The average age will be about 32 for the Phillies regulars. Everyone knows that once a baseball player hits around 32-35, he’s done. Players are only good in their twenties these days, and many people have mentioned this lately.

The aged Phillies could possibly even miss the playoffs, since they are just way too old.

I believe many people will agree with me.

The Phillies won the World Series an entire three years ago. Most of the Phils were still in their twenties and youthful.

In 2011, they are aged and depleted, and aren’t in any spot to compete. Lee’s injury may have been small, but it’s a warning. Philadelphia needs to play it safe and smart if it wants to be contenders, and that’s just this year. The Phillies are taking a risk by going into the season at such a high age. This could be the last season that they make the playoffs.

Realistically, the NL East will be overtaken by a youthful, more skilled team, such as the Braves or the Mets. If they don’t get some youth, the Phillies dynasty could end.

So go ahead and take this injury as nothing, but the truth is the Phillies are old, and this is a preview of the season. It’s a small sample of what the lineup of dinosaurs that is the Phillies is in for.

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There is a reason that the Philadelphia Phillies have now sold out 123 consecutive games at Citizens Bank Park.

Many people believe that it is because the Phillies have become one of the premier teams in all of Major League Baseball, and there is some truth to that.

Others believe that there are a lot of people who have jumped on the bandwagon or are fair-weather fans, and there may be some truth to that.

However, there is a much deeper reason, and any diehard Phillies fan knows that reason to their very core.

Phillies fans have gotten a pretty gruesome reputation over the years in large part due to a few idiots who do not know how to act like adults in public. The truth is that there is a reason that players want to come to Philadelphia and play for this so-called “rabid” fanbase. If you do not believe that to be true, ask Cliff Lee.

Phillies fans are passionate, knowledgeable and expect nothing but the best from their team. Since when is booing a poor performance considered taboo? Why is it not okay for Phillies fans to hold their team accountable?

Many people in the sports world believe that fans in Philadelphia will turn on their teams faster than any other place in America. Not only is that untrue, it is also offensive and hurtful. The people of Philadelphia love their teams, so much that it becomes a part of their lives.

Phillies fans do not just root for their hometown team; they embody every characteristic that the Phillies display. While a victory at the end of the day is all that really matters, how the game is played matters almost as much.

To Phillies fans, it’s about Jimmy Rollins backhanding a grounder deep in the hole and firing a missile to first base to get his pitcher out of a jam. It’s about Shane Victorino running down a gapper, slamming into the wall and still holding on.

It’s about Ryan Howard stealing second base, when no one in their right mind would think that he would, to get into scoring position in the late innings. It’s about Carlos Ruiz standing strong at the plate, even though he knows that the incoming runner is going to slam into him like a freight train.

Aaron Rowand will forever be a legend in Philadelphia for this very same reason. Everyone will remember him smashing his face into the fence, turning his nose into a jigsaw puzzle, and still holding on to the ball. That is the kind of thing that Phillies fans go crazy about. They want their players to be as blue-collar as they are on a daily basis, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Phillies fans are not “rabid.” If anything, they care too much, if that’s even possible.

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As far as I can tell, there are only two options for the Phillies this season—domination or failure.  

Given the makeup of their pitching rotation, most observers are expecting domination. Total domination. Anything less would be seen as a failure by most.

The Phillies swooped in at the last moment in the Cliff Lee negotiations and scooped up the top-level pitcher for $120 million, making their pitching rotation at that moment one of the most dominant in all of professional baseball. Immediately, observers started to say words like “World Series” and “championship.”

With the addition of Lee, the Phillies rounded out a pitching rotation that many see as almost unbeatable. Those who are fans of other teams in the National League had to feel their heart sink to their stomach when it was announced that Lee would re-join the Phillies.  

It made it seem likely that they would dominate the National League for certain, and maybe all of baseball in the postseason to take home another World Series trophy.

The expectations for the Phillies are at the highest point you can reach before a season opens. Most observers expect them to dominate. Most observers expect them to take on all comers and come out on the winning end.  

Barring injury, most observers see the Phillies marching straight through the regular season and into the World Series.

But wait, what if it does not work out that way? What if they aren’t all that and a bag of chips? What if injuries happen? What if they come across teams that can hit them?  

What if their lineup that is now minus Jayson Werth doesn’t put up a lot of runs during games? If the Phillies rotation doesn’t completely dominate everyone, is “failure” the tag that becomes associated with them?

In my mind, it is only one or the other. With a rotation like the Phillies have, they have to be completely successful, or they are then considered a failure. If you have that kind of talent and they all stay healthy, the expectations must be met.  

Domination or failure—it is one or the other. There is no in between.

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The countdown to one of the most anticipated seasons in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies began this past week when pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater.  There hasn’t been this much excitement surrounding the Phillies in a very long time, if ever, and for good reason.

The expectations for this team are through the roof, as many are picking the Phillies to bring home another coveted World Series championship.  However, there will be many discussions and debates throughout the year, as this team will endure it’s share of ups and downs, as all teams do over a marathon season.  They will be praised at times, second-guessed at times, but since the bulls-eye on their backs is bigger than ever, they will also be criticized more than any other team in the league.

Here are a few topics of conversation that will surround the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies:

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