Utley injury concerning

I'm a little nervous about Chase Utley.

Utley was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his right knee and has yet to appear in a spring training game.

While I am very appreciative of Utley not using injuries to make excuses, he also tends to play through these kinds of things. There have often been questions about Utley's health whenever he goes into a prolonged slump.

The Phillies need their All-Star second baseman in the middle of their lineup.

Let's hold our breath that Utley is being honest about this injury not being too serious.

MLB.TV - boy have I been missing out

Baseball is back, and it is glorious!

The Phillies opened their grapefruit league schedule today, beating the Yankees 5-4.

The best part about the game today was not the fact that the Phillies won. It was not the fact that Cole Hamels pitched well. No, the best part was that I was able to sit down with my son and daughter and actually watch them play.

Having moved to Ohio in 2002, I don't get to see many Phillies games.

That will change this year.

Gone are the days of missing games. I have entered the world of technology by signing up for MLB.TV this season.

As much as it would have been nice to see guys like Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins play, I was completely content watching Jason Grilli close out the game.

It's baseball season. And for the first time in many years, I will be able to watch the Phillies.

That's good enough for me.

Don't forget Roy Halladay

Everyone in Philadelphia is goo-goo-ga-ga over Cliff Lee, and rightfully so. Lee adds to a Phillies rotation many now consider one of the best starting rotations of all time.

But don't forget Roy Halladay.

Remember that guy?

If not, let me remind you what he accomplished last year: Cy Young award winner with 21 victories, perfect game, and playoff no hitter.

Pretty impressive.

Amazingly, not many people are talking about Halladay, who was the Phillies big acquisition after the 2009 season.

It's Lee, who the Phillies traded at the same time they acquired Halladay and then reacquired this past December, that has been the focus of many Phillies fans.

While Lee is a very good pitcher, remember that Halladay is even better.

If you need a reminder, think back to the Phillies first playoff game in 2010 against the Reds. Halladay dominated, throwing the first hitter since Don Larsen did in the 1956 World Series.

In 2010 Halladay became only the fourth pitcher to throw two no hitters in a season and the first since Nolan Ryan accomplished the feat in 1973.

So while it is certainly understandable that Lee has been the topic of conversation, Halladay is the Phillies true ace.

Phils looking Phantastic - baseball season arrives

It's finally here - the day that pitchers and catchers report!

Monday is a day I have been looking forward to since that painful 2010 October night when Ryan Howard watched strike three go by and the San Francisco Giants celebrated the National League pennant at Citizens Bank Park.

The 2011 season begins on Monday as pitchers and catchers will partake in the season's first official workout.

Last season was not supposed to end without another World Series title for the Phillies. But it did.

The Phillies were the best team in baseball during the regular season, anchored by Cy Young award winner Roy Halladay.

It was not enough, so the Phillies made a huge and stunning free agent signing, luring fan favorite Cliff Lee back to Philadelphia. Lee turned down more money from the Yankees to rejoin the team he so greatly loved during his short stay in 2009.

And with that, the Phillies became immediate World Series favorites.

Expectations are extremely high. And why wouldn't they be with Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels.

Repeat - Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels. Again - Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, Hamels.

That would be three Cy Youngs, 10 other top-five Cy Young finishes, a World Series MVP award, two LCS MVP awards, 18 Opening Day starts, six 20-win seasons and 13 trips to the All-Star Game.

Wow!

Joe Blanton, who would be a solid three/four starter on many teams, has become a forgotten man. He will be the Phillies five starter and probably the best five starter in any rotation in all of baseball.

The Phillies have pitching. Boy do they have pitching.

Oh yeah, they also have some prety good hitters too - after all, they were second in the National League in runs last year.

Yes, the Phillies have questions - who will start in right field? Who will fill out the bullpen? Can guys like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard return to form?

But remember this - pitching wins championships. The Giants proved that last year.

If your hopes are high, I don't blame you. Mine sure are.

It's World Series or bust for the Phillies.

I can't think of a season that involved this much anticipation. And it is finally here!