Does This Phillies Opening Day Lineup Have Playoffs Written All Over It Or Should I Deserve To Be Put Down?

I mean…maybe? Usually my level of optimism deserves me getting put down like a sick, delirious dog. Two years ago with the likes of Cedric Hunter and Peter Bourjos in the Opening Day outfield my unbridled enthusiasm didn’t even deserve to get mercifully injected to sleep like the childhood family pet. I needed the Old Yeller treatment of being taken behind the woodshed and shot in the face. But this…these guys may have some gusto. It’s weird to not see Rollins, Utley, or Howard trotting out there on Opening Day – Something that before last year hasn’t happened since 2000. But this lineup kind of speaks to me in that blue collar, garbage pickin’ field goal kickin’ sort of way. And by that I mean they just get over the Vegas win total of 74.5.

Still, it’s Opening Day. Everyone’s in first place. Between the obvious of Arrieta and Sanatna being added and young bucks Rhys, Nick Williams, Crawford, and Kingery in the mix, these guys could have some moxie that’ll make things interesting again. Or at least play meaningful baseball at the Bank come July again. Please.

The notion of playoffs could be, and probably are a pipe dream. But it’s still something to somewhat realistically hope for, and we’ll take it. Lest we forget, this is what we were dealing with just three short seasons ago…

58-year-old Jeff Franceour holding down the clean-up spot! Maybe they should’ve given Hard Hittin’ Mark Whitten a ring to see if he’s able to smash, too. Look at that lineup. LOOK AT IT. Dustin McGowen at P? Combine that with now Korean Superstar Darun Ruf adding onto that power punch and it’s a SHOCKER this team didn’t eclipse that elusive 100 loss mark (clocked out with 99 L’s). Roll the fucking tape:

#BeBold, bitches. And let’s get back to those winning ways.