"Jayson Stark has been a senior baseball writer for ESPN.com since 2000. His regular contributions include the newsy Rumblings and Grumblings column and his tilted look inside baseball's numbers and quirks, the Useless Information Department. Stark also makes regular television appearances on "SportsCenter," "The Hot List" and "Baseball Tonight." He is a regular ESPN Radio guest of "Mike & Mike in the Morning" (Wednesdays), "GameNight" (Thursdays) and the "Sports Bash" (Tuesdays), as well as numerous other shows on the network. Before arriving at ESPN, Stark worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer for 21 years. He was twice named Pennsylvania's sportswriter of the year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association." (ESPN.com)
Let me first start off by saying how thankful I am to Jayson for returning my e-mails over the past few yearss and agreeing to answer some questions for all you Phillies fans and Philly Sports Port readers. Just a background on how I got to met Jayson. When I interned in 2009 with the Reading Phillies, he appeared at two games to hold a signing for his book about the 2008 World Champion Phillies entitled, "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies". I got lucky and was assigned to assist Jayson at his table to help sell books, take money, etc. When the lines were shorter, he and I got to talking and I realized that he is one of the most down to earth journalists I have met. Given, I may not have met too many so far, but it is a fair judgment. Sitting with someone who writes about the team I love and just listening to his passion about it is fascinating. Throughout the time I have known him, Jayson has been very responsive with any e-mails I send him about the Phillies or anything sports. He is very good at what he does and I advise all of you who have yet to pick up a copy of "Worth the Wait: Tales of the 2008 Phillies"...to pick one up because it is a great read. I have read it twice already and reading through it gives me goosebumps. We all know that team in '08 was special. They made it back last year...but what does 2011 hold for our Fightins?...Let's see what Jayson Stark has to say about some of the Phillies topics for 2011...
1. First off, the Phillies rotation is stacked. But do you think their offense is good enough to lead them to another playoff run?
They'll be challenged offensively unless they get some pleasant surprises along the way, or they make a big deal or both. They were down 120 runs and 50 homers last season from their peak in 2007. Jayson Werth is out the door. Chase Utley may never be the same, even if he does come back at some point in the next couple of months. And the league has learned how to pitch these guys. So a team that was once built around its lineup is now clearly built around its rotation. But if those four starters get to the mound 30-33 times apiece, they'll win a ton of games.
2. With Brad Lidge likely done after the season, who do you think will be the closer next year?
I honestly don't think they know at this point. Had Lidge had a healthy and productive season he'd have been in the mix. At this point, I see almost no chance of that. So given how much uncertainty there is about where they go from here, I find it very surprising they aren't at least looking at Ryan Madson in that role, since theoretically, based on stuff and service time, you'd think he'd be the heir apparent. Bu obviously, they don't trust him, either. Hard to imagine Jose Contreras as a long-term option, but he has closer stuff. You just wonder how hard they can possibly ride him. So I'd say stay tuned on this front.
3. When Raul Ibanez's contract is up, Francisco, Mayberry and Brown will all be vying for a starting job...who will be the odd man out?
Domonic Brown is going to play every day for this team at some point. People were way too quick to assume this spring that he's some kind of bust. He was No. 4 in the whole sport in Baseball America's top-100 prospects list, so his future is still bright. He just needs to relax, play, find his swing again and get in a rhythm, and he'll be back. As for the other two guys, this year will tell that tale. The book on Francisco going into this year was "fourth outfielder." And the book on Mayberry was "platoon player." They'll get some opportunities now to prove they're more than that. They need to take advantage of those opportunities, or they'll have only themselves to blame.
4. Is Chase Utley's injury likely the end of the success of the 2nd basemen in his career?
Too early to say he'll never be a successful player again. But given how serious this injury is and how uncertain the treatment options are, it's very feasible he'll never be the same player. He probably will never be able to run again the way he did. And if he can't generate power from his lower half, he may never drive the ball the way he always has. But Chase is as tough a guy as you'll meet. If this is just about toughness and pain management, he'll be back. What happens after he gets back will be very interesting to watch.
5. With Roy Oswalt's contract up after the season, do you think the team will opt to pick up his option?
It's a mutual option, so it's up to Oswalt as much as it's up to the team. And Roy is a different kind of guy. He's talking about retirement, so you never know what he'll decide. My guess is, he'll be back. But that's a tough one to read.
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