The Phillies worked 33-year old lefty swinging 1B Ryan Howard and 34-year old lefty swinging 2B Chase Utley hard in spring training to get them ready for 2013.  That was smart as Howard (71 games) and Utley (83 games) didn’t play many games for them last year due to injury.  Howard is off to a slow start, as he has played in 3 games in which he is 1 for 12 (.083 avg, 237 OPS) with 1 RBI.  Utley has been much better so far this year, working in 3 games in which he is 5 for 11 (.455 avg, 1.462 OPS) with 2 runs scored, a double, a triple, a homer and 6 RBIs.  Howard and Utley’s health are a huge key for the Phillies in 2013.

The Philadelphia Phillies have returned 22-year old lefty swinging outfielder Ender Inciarte (a Rule 5 Draft Pick) back to the Diamondbacks.  Inciarte played in 127 games in A-ball last year and he was 145 of 473 (.307 avg, .797 OPS) with 82 runs scored, 2 homers, 47 RBIs and 46 stolen bases.  He has now played in 456 games in his first five years in the minors with the D-Backs and he is 475 of 1,680 (.283 avg, .714 OPS) with 260 runs scored, 5 homers, 135 RBIs and 111 stolen bases.  The D-Backs are happy to get Inciarte back from the Phillies.

The Phillies have claimed 25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Ezequiel Carrera off waivers from the Cleveland Indians.  He played in 48 games for the Indians last year and he was 40 for 147 (.272 avg, .707 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 2 homers, 11 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Carrera has now played in 116 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 89 for 349 (.255 avg, .653 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 2 homers, 25 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.  I really like this pickup for the Phillies as Carrera is a very fast player.

The Phillies have as many as seven rookies that could make a mark for them at some point in 2013.  Here is a look at them:

Tommy Joseph:  21-year old righty swinging C/1B Tommy Joseph comes into this season as the Phillies’ #3 prospect according to Baseball America.  He played in 108 games in AA-ball for the Phillies and Giants last year and he was 104 of 404 (.257 avg, .715 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 11 homers and 48 RBIs.  Joseph has now played in 352 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 346 of 1,354 (.256 avg, .735 OPS) with 170 runs scored, 49 homers, 211 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

Jonathan Pettibone:  22-year old righty starting pitcher Jonathan Pettibone comes into this year as the Phillies’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America.  He pitched in 26 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 13-8 with a 3.10 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.  Pettibone has now pitched in 87 games (85 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 33-30 with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.

Darin Ruf:  26-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Darin Ruf comes into this season as the Phillies’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America.  Ruf played in 139 games in AA-ball for the Phillies last year and he was 155 of 489 (.317 avg, 1.028 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 38 homers, 104 RBIs and 2 stolen base.  Ruf also played in 12 games for the Phillies in his first taste of the majors in 2012 and he was 11 for 33 (.333 avg, 1.079 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs.  Ruf has now played in 458 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 498 of 1,632 (.305 avg, .907 OPS) with 257 runs scored, 67 homers, 283 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.

Phillippe Aumont:  24-year old righty reliever Phillippe Aumont comes into this season as the Phillies’ #13 overall prospect according to Baseball America.  Aumont pitched in 41 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-1 with 15 saves, a 4.26 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.  He also pitched in 18 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors for the Phillies last year and he was 0-1 with 2 saves, a 3.68 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.  Aumont has now pitched in 170 games (29 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 14-27 with 41 saves, a 4.22 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

Cesar Hernandez:  22-year old switch-hitting 2B Cesar Hernandez comes into this season as the Phillies’ #15 prospect according to Baseball America.  He played in 133 games in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 155 of 532 (.291 avg, .733 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 2 homers, 57 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.  Hernandez has now played in 472 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 503 of 1,736 (.290 avg, .728 OPS) with 230 runs scored, 9 homers, 180 RBIs and 114 stolen bases.

Justin DeFratus:  25-year old righty reliever Justin DeFratus comes into this season as the Phillies’ #20 overall prospect according to Baseball America.  He pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.  He also pitched in 21 games (2 starts) in Rookie+A+AAA-ball last year in which he was 0-1 with 3 saves, a 2.10 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP.  DeFratus has now pitched in 18 games (0 starts) in his first two years for the Phillies and he is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.

Tyler Cloyd:  25-year old righty starting pitcher Tyler Cloyd comes into this season as the Phillies’ #21 prospect according to Baseball America.  He pitched in 26 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 15-1 with a 2.26 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.  He also pitched in 6 games (all starts) in his first taste of the majors for the Phillies last year and he was 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP.  Cloyd has now pitched in 135 games (92 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 48-22 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.

The Phillies have released 26-year old righty starting pitcher Austin Hyatt.  Hyatt pitched in 27 games (all starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year for the Phillies and he was 10-12 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP.  He has pitched in 100 games (86 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 37-23 with 6 saves, a 3.79 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  This isn’t much of a loss for the Phillies moving forward.

The over/under for Phillies’ wins in 2013 is 81.5.  The Phillies were 81-81 (50%) in 2012.  The Phillies have Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay in the rotation and Jonathan Papelbon to close out games for 2013.  That is going to give them a very good shot to win three of every five night this year.  So far, so good as far as 1B Ryan Howard and 2B Chase Utley’s health looks.  If Howard and Utley can stay healthy in 2013, the Phillies will make another run at the playoffs.  I definitely like the over as far as Phillies’ wins go for 2013.

69-year old manager Charlie Manuel led the Phillies to an injured filled 81-81 (50%) season in 2012.  Manuel is now 727-569 (56.1%) during his first 9 regular seasons as the manager of the Phillies.  He is also 27-19 (58.7%) so far in the playoffs for the Phillies.  Manuel is now 947-759 (55.5%) in his first 11 regular seasons as a major league manager and he is also 29-22 (56.9%) in the playoffs.  I think Manuel is going to get the Phillies back on track in 2013.

The Phillies have released 22-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Stefan Jarrin.  Jarrin played in 26 games in Rookie-ball for the Dodgers last year and he was 19 for 91 (.209 avg, .667 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers, 9 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  He has played in 49 games in his first two years in the minors and he is 32 of 152 (.211 avg, .644 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers, 16 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  This is no loss for the Phillies moving forward.

The Phillies have dealt 25-year old righty reliever Mike Cisco to the Angels for no compensation.  Cisco pitched in 40 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year for the Phillies and he was 5-3 with 3 saves, a 1.80 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  He pitched in 127 games (47 starts) in his five years in the minors for the Phillies and he was 29-22 with 6 saves, a 2.93 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.  The Phillies made this move for Cisco’s benefit, which is commendable.

The Phillies should have a pretty decent bullpen in 2013.  32-year old righty Jonathan Papelbon will be the closer for the Phillies again in 2013.  He pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 5-6 with 38 saves, a 2.44 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.  Papelbon has now pitched in 466 games (3 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 28-25 with 257 saves, a 2.34 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.  I expect Papelbon to have another good year in 2013.  34-year old righty Mike Adams was signed over the winter and he will serve as the set-up man for the Phillies.  He pitched in 61 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 5-3 with 1 save, a 3.27 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 358 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 18-15 with 4 saves, a 2.28 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.  27-year old Antonio Bastardo, 27-year old Jeremy Horst and 35-year old lefty Raul Valdes give the Phillies three pretty decent trio of lefties in the pen.  Bastardo has the best arm and stuff of this trio.  He pitched in 65 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 2-5 with 1 save, a 4.33 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.  Bastardo has now pitched in 160 games (5 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 12-9 with 9 saves, a 4.02 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.  Horst pitched in 32 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  Valdes pitched in 27 games (1 start) for the Phillies last year and he was 3-2 with a 2.90 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 78 games (2 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 6-6 with 1 save, a 4.07 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.  35-year old righty Chad Durbin will be one of the Phillies’ middle relievers in 2013.  He pitched in 76 games (0 starts) for the Braves last year and he was 4-1 with 1 save, a 3.10 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.  Durbin has now pitched in 440 games (75 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 42-47 with 5 saves, a 4.95 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.  25-year old righty Justin DeFratus, 24-year old Phillippe Aumont, 26-year old righty Michael Stutes, 27-year old righty B.J. Rosenberg and 27-year old lefty Joe Savery are also in camp trying to win bullpen jobs.  DeFratus comes into this season as the Phillies’ #20 prospect according to Baseball America.  He pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.38 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 18 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 3.07 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP.  Stutes pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA and a 1.94 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 63 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 6-2 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.  Aumont comes into this season as the Phillies’ #13 prospect according to Baseball America.  He pitched in 18 games (0 starts) in his first taste of the majors for the Phillies in 2012 and he was 0-1 with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.  He also pitched in 41 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-1 with 15 saves, a 4.26 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.  Rosenberg pitched in 22 games (1 start) in his first taste of the majors for the Phillies in 2012 and he was 1-2 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.  He also pitched in 25 games (6 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 5-2 with 3 saves, a 1.89 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP.  Savery pitched in 19 games (0 starts) last year for the Phillies and he was 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 23 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2013:  B