As Lou Marson heads to the DL for another go, who would you call the winner in the Cliff Lee-for-Lou-Marson-and-several-others deal?

Sep 20, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Lou Marson (6) walks to first base during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Cleveland won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

As much as it pains me to say it, the Phillies were the clear winner of that trade. Jason Donald and Jason Knapp were disasters, and Lou Marson has been nowhere near as good as advertised (although that hasn’t stopped the ladies from falling in love with him). We also received Carlos Carrasco in that deal and while the jury is still out on him, it’s not looking good.

Between injuries and suspensions for beaning batters he just can’t stay on the mound. Meanwhile, the Phillies have won a World Series title, been regular contenders year in and year out, and adding insult to injury, you were even able to trade him away and then resign him in free agency.

We still complain about this trade every chance we get.

I remembered the Indians had Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn late in the offseason and for some reason I gave them a ton of props. Why did I do that, and did others do the same?  Are they okay?

We all loved the moves of signing Swisher and Bourn along with Mark Reynolds and trading for Drew Stubbs. Actually, we still do. So far the results have been mixed, though. It’s either feast or famine right now with little to no in between. One game they’ll go out and score 12 runs and then they won’t score 12 over the course of the next four games.

It’s a total crap shoot on a nightly basis what we’ll get out of this team offensively. Bourn has been out for almost two weeks now with a cut on his hand and should be back. Hopefully his presence can help right the ship offensively.

Apr 19, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona (17) prepares for a game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Francona once broke down crying in an interview close to his firing as manager of the Phillies, due to how irreparably bad the Phillies were.  Would you say these deeply emotional scars have healed in time? Or was that just because the Phillies were so dumb and terrible back then.

I’d say they’ve probably healed. No one seems to remember Francona managing the Phillies. Everyone ignores it and instead focuses on his time in Boston.

It makes sense, though. The Vet, that astro turf, the God-awful roster the Phillies put together. I don’t blame Francona if he has repressed any and all memories from his time there. That’s not the same franchise now that it was about 15 years ago or so.

Wahoo’s on First recently interviewed another intersection of Phillies/Indians history, Paul Byrd, who talked about his HGH usage. His inciting of a brawl at this Phillies-Braves game in 1999 is one of my favorite memories from that horrible era.  Was there a less likely person to start a riot?

Byrd seems like the least likely person to incite a riot.

I don’t see how anyone who uses that old school, arm swinging wind-up could be taken seriously enough for someone to think to themselves, “Hey, I need to charge the mound and knock that guy’s head off of his shoulders.”

Stranger things have happened though. Speaking of riots, I think you all missed out by trading away Carlos Carrasco. He’s going to be the instigator of a massive bench clearing brawl by the time his career is over if he keeps up with his current shenanigans.

Apr 14, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Brett Myers (39) reacts after giving up a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Wow… Brett Myers is on the Indians, too.  How are all of these former Phillies working out, and does anyone really remember than as “former Phillies?”

Well, we remember Myers from his time in Philadelphia, but not necessarily for his pitching. I’ll leave it at that. I think that’s the case for a lot of people. As for his performance on the mound. Wow, he was awful. The games quickly degraded into home run derby.

Turns out he was apparently dealing with a strained elbow ligament and is on the DL right now trying to get healthy. If he can get healthy, maybe he comes back and gives us a few quality starts, but no one is really banking on it. The fan base was very skeptical of his signing and the idea that he could become a starter again in the first place. It would take a miracle a this point to change that opinion.

Cole Hamels
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Hey you, you and everyone else in that cave, sheltered from the cold, it’s time come out. Baseball’s back. Aren’t you excited? I know I am. The 2013 season, like each that came before it, brings with it rejuvenation, tradition, hope, and of course, fun. Every team, even the predicted to be lowly Astros can share in the hope and excitement of opening day. In fact, the young Astros did just that on Sunday night by starting the season with an 8-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.

For the Phillies, this season could go one of two ways. It’s similar to that Robert Frost poem, you know the one I’m referring to, “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and sorry I could not travel both.” Frost might have been a New Englander, but some of his most famous words accurately describe a mid-Atlantic team’s position. The Phillies are full of veterans, with some youth sprinkled in. This season could turn out well, with a best-case scenario being a return to the playoffs where anything can happen, and a worst-case scenario looking like a major salary dump at the trade deadline, and a number of AAA call ups.

Still, no matter which path the Phillies follow, it isn’t a choice the team can make now, like most things in life, it’s something that must play itself out in the daily grind. Still, it’s the beginning, and so I say let’s forget about that worst-case scenario and focus on the positives. For instance, Cole Hamels, mustache and all, will be on the hill starting for the Phillies tonight in Atlanta.

About a month ago an incredibly knowledgeable  baseball fan I know posed a simple yet difficult question to me. “How many opening day pitchers for the Phillies were originally drafted by Philadelphia, and who were they?” This question became even more pertinent when Charlie Manuel tabbed Cole Hamels to start on opening day because once Cole throws that first pitch, he will become the most recent answer to that question. After failing to answer the trivia question completely correct (I got 1 our of 2), I decided to pose it to other Phillies faithful on Twitter. No one got it correct, in fact, the guesses, while creative, weren’t very close.

I don’t want to hold you in suspense, but since by this po

int you’re most likely googling the answer, I’ll just tell you. There have been three Phillies starters to start on opening day who were drafted by the Phillies. One will be Cole Hamels, the second was Brett Myers, and the third was Bruce Ruffin. Myers did it started on opening day 3 times, from 2007-2009 after originally being drafted by the team in the 1st round in the 1999 draft. Ruffin started only once on opening day for the Phillies, doing so in 1990. The Phillies drafted Ruffin in the 2nd round of the 1985 draft.

So, one paragraph of edification later, you, like I was, might be surprised to see so few names on this list. The Phillies haven’t done a great job of drafting, developing, and keeping good young pitchers. Just look at their current starting rotation. Hamels and Kendrick are both home grown, we know Hamels is an ace and will deservedly start opening day this season, and Kendrick is right where he should be, #4 slot. Otherwise, Lee was drafted by the now defunct Expos, Halladay by the Blue Jays, and Lannan by the updated Expos, I mean the Nationals.

Robin Roberts

One thing that’s important to keep in mind is that the 1st rule 4 draft, the first-year player draft that isn’t to be confused with the rule 5 draft, occurred in 1965 with Rick Monday, another good trivia answer, was drafted 1st overall by the Kansas City Athletics (more defunct teams, YAY!). That means that players signed by the Phillies prior to 1965 who started for the Fightins on opening day don’t qualify. Just as an example, Robin Roberts, whom the Phillies signed in 1948 started 12 consecutive seasons for the Phillies on opening day. Only Steve Carlton started more opening days than Roberts, accomplishing the feat 14 times, although not all consecutively.

So, Phillies fans, it’s safe to leave your domicile and enjoy the sunshine, freshly cut grass, a beer and a hotdog because baseball is back. More importantly, Phillies baseball is back. More Ryan Howard mammoth home runs, Chase Utley hustle plays, Rollins’ cannon throws from deep shortstop, and maybe some strikeouts from Lee, Halladay, and of course, Cole Hamels. Celebrate, as I will, but be ready for a season that could go down two distinctly different paths, one to glory, and one to dispair. Still, Cole Hamels becomes the 3rd Phillies draftee to start on opening day, now isn’t that just the best news you’ve heard all winter?

Plus he looks great. Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

This has made his transgression into the free agent market somewhat clouded by mystery.  Who is he?  What does he do?  What are his strengths?  Who keeps telling him that ‘sinister merchant’ beard looks good?  Is it his evil reflection in the mirror?

Some of these questions, we will never know the answer to, forced to live the rest of our lives screaming at the sky with unanswered questions about Brett Myers.  It’s just another awful byproduct of baseball.

Myers has claimed he intends to start somewhere, and the Twins seem to be letting him intend thing without laughing in his face.

“They’re interested, or perhaps even very interested,” Myers’ agent bragged recently with Brett Myers-esque overconfidence.

The Phillies, being interested in every free agent on earth, are naturally sniffing around this whole business, assuming that by “start” Myers actually desires to “do whatever the hell my new team wants me to do with god damn smile on my face.”  Because the Phillies don’t really need another starter, but their interest indicates that they think they could get Myers to come out of the bullpen, if they really wanted to.  Their intentions remain to thicken that pen, and Myers certainly has the limbs to qualify for it.

The Phillies and Myers have a torrid, sexually charged history.  They spent a few years trying to change each other, then parted ways suddenly, and with much passive aggression on either side–Myers tried to garner pity from their mutual friends, while the Phillies flaunted their new starters without mercy.  Then they went ahead and drafted somebody who is apparently just like him.

So, you know.  This is all very weird.