33-year old switch-hitting Jimmy Rollins played in 142 games for the Phillies last year and he was 152 of 567 (.268 avg, .736 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 16 homers, 63 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,636 games in his first 12 years in the majors and he is 1,866 of 6,858 (.272 avg, .761 OPS) with 1,080 runs scored, 170 homers, 725 RBIs and 373 stolen bases. Rollins only had 7 errors in 138 games at SS for the Phillies last year but he showed slightly below average range. I look for Rollins to have another solid year for the Phillies in 2012.

29-year old switch-hitting Michael Martinez will likely be Jimmy Rollins’ caddy in 2012. Martinez played in 88 games as a rookie for the Phillies last year and he was 41 of 209 (.196 avg, .540 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 3 homers, 24 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Martinez had 2 errors in 13 games at SS for the Phillies last year where he showed pretty awful range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: B+

33-year old lefty swinging Chase Utley played in 103 games for the Phillies last year and he was 103 of 398 (.259 avg, .769 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 11 homers, 44 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,190 games in his first 9 years with the Phillies and he is 1,198 of 4,133 (.290 avg, .882 OPS) with 731 runs scored, 188 homers, 694 RBIs and 110 stolen bases. Utley only made 5 errors in 100 games at 2B last year while showing off good range. The Phillies really need a full year out of Chase Utley in 2012 as he is one of the best all-around 2B in all of baseball.

29-year old switch-hitting Mike Martinez is likely going to be the top middle infield backup for the Phillies in 2012. He played in 19 games at 2B last year for the Phillies and he only made 1 error, while showing off outstanding range there.

32-year old lefty swinging Pete Orr is going to have a hard time making the Phillies this spring due to all of the veterans on the bench. Orr played in 46 games for the Phillies last year and he was 21 of 96 (.219 avg, .529 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 0 homers, 4 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Orr has now played in 393 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 156 of 615 (.254 avg, .608 OPS) with 87 runs scored, 3 homers, 39 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. Orr had 2 errors in 29 games at 2B for the Phillies last year while showing off outstanding range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR 2B FOR 2012: B+

32-year old lefty swinging Ryan Howard won’t likely be ready to play until sometime in May as he is still rehabbing from surgery he had over the off-season to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon that he injured on his last AB of the playoffs last season. Howard has played in 152 games for the Phillies last year and he was 141 of 557 (.253 avg, .835 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 33 homers, 116 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 1,027 games in his first 8 years with the Phillies and he is 1,043 of 3,794 (.275 avg, .928 OPS) with 633 runs scored, 286 homers, 864 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Howard is a sub par defensive 1B as he made 9 errors in 149 games at 1B last year. But that’s nitpicking as the Phillies pay Howard to swing the bat. They hope he can return in May.

34-year old righty swinging Ty Wigginton has outstanding versatility in the field, but he is going to be playing 1B when the 2012 season begins for the Phillies. Wigginton played in 130 games for the Rockies last year and he was 97 for 401 (.242 avg, .731 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 15 homers, 47 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,190 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 1,087 of 4,107 (.265 avg, .768 OPS) with 509 runs scored, 158 homers, 548 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. Wigginton played 36 error-free games at 1B for the Rockies last year. He will be an improvement defensively for the Phillies until Ryan Howard is ready to return to action.

41-year old lefty swinging Jim Thome might get into a game or two at 1B this year, but his main job is going to be pinch-hitting for the Phillies in 2012. Thome only played in 1 game at 1B last year and he didn’t make any errors. He has the range of a phone booth right now. Thome played in 93 games for the Twins & Indians last year and he was 71 for 277 (.256 avg, .838 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 15 homers and 50 RBIs. Thome has played in 361 games in his first three years with the Phillies and he is 333 for 1,279 (.260 avg, .928 OPS) with 234 runs scored, 96 homers and 266 RBIs. Thome has now played in 2,287 games in his first 21 years in the majors and he is 2,287 of 8,259 (.277 avg, .959 OPS) with 1,566 runs scored, 604 homers, 1,674 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: B+

33-year old right swinging Carlos Ruiz continues to improve as a hitter. Ruiz played in 132 games for the Phillies last year and he was 116 for 410 (.283 avg, .754 OPS) with 49 runs scored, 6 homers, 40 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 619 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 495 for 1,866 (.265 avg, .750 OPS) with 218 runs scored, 36 homers, 231 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Ruiz played in 138 games for the Phillies behind the plate last year and he had 4 errors and 8 passed balls. He only threw out 18 of 100 (18%) base stealers last year and Phillies’ pitchers had a 3.06 ERA with him behind the plate. Ruiz is still playing at a high level and he would be one of the hardest players for the Phillies to replace if he got injured.

35-year old lefty swinging Brian Schneider is going to be the backup catcher once again for the Phillies in 2012. Schneider played in 41 games for the Phillies last year and he was 22 for 125 (.176 avg, .502 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 2 homers and 9 RBIs. He has now played two years with the Phillies appearing in 88 games in which he is 52 for 250 (.208 avg, .617 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 6 homers and 24 RBIs. Schneider has now played in 1,014 games in his first 12 years in the majors and he is 761 for 3,076 (.247 avg, .690 OPS) with 275 runs scored, 65 homers, 380 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Schneider played in 40 games behind the plate for the Phillies last year and he had 1 error and 1 passed ball. He threw out only 3 of 23 (13%) base stealers, but Phillies’ pitchers had a 2.88 ERA with him behind the plate last year. The Phillies really like Schneider defensively, they just hope he hits a little bit better in 2012.

31-year old righty swinging Erik Kratz will likely be #3 in line in 2012 for the Phillies at catcher. He played in 6 games for the Phillies last year and he was 2 for 6 (.333 avg, .833 OPS). Kratz has now played in 11 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 6 for 40 (.150 avg, .365 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. He played in 1 game behind the plate for the Phillies last year in which he had 0 errors but 1 passed ball. He was 0 for 1 throwing out base stealers and Phillies’ pitchers had a 3.60 ERA with him behind the plate. Kratz will likely start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: B

The Phillies are going to need some pitchers to really step up in the bullpen and give them solid work bridging the gap from the starters to the set-up man. Here is a look at the Phillies’ bullpen as of right now:

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon: The Phillies signed 31-year old righty Jonathan Papelbon to close for them, and I really like the move. He pitched in 63 games (0 starts) for the Red Sox last year and he was 4-1 with 31 saves, a 2.94 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Papelbon has now pitched in 396 games (3 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 23-19 with 219 saves, a 2.33 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He has been one of the best closers’ in all of baseball since he entered the majors, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

Set-Up Man: Antonio Bastardo: 26-year old lefty Antonio Bastardo will likely be the Phillies’ set-up man in 2012. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 6-1 with 8 saves, a 2.64 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Bastardo has now pitched in 95 games (5 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 10-4 with 8 saves, a 3.86 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Bastardo has outstanding stuff and I think he’s going to do a good job in his new role for the Phillies.

Righties: Chad Qualls: 33-year old Chad Qualls had a nice comeback year for the Padres last year. He pitched in 77 games (0 starts) for the Padres last year and he was 6-8 with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Qualls has now pitched in 537 games (0 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 38-34 with 51 saves, a 3.78 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP. Qualls could wind up being the set-up man for the Phillies in 2012 if Bastardo falters in the role.

Brian Sanches: 33-year old Brian Sanches pitched in 39 games (2 starts) for the Marlins last year and he was 4-1 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Sanches has now pitched in 189 games (2 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 13-6 with a 3.58 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. I think he can really help the Phillies in 2012 as he has really pitched well lately in the majors.

Michael Stutes: 25-year old Michael Stutes really had a solid year for the Phillies as a rookie last year. He pitched in 57 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 6-2 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. I look for Stutes to have another solid year in 2012 for the Phillies.

David Herndon: 26-year old David Herndon has turned himself into a pretty decent reliever. He pitched in 45 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 1-4 with 1 save, a 3.32 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Herndon has now pitched in 92 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Phillies and he is 2-7 with 1 save, a 3.70 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP.

Jose Contreras: 40-year old Jose Contreras is going to get off to a late start this year as he continues to recover from elbow surgery. Contreras pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-0 with 5 saves, a 3.86 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has now pitched in 84 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Phillies and he is 6-4 with 9 saves, a 3.44 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Contreras has now pitched in 275 games (175 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 77-67 with 9 saves, a 4.54 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Contreras has really reinvented himself in Philly as a nasty reliever.

Justin DeFratus: 24-year old Justin DeFratus will be a longshot to make the Phillies out of spring training, but he looked really solid last year. He pitched in 5 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 51 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-3 with 15 saves, a 2.99 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. I think he will pitch for the Phillies at some point in 2012.

Lefties: Dontrelle Willis: 30-year old Dontrelle Willis is going to get a big shot in spring training to re-invent himself as a reliever. Willis pitched in 13 games (all starts) for the Reds last year and he was 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Willis has now pitched in 205 games (202 starts) in his first 9 years in the show and he is 72-69 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Willis is really tough on lefty batters, so he might excel in his new role for the Phillies in 2012.

Jeremy Horst: 26-year old Jeremy Horst came to the Phillies over the winter in a deal with the Reds (for infielder Wilson Valdez). Horst pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year in his first taste of the majors and he was 0-0 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He also pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Reds last year and he was 1-4 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.

Raul Valdes: 34-year old Raul Valdes pitched in 13 games (0 starts) for the Yankees & Cardinals last year and he was 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. He has now pitched in 51 games (1 start) in his first two years in the majors and he is 3-4 with 1 save, a 4.58 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

Jon Savery: 26-year old Jon Savery pitched in 4 games (0 starts) for the Phillies last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 0.38 WHIP. He also pitched in 25 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 5-0 with 2 saves, a 1.50 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He will have a decent shot of making the Phillies’ pitching staff with a strong spring.

David Purcey: 29-year old David Purcey pitched in 33 games (0 starts) for the A’s, Tigers and Blue Jays last year in which he was 1-2 with a 5.61 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. He has now pitched in 87 games (21 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 6-12 with 1 save, a 5.38 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. Purcey will be a longshot to make the team this spring.

Pat Misch: 30-year old Pat Misch had a rough year for the Mets in 2011. He pitched in 6 games (0 starts) for the Mets last year and he was 1-0 with a 10.29 ERA and a 2.14 WHIP. Misch has now pitched in 78 games (24 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 4-15 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE PHILLIES BULLPEN IN 2012: B-