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Ryan Howard Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images

Beyond the Box Score The turnaround The Phillies were 10th in the NL wild-card race on July 28 last season, and GM Pat Gillick began a fire sale by unloading veterans David Bell, Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle. In announcing a retooling, Gillick said he didn't see the Phils contending until 2008. The remaining players had other ideas. The Phils won 45 games (most in the NL) after the All-Star break and actually led the wild card with seven games to go only to flop in the final week. Welcome jimy The Phils made 104 errors in 2006, not a hideous total, but up from 90 in 2005. There was some concern about fundamentals and the team's readiness coming out of spring training after a 1-6 start. These concerns led to changes on the coaching staff. Jimy Williams, who has significant managerial experience, is the new bench coach and a stickler for teaching and fundamentals. The Keystone Bat Co. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley became the first NL double-play duo to ever reach 25 homers apiece in 2006. They also shared some hitting streak history. Rollins had the majors' longest in 2005 -- 36 games -- and Utley had the longest in 2006 at 35 games. Feel good story Chris Coste figures to be an important role player on the club. Last year, the affable North Dakotan made it to the majors after 12 seasons in the minors, the first five of which were spent playing independent ball. At 33 years and 111 days, Coste was the oldest rookie to debut with the Phillies since Izzy Leon, who was 34 in 1945. What else can he do? Ryan Howard needs a bigger trophy room. In a little more than a year, starting with the 2005 Rookie of the Year, he won these honors: NL Most Valuable Player, Hank Aaron Award, Players Choice Player of the Year and Japan All-Star Series MVP.

In less than two full seasons in the majors, Ryan Howard has won everything except the Nobel Prize and the World Series. Winning the World Series, of course, is contingent on making the playoffs, and the Phillies haven't done that since Howard was in middle school. From the reigning National League MVP in the middle of the batting order to an upgraded starting pitching staff, there is much to like about this team, even if the bullpen is a concern. This could be the year the Phillies end their 13-year postseason drought.

Rotation

Manager Charlie Manuel couldn't hide his excitement when Freddy Garcia was acquired from the White Sox in December. "I'd say we picked us up an ace," he said. "We've got some good starting pitching." Regardless of whether Garcia fits the definition of a true ace or not, the rotation is a strength, possibly one of the best in the NL with the 31-year-old, 116-game winner joining Brett Myers, Cole Hamels, Jamie Moyer and Adam Eaton. Veteran Jon Lieber could also be in the picture, though the team was dangling him as trade bait for much-needed bullpen reinforcement. In Myers and Hamels, the Phils have two terrific young arms with top-of-the-rotation stuff. In the past two seasons, Myers, 26, has added a cut fastball and a splitter to an already impressive arsenal. Hamels finally stayed healthy in 2006 and showed why the organization made him its top pick in 2002. The lanky lefty, who turned 23 in December, dazzled with his poise and jaw-dropping changeup. Myers and Hamels ranked first and second in the NL with 107 and 101 strikeouts, respectively, after the All-Star break. Garcia will likely break up lefties Hamels and Moyer. The 44-year-old Moyer arrived in a late-season trade with Seattle and proved valuable on the mound (the Phils won six of his eight starts) and in the clubhouse, where he became a mentor to the precocious Hamels. Eaton returns to the team that made him a first-round pick in 1996. He has the stuff to be a consistent winner, but his durability is suspect.

Bullpen

The condition of closer Tom Gordon's high-mileage shoulder and an overall lack of depth make this the biggest area of concern. Look for GM Pat Gillick to tinker with the mix all season, and the results could be make or break. Gordon, 39, pitched brilliantly in the first half of 2006 and made the All-Star team but later missed nearly a month with a shoulder strain. The Phils spent much off the offseason trying to acquire a back-end arm to work the eighth inning and serve as insurance for Gordon, and in late January signed veteran right-hander Antonio Alfonseca. In-house candidates Geoff Geary and Ryan Madson could get the call. Geary was a workhorse in 2006, appearing in 81 games. The enigmatic Madson has the fastball and changeup to succeed but needs to rebuild his confidence after bouncing between the rotation and bullpen en route to a 5.69 ERA last season. Lefties Matt Smith, Eude Brito and Fabio Castro could contribute. Rule 5 picks Jim Ed Warden and Alfredo Simon (picked by Baltimore before being shipped to Philly) will get looks in spring training, along with Joe Bisenius, a right-hander with a hard, sinking fastball.

Middle Infield

Second baseman Chase Utley and shortstop Jimmy Rollins, both 28, have blossomed into one of the majors' best tandems. They combined for 394 hits, 57 homers and 185 RBIs in 2006. Rollins is a brilliant defender. He made only 11 errors in 157 games and added pop at the plate with 25 homers to go along with 36 steals out of the leadoff hole. Utley is a fan favorite and one of the game's most respected players for his offensive production and all-out, all-the-time style of play. He's coming off two straight 100-RBI seasons and the first of what should be many starts in the All-Star Game.

Corners

The man at third base might need an introduction, but the guy at first surely doesn't. Howard's spectacular 58 homer, 149 RBI season made him the most popular athlete in sports-crazed Philadelphia and earned him the distinction of being one of the most feared hitters in the game. Houston manager Phil Garner confirmed that in September when he had Howard walked intentionally leading off the bottom of the ninth in a tie game. Teams will pitch Howard carefully, but if his first 266 games (.304, 82 homers, 217 RBIs) are an indication, he'll continue to be a mega-force. Oh yeah, Wes Helms is the new guy at third.

Outfield

Pat Burrell survived another winter of trade rumors and returns for his eighth season in left. Despite averaging 30.5 homers and 106 RBIs the last two seasons, Burrell has largely been viewed as an underachiever, and team officials have not hidden their desire to move him and replace him with someone like Alfonso Soriano, whom they made an aggressive but unsuccessful pitch to this winter. Burrell can play himself back into favor by improving production with runners in scoring position (.222 last season) and making teams think twice about pitching around Howard. A chronic right foot injury has hampered Burrell on the bases and in the outfield. Mobility is not a problem in center and right, where Aaron Rowand and Shane Victorino are both top defenders. The speedy Victorino impressed last season. He'll bat second and new baserunning guru Davey Lopes will urge him to be aggressive.

Catching

An era ended when Mike Lieberthal became a free agent, ending a run of 10 straight Opening Day starts with the club. Longtime farmhand Carlos Ruiz and veteran Rod Barajas, signed as a free agent, are slated to share time, though one could emerge as the regular. Barajas saw significant duty with Texas, and that probably gives him an edge.

Bench

The Phils hit just .209 in pinch-hitting situations last year and their best pinch-hitter, David Dellucci, is gone. Switch-hitting backup infielder Abraham Nunez needs to be more productive in that role. Chris Coste catches, plays the corner infield spots and swings a pretty good bat. The Phils are hoping right-handed-hitting outfielder Jayson Werth, who showed promise with the Dodgers in 2004 and '05, is ready to contribute after missing last season with a wrist injury.

Management

Manuel is in the final year of a three-year contract. While some of his pitching moves and strategic decisions can be head-scratchers, few are better than Manuel at keeping a team together and making players believe. His guidance helped turn around what seemed to be a lost season in 2006. But keeping the team in contention until the final weekend, as Manuel has done the last two years, probably won't be enough. It's playoffs or else. Upper management made that clear by encouraging wholesale changes to the coaching staff.

Final Analysis

Scoring runs won't be a problem. Myers, Hamels and Garcia are a formidable top three. If Gordon stays healthy -- a must -- and Gillick works a little magic in the bullpen, the long playoff drought just might end with a division title -- or at least a wild-card berth.

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