Philadelphia Phillies

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2001 Finish: 86-76, 2nd place, NL East, 2 GB	2001 Payroll: $41,664,167 (24th)

Projected Lineup SS Jimmy Rollins 2B Marlon Anderson RF Bobby Abreu 3B Scott Rolen C Mike Lieberthal LF Pat Burrell 1B Travis Lee CF Doug Glanville Projected Rotation RHP Robert Person LHP Randy Wolf RHP Terry Adams RHP Brandon Duckworth RHP David Coggin CL Jose Mesa

By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com

The Philadelphia Phillies had reason to be cautiously optimistic for 2003.

Then Scott Rolen opened his mouth.

The star third baseman held a pre-spring training news conference to explain why he had turned down a 10-year, $140 million offer from the Phillies. Rolen, who will become a free agent after this season, said he is unhappy with the club's committment to winning.

Rolen's teammates were less than supportive of his comments, and it is clear the team's psyche has been fractured by the incident. The team did take a step toward healing the wound by signing stud outfielder Bobby Abreu to a five-year, $64 million extension.

Rolen did have a point. While the Braves and Mets were retooling with stars like Gary Sheffield and Roberto Alomar, respectively, the Phillies were adding such household names as Terry Adams and Ricky Ledee.

Last season, the first under Larry Bowa, the Phillies posted a second-place, 86-76 record. It was a 21-game improvement from 2000 and only the second winning season in 15 years for the club.

The key to the resurgence is a corps of young hitters that includes Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Marlon Anderson, Abreu and Rolen. The Phillies also have decent young arms in Brandon Duckworth and Randy Wolf, who serve as a nice complement to underrated ace Robert Person (9-2, 3.41 ERA after the All-Star break).

On paper, this club can compete for the division title again, especially if All-Star catcher Mike Lieberthal can make it all the way back from a devastating knee injury.

But the product on the field is only part of this franchise's worries. The city of Philadelphia hasn't supported the team in years -- 1995 was the last time total attendance surpassed the two million mark. Despite contending for the NL East pennant from the outset last season, only five teams had lower attendance than the Phillies' 1,782,054 -- and three of those were the Devil Rays, Marlins and Expos.

Up for grabs : The fifth spot in the rotation is unsettled, with Vicente Padilla, Nelson Figueroa, Dave Coggin and Cliff Politte battling for the spot. Coggin probably has the inside track after posting a 4.17 ERA in 17 starts last season.

Spring chicken: Outfielder Marlon Byrd won MVP honors in the Class AA Eastern League last season by hitting .316 with 28 homers and 32 steals. He could supplant the OBP-challenged Doug Glanville as early as this season in center field.

Arrivals
Pos.	Player	From	Via
RHP	Terry Adams	Dodgers	Free Agency
OF	Ricky Ledee	Rangers	Free Agency
OF	John Mabry	Marlins	Free Agency
LHP	Pete Schourek	Red Sox	Free Agency
Departures
Pos.	Player	To	Via
RHP	Ricky Bottalico	TBA	Free Agency
RHP	Chris Brock	Orioles	Trade
LHP	Dennis Cook	Angels	Free Agency
LHP	Omar Daal	Dodgers	Trade
OF	Brian L. Hunter	Astros	Free Agency
RHP	John Wasdin	Japan	Free Agency