NL East

In a December to remember, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired the most coveted MLB free agency gem in Cliff Lee.

The Phillies' rotation now includes Roy Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton.

Lee gave the Phillies their fourth legitimate ace, and the group was christened R2C2.  This group has the potential to be historically good, which has gotten a lot of people to thinking: Why do they even need a fifth starter?

The New York Mets are 10 days in to spring training, so now's a good time to take a look at position battles and roster predictions.

While Chris Young and Scott Hairston have seen their respective stocks rising over the last week, the second base competition is still as unclear as when camp began. Add to that more uncertainty over how the bullpen will be comprised and there are still lots of questions to answer ahead of the first round of cuts.

We are all well aware that virtually no team goes through an entire season without injury, and very few can make it through 162 games without a major one.

With that in mind, my question is as follows: Do this year's Phils have enough in reserve to weather the inevitable injury bug?

Now, I'm not going to predict anywhere near the bad luck of last season.  Just about every regular position player suffered at least one physical setback last year, with every major contributor being out for at least a few weeks. 

Looking at the Philadelphia Phillies starting rotation is something everyone will be doing all season. Why?

Because they could be the best starting rotation ever assembled.

What makes one say that?

Well let's take a look at each one.

Roy Halladay: good old No. 34 happens to be turning 34 years old this May, yet is still ranked as the No. 1 starting pitcher in all Major League Baseball.

The Philadelphia Phillies' prospect Domonic Brown recorded his first hit of spring training today against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The at-bat was bittersweet, however, because Brown fractured his wrist, an injury that will most likely require surgery.

Philadelphia Phillies OF Domonic Brown has a fractured hook of the hamate bone in his right hand and may need surgery after he had to leave today's ballgame against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Jim Salisbury.

Salisbury tweeted that Brown had to exit after his first at-bat. Brown fouled off a pitch and then looked down at his hand, apparently in pain. He finished the at-bat with a hit, but then departed for X-rays.

About a week ago, a MRI revealed that Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley had patellar tendinitis in his right knee.  He was prescribed rest and expected to show improvement quickly.

But after a full week of rest, Utley reported that he did not feel any better.  So today, he was given a cortisone injection in an attempt to reduce the swelling.

When speaking about the competition for second base, New York Mets Manager Terry Collins said he wants to reduce the number of candidates by March 14.

Right now, the Mets have four players—Luis Castillo, Brad Emaus, Daniel Murphy and Justin Turner—trying to win a job as the Mets' starting second baseman.

When Opening Day rolls around for the Philadelphia Phillies on April 1, one of the most anticipated teams in the lengthy history of Philadelphia sports will begin its 162-game crusade for postseason greatness, anchored by a starting rotation for the history books, including left-handed starter Cole Hamels.

Despite a strong showing from New York Mets lefty Oliver Perez on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals in Port St. Lucie, Perez may be on the fast track to the bullpen come Opening Day.