Twelve alumni are on ballot for 2012. Voting begins today at www.phillies.com and concludes on Wednesday, March 14, at 5 p.m.

Not just any old Joe can get in. If they are former players, those candidates must have been with the Phillies for five or more years. Managers and coaches need four or more years of service. In addition, position players require a minimum of 700 games, while pitchers need a minimum of 180 games to be eligible.

Plus, all players must be retired for three years before they can be eligible for the ballot. Consideration is given to longevity, ability, contributions to the Phillies and baseball, character and special achievements.

Last season John Kruk was inducted, and in 2010, the inductee was Darren Daulton.

The 2012 season marks the seventh consecutive year of online voting for fans, who can select their top three choices. A first-place vote is worth five points, second place is three points and third place is one point.

The top five consensus choices are determined by total points and will serve as the official ballot for a special Wall of Fame Selection Committee that will choose this year’s inductee. The committee is composed of team executives and members of the media.

2012 Ballot (* deceased)

Pitchers: Larry Christenson, Jim Konstanty*, Ron Reed, Curt Schilling, Rick Wise              

Catchers:  Mike Lieberthal, Jimmy Wilson*

Infielder:Pinky Whitney* 

Outfielders: Greg Gross, Von Hayes 

Coach: Mike Ryan

Manager: Jim Fregosi                                                                                         

Here are the details about Alumni Weekend.

• The weekend officially kicks off with the third annual Phillies Alumni Luncheon for seniors 55 and older on Thursday, Aug. 9, at noon in the Diamond Club.  More information will be made available during the season.
• The Wall of Fame Induction ceremony is at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, Aug.10, prior to the 7:05 p.m. game against the St. Louis Cardinals.  A 14”x20” cast bronze plaque of the honoree will be added to the Wall of Fame display located in the Memory Lane section of Ashburn Alley, sponsored by Toyota. In addition, many Wall of Fame members will be in attendance to participate in the pregame ceremonies.
• Alumni Night is the following day, Saturday, Aug.11, in which former players living in the tri-state area will be introduced before the game. 
• The annual Stephen Starr-Gary Maddox Barbecue Challenge, presented by Hatfield Quality Meats and KRAFT Barbecue Sauce, will also take place pregame on Aug. 11 on Citizens Bank Way.
• The alumni festivities conclude on Sunday, Aug. 12, when fans will be treated to fun surprises and great interaction with alumni.

Three-Game Ticket Packs go on sale today and will be on sale Tuesday, Feb. 14, (or while supplies last) at www.phillies.com/threepacks.

There are five, three-game packs from which to choose, including a Summer Saturday Pack, Bobble Figurine Pack, Fireworks Pack, Mother’s/Father’s Day Appreciation Pack and Fan Appreciation Night Pack.

On Monday at the annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cherry Hill, N.J., Pence said he'd be arriving at the Phillies spring training complex on Wednesday.

By Thursday morning, he had made an announcement on his Twitter account: "First day in Clearwater, this place is beautiful!"

Having been traded at last year's trade deadline, Pence was unfamiliar with the club's spring training complex. But he got his first glimpse of the Carpenter Complex this week, something he had been looking forward to.

"Last year what happened for me was pretty wild personally, a lot of change," Pence said. "Now, I'm pretty acquainted with everyone, and I just have to get used to the one thing: spring training and finding my way around that facility. It's one of those things you do. We have a lot to look forward to this year and I'll be in Clearwater so early so I'll have plenty of time to be ready."

With Ryan Howard out indefinitely, the Phillies will need him to be ready.He had a great deal of success hitting behind the Phils cleanup hitter last year, and it will be interesting to see how he handles some added pressure without Howard in the lineup.

UTLEY UPDATE

Charlie Manuel said on Monday that team trainers have been keeping a close eye on Chase Utley this offseason and they're encouraged by what they've seen.

"I talked to [Scott] Sheridan about him, and he kept up with him all winter, and he talked to [Dr. Michael] Ciccotti about him. Seems like they’re happy with where he’s at and how he’s doing."

As for Utley being an option to hit out of the cleanup spot, Manuel hasn't made up his mind yet.

"I don’t know," he said. "We’ll see when we get there. I got Utley and Hunter Pence. They can do that."

--JOSE CONTRERAS UPDATE:  “He’s out to 120 feet, no symptoms and he’s progressing well,” Amaro said. “If he doesn’t have any set-backs or anything I’d think he’d probably be close to being ready for Opening Day. I think that he’s a viable candidate to pitch in the seventh or eighth. He pitched in the ninth for us a little bit last year and did a good job. If he comes back and pitches pain free, I understand he’s in very good shape, he’ll pitch in the back end for us.”

--FIFTH SPOT IN ROTATION: “It’s [Vance Worley’s] job to lose,” Amaro said. “He deserves that. But having [Kyle] Kendrick and [Joel] Pineiro in the mix … it’s important for us to have people pushing him and also people there in case we have a breakdown. We don’t have a lot of starting pitching depth so those guys might all end up being important.”

 --REPLACING HOWARD’S BAT: “I think there are viable candidates, but we can’t replace Ryan’s production,” Amaro said. “We’re going to try to stem the tide while we’re waiting for him to get back but we’re not going to be able to match his production. But I think we have some coverage and however Charlie feels about mixing and matching, he’s been good about that in the past.”

--ON PAT BURRELL’S RETIREMENT: “I talked to him last fall and his foot was killing him,” Manuel said. “He had a bad arch and trouble with his heal. It got to the point where he actually couldn’t play defense or run. I think that was the big reason. He still wanted to play and he still loves to play. I heard the Giants may give him a job in PR or something.”

--ON COMING UP SHORT LAST YEAR: “We definitely didn't reach our ultimate goal last year,” Hunter Pence said. “We accomplished some great things. We had a great regular season, won another division title, so to be a part of that was special. Being in the playoffs for the first time was special, but losing definitely leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, and it drives you every day in the offseason. We know what this team is capable of and what the ultimate goal is. I work out every day with that on my mind and I want to do everything I can when that moment comes.”

The club announced that it agreed with Hunter Pence on a one-year deal worth $10.4 million. His contract includes award bonuses. The Phils right fielder, acquired at the trade deadline last year from Houston, had been arbitration eligible.

Pence made $6.9 million last year.

The Phillies have now come to terms with all four previously salary arbitration eligible players (Kyle Kendrick, Cole Hamels, Pence and the now-traded Wilson Valdez).

Amaro had said at Tuesday's Winter Banquet in Wyomissing he was hopeful the two sides could reach an agreement and not have to go arbitration next month.

Pence, 28, hit .314 with 22 home runs and a career-high 97 RBIs in 154 games between the Astros and Phillies last season. Following his acquisition from Houston on July 29, Pence, a 2011 National League All-Star, led the Phillies in several offensive categories, including batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.394), slugging percentage (.560), hits (67) and total bases (116).

So he went and did something about it.

On Friday, assistant general manager Scott Proefrock announced the Phillies signed outfielder Juan Pierre to a minor league contract, which includes an invitation to major league spring training.

"We’re still looking to tweak a little bit to help in our outfield because we really only have four outfielders, and if Howard’s not ready at the outset, which he likely will not be, then we’re looking at other guys to get opportunities to come in and steals some jobs," Amaro said at Tuesday's winter banquet in Wyomissing. "I don’t mind not having all 25 spots not sewn up before the season starts. Competition’s not a bad thing.

"I think it behooves us to try to look for a little bit of speed. That’s one thing we don’t necessarily have on our bench."

They do now.

Among active players, Pierre, 34, has the most career stolen bases (554) and ranks 26^th on the all-time list, three behind Davey Lopes. He has had nine seasons with at least 40 steals, including a career-high 68 in 2010. 

Over the last 11 seasons (2001-11), Pierre has the fifth-most hits (1,958) among all major league players, including four years with 200 or more hits during that span.

Based on everything I've heard, Pierre will fit it nicely in the clubhouse. Jerry Crasnick, from ESPN.com, reported that Pierre is good friends with Jimmy Rollins and the newly signed Dontrelle Willis. He's known for being easy going and friendly.

This move now gives the Phillies more flexibility in the field in Howard's absence.

With another solid left-field option in Pierre, this frees up John Mayberry Jr.to get more time at first base. Previously, Amaro had said most of the time at first base would go to Ty Wigginton, and Mayberry and Jim Thome would be there from time to time (although Charlie Manuel said on Thursday he envisioned Thome playing there once a week).

Pierre batted .279 with two home runs, 50 RBIs and 27 stolen bases in 158 games for the Chicago White Sox last season. A left-handed batter, he hit .329 against left-handed pitching and .331 with runners in scoring position. Pierre made 152 starts last year, all in left field.

Originally selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 13^thround of the June 1998 draft, Pierre has a .296 career batting average with 234 doubles, 86 triples, 16 home runs and 484 RBIs in 1,751 games for the Rockies (2000-02), Florida Marlins (2003-05), Chicago Cubs (2006), Los Angeles Dodgers (2007-09) and White Sox (2010-11). 

As a pinch-hitter, he has hit .311 (28-90), and in 31 career games at Citizens Bank Park he has a .307 (39-127) batting average. 

Pierre was a member of the 2003 World Champion Marlins.

From 2006-11, Thome has made just four appearances at first base, with the last one coming in 2007 with the White Sox.

“He’ll get over 100 at-bats pitch-hitting,” Charlie Manuel said. “Then, there’s interleague [play] where we have nine [games] on the road, so that’s 32 or 35 at-bats that way. I’d like to see him get 200 at-bats, and maybe [play] once a week in the field. During the season we’ll be watching him better.

“He knows where he’s at in his career. He came back because he knew he had a chance to win a ring.”

Those chances of him returning ended Thursday morning.

According to the Nationals media relations Twitter feed, Washington and Lidge have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, ending the right-handed reliever's four-year stint with the Phillies.

"This team, this organization, these fans are tough to walk away from," Lidge said after the Phillies were ousted from the playoffs by the Cardinals in the NLDS. "Obviously I love Philadelphia."

Had the Phillies re-signed Lidge, who turned 35 last month and became a free agent after the season, would have been just the type of leader the club needed out in the bullpen. While Jonathan Papelbon has experience, he's new to the club, and you can't expect him to jump right into a leadership role.

Jose Contreras' English is very limited, so that wouldn't be a fair title to bestow upon him. Antonio Bastardo has had only one full season in the bigs. Kyle Kendrick isn't a definite in the pen (he could be competing with Vance Worley for the fifth spot in the rotation). And anyone else who could wind up in the pen is either very young or new to the club.

As unhappy as some were about what transpired with Lidge last season --- he started the year on the DL with shoulder problems and missed half the year --- Lidge gave fans one of most memorable, single-season performances ever.

In 2008, Lidge was perfect, going 48-for-48 in save chances (including the postseason). During the regular season, he was 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA. He recorded 41 saves and struck out 92 in 69.1 innings pitched.

1. Unless they make another move, the Phillies basically handed Michael Martinez a bench job.

2. The Phillies are saving a little bit of money, and by a little, I mean around a half a million dollars. I can't help but wonder if this means they will be nickel-and-diming any way they can to save some cash.

3. The organization is clearly not comfortable with the options they have in the bullpen.

I have concerns with them trading away Valdez. He was the best and most versatile defensive replacement they had. The team didn't miss a beat when he had to fill in extensively for Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins or Placido Polanco. He had the strongest arm of any infielder on the team and sometimes got to balls his teammates wouldn't have.

I know Laynce Nix and Ty Wigginton are versatile as well, and they're better offensively, but I don't believe either are as solid defensively.

Because GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has stressed time and time again how much credence he puts on defense with such a quality rotation, this move surprised me. I really thought they valued Valdez more.

Andy Musser was that kind of person.

Musser, who died at the age of 74 on Monday, spent 26 years as a Phillies broadcaster. He was finally inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcasters Hall of Fame in December.

He was never idolized the way Harry Kalas was. He didn’t have that signature call the club’s Hall of Fame broadcaster did. But he still put in countless hours of preparation and was willing to remain in the shadows of the beloved tandem of Kalas and Richie Ashburn.

“I don’t ever want to say he was underappreciated, I just think he was appreciated for who he was,” Phillies play-by-play guy Tom McCarthysaid at Monday’s Winter Banquet in Wyomissing. “He never cared about the spotlight. He told a great story at the Hall of Fame dinner where he said he grew up wanting to be [Philadelphia Athletics broadcaster] By Saam. By worked with Claude Haring (who did the middle innings). He said, ‘My dream was to become By Saam, and because of Harry and how great Harry was and Whitey was, I didn’t become By Saam, I become Claude Haring.’ The crowd just burst out laughing.”

McCarthy reminisced about what a kind, honorable man Musser was. Even after he retired in 2001, Musser, who broadcast two World Series, stopped by the ballpark about once a month to catch up with everyone.

“Spaghetti night was always his big thing in the lunch room,” McCarthy said. “So when they changed the menu and spaghetti night was not every Tuesday, it kind of threw him off a little. But he would stop in every once in a while and he would offer suggestions from time to time about certain things and I was always open to them. He was just a nice man.”

Musser’s eyesight reportedly wasn’t quite as good as it once was and that only made calling games harder. And being as prepared and dedicated as he was, Musser stepped away from the game.

After leaving the booth, Musser, who also had a passion for specialty beers, joined Anchor Steam Beer as a sales rep.

“I think he wanted to make sure his life was fulfilled,” McCarthy said. “He loved specialty beers and he got a chance to sell it.  That was cool to him. He brought a picture into the office one day to hang up. He absolutley loved it.

“I don’t think he missed [being at the park]. I think he was very content.”

“Right now I kind of believe it’s [John] Mayberry [Jr.’s] job to lose,” Amaro said.

The Phillies won’t have too many decisions to make as far as their bench goes when spring training breaks. Because Ryan Howard will likely start the year on the disabled list, that essentially means one extra bench player will be on the 25-man roster.

But Amaro is still keeping his eyes open in a few areas.

“Right now Michael Martinez and Wilson Valdez are part of it,” Amaro said. “We’ll see how that sifts out. We’re still looking to tweak a little bit to help in our outfield because we really only have four outfielders and if Howard’s not ready at the outset, which he likely will not be, then we’re looking at other guys to get opportunities to come in and steals some jobs.

“I think it behooves us to try to look for a little bit of speed. That’s one thing we don’t necessarily have on our bench. Jim [Thome], [Ty] Wigginton, [Laynce] Nix and [Brian] Schneider are our guys, we believe, will be on our bench. After that, we’ll have some guys competing [particularly after Howard returns]."

NOTES: Amaro said Howard is in Clearwater right now discussion some changes he needs to make offensively. ... Amaro added that he is continuing to work on signing Cole Hamels to a long-term deal. "As far as Cole Hamels is concerned the luxury tax will not preclude us from signing Cole Hamels. What might preclude us from signing Cole Hamels is not being able to get a deal done."

On the MLB Network's first-ever game show, "Baseball IQ," which premieres Tuesday at 9 p.m., creators and producers could have picked any two teams to focus on, and they picked the Phillies and the Mets.

Phillies baseball information analyst Jay McLaughlin will face Mets statistical analyst Ben Baumer.

The show, hosted by Matt Vasgersian, is a recall-based, 30-minute trivia show featuring two pparticipants, answering questions about all things baseball, from current players and managers to World Series champions, MVPs, Cy Young Award winners, Hall of Famers, milestones and more.

The winner has a chance to win up to $45,000 for charity.

MLB Network surveyed all 30 clubs, MLB.com and the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum for the best and brightest trivia minds in their organizations who would be willing to represent them. 

Thirty-two participants will be matched up in a bracket-style tournament across 31 episodes. Two new episodes will air every Tuesday through Thursday at 9:00 p.m. from Jan. 24 to Feb. 23. 

Pparticipants include front office personnel, equipment managers, scoreboard operators and museum curators. Future first-round episodes will include participants matched up in a bracket opposite their clubs’ rivals, pitting the St. Louis Cardinals against the Chicago Cubs, the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim against the Texas Rangers.

The winning player of each episode will win $5,000 for the organization’s charity they represent. The championship episode will award $25,000 for the winner’s organization’s charity and $15,000 to the runner-up’s organization’s charity.

His two upcoming ventures are only further proof of that.

CBS Television's Tumblr feed posted a blog recently announcing that the Phillies center fielder will have a cameo appearance on Hawaii Five-0 in February. Executive producer Peter Lenkov even tweeted about Victorino's appearance.

And here's a picture Victorino posted on his Twitter feed.

But before Victorino can get busy becoming a TV star, he'll co-host the inaugural Shane Victorino Foundation Charity Golf Classic with BlackSand BlackSand Capital Managing Partner B.J. Kobayashi on Monday, Jan. 30, at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Due to limited space, the event is open only to participating corporate partners.

“The Hawaiian community has been so supportive of me over the years and I am grateful for the support and generosity they have shown to my Foundation, to provide programs and services for underserved children,” he said in a press release.

Corporate teams of four will compete for the championship to win prizes, including authentic Victorino autographed Phillies jerseys, commemorative autographed bats and autographed baseball gloves. Awards will be presented during the evening’s post-golf dinner festivities.

Auction items include autographed memorabilia from Albert Pujols, Roy Halladay, Troy Polamalu, Jimmy Rollins, a set visit to Hawaii Five-O, trip to Philadelphia with Phillies on-field pre-game passes and VIP Phillies game tickets, Tory Burch handbag and other fabulous one-of-a-kind items.

If you’d like to see Brad Lidge come back (hey, he could provide some very valuable insight and lessons to the young relievers), that’s more of a possibility.

I asked GM Ruben Amaro Jr. on Tuesday about both guys.

“I’m not sure either of their situations is the right fit, either for them or for us,” Amaro said. “I had talks with Brad’s agent up until (Monday).”

HOWARD CHATTER

Amaro said Ryan Howard, who is recovering from surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon, is doing well.

“He’ll start baseball activities later on next month,” Amaro said.

PROSPECT TALK

I made my first visit in 2012 to Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday for the club’s “Prospect Education Program.”

Ten minor leaguers were in town for the four-day program, which consists of various seminars with front office executives and representatives as well as former and current Phillies players.

The group addressed media members on Wednesday before a handful of them went out to play catch on the field.

I’ll have a story in Sunday or Monday’s paper about four of the club’s young pitchers.

Hamels' deal is worth $15 million for one year.

The left-hander, who will be a free agent at the end of the season if a multi-year deal isn't reached before he can file for free agency in the fall, made $9.5 million last year.

In six years with the Phillies, Hamels is 74-54 with a 3.39 ERA. Last year, he posted a 14-9 mark and a 2.79 ERA.

Valdez will make $930,000 this year.

Both contracts include award bonuses.

Hunter Pence is the only remaining Phillie eligible for salary arbitration.

More to come....

Moyer, 49, had Tommy John surgery on Dec. 1, 2010, and hasn't thrown a pitch in a professional game since earlier that season during which he was 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA. He missed all of 2011 recovering.

If Moyer ends up becoming a member of the Rockies rotation, his job will be tougher than it's ever been. Coors Field will have that affect.

He's already given up 511 home runs, the most in the history of the game.

That's due much in part to the 4,021 1/3 innings he's pitched, but it's also partly attributed to his style of pitching, and the thin air in Denver, I'm afraid, will only inflate that number at a fast pace.

Moyer has played with seven MLB clubs (Chicago Cubs 1986-88, Texas 89-90, St. Louis 1991, Baltimore 1993-95, Boston 1996, Seattle 1996-2006, Philadelphia 2006-10). He has a career 267-204 record and a 4.24 ERA.

In his five years with the Phillies, Moyer was 56-40 with a 4.55 ERA. He gave up 105 home runs in 720 2/3 innings pitched with the Phils.

At the end of the 2010 season, Moyer had racked up 2,045 career strikeouts, which was tops among active pitchers. In 2008, at age 45, he started his first World Series game with the Phillies en route to a World Series championship.

And it totally stinks.

The AP is reporting that commissioner Bud Selig, whose contract was extended by two years earlier today, is "very hopeful" another wild card team from each league will be added this season.

Selig says that a committee formed to work out details of expanding the playoffs from eight teams to 10 is dealing with scheduling issues. Addition of a second wild card in each league would add a one-game play-in between teams with the two best records in each league that are not division winners. Selig says that would mean condensing the overall playoff schedule.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, MLB and the players' union must agree by March 1 whether to add the new round for 2012.

So, while the players' union may not agree to the changes this year, it's only putting off the inevitable. The system will automatically take form for the 2013 season.

Baseball doesn't need any more teams in the playoffs, especially when clubs already play 162 games. More doesn't mean better.

RCN customers in the Lehigh Valley are out of luck this March when it comes to the Phillies.

The Comcast Network, which is offered by Service Electric Cablevision but not RCN, will air 11 spring training games this year. Three others will be on CSN and three more will air on WPHL.

DAY	DATE	TEAM	SS	TIME	CHANNEL
WED	2/29	FSU		1:05 p.m.
SAT	3/3	NYY		1:05 p.m.	CSN
SUN	3/4	@NYY		1:15 p.m.
MON	3/5	NYY		1:05 p.m.	TCN
TUE	3/6	@TOR		1:05 p.m.
WED	3/7	HOU		1:05 p.m.	TCN
THU	3/8	PIT		1:05 p.m.	TCN
FRI	3/9	@DET		1:05 p.m.
SAT	3/10	BAL		1:05 p.m.	CSN
SUN	3/11	@NYY	*	1:15 p.m.
		DET	*	1:05 p.m.	WPHL
MON	3/12	@PIT		1:05 p.m.
TUE	3/13	@HOU		1:05 p.m.
WED	3/14	MIN		1:05 p.m.	TCN
THU	3/15	@TB	*	1:05 p.m.
		ATL	*	1:05 p.m.	TCN
FRI	3/16	@PIT		1:05 p.m.
SAT	3/17	TOR		1:05 p.m.	TCN
SUN	3/18	@TOR		1:05 p.m.
MON	3/19	DET		1:05 p.m.	TCN
TUE	3/20	@BAL		1:05 p.m.
THU	3/22	@TOR		1:05 p.m.
FRI	3/23	NYY		1:05 p.m.	TCN
SAT	3/24	@BOS		1:05 p.m.
SUN	3/25	@DET	*	1:05 p.m.
		BAL	*	1:05 p.m.	WPHL
MON	3/26	BOS		1:05 p.m.	TCN
TUE	3/27	PIT		1:05 p.m.	TCN
WED	3/28	@MIN		1:05 p.m.
THU	3/29	TB		1:05 p.m.	TCN
FRI	3/30	@NYY		1:15 p.m.
SAT	3/31	TOR		1:05 p.m.	WPHL
SUN	4/1	@ATL		1:05 p.m.
MON	4/2	PIT (@CBP)		7:05 p.m.	CSN
TUE	4/3	PIT (@CBP)		7:05 p.m.

But if Jerry Crasnick is right, one more position out there may be being claimed soon.

The ESPN.com baseball insider is reporting that the Phillies are interested in Kerry Wood.

According to ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine, the 34-year-old reliever, a free agent, told NBC-5 Chicago on Sunday night that he’ll make a decision on where he will pitch by Friday. However, Wood had previously told the TV station a week ago that he was confident he would sign with the Cubs.

The fact that Wood has a decision to make is certainly newsworthy. Levine reported in September that Wood told media members that if he didn’t pitch for the Cubs in 2012, he would retire.

“I’m not going to play anywhere else,” Wood is on the record as saying. “I’m hoping the Cubs want me back next season. My commitment is to the Cubs. And although I still want to pitch, if they don’t want me back, then I’ll retire.”

In 55 games (51.0 IP) for the Cubs a season ago, Wood was 3-5 with a 3.35 ERA. He fanned 57 and walked 21 before tearing meniscus in his left knee in September, which ended his season and led to arthroscopic surgery.

If the Phillies do indeed sign Wood, who would come cheap (he signed a one-year, $1.5 million free agent deal for 2011 with the Cubs) it could take a chance a way from a youngster such as Phillippe Aumont or Justin De Fratus.

Then when the club reached a deal to trade Chris Volstad to Chicago in exchange for Carlos Zambrano, the organization practically ensured some sort of explosion, maybe multiple ones, would follow at some point.

I can't help but wonder if I'll get to personally witness any of the craziness during any of the nine games the Marlins play at Citizens Bank Park, the first of which is the Phillies home opener on April 9 at 1:05 p.m.

And don't think the Marlins won't be much improved because they will be. Take a look at some of the names: Mike Stanton, Jose Reyes, Heath Bell, Hanley Ramirez, Logan Morrison and Mark Buehrle. When those guys are healthy, they're good. Often they're very good.

Oh, and assuming Josh Johnson's arm is healthy after surgery, he's could arguably be the best pitcher in the game.

Jimmy Rollins, the most revered shortstop in Phillies history, has a chance to do just that.

Rollins, drafted out of high school by the Phillies, has reportedly agreed to a three-year, $33 million contract with Philadelphia. The deal, as first reported by ESPN.com, includes a fourth-year vesting option worth $11, multiple sources are reporting.

"I see you all know by now," Rollins said on his Twitter account. "Gotta deal with me for 3 (4) more years!"

Rollins made it known after the season that he was hoping for a five-year contract, and while the Phillies were his first choice, he was going to consider other clubs who were willing to offer him five years.

But it appeared as though not as many teams were serious contenders for Rollins as many people originally thought. The Brewers signed free agent Alex Gonzalez, the defending World Champion Cardinals inked Rafael Furcal and San Francisco didn't go after Rollins with full force.

That left the Phillies as the front runners, and bringing back Rollins was exactly what the organization wanted. Shortly after the season ended, team president  David Montgomery said it would be hard to envision life without Rollins, who was the 2007 MVP.

The Phillies PR staff has not officially announced the terms, but a press conference is expected once Rollins passes his physical.

They decided to take a chance when they signed Dontrelle Willis to a one-year contract.

Willis, once a phenom as a starter in the Marlins organization, spent his early years dazzling fans with his funky delivery and huge, infectious smile. He dominated hitters during the early part of the 2000s when he was a two-time all-star (2003, 2005) and was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2003, a season in which he helped the Marlins win the World Series. Two years later, he was second in the NL Cy Young voting after leading the league with 22 wins, seven CG and five shutouts.

But struggles sent him packing for the minor leagues, where Willis was forced to work to get his command back.  

While his big smile has returned, his numbers really didn't.

Willis, 29, made 13 starts for the Reds last season, going 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA.  He did, though, have success against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .127 (7-55) batting average with only two extra-base hits.

That leads me to believe that Charlie Manuel and Rich Dubee will most likely use Willis (a close friend of Jimmy Rollins) as a lefty specialist, much the way Scott Eyre was used in 2008.

“Dontrelle, I believe, is at a point in his career where he is ready to make the transition to being an effective reliever,” said Amaro.  “Because of his experience, past success and overall positive energy, we feel this will be an opportunity to benefit both him and the team, especially with the success he has had against left-handed hitters, both recently and over the course of his career.”

Originally selected by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 2000 draft, Willis is 72-69 in his career with a 4.17 ERA in 205 games (202 starts) with the Marlins (2003-07), Tigers (2008-10), Diamondbacks (2010) and Reds (2011). 

Surely Manuel will turn to him from time-to-time to pinch hit. As a hitter (left-handed), he owns a .244 career batting average with 13 doubles, six triples, nine home runs and 39 RBIs, including a .286 (6-21) mark as a pinch-hitter with a double and a triple.

I wish I could tell you I see a ton of value in this signing, but I don't. I'm not saying it's a waste, but it's also not overly noteworthy.

Yes, he can play all three outfield positions and he made six appearances at first base last season.

Offensively, though, I'm not really sure how much value Nix will add.

Amaro pointed out that " “He will provide us with extra power off the bench from the left side ... "

Really? He has just 64 career home runs in 1,673 at-bats (607 games).

A left-handed hitter, Nix batted .250 with a career-high 16 home runs and 44 RBIs in 124 games for the Nationals in 2011.  He made a total of 79 starts: 59 in left field, 12 in right field, six at first base and two as the DH.  The 32-year-old also made four appearances in center field.

“We got to see Laynce a lot this year with Washington and he is someone we had our eye on going into the offseason,” said Amaro.  

Nix was originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2000 draft.  He has a .244 career batting average with 64 home runs and 226 RBI in 607 games for the Rangers (2003-06), Milwaukee Brewers (2006-08), Cincinnati Reds (2009-10) and Nationals (2011).

Scott Elarton, RHP – Elarton last pitched professionally in 2010, appearing in 16 games for Triple-A Charlotte.  A nine-year major league veteran, Elarton was a 17-game winner for the Astros in 2000, with his last big league appearance coming in 2008 with the Indians. In 232 career major league games (170 starts), he is 56-61 with a 5.29 ERA for the Astros (1998-2001), Rockies (2001, 2003-04), Indians (2004-05, 2008) and Royals (2006-07).

Kevin Frandsen, INF – In 81 games in the Phillies minor league system in 2011, Frandsen batted .309 with five home runs and 43 RBIs, appearing at first base, second base, third base and shortstop.  He hit .397 (27-68) in his final 17 games of the season. In 228 career major league games, Frandsen has a .243 batting average with seven home runs and 53 RBIs for the Giants (2006-09) and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2010).

Tuffy Gosewisch, C – Gosewisch will attend his fourth consecutive major league camp with the Phillies.  The 28-year-old hit .247 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs in 109 games for Double-A Reading, setting professional highs in games, home runs, RBIs, hits (91) and stolen bases (4). For the season, Gosewisch was named the best defensive catcher in the Eastern League by Baseball America.

Pat Misch, LHP – Misch, 30, made six appearances, all in relief, for the Mets in 2011, but spent most of his season with Triple-A Buffalo, where he went 8-9 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts. He pitched at least 7.0 innings in 10 of those starts. In 78 career major league games (24 starts) for the Giants (2006-09) and Mets (2009-11), Misch is 4-15 with a 4.80 ERA.

Pete Orr, INF – Orr, 31, shuttled between the Phillies and Triple-A Lehigh Valley throughout the season.  Between both teams, he made starts at second base, shortstop, third base and right field. Orr hit .219 in 46 games for the Phillies and .267 with five home runs and 26 RBIs in 75 games for the IronPigs.

Scott Podsednik, OF – Podsednik spent the entire 2011 season in the minor leagues between the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia and was limited to 34 games due to a stress fracture in his left foot.  For the Phillies, the 35-year-old played in 14 games for Lehigh Valley, where he batted .245 with six doubles and a triple. A member of the 2005 World Champion White Sox, Podsednik is a career .279 hitter in the major leagues with 41 home runs, 300 RBIs and 301 stolen bases.

Brian Sanches, RHP – In 39 games for the Marlins in 2011, Sanches went 4-1 with a 3.94 ERA. The 33-year-old pitched at least 2.0 innings in 16 appearances last season, including two spot starts, and had a stint on the disabled list in the second half with a strained right elbow. In 36 of his 39 appearances, Sanches posted a 2.48 ERA (15 ER, 54.1 IP). In 189 career major league games, he is 13-6 with a 3.58 ERA for the Phillies (2006-07), Nationals (2008) and Marlins (2009-11).

Raul Valdes, LHP – Valdes appeared in 13 major league games in 2011 and went 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA between the Cardinals and Yankees. A native of Cuba, he appeared in a combined 30 minor league games (seven starts) for Triple-A Memphis and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and posted a 7-2 record with a 4.50 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 62.0 innings (9.3 SO/9.0 IP). Valdes, 34, has a 2.18 ERA in his last 17 major league games with a .237 opponents’ batting average and 22 strikeouts in 20.2 innings (9.6 SO/9.0 IP).