Phillies' roster preview

After yesterday's rousing sneak peak at the roster of the IronPigs, I figured it would make sense to start at the top and try to project the Phillies' opening day roster for 2008. This is based on who is on the team now, barring any transactions, so it is likely to change. It's worth noting that the Phillies' website has a "projection" of sorts, but it's incomplete and contradictory to some other material on the site (read the photo caption). So, here goes:

Starting Pitchers
Ace: Cole Hamels (LHP)
#2: Brett Myers
#3: Jamie Moyer (LHP)
#4: Kyle Kendrick
#5: Chad Durbin

Bullpen
Closer: Brad Lidge
Set-up: Tom Gordon
Lefty: J.C. Romero (LHP)
Lefty: Travis Blackley (LHP)
Adam Eaton
Ryan Madson
Clay Condrey

Catchers
Carlos Ruiz
Chris Coste

Infielders
1B: Ryan Howard
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Jimmy Rollins
3B: Greg Dobbs
Bench: Wes Helms (3B)
Bench: Eric Bruntlett (SS/2B/3B)

Outfielders
LF: Pat Burrell
CF: Shane Victorino
RF: Geoff Jenkins
Bench: Jayson Werth (RF)
Bench: So Taguchi (LF)

Each major league team has a 40-man roster in addition to its active 25-man roster. These are the leftover players, based on the above projection:

Joe Bisenius (RHP), Fabio Castro (LHP), J.D. Durbin (RHP), John Ennis (RHP), Anderson Garcia (RHP), J.A. Happ (LHP), Lincoln Holdzkom (RHP), Scott Mathieson (RHP), Francisco Rosario (RHP), Shane Youman (LHP), Mike Zagurski (LHP), Jason Jaramillo (C), Brad Harman (2B), T.J. Bohn (OF), Chris Snelling (OF).

I think the only spots on the 25-man roster that are up for grabs are Blackley's and Condrey's. Based on the IronPigs' preliminary roster, the Phillies franchise is way overstocked with pitchers, and I don't know where they're all going to land.

One spot was opened up over the weekend when the Phillies waived lefty Matt Smith. Smith appeared in nine games for the Phillies in 2007 after coming over from the Yankees in the Abreu/Lidle trade. After amassing an ERA of over 11 in his 4.0 big-league innings with the Phils, Smith was optioned to Triple-A Ottawa and had Tommy John surgery, missing the rest of 2007.