Not since 1983 have the Phillies created an older infield than the one planned for 2013. Thirty years ago, they were called the Wheeze Kids, christened by a Sports Illustrated cover photo that spring.
Youth was unnecessary in 1983. It helped that three-fourths of the infield was composed of future Hall of Famers and Pete Rose. This bunch has no nicknames or covers, but when manager Charlie Manuel starts transferring lineups from his mind to paper, there is no more important unit than his infield.
Jimmy Rollins, 34, at the top. Michael Young, 36, possibly second. Chase Utley, 34, in his customary three spot if healthy. And Ryan Howard, 33, cleaning up as usual.
"First of all," Manuel said last week, "we can do a lot of things." He spoke of seeking regular rest for his aging core players. That is a mantra often repeated during the winter and abandoned in summer.
Why? Most of the things Manuel can do with his lineup require the infield to be intact.
The outfield is the greatest of unknowns for these Phillies. Catcher Carlos Ruiz will serve a suspension during the first month of the season for taking Adderall.
And no matter who mans those positions lower in Manuel's lineup, they will require the top of the order to be productive and reach base for scoring to happen.
Rollins (.316), Young (.312), and Howard (.295) each posted on-base percentages below the major-league average (.319). Utley managed a .365 on-base percentage in 83 games, an improvement from 2011 but below his career rate.
It's no lock that Manuel aligns the top of his lineup with the infield. If he does, what comes after is up for debate. Newly signed Delmon Young - so long as he is recovered from ankle surgery - will earn a chance to protect Howard.
"He can hit fifth," Manuel said of Young. "He definitely can hit fifth. I think once we get to spring training and put him in and let him play, I think hitting is definitely his strong point. I think he's a good hitter."
Fifth was a spot occupied by Ruiz for much of 2012. He will have to prove himself again following the suspension. To start, it's likely Manuel inserts Ruiz at a low-stress position, like sixth or seventh. If either Domonic Brown or Darin Ruf emerges with power in left field, he could hit fifth.
Then again, Manuel could shift Rollins farther down the lineup and opt for speedster Ben Revere at the top. The manager, though, prefers Rollins leading off. It will take serious convincing by Revere during Grapefruit League to earn that role.
"He can hit in the top of the lineup to somewhere down toward the bottom," Manuel said of Revere. "It kind of depends on how he looks. I have seen the guy hit three times. I don't go on somebody telling me where he can hit. I go on what I see once I see him."
That is the purpose of the next six weeks. Whatever the combination, the lineup will thrive or dive depending on the newest Wheeze Kids.
