SPEAK THE TRUTH, EVEN IF YOUR VOICE SHAKES
The season was just a week old when the 1-3 Phillies arrived in Chicago for a quick two-game weekend set with the host Cubs. Mike Schmidt had already homered once, but he was as cold as the team, hitting just .167 with just three total hits over his first 21 plate appearances.
The day has finally arrived for baseball fans across the country and around the world. Major League Baseball begins its 148th season of play this afternoon.
Andrew Painter remains at the top of my list, Mick Abel (picture accompanying) may be closest to the big leagues, and there are a number of new faces dotting the current Phillies top prospects group.
Harper's first five seasons have resulted in a National League pennant and two postseason appearances for the team, highlighted by two playoff series wins over Atlanta. The player has won an NL MVP, an NLCS MVP, one NL All-Star berth, and two Silver Slugger Awards.
A "small ballot" guy over recent years, the nominees this time around led me to expand my ballot out to double-digits for the first time since 2019. This year, 10 players received my vote for the IBWAA Hall of Fame.
MATT VEASEY 