Winter work for the "Boys of Summer"

As we fans work and play in the freezing cold, our heroes (fingers crossed) are busy preparing themselves for the grueling MLB season -- in warm, sunny Florida. The Grapefruit League kicks off in just over eight days, and the Philadelphia Phillies need to prove their noisy yet shaky offseason is behind them.

Noisy in the sense that Bobby Abreu was rumored to be headed out of town about 20 times, which he says he's shrugged off. Shaky in the fact that the only real improvements are in centerfield (Aaron Rowand) and setup (Arthur Rhodes). No other pickups look poised to be improvements over the 2005 Phillies, unless Abraham Nunez beats out David Bell at third base. Bell hit only .199 against righties in 2005, .248 overall. That average would be justifiable if complemented by some power, but this guy would need to bat from second base to be a real threat. Nunez batted .285 overall, .277 against righties.

Charlie Manuel (pictured) has his work cut out for him, especially with the core of starters in the fold. In 2005, projected starters Jon Lieber, Brett Myers, Cory Lidle, Ryan Franklin and Ryan Madson were a combined 57-52 with an ERA of 4.34. With a new closer whose best days are long since gone, the starting rotation must display some improvement if the Phils are to sniff the postseason.

My prediction: I think the Phillies will finish with an above .500 record, but fall short of the playoffs. Expect a third place finish in the division, second if the Mets implode again.

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