No better offseason than this one being a Phillies fan as we continue to bask in the glow of a World Series Title! This article, however, is a list of Christmas wishes as we approach Spring Training of the new baseball year in a couple months.

1. Wish the Phillies would sign Derek Lowe. Albeit they seem to be set with a rotation of Hamels, Myers, Blanton, Moyer and either Carasco, Kendrick, Park or Happ no team ever has enough starting pitching, especially quality starters like Lowe. I think that the market for Lowe is not as great as it once was and his price is down. It sure would be sweet to add him to the rotation this year…. plus it would keep him from the Mets!

2. Wish that Chris Coste gets an opportunity at the big league level next year. Rumors are that the Orioles are interested in trading for him. The Phillies have Carlos Ruiz, Lou Marston and recently traded for Ronny Paulino so Coste will have a battle to make the roster. He is used to it though and is a genuine team player, if not on Phillies roster I hope he gets a shot with another team!

3. Wish that Pat Burrell gets a fair deal somewhere else now that the Phillies have moved on to Raul Ibanez. Rumors are that Tampa Bay is very interested in him as a DH. That would be a great spot for Burrell as he owns a home already in Clearwater, FL and could live there year round. Burrell got what Philly is all about and seems to be a genuine good guy and hard worker. I hope that he does well but would like to see it in the American League so that it does not bite the Phillies!

4. Wish that Chase Utley has a speedy recovery. Utley is a tough tough man to have played thru the hip injury and pain that he did last season. He is a throwback player and is a core part of the Fightins team. I have no doubts that Eric Bruntlett or Jason Donald should be able to fill in short term for him but the team will struggle if he is out for more that a short time.

5. Wish that the team has the same energy and desire that it had last season to win the championship. With new blood like Raul Ibanez hopes are that he is the locker room leader that I read about and that his desire to win combines with the defending champions to keep the drive alive. Don’t want to wait another 28 years to have another parade!

6. Wish that my new book “ 2008 Philadelphia Phillies – A Poetic season” does well on the market. It will be released soon and available on www.authorhouse.com for 19.99 (hardback) and 12.99 (soft cover). It is the story of the season as told by a fan. I think it is a great read and hope that others will find so as well.

7. Wish that Ryan Madson and Brett Myers have big years on the mound as they work towards big contracts in thier free agent years. Myers wears his emotions on his sleeve and if focused is a very good starter, hope that he harnesses that more this year. Madson at the end of the year seemed to finally trust the heater and was popping it at 95 + consistently. I hope that he continues down that path and along with Brad Lidge continues to make games only 7 innings long for the Fightins!

8. Wish that the Phillies would lock up Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels for the long term. Players with the talent of these two don’t come along all that often and albeit both are under contract long term it is harmful to egos and perhaps performance to continually go to annual arbitration. I would think it prudent that the Phillies make these two young stars happy with deals so that they are secure and can excel without concerns over thier deals.

9. Wish that Cole continues to be the big game pitcher next season. Last season I had my doubts that he didn’t take the ball when needed but the playoffs and series proved different. He seems to be a guy that needs the extra days rest so it will be up to Charlie to work out the rotation so that Hamels can go on a full four or five days between starts.

10. Wish that Jayson Werth has a real breakout year. I think he has the talent to be a 30 + home run and 100 + RBI guy and seemingly will be given a chance next season to play every day from the start. Also hope that Shane Victorino can continue to excel like he did in the second half of the season and be injury free the whole year.

11. Wish that the lefties hit lefties consistently! Raul Ibanez gives us three lefties in the middle when coupled with Utley and Howard. I am not a big proponent that left/right matchups make a consistent difference but there are key points late in games where it will matter. I hope that Ibanez can come thru as advertised and that Howard/Utley pick it up a bit in those spots for 2009.

12. Wish that J-Roll leads like he can as he is indeed the true key to our team. If J-Roll has the success he is capable of then indeed we might have another party next October/November!
Ultimately I wish that could happen again!

Those are the 12 christmas wishes of this Fightin Phils baseball fan! I hope that all have a great holiday season and that all experience a similiar joy we Phillie fans felt when our team won the title……..yes even you Met fans out there! Have a great holiday season and God Bless the U.S.A.!!!!