CLEARWATER, Fla. - A fresh, clean suit hung inside each locker stall Wednesday morning. Spring training's final day had arrived. The Phillies broke their six-week camp with a 8-4 win over the Houston Astros. They packed their belongings in red duffel bags, departed Bright House Field on a bus, and boarded a chartered flight to Philadelphia with a bit of optimism.
The Phillies believe they will win more games than they did last season. Their thinking may be a bit confident, but it is not a stretch to expect this season's team to be more competitive than the group that lost 99 games a season ago.