Phillies_four_AcesThis should sufficiently piss of New Yorkers

When NY Times Magazine says you're the Four Aces, damnit, you're the Four Aces.

Here's a pic courtesy of Phillies beat writer Ryan Lawrence (@RyanLawrence21), which shows Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels on the mound together posing for a New York Times Magazine photo. No Joe Blanton anywhere in sight.

That appearing as a group thing didn't last long.

Speaking of the rotation…

The Phillies begin their Spring Training schedule on Thursday against Florida State, but for realsies on Saturday against the Yankees. Cole Hamels will take the mound that day, and according to Phillies MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki, it lays the groundwork for the Phillies regular season rotation.

Via The Zo Zone:

The Phillies posted their pitching schedule for their first four Grapefruit League games, and as it lines up their rotation to open the 2011 season will be in the following order:Roy HalladayCliff LeeRoy OswaltCole Hamels and Joe Blanton

 

It seems confusing since Hamels is getting the first start, but the order lends itself to what we all anticipated. There is seemingly no doubt now that the team intends to have Oswalt pitch in the three with Hamels in the four-slot. If this works according to plan, Hamels will probably be the greatest fourth pitcher in Major League Baseball history by season's end, if you were unwilling to consider that idea already. 

Zo also includes the entire pitching schedule for the first four games. Fun to note that Ryan Madson, J.C. Romero, and Brad Lidge are all slated to pitch Sunday.

Sucks we have to wait until March 6th to see a whole game on TV (unless of course you have the YES Network, which is televising both Saturday's and Sunday's tilts against the Yankees).

Is it April yet?

Ryan G. contributed to these grammatical stylings, as well.