It's too early to give up on Wolf, who posted a career-high 16 wins in 2003 and made his first All-Star team that season. Last year was a tough one, as he developed tendinitis in his elbow, came back early and got hurt again. Though he says he's healthy, his recent history makes him a question mark entering the season. He's being counted on as the No. 2 starter behind Jon Lieber, so another subpar season would have a major impact on the rotation. When he's on, Wolf still has one of the more deceptive deliveries, and one of the league's best curveballs -- but he needs to regain confidence in it. It hurt to throw it last year, so he went away from the pitch. His success depends on hitters preparing for the curve, allowing him to snap in his other pitches. If he can get over the injury concerns, you could right be in your prediction -- this could be his year.

What's going to happen to Marlon Byrd now that his position has been taken over by Jason Michaels and Kenny Lofton? I've followed him since the minors and was always a supporter, but now it looks like he'll be traded for almost nothing since his value isn't too high. What is your take? -- Adam S., Jonestown, Pa.

Byrd was almost traded during the Winter Meetings, but a deal with the Brewers fell through at the last minute. A disappointing sophomore slump caused him to fall out of favor, and Michaels has passed him on the depth chart. If Byrd's still with the organization next season, it will be as the starting center fielder for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. If there's a team out there willing to take a chance on him, they'll be acquiring a player who hustles every second and may turn things around. At 27, there's still time for him to blossom.

I've been a Phillies fan for a while and every year they improve in the starting rotation and bullpen. Do you think getting Jon Lieber and bringing back Terry Adams and Rheal Cormier will help at all? And will Billy Wagner stay healthy all season? -- Phillies fan

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Yes, and maybe. Lieber, Adams and Cormier are all skewed toward being ground ball pitchers, an attribute the Phillies sought to stock up on this winter. Citizens Bank Park proved an unfriendly place for fly-ball pitchers, so Ed Wade went searching for guys who keep the ball down in the strike zone. That also explains why the team pursued Cory Lidle and didn't take the same approach with Eric Milton, who led the Majors in home runs allowed. As for Wagner, there's obviously no way to tell. Injuries like the ones that sidelined him in 2004 (groin and shoulder stiffness) might recur, but Wagner has taken extra care of himself this winter to prevent a relapse.

With Mike Lieberthal getting up there a bit in age, who is the Phillies' catcher of the future? -- Bill C.

Switch-hitting Jason Jaramillo and righty Louis Marson are the first two that come to mind. Both were selected in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, in the second and fourth rounds, respectively. Jaramillo was drafted twice, as the Phillies selected him four years ago out of a high school in Wisconsin, but he opted for college. The Oklahoma State University product has a quick release and an accurate arm. He hit .223 at short-season Batavia.

Marson, selected out of high school, hit .257 with four homers for the Gulf Coast Phillies. At this point, he has a bit of an uppercut to his swing that the team wants to correct, but he possesses a short, quick stroke. The Phillies are excited about his power potential.

Of course, those two are still years away.

After only four starts and no winter ball, I have to assume Cole Hamels was injured last year. How serious was it? Will he be invited to Spring Training? Will he make it to Clearwater for the season? Additionally, will Gavin Floyd make a run at the rotation or will he only get spot innings this spring? -- C.R., Putnam, Conn.

Hamels developed soreness in his pitching elbow at the end of Spring Training last season, and was out for a month. When he resumed throwing, he strained his triceps muscle, so the Phillies shut him down as a safety precaution, and he didn't return. He pitched a few innings in the Instructional League in October and was given a clean bill of health. Assuming a normal spring, he should start the season at Class A Clearwater, though Double-A Reading isn't out of the question. As for Floyd, he's expected to start at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, as the organization wants him to develop his other pitches. There was a feeling that he relied too heavily on his curveball during his September debut.

Would it be too far fetched to move Jim Thome to third base and play Ryan Howard at first? I believe Jim came up as a third baseman with the Indians. It seems a shame to miss out on Howard's potential. -- Rich, Hamilton, N.J.

The argument of finding a way to squeeze Howard's potential into the lineup has come up often this winter. It's easy to drool over Howard's power stroke after he smashed 46 homers at three levels last season. The important thing is not to go overboard. First, Thome shifted positions for a reason, the same reason Pat Burrell did. Both were better suited elsewhere and are where they belong. Second, what would then become of David Bell, a solid defender and contributor who has two years left on his contract? He'd then have to be traded. While many scouts feel Howard's bat is Major League-ready, he's had just 111 at-bats at Triple-A to go along with 39 with the Phillies. Granted, he excelled in limited at-bats, but there's not a big enough sample size to suggest he's ready to play regularly in the Majors.

What's your best bet as to which 25 guys will break camp will this spring? -- Brett S.

In alphabetical order, I'll start with these 23: Terry Adams, Bobby Abreu, David Bell, Pat Burrell, Rheal Cormier, Cory Lidle, Jon Lieber, Mike Lieberthal, Kenny Lofton, Ryan Madson, Jason Michaels, Brett Myers, Vicente Padilla, Tomas Perez, Placido Polanco, Todd Pratt, Jimmy Rollins, Amaury Telemaco, Jim Thome, Chase Utley, Billy Wagner, Randy Wolf and Tim Worrell.

The remaining two spots will come from a pool of Aaron Fultz, Geoff Geary, Jose Offerman and Shane Victorino. I predict Fultz and Victorino will make the 25-man roster.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.