1. Shane Victorino
2. Placido Polanco
3. Chase Utley
4. Ryan Howard
5. Jayson Werth
6. Raul Ibanez
7. Jimmy Rollins
8. Carlos Ruiz
9. (Pitcher)

Egos aside, what is the best batting order?
What will Charley actually do?
What would Tony LaRussa do? (Bat Rollins 9th?)

 

 

1. Shane Victorino
2. Placido Polanco
3. Chase Utley
4. Ryan Howard
5. Jayson Werth
6. Raul Ibanez
7. Jimmy Rollins
8. Carlos Ruiz
9. (Pitcher)

Egos aside, what is the best batting order? 
What will Charley actually do? 
What would Tony LaRussa do? (Bat Rollins 9th?) 

The Phillies should be a threat to win the World Series every year for the next five years if they keep these six players:

1. Howard
2. Utley
3. Rollins
4. Werth
5. Halladay
6. Hamels

That means signing Werth to a four- or five-year extension immediately. That also means doing the same for Howard by the end of the coming season and Rollins and Hamels (3 years guaranteed plus one or two option years) shortly thereafter. 
To my mind, Utley and Halladay are the only safe bets to remain with the team for awhile. The other four are question marks.
Will the Phillies remain an elite team by spending the money to keep the Core of 6?
 

I would not waste too much time thinking about Halladay, but Sheets and maybe Harden are worth a shot with an incentive-laden deal. I assume Hamels will get back on track in 2010 as a top-of-the-rotation guy. With Lee, Hamels and Sheets/Harden in the top three slots, the Phils would be formidable. Even if Sheets/Harden goes down mid-season, either the Phils can pick up someone else for the stretch run or maybe bring up Drabek if he's ready. They also have Blanton, Happ, Moyer and Kendrick for back-of-the-rotation depth.