Just call me Broadway Joe as I’m going to guarantee the Phillies win tomorrow against the Washington Nationals. Sure, the bullpen scares me to death after the disastrous appearance of Tom Gordon. Sure, Rollins’s error came at the worst possible time. Sure, they couldn’t even get the runner to third when they had runners on first & second with none out.

None of that matters. Expect big things from the big boys tomorrow. Ryan Howard is going to hit one or more bombs while Chase Utley will once again contribute a couple of hits. This isn’t going to be a repeat of April 2007 because this team has too much talent.

I still expect more from the bullpen. Ryan Madson is at least a serviceable reliever and J.C. Romero was a stud a couple of years back and of course he was amazing in 2007. Brad Lidge is supposed to be healthy which will make a big difference for the back end of the bullpen.

For those expecting a “rah rah” article, here it is. This team will have a better than .500 record in April and will be comfortably in first place by the end of May. The Mets can’t play the Marlins forever and their ragtag team of 40somethings (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit) will break down. Who expects Pedro Martinez to make more than 20 starts this year? How about them Braves? John Smoltz is already hurt, Tom Glavine imploded last year in the most important game of the year and Mike Hampton has been injured for the past two years. That leaves Tim Hudson (who is not the same pitcher he was in Oakland) and a cast of thousands.

The competition in the NL East is almost comical. Without a doubt, the Phillies should steamroll the other teams on their way to winning the division by five to eight games. And it starts tomorrow.

 Final Score for April 2nd, 2008 game against the Nationals will be:

Phillies 9 Nats 2 with homers from Howard, Utley & Feliz.

You heard it here first as I guarantee it!